GRAIN STORAGE AND TREATING TANK
Filed April 5, 1959
“’ 14
2 Sheets-Sheet l
I/VVE/VTOH.
62mm //. Bil-L5.
Bx
IITTORNE)’.
GRAIN STORAGE AND TREATING TANK
Filed April 5, 1939
2 Sheets-Sheet 2
17v VE/VTOR.
561.4410 /7’. BIL/.5.
I 7‘ TOR/VEX
2,299,299
Patented Oct. 20, 1942 ,
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
2,299,299
GRAIN STORAGE AND TREATING TANK
Claud H. Bills, Los Angeles, Calif.
Application April 5, 1939, Serial No. 266,148
2 Claims. (Cl. 98—-56)
This invention relates to a grain storage and
treating tank, wherein grains of various types
may be stored and simultaneously or subsequently
treated for the purpose of removing excess mois
ture, and also in certain grains to kill injurious
larvae or insects in the grain.
An object of my invention is to provide a novel
grain storage and treating tank, in which the
contained grain may be treated in batches, each
treated batch being a part of the mass of grain
within the storage tank, and each treated por
tion or batch of the grain being treated while a
part of the entire mass of grain within the stor
age tank.
A further object of my invention is to provide
a novel grain storage and treating tank, which
tank I through a conveyer pipe 5, which dumps
the grain through the open top 6 of the tank.
The grain is withdrawn from the bottom of the
. tank through the pipe 4, which extends into an
outlet conveyer ‘I. The conveyers 5 and 1 are
of any usual and well-known construction, the
details thereof forming no part of this inven
tion. I prefer, however, that these conveyers
shall be of the spiral conveyer type. A plurality
of baf?e rings 8 are mounted on the inside of the
tower I, and are inclined inwardly, substantially
as shown in Figure 1, for purpose to be further
described.
A de?ecting apron 9 is mounted on the inside
of the tower I above the cone bottom 3. The
apron 9 is preferably wider than the rings 8 and
is provided with openings, slots, or louvers IIl
therein, the purpose of which will be further de
and also enable the owner to withdraw portions
scribed. This apron de?ects the grain inwardly
or all of the grain for subsequent use with a mini
onto the cone bottom 3, thus enabling the grain
20
mum of effort and labor.
to rest on an inclined surface, so that it may
A feature of my invention relates in the novel
be readily withdrawn when desired through the
arrangement of withdrawing grain from the bot
conveyer 'I.
tom of the tank, and re?lling into the top of the
An exhaust pipe I I extends vertically and pref tank, thereby aerating the grain automatically.
erably on the outside of the tank I. The exhaust
Other features of my invention reside in the
pipe II is provided with a plurality of ducts I2,
novel means to prevent molding of stored grain,
which
extend into the tank I opposite each of
the destruction of weevils, and their eggs or
the ba?ie rings 8, and also opposite the apron 9.
larvae, and the reduction of the breakage or
A damper I3 is provided in each of the ducts,
cracking of the grain due to a minimum amount
of required handling during the treating or ven 30 and these dampers are separately operable for
the purpose of drying super-imposed batches of
tilating of the grain.
grain within the tower, as will be further de
Other objects, advantages and features of in
scribed.
vention may appear from the accompanying
A vertical air duct I4 is positioned within the
drawings, the subjoined detailed description, and
tank
I, and is preferably centrally located within
35
the appended claims.
the tank. An air intake pipe I5 extends into the
In the drawings:
duct I4, adjacent the lower end thereof. The
Figure 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view of my
duct I4 is provided with holes or openings I6 sub
grain storage and treating tower, with parts
stantially throughout its entire length. When de
broken away to show interior construction.
Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, with 40 hydrating or treating grain, hot air is normally
forced through the pipe I5'and thence into the
parts broken away to show interior construction
will effectively protect the grain against rodents,
of one of the ba?le rings and the air outlet pipe.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the
perforated central air duct.
central intake duct I4. In order that the air
?owing into the duct I4 may be controlled as to
the area in which it exhausts, I provide an ad
Figure 4 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a 45 justable damper I'I, preferably in the form of a
piston. A cable I8 is attached to the top and
modi?ed form of grain storage and treating
bottom of the piston damper I1, and this cable
tank.
extends outside of the tank I, over a shive I9,
Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation, with
thence over a manually operated drum 20, and
parts broken away of the tank and outlet pipe,
50 thence back into the tank to the point of attach
showing one of the baf?e rings.
ment on the piston damper I1.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of
The grain is treated in super-imposed layers
the central air duct.
or batches as follows:
Referring more particularly to the drawings,
The damper I1 is ?rst moved downwardly in
the numeral I indicates a tank or tower, prefer
the intake duct I4 to a point adjacent its lower
ably formed of metal, and supported upon a suit
end. The air entering through the pipe I5 then
able base or structure 2. A conical base 3 is pro
passes
out through the lower portion of the duct
vided on the tank I, and the angle of this cone
I4, thence through the grain, and ?nds an outlet
is such that the grain will not rest upon it, but
through the lowermost exhaust duct I2, the
will tend to move towards the central ‘outlet
pipe 4. Grain is conveyed into the top of the
damper I3 of which has been opened. Air will
2
2,299,299
move in a path of least resistance and, therefore,
the wall 32 the pipe is perforated, as shown at
33. An air intake pipe 34 extends through the
wall of the tower 23 into the lower end of the pipe
3| and below this intake pipe, the pipe 3| is per
forated as shown at 35._. 'Afcombination intake
and exhaust pipe 36'is preferably arranged out
side of the tower 23, and extends upwardly from
the intake pipe 34,as shown in Figure 4. Adamp
when the lowermost damper I3 is opened, the
air will pass obliquely from the central intake
duct M to the outlet pipe II. The apron 9 of
the ba?le rings 8 are inclined inwardly,‘ and con
sequently ‘an open space 2| will be'provided be
tween the wall of the tank I and the outer sur
face of the apron 9, and a similar space 22 wmar
be provided between the rings Land-the tank, . er 3'!» is mounted in the pipe 34 for the purpose
Grain will not ?ll the spaces 2f,"22,' and conse4 IO of' controlling the ?ow of air to the pipe 3|. A
quently a passage or space is providediathroughzz "
which air can move to one or. more of .the outlet,
ducts I2. When the lowermost layer of grain
has been treated, the damper l3 in the vnext ‘duct
immediately above is opened and the damper
below is closed.‘ The piston" I ‘l is then' raised a
previously described for the ducts l2. An upper
damper 46 in the pipe 36 is closed when the pipe
' suf?cient amount‘sothat additional holes I6 are
exposed; therebyppermitting the next successive
layer of grain to be ‘treated in the “same-manner
as previously‘ described: ‘This procedure is con
tinued until‘ the entire-‘quantity ,of grain within
‘the tank I has .beentreated:
36 is used as an intake. A damper 4| is mounted
in each of the ducts33,'and these dampers are
each separately'adjustable.
The air, in passing" through the grain to an
ture during "the dehydration of'grain', and the
spaces 22 trap thispmoist' air ‘and direct 'it to
by-closing the damper 38 and opening the damp
the‘ outlet‘ duct, thus preventing"the1moist air
from leaving its burden of moisture on’thesgrain.
TIhe spaces v22 alsoprovidea free conduit for
er 31. The damper in the‘ duct opposite the
apron 33 is also opened; Hot or chemically treat
ed air or gas forced through the pipe 34 passes
the outgoing air,'as previously stated‘. It is ob- -
out through the openings 35, thence through the
vious that, if ‘desired, a humidity‘ indicator may
be ,rnountedon the~.top;of the outlet'pipe II,
,whi'ch‘will indicate tothe workman when it is
grain, and this air escapes into the ' pipe 36
through the lowermost duct 36. The remaining
layers or strata of grain are treated as follows:
The damper 31 is closed and the damper 38 v
necessary, to changethedampers 13',‘ so that the‘
, next. successive layer orbatch of grain may be
.
.is opened.
.
and" with my grain storage. and treating tank,‘ 40
temperatures of this character can be obtained,
thereby eliminating the. weevil from. certain
j to the owner.
it‘_
Under certain conditions,
is
obvious that it 'may?not be necessary to heat'the"
incoming-air, but ,this air maybe simply; dried
and then circulated vthrough the grain, .as-pre
viouslyv described, this dry, air picking up. the
moisture inrthe; grain. and. dehumidifyi-ng the‘
same, as. will beevident. ..
._
.
r In the modi?cation shown inFigures' 4 to.,6 in
clusive, the. construction is .quite. similar to. the
_ one previously describ.ed,.withithe exception that
the. airmoves fromithe periphery of. the, tower.
to a. substantially centraland verticaliexhaust‘
.
pipe.
'
'
The tanker tower 23 ‘is mounted ‘on asuitable
7 base 24.5. Aconical bottom.25 isprovidedon. the
bottom. of the. tank..2.3,l similarinarrangement.
and construction. to .the conical .base'3. Anv out
let pipe 26 .opensintd .the. bottom; conveyer. 21,
which is .similar mine conveyer'
The .upper
charging conveyer 28fis' similar .to the conveyer 5,
_ previously described... .Thesuperposed baf?erings,
29 within the tower.§23_..are' simila'rj in construc
. tion andarrangeinentto1theQrings;.8.L. The bottom
f de?ecting apron 30 'is' similar to..theiapron 9.? In
the- modi?cation, howevenfthe: apron 30eneed not
. beperf'orated or slotted." The exhaust. pipe 3|
isarranged within the tower} 3 .and substantially
central "within. the tower ortank. . .
I
_ A'transvers'e walll .32Tcl0sesthe exhaust pipe 3|
' adjacent‘the'llppel‘ edge of‘ftlie; apron‘30... Above
The damper 4111 at the'upper end of
the pipe 36 is closed. ' The air now passes into
I'have discovered that temperatures of approxi
mately one. hundred forty (140) .degrees Fahren
heit. will effectively kill 'iweevil. ‘eggs. and'jlarvae,
' grains, resulting in an additional marked saving
‘
The operation of the modi?ed form.v of tower
is similar to that previously described insofar as
the superimposed layers or strata of grain within
the tower are concerned. The lowermost quan
tity of grain in the tower is ?rst dried or treated
- outlet‘ duct l2, will become 'saturated'with 'mois
treated.
damper 38 controls the movement of air from the
pipe 34 into the pipe 36. A plurality of horizon
tal ducts 39 extend from the pipe 36 into the side
of'the tower 23. These ducts enter the tower
opposite the bafiies 29 in thesame manner as
the pipe 36, thence through successive ducts 4!
into the tower and the .air' exhausts through the
openings 33 in the central pipe 3!.
Having described my invention, I claim :.
1. A grain treating and storage tower adapted
_ ‘to both treat and store grain comprising a, verti
cal pipe Within the towerand positioned centrally
of the tower, said pipe having openings in the
side thereof, an intake pipe extending into said
vertical pipe, a second vertical pipe adjacent the
,wall of the tower and positioned outside of the
tower, a plurality of ducts. extending from the
second vertical pipe into the side of the tower, a
concial baf?e ring on the inner. surface of the
tower opposite each of the duots,_said baffle ring
being positioned above the ducts and extending
around the inner surface of the tower concentri
cal therewith, and a damper in each. of the ducts.
2. A grain treating and storage tower adapted
to_.both treat and store grain comprising a verti
cal pipe within the tower and positioned cen
trally of the tower, saidpipe ,ghaving openings in
the side thereof, an. intake pipe. extending‘ into
said vertical pipe, a second vertical. pipe adja
cent the wall of the tower and positioned outside
of the tower, a plurality ofduots extending from
the second vertical pipe into the side of the tower,
a conical ba?le ring .on?theinner surface of the
tower opposite each ofv the ducts, said baffle ring
being positioned above the.v ducts and. extending
' around the inner surface ofthetowerconcentri
cal therewith, and. a damper in each ,ofjthe ducts,
and vertically adjustable plug in the, ?rst-named
vertical pipe adapted to cover..selectedlopenings
in‘the pipe.
.
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,CLAUD HJ‘BILLS.