1. Field
The present invention relates to a storage facility, and more particularly, to a coned storage facility used typically for storage of grain or other crops.
2. Background
Stored crops such as grain are traditionally stored in two main ways: (1) by covering a large pile of the stored crop with a tarp to shield the crop from moisture, insects, rodents, sun, birds, and wind or (2) storing the crop in a permanent, vertical storage building, such as a grain bin.
In the pile storage form, typically the grain is poured onto a support, floor, or foundation into a pile and then covered. A fence generally encloses the grain storage area and then the cover is secured to the fence.
The tarp or cover rests against the crop and is held on by fans that must run at all times. The fence and cover are not strong enough to withstand the pressure of more grain than settles in a pile within the confines of the fence. The amount of the crop to be stored is essentially limited to the angle of repose of the crop, or the internal angle between the surface of the pile and the horizontal surface. Thus, the store capacity of this system is not very great.
When the grain is needed, the cover is discarded and all of the grain in that pile must be removed at the time the cover is discarded. Every time the cover is removed, such as every season or every year, the cover must be replaced. There is no way to check the grain quality without compromising the cover; once recovery of the crop begins, the whole pile must be picked up. Further, because the fans must run at all times an electricity failure may dislodge the cover, and the constantly running fans may over-dry the crop.
The need exists for crop storage wherein larger amounts of crop can be stored, the user can fill or empty the storage building without compromising the cover, and fans or electricity are not required to keep the cover attached.
One object of the present invention is to provide a storage bin that allows for filling and emptying without compromising the cover.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a crop storage building that has greater storage capacity than that of previous storage buildings.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a storage building that has a greater storage capacity than that of previous storage buildings, yet uses the same area of land.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a crop storage building that works like a traditional permanent crop building, but has the advantages of a cover building and the economics of temporary storage.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following specification, drawings, and claims.
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The exoskeleton 12 system is manufactured from a sturdy material, such as steel in the preferred embodiment. The truss system may also be made of aluminum or other sturdy materials. The cover can be made from polyethylene fabric, PVC or light gage steel sheeting or light gauge corrugated galvanized sheeting.
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Product is removed from the building 10 in several ways. In one embodiment, in
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The trusses 18 come together and terminate at the top of the building. A cap 60 or lid on the building is provided that includes an opening pour material. The top of the building is also weather-tight.
Additional features include sensor cables 50 to detect conditions such as temperature, carbon dioxide levels, and moisture. These cables 50 are attached to the cover 14, typically where the cover 14 meets the horizontal rings 16.
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An access portal 52 is shown in
The building of the present invention addresses many of the problems with traditional product storing facilities. The building 10 allows for unbalanced product loads without compromising the structure of the building. For example, when grain is removed from a building, the sticky nature of the grain causes tunnels and pockets to form such that the grain is no longer evenly distributed within the building. In traditional grain storage systems, the building pulls to one side or collapses. The exoskeleton 12 of the present invention does not pull or collapse when unbalanced loads are present.
Similarly, traditional storage buildings may collapse on a side under pressure of snow drifts or wind. The exoskeleton 12 of the present invention does not collapse in these circumstances. The angle of the trusses 18 prevents such a collapse.
In one embodiment, the trusses 18 have a 44° angle. Other angles are possible; the invention is not limited to a 44° angle. The resulting building may be very tall, typically more than one hundred feet tall, and in some instances more than 200 feet tall. A standard pile storage system can store around 1.5 million bushels of grain, while this invention allows for storage of much larger amounts, such as 4.5 million bushels of grain.
The user can fill and unload the structure multiple times without removing or replacing the cover. More of the product can be placed in the structure than in the traditional pile cover method because the structure can support grain pressures at steeper angles than the angle of repose of the grain. This invention utilizes a combination of vertical and angle of repose (pile) storage. Because the crop is supported by the exoskeleton instead of the cover, fans are not required to run at all times and aeration can be used to keep the crop in good condition instead of holding the cover in place.
Generally the invention can be used with the same footprint as that used in the pile storage systems, but allows for a larger volume of crop to be stored on the same size footprint, as the capacity is not limited to the angle of repose of the product.
The invention also has advantages over traditional grain bin buildings that have a roof and walls. In prior art grain bins, any damage to the result would also compromise the vertical sidewall. In the present invention, there is minimal structural support between the lid or top of the invention and the side, so damage to the lid will not compromise the sides.
In an additional embodiment, the exoskeleton 12 and cover 14 replaces traditional cylindrical storage buildings. In this embodiment, the horizontal rings 16 are not tapered to form a cone and the trusses 18 are not angled. Instead, the rings 16 are of equal size to form a cylinder and the trusses 18 are vertical, generally perpendicular to the ground. The exoskeleton 12 and smooth interior makes it easy to completely and efficiently remove product from the building, as product does not get caught on any interior girders or trusses.
The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present inventions. The foregoing embodiments and the methods described herein may vary based on the ability, experience, and preference of those skilled in the art. Merely listing the steps of the method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method. The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the claims are so limited. Those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the invention can be used for any crops, including grain or any other harvest. The invention can be used with non-crop items, such as equipment, bagged materials, items on pallets, salt, coal, earthen materials, fertilizer, or cement.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/103,454 filed Oct. 7, 2008 and herein incorporates the provisional patent application by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61103454 | Oct 2008 | US |