Patent ID: 9469473
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: B65D

Claim Text:
1. A hopper bottom for supporting a cylindrical side wall of a grain bin above a foundation, the hopper bottom comprising: a hopper wall having an inverted cone shape so as to taper downwardly and inwardly from a peripheral edge at a top end of the hopper wall to a central opening at a bottom end of the hopper wall, the top end of the hopper wall being arranged to support the cylindrical side wall of the grain bin thereabove; a plurality of upright support members each spanning between a bottom end of the upright support member arranged to be supported on the foundation and a top end of the upright support member supporting the hopper wall thereon so as to be arranged to support the hopper wall spaced above the foundation; a plurality of ventilation openings communicating through the hopper wall in alignment with respective ones of the upright support members; a hollow interior chamber within each upright support member in communication with a respective one of the ventilation openings in the hopper wall at a top end of the hollow interior chamber and communicating downwardly through each upright support member from the ventilation opening at the top end of the hollow interior to a bottom end of the hollow interior chamber; a common manifold structure located externally of the hopper wall and being in communication with the hollow interior chamber of each upright support member i) at a location external of the hopper wall and ii) at a location along the hollow interior chamber which is spaced below the respective ventilation opening in the hopper wall such that the hollow interior chamber of each upright support member is in series between the common manifold structure and the respective ventilation opening in the hopper wall; and an inlet opening in the manifold structure arranged for communication with a blower so as to be arranged to direct ventilation air from the blower and into the grain bin through the manifold structure, through the hollow interior chambers of the upright support members collectively, and the ventilation openings in the hopper wall; wherein the common manifold structure is solely connected to the hopper wall through the upright support members such that ventilation air directed into the inlet opening of the manifold structure from the blower is directed into the ventilation openings in the hopper wall solely through the hollow interior chambers of the upright support members.