Transition adapter for a material handling system

A material handling system has an input conduit section 12 having an input cross-sectional shape, an output conduit section 14 having an output cross-sectional shape that is different than the input cross-sectional shape, and a transition adaptor 18 connecting the input conduit section 12 and the output conduit section providing a transition between the input and output cross-sectional shapes. The transition adaptor includes a crown piece 20 that has an outer end having an elliptical sectional shape and an inner end. The transition adaptor includes a box piece 30 that has an inner end and an outer end 32 having a rectangular sectional shape, wherein the inner end of the crown piece mates with the inner end of the box piece. The box piece is formed by a first box half and a second box half 42, wherein each box half 40 is formed from a flat piece of metal and is formed by bending the box half 40 about bend lines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

This invention relates generally to processing and storage facilities for particulate material such as grain, and more particularly to a transition adapter used to connect material handing conduits having differing cross-sectional shapes.

Description of Related Art

Processing and storage facilities for particulate material such as grain use conduits throughout the facility to move the material between facility components such as storage bins, elevators, tanks, silos, and other structures used to process and store the material. Oftentimes, the shape and size of the conduits used in the facility is different in various parts of the facility. Where a conduit of one shape meets up with a conduit of a different shape, adapters need to be installed to transition from the first-shaped conduit and the second-shaped conduit. Manufacturing, welding and installing these adapters can be difficult, costly and time consuming.

OVERVIEW OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a material handling system with an input conduit section having an input cross-sectional shape, an output conduit section having an output cross-sectional shape that is different than the input cross-sectional shape, and a transition adaptor connecting the input conduit section and the output conduit section providing a transition between the input and output cross-sectional shapes. The transition adaptor includes a crown piece that has an outer end having an elliptical sectional shape and an inner end. The transition adaptor includes a box piece that has an inner end and an outer end having a rectangular sectional shape, wherein the inner end of the crown piece mates with the inner end of the box piece. The box piece is formed by a first box half and a second box half, wherein each box half is formed from a flat piece of metal and is formed by bending the box half about bend lines.

In one embodiment, the inner end of the crown piece has four crest portions, each of the four crest portions separated from adjacent crest portions by a valley portion. Each box half has a first end and a second end opposite the first end and has a base side and a transition side opposite the base side. The transition side has a shape with a first peak and a second peak separated by a center trough, and wherein outward of the first and second peaks, the transition side slopes downward toward the first and second ends such that the box half has a height dimension at the first and second ends that is the same as a height dimension at the deepest point of the center trough. The first and second box halves are joined together such that the first and second ends form divided troughs56substantially similar to the center troughs. When the two box halves are bent and joined together, the box piece and crown piece are joined such that the peaks of the transition side of the box piece mate with the valley portions of the inner end of the crown piece and the center and divided troughs of the transition side of the box piece mate with the crest portions of the inner end of the crown piece

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1illustrates a portion of a material handling system10that may be used as part of a larger material processing and storage facility configured to perform various processing steps, stockpile and temporarily store the material. One will understand that the material handling system10may be used to move the material between a material source (not shown), such as a delivery vehicle, toward system components such as storage bins, elevators, tanks, silos, or other structures used to process and store the material, or from such structures to a material delivery component after the material has been suitably processed and stored. Furthermore, while one example embodiment of the material handling system10is used in a facility for the processing and storage of grain, the material handling system10may be used in any other material processing and storage facility, such as those used for seed, particulate fertilizer, or the like. As material processing and storage facilities are well known to those in the art and the particular invention described herein may be used in various locations in such facilities, further detail on such facilities need not be given herein.

The material handling system10includes an input conduit section12that is connected to an output conduit section14with a transition adaptor18. One skilled in the art will understand that the input and output conduit sections12,14may include desired bends, dividers, gates and other components as needed to suitably direct the movement of the material without departing from the scope of the invention. The input conduit section12has an input cross-sectional shape and the output conduit section has an output cross-sectional shape that is different than the input shape, and the transition adaptor18connects and provides a desirably smooth transition between the input and output shapes.

Turning also now toFIG. 2, according to the invention the transition adaptor18is formed with a crown piece20that has an outer end22having an elliptical sectional shape, and in the illustrated embodiment, having a circular sectional shape. The transition adaptor also has a box piece30that has an outer end32having a rectangular sectional shape, and in the illustrated embodiment, having a square sectional shape. An inner end24of the crown piece20is cut to mate with a shape of an inner end34of the box piece30. Turning also now to the exploded view ofFIG. 3, in one embodiment the crown piece20is a three-dimensionally-cut pipe section with the inner end24having four crest portions26, each of the four crest portions26separated from adjacent crest portions26by a valley portion28. In the illustrated embodiment, the box piece30is formed by a pair of identical box halves40, shown as a first box half40A and a second box half40B. The inner ends24,34of the crown and box pieces20,30are welded or otherwise joined together to form the transition adaptor18.

As best seen inFIG. 4, each box half40is formed from a flat sheet or plate of metal by stamping or pressing and has a first end42and a second end44opposite the first end42and has a base side46and a transition side48opposite the base side46. The transition side48has a shape with a first peak50and a second peak52separated by a center trough54. Outward of the first and second peaks50,52, the transition side48slopes downward toward the first and second ends42,44such that the box half40has a height dimension (H) at the first and second ends42,44that is the same as the height dimension (H) at the deepest point of the center trough54. Thus, each box half is symmetrical about an axis (A) that runs through the deepest point of the center trough54. Each box half40is formed by bending the box half40about bend lines (B) and (C), and the sides42,44of the two box halves40are then joined together such that the first and second ends42,44form divided troughs56(FIG. 2) substantially similar to the center troughs54. After the two box halves40are bent about bend lines (B) and (C) and joined together, the box piece30and crown piece20are joined such that the peaks50,52of the transition side48of the box piece30mate with the valley portions28of the inner end24of the crown piece20and the center and divided troughs54,56of the transition side48of the box piece30mate with the crest portions26of the inner end24of the crown piece20.

The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention are obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.