Abstract:
Disclosed herein are apparatus and systems for forming a temporary storage facility for granular materials such as agricultural products including grain and corn. The temporary storage facility includes a retaining wall constructed by connecting free-standing wall sections in a circular or rectangular shape. The free-standing wall sections have overlapping elements on the face to hold the agricultural products inside the retaining wall sections while admitting air for ventilation. Ventilation holes are made in the panel elements so as to admit air but prevent water or vermin entry to protect the agricultural products.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/620,011, filed Apr. 4, 2012. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to temporary storage systems used to store agricultural products such as grain. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Storage of large volumes of granular materials, including agricultural products such as wheat, corn or barley can benefit from the use of temporary structures. Agricultural endeavors in particular, due to vagaries in the size and timing of harvested crops, market conditions and weather, can benefit from storage facilities which protect crops while allowing easy filling of the structure using conventional handling equipment and permitting portions of the harvested crops to be easily withdrawn on variable schedules. Due to the highly variable nature of the factors which produce the need for storage, it can be very inefficient to build permanent structures large enough to contain the largest possible crop for the maximum time period desired. 
         [0004]    In addition to being cost effective to erect and maintain, it is desirable for temporary structures for agricultural products to allow the crops stored therein to be ventilated by air circulation to permit drying to optimal levels to maximize the market price of the crops and to prevent rot. 
         [0005]    Grains are often stored in permanent, fixed structures such as silos and similar metal or wood structures. Such structures are, by their nature, fixed and somewhat costly to erect. It is known to provide temporary storage facilities of the general type herein described, which are cost-effective to prepare and utilize, may be easily dismantled and transported, which at the same time providing effective temporary storage during a typical harvest season. 
         [0006]    Temporary storage facilities of the type herein described utilize a base, a retaining wall, a ventilating system, and a cover. 
         [0007]    A base for temporary storage facilities is typically a prepared surface, often circular, oval or rectangular. The surface may be an inert aggregate material or an asphalt material. 
         [0008]    The retaining wall is typically constructed of several perforated wall panels, the perforations being numerous and uniform in size, and having a dimension smaller than the typical dimension of the agricultural grain to be stored within the perimeter formed by the retaining wall. The retaining wall sections are supported at an angle in relation to vertical, and provided with the necessary reinforcement to carry the loads imposed by the material being stored within the facility. Typically, the retaining wall sections are connected in an end to end fashion providing a substantially contiguous barrier surrounding the perimeter of the storage surface. 
         [0009]    To retard spoilage and protect the stored product, the typical temporary storage facility of the type herein described requires positive ventilation. This is accomplished by placement of numerous perforated conduits on the storage surface. Such conduits are typically sealed at one end, perforated both longitudinally and circumferentially, routed through openings formed in the retaining walls, and then connected to one or more blowers which draw air from the ventilating conduits. This action lowers the pressure in the grain pile, thereby drawing air from the perimeter of the storage structure, through the retaining walls, and into the base of the grain pile. The typical covering for the temporary storage facility of the type described herein is sometimes a flexible material in the form of a sturdy but lightweight plastic film. In other installations, the cover is formed from a plurality of wedge-shaped plastic elements which are secured together to form a conical top enclosure for the grain pile. 
         [0010]    Principal drawbacks of the present systems include the complexity and costs associated with the formation of perforated panels for the wall sections, the need to consider the dimensions of the perforations in relation to the grain being stored, and the susceptibility of the perforated panels to clogging. Attempts have been made to utilize screens as a portion of the wall panels, but both heavily perforated sheets and screens lack the rigidity required to support the loads imposed by the grain being stored in a facility. 
         [0011]    The present invention addresses these limitations by providing a rigid support panel which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which optimizes the flow of ventilating air through the supporting wall. Panels constructed according to the present invention are inherently strong by virtue of their cross-sectional shape, requiring fewer structural supports for maintaining the wall sections in the desired position, i.e., retaining the loads imposed by the material being contained. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    Disclosed embodiments include methods, apparatuses and systems for temporary storage of agricultural grain products including an enclosing retaining wall having a plurality of free-standing sections. The enclosing retaining wall can include multiple free-standing sections arranged in a circular, oval or substantially rectangular shape. The free-standing sections are typically constructed of galvanized steel and include ground supports which permit the free-standing sections to maintain a predetermined angle based on the angle of repose of the agricultural products stored. The free-standing sections include perforated wall panels which permit ventilation. Adjacent free-standing sections can be held together by short sections of louvered panels. The free-standing sections optionally include openings for accommodation of ventilating pipes for directing ventilating air through the agricultural products. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The various features, advantages and other uses of the present apparatus will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a free-standing wall section assembly according to the disclosed embodiments; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view showing a free-standing wall section assembly according to the disclosed embodiments; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a single wall section element according to the disclosed embodiments; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of a wall section assembly; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a storage facility showing multiple wall sections creating a wall assembly according to the disclosed embodiments; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a grain storage facility comprising a plurality of interconnected wall sections of the type described herein, surrounding and retaining a grain mound; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a grain storage facility comprising a plurality of interconnected wall sections of the type described herein, surrounding and retaining a grain mound, and further incorporating a removable protective cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The present invention will be best understood by reference to  FIGS. 1-7  and the elements appropriately numbered thereon. 
         [0022]    With reference first to  FIG. 1 , the details of the wall sections  10  will best be appreciated. As shown in all of the accompanying figures, a plurality of wall sections  10  is interconnected to form a retaining wall which may be round, oval, elliptical or approximately rectangular in shape when viewed in plan. Such a perimeter is designed to surround and retain a quantity of granular material as will be further explained herein. 
         [0023]    Each wall section  10  is, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , a collection of elements forming a panel assembly  12  and a support structure  14 . The panel assembly  12  is further comprised of a plurality of overlapping elements  16  which, when interconnected and connected to a supporting sub-structure, form a barrier for enclosing the granular material above-referenced. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it will be appreciated that the elements  16  are secured by fasteners  18  to a plurality of back supports  20  using fasteners  18 . Elements  16  are preferably formed of a high strength rigid material such as galvanized steel, although other materials, such as aluminum or fiberglass reinforced plastics may serve as suitable substitutes. In a typical panel assembly  12 , elements  16  are of uniform length, conventionally between 3 feet and 12 feet in length. Each panel element  16  measures approximately  14  inches in height, although this dimension may be varied, as needed, to provide the necessary rigidity to the panel assembly  12  and wall section  10  to accommodate the loads imposed by the volume of material being retained by the plurality of wall sections  10  forming the retaining wall surrounding the stored material. The number of panel elements  16  is selected based on the desired finished height of the completed wall section  10 , which is a function of the anticipated height of the perimeter of the granular material being stored within the completed structure. Likewise, the length of back supports  20  will be selected to provide the necessary support for and engagement with the plurality of elements  16  forming the panel assembly  12 . 
         [0025]    With particular attention now to  FIG. 2 , each wall section  10  incorporates a support structure  14  comprising a plurality of bases  24 , long braces  23 , short braces  22  and back supports  20  which are interconnected in a triangular configuration by fasteners  18 , and supported on the ground or other surface  30 . A portion of base  24 , short brace  22  and back support  20  forms a triangular structure, as do the entire base  24 , back support  20  and long brace  23 , thereby providing the necessary structural support for each wall section  10 . In a typical embodiment, each wall section  10  is supported by a plurality of support structures  14  spaced along the back side of panel assembly  12 . 
         [0026]    The back support  20 , base  24 , long brace  23  and short brace  22  elements as depicted in  FIG. 2  may be provided with pre-drilled or pre-tapped holes designed to engage fasteners  18 , which are preferably threaded fasteners in the form of cap screws. A wide variety of similar fasteners which will be well known to those skilled in the art may likewise be used to accomplish interconnection of the individual elements of the support structure above-described. In the preferred embodiment, a span brace  26  interconnects the long braces  23  associated with each panel assembly  12  to provide additional lateral rigidity to each support structure  14  associated with each wall section  10 . Preferably, long braces  23 , short braces  22 , bases  24  and back supports  20  are formed of durable rigid material such as galvanized steel having an L cross section, although it will be appreciated that other metals, such as aluminum, or plastics, such as fiberglass reinforced plastic, may be selected as the raw material for the support structures as well. Span braces  26  are preferably 2″×4″ wood boards, although other materials and dimensions will also suffice. 
         [0027]    In the preferred embodiment, the panel assembly  12  comprising a plurality of elements  16  and back supports  20  is disposed at a predetermined angle ° to the ground where ° is typically  55  degrees, more or less, this angle having been selected to optimize the position of the grain in relation to the elements  16 , as will be further described herein. 
         [0028]    With reference now to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the detailed configuration of the individual elements  16  will be appreciated. Each element  16  is elongate, having a length L selected according to the desired length of the panel assembly. Likewise, each element  16  has a height H selected to attain a desired overall height of the panel assembly  12 . Each element  16  is formed, either by folding or by extrusion, to present an approximately “J” cross-section. Each element  16  is provided with a plurality of mounting holes  60  designed to facilitate engagement of element  16  with back support  20  as previously described, and as described below. Each element  16  is formed from flat stock, to which is applied a first fold  52 , a second fold  54 , a third fold  56  and a fourth fold  58 . First fold  52  defines an essentially rectangular overlap  47  and center section  49 . Second fold  54  and third fold  56  define an upper section  51 . Third fold  56  and fourth fold  58  define upper perforated surface  48  and upper exterior surface  40 . Upper perforated surface  48  is provided with a plurality of perforations  50  which are formed in upper perforated surface  48  by conventional means, such as punching or drilling. Collectively, the folds add strength and rigidity to the element  16  and the panel assembly  12 . 
         [0029]    The total area occupied by perforations  50  is critical in terms of its relationship with the overall area of the upper perforated surface  48 . Ideally, the diameter of perforations  50  is selected to be of sufficiently size as to optimize ventilation, while still maintaining a sufficient total surface area of all of the perforations  50  in relation to upper perforated surface  48  so that the perforations  50  occupy 12 to 13 percent of the upper perforated surface  48  of each element  16 . Typically, each perforation is .75 inches in diameter. 
         [0030]    With reference now to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the attachment of elements  16  to back supports  20  will be best understood, as will the interrelationship between adjoining elements  16 . Each element  16  is secured to a plurality of back supports  20  so that each element  16  is substantially perpendicular to each back support  20 . In use, therefore, the elements  16  are substantially horizontal, or, stated differently, positioned substantially parallel to the surface on which the wall sections  10  are positioned. Utilizing fasteners  18  of the type above-described, each element  16  is secured to each back support  20 , with the understanding that the position of fasteners  18  is selected in relation to second section  51  so that the tools utilized for fixation of fasteners  18  may access the head of fasteners  18  as the elements  16  are secured to and assembled with the back supports  20 . Each element  16  overlaps adjacent elements  16  which are positioned in parallel relationship to one another. As will be appreciated by reference to  FIG. 4 , the lower interior surface  43  of each element  16  is configured so as to overlap the upper exterior surface  40  of the adjoining elements  16 . 
         [0031]    When so assembled, the overlapping elements  16  create a path for the flow of air as depicted in drawings by the arrows designated by the letter “F”. Air flows from the exterior of the support structure  14  and through the panel assembly  12  as depicted through perforations  50  and into the granular material  80  reposing against the panel assembly  12 . In practice, the angular positioning of panel assembly  12  results in the formation of air pockets  84  at the upper end of each elements  16 , thereby facilitating the flow of air, not only through perforations  50 , but longitudinally along the length of each element  16  through air pockets  84 . In the preferred embodiment, the uppermost element  16  is fitted with a cap  28  which blocks the perforations  50  in the uppermost element  16 , thereby preventing the ingress of water or contaminants into the uppermost pocket  84  of each panel assembly  12 . 
         [0032]    The implementation of the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 . With reference first to  FIG. 5 , an open area for construction of a temporary grain storage facility utilizing the present invention is depicted as an oval area having a perimeter  102  surrounded by a plurality of interconnected wall sections  10  interconnected by adjoining panels  100 . Positioned on the ground  30  are one or more vent pipes  104  which are capped at their distal ends  106 . Typically, the vent pipes are flexible, rigid or semi-rigid perforated pipes, communicating with a plurality of blowers  108 . While the vent pipes  104  may be configured as depicted in  FIG. 5 , it is also known to utilize a spoke-like configuration for the pipes, with each “spoke” connected to and communicating with its own blower (not shown). The vent pipes  104  so configured provide an exhaust system for drawing air from the atmosphere surrounding the grain mound, through the mound and exhausting that air from an exhaust on the blower  108 . This principle is diagrammatically depicted in  FIG. 6 , which shows a mound  200  of grain surrounded by a plurality of wall sections  10 . The mound typically has an apex  206  located approximately centrally around a discharge tower  204  which is supported by and communicates with a loading structure  202 . In use, granular material such as grain is routed through the loading structure  202  to the tower  204  where it is discharged into the center of the storage area forming mound  200 . 
         [0033]    Most commonly, once the mound  200  has been formed, a flexible cover  208  is applied to the surface of the mound, thereby protecting the granular material from the elements, as shown in  FIG. 7 . Further, because the most common location for deterioration of the granular material is at the perimeter of the mound, it is common to provide the cover  208  with one or more openings  210  to facilitate air flow from the center of the mound through the perimeter wall and the vents  210  and the cover  208 . 
         [0034]    The present invention is designed as a component of either a semi-permanent or a temporary grain storage structure. It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that when the storage facility is no longer in use, that the wall sections  10  may be separated from one another and either repositioned or collapsed for storage. Likewise, flexible cover  208  may be collapsed and folded for storage and reuse, and ventilating pipes  104  and blowers  108  may be disconnected for storage and for later use. 
         [0035]    Numerous variations thereof may be obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention, which I claim: