A SYSTEM OF HERMETICAL SILOS FOR THE LAYING UP AND CONSERVATION OF WHEAT AND OTHER SORTS OF GRAINS
Year: 1885

page_text: ΟΙ wheat and other sorts of Grains.
•
I CELESTIN ENGRAND of 53 rue de Rome Marseille (France) Gentleman' do
liereby declare the nature of my invention for "A SYSTEM OF HERMETICAL SILOS
FOR THE LAYING UP AND CONSERVATION OF WHEAT AND OTHER SORTS OF GRAINS"
to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in silos adapted for storing
grain.
The improved silo may be constructed in sheet iron or other metal, in brick or
in atone; it may be rectangular cylindrical or of other form and the height.may be
greater or less according to circumstances; it may be so arranged to admit of the
air being withdrawn from the interior.; it is surrounded with earth sand ashes or
other materials to maintain an uniform température in the interior.
Although other materials may be employed the chamber of the silo is preferably
formed in sheet iron; and rectangular with conical ends; it is surrounded' by a
thick wall or it may be several such chambers arranged in a group are so enclosed.
Between the wall and the chambers a considerable thickness, of earth say six or
seven feet is provided so that the interior temperature may scarcely vary winter or
summer. The chambers are supported on massive masonary several feet from the
ground and at the top also they are covered with earth. Over the whole there' is
a roof. There is a man hole at the top furnished with closely fitting cover and
moveable hopper.
Outlet passages at the bottom serve for the withdrawal of the grain and at the
outlet weighing apparatus and apparatus for filling into sacks is provided. The
outlet can be closed hermetically when not in use. There are other small pipes or
passages for drawing samples from different parts of the interior of the chamber,
these also are closed air tight when out of use.
When I provide for the removal of air from the interior of the chambers. I arrange
pipes over the chambers connecting them one with the other and with the air pump
or its equivalent. There are air cocks on these pipes which, are opened and closed
as may be required.
The grain is brought to the silos in trucks running' on a tramway provided
immediately over the chambers.
Each outlet is provided with sack filling apparatus receiving three sacks at a
time. One man is able to control' three outlets and fill and weigh nine sacks per
minute.

page_text: I; CELESTIN ENGRAND of 53 rue de Rome Marseille (France). Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in silos adapted for storing
grain..
"
The improved silo may be constructed in sheet iron or other metal, in brick, or
in stone; it may be rectangular, cylindrical or of other form and the height may
be greater or less according to circumstances; it may be so arranged to admit of
the air being withdrawn from the intérior; it is surrounded with earth, sand, ashes
or other materials to maintain an uniform temperature in the interior.
Although other materials may be employed the chamber of the silo is preferably
formed in sheet iron; and rectangular with conical ends; it is surrounded by a
thick wall or it may be several such chambers arranged in a group are so enclosed.
Between the wall and the chambers a considerable thickness of earth, say, six or,
seven feet is provided so that the interior temperature may scarcely vary winter or
summer. The chambers are supported on massive masonry several feet from the.
ground and at the top also they are covered with earth. Over the whole there is
& roof.
There is a man hole at the top furnished with closely fitting cover and moveable
hopper.
.Outlet passages at the bottom serve for the withdrawal of the grain and at the
outlet weighing apparatus and apparatus for filling into sacks is provided. The
outlet can be closed hermetically when not in use. There are other small pipes or
passages for drawing samples from different parts of the interior of the chamber,
these also are closed air tight when out of use.
When I provide for the removal of air from the interior of the chambers I arrange
pipes over the chambers connecting them one with the other and with the air pump
or its equivalent. There are air cocks on these pipes which are opened and closed
as may be required.
The grain is brought to the silos in the trucks running on a tramway provided
immediately over the chambers.
Each outlet is provided with sack filling apparatus receiving three sacks at a
time. One man is able to control three outlets and fill and weigh nine sacks per
minute.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
1✓

page_text: The bins a are arranged in double range side by side each isolated from the
other by an interstice. The number of bins is proportionate to the importance of
the warehouse. Strict insulation is secured by. filling up the interstices with a
stratum of fine earth 50 centimetres thick or if advisable with sand ashes or
similar substances naturally impervious and not subject to alteration consequent on
a change in the hygrometrical condition of the atmosphere.
The top part of the bins is also covered with earth or other impervious substance
from one and a half to two metres thick according to climate. This covering is
meant to protect the grain inside the bins from the effects of the external
atmosphere maintaining inside a constant unaltered temperature not suitable to
generation of insects.
These bins rest upon foundation brick walls as clearly shown in the drawings
and they are also strengthened by iron hoops fastened to the side walls. The
front and back surfaces of the double range of bins as well as the main walls are
covered with a layer of impervious material from one to one and a half metres thick.
Every face of the external surfaces above below and on all sides is similarly
covered with such impervious materials. These insulating materials around the
bins are marked in the drawing by the letter k.
The silos a are made of sheet iron galvanized throughout in preference but at all
events inside. When the bins are made of a light material the sheets are some-
times imperfectly joined and they are not perfectly tight as they should be. In
that case coating on the outside with black or bituminous.cement tar paint gutta
percha or any like substance will cure the defect and aid in the preservation of the
sheet iron.
Cereals are sometimes housed in stores made of timber. or built in bricks or
other materials but I hold by experience that such stores are unfit for the
immediate safe accomodation of grain whereas the sheet iron bin supplies a safe
and impervious holder.
The three figures of the drawing showing silos on all sides and a sectional
portion of its foundation. Each silo a is represented divided perpendicularly in
four compartments a¹ by means of partitions which make them wholly independent.
The side walls of the bins are also efficiently strengthened by these partitions.
and an even subdivision of the cereals in store is obtained. The size of the silos
is not necessarily limited, they may be made to meet the requirements of the
warehouse.
The drawing represents a silo capable of holding kil. 100,000 or kil. 25,000 for
each compartment.
The lower part of each compartment a¹ ends in the form of a truncated inverted
pyramid with an outlet at the bottom for the issue of the grain, passing at a
moderate incline through the conduit pipe d with an egress through each main
wall m.
The conduit pipes d carry the grain into a valve box shown only in Figure 2
and indicated by the letter 2. The closing valve is fitted with caoutchouc packing
in order to prevent the absorbtion of air inside the compartments by hermetically
closing the orifice.
The outlet of the wheat for filling the sacks is divided in three orifices e Figure 1
also fitted with valves easy to manage. This will afford the means of filling up at
one time three sacks ready to be weighed on the scale to control the quantity of
grain drawn out of the bins.
It is desirable that the owner of the wheat deposited should be able at any
time to satisfy himself as to the quality and the actual condition of his property in
each compartment of the bins and to ascertain whether any alteration or heating
of the grain has occured. Each compartment is consequently fitted at a convenient
height with a conduit pipe marked fissuing outside the walls m and pouring the
grain into a receiver f¹ Figure 2 which may be closed with a stop cock or a tightly
closing valve for strictly preventing the absorption of air from outside, excepting
when samples are being drawn.

page_text: The upper portion of each bin is in the shape of a pyramid forming a lid, which
covers the four compartments a¹ and ends with the autoclave neck c. Each
compartment is made independent by a partition marked h¹ Figure 1.
The autoclave neck c terminates in the feed mouth of the silos.
After the required quantity of grain has been introduced the necks c must be
hermetically closed, by their autoclave system, with the object of preventing the
absorption of external air, any system of closing may be adopted.
A grain floor is arranged on the upper part of the structure, where the bins are
situated. This top floor is efficiently supported by the pillars h which are set on
the partition walls o. Figure 3.which afford also a support to the sides of the silos.
Small mill hopper trollies run on two lines of iron rails, fitted with trap doors;
these pour the grain into the autoclave nécks c. These trollies are marked b
Figures 2 and 3.
;
Dry sound cereals, clean, odorless, and with no special strange savour, can be
preserved in unaltered condition of soundness in these bins, which are strictly
free from any atmospheric influence.
I purpose to adopt the pneumatic system making a vacuum in the bins so
killing insects by asphisy or otherwise. I inject gas carbolic acid or similar
destructive agent under a light pressure and so as not to alter the quality, or the
savour of the grain.
In the drawing, the pipe apparatus marked g¹ represents the distribution system
to each compartment a¹; these pipes are connected with the main pipe g, which is
in communication with the air and injection pumps.
Each compartment a' may be fitted with an indicator, of barometrical internal
pressures or depression..
Each compartment a¹ may also be easily connected or disconnected with or from
the pipe system, by means of stop-cocks or valves, as represented in the drawing.
A graduated system, or set of sieves, is fitted to each sucking mouth of the
mains, for preventing the entrance of heterogenous bodies or dust particles to the
pipe g and then. in the different parts of the machinery.
The sieves must be put up in such a way, as to afford every facility for cleaning.
and for being fitted again in their place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said,
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
(1) Silos substantially as described erected above the surface of the ground,
enclosed hermetically and surrounded on all sides with non-conducting material
which ensures an uniform temperature within the silo unsuited to the generation
of insects.
(2.) The combination with silos adapted to receive grain in bulk of pneumatic
apparatus whereby air can be withdrawn for the purpose of destroying insect life.
(3.)-My improved silos substantially as herein described.