Improvements in Ventilating Apparatuses for Grain Bins. and other Grain Receptacles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
COMPLETE DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ventilating Apparatuses for Grain Bins. and other
Grain Receptacles.
I, FRANK MORTON, of No. 307 North Broadway in the City of St. Louis,
in the State of Missouri, one of the United States of North America, Accountant,
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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification:-
My invention relates to a ventilating appliance to elevator grain bins, or other
grain receptacles, more especially to those bins which are built in a solid body with
the division walls common to the adjoining bins, so that there is no access to the
sides of the bins, and where the bins have considerable depth. Such bins must
be discharged at the bottom, and no appliance materially interfering with such
discharge is suitable.
The weight per horizontal square foot on the bottom of a deep bin filled with
grain is great, so that no weak appliance upon which such weight would rest would
sustain the pressure.
In order to meet these various requirements, I have invented my ventilating
appliance, which consists in a pipe or duct discharging a forced current of air into
a receiver and equalizer, hollow and open on the under side and having a substan-
tially horizontal, lower edge beneath which the air escapes equally at all parts, and
passing through all portions of the grain escapes at the top of the bin.
Figure 1. is a vertical section at 1-1 Figure 2.
Figure 2. is a top view of the empty bin.
Figure 3. is a perspective view of the inverted trough.
Figure 4 is a detail vertical section showing the cup form of receiver and
distributor; and.
Figure 5 is a similar view showing the inverted funnel.
The grain bin may have the ordinary construction, as shown, having the corner
stanchions 1, vertical sides or walls 2, and conical bottom 3.
The apparatus will be described in the order shown in the drawing, namely,
first the form shown in Figures 1. 2. 3 next that in Figure 4, and then that in
Figure 5.
4 are inverted V shaped troughs extending horizontally across the bin from
corner to corner where the four ends 5, of the troughs are closed by the corner
posts or stanchions 1, said troughs being closed at top throughout their length and
forming channels or passages which intersect each other at the point 7, thus
forming practically four troughs radiating from a common centre. It is preferred
that the troughs shall be level with the angle 6, between the vertical sides 2, and
conical bottom 3, in order that the air shall be diffused through the largest amount
of grain which may be feasible.
Beneath the intersection 7, of the arms of the trough is the discharging end 8, of
the air pipe 9, which passes through the bottom 3, of the bin and is connected with
an air pipe 10 into which air is forced by any suitable fan or air blower. 11 is a
valve by which the pipe 9 may be partly or wholly closed.
It will be understood that the air will escape into the grain all along the lower
edges of the trough, and will become diffused among the grain at all parts above
the troughs, and even below the troughs, where the grain becomes heated, (at that
point). because the heated air would ascend and give place to the cooler air from
the troughs. It will also be seen that if there should be a greater heat in one

page_text: part of the bin than another part, that the air would ascend more quickly from the
former and the cooler air would flow in from the sides to take the place of the
ascending warmer air.
The modification shown in Figure 4 has an inverted conical or pyramidal
receiver or cup 4 which receives the air from the pipe 9, the air flowing out beneath
the edge of the receiver into the mass of grain.
The modification shown in Figure 5. has a similar inverted cup but the air pipe 9
is in communication with the apex of the cup and may extend into the bin from the
bottom or top.
I have shown the air receiver and distributor 4 in the form of an inverted trough
and in that of an inverted cup. The trough is shown arranged in form of a cross.
That is to say, the troughs radiate from each other, so as to form continuous troughs
across the bin from side to side.
It is obvious it may have any other arrangement that will enable it to perform
the same functions.
There are two essential features in the air receiver and distributor. 1st that it
shall receive the air from the pipe and distribute it widely among the grain, and
2nd that it shall not interfere with the discharge of the grain from the bin.
To ensure the first the receiver 4 is constructed to give a space free from the
grain for the reception and free circulation of the air, and the lower edge is on one
level so that the air escapes in about equal quantity from all parts.
To insure the second the receiver has no part upon which a grain can lodge, so
that every grain is dislodged when the bin is cleared.
It may be found better to incline the lower edge of the trough 4 slightly upward
from the receiving point (over the mouth 8 of the pipe 9) so as to favour the escape
of the air from the parts more distinct from the said point where the pressure would
be less.
The compressed air supplied through pipe 9 or 9ª may be cold or heated.
The receiver by which the air is distributed equally to the various parts of the
bin has been shown and described in two principal forms, namely: an inverted
angular trough and that of an inverted cone or pyramid. The form is, however,
not essential so that it fulfils the function set forth-for instance, the receiver may
have the form of a semi-cylindrical inverted trough or may consist of an inverted
hollow hemisphere.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination, with a grain-bin, of an inverted air receiver within the
grain-bin, having no means of discharging except beneath the lower edge, the said
edge being substantially horizontal so that the air will escape from all parts of the
edge, an air conveyer discharging beneath the receiver, and a blowing device
connected to the said conveyer, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination, with a grain-bin, of an inverted trough within the grain-
bin, with a substantially horizontal edge so as to insure an equal discharge of air
beneath all parts of the edge, an air conveyer with discharging mouth centrally
beneath the inverted trough, a blowing device adapted to force air into the
conveyer, and suitable means to regulate the amount of air passing through the
conveyer.
3. The combination, with a grain-bin, of an air-receiver within the bin, having
an inclined top with no orifice for escape of air and having a substantially
horizontal lower edge, so that the air shall escape equally beneath all parts of the
edge, an air conveyer discharging into the receiver, and a blower connected with the
air conveyer, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination, in a grain ventilator, of an open-bottomed receiver in the
body of the grain, an air-forcing device and a duct extending from the air-forcing

page_text: device to the receiver so that the air is forced into the receiver and escapes beneath
its bottom into the body of the grain, substantially as set forth.
Dated May 10th 1892.
ΓΚΑΝΚ ΜΟΚΤΟΝ,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.