Improvements in and connected with Structures or Warehouses for the Storage of Grain.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Structures or Warehouses for
the Storage of Grain.
I, DANIEL ROGERS BOWKER, a citizen of the United States and residing at
Number 274, Lafayette Avenue, City of Brooklyn, County of Kings, State of New
York, United States of America, Merchant, 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 :-
My invention relates to a new and improved structure or ware-house for the
storage of grain, and it consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the
walls, floors, bins &c. hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings hereof,
Figure 1, is a plan view in section on the line x, x of Figure 2.
Figure 2, is an elevation in vertical section on the line x, x of Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of one of the
grain bins.
Figure 4, is a view partly in section and partly in plan of the upper part of one
of the grain bins.
Figure 5, is a vertical detail on a horizontal line of one of the testing valves.
Figure 6, is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of the sampling tube and
co-acting parts.
Figure 7, is a detail in elevation of one of the gates through which the grain is
withdrawn from the several bins.
Figure 8, is a vertical section of the upper part of one of the bins, showing the
exhaust pumps.
Figure 9, is an elevation of the side of the vacuum gauge and of the tank in
elevation.
Within
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2; A, A represents the exterior wall of the
building. It is made double as shown, that is to say, having an air space C, C
between the two thicknesses of the wall, the two walls being tied together here and
there as required architecturally by stays B, B. (see Figure 2). D, D are two
solid walls running across about midway of the length of the building and they
divide it into two parts, so that the spread of fire, should any occur, from one
portion of the building to the other portion, will be practically impossible, there
being iron doors or other suitable fire excluding devices, placed at all doorways as
hereinafter explained. E is a space or room, which extends from the bottom of
the building to the top. On the basement floor of the building are located the
engines and other appliances for carrying on the work of the building. In this
space E are also arranged stairways F, which extend from floor to floor throughout
the height of the building, there being no other stairways in the building.
the external walls A, and separated from them by a hall-way G, which extends all
around the building at each floor, is placed the grain holder proper H. The entire
space within these walls H is divided into a number of grain bins, preferably square
in shape. I prefer them to be made of boiler plate, and if of boiler plate or of
brick, in order that there may be no condensation, I prefer to construct them as
shown in Figure 4. That is to say,
the boiler plates I, I are riveted together as
shown, and here and there there are arranged vertical timber strips J, which are
of differing thicknesses as shown, so that their faces are all upon the same line.
They are fastened by bolts or screws or otherwise to the boiler plates, and along
their inner faces are arranged boarding or planking K, preferably of matched stuff.
At the corners of each bin are arranged rectangular pieces of timber L, having
clamp pieces M on their inner sides between which and the pieces L, the ends of

page_text: the planking or boarding K are clamped, and securely held as shown in Figure 4.
Bolts or spikes N serve to fasten the pieces M to the pieces L, and to hold the
ends of the boarding between them. The metal boiler plates are riveted together
at the corners in any preferred manner, the space between the boarding K and
boiler plates is preferably filled with a cement or plaster-like body O. Any
substance used for filling safes, refrigerators, refrigerating cars and the like may
be used instead of the cement or plaster. In this way I prevent the cold from the
iron acting to condense such moisture as may be in the grain, which would engender
moulding, musting or growth in it. Of course it will be understood that both sides
of the boiler plates are protected in this manner, although I show it in one side
only in Figure 4.
Referring to Figures 3 and 8. P, P represent two exhaust pumps. One only
may suffice for each bin. a¹ are the pistons of the pumps. the cylinders.
cl the openings in the upper end of the cylinders through which the air escapes.
d' the valves in the pistons and e¹ the valves in the lower part of the cylinders
which connect with the interior of the bin; the valves d¹ and e' are each provided
with the usual gravity acting devices or valves which close the valve openings
during the making of the stroke as understood. These exhaust pumps at the
proper time exhaust the air from the bins, they (the bins) being made air-tight, or
as nearly so as possible at all their joints, and also all openings in them are sealed
as hereinafter stated. The exhaust pumps may be run by steam or other suitable
power in a well-known manner. Qis a vacuum gauge, one of them being applied
on each bin (see Figs. 3 and 9). These gauges are of the usual construction.
They not only show the degree of vacuum attained by the pumps, but also indicate
a leakage in a well-known manner. R is a cap or cover which is held down over
the open end of each bin by cross bars S, which are held in place by bolts and
nuts T, in a manner well understood. U is a gasket or other packing beneath the
lower edge of the cover whereby the air is excluded. p', p' are two grain bin
thermometers, constructed and arranged in a manner well-known, to register the
temperature of the grain at various parts of each bin; I may employ more or less
than two of them, disposed as preferred.
Referring now to Figure 3; V is an air inlet pipe covered with a perforated
metallic plate W, so that the grain cannot escape, but a blast of air may pass up
through it into the grain. Y is a pipe leading to any suitable blast device whereby
hot air, as may be desired, is forced through the grain. It is supplied with a
suitable stop-cock Z, so that the air may be shut off from entering or exit, and it is
provided with a packing a to make the joint air-tight. is another opening
covered by a cap c, which has a packing ring d through which a natural passage of
air will be allowed of large area, whereby the temperature of the grain may be
maintained in a normal condition. This opening being large in area is covered
with a conically arranged and consequently strong, perforated cap or hood of
metal e, so that the air may pass in and out, but the grain cannot. f(see Figures
and 7) is an opening in the bin, through which the grain is withdrawn when desired.
It is covered by a sliding gate g which is pulled open and shoved shut by a rack h
which is guided by guides i upon each side and is actuated by a pinion j and crank
handle all as shown. The gate g snugly fits and slides in slideways and is
ground to an air-tight fit with a seat surrounding the edges of the hole f and if
required, any suitable material, such as soft metal or other packing may be
employed between the surfaces to make this joint air-tight.
refer to the use of hot air blown through the grain, because it is part of my
invention as a process to kiln dry the grain so that both animal and vegetable life
in it will be prevented, suspended or destroyed.
In order that the grain may be sampled at any desired point in the height of
each bin, I provide a tube m (see Figures 3 and 6) which extends from the bottom
to near the top of each bin. It is put together in sections and at each section,
there is a valve coupler n (see Figure 5). It is so constructed that the sections of
the rod m are threaded to it at each end, and on one side, it projects laterally,

page_text: forming a square slideway o, in which slide valves p opposite which valves there
are openings into the interior of the tube. r, r, are a series of rods, each of
which extends from the exterior of the bin through a stuffing box s up through the
grain and engages with one of the valves p. Of course some of these rods are
longer than the others, depending upon the elevation of the special valve with
which it connects. The lower end of the tube m projects through the bottom of
the bin, and at its end there is an airtight screw which hermetically closes the end
of the test tube. u is a frame bolted to the outside of the bin provided with lugs v
and cross bolt w which are removable, and y, are two levers one end of which
engages with a socket
on the ends of the rods r, and the other end of which
may be extended as far as desired to serve as a handle, thus affording means to
open or close the valve p, elevating and depressing the rods as before stated.
وت
It will be noticed that the advantages which I secure by the peculiar construction
of my ware-house are very important and valuable. That is to say; the outer
wall affords protection against fire in surrounding buildings, and if the outer wall
should be entirely destroyed, nevertheless the building would stand, being supported
upon the inner wall and the contents would be uninjured. Also the outer wall
prevents moisture getting to the inner wall. The presence of the air chamber in
the inner wall prevents sweating of that wall. It being well-known that a large or
heavy body of masonry not ventilated will sweat by itself, and the galleries between
the walls enable the watchman to frequently circulate around the building and
observe the condition of things at the height of every gallery. Also the galleries
are necessary for the purpose of repair and to open windows and other
ventilating devices in the exterior walls of the building. The windows or other
ventilating arrangement in the exterior walls allow free circulation of air currents
to dry the inner wall, and also the gallery spaces, so that mold, mildew, dampness,
etc. are avoided. Also, should a fire arise, these galleries permit the firemen to
attain any desired height with their fire appliances to project the water through the
windows etc., in the outer wall, to suppress fires in adjoining buildings, on any side
of the ware-house, and at any desired height. Thus there is a co-active relation
between all of the stated features. The inner wall primarily supports the building,
the air chamber in it prevents its sweating. The outer wall additionally strengthens
the building and prevents fire from destroying the structure; all the destructive
effects of fire in adjoining buildings being received upon the outer wall, which even
if entirely destroyed would not destroy the building, but could, after the fire, be
replaced; and the galleries, at whatever heights from the bottom to the top of the
building, permit constant inspection at any desired elevation of the entire structure,
and also afford means for opening ventilators in the outer wall, and in the interior
of the building, and by passage through them, the watchmen can observe every
part of the ware-house.
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,
First. A building having an outer wall and an inner wall, the spaces between the
walls having galleries extending entirely around the inner building and grain bins
within the inner building, substantially as set forth.
Second. A building having double outer walls, with an air space between them,
inner walls, a series of galleries between the outer double walls and the inner walls
extending entirely around the building, and grain bins within the inner walls,
substantially as set forth.
Third. A grain bin having a sampling tube extending from the exterior of its
lower part up through the grain, said tube having a series of valves opening into it,
within the same bin, at different elevations, which are operated from the exterior
of the bin, and a separate opening for drawing off the grain from the bin, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Fourth. A grain bin having a sampling tube extending from the exterior of its

page_text: lower part up through the grain and provided with a series of valve couplings within
the bin, and valves operated by rigid rods which extend to the exterior of the bin,
adapted to pull the valves open and push them shut, and a separate opening for
drawing off the grain, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. A grain bin having a sampling tube which extends from the exterior of
the bin through the grain, provided with valves operated by rigid rods which
extend through stuffing boxes on the bottom of the bin and means whereby air may
be prevented from entering the test tube, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. A grain bin having exhaust pumps at its upper part, a vacuum gauge,
means for preventing the entrance of air to the bin, a sampling tube extending from
the exterior of the lower part of the bin through the grain, provided with a
removable air-tight cap, to prevent the air from entering the bin through the
sampling tube, and valves for admitting the grain to the sampling tube operated by
rods from the exterior of the bin, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. A grain bin comprising essentially vertical walls, a wooden lining for
the walls and non-conducting material between the wooden lining and the walls of
the bin, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. A grain storage ware-house comprising essentially a series of bins, each
bin having a wooden lining, an air exhaust pump, a vacuum gauge, a sampling tube
and means for forcing air through the grain, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. A grain storage ware-house comprising essentially a series of bins each
provided with an air exhaust pump, a sampling tube provided with valves at
different heights in the tube, and means whereby air may be prevented from
entering the tube, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. A storage ware-house for grain comprising a series of bins having an air
exhaust pump, a vacuum gauge, means for forcing air through the grain, a sampling
tube extending from the exterior of the bins through the grain, valves in the tube,
rigid rods extending from the valves to the exterior of the bin and means to
prevent air from entering the tube, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 14th day of November 1893.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.