US3567078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bottom discharge means for silo
Assignee: Flying Dutchman Mfg and Sales Co
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Filing: 1969-01-23
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Granted: 1971-03-02
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Expires: 1989-01-23
Abstract
Abstract Bottom discharge means for silo having a cylindrical shell provided with a top and bottom, the bottom having a discharge opening adjacent the center, an auger having a coarse pitch and flexible dislodging members which ultimately extend radially are connected to a shaft extending upward through the bottom of the silo shell, and a housing depending from said bottom and provided with a discharge guide sloping downwardly and outwardly to a discharge port having a closure provided with dislodging means when initially moved to open position, one embodiment of the invention having an auger-type removal means communicating with the discharge port and another embodiment having a blower connected by a chute to the discharge port and the closure member serving additionally as a means to regulate the amount of air delivered to the entrance of the fan. Loading and vent means extending to the top of the silo also are provided to prevent the necessity of climbing to the top of the silo at any time during unloading or loading thereof. Additionally, auxiliary unloading means are detachably connectable to the shaft and auger for purposes of removing the remaining, conical-shaped residue of compacted material in the bottom of the silo when the same otherwise is empty.
Inventors
- 👤 John H Herr
- 👤 Aaron Z Stauffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:26
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G65/00; B65G65/30; B65G65/34; B65G65/40; B65G65/46; B65G65/463
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
Bottom discharge means for use with a silo for storing pulverant material and including an upstanding cylindrical silo shell having a top covering the upper end thereof and a bottom extending horizontally across the lower portion of tHe shell and provided with a discharge opening in said bottom adjacent the center thereof, said discharge means comprising in combination a discharge housing adapted to be attached to said bottom and extend downwardly therefrom beneath said discharge opening therein to receive stored material therethrough from said silo shell, a downwardly and outwardly sloping discharge guide in said housing in substantially vertical alignment with said discharge opening and terminating at its lower end with a discharge port, a closure movably carried by said discharge housing and positioned normally to close said discharge port but movable away from said port to permit discharge of material therethrough, a shaft sufficiently long to extend vertically upwardly from said discharge housing into at least the lower portion of such silo shell, a spiral auger having a coarse pitch and substantial diameter carried by said shaft above the level of said bottom of said silo, power means operable to rotate said shaft and auger at a predetermined speed and in a direction to cause said auger to forcibly feed material from said silo shell to and through said discharge openings, and a plurality of flexibly radially extendable dislodging members of a length less than the radius of said silo shell interconnected to said shaft within the lower portion of said silo shell and having weighted digging members on the outer ends thereof operable when rotation of said shaft is initiated to cause gradual movement of the outer ends of said flexible dislodging members outwardly from said shaft and thereby effect dislodgement of impacted stored material in said silo shell and movement thereof by gravity into engagement with said auger for discharge through said discharge opening in said bottom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
Bottom discharge means for use with a silo for storing pulverant material and including an upstanding cylindrical silo shell having a top covering the upper end thereof and a bottom extending horizontally across the lower portion of tHe shell and provided with a discharge opening in said bottom adjacent the center thereof, said discharge means comprising in combination a discharge housing adapted to be attached to said bottom and extend downwardly therefrom beneath said discharge opening therein to receive stored material therethrough from said silo shell, a downwardly and outwardly sloping discharge guide in said housing in substantially vertical alignment with said discharge opening and terminating at its lower end with a discharge port, a closure movably carried by said discharge housing and positioned normally to close said discharge port but movable away from said port to permit discharge of material therethrough, a shaft sufficiently long to extend vertically upwardly from said discharge housing into at least the lower portion of such silo shell, a spiral auger having a coarse pitch and substantial diameter carried by said shaft above the level of said bottom of said silo, power means operable to rotate said shaft and auger at a predetermined speed and in a direction to cause said auger to forcibly feed material from said silo shell to and through said discharge openings, and a plurality of flexibly radially extendable dislodging members of a length less than the radius of said silo shell interconnected to said shaft within the lower portion of said silo shell and having weighted digging members on the outer ends thereof operable when rotation of said shaft is initiated to cause gradual movement of the outer ends of said flexible dislodging members outwardly from said shaft and thereby effect dislodgement of impacted stored material in said silo shell and movement thereof by gravity into engagement with said auger for discharge through said discharge opening in said bottom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The bottom discharge means according to claim 1 in which said closure for said discharge port of said housing is supported for pivotal movement outwardly from its closed position to an open position to effect said discharge of material through said port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The bottom discharge means according to claim 2 further including material dislodging means carried by said closure and operable during opening movement of said closure to initially dislodge accumulated material disposed in said discharge housing adjacent said discharge port thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The bottom discharge means according to claim 1 in which said power means for said shaft is supported adjacent the lower portion of said discharge housing and said shaft extends through said sloping discharge guide of said housing for connection to said power means outwardly from said discharge guide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The bottom discharge means according to claim 1 in which said discharge housing in association with said silo bottom is provided with an entrance opening in the top thereof, said opening being of semicircular configuration and said discharge means further including a wiper arm interconnected at one end of said shaft and extending radially therefrom adjacent and above said semicircular entrance opening, said wiper arm being operable to wipe material from the top of said housing into said discharge opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
187 words
Bottom discharge mechanism for use with a silo for storing pulverant material and including an upstanding cylindrical silo shell having a top and bottom and a discharge opening in the bottom adjacent the center thereof, said discharge mechanism comprising in combination, a discharge housing adapted to be interconnected to said silo bottom beneath said discharge opening therein to receive stored material therethrough, discharge guide means in said housing terminating is in a discharge port, a closure for said discharge port mounted for movement between open and closed positions relative to said port, a blower having inlet and discharge means mounted in spaced relation to said closure, power means to drive said blower, and chute means extending between said discharge port and the inlet means of said blower to deliver material to said blower for delivery through the discharge means thereof, said closure being movable within said chute means and operable relative thereto and the inlet of said blower to control the amount of ambient air capable of passing into the inlet of said blower for the blowing of material by said blower away from said discharge means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
187 words
Bottom discharge mechanism for use with a silo for storing pulverant material and including an upstanding cylindrical silo shell having a top and bottom and a discharge opening in the bottom adjacent the center thereof, said discharge mechanism comprising in combination, a discharge housing adapted to be interconnected to said silo bottom beneath said discharge opening therein to receive stored material therethrough, discharge guide means in said housing terminating is in a discharge port, a closure for said discharge port mounted for movement between open and closed positions relative to said port, a blower having inlet and discharge means mounted in spaced relation to said closure, power means to drive said blower, and chute means extending between said discharge port and the inlet means of said blower to deliver material to said blower for delivery through the discharge means thereof, said closure being movable within said chute means and operable relative thereto and the inlet of said blower to control the amount of ambient air capable of passing into the inlet of said blower for the blowing of material by said blower away from said discharge means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The bottom discharge mechanism according to claim 6 in which said chute means has an open top and said closure for said discharge port being positioned for movement relative to said open top of said chute means and said discharge port to establish desired operating conditions for said blower and under conditions which permit no ingress of ambient air to the interior of the silo during discharge of material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
The bottom discharge mechanism according to claim 6 in which said discharge guide means and chute means slope downwardly and outwardly relative to said discharge opening in said bottom of said silo, and said closure being pivotally supported adjacent the upper edge thereof for movement between a position in which it closes said discharge port and a second position in which it closes the top of said chute when desired and thereby preventing the ingress of ambient air to said fan when said top is closed thereby so as to cause a negative pressure within a silo shell such as after a filling operation has been completed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
The bottom discharge mechanism according to claim 6 in which the sides of said chute are substantially vertical and parallel to each other when in operative position and the top is open, the upper edges of said sides of said chute being provided with flanges inturned toward each other and said closure being pivotally supported substantially at the upper edge thereof adjacent said discharge port for movement between closing position relative to said discharge port and a position in which said closure engages said inturned flanges to close the top of said chute against the ingress of ambient air to said blower.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The bottom discharge mechanism according to claim 9 further including positioning means interconnected to said closure and operable to secure the same respectively in said several closed positions and also in intermediate position therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bottom discharge mechanism according to claim 6 in which said blower is provided with tangential discharge means extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The bottom discharge mechanism according to claim 6 further including dislodging means connected to said closure an extending into said discharge guide means in said housing to dislodge the lowermost portion of compacted material in said guide means when said closure is moved toward open position to effect discharge of material from said guide means and discharge port thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
259 words
In combination with a silo for storing pulverant material such as agricultural products and having a vertical cylindrical shell provided with a top and bottom at opposite ends and the bottom having a discharge opening therein; discharge means for stored material positioned below a said discharge opening in said bottom and operable to receive material from the bottom of said silo for discharge thereof as desired; and loading means for said silo comprising a tubular filling conductor adjacent the exterior of said silo shell and extending upwardly from the lower portion thereof to the top thereof and communicating with a substantially central inlet port in said top, the lower end of said filling conductor having means for connection of blowerlike filling mechanism thereto, combination vent and indicator means comprising another tubular conductor extending upwardly along the exterior of said silo shell from the lower portion thereof to the top of said silo and communicating with a vent opening in said top, and air flow-control means in said vent and indicator means operable to control the discharge of air from said silo while being filled and also seal the vent means against inflow of air at the completion of filling said silo, said vent conductor also being adapted to dischArge a limited quantity of material downwardly therethrough when the same reaches said another opening in the top of the silo and thereby serve as an indicator when it is substantially full, whereby a silo may be both filled and emptied without requiring an operator to climb to the top thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
259 words
In combination with a silo for storing pulverant material such as agricultural products and having a vertical cylindrical shell provided with a top and bottom at opposite ends and the bottom having a discharge opening therein; discharge means for stored material positioned below a said discharge opening in said bottom and operable to receive material from the bottom of said silo for discharge thereof as desired; and loading means for said silo comprising a tubular filling conductor adjacent the exterior of said silo shell and extending upwardly from the lower portion thereof to the top thereof and communicating with a substantially central inlet port in said top, the lower end of said filling conductor having means for connection of blowerlike filling mechanism thereto, combination vent and indicator means comprising another tubular conductor extending upwardly along the exterior of said silo shell from the lower portion thereof to the top of said silo and communicating with a vent opening in said top, and air flow-control means in said vent and indicator means operable to control the discharge of air from said silo while being filled and also seal the vent means against inflow of air at the completion of filling said silo, said vent conductor also being adapted to dischArge a limited quantity of material downwardly therethrough when the same reaches said another opening in the top of the silo and thereby serve as an indicator when it is substantially full, whereby a silo may be both filled and emptied without requiring an operator to climb to the top thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The silo according to claim 13 in which said air flow-control means in said vent comprises a damper pivotally supported.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The silo according to claim 13 further including means connectable to the inlet end of said filling conductor to seal the same against the ingress of ambient air at the completion of a filling operation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The silo according to claim 13 in which said vent opening in the top of said silo is at a lower level then the filling opening therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
275 words
Bottom discharge mechanism for use with a silo for storing pulverant material and including an upstanding cylindrical silo shell having a top and bottom and discharge opening in said bottom and a manhole in said bottom adjacent said opening, said discharge mechanism comprising a shaft, means to support said shaft for rotation about a vertical axis and adapted to extend up through a silo bottom, an auger having a coarse pitch and appreciable diameter supported by the upper portion of said shaft for rotation above the bottom of a silo shell, and power means connected to said shaft to rotate the same and the auger connected thereto, a plurality of flexible members interconnected to said shaft above the bottom of a silo and arranged to extend radially by centrifugal force to dislodge stored material when said shaft and auger are rotated, said flexible members being spaced vertically upon said shaft and the uppermost members being longer than the lower ones but all being of less length than the interior radius of a silo shell, whereby a residue of compacted stored material remains in the bottom of said shell having a generally conical upper contour after a silo has otherwise been emptied by said discharge mechanism, in combination with auxiliary discharge means interconnectable detachably to said shaft and including an arm having connecting means on one end adapted to be interconnected to said shaft and extend radially across the upper surface of said residue material, and removing means supported by said arm and operable to dig into said residue material and cause it to move to said discharge opening in the bottom of a silo shell.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
275 words
Bottom discharge mechanism for use with a silo for storing pulverant material and including an upstanding cylindrical silo shell having a top and bottom and discharge opening in said bottom and a manhole in said bottom adjacent said opening, said discharge mechanism comprising a shaft, means to support said shaft for rotation about a vertical axis and adapted to extend up through a silo bottom, an auger having a coarse pitch and appreciable diameter supported by the upper portion of said shaft for rotation above the bottom of a silo shell, and power means connected to said shaft to rotate the same and the auger connected thereto, a plurality of flexible members interconnected to said shaft above the bottom of a silo and arranged to extend radially by centrifugal force to dislodge stored material when said shaft and auger are rotated, said flexible members being spaced vertically upon said shaft and the uppermost members being longer than the lower ones but all being of less length than the interior radius of a silo shell, whereby a residue of compacted stored material remains in the bottom of said shell having a generally conical upper contour after a silo has otherwise been emptied by said discharge mechanism, in combination with auxiliary discharge means interconnectable detachably to said shaft and including an arm having connecting means on one end adapted to be interconnected to said shaft and extend radially across the upper surface of said residue material, and removing means supported by said arm and operable to dig into said residue material and cause it to move to said discharge opening in the bottom of a silo shell.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The bottom discharge mechanism according to claim 17 in which said connecting means for said arm comprises means pivotally interconnecting said one end of said arm to said shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
The bottom discharge mechanism according to claim 18 in which said means pivotally interconnecting one end of said arm to said shaft comprises a clevis partially surrounding said shaft and auger and including a pin extending radially through said shaft to support the arms of said clevis, whereby said arm is driven rotatably about the axis of said shaft when said shaft is rotated by said power means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
64 words
The bottom discharge mechanism according to claim 18 in which said removing means supported by said arm comprise a plurality of angularly arranged digging members supported at spaced locations along said arm, said members extending in a direction to engage and move compacted material radially inward toward the axis of the shaft for discharge through the discharge opening in the bottom of a silo.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The bottom discharge mechanism according to claim 20 in which said angularly arranged digging members comprise discs rotatably supported by members connected to said arm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
197 words
Bottom discharge mechanism for use with a silo for storing pulverant material and including an upstanding cylindrical silo shell having a top and bottom and said bottom having a plurality of discharge openings therein arranged substantially even radial distances from the central axis of the shell and spaced even circumferential distances from each other, said discharge mechanism comprising a plurality of similar shafts extending upward through the bottom of a silo adjacent said discharge openings, an auger of coarse pitch and appreciable diameter affixed to each shaft and extending upward above the bottom of a silo, a plurality of flexible dislodging members interconnected to said shaft and having lengths no greater than half the radius of a silo shell, power means connnected to at least one of said shafts to rotate the same unidirectionally about its axis, sprocket gears connected to all of said shafts, a sprocket chain extending between and around said sprocket gears to drive the same simultaneously, said flexible dislodging members interconnected to said shafts being indexed relative to each other by said sprocket gears and chain, whereby the flexible members pass each other without interference with each other during rotation of said shafts.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
197 words
Bottom discharge mechanism for use with a silo for storing pulverant material and including an upstanding cylindrical silo shell having a top and bottom and said bottom having a plurality of discharge openings therein arranged substantially even radial distances from the central axis of the shell and spaced even circumferential distances from each other, said discharge mechanism comprising a plurality of similar shafts extending upward through the bottom of a silo adjacent said discharge openings, an auger of coarse pitch and appreciable diameter affixed to each shaft and extending upward above the bottom of a silo, a plurality of flexible dislodging members interconnected to said shaft and having lengths no greater than half the radius of a silo shell, power means connnected to at least one of said shafts to rotate the same unidirectionally about its axis, sprocket gears connected to all of said shafts, a sprocket chain extending between and around said sprocket gears to drive the same simultaneously, said flexible dislodging members interconnected to said shafts being indexed relative to each other by said sprocket gears and chain, whereby the flexible members pass each other without interference with each other during rotation of said shafts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2551217A
Cited
US2795080A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-01 | 1974-08-31 | 1975-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-01 | 1978-08-31 | 1979-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-01 | 1982-08-31 | 1983-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |