Patent US3634949A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3634949A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous-flow dryer for granular material
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-12-31
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Granted: 1972-01-18
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Expires: 1989-12-31
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a continuous-flow dryer apparatus for granular material for use within a conventional circular storage bin having a floor and a material-evacuating unit: the apparatus having a reservoir for receiving moist granular material, the reservoir disposed above the bin floor and about the periphery of the bin and fluidly communicating with a drying column having perforated walls, the reservoir funnelling the material through the column toward the axis of the bin; having further a heaterblower device for supplying heated air fro percolation through the perforated walls of the column and material therein for absorbing moisture therefrom; and having also a discharge unit connecting the column for removing the dried material from the column and spreading the material upon the bin floor for evacuation therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A Louks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:03
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B17/00; F26B17/12; F26B17/122; F26B17/124; F26B25/00; F26B25/001; F26B25/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bIn having a wall, lower floor, and a device for removing the granular material from the bin, the apparatus comprising: an upper conical floor mounted in the bin and adapted to support granular material, said floor positioned adjacent the walls and slanted downwardly and inwardly therefrom toward the axis of the bin, said upper floor separating said bin into an upper and lower compartment, and further wherein the upper portion of said floor is solid and the lower portion is perforated; funnel means disposed above said upper floor, said funnel means including a circular wall and a perforated conical base, said circular wall forming a reservoir with said upper portion of said upper floor for receiving granular material from the feeder, and said perforated base forming a drying column with said lower portion of said upper floor; said drying column fluidly communicating with said reservoir for receiving granular material therefrom; means for supplying heated air below said upper floor whereby the heated air percolates through the granular material in said drying column; and means for discharging said granular material from said column into said lower compartment to be cooled and removed from the bin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bIn having a wall, lower floor, and a device for removing the granular material from the bin, the apparatus comprising: an upper conical floor mounted in the bin and adapted to support granular material, said floor positioned adjacent the walls and slanted downwardly and inwardly therefrom toward the axis of the bin, said upper floor separating said bin into an upper and lower compartment, and further wherein the upper portion of said floor is solid and the lower portion is perforated; funnel means disposed above said upper floor, said funnel means including a circular wall and a perforated conical base, said circular wall forming a reservoir with said upper portion of said upper floor for receiving granular material from the feeder, and said perforated base forming a drying column with said lower portion of said upper floor; said drying column fluidly communicating with said reservoir for receiving granular material therefrom; means for supplying heated air below said upper floor whereby the heated air percolates through the granular material in said drying column; and means for discharging said granular material from said column into said lower compartment to be cooled and removed from the bin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 1, and further wherein said apparatus includes a thermocouple adapted to sense the temperature of the grain in said drying column; and means responsive to said thermocouple to deenergize said air-supplying means when the temperature of the grain has been raised to a predetermined value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 1, and further wherein said apparatus includes a sensing device for detecting the temperature of the air passed through the drying column; and means responsive to said sensing device for selectively controlling the operation of said discharge means and the operation of the device for removing the granular material from the bin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper floor includes a plurality of hatches pivotally connected to said floor about the periphery thereof, said hatches operable in one position to extend said floor to the bin wall and in a second position to permit the grain to feed directly into said lower compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 4 wherein said hatches are annularly spaced about the periphery of said floor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 1 wherein said perforated base connects to the bottom edge of said circular wall, said base extending parallel to said lower portion of said upper floor and being vertically spaced therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 6 wherein said funnel means includes an opening formed in said base fluidly communicating the interior of said funnel means with said discharge means, said opening having a removable cover.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 1, wherein said air-supplying means includes a blower-heater unit mounted on the bin wall and a vent fluidly communicating said unit and said lower compartment of the bin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 8, and further wherein said vent has an elbow for directing the air substantially parallel to the side of the bin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 1, wherein said discharge means includes a chute connecting said upper floor at the apex thereof and depending downwardly therefrom, said chute fluidly communicating said drying column and said lower compartment, and funnelling the granular material thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus for tReating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 10, and further wherein said discharge means includes a dispersing unit disposed beneath said chute, said dispersing unit capable of engaging and distributing granular material from said chute evenly about the bin lower floor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 11 wherein said dispersing unit is a rotating spinner.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |