US3710449A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Grain dryer with improved grain deflector
Assignee: M&W Gear Co
•
Filing: 1971-01-06
•
Granted: 1973-01-16
•
Expires: 1991-01-06
Abstract
Abstract A concurrent-countercurrent flow, column type grain dryer having an enclosed bin with a wet grain inlet at the top and a dry grain outlet at the bottom includes means for introducing a concurrent flow of hot air as a drying medium for the grain. Means are also provided at the bottom of the bin to introduce a countercurrent flow of cool air through the grain. Intermediate the means for introducing the hot and cool air is an exhaust for the heating and cooling air. The improvement of this invention comprises grain deflectors positioned intermediate the hot air inlet ducts and the exhaust ducts. The deflectors initiate cross flows of grain to prevent channeling of the grain and the hot air flow and to insure uniform heating and drying of the grain.
Inventors
- 👤 C Rathbun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:05
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B17/00; F26B17/12; F26B17/14; F26B17/1408; F26B17/1416
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
340 words
In a grain dryer of the type having an enclosed bin with side walls, a top and a bottom, a wet grain inlet at the top, a plurality of parallel, uniformly spaced, horizontal hot fluid inlet ducts positioned adjacent the top and beneath the grain inlet for directing a fluid drying medium downward through a bed of grain in said bin, a plurality of parallel, horizontal cold fluid inlet ducts parallel to said hot fluid inlet ducts for directing a fluid cooling medium upward through a bed of grain, adjacent ones of said cold fluid inlet ducts spaced to provide a plurality of grain discharge outlets from said bin, means for adding wet grain through said wet grain inlet, means for withdrawing dry grain from said grain outlets, a plurality of horizontal, parallel exhaust ducts intermediate and transverse to said hot and cold fluid inlet ducts to receive and exhaust fluid medium flowing from said hot inlet ducts in a concurrent direction to grain flow and to receive and exhaust cold fluid medium flowing from said cold inlet ducts in a countercurrent direction to grain flow, means for providing hot fluid to said hot inlet ducts and cold fluid to said cold inlet ducts, and wherein each of said hot fluid inlet ducts comprise a duct enclosed on three sides and with an open bottom for flow of air concurrent with grain, said hot fluid inlet ducts being in a substantially common plane and spaced uniformly in said bin, the improvement comprising: a plurality of parallel, horizontal grain deflectors positioned in a plane intermediate said hot inlet ducts and said exhaust ducts, one of said deflectors positioned below and between each pair of parallel hoT fluid inlet ducts and parallel with said hot fluid inlet ducts to deflect grain flowing downward between said hot fluid inlet ducts to a position substantially directly below said hot inlet ducts thereby providing cross flow drying within the zone intermediate said hot inlet ducts and said exhaust ducts in addition to concurrent flow drying.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
340 words
In a grain dryer of the type having an enclosed bin with side walls, a top and a bottom, a wet grain inlet at the top, a plurality of parallel, uniformly spaced, horizontal hot fluid inlet ducts positioned adjacent the top and beneath the grain inlet for directing a fluid drying medium downward through a bed of grain in said bin, a plurality of parallel, horizontal cold fluid inlet ducts parallel to said hot fluid inlet ducts for directing a fluid cooling medium upward through a bed of grain, adjacent ones of said cold fluid inlet ducts spaced to provide a plurality of grain discharge outlets from said bin, means for adding wet grain through said wet grain inlet, means for withdrawing dry grain from said grain outlets, a plurality of horizontal, parallel exhaust ducts intermediate and transverse to said hot and cold fluid inlet ducts to receive and exhaust fluid medium flowing from said hot inlet ducts in a concurrent direction to grain flow and to receive and exhaust cold fluid medium flowing from said cold inlet ducts in a countercurrent direction to grain flow, means for providing hot fluid to said hot inlet ducts and cold fluid to said cold inlet ducts, and wherein each of said hot fluid inlet ducts comprise a duct enclosed on three sides and with an open bottom for flow of air concurrent with grain, said hot fluid inlet ducts being in a substantially common plane and spaced uniformly in said bin, the improvement comprising: a plurality of parallel, horizontal grain deflectors positioned in a plane intermediate said hot inlet ducts and said exhaust ducts, one of said deflectors positioned below and between each pair of parallel hoT fluid inlet ducts and parallel with said hot fluid inlet ducts to deflect grain flowing downward between said hot fluid inlet ducts to a position substantially directly below said hot inlet ducts thereby providing cross flow drying within the zone intermediate said hot inlet ducts and said exhaust ducts in addition to concurrent flow drying.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said grain deflectors comprise a pair of surfaces formed of perforated material and joined together at an apex line parallel to said hot fluid inlet ducts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein grain deflector surfaces are inclined at substantially the angle of repose of said grain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said grain deflectors are separated from one another by a distance no less than the distance between adjacent hot inlet ducts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein pairs of parallel grain deflectors define a grain flow passage substantially vertically above one of said grain outlet flow passages between said cold fluid inlets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said deflectors are spaced vertically beneath said hot fluid inlet ducts by distance at least equal to the spacing of adjacent hot fluid inlet ducts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including opposite side deflectors attached to said side walls and a plurality of center deflectors intermediate said side deflectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said grain deflectors are at least in part perforated for flow of fluid therethrough.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2706343A
Cited
US3302297A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-16 | 1976-07-17 | 1977-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-16 | 1980-07-17 | 1981-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-16 | 1984-07-17 | 1985-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |