US3710960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bottom discharge means for silo
Assignee: FLYING DUTCHMAN
•
Filing: 1971-08-12
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Granted: 1973-01-16
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Expires: 1991-08-12
Abstract
Abstract Bottom discharge means for a silo having a discharge opening in the bottom adjacent the center of the silo, and an auger extending upward from the bottom is rotated by power means to move material down to the discharge opening. Shield means is spaced above the discharge opening to provide a lateral passage beneath the shield to the discharge opening to prevent clogging the same. A housing below the bottom of the silo supports bearings for the auger shaft and drive means, and a discharge chute is formed by said housing and a closure to guide material to discharge means.
Inventors
- 👤 J Lepley
- 👤 J Zimmerly
- 👤 A Stauffer
- 👤 J Herr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:20
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01F; A01F25/00; A01F25/16; A01F25/20; A01F25/2018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
Bottom discharge means for a silo for storing pulverant material including an upstanding silo shell having a top to cover the upper end and a bottom extending across the lower portion thereof, and a discharge opening in said bottom near the center thereof, in combination with a shaft extending substantially vertically upward from said bottom adjacent said discharge opening, auger means on said shaft above said bottom having a coarse pitch operable to dislodge pulverant material within said silo shell, power means connected to said shaft and operable to rotate the same in a direction to cause said auger to move said material downwardly, and shield means positioned above and at least partially over said discharge opening to intersect falling material and prevent it from falling directly downwardly through said opening in said bottom and thereby prevent the same from jamming said opening incident to being discharged therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
Bottom discharge means for a silo for storing pulverant material including an upstanding silo shell having a top to cover the upper end and a bottom extending across the lower portion thereof, and a discharge opening in said bottom near the center thereof, in combination with a shaft extending substantially vertically upward from said bottom adjacent said discharge opening, auger means on said shaft above said bottom having a coarse pitch operable to dislodge pulverant material within said silo shell, power means connected to said shaft and operable to rotate the same in a direction to cause said auger to move said material downwardly, and shield means positioned above and at least partially over said discharge opening to intersect falling material and prevent it from falling directly downwardly through said opening in said bottom and thereby prevent the same from jamming said opening incident to being discharged therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The discharge means according to claim 1 in which said shield means has an exit opening along one side thereof adjacent said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The discharge means according to claim 2 in which said exit opening in said shield means is within a substantially vertical plane and said shaft having material engaging means operable to extend substantially radially from said shaft when rotating and engage material adjacent the lower end of said auger and move it through said exit opening of said shield for passage through said discharge opening in said bottom of said silo.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The discharge means according to claim 2 in which said shield means has a substantially horizontal top approximately as large as said exit opening in said bottom of said silo and overlying the same, and said shield having side members extending to said bottom of said silo and supporting said shield above the same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The discharge means according to claim 4 in which the side of said shield nearest said shaft has no side member, thereby to provide said exit opening in said shield.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The discharge means according to claim 5 in which the lower end of said auger is lower than the top of said shield means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The discharge means according to claim 1 further including a housing adapted to be mounted below and connected to the bottom of said silo, said power means being connected to said housing, and bearings connected to said housing respectively adjacent the top and bottom of said housing to support the lower end portion of said shaft for rotation relative to said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The discharge means according to claim 7 in which said housing has opposed sidewalls and a partition extending transversely between said sidewalls and downwardly from one edge of said discharge opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The discharge means according to claim 8 in which said partition and sidewalls of said housing define a discharge chute depending from the perimeter of said discharge opening, and said housing having a closure for said chute pivoted adjacent one side of said chute and extending substantially transversely acRoss said chute when in closed position and substantially vertically downward from said pivot when in open position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The discharge means according to claim 9 in which said pivot for said closure is substantially horizontal and adjacent the outer wall of said housing which is opposite said partition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The discharge means according to claim 10 further including an operating handle pivotally supported by said housing and linkage connected between said handle and closure and operable to move said closure between open and closed positions thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The discharge means according to claim 9 further including a material conveying means extending from beneath the lower end of said discharge chute laterally outward therefrom and having a hopper-like inlet positioned to receive material directly from said discharge chute.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The discharge means according to claim 12 in which a portion of the power means for said shaft comprises means extending horizontally across a portion of the bottom of said housing, and said housing including an angular deflecting guide in said discharge chute extending away from said horizontally extending portion of said power means to prevent material from contacting the same while being discharged.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The discharge means according to claim 13 in which said deflecting guide and closure coact with said opposing sidewalls of said housing to form the lower end portion of said discharge chute when said closure is in its open position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The discharge means according to claim 14 further including conveyor means extending upward and outward from said discharge chute to receive material therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
83 words
The discharge means according to claim 9 in which said bearings in said housing which are respectively adjacent the top and bottom thereof are also within an axis adjacent one side of said discharge opening, said discharge means also including a driven member connected to the lower end of said shaft, and said power means for said shaft comprising an electric motor mounted exteriorly of said housing adjacent one side thereof and having drive means connected to said driven member on said shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3424350A
Cited
US3567078A
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 |