US3837507A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable bottom discharge for silo
Assignee: FLYING DUTCHMAN
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Filing: 1973-02-20
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1993-02-20
Abstract
Abstract Adjustable discharge means mounted adjacent the bottom of a silo having a discharge opening therein and including a shield member over said discharge opening to prevent clogging thereof, one side of the shield member being open for the admission of material to be discharged therethrough, movement of said material in discharged direction being controlled by a baffle member movable relative to the open side of the shield member and also adapted to close said opening at the completion of a discharge operation. The baffle member is adapted to be adjusted from the exterior of the silo for safety to the operator and minimizing the possibility of ambient air passing into the silo through said discharge opening.
Inventors
- 👤 J Lepley
- 👤 J Stoltzfus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:36
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/54; B65D88/64; B65D88/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
For use with and attachment to a silo for storing pulverulent material having a bottom provided with a discharge opening to pass material by gravity, and an auger extending upward from said bottom adjacent said opening and dislodging chains adapted to extend outward by centrifugal force from the axis of said auger when said auger is rotated by power means; discharge improvement means comprising discharge control means adapted to be mounted adjacent said auger and discharge opening and including a hoodlike shield member positionable at least partially over the major portion of said opening and at least the side thereof nearest said auger being open to provide a discharge space communicating with said discharge opening, a substantially horizontal shaft supported relative to said shield member, and a flow restricting baffle member supported by said shaft means for movement relative to said open side of said shield member and adapted to vary the size of the opening into said shield member and thereby regulate the flow of material through said discharge space and opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
For use with and attachment to a silo for storing pulverulent material having a bottom provided with a discharge opening to pass material by gravity, and an auger extending upward from said bottom adjacent said opening and dislodging chains adapted to extend outward by centrifugal force from the axis of said auger when said auger is rotated by power means; discharge improvement means comprising discharge control means adapted to be mounted adjacent said auger and discharge opening and including a hoodlike shield member positionable at least partially over the major portion of said opening and at least the side thereof nearest said auger being open to provide a discharge space communicating with said discharge opening, a substantially horizontal shaft supported relative to said shield member, and a flow restricting baffle member supported by said shaft means for movement relative to said open side of said shield member and adapted to vary the size of the opening into said shield member and thereby regulate the flow of material through said discharge space and opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The improvement means according to claim 1 in which said baffle is substantially U-shaped and the side members thereof comprising legs extending downwardly and connected to said substantially horizontal shaft, and means operable to rotate said shaft through a limited arc to move the intermediate portion of said baffle relative to said open side of said hood-like enclosure to effect adjustable discharge of material therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
141 words
The improvement means according to claim 2 in which said hood-like enclosure is boxlike and said discharge control means further includes wall means defining a discharge chute adapted to extend downward from the edges of said discharge opening in said bottom of a silo, the walls depending from the closed sides of said boxlike enclosure being substantially in vertical alignment with certain walls of said chute and one of said walls being spaced horizontally a limited distance beyond said open side of said boxlike enclosure, and said intermediate portion of said baffle extending between the upper edge of said one wall of said chute and the upper edge of said open side of said boxlike enclosure when in closing positon for said discharge opening and being movable arcuately into the upper portion of said enclosure to open said opening for discharge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The improvement means according to claim 2 in which one end of said shaft extends laterally from said baffle a distance adequate to project through a wall of a silo, and said means operable to rotate said shaft comprising a crank arm connected to the projecting outer end of said shaft, whereby adjusting movement of said baffle can occur from the exterior of the silo and thus facilitate such adjustment with minimum passiblilty of introduction of ambient air into the silo interior.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
159 words
A silo for pulverulent material and comminuted agricultural products having a bottom provided with a discharge opening therein and an auger extending upwardly into said silo from said bottom adjacent said opening, in combination with bottom unloading mechanism comprising a hood-like shield member open at one side and extending over at least the major portion of the area of siad discharge opening to prevent choking said discharge opening during discharge of material from said silo, and a baffle member movably supported relative to said shield member adjacent said open side thereof and movable between opposite extreme positons in which said member respectively substantially fully closes said open side thereof and in which said baffle member is retracted substantially fully into siad shield member, whereby said open side is substantially fully open, as well as positions therebetween to regulate the flow of material through said open side of said shield member and said opening in the bottom of said silo.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
159 words
A silo for pulverulent material and comminuted agricultural products having a bottom provided with a discharge opening therein and an auger extending upwardly into said silo from said bottom adjacent said opening, in combination with bottom unloading mechanism comprising a hood-like shield member open at one side and extending over at least the major portion of the area of siad discharge opening to prevent choking said discharge opening during discharge of material from said silo, and a baffle member movably supported relative to said shield member adjacent said open side thereof and movable between opposite extreme positons in which said member respectively substantially fully closes said open side thereof and in which said baffle member is retracted substantially fully into siad shield member, whereby said open side is substantially fully open, as well as positions therebetween to regulate the flow of material through said open side of said shield member and said opening in the bottom of said silo.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The silo discharge mechanism according to claim 5 in which said baffle member is substantially U-shaped to provide legs and including a shaft pivotally supported adjacent the lower portion of said shield member, means connecting said legs to said shaft to effect movement of the intermediate portion of said U-shaped baffle member relative to said shield member, and one end of said shaft extending to the exterior of the silo for remote actuation of said discharge mechanism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The silo discharge mechanism according to claim 6 further including a manually operable lever type actuating member fixed at one end to said one end of said shaft, and indexing means mounted exteriorly of said silo adjacent said actuating member and engageable by said member to maintain a desired position of adjustment of said baffle member relative to said shield member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The silo discharge mechanism according to claim 5 in which said baffle member is substantially U-shaped to provide a pair of supporting legs and an intermediate closure section, said mechanism further including means pivotally supporting said legs relative to said shield member for movement of said closure section arcuately about an axis parallel to the plane of said open side and an alternate open position in which said closure section is retracted into said shield member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
The silo discharge mechanism according to claim 8 further including a shaft rotatably mounted below the top of said shield member and the upper edge of said open side of said shield member being defined by the lower edge of a narrow strip extending downwardly from the top of said shield member, said closure section of said baffle substantially having wiping engagement with the lower edge of said narrow strip when moved relative thereto, and means connecting said legs of said baffle member to said shaft for support thereby.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
The silo discharge mechanism accordinG to claim 9 further including short flexible members interconnected to said auger horizontally opposite said open side of said shield member and adapted to be extended laterally from the axis of said auger when it is rotating operatively to dislodge material adjacent said open side of said shield member and move the same into said shield member, said flexible members having a length adequate to extend a limited distance toward said shield member without engaging said baffle member or the sides of said shield member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
The silo discharge mechanism according to claim 8 further including wall means connected together to form a discharge chute extending downward from the bottom of the silo in alignment with said discharge opening therein and the sides of said shield member, bearings in opposite walls of said chute below said shield member, a shaft extending between said bearings, and means connecting said legs to said shaft to provide said pivotal support therefor, said intermediate closure section of said baffle member having one edge substantially in contact with the upper end of one wall of said chute when in closed position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
The silo discharge mechanism according to claim 11 in which the edge of said closure section of said baffle member which is opposite said one edge is substantially in contact with the uppr portion of said shield member which defines said open side thereof when said closure section of said baffle member is in closing position relative to said open side of said shield member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
The silo discharge mechanism according to claim 11 in which one end of said shaft projects to the exterior of the silo, and actuating means connected to said projecting end of said shaft to provide means to adjust the discharge rate through said discharge opening in the bottom of said silo and closing of the same from a remote exterior position relative to the interior of said silo.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |