US4043051A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for drying grain
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-02-24
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Granted: 1977-08-23
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Expires: 1995-02-24
Abstract
Abstract The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to a method and apparatus for drying grain. A refrigerating system is mounted within the closed-loop air duct structure which extends from an outlet to an inlet of a grain storage bin. The evaporator of the refrigerating system dries warm moisture-laden air as it passes through the closed-loop air duct. The air is then preheated by the compressor of the refrigeration system and finally heated by the condensor thereof. This heated air is then returned to the grain storage bin where it flows through a distributor for uniformly drying grain. An air flow bypass is provided at the inlet of the evaporator to take in outside air and vent off the warm moisture-laden air to atmosphere should the evaporator temperature increase beyond a predetermined point.
Inventors
- 👤 Delbert Lussenden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:17
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B21/00; F26B21/30; F26B21/33; F26B21/333; F26B23/00; F26B23/001; F26B23/002; F26B23/005; F26B9/00; F26B9/06; F26B9/08; F26B9/082; F26B9/10; F26B9/103; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/52; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for drying and aerating grain comprising: a grain storage bin having top and bottom walls and side wall means, a refrigeration system including an evaporator, compressor and condensor, a first conduit means positioned about said refrigeration system for providing an air flow path from an inlet adjacent said evaporator, over said compressor and through an outlet adjacent said condensor, second conduit means between said top wall of said grain storage bin and said inlet of said first conduit means for providing an air flow path for moisture-laden air removed from said grain storage bin to be directed through said evaporator where moisture is condensed and removed to dry the air, and third conduit means between said outlet of said first conduit means and said bottom wall of said grain storage bin for directing dry air, which has been heated while passing through said first conduit means, into said grain storage bin for drying and aerating the grain stored therein, and said second conduit means including air flow control means for venting said moisture-laden air into the atmosphere prior to entering said inlet and for drawing outside air into said evaporator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for drying and aerating grain comprising: a grain storage bin having top and bottom walls and side wall means, a refrigeration system including an evaporator, compressor and condensor, a first conduit means positioned about said refrigeration system for providing an air flow path from an inlet adjacent said evaporator, over said compressor and through an outlet adjacent said condensor, second conduit means between said top wall of said grain storage bin and said inlet of said first conduit means for providing an air flow path for moisture-laden air removed from said grain storage bin to be directed through said evaporator where moisture is condensed and removed to dry the air, and third conduit means between said outlet of said first conduit means and said bottom wall of said grain storage bin for directing dry air, which has been heated while passing through said first conduit means, into said grain storage bin for drying and aerating the grain stored therein, and said second conduit means including air flow control means for venting said moisture-laden air into the atmosphere prior to entering said inlet and for drawing outside air into said evaporator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for drying and aerating grain as set forth in claim 1 wherein said grain storage bin includes, air flow distribution means having an inlet coupled to said third conduit means through said bottom wall, and a plurality of outlets within said grain storage bin to provide a multitude of drying air jets for uniformly drying grain within said grain storage bin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for drying and aerating grain as set forth in claim 2 wherein said air flow distribution means includes a hollow vertical column having an open bottom end rotatably mounted with said bottom wall and in air flow communication with said third conduit means, said hollow vertical column having a top end thereof closed, a plurality of radially outwardly directed hollow arms secured to said hollow vertical column for receiving air flow therefrom, each of said arms having a plurality of apertures for discharging said multitude of drying air jets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus for drying and aerating grain as set forth in claim 3 further including drive means for rotating said hollow vertical column and moving said arms laterally through grain stored within said grain storage bin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus for drying and aerating grain as set forth in claim 4 wherein said drive means includes a motor having an output shaft, first gear means secured to said output shaft, second gear means secured to the closed upper end of said hollow column and coupled to said first gear means, and motor control means for energizing said motor and rotating said hollow vertical column during a drying and aerating operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus for drying and aerating grain as set forth in claim 1 further including auxiliary heating means positioned in fluid communication with said third conduit means for supplying additional heat to the air flow directed to said inlet of said grain storage bin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus for drying and aerating grain as set forth in claim 1 further including filter means mounted in fluid communication with second conduit means for filtering air particles therefrom prior to the air reaching said inlet of said first conduit means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus for drying and aerating grain as set forth in claim 1 further including drain means associated with said evaporator of said refrigeration system for removing condensed moisture therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for drying and aerating grain as set forth in claim 1 further including control means, moisture-sensing means for sensing the moisture content of the air at the outlet of said top wall and coupled to said control means, and circuit means associated with said control means and coupled to said refrigeration system for energizing the same in response to said moisture-sensing means sensing a moisture content above a predetermined minimum level for supplying drying air to said grain storage bin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus for drying and aerating grain as set forth in claim 9 further including heat sensing means positioned in heat sensing relation at strategic points within said grain storage bin, said heat-sensing means being coupled to said control means and responsive to sensing pockets of heat caused in the grain within said grain storage bin, said control means thereby energizing said refrigeration system for delivering dry and aerating air to said grain storage bin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus for drying and aerating grain as set forth in claim 1 further including temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of said evaporator, and circuit means responsive to said temperature sensing means to control the operation of said flow control means when said evaporator reaches a predetermined temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
181 words
A grain drying system comprising a grain storage bin for housing grain to be dried and having an air inlet and an air outlet, a mobile support selectively movable to a position adjacent said bin, first conduit means mounted on and carried by said mobile support, a refrigeration system including an evaporator, a compressor a condensor enclosed within said first conduit means and carried by said mobile support, said first conduit means including an air flow path having an inlet adjacent to and upstream from said evaporator, an intermediate portion extending around said compressor and an outlet adjacent to and downstream from said condensor, said first conduit means directing air into contact with said evaporator to be cooled and dried thereby and subsequently into contact with the compressor and the evaporator to be heated thereby as the air flows through said first conduit means, second duct means detachably connectable between said outlet of the first duct means and the inlet of the bin, and third duct means detachably connectable between said inlet of the first duct means and the bin outlet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
181 words
A grain drying system comprising a grain storage bin for housing grain to be dried and having an air inlet and an air outlet, a mobile support selectively movable to a position adjacent said bin, first conduit means mounted on and carried by said mobile support, a refrigeration system including an evaporator, a compressor a condensor enclosed within said first conduit means and carried by said mobile support, said first conduit means including an air flow path having an inlet adjacent to and upstream from said evaporator, an intermediate portion extending around said compressor and an outlet adjacent to and downstream from said condensor, said first conduit means directing air into contact with said evaporator to be cooled and dried thereby and subsequently into contact with the compressor and the evaporator to be heated thereby as the air flows through said first conduit means, second duct means detachably connectable between said outlet of the first duct means and the inlet of the bin, and third duct means detachably connectable between said inlet of the first duct means and the bin outlet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A unit as defined in claim 12, which includes quick-disconnect coupling means at opposite ends of said first duct means for facilitating connection to said bin air outlet and inlet.
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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) | 1980-08-22 | 1981-02-21 | 1981-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-22 | 1985-02-21 | 1985-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-22 | 1989-02-21 | 1989-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |