ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTROLLED STORAGE FACILITY FOR POTATOES AND OTHER CROPS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A crop storage facility comprising:
- an exterior roof panel;
a ceiling panel disposed beneath the exterior roof panel to define a space therebetween;
a crop storage area disposed beneath the ceiling panel; and
at least one air mover configured to receive air from the crop storage area and move the air through the space between the ceiling panel and the roof panel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Facilities for storing large quantities of potatoes, other tubers, vegetables, produce, and/or other crops are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a facility configured in accordance with the present technology circulates air from a pile of potatoes into one or more ceiling cavities above the potatoes to warm ceiling panels. Aspects of this embodiment can reduce undesirable water formation on the potatoes.
4 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A crop storage facility comprising:
-
an exterior roof panel; a ceiling panel disposed beneath the exterior roof panel to define a space therebetween; a crop storage area disposed beneath the ceiling panel; and at least one air mover configured to receive air from the crop storage area and move the air through the space between the ceiling panel and the roof panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A potato storage facility comprising:
-
a potato storage bay; an air plenum extending adjacent to the potato storage bay; at least one air inlet configured to receive air from outside the potato storage facility; at least a first air mover configured to move the air from the air inlet through the air plenum; a plurality of ventilation ducts extending across a floor portion of the potato storage bay, wherein each of the ventilation ducts is configured to receive a portion of the air flowing through the air plenum, and wherein each of the ventilation ducts includes a plurality of apertures for flowing the air upwardly through a pile of potatoes disposed thereon; a ceiling panel disposed directly above the potato storage bay; and at least a second air mover configured to circulate at least a portion of the air flowing upwardly through the pile of potatoes through an air passage extending above the ceiling panel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A potato storage facility comprising:
-
a potato storage bay; a plurality of ventilation ducts extending across a floor portion of the potato storage bay, wherein each of the ventilation ducts is configured to distribute air into a pile of potatoes disposed thereon; a ceiling disposed above the potato storage bay; and at least one air mover configured to move at least a portion of the air from the pile of potatoes adjacent to the ceiling to warm the ceiling. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of storing a pile of potatoes in a storage facility, the method comprising:
-
receiving air from outside the storage facility; flowing the air through the pile of potatoes stored in the storage facility; receiving at least a portion of the air after the air has flowed through the pile of potatoes; and moving the air received from the pile of potatoes through a plenum extending adjacent to a ceiling panel extending over the pile of potatoes. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification