Grain bin with side walls having integral vertical stiffeners and air conduits
First Claim
1. In a grain bin for storing and drying grain, having a floor, a roof, and a bin side wall extending therebetween, said improvement comprising:
- a bin side wall containing a plurality of horizontally arranged corrugations extending about a circumference of the bin, said horizontal corrugations defining inner and outer circumferential planes of said wall, said side wall further containing a plurality of vertically extending stiffeners integrally formed therein, said stiffeners each containing a vertically recessed channel which traverses said horizonal corrugations to form passageways upward along said side wall between said inner and outer circumferential planes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A grain bin structure for storing, conditioning, and drying grain having a floor, side walls, and a roof. The side walls are formed with a plurality of horizontal and vertical corrugations formed integrally therein and within a common circumferential plane. The vertical corrugations function as stiffeners and as vertical air conduits to dispense pressurized air about the periphery of the bin. Optionally, conduit tubes may be located within the vertically disposed corrugations to further channel air flow. These conduits are formed with an inner wall substantially flush with the interior of the horizontal corrugation, thereby maintaining a low silhouette while maximizing a cross-sectional area within each conduit to avoid undue restriction of air flow.
24 Citations
11 Claims
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1. In a grain bin for storing and drying grain, having a floor, a roof, and a bin side wall extending therebetween, said improvement comprising:
a bin side wall containing a plurality of horizontally arranged corrugations extending about a circumference of the bin, said horizontal corrugations defining inner and outer circumferential planes of said wall, said side wall further containing a plurality of vertically extending stiffeners integrally formed therein, said stiffeners each containing a vertically recessed channel which traverses said horizonal corrugations to form passageways upward along said side wall between said inner and outer circumferential planes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of forming a side sheet for a grain bin, comprising the steps of:
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forming corrugations in a side sheet extending along a longitudinal axis of said side sheet; and forming stiffeners in said side sheet, said stiffeners aligned laterally to said axis, said stiffeners being formed between inner and outer circumferential planes defined by inner and outer peaks of said corrugations, said stiffener forming step including pressing a recessed passage in said side sheet, said passage containing distribution segments aligned flush with inner valleys of said corrugations and containing transfer segments traversing, and forming notches in, inner peaks of said side wall.
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11. A method of forming a side sheet for a grain bin, comprising the steps of:
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forming corrugations in a side sheet extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of said side sheet; forming stiffeners in said side sheet, said stiffeners aligned laterally to said axis, said stiffeners being formed between inner and outer circumferential planes defined by inner and outer peaks of said corrugations; said stiffener forming step including pressing a lateral recessed channel in an inner side of said sheet, said recessed channel containing a base section traversing said corrugations; and securing a conduit within the recessed channel formed by said stiffeners and aligning an inner face of said conduit substantially flush with inner peaks of said corrugations.
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Specification