Grain moisture regulating system

• US 5,992,049 A
• Filed: 03/11/1996
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary L. Trost
• Original Assignee: Gary L. Trost
• Inventors: Trost, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gravini, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/612,800
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 34/527, 34/528, 34/531, 34/562, 34/168, 34/174, 34/175
• US Class Current: 34/528
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/08 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/063 for drying granular material in bulk, e.g. grain bins or silos with false floor shallow layer rotary sweep drying bins F26B9/10; perforated wall silos with drying air channels in the stack F26B9/103

Abstract

A grain moisture regulating system includes a grain bin with a perforated grain supporting floor and a fan for blowing outside ambient air into the grain bin through the grain mass set thereupon, and through an air outlet at the top of the grain bin. A humidistat fan control system measures ambient moisture in the air outside the grain bin and compares it to ambient moisture in the air inside the grain bin for controlling the fan. A fan operation control system includes a plurality of moisture content sensors which measure ambient moisture in the air outside the grain bin and ambient moisture in the air above the grain mass in the grain bin to produce a signal for the humidistat fan control system. A computer operates to receive input signals from the fan operation control system, wherein a desired ambient moisture threshold level of the grain mass is set into the computer, and when the ambient moisture in outside air exceeds the desired ambient moisture threshold level of the grain mass, the humidistat fan control system stops fan operation, and in the other event, the humidistat fan control system will turn the fan on. Finally, a plurality of timers are included which are setable in timed increments for maintaining power to the fan and are further controlled by the computer for maintaining power to the fan as a function of the desired ambient moisture threshold level of the grain mass.

Claims

1. A grain moisture regulating system comprising:

a grain bin having grain bin airflow means operative to force external air through grain stored within said grain bin;

a fan for blowing outside ambient air into said grain bin in a path from beneath a grain mass stored within said grain bin, through said grain mass stored in said grain bin, and through an air outlet at the top of said grain bin;

a humidistat fan control system which measures ambient moisture in the air outside said grain bin and compares it to ambient moisture in the air inside said grain bin for controlling said fan;

a fan operation control system defined by a plurality of humidity sensors which measure ambient moisture in the air outside said grain bin along with measuring the moisture in the air above the grain mass within the grain bin to produce a signal for said humidistat fan control system;

a computer which receives input signals from said fan operation control system, wherein a desired ambient moisture threshold level of said grain mass is set into said computer, and when the amount of ambient moisture in the air outside said grain bin exceeds said desired ambient moisture threshold level of said grain mass, said humidistat fan control system will turn said fan off, and prevent greater than the desired ambient moisture from blowing through said grain mass, and when the amount of ambient moisture in the air outside said grain bin is lower than said desired ambient moisture threshold level of said grain mass, said humidistat fan control system will turn said fan on, and allow drier air to blow through said grain mass; and

a plurality of timers setable in timed increments for maintaining generally continuous power to said fan and further controlled by said computer for maintaining power to said fan as a function of said desired ambient moisture threshold level of said grain mass.

2. The grain moisture regulating system of claim 1 wherein said grain bin further comprises a perforated grain support floor upon which said grain mass rests.

3. The grain moisture regulating system of claim 2 wherein said fan for blowing outside ambient air into said grain bin blows air in a path from the top of said grain bin downwardly through said grain mass set upon said perforated grain supporting floor which is stored in said grain bin, and through an air outlet at the bottom of said grain bin.