Hydraulic grain storage bin lifting system and method

• US 6,311,952 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wesley Allen Bainter
• Original Assignee: Wesley Allen Bainter
• Inventors: Bainter, Wesley Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHANLEY, DANIEL G
• Application Number:
  US09/851,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20010025951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 182 Days
• Field of Search: 254/1, 254/89.H, 254/89.R, 254/93.H, 254/93, 254/93.R, 254/105, 254/108, 254/109, 254/110, 254/111
• US Class Current: 254/89.00H
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/28 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/46 Combinations of several jacks with means for interrelating lifting or lowering movements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/20 by several jacks with means for maintaining the platforms horizontal during movement
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/3522 characterised by raising a structure and then adding structural elements under it E04B1/3511, E04B1/3516, E04B1/3533 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 7/30 mainly of metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/51 specially adapted for storing agricultural or horticultural products

Abstract

The present invention is a method for constructing cylindrical grain bins. The method employs a sets of identical, telescoping jacks actuated by hydraulic cylinders and an hydraulic system having separate hydraulic circuits that serve each set of jacks. Using the set of identical, hydraulic, telescoping jacks, successive rings of a grain bin structure made up of connected panels are lifted. After a first ring is lifted, a second ring can be attached to the lower edge of the first ring. The second ring is then lifted and the process is repeated until the grain bin is completed.

Claims

1. A method for progressively building a structure having levels comprising the following steps:

(a) obtaining a set of hydraulic jacks and a hydraulic system comprising,

(i) at least two substantially identical positive displacement hydraulic pumps, each of the at least two hydraulic pumps for supplying substantially equal amounts of hydraulic fluid when driven at the same rate,

(ii) a power source for simultaneously driving the pumps at the same rate,

(iii) at least two sets of substantially identical telescoping jacks actuated by substantially identical hydraulic cylinders, each set of telescoping jacks having equal numbers of telescoping jacks including at least one telescoping jack, each telescoping jack comprising a base that supports the jack, the hydraulic cylinder of each telescoping jack mounted to the base and having a vertically extending and retracting piston rod capable of translation by a maximum stroke distance, each telescoping jack also including a series of telescoping masts mounted to the base including at least two masts, including a first mast and a last mast, the last mast mounted in relation to the base so that it can move vertically in relation to the base and the first mast mounted to the last mast so that it that can move vertically in relation to the first mast, the first mast having an attachment for attaching to a portion of the structure, a member for engaging the top end of the piston rod and a feature for locking its position to at least prevent downward movement thereof relative to the last mast, the last mast also having a member for engaging the top end of the piston rod and a feature for locking its position relative to the base to at least prevent downward movement thereof relative to the base, the first mast and its attachment bracket capable of being lifted by a distance greater than the hydraulic cylinder piston rod stroke distance if the first mast is lifted by a distance substantially corresponding to the hydraulic cylinder piston rod stroke distance and locked in relation to the last mast which is then lifted by the hydraulic cylinder in relation to the base,

(iv) at least two control valves that can be operated in unison for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid that flows between each of the at least two pumps and each of the at least two sets of jacks, each of the at least two control valves hydraulically connected by hydraulic lines to one of the pumps and the hydraulic cylinders of one of the sets of jacks, each of the at least two control valves operable in at least two modes;

a first mode for directing the flow of hydraulic fluid from the pump away from the hydraulic cylinders of a set of jacks so that the jacks do not raise and a second mode for directing the flow of hydraulic fluid from the pump toward the hydraulic cylinders of a set of jacks to cause the jacks to raise,

(b) mounting the attachment of each first mast of each hydraulic jack of each set of jacks to a portion of a first level of the structure,

(c) engaging the piston rods of each hydraulic cylinder with each first mast of each jack,

(d) actuating the control valves of the hydraulic system in the second mode to provide the hydraulic cylinders of each set of jacks with the same amount of flow of hydraulic fluid so that all of the first masts of all of the hydraulic jacks extend relative to all of the next masts of all of the hydraulic jacks at the same rate to uniformly lift the structure by a distance no more than the same distance as the stroke distance of the hydraulic cylinders,

(e) securing each mast in relation to each next mast,

(f) retracting each piston rod of each of the hydraulic cylinders,

(g) engaging the piston rods of each hydraulic cylinder with each next mast,

(h) repeating steps (d) through (g) until a next level of the structure can be added under the jack supported level to support the jack supported level,

(i) disconnecting the jacks from the level they are supporting,

(j) retracting all of the cylinders,

(k) retracting each mast relative to each next mast by unsecuring each mast relative to each next mast,

(l) connecting each of the jacks of the sets of jacks to the next level,

(m) repeating steps (b) through (l) for each next level and steps (b) through (i) for the last level until all of the levels of the structure have been erected.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein, the base of each telescoping jack in the set of jacks includes a fixed base mast and the telescoping masts include a third stage mast that can move relative to the base mast, a second stage mast that can move relative to the third stage mast and a first stage mast that can move relative to the second stage mast, the first stage mast having an attachment for attaching to a portion of the structure, a fixed member for engaging the top end of the hydraulic cylinder piston rod and features for locking in an extended position relative to the second stage mast, the second stage mast having at least one member for receiving a removable bracket for engaging the top end of the hydraulic cylinder piston rod and features for locking in an extended position relative to the third stage mast and the third stage mast also having at least one member for receiving a removable bracket for engaging the top end of the hydraulic cylinder piston rod as well as features for locking in an extended position relative to the base mast.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein, the base of each telescoping jack of the sets of jacks includes a fixed base mast and the telescoping masts include a height adjusting mast that is adjustably movable in relation to the base mast, a third stage mast that can move relative to the height adjusting mast, a second stage mast that can move relative to the third stage mast and a first stage mast that can move relative to the second stage mast, the first stage mast having an attachment for attaching to a portion of the structure, a member for engaging the top end of the hydraulic cylinder piston rod and features for locking in an extended position relative to the second stage mast, the second stage mast having at least one member for receiving a removable bracket for engaging the top end of the hydraulic cylinder piston rod and features for locking in an extended position relative to the third stage mast, the third stage mast also having at least one member for receiving a removable bracket for engaging the top end of the hydraulic cylinder piston rod as well as features for locking in an extended position relative to the height adjusting mast and the height adjusting mast having features for locking its vertical position relative to the base mast.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein,

(a) the base of each telescoping jack of the set of jacks includes a fixed base mast and the telescoping masts include a height adjusting mast that is adjustably movable in relation to the base mast, a third stage mast that can move relative to the height adjusting mast, a second stage mast that can move relative to the third stage mast and a first stage mast that can move relative to the second stage mast, the first stage mast having an attachment for attaching to a portion of the structure, a member for engaging the top end of the hydraulic cylinder piston rod and features for locking in an extended position relative to the second stage mast, the second stage mast having at least one member for receiving a removable bracket for engaging the top end of the hydraulic cylinder piston rod and features for locking in an extended position relative to the third stage mast, the third stage mast also having at least one member for receiving a removable bracket for engaging the top end of the hydraulic cylinder piston rod as well as features for locking in an extended position relative to the height adjusting mast and the height adjusting mast having features for locking its vertical position relative to the base mast, and wherein,

(b) the hydraulic cylinder of each of the jacks is adjustably mounted to the base for vertical adjustment of the hydraulic cylinder, whereby the jack may be adjusted for lifting structural elements having a standard height by a distance so that upon a final extension of the piston of the hydraulic cylinder the height of a standard structural element height may be reached.

2. The method of claim one wherein,

(a) the hydraulic system further comprises an hydraulic fluid reservoir, hydraulic lines connecting the hydraulic fluid reservoir with the pumps, and, hydraulic lines connecting the hydraulic fluid reservoir with control valves so that fluid directed by a control valve away from the hydraulic cylinders of a set of jacks may flow into the hydraulic fluid reservoir and so that fluid pumped by a pumps to control valve may be drawn out of the hydraulic fluid reservoir.