Bin venting device and method

Abstract

This specification describes a bin venting device for use in a storage bin for agricultural products. The storage bin may have sidewalls and a roof that define an interior. The bin venting device includes a plurality of individual roof-mounted vent filters. Each vent includes an inlet for receiving air from the interior of the bin, an outlet for discharging air from the vent, a fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and one or more filters disposed in the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet for filtering air received from the interior of the bin. A fan is disposed downstream of the one or more filters in the flow path, and the fan is operable to cause air to flow into the inlet, through the filters, and out of the outlet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001]

[0001] A bin venting device and method, and in particular, a bin venting device and method for filtering air containing dust from within a bin, are described herein.

Background Art

[0002]

[0002] Agricultural bins are storage structures for grains and sometimes other agricultural products. Bins can vary in size from relatively small bins that would be used on a single small farm to very large bins such as for a farm co - operative group. Some bins are over 80 feet high and have a diameter of 135 feet at the base. Such bins can hold over one million bushels of grain. These bins typically have cylindrical side walls and a low - angle conical roof.

[0003]

[0003] Grains stored within a bin can be ventilated to maintain proper grain conditions and reduce grain spoilage. Some bins have fans externally attached at the bottom of the side walls. The fans can be configured to introduce air into the grains, and air from within the bin is exhausted through a passive rooftop vent as shown in a conventional bin illustrated in FIG. 1. A passive rooftop vent may simply be an air plenum or air opening that does not have mechanically operable components.

[0004]

[0004] Typically, bins are supplied with grain or other flowable foods, such as by using a conveyor to guide the grain from an upper feed position to a roof feed opening where the grain can be poured into the bin. Grain dust is generated during filling, and conventionally, a vent filter device has been used at the feed point to reduce the release of dust from the bin. One solution for reducing the air containing dust exiting through the passive rooftop vent is the use of a baghouse dust collector. A baghouse dust collector can include equipment disposed adjacent to the bottom of the sidewall of the bin to exhaust and filter the air containing dust from within the bin prior to discharging the air. A system having a baghouse dust collector can include one or more suction ducts connected to the baghouse dust collector on the roof of the bin, as shown in FIG. 2. An example of a conventional baghouse dust collector is one of the RF series collectors manufactured by Donaldson Company (Minneapolis, Minnesota).

[0005]

[0005] The use of such suction ducts and baghouse dust collectors can potentially increase the cost and complexity of the grain storage bin unnecessarily. Also, grain dust can accumulate within the duct section, leading to less efficient operation and even clogging of the baghouse dust collector. Considering that the duct section is typically installed on the roof of the bin and requires partial disassembly of the duct section, cleaning the duct section would be difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006]

[0006] As used herein, a storage bin for agricultural products is described that includes an interior bounded by a cylindrical sidewall and a roof. A plurality of individual vent filters are attached to the roof. Each of the vent filters includes an inlet for receiving air from the interior of the bin, an outlet for allowing air from the vent filter to escape, a fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and one or more filters disposed in the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet for filtering air received from the interior of the bin. In each case, a fan is operably disposed within the flow path and is selectively operable to cause air to flow into the inlet, through the filter, and out of the outlet.

[0007]

[0007] As used herein, a method of filling a grain storage bin having an interior bounded by a cylindrical sidewall and a roof is described. The method includes drawing air from the interior of the bin through a vent filter and thereby discharging the filtered air at a plurality of individual outlet locations on the roof during a filling operation to suction the bin. The method may include using a plurality of vent filters attached to the roof, each of the vent filters including an inlet for receiving air from the interior of the bin, an outlet for allowing air from the vent filter to escape, a fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and one or more filters disposed in the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet for filtering air received from the interior of the bin. Again, a fan is operably disposed within the flow path and is selectively operable to cause air to flow into the inlet, through the filter, and out of the outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]

Figure 1

[0008] A partial perspective view of a prior art grain bin having a sidewall and a roof with a plurality of inlet vents disposed on the roof.

Figure 2

[0009] A partial perspective view of another prior art grain bin having a sidewall and a roof with a plurality of inlet vents disposed on the roof and a duct section for venting from the interior of the bin to a bug house dust collector.

Figure 3

[0010] A perspective view of a storage bin for agricultural products, the bin having a cylindrical side wall and a conical roof that bounds the interior, and a plurality of individual roof-mounted vent filters attached to the roof for venting and filtering air from the interior of the bin.

Figure 4

[0011] A plan view of the bin of FIG. 3.

Figure 5

[0012] A front elevation view of the bin of FIG. 3.

Figure 6

[0013] A schematic representation of a cross-sectional view of the bin of FIG. 3, showing an optional rotary distributor inside the bin.

Figure 7

[0014] A perspective view of an exemplary vent filter used on the bin of FIG. 3.

Figure 8

[0015] A perspective view of an exemplary vent filter used on the bin of FIG. 3.

Figure 9

[0016] A side cross-sectional view of an exemplary vent filter used on the bin of FIG. 3, showing the air flow during vent operation.

Figure 10

[0017] An exemplary vent of FIG. 9 is illustrated, showing the air flow during filter cleaning operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009]

[0018] A storage bin 10 for agricultural products, having a plurality of individual roof-mounted vent filters 20 configured to allow air containing dust from the interior 12 of the bin 10 to escape and to filter the air containing the dust before discharging it, is described herein and shown in the non-limiting exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 10 of the accompanying drawings. Advantageously, the use of individual roof-mounted vent filters 20 for allowing air from the interior 12 of the bin 10 to escape and be filtered can reduce the need for complex suction duct piping and the collector itself associated with baghouse dust collectors. The vent filters 20 are generally used during the filling of the grain bin, i.e., when dust is likely to be generated. The vent filters 20 are further or alternatively contemplated to be used during the aeration of the grain within the bin after filling.

[0010]

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the storage bin 10 includes a cylindrical side wall 14 and a generally frustoconical roof 16, which partially define or bound the interior 12 of the bin 10. The roof 16 need not be a complete frustoconical shape; for example, there may be angular deviations along the slope of the roof. However, in most cases, the conical angle of the roof is constant. The side wall 14 and the roof 16 may be of conventional construction, typically metal. The apex of the roof 16 may be truncated and may have a filling opening or inlet 18 through which grain or other agricultural products can pass and be poured into the bin 10. For example, a conveyor (see FIGS. 1 and 2) may be utilized to pour grain into the interior 12 of the bin 10 through the filling opening 18.

[0011]

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, each vent filter 20 includes an inlet 22 for receiving air 24 containing dust from the interior 12 of the bin 10, an outlet 26 for allowing filtered air 28 to escape from the vent 20, a fluid flow path 30 between the inlet 22 and the outlet 26, and one or more filters 32 disposed in the fluid flow path 30 between the inlet 22 and the outlet 26 for filtering the air 24 containing dust received from the interior 12 of the bin 10. FIGS. 9 and 10 are shown with a pair of inlets 22 and a pair of filters 32, but it is contemplated that the vent filter 20 may include one inlet and one filter, or more than two inlets and more than two filters.

[0012]

[0021] The vent filter 20 also includes a fan 34 disposed downstream of the one or more filters 32 in the flow path 30, and in other embodiments, it is contemplated that a fan may be used upstream of the filter. The fan 34 is selectively operable to cause air 24 containing dust to flow into the inlet 22 through the vent opening in the roof 16, through the filter 32, and filtered air 28 to flow out from the outlet 26. The fan 34 may include an electric motor or other motor for rotating the blades of the fan 34. The fan 34 may be electronically controlled via a control system (not shown separately) that may include an automatic control device such as a logic controller. Although not necessarily required, preferably each filter 32 can be removed from the plenum of the vent 20 through the exterior of the vent 20 for cleaning and / or replacement. The filter 32 can be of a conventional structure such as a fiber screen filter.

[0013]

[0022] Each of the vent filters 20 is distinct from the others of the vents. In other words, each of the vent filters 20 has a unique filter 32 and fan 34. Optionally, each of the fans 34 can operate independently of the others of the fans 34. Thereby, it is possible to operate some but not all of the vent filters 20, which can be advantageous depending on conditions such as wind direction or other atmospheric conditions or the fill level of the bin. The vent filters 20 may all be configured to operate together. In other words, the vent filters 20 may be wired or otherwise controlled such that they all either turn on or off. In other embodiments, the vent filters may be controlled independently or in groups.

[0014]

[0023] Optionally, each of the vent filters 20 includes one or more pressurized air nozzles 36 that are directed toward the filter 32 on the downstream side of the filter and are in fluid communication with a pressurized air source 38, and use pressurized air 40 to clean particulate 50 from the filter 32. The pressurized air source 38 may be shared among some or all of the vent filters 20. The vent filters 20 can operate such that the pressure drop across the plenum of the vent filter ranges from about 2 inches of water column to about 4 inches of water column, and the pressurized air operates to clean the filter device when the pressure drop reaches or exceeds 4 inches of water column and stops operating when the pressure drop across the plenum reaches 2 inches of water column or less. For this purpose, a pressure sensor (not shown) and a corresponding actuator device may be used.

[0015]

[0024] The exemplary embodiments of the vent filter 20 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are commercially available from Donaldson Company, Inc. (Minneapolis, Minnesota) as model number CPV-6, although other vents and vent sizes may also be suitable. The vent filter 20 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 has an inlet, an outlet, and a filter (not shown) therebetween. The vent filter 20 also has a filter cleaning system by which, as described above with respect to FIGS. 9 and 10, pressurized air from a pressurized air source can be directed to the downstream side of the filter to clean the filter. The vent filter 20 shown in FIG. 8 includes an attachment area 52 for a motor-driven fan (not shown) that draws air in through the inlet and out through the outlet through the filter.

[0016]

[0025] During operation, one or more of the plurality of individual roof-mounted vent filters 20 are activated to draw air 24 containing dust out of the interior 12 of the bin 10, through the filter 32, reduce or remove the dust from the air, and then release such filtered air 28 to the surroundings. More specifically, each fan 34 of the vent filter 20 is individually, in groups, or cumulatively activated, as shown in FIG. 6, to cause air 24 containing dust to flow from the interior 12 of the bin 10 into the inlet 22, through the filter 32, and then discharge the filtered air 28 out of the outlet 26, thereby being able to suction the bin.

[0017]

[0026] As described above, optionally, pressurized air 40 from a pressurized air source 38 is directed to the filter 32 on the downstream side of the filter using one or more pressurized air nozzles 36 to blow the dust off the filter and clean the filter 32. The fan 34 may be inoperable during such cleaning, but may be operable while the pressurized air 40 is being directed to the filter 32.

[0018]

[0027] In the embodiments of FIGS. 3 - 5, four such vent filters 20 are illustrated, but it will be understood that any suitable number of vent filters 20 may be used. For example, more than four vent filters 20 may be used, up to sixteen vent filters 20 may be used, from four to sixteen vent filters 20 may be used, or more than sixteen vent filters 20 may be used. The number of vent filters 20 can be a function, at least in part, of the volume and flow rate of air desired to be vented and the flow capacity of a given vent filter. The number of vent filters 20 can be easily increased based on the observed conditions. For example, if filter 32 becomes too quickly laden with dust, another vent filter 20 can be added to roof 16 at relatively low cost. Also, if there are more vent filters 20 than are required at a particular fill level of the bin, one or more of the vent filters 20 may not be activated, or the extra vent filters may be removed for use in another grain bin. The ability to add vent filters to the system, or take vent filters offline when not needed, gives the configuration more flexibility than the aforementioned conventional systems using baghouses and suction ducts.

[0019]

[0028] As schematically shown in FIG. 6, storage bin 10 may include an optional rotary distributor 42. Rotary distributor 42 is disposed with the interior 12 of bin 10 and, preferably, within that portion of interior 12 within roof 16 above sidewall 14. Rotary distributor 42 is arranged such that the incoming flow 44 of grain or other agricultural product is at least partially diffused radially outward. This optional rotary distributor 42, if present, can be used to help maintain a generally horizontal upper surface 46 of grain 48 as compared to the center of the upper surface of the grain becoming domed or higher than the periphery when simply filling the grain. Although not necessarily required, preferably, the upper surface 46 of grain 48 is below the intersection of roof 16 and sidewall 14 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0020]

[0029] The vent filter 20 described herein may be retrofitted to existing bins, such as bins that use a baghouse dust collector and a suction duct as described herein. These vents can be used to supplement the dust removal characteristics of the baghouse or to completely replace the baghouse dust collector. In other embodiments, the vent filter 20 may be incorporated into a newly constructed bin, preferably a bin in which a baghouse dust collector and associated suction ducts are not used.

[0021]

[0030] Conventional bins include a plurality of open passive vents that allow air to escape from the bin during aeration of the grain. In conventional bins, air containing dust may leak from these vents. The bin 20 of the present invention described herein may continue to include such open passive vents. The advantage of using the roof-mounted vent filter 20 described herein is that the powered fan 34 expels air from the bin 10, resulting in a negative (inward) pressure in the open passive vents, particularly when air is being displaced within the bin 10 during the filling operation. This negative pressure can advantageously prevent the leakage of dust from the open passive vents. This can be beneficial during various conditions, such as during filling when the generation of grain dust increases.

[0022]

[0031] All of the methods described in this specification, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly inconsistent with the context, can be performed in any suitable order. The use of any and all examples provided herein, or of the language used to explain examples (e.g., "such as"), is intended to clarify the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. No description in this specification of any property or advantage of the invention or of a preferred embodiment is intended to be limiting. The invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited herein as permitted by applicable law. Also, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly inconsistent with the context, any combination of the above elements, in all its possible variations, is included by the invention. The citation of any reference or patent in this specification, even if identified as "prior art," is not intended to constitute an admission that such reference or patent is available as prior art to the invention. Language that has not been claimed should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. No description or suggestion in this specification that a particular feature constitutes an element of an invention being claimed is intended to be limiting unless reflected in the appended claims. The indication of a patent number for any product, or the identification of a patent number for any service, should not be considered as representing that all embodiments described in this specification are incorporated into such product or service.

Claims

1. A storage bin for agricultural products, comprising an interior bounded by cylindrical side walls and a roof, and a plurality of individual roof-mounted vent filters, Each of the vent filters has an inlet for receiving air from inside the bottle, an outlet for releasing air from the vent, a fluid passage between the inlet and the outlet, one or more filters disposed in the fluid passage between the inlet and the outlet for filtering the air received from inside the bottle, and a fan disposed downstream of the one or more filters in the passage. The fan is capable of selectively operating to draw air into the inlet, pass it through the filter, and discharge it from the outlet. Each of the vent filters has one or more pressurized air nozzles downstream of the filter, directed towards the filter and in fluid communication with a pressurized air source, for cleaning the filter using pressurized air.

2. The storage bin according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of individual roof-mounted vent filters have four or more vent filters.

3. The storage bin according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of individual roof-mounted vent filters have 16 or fewer vent filters.

4. The aforementioned plurality of individual roof-mounted vent filters each have four or more vent filters, The aforementioned roof is generally frustoconical in shape. A storage bin according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the inlets of the vents is connected to a corresponding opening in the roof.

5. The storage bin according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the roof further comprises a rotary distributor disposed inside for distributing agricultural products supplied into the bin by viewing the feeding opening.

6. Pressure sensor and An actuator that, in response to the pressure sensor, activates one or more pressurized air nozzles when the pressure difference across the vent filter reaches a predetermined level, A storage bin according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising:

7. A method for aspirating a grain bin according to claim 1, A method comprising, with respect to one or more of the plurality of individual roof-mounted vent filters, operating the fan to cause air to flow from the inside of the bin to the inlet, through the filter, and out through the outlet.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the suction is performed while the bottle is being filled with grain.

9. The aforementioned grain bin has multiple passive vents, The method of claim 7 or 8, further comprising causing an inflow of air into the interior of the grain bin through the one or more passive vents during the operation of the fan of one or more of the plurality of individual roof-mounted vent filters.

10. The method of claim 7 or 8, further comprising using one or more pressurized air nozzles to direct pressurized air from the pressurized air source toward the filter downstream of the filter.

11. A storage bin for agricultural products, comprising an interior bounded by cylindrical side walls and a roof, and a plurality of individual roof-mounted vent filters, Each of the vent filters has, within its housing, an inlet for receiving air from inside the bottle, an outlet for releasing air from the vent, a fluid passage between the inlet and the outlet, a plurality of individual filters disposed in the fluid passage between the inlet and the outlet for filtering the air received from inside the bottle, and a fan disposed downstream of the filters in the passage. A storage bin in which the fan is capable of selectively operating to draw air into the inlet, through the filter, and out through the outlet.

12. The storage bin of claim 11, wherein each of the vent filters has one or more pressurized air nozzles downstream of the filter, directed toward the filter and in fluid communication with a pressurized air source for cleaning the filter using pressurized air.

13. The storage bin according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising a rotary dispenser disposed inside for dispersing agricultural products supplied into the bin by viewing the aforementioned feeding opening.

14. The aforementioned multiple individual roof-mounted vent filters include four or more vent filters, The aforementioned roof is generally frustoconical in shape. The storage bin of claim 11 or 12, wherein each of the inlets of the vents is connected to a corresponding opening in the roof.

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