Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids – Process – With nondrying treating of material
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-12
2001-05-22
Gravini, Stephen (Department: 2162)
Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids
Process
With nondrying treating of material
C034S386000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233843
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE
Cross reference is made to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/124,308, entitled “Floor Sweep Assembly for a Grain Dryer having Primary Support Members and Ancillary Support Members which Form a Number of Intersections with a Wiper” by Terry L. McKenzie, Paul W. Peterson, and Wesley L. Peterson Ser. No. 09/124,307, entitled “Floor Sweep Assembly for a Grain Dryer having Support Members and Wipers which are Spaced Apart from each other by Spacing Members at Intersections Formed Therebetween” by Terry L. McKenzie, Paul W. Peterson, and Wesley L. Peterson, and Ser. No. 09/124,306, entitled “Grain Dryer having Motor for Rotating Floor Sweep Assembly which is Mounted Above Cooling Floor” by Terry L. McKenzie, Paul W. Peterson, and Wesley L. Peterson, all of which are assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, and all of which are filed concurrently herewith.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to grain dryers which utilize heated air to reduce the moisture content of harvested grain such as corn, beans, wheat, and oats.
In order to store grain for a long period of time, it is necessary to dry the grain to a condition in which it is less subject to molding or other deterioration. Accordingly, numerous types of grain dryers have heretofore been designed which possess a number of grain flow channels defined between a pair of perforated walls. Grain is advanced through these grain flow channels while at the same time heat is passed through the perforated walls. This process results in heating of the grain which is flowing through the grain flow channels thereby reducing the moisture content of the grain. Reducing the grain's moisture content enables the grain to be stored for a long period of time without molding or otherwise deteriorating.
Defined within the lower portion of the perforated walls of the above type of grain dryer, there exists a number of discharge slots through which grain advances after being subjected to the above-described moisture reduction process. One type of grain dryer which has heretofore been designed provides a grain shelf floor which receives the grain flowing out through the discharge slots. The grain shelf floor has a hopper opening defined in a center portion of the grain shelf floor. Thereafter, a grain metering system which includes a number of augers advances the grain from the outer portion of the grain shelf floor to the hopper opening. Once the grain reaches the hopper opening, the grain falls into a discharge hopper located under the hopper opening. The discharge hopper directs the grain to a discharge auger thereby removing the grain from the grain dryer.
One challenge when designing grain dryers is to obtain a grain metering system which is durable yet relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Another challenge when designing grain dryers is to obtain a grain metering system which accurately meters the grain into the discharge hopper at a desired rate. Yet another challenge when designing grain dryers is to obtain a grain metering system which has a relatively low horsepower requirement for the motor of the grain metering system. In addition, another challenge when designing grain dryers is to obtain a grain metering system that protects the motor of the grain metering system from being contaminated by grain dust. Still another challenge when designing grain dryers is to obtain a grain metering system which does not cause damage to the grain as the grain is metered into the discharge hopper. Yet another challenge when designing grain dryers is to obtain a grain metering system which does not cause damage to the grain shelf floor during operation of the grain metering system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a grain dryer which includes a wall assembly having (i) an inner wall and an outer wall which defines a grain flow path therebetween, and (ii) a discharge slot defined in the wall assembly through which grain may flow. The grain dryer further includes a grain shelf floor positioned relative to the wall assembly such that grain flowing through the discharge slot advances onto the grain shelf floor, the grain shelf floor has a hopper opening defined therein. The grain dryer additionally includes a floor sweep assembly having a wiper, wherein (i) the wiper includes a blade support and a blade attached to the blade support, (ii) the floor sweep assembly is positioned vertically above the grain shelf floor such that rotation of the floor sweep assembly causes grain positioned on the grain shelf floor to be pushed across an upper surface of the grain shelf floor by the blade until the grain falls through the hopper opening, and (iii) a first lower edge of the blade contacts the grain shelf floor so as to slide across the upper surface of the grain shelf floor as the floor sweep assembly is being rotated.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a floor sweep assembly for advancing grain across a grain shelf floor of a grain dryer. The floor sweep assembly includes a wiper having a blade support and a blade attached to the blade support, wherein (i) rotation of the floor sweep assembly causes grain positioned on the grain shelf floor to be pushed across an upper surface of the grain shelf floor by the blade, and (ii) a first lower edge of the blade contacts the grain shelf floor so as to slide across the upper surface of the grain shelf floor as the floor sweep assembly is being rotated. The floor sweep assembly further includes a support member, wherein rotation of the support member causes rotation of the wiper.
Yet according to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for advancing grain across a grain shelf floor of a grain dryer with a floor sweep assembly, wherein (i) the floor sweep assembly includes a wiper, and (ii) the wiper includes a blade support and a blade attached to the blade support. The method includes the steps of (i) moving the blade into contact with grain supported on the grain shelf floor so as to push the grain across an upper surface of the grain shelf floor, and (ii) maintaining a space between the blade support and the grain shelf floor during the blade moving step.
According to still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for advancing grain within a grain dryer. The method includes the steps of (i) advancing grain onto a grain shelf floor of the grain dryer, and (ii) moving a blade into contact with the grain supported on the grain shelf floor so as to push the grain across an upper surface of the grain shelf floor, wherein the blade includes a resin material which contacts the grain during the blade moving step.
One object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful grain dryer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved grain dryer.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful floor sweep assembly for a grain dryer.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved floor sweep assembly for a grain dryer.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful method of advancing grain across a grain shelf floor of a grain dryer with a floor sweep assembly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of advancing grain across a grain shelf floor of a grain dryer with a floor sweep assembly.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a floor sweep assembly which is durable yet relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a floor sweep assembly which accurately meters the grain into the discharge hopper at a desired rate.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a floor sweep assembly which rotates easily during operation of the grain dryer thereby placing a relatively low horsepower requirement on the motor of the grain metering system of the grain dryer.
Still another
McKenzie Terry L.
Peterson Paul W.
Peterson Wesley L.
ffi Corporation
Gravini Stephen
Maginot Addison & Moore
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