Storage bin floor

Abstract

A floor for a storage bin comprising a circular metal sheet defined by sheet pieces arranged for connection together with overlapping edges. The sheet pieces include a central circular piece. The sheet pieces include a plurality of generally pie-shaped pieces arranged for side by side connection along radial edges thereof so as to define a ring surrounding the central piece having a circular outer edge and with an inner circular edge defined by the pie-shaped pieces being connected to an outer edge of the central circular piece.

1 . A floor for a storage bin comprising: 
 a circular metal sheet defined by sheet pieces arranged for connection together with overlapping edges;    the sheet pieces including a central circular piece;    the sheet pieces including a plurality of generally pie-shaped pieces arranged for side by side connection along radial edges thereof so as to define a ring surrounding the central piece having a circular outer edge and with an inner circular edge defined by the pie-shaped pieces being connected to an outer edge of the central circular piece.    
     
     
         2 . The floor according to  claim 1  wherein each connecting edge between one piece and the next is overlapped with an upper edge having a plurality of screw holes for receiving self-tapping screws for fastening to the underlying edge.  
     
     
         3 . The floor according to  claim 2  wherein the underlying edge is recessed by the thickness of the sheet so that the upper surface is flat.  
     
     
         4 . The floor according to  claim 1  wherein each of the pie shaped pieces has along one edge a plurality of projecting tabs arranged for co-operation with corresponding shaped slots in an adjacent edge of the next adjacent pie shaped piece such that the tabs can be inserted into the slots with the pie shaped pieces while the pie shaped pieces are mis-aligned and the pie shaped pieces slid longitudinally each relative to the next to bring them into alignment wherein the tabs lock in the slots.  
     
     
         5 . The floor according to  claim 4  wherein the tabs are formed in a first edge flange which is recessed below the main body of the pie shaped piece and the slots are formed in a shoulder defined between the main body of the pie shaped piece and a second edge flange which is recessed below the main body of the pie shaped piece, the first and second edge flanges being arranged such that the main bodies of the pie pieces when connected define a horizontal flat floor at a constant height.  
     
     
         6 . A storage bin comprising: 
 a circular metal floor defined by sheet pieces arranged for connection together with overlapping edges;    the sheet pieces including a central circular piece;    the sheet pieces including a plurality of generally pie-shaped pieces arranged for side by side connection along radial edges thereof so as to define a ring surrounding the central piece having a circular outer edge and with an inner circular edge defined by the pie-shaped pieces being connected to an outer edge of the central circular piece;    and a cylindrical bin wall having a circular horizontal bottom mounting flange lying on the floor at a position adjacent to the outer edge and fastened thereto.    
     
     
         7 . The storage bin according to  claim 6  wherein each connecting edge between one piece and the next is overlapped with an upper edge having a plurality of screw holes for receiving self-tapping screws for fastening to the underlying edge.  
     
     
         8 . The storage bin according to  claim 7  wherein the underlying edge is recessed by the thickness of the sheet so that the upper surface is flat.  
     
     
         9 . The storage bin according to  claim 6  wherein the flange is spaced inwardly from the outer edge.  
     
     
         10 . The storage bin according to  claim 6  wherein each of the pie shaped pieces has along one edge a plurality of projecting tabs arranged for co-operation with corresponding shaped slots in an adjacent edge of the next adjacent pie shaped piece such that the tabs can be inserted into the slots with the pie shaped pieces while the pie shaped pieces are mis-aligned and the pie shaped pieces slid longitudinally each relative to the next to bring them into alignment wherein the tabs lock in the slots.  
     
     
         11 . The storage bin according to  claim 10  wherein the tabs are formed in a first edge flange which is recessed below the main body of the pie shaped piece and the slots are formed in a shoulder defined between the main body of the pie shaped piece and a second edge flange which is recessed below the main body of the pie shaped piece, the first and second edge flanges being arranged such that the main bodies of the pie pieces when connected define a horizontal flat floor at a constant height.  
     
     
         12 . The storage bin according to  claim 6  wherein the bin wall is formed of a plurality of rectangular wall pieces arranged in rows and columns such that each piece has a height from a top edge to a bottom edge forming a part of the height of the wall and each piece has a width from a first side edge to a second side edge forming part of the peripheral extent of the wall, each piece having a right angle flange at each of the top, bottom and side edges which is arranged for fastening to the corresponding flange of a next adjacent piece or, in respect to the bottom edge of a first row of the pieces, to the floor, and each piece having a curvature across its width between the side edges matching the curvature of the wall.  
     
     
         13 . The storage bin according to  claim 12  wherein each of the flanges is pre-formed with holes for bolting to the corresponding flange.  
     
     
         14 . A storage bin comprising: 
 a circular metal floor;    and a cylindrical bin wall having a circular horizontal bottom mounting flange lying on the floor at a position adjacent to the outer edge and fastened thereto;    wherein the bin wall is formed of a plurality of rectangular wall pieces arranged in rows and columns such that each piece has a height from a top edge to a bottom edge forming a part of the height of the wall and each piece has a width from a first side edge to a second side edge forming part of the peripheral extent of the wall, each piece having a right angle flange at each of the top, bottom and side edges which is arranged for fastening to the corresponding flange of a next adjacent piece or, in respect to the bottom edge of a first row of the pieces, to the floor, and each piece having a curvature across its width between the side edges matching the curvature of the wall.    
     
     
         15 . The storage bin according to  claim 14  wherein each of the flanges is pre-formed with holes for bolting to the corresponding flange.