Ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin

Abstract

A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin is provided. The ventilation system comprises an extendable elongated hollow body for being disposed in proximity of a center of the storage bin and oriented substantially vertical. The body comprises a plurality of body sections and when extended has a length approximately equal to a distance between a bottom portion of the storage bin and a top portion of the storage bin. The body has a plurality of apertures such that airflow between inside and outside the body is enabled while transmission of the particulate materials into the body is substantially prevented. A holding mechanism is mounted to the body and to at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion of the storage bin.

1 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin comprising:
 an extendable elongated hollow body for being disposed in proximity of a center of the storage bin and oriented substantially vertical, the body comprising a plurality of body sections and when extended having a length approximately equal to a distance between a bottom portion of the storage bin and a top portion of the storage bin, the body having a plurality of apertures such that airflow between inside and outside the body is enabled while transmission of the particulate materials into the body is substantially prevented; and,   a holding mechanism mounted to the body, the holding mechanism for being mounted to at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion of the storage bin.   
     
     
         2 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 1  wherein an end portion of a first body section is shaped for being mated with a corresponding end portion of a second body section. 
     
     
         3 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 2  wherein the end portions are shaped for mating corresponding body sections of a predetermined sequence of body sections. 
     
     
         4 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 2  wherein each body section is tapered such that an end portion outside surface of a first body section interacts with an end portion inside surface of a second body section. 
     
     
         5 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 1  wherein the body sections are telescoping body sections. 
     
     
         6 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 5  wherein each body section has a constant cross section along its longitudinal axis and wherein the cross sections are varied such that a successive body section is accommodated inside a previous body section. 
     
     
         7 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 5  wherein the size of the cross sections of successive body sections is decreasing from bottom to top. 
     
     
         8 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 5  wherein each body section is tapered. 
     
     
         9 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 8  wherein each body section is tapered such that when the body is extended an end portion outside surface of a first body section interacts with an end portion inside surface of a second body section. 
     
     
         10 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 1  comprising connecting elements, each connecting element for connecting an end portion of a first body section to an end portion of a second body section. 
     
     
         11 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 1  wherein the holding mechanism is mounted to at least one of a bottom portion and a top portion of the body. 
     
     
         12 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 11  wherein the holding mechanism mounted to the bottom portion of the body comprises a beam structure having at least two end portions for interfacing with a sloped wall portion of a hopper. 
     
     
         13 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 12  wherein a length of the beam structure is variable. 
     
     
         14 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 11  wherein a top portion of the top body section comprises a cap, the cap being shaped for dispersing the particulate materials when impinging thereupon. 
     
     
         15 . A ventilation system for ventilating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin as defined in  claim 14  wherein the cap has a plurality of apertures such that airflow between inside and outside the body is enabled while transmission of the particulate materials into the body is substantially prevented.