Grain bin aeration duct

Abstract

An aeration duct apparatus for a grain bin has an air chamber with louvered side walls, which comprise a plurality of wall slats that extend the length of the chamber and slope from inner side edges thereof downward and outward to outer side edges thereof, and are spaced apart to form air gaps between adjacent slats. The slats prevent grain from flowing through the air gaps into the air chamber. In one embodiment the outer side edge of each slat is closer to a center of the air chamber than the outer side edge of an adjacent slat below, and farther from the center than the outer side edge of an adjacent slat above, such that the right and left louvered side walls each slope inward toward the center of the air chamber from lower edges thereof to upper edges thereof. The duct is well suited to hopper bottom bins.

1 . An aeration duct apparatus for a grain bin, the apparatus comprising:
 an air chamber with right and left louvered side walls, end walls at opposite ends of the right and left louvered walls, a closed top above the right and left louvered side walls, and an open bottom;   wherein the right and left louvered side walls each comprise a plurality of wall slats extending substantially from one end wall to the opposite end wall and sloping from inner side edges thereof downward and outward to outer side edges thereof, and spaced apart such that air gaps are formed between adjacent slats but grain on an exterior of the air chamber is prevented from flowing through the air gaps to an interior of the air chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the outer side edge of each slat is closer to a center of the air chamber than the outer side edge of an adjacent slat below each slat, and farther from the center of the air chamber than the outer side edge of an adjacent slat above each slat, such that the right and left louvered side walls each slope inward toward the center of the air chamber from lower edges thereof to upper edges thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the slats are configured such that the outer side edge of a higher slat is vertically located below the inner side edge of an adjacent slat below the higher slat. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein a middle portion of each slat is substantially flat and parallel to adjacent slats above and below each slat. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein outer portions of each slat bend downward, and wherein inner portions of each slat bend upward. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the outer portions of each slat are oriented substantially vertically. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the closed top of the air chamber comprises a roof panel with right and left sides sloping downward from a longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel to mid-portions of right and left top slats of the right and left louvered walls such that air gaps are formed between the right and left top slats and the right and left sides of the roof plate. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising substantially vertical right and left lower side walls extending downward from corresponding right and left louvered side walls, and a middle support comprising a substantially vertical support plate attached at lower right and left edges thereof to the right and left lower side walls and having an upper portion configured to bear against bottom sides of the slats and against the top of the air enclosure, and defining an air passage in a central portion thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an air conduit having an output end in the interior of the air chamber, and an input end adapted to be connected to an opening in a wall of a grain bin. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the end walls define slots that correspond to a cross section of the slats, and where ends of the slats extend into the slots and are fastened to the end walls. 
     
     
         11 . A hopper bottom bin and aeration apparatus comprising:
 a cone shaped floor with bin walls extending upward from a perimeter of the cone shaped floor, and cone walls sloping downward from the perimeter to a port at a bottom of the cone shaped floor;   an air chamber extending across the cone shaped floor between the perimeter and the port;   the air chamber comprising right and left louvered side walls, end walls at opposite ends of the right and left louvered walls adjacent to the cone walls, a closed top above the right and left louvered side walls, and an open bottom;   wherein the right and left louvered side walls each comprise a plurality of wall slats extending substantially from one end wall to the opposite end wall and sloping from inner side edges thereof downward and outward to outer side edges thereof, and spaced apart such that air gaps are formed between adjacent slats;   wherein the slats are configured such that grain on an exterior of the air chamber is prevented from flowing through the air gaps to an interior of the air chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the outer side edge of each slat is closer to a center of the air chamber than the outer side edge of an adjacent slat below each slat, and farther from the center of the air chamber than the outer side edge of an adjacent slat above each slat, such that the right and left louvered side walls each slope inward toward the center of the air chamber from lower edges thereof to upper edges thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the slats are configured such that the outer side edge of a higher slat is vertically located below the inner side edge of an adjacent slat below the higher slat. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein a middle portion of each slat is substantially flat and parallel to adjacent slats above and below each slat. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein outer portions of each slat bend downward, and wherein inner portions of each slat bend upward. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the outer portions of each slat are oriented substantially vertically. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the closed top of the air chamber comprises a roof panel with right and left sides sloping downward from a longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel to mid-portions of right and left top slats of the right and left louvered walls such that air gaps are formed between the right and left top slats and the right and left sides of the roof plate. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11  comprising substantially vertical right and left lower side walls extending downward from corresponding right and left louvered side walls, and a middle support comprising a substantially vertical support plate attached at lower right and left edges thereof to the right and left lower side walls and having an upper portion configured to bear against bottom sides of the slats and against the top of the air enclosure, and defining an air passage in a central portion thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the upper portion of the support plate is attached to the slats. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising an air conduit having an output end in the interior of the air chamber, and an input end connected to an opening in a cone wall. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the end walls define slots that correspond to a cross section of the slats, and where ends of the slats extend into the slots and are fastened to the end walls.