Device and method for building a silo

Abstract

The invention generally relates to an alignment device for aligning arced silo panels to form a silo wall during construction of a silo. The invention may also relate to a lifting device for lifting silo panels during the construction of a silo. The invention may further relate to an arced silo panel for the construction of a silo, in particular to be used in combination with the alignment device and the lifting device for the construction of a silo. The invention may further relate to a method for constructing a silo, preferably using the alignment device, the lifting device, and/or the arced silo panels.

1 . An alignment device for aligning arced silo panels to form a silo wall during construction of a silo, the alignment device comprising:
 a base frame supporting an outer side and an inner side, forming a U-shape having a space for receiving an arced silo panel in between the outer and inner side;   a drive arranged to move along a stationary silo wall during construction of the silo;   at least one clamping unit provided on the outer side; and   at least one pressing unit, comprising an inner panel aligner provided on the inner side and an outer panel aligner provided on the outer side, the pressing unit being arranged to engage the lower arced silo panel and the upper arced silo panel;   wherein the clamping unit being arranged to clamp two flanges of a lower arced silo panel and upper arced silo panel together,   wherein the pressing unit is arranged to provide opposing alignment forces on inner and an outer sides of lower and upper arced silo panels, and   wherein the pressing unit and the clamping unit are arranged to align the lower arced silo panel and the upper arced silo panel radially and vertically.   
     
     
         2 . The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping unit comprises two opposing clamping wheels provided on two substantially parallel and substantially horizontal axes, said axes being vertically spaced from one another, the clamping wheels being arranged to clamp two flanges of two arced silo panels together and wherein the clamping unit is preferably arranged to suspend the alignment device from a flange of an arced silo panel. 
     
     
         3 . The alignment device of  claim 2 , wherein the drive is arranged to drive the clamping wheels to move the alignment along the periphery of the stationary silo. 
     
     
         4 . The alignment device of  any preceding claims , wherein the alignment device further comprises a welding unit, the welding unit comprising a welding torch mounted on the inner side, preferably being mounted adjacent to the inner panel aligner, the welding torch being arranged to provide an elongated weld along two arced silo panels as the alignment device travels along the arced silo panels. 
     
     
         5 . The alignment device of  any preceding claims , wherein the inner panel aligner comprises at least one inner pressing unit comprising at least one inner pressing wheel provided on a substantially vertical axis, the inner pressing wheel being arranged to engage with two arced silo panels and to provide an outwardly directed pressing force on the two arced silo panels. 
     
     
         6 . The alignment device of  any preceding claim , wherein the outer panel aligner comprises at least one outer pressing unit comprising at least one outer pressing wheel provided on a substantially vertical axis, the outer pressing wheel being arranged to engage with two arced silo panels and to provide an inwardly directed pressing force on the two arced silo panels. 
     
     
         7 . The alignment device of  any preceding claim , further comprising a pre-alignment unit comprising a further clamping unit and/or a further pressing unit, said pre-alignment unit being arranged at a lateral distance such that the pre-alignment unit is arranged to engage with an arced silo panel to pre-align the arced silo panel. 
     
     
         8 . The alignment device of  any preceding claim , comprising at least two laterally positioned clamping units, preferably at least four laterally positioned clamping units, more preferably at least eight laterally positioned clamping units, 
     
     
         9 . The alignment device of  any preceding claim , comprising at least two laterally positioned pressing units, preferably comprising at least three laterally positioned pressing units, more preferably comprising at least four laterally positioned pressing units. 
     
     
         10 . The alignment device of  any preceding claim , wherein the alignment device further comprises one or more wheels provided on the base frame, the wheel being arranged to support the alignment device on ground, and to move the alignment device along the periphery of a silo under construction and/or wherein the alignment device further comprises a rail wheel provided on the base frame, the rail wheel being arranged to support the alignment device on a track. 
     
     
         11 . An arced silo panel for the construction of a silo, the arced silo panel comprising:
 an arced wall defining a section of a cylindrical shape to form a silo panel body being arced in a first angular direction, and substantially straight in a second direction defining a height, perpendicular to the first angular direction so that a multiplicity of laterally positioned panel bodies defines a cylinder and such that the arced panel body defines a convex outer surface;   a circumferential flange provided around the periphery of the arced panel body, said flange extending outwardly, in the direction of the convex outer surface;   wherein said flange defines arced top and bottom sections, and straight opposing side sections, and   wherein said flange is interrupted at the ends of the opposing side sections, to allow a wheel to pass over the arced top and bottom sections, between adjacent arced silo panels.   
     
     
         12 . The arced silo panel according to  claim 11 , further comprising a lifting clamp extending outwardly from the outer surface, preferably provided at a distance of about a quarter along the first angular direction of the arced silo panel, said lifting clamp comprising an engagement element to communicate with a lifting device. 
     
     
         13 . The arced silo panel according to any of  claim 12 , wherein the lifting clamp is a central lifting clamp, provided substantially parallel to the straight opposing side sections, and provided substantially in the middle of the first angular direction. 
     
     
         14 . The arced silo panel according to  claim 13 , wherein the central lifting clamp extends upwards over between about 5% and 80% of the height, preferably to between about 5% and 60% of the height, more preferably to between about 5% and 50% of the height. 
     
     
         15 . Method for constructing a silo, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of arced silo panels according to any of claims  11  to  14 ;   providing an alignment device according to any of  claims 1 to 10 ;   laterally joining arced silo panels to construct a first cylindrical ring;   providing a lifting device;   raising the cylindrical ring with the lifting device to provide space under the cylindrical ring for a next cylindrical ring;   aligning and joining arced silo panels with the alignment device to form the next cylindrical ring;   repeating the steps of raising and aligning to form the silo.