Sealed silo filling lid

Abstract

The filling lid for sealed silos has a base plate adapted to close an inlet in the silo roof, the base plate having an opening therethrough registering with the silo inlet. A filling hopper is provided on the base plate around the opening, the hopper being open at its top to receive the usual gooseneck of a silage blower. A closure plate is hingedly mounted on the underside of the base plate adapted in operative position to cover the opening in said base plate in an airtight manner. Linkage is provided for swinging the closure plate into operative position, including a bell crank lever pivoted on the side of the hopper having one arm disposed substantially vertically when the closure plate is normally hanging freely in inoperative position. The other arm of the bell crank lever extends downwardly and rearwardly and is pivotally connected to the upper end of a link extending downwardly through a slot in the base plate with its other end pivoted to the closure plate. And a cable extends from the first arm of the bell crank lever across the silo roof and down the side of the silo and is adapted to be locked when the cable is drawn taut, thereby maintaining the closure plate in operative position.

I claim: 
     
       1. A filling lid for sealed silos comprising, a base plate adapted to close a silage inlet in the silo roof, said base plate having an opening therethrough registering with said inlet; a filling hopper on said base plate around said pening, said hopper being open at its top to receive the usual gooseneck of a silage blower; a closure plane hingedly mounted on the underside of the base plate adapted in operative position to cover the opening in said base plate in an airtight manner; linkage for swinging the closure plate into operative position, said linkage comprising a bell crank lever pivoted on the hopper having one arm disposed substantially vertically when the closure plate is normally hanging freely in inoperative position; the other arm extending downwardly and rearwardly, and being pivotally connected to the upper end of a link extending downwardly through a slot in the base plate with its lower end pivoted to the closure plate; and a cable extending from said first arm of the bell crank lever across the silo roof and down the side of the silo and adapted to be locked when the cable is drawn taut, thereby maintaining the closure plate in operative position. 
     
     
       2. In a filling lid as set forth in claim 1, said hopper being substantially rectangular in plan, and having a relatively high rear wall, and a relatively low front wall sloping upwardly and outwardly, and side walls connecting said front and rear walls; and a rocker shaft journaled in the side walls adjacent the top of the rear wall forming a pivot for the said bell crank lever. 
     
     
       3. In a filling lid as set forth in claim 1, said other arm of the bell crank lever substantially underlying the said link in alignment therewith when the closure plate is in operative position. .Iadd. 4. A filling lid for substantially sealed silos comprising, a base member assembled with an animal feed inlet in the upper end of the silo and having an opening therethrough registering with said inlet, a filling hopper supported on said base member over said opening and inlet and being open at the top to receive the usual gooseneck of a forage blower, a closure plate hingedly mounted on the underside of the base member and adapted to be pivoted outwardly to cover said opening in an airtight manner and to be pivoted inwardly to open said opening, a lever arm pivotally connected to the hopper at the upper end and extending through a slot adjacent said opening and pivotally connected at the lower end to the closure plate, and means connected to the lever arm and actuated from the base of the silo to pivot the lever arm to effect the actuation of the closure plate to the open or closed position with respect to said opening.