Drying bin floor

Abstract

A supported floor for use in a grain storage and/or drying bin is disclosed that is constructed of interlocking perforated flooring or panels of two designs each with a plank portion and subjacent flanges which alternate with each other. The first panel design has flanges which are outwardly turned to form a hat-shaped transverse cross section. The second panel design has channels which are inwardly turned resulting in a C-shaped transverse cross section. To assemble the supported floor, the hat-shaped panels are rested on supports which are arranged on the base of the bin in a predetermined manner. These supported hat-shaped panels are positioned in spaced relation to one another so that a C-shaped panel can be fit between each adjacent pair of the hat-shaped panels. Thereafter, the C-chaped panels are positioned in the respective spaces and interlocked with the hat-shaped panels. To gain access to the bin floor, any of the C-shaped floor panels can be lifted without affecting the hat-shaped panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A perforate grain bin floor assembly for a supported floor having a space therebeneath comprising a series of elongated panels of formed sheet material, each of said panels having a generally planar top portion and depending flanges along each longitudinal edge of said top portion, said top portions of successive panels in said series being perforate to permit the passage of air therethrough and being contiguous to one another along said longitudinal edges of said top portions, each of said flanges of alternate panels in said series extending downward and outward from the respective edge of the top portion thereof, each of said flanges of each of said panels which intervenes between said alternate panels extending downward and inward from the respective edge of the top portion of such intervening panel and engaging in nesting relation with the respective adjacent flange of the adjacent alternate panel, whereby said top portions form a generally continuous planar floor surface while permitting the passage of air therethrough, and each of said intervening panels may be selectively lifted from said assembly for access to the space subjacent said panels. 
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said flanges of alternate panels are interlocked with said flanges of said intervening panels. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said depending flanges are U-shaped in cross-section. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of support posts each having a top portion subtending one of said planar top portions of said panels and engaging the adjacent nested flanges. 
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 4 wherein each of said support posts engages opposite sides of each of said nested flanges. 
     
     
       6. The invention of claim 4 wherein some of said support posts span each of said intervening panels and engage the adjacent flanges of the respective adjacent alternate panels whereby predetermined spacing is established and maintained between said alternate panels. 
     
     
       7. The invention of claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said support posts span each of said panels in supporting relation with the planar top portions of said panels between said nested flanges. 
     
     
       8. The invention of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein the distance between the opposing flanges of each of said alternate panels is substantially equal to the distance between the opposing flanges of each of said intervening panels. 
     
     
       9. The invention of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein the width of said alternate panels is substantially equal to the width of said intervening panels. 
     
     
       10. In a bin for storing or drying grain and having a base floor, a supported floor assembly comprising the combination of a plurality of .[.support posts.]. .Iadd.supports .Iaddend.each having a bottom portion positioned on said base floor and each having a top portion spaced from said base floor, .[.a plurality of hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.first and second .Iaddend.panels each having a panel plank portion which is perforate for the passage of air therethrough and .[.has.]. .Iadd.each having .Iaddend.two longitudinal edges, and each of said .[.hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.first and second .Iaddend.panels having an outwardly turned depending channel subjacent to .[.each.]. .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.of said longitudinal edges, and at least one C-shaped panel having a panel plank portion which is perforate for the passage of air therethrough and has two longitudinal edges, and said C-shaped panel having an inwardly turned depending channel subjacent to each of said longitudinal edges thereof, said outwardly turned channels of each  .[.hat-shaped panel.]. .Iadd.of said first and second panels .Iaddend.contacting the top portion of .[.a plurality of.]. said .[.support posts.]. .Iadd.supports and extending toward and spaced from one another, .Iaddend.said C-shaped panel being positioned between .[.a.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.first and .[.a.]. second .[.of said hat-shaped.]. panels and having one of said inwardly turned channels thereof in interfitting relation with .[.an.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.outwardly turned channel of said first .[.hat-shaped.]. panel and the other of said inwardly turned channels thereof in interfitting relation with .[.an.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.outwardly turned channel of said second .[.hat-shaped.]. panel, and said panel plank portions being contiguous to one another along said longitudinal edges of said panel plank portions, whereby said panels form a generally continuous planar floor surface permitting passage of air therethrough for conditioning grain and said C-shaped panel can be lifted to gain access to the space between said panels and said base floor. 
     
     
       11. The combination as in claim 10 wherein said panel plank portion and the respective .[.two.]. subjacent channels of each of said panels are integral with each other and formed such that the width of said C-shaped panel is substantially the same as the width of the .[.hat-shaped panel.]. .Iadd.first and second panels.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       12. The combination as in claim 10 including such .[.support posts.]. .Iadd.supports .Iaddend.spanning each of said C-shaped panels and engaging said outwardly turned channels of the respective adjacent .[.two said hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.first and second .Iaddend. panels. 
     
     
       13. The combination as in claim 10 .[.or 12.]..Iadd., 12, 20 or 21 .Iaddend.including such .[.support posts.]. .Iadd.supports .Iaddend.spanning each of said .[.hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.first and second .Iaddend.panels and engaging said outwardly turned channels of such .[.hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.first and second .Iaddend.panels. 
     
     
       14. The combination as in claim 10 wherein said C-shaped panel plank portions have gripping means for lifting and positioning said C-shaped panels. 
     
     
       15. A perforate false floor assembly in a bin for storing or drying grain and having a base floor, said false floor assembly comprising the combination of a plurality of support posts each having a bottom portion positioned on said base floor and a top portion spaced from said base floor, a plurality of hat-shaped panels arranged parallel and in spaced relation to one another and each having a panel plank portion which is perforate to permit the passage of air therethrough and has two longitudinal edges, and each of said hat-shaped panels having an outwardly turned channel subjacent to each of said longitudinal edges, and a plurality of C-shaped panels each having a panel plank portion which is perforate to permit the passage of air therethrough and has two longitudinal edges, and each of said C-shaped panels having an inwardly turned channel subjacent to each of said longitudinal edges thereof, said outwardly turned channels of each hat-shaped panel contacting the top portion of a plurality of said support posts, one of said C-shaped panels being positioned between each adjacent two of said hat-shaped panels and having one of said inwardly turned channels thereof in interfitting relation with an outwardly turned channel of one of the respective adjacent two hat-shaped panels and the other of said inwardly turned channels thereof in interfitting relation with an outwardly turned channel of the other of said two adjacent hat-shaped panels such that said panel plank portions are contiguous to one another along said longitudinal edges of said panel plank portions, whereby said panels form a generally continuous planar floor surface permitting passage of air therethrough for conditioning grain and said C-shaped panels can be lifted to gain access to the space between said panels and said base floor. 
     
     
       16. A method of constructing a supported perforate grain bin floor with .[.alternating reverse panels.]. .Iadd.at least one removable panel .Iaddend.in a grain bin having a base floor comprising: positioning a plurality of .[.support posts.]. .Iadd.supports .Iaddend.in a pre-determined manner on the base floor of the bin;   providing at least two .[.hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.first .Iaddend.panels each having a panel plank portion which is perforate to permit the passage of air therethrough and has two longitudinal edges, and each of said panels having an outwardly turned edge channel subjacent to .[.each.]. .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.of said longitudinal edges;   positioning said .[.hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.two .Iaddend.panels over said .[.support posts.]. .Iadd.supports .Iaddend.and in substantially parallel relationship to each other and spaced at a predetermined distance from each other .Iadd.with said channels extending toward one another; .Iaddend.   providing a C-shaped panel having a panel plank portion which is perforate to permit the passage of air therethrough and has two longitudinal edges, and said panel having an inwardly turned channel subjacent to each of said longitudinal edges; and   positioning said C-shaped panel between .Iadd.said .Iaddend.two .[.such spaced hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.first .Iaddend.panels and interfitting one of said inwardly turned channels of said C-shaped panel into the adjacent outward turned channel of one of said two .[.hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.first .Iaddend.panels and the second of said inwardly turned channels of said C-shaped panel into the adjacent outwardly turned channel of the other of said two .[.hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.first .Iaddend.panels with said panel plank portions contiguous to one another along said longitudinal edges of said panel plank portions thereof, whereby said panel plank portions form a generally continuous planar floor surface permitting the passage of air therethrough for conditioning grain and said C-shaped panel can be lifted to gain access to the space subjacent said bin floor without lifting either of .[.the hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.said two first .Iaddend.panels.   
     
     
       17. A method as in claim 16 further comprising: positioning a plurality of said .[.support posts.]. .Iadd.supports .Iaddend.in a predetermined manner on the base of the bin between two such spaced .[.hat-shaped panel.]. .Iadd.first panels.Iaddend.;   engaging one outwardly turned edge channel .[.a.]. .Iadd.of one of said .Iaddend.first .[.hat-shaped panel.]. .Iadd.panels .Iaddend.and the opposing outwardly turned channel of .[.a second hat-shaped panel.]. .Iadd.the other of said first panels .Iaddend.with said .[.support posts.]. .Iadd.supports; .Iaddend.   positioning a C-shaped panel between said first .[.and second hat-shaped.]. panels; and   interfitting each of said inwardly turned channels of said C-shaped panel into said engaged outwardly turned channels of said .[.hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.first .Iaddend.panels, whereby said C-shaped panel can be lifted to gain access to the space subjacent said bin floor without lifting either of the .[.hat-shaped.]. .Iadd.first .Iaddend.panels or altering the position of any of said .[.support posts.]. .Iadd.supports. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       18. A method of removing accumulated fines from the base of a grain bin having a supported floor with alternating C-shaped panels and hat-shaped panels comprising: lifting selected C-shaped panels; and   removing said fines from the portion of the base subjacent each such lifted C-shaped panel without removing the respective adjacent hat-shaped panels.   
     
     
       19. In a bin for storing or drying grain and having a base floor, a supported floor assembly comprising a combination of a plurality of support posts each having a bottom portion positioned on said base floor and each having a top portion spaced from said base floor and a perforate floor assembly supported on said posts, the improvement wherein said perforate floor assembly is a floor assembly as in claim 1. .Iadd. 
     
     
       20.  The invention of claim 10 wherein each of said first and second panels includes a depending channel subjacent each of its longitudinal edges. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The invention of claim 10 wherein each of said first and second panels is hat-shaped having an outwardly turned depending channel subjacent to each of its longitudinal edges. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The invention of claim 10 wherein each of said supports is a post. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The invention of claim 10, 20, or 21 wherein each of said supports is a post and said outwardly turned channels of each of said first and second panels contacts the top portion of a plurality of said 
     
     
        support posts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24.  A method of constructing a supported perforate grain bin floor with alternating reverse panels comprising the method of claim 20 wherein said first panels are hat-shaped having an outwardly turned edge channel subjacent to each of said longitudinal edges, including successively positioning such hat-shaped panels in spaced relation to one another and positioning such a C-shaped panel with its inwardly turned channels in interfitting relation with the outwardly turned channels of each adjacent pair of said hat-shaped panels, whereby a continuous planar floor surface is provided and any of said C-shaped panels can be lifted to gain access to the space subjacent said bin floor 
     
     
        without lifting any of said hat-shaped panels. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25.  A perforate grain bin floor assembly for a supported floor having a space therebeneath comprising a series of elongated panels of formed sheet material, each of said panels having a generally planar top portion and depending flanges along each longitudinal edge of said top portion, said top portions of successive panels in said series being perforate to permit the passage of air therethrough and being disposed contiguous to one another along said longitudinal edges of said top portions, said depending flanges of said panels along each said pair of contiguous edges being engaged in interlocking relation with one another, said series of panels comprising at least one symmetrical panel within said series wherein both of said flanges thereof extend inwardly or outwardly of said symmetrical panel and two other panels of said series, which are disposed along opposite sides of said symmetrical panel with the longitudinal edges of their top portions contiguous to said longitudinal edges of said top portion of said symmetrical panel, each have one of said depending flanges thereof engaged in interfitting relation with one of said flanges of said symmetrical panel in the same manner as the other and each of said two other panels extend outwardly from said symmetrical panel, one of said interfitting flanges at each of said contiguous edges between said symmetrical panel and said two other panels extending outwardly of the panel top portion from which it depends and the flange which interfits therewith extending inwardly of the panel top portion from which it 
     
     
        depends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26.  The invention of claim 25 wherein said symmetrical panel is hat-shaped, said depending flanges thereof being outwardly turned relative to said top portion thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The invention of claim 26 wherein said two other panels are C-shaped, said depending flanges thereof being inwardly turned relative to said top portion thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The invention of claim 25 wherein said symmetrical panel is C-shaped, said depending flanges thereof being inwardly turned relative to said top portion thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The invention of claim 28 wherein said two other panels are hat-shaped, said depending flanges thereof being outwardly turned relative to said top portion thereof. .Iaddend.