Ctb, Inc.

Ctb Ip, Inc.

Mark S Dingeldein

Rodney B Grossman

Jeffrey E Walker

Adam K Gutwein

David A Butler

Justin M Holmes

Stephen M Ginter

Douglas J Niemeyer

Craig P Smallegan

Harmon L Towne

Kevin L Milliman

A method of positioning a grain bin unload conveyor auger within a grain bin unload conveyor trough includes positioning an auger hanger on a pair of hanger support shelves at an open exterior end of the grain bin unload conveyor trough to support the grain bin unload conveyor auger away from adjacent interior surfaces of the grain bin unload conveyor trough, and pushing the grain bin unload conveyor auger through the open exterior end of the grain bin unload conveyor trough to cause the auger hanger to continuously support the grain bin unload conveyor auger away from the interior surfaces of the grain bin unload conveyor trough as the auger hanger moves longitudinally along the pair of hanger support shelves from the open exterior end to a final operational position of the auger hanger between the open exterior end and an interior end of the grain bin unload conveyor trough.

Grain bin unload trough conveyor auger hanger assembly and method

A grain bin unload conveyor trough can have a wall profile including a lowermost curved wall portion. Lower portions of a pair of side walls can be spaced laterally from each other at a first interior lateral width, and upper portions of the side walls can be spaced laterally from each other at a second interior lateral width that is greater than the first interior lateral width. A shelf portion of each side wall can extend laterally outwardly from the lower to the upper portion of the side walls. An auger hanger can extend laterally across the conveyor trough and can be supported on the shelf portions of the side walls. The auger hanger can extend down to hold an auger shaft of a grain bin unload conveyor auger in the conveyor trough centrally within the first interior lateral width between the lower portions of the side walls.

A commercial hopper grain bin shell can be assembled on a concrete pad using jacks to successively support previously coupled side-wall panel rings above the concrete pad. The assembled shell can be supported above the concrete pad with the jacks while coupling a horizontal support beam around a bottom of the assembled commercial hopper grain bin shell. An uppermost ring of vertical support legs can be coupled to the horizontal support beam. An uppermost ring of hopper panels can be coupled to the horizontal support beam. The assembled shell and the vertical support legs previously coupled to the horizontal support beam can be successively supported above the concrete pad with jacks while coupling an additional ring of vertical support legs to the bottom of the previously coupled vertical support legs. An additional ring of hopper panels can be successively coupled to the bottom of the previously coupled hopper panels.

Commercial hopper grain bin assembly method

An auger can be drivingly coupled to an input shaft of a wheel reduction gearbox. The wheel reduction gearbox can drivingly couple the input shaft to an output shaft of the wheel reduction gearbox. The output shaft can be drivingly coupled to a sweep end wheel. The sweep end wheel can include a plurality of tread brackets, a wheel plate, and an adjustable coupling corresponding to each of the tread brackets. Each adjustable coupling can selectively couple one of the tread brackets to the wheel plate in one of a plurality of radial positions. Each of the plurality of radial positions can correspond to the tread bracket being located at a different radial distance from a central axis of rotation of the wheel plate.

Grain bin powersweep with sweep conveyor end wheel

An unload conveyor and a sweep conveyor can be positioned below and above a floor of the grain bin, respectively. A below floor gearbox and an above floor gearbox can be positioned below and above a sloped wall, respectively, of a sump. The sloped wall can be designed to shed grain toward a sump basin. A coupling shaft can extend through a non-circular sump shaft aperture in the sloped wall to couple the below floor gearbox to the above-floor gearbox. The coupling shaft can extend vertically. A pair of seal cover plates can form a horizontal wall extending perpendicular to the coupling shaft. The horizontal wall can have a circular sealing aperture therein and through which the coupling shaft extends. A washer can be provided adjacent the circular sealing aperture that can be free to move laterally with wobbling of the coupling shaft.

Grain bin powersweep with sump shaft aperture sealing cover plate assembly

A gearbox below a grain bin floor can have a shift coupling movable between a drive position and a neutral position. A control rod can be axially movable between a corresponding drive position and a corresponding neutral position. A pair of biasing members can be operably positioned between the control rod and the shift coupling to bias the shift coupling in opposite directions. The opposite biasing forces of the biasing members can act against each other to bias the control rod into the neutral positioning recess to retain the external shift coupling and the control rod in the neutral position and the corresponding neutral position, respectively. The opposite biasing force of the biasing members can bias the control rod into the drive positioning recess to retain the external shift coupling and the control rod in the drive position and the corresponding drive position, respectively.

Powersweep including gearbox shifter mechanism

A storage bin may include a corrugated outer sidewall, a generally flat inner sidewall, and a first fastener. The corrugated outer sidewall may support a hoop tension provided by a material within the storage bin and may include a series of horizontally extending corrugations forming alternating grooved portions defining alternating circumferentially extending radially inner and outer ridges vertically spaced from one another along a vertical extent of the outer sidewall. The corrugated outer sidewall may define a first aperture. The generally flat inner sidewall may support the hoop tension, abut the radially inner ridges, and define a second aperture. The first fastener may extend through the first and second apertures and may couple the inner and outer sidewalls to one another.

Bin sidewall panel concept

An unloading system for a storage bin and related method are provided. The unloading system can have a sump configuration that includes a foundation having a floor and a foundation footing. A central tunnel can be formed in the foundation that terminates at a tunnel opening on a perimeter of the foundation. A primary sump can be formed through the floor at a location generally near a centerpoint of the storage bin and connected to the central tunnel. At least one radial sump can be formed in the floor at a location radially offset from the central tunnel and located generally between the primary sump and a sidewall of the storage bin.

Circular bin unload system and method

A structural support system for a bin structure. The structural support system comprises at least two parallel and spaced apart support columns. Each column has a plurality of inner column sections adjacent to the bin structure and a plurality of outer column sections coupled to the inner column sections. The inner and outer column sections form a closed shape support column configured for transferring vertical loads from an upper area of the bin structure to the foundation. An auxiliary device such as a catwalk or conveyor system may be attached to the top of the support columns. An anchor member may be provided, configured to allow limited movement of the auxiliary structure in relation to the support structure. Associated methods for strengthening the structural support of a bin structure are also provided.

Integral catwalk support

A roof system for a grain storage structure. The roof system includes a plurality of enclosures defined between adjacent roof panel surfaces. Each enclosure includes opposed exterior and interior wall segments oriented at an angle relative to the panel surfaces. The exterior and interior wall segments have cooperating indents that are fastened to one another to secure adjacent roof panels against relative movement.

Structural roof venting system for grain bin and associated method

A method of constructing a grain bin floor support system having a plurality of interconnected support members. The support members are constructed from a monolithic sheet of structural metal stamped and formed having upper and lower horizontal rails spanning across and integrally connected by a plurality of transverse support columns. The rails include a longitudinally extending center segment and a stabilizing portion adjacent each end thereof. The stabilizing portions are configured to be folded out in opposite directions forming a non-planar self-supporting structure.

Method of construction for a grain bin floor support

A grain bin floor support system having a plurality of interconnected support members. The support members are constructed from a monolithic sheet of structural metal stamped and formed having upper and lower horizontal rails spanning across and integrally connected by a plurality of transverse support columns. The rails include a longitudinally extending center segment and a stabilizing portion adjacent each end thereof. The stabilizing portions are configured to be folded out in opposite directions forming a non-planar self-supporting structure.

Grain bin floor support and related method of construction

A roof system for a grain storage structure. The roof system includes a plurality of enclosures defined between adjacent roof panel surfaces. Each enclosure includes opposed exterior and interior wall segments oriented at an angle relative to the panel surfaces.

A grain bin floor panel formed from sheet metal. The grain bin floor panel is comprised of a first flange, a second flange, and a center support disposed between the first flange and the second flange. The center support is connected to the first flange by a first support surface and the second flange by a second support surface. To insure that the first and second support surfaces do not become separated from one another, the center support is configured with at least one staking. To provide the floor panel added strength, the first flange, the second flange, the center support, and the first and second support surfaces are preferably corrugated. To further increase the strength of the center support, the center support is preferably shaped as a triangle.

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Milford, IN, United States of America

Mark S Dingeldein