US2004001A - Apparatus for conditioning grain - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1935. L. R. ,HENKLE 2,004,001

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING GRAIN I Filed Sept, 10, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 T7 ,7 l7 7 v4 6 4 /6 lit-f6 4 I WEN OE L R. HEN/v1.5.

A/R COMPRESSOR June 4, 1935. R HENKLE 2,004,001

AIPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING GRAIN Filed Sept. 10, 1931. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v ws/vre: L. R. HEN/(LE HTTORWEK Patented June 4, 1935 APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING GRAIN Louis B. Henkle, Lawrenceburg Ind., assignor to Pneumatic Process Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Indiana Application september m, 1931, Serial No. 562,055

3 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for conditioning grain, and more specifically it relates to a system wherein a current of air is employed to introduce and distribute the conditioning agent.

When grain is stored in a bin it is often desirable to subject the grain to the action of a conditioning agent, such as a fumigant, to either improve the quality of the grain or to prevent the deterioration that would otherwise result from the attacks of insects, or the like. How' .ever, due to the great mass of grain usually in a bin, it has long been a problem to thoroughly mix a conditioning agent with all of the grain in the large storage bin. It is extremely important that the conditioning agent, especially when the conditioning agent is a fumigant, be thoroughly distributed throughout the mass of the grain. If only a portion of the grain is subjected to the action of the fumigant, insects will remain alive in the portions not fumigated and not only destroy these portions, but also the fumigated portions when the fumigant has ceased to be active.

Prior to this invention it has been proposed to fumigate grain in a bin by mixing the fumigant with a current of air and transmitting the mixture through the grain in the bin. However, the fumigant has not been thoroughly commingled with the air. As a consequence, a large portion of the fumigant would remain in a substantially liquid state so that it would not be thoroughly distributed throughout all the grain in the bin. The relatively large liquid particles may be forced into the bin, but this would deliver excess liquid to the lower portion of the bin and fail to accomplish the desired result.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an apparatus for conditioning grain in which the conditioning agent is thoroughly atomized by a current of air and efiectively distributed throughout the mass of grain.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which the current of air used to distribute the conditioning agent will withdraw the conditioning agent from a source of supply into the air and distribute the conditioning agent in the grain.

The mixture of air and fumigant should be forced into the bin at a low velocity, but the atomizing and mixing operations are preferably performed by projecting a finely divided spray of the fumigant into a blast of air moving at a relatively high velocity. I will hereafter show how these conditions can be obtained by restricting the air passage to increase the velocity of the air in the atomizing zone where the fumigant commingles with the air. 1

To produce the desired atomization and mixing, and to obtain the required proportions in'the mixture, itis necessary to regulate the flow of 5 both the air and the other conditioning agent. One of my objects is to provide a simple regulating means whereby these results can be easily and positively obtained.

It is also important to know that the results are being accomplished.

Therefore, other objects are to provide a means for indicating the delivery of conditioning agent to the current of air, and a device for indicating the atomization of the conditioning agent in the air.

Another object is to produce a system whereby the grain in a bin is subjected to different treatments, depending upon the condition of the grain. Under some conditions, air alone is most beneficial, while other conditions require the addition of a conditioning agent, such as a fumigant. The present invention provides for a delivery of the mixture at a low velocity, and this treatment may be preceded or followed by the step of forcing air alone through the bin at a much higher velocity, so as to thoroughly aerate the grain as a treatment separate and distinct from the other conditioning treatment.

Actual tests of .my invention have shown that the treatment by air alone is highly important, and that if such treatment is regularly carried out at the required velocity, the purifying action of the air, will almost eliminate all necessity of using a fumigant, or the like. However, the present invention provides a combination of conditions whereby. either of the operations can be very easily performed, in a simple manner and at a low cost.

A further object is to produce a system including a series of bins and selective controlling means whereby the grain in one bin is treated independently of the grain in the other bins. More specifically stated, the grain in each bin can be selectively aerated or fumigated, under the varying conditions desired for either aeration or fumigation, independently of the treating conditions existing in the other bins.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention.

However,- it is to be understood that the invention 55 compnehends changes, variations and modifications which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical side view of a system embodying the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view, partly in section, showing one of the grain bins and conductors through which the diiferent fluids are transmitted to the bin.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section showing one 01' the atomizing injectors, the indicating devices and the regulating means associated therewith shown a group of grain bins 4, an air compressor or blower 5 connected to said bins by means of an air conductor 6 provided with branches I leading into the lower ends of the respective bins.

Each of the branches I is provided with a pipe 8 connected to a supply pipe 9 which leads to a receptacle 9' for the conditioning agent, so this conditioning agent can flow through the pipe 9 and pipes 8 into each of the air conductors I.

To insure a thorough mixing of the conditioning agent with the air, each of the pipes 8 is provided with a mixing device. Each mixing device preferably comprises an atomizing injector in one of the air conductors I. The injector includes a suction nozzle Ill forming a restriction in said branch conductor I. The suction nozzle I is provided with an outwardly flaring discharge passageway II from which the fumigant is discharged and atomized in the current of air.

The suction nozzle I 0 is preferably turned in the direction of the flow of air in said branch conductor 1, so that the blast of air issuing from the restricted space around said suction nozzle will withdraw the fumigant from the nozzle. A flaring spray of atomized fumigant is thus commingled with the blast of air.

As a further aid to the discharge of fumigant into the branch pipe I, the air supply conductor 6 may be provided with a pipe I! leading to the top of the'receptacle 9' so that the liquid fumigant in the receptacle will be subjected to the static pressure of the air in the air supply conductor.

Since it is important to know whether the fumigant is being thoroughly atomized, each of the air conductors is provided with a device for indicating the atomization of the fumigant in the air. This device preferably includes a tubular discharge member I! extending into said air conductor below the outlet of the suction device as shown in Fig. 3. The tubular member l3 has an inclined inner end open at the top to receive unatomized fumigant. The air conductor Iis preferably vertical, so unatomized fumigant will fall by gravity on the inner face of said air conductor and pass into the tubular member. This tubular member I! is provided with a valve H which is opened when it is desired to test the atomization of the fumigant.

If the fumigant is not being properly atomized, the air will force the fumigant through the tubular member II. If the fumigant is being properly atomized air alone will escape through the tubular member 13.

However, if the fumigant is not discharged into the air conductor I the testing device for atomization of the fumigant will give a false indication. To eliminate such a condition the branch pipe 8 may be provided with a discharge device It, in the form of a pet cock, which may be opened to show whether fumigant is flowing therethrough.

To illustrate one form of this invention I have eight hours or more.

when the device I3, I 4 for indicating the atomization of the fumigant shows that the fumigant is not being properly atomized, it is necessary to regulate the admission of the fumigant, or the air, or both. As a means for regulating the atomization of the fumigant, a valve I6 is located in the air conductor 1 and another valve II in the fumigant conductor 8.

The system may be operated as follows:

The fumigant receptacle 9' is filled by introducing liquid fumigant through a. funnel I8 at the top of said receptacle, and when the gage glass l9 shows the desired quantity, the valve 20 below the funnel is closed. The valve 2| in the air pipe I2 is then opened to transmit the static pressure of the air to the liquid fumigant.

The pressure on the fumigant is then equal to, or greater than, the static pressure of the air in the branch conductors I, so the liquid fumigant can be freely withdrawn from each suction nozzle ID in response to the action of the blast of air which passes at a relatively high velocity from the restricted air space around said nozzle.

The fumigant valve II (Fig. 3) is opened, and as a preliminary test, the discharge cock I is opened to show whether the fumigant is passing the valve II. Assuming that this indicates a proper delivery of fumigant, the cock I5 is closed, and the air valve li in the air conductor I is opened as far as possible. However, the velocity of the air will then be too great.

The next step consists in opening the testing valve I4 (Fig. 3) in the air conductor I, and. this will result in a discharge of air alone through the tube I 3. Then start closing the air valve l6, and when this valve is almost closed, drops of liquid fumigant will be discharged through the tube l3.

This shows that the fumigant is not being completely atomized, and the air valve I6 is then slowly opened until no free liquid is discharged from the tube I3.

In actual practice, using a three-inch air pipe at I, and a 34 fumigant conductor at 9, I have found that the foregoing adjustments will result in the vaporization of about 20 gallons of liquid fumigant in about one hour. About five minutes, more or less, before the expiration of this period, the fumigant odor will be noticed at the top of the grain bin.

The bin is then fully charged with fumigant in a gaseous state, and it may be sealed for forty- Thereafter, fresh air is forced through the bin to expel all of the gas.

The foregoing refers to a treatment involving the use of a fumigant, or other conditioning agent commingled with the air. However, when performed under the required conditions, the treatment by air alone is highly important, for as previously indicated, the purifying action of the air under such conditions almost entirely eliminates the necessity of using a fumigant.

An important diiference in the two treatments lies in the low velocity which I prefer to employ in delivering the fumigant, as compared with the much higher velocity during my treatment with air alone.

For example, to obtain the required purification by air alone, I preferably introduce the air at a velocity high enough to completely ml the bin with fresh air during a period of about 10 or minutes, and this operation may be continued for many hours, until the desired purification is obtained. On the other hand, the fumigating process is preferably carried out at a velocity so low that an hour or two is required to completely displace the foul air in the bin.

While I have referred to high velocities, it is to be understood that this is a relative expression, as I have found that an air pressure of less than five pounds per square inch is sufficient for the highest velocity, and extremely high air pressures have failed to accomplish the desired results. This is true not only in fumigating, but also in aeration wherein the air in a very large grain bin is displaced in about 10 or 15 minutes.

The regulating system herein disclosed enables the grain in each bin to be treated independently of the action in the other bins. For example, any selected bin can be fumigated at a very low velocity and then sealed, while the grain in the other bins is subjected to a current of pure air alone, moving at a much higher velocity. In actual practice, I aerate the grain at regular in-' tervals, and this eliminates the labor and expense ordinarily involved in turning the grain. During these normal operations, the fumigant valves H are closed to exclude the fumigant from the air, but whenever necessary, or desirable, a set of the regulating and indicating devices are manipulated to fumigate the grain in any selected bin, without disturbing the radically different conditions in the other bins.

Some liquid fumigants are dangerous, or otherwise objectionable, and the cost of some desirable fumigants is so great that they would not be commercially feasible. My study of this subject followed by actual commercial use has shown that ethylene dichloride, or preferably a mixture of ethylene dichloride and carbon tetrachloride offers a complete solution to this problem. For example, a mixture of three parts ethylene dichloride and one part carbon tetrachloride will produce the desired liquid fumigant.

Or, if preferred, a gas fumigant may be used as shown in Fig. 1, wherein a tank 22 containing the compressed gas is connected by a pipe 23 to the fumigant conductor 9, said pipe having a valve 24 to control the discharge of gas.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for conditioning grain in a grain bin, an air conductor through which air is forced into the bin, an atomizing device including a discharge member in said air conductor, said air conductor being substantially vertical at said discharge member, a fumigant conductor through which fumigant is transmitted to said discharge member, so as to atomize said fumigant in the air in said air conductor, means to control said atomization, said means including a valve regulating the delivery of fumigant to said discharge member, and a valve controlling the delivery of air to said discharge member, means to indicate the flow through said fumigant conductor, and another indicating means comprising a valve through which fluid is discharged from said air conductor to indicate the atomization of the fumigant therein.

2. In an apparatus for conditioning grain in a grain bin, an air supply pipe leading to the grain bin, a receptacle for the conditioning agent, a pipe connecting said air supply pipe and said receptacle to subject the conditioning agent to the static pressure of the air in said air supply pipe, a conductor having an inlet in said receptacle and an atomizing injector including an outlet member in said air supply pipe, said outlet member being extended in the direction of the flow of the air in said air supply pipe so that the air passing through said pipe will withdraw the conditioning agent through said conductor from said receptacle and into said air supply pipe, said conductor being provided with a valve to regulate the flow of conditioning agent through the conductor and a means to indicate the flow of the conditioning agent, said air supply pipe being provided with a valve to regulate the supply of air, and a means to indicate the atomization of the conditioning agent in said air supply pipe, said last mentioned means including a tubular member extending into said air conductor below said outlet and adapted to receive unatomized liquid, said tubular member having an outlet outside of said conductor through which liquid is discharged when it is not being properly atomized, and a valve to control the flow through said tubular member.

3. A grain bin provided with an air conductor at the bottom of the bin, means for forcing air under pressure through said conductor and upwardly through said grain bin, an atomizing injector in said air conductor, and another conductor through which a conditioning agent is transmitted to said atomizing injector, said air conductor being substantially vertical at said atomizing injector and provided with an indicating device below said injector to show the atomization of the conditioning agent in said air conductor.

LOUIS R. HENKLE.

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