Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1~8~37731
The invention relates generally to a manually actuated de-
vice, particularly but not exclusively for use in operably af-
fecting the opening and closing of filling covers or ventilation
transoms found for example in agricultural structures such as
grain storage bins, or silos.
As is well known, the storage of grain or animal feed is
achieved by the use of large metal bins or silos, where loading
is accomplished normally through an inlet in the roof of the
structure. The inlet is conventionally provided with a lid or
cover which must, during loading be removed or otherwise opened
by the operator to facilitate loading. In such structures it
is also normally required, subsequent to loading, to periodically
open the cover to provide adequate ventilation to the contents.
With conventional structures, the cover or lid has to be
opened manually by an operator who has to physically ascend the
structure at least twice during a loading operation, and at per-
iodic intervals thereafter when it is required to ventilate.
Since these structures are in the order of thirty (30) feet in
height, and normally fabricated from steel sheeting, the proce-
dure is not conducive to operator safety, particularly duringperiods of inclement weather.
The present invention provides a relatively simple device
which permits the operator to open or close such a ventilation
or filling cover, without necessitating the often hazardous as-
cent to the top of the grain bin or silo.
Accordingly, the invention comprises a collar, located on
the roof of the structure having an opening therethrough which
registers with an inlet through the roof. A cover is hingably
mounted to the collar such that it can be obturated from a closed
position where the cover is sealingly engaged with the collar, to
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an operably open position to facilitate ventilation and filling
with grain or animal feed. A latch mechanism is mounted on the
cover and is adapted to engage a projection on the external sur-
face of the collar, which the cover is engaged therewith. Fin-
ally, a cable is provided, operably attached at one end to the
latch mechanism and extending rearwardly therefrom across the
roof to a guide pulley mounted on the periphery thereof, and
thereafter downwardly to an attachment point adjacent the base
of the structure. The latch mechanism is preferably spring biased
to the closed position to ensure engagement of the latch when the
cable is released and the cover closed.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary schematic view of a typical
grain storage bin provided with the device according to the
invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the inventive de-
vice of Figure 1, the filling cover being shown in its closed
and latched condition;
Figure 2(a) is a sectional schematic detail view of the
latching mechanism of Figure 2, and;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the inventive device
of Figure 1, the filling cover being shown in its open or load-
ing condition.
As can be seen from Figure 1, the inventive device is
shown, generally at (10) mounted on a circular cover or lid (11)
of a conventional type of grain bin (12). In the embodiment
shown the bin (12) comprises a cylindrical body section (13)
capped by a substantially conical roof section (14). Such bins
normally are provided with an entry door (15) situated adjacent
the base thereof and at least one filling opening located in
the roof. In Figure 1 only one such opening is shown, that be-
ing located at the apex of the roof section, of circular config-
uration and adapted to be closed by cover (11).
The opening in the roof section, in conventional grain bins,
is generally in the region of 20 inches in diameter and is provid-
ed with an upwardly extending circular collar (16) (Figures 2 &
4) upon which cover (11) is secured in an airtight manner. As
can be seen in Figure 2, the device according to the present in-
vention requires that the cover (11) be secured to the rim ofcollar (16) in a hingeable fashion, and for this purpose, a mech-
anical hinge (17) is provided located externally on the periphery
of collar (16). As will more particularly be described hereafter,
the inventive arrangement comprises a rigid latch supporting
structure and a remotely operated latch assembly, adapted to
be mounted on the upper surface of the cover (11) to facilitate
the opening and closing the same.
The rigid support structure best seen in Figure 2 consists
of two components 18 and 19 arranged in a triangular configura-
tion. Component l9 being generally L-shaped having a substan-
tially vertical first elongate section l9a and a shorter inte-
gral second section l9b, the latter section being attached, as
by welding to the top surface of cover (11) at a location oppo-
site that of hinge (17). Component 18 as can be seen is simply
an angular brace extending from an attached point on cover (ll)
adjacent hinge (17) to a location on component 19 adjacent the
upper end thereof, where interconnection is provided by any
suitable means. Immediately above the polnt of interconnection
between components 18 and l9, section l9a is provided with a
transverse aperture (20) through which the operating cable (21)
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extends, the purpose of which will be explained hereafter in
discussing the operation of the inventive structure.
At the lower extremity of component 19, a latching brac-
ket (22) is provided, attached as by welding to component 19.
Bracket (22) as seen in more detail in Figure 2(a) is generally
U-shaped, and is attached to component 19 so as to extend a dis-
tance outwardly thereof and so define a vertically extending
channel (23) bounded on three sides by bracket (22) and on the
fourth side by the outer surface of component (19).
Looking now to the latching mechanism, and with particu-
lar reference to Figures 2 and 2(a) the inventive structure
comprises a latching arm (25) adapted to be pivotally arranged
for movement in the direction of arrow 'A' (Figure 2) within
channel (23) of bracket (22). Pivotal arrangement being pro-
vided by a bolt (26) passing through aperture (27) in sides
22(a) of bracket (22) and engaged within spaced apart lugs (28)
located on latching arm (25) at a predetermined distance from
the lower end 25(a~ thereof. Adjacent end 25(a) of arm (25),
a transverse aperture (29) is provided, adapted to receive and
engage with a projection (30~ provided in the outer surface of
collar (16). As will be appreciated, the location of lugs (28)
will vary dependent upon the location of projection (30) in re-
spect of the pivot provided by bolt (26).
As can be seen from Figure 2, arm 25 is curved in the
longitudinal direction, and is provided at its uppermost extre-
mity with a short angled portion 25(b) which acts as a stop when
brought into contact with component (19) during operation of the
device. Immediately below stop 25(b) a spring (31) is attached
to extend between arm (25) and component (19), spring (31) serv-
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ing to bias the latch mechanism to the closed position. In the
embodiment disclosed herein, cable (21) is fixedly attached to
arm 25 at a point intermediate spring (31) at stop 25(b).
It will be appreciated from the various figures that the
device according to the invention is operated by means of cable
21. This cable extending from its fixed position on arm (25),
through aperture (20) in component (19) around pulley (32) (Fig- -
ure 1~, and downwardly to a location on the side of the bin (13)
some 4-5 feet from the ground, where the cable is releasably at-
tached to a projection (33).
To manually actuate the device 10 to the open position as
shown in Figure 3, the operator firstly releases cable (21) from
attached part (33)~ A subsequent downward pull on the cable (21)
will cause arm (25) of the locking mechanism to move against the
action of spring (31) toward component (19) pivoting about bolt
(26). Pivotal movement of arm (25) will subsequently affect the
disengagement of arm (25) from projection (30) this opening the
latch mechanism. Continual pulling on cable (21) by the operator
~ill bring stop 25(b) of arm 25 into engagement with component
19 of the support structure and thus raise cover (11) in the
direction of arrow 'B' (Figure 2) to the open position. When
the fully open position is reached (Figure 3), the operator can
reattach the cable (21) to projection (33) thus maintaining ca-
ble (21) in tension until it is required to close cover (11).
Two additional features of the invention can be seen from
Figure 3. The first being a chain or cable (3~) fixedly attached
to both collar (16) and cover (11) which is of such a length to
prevent the cover (11) being opened further than is required,
either by the operator or by the influence of wind Eorces; the
second being the provision of a spring (35) again extending be-
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tween the collar (16) and cover (11) the purpose o~ which spring
is to bias the cover to the closed position, when cable 21 is
released. It is to be understood however, that in some circum-
stances, it may be desirable to provide more than one spring
(35) between cover (11) and collar (16). The actual location
of such springs and indeed the chain or cable (34) would be a
matter of design choice, it being only necessary to avoid ob-
structing entry into the bin.
To close the cover (11) the operator must release the ca-
ble (21) from attachment part (33), and lower cover (11) to the
closed position under the action of spring or springs (35). Ten-
sion being maintained on cable (21) until the cover seats upon
collar (16) at which time the cable may be released, thus per-
mitting arm (25) to pivot under the influence of spring (31)
and as a consequence re-engage with projection (30).
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of the
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view
of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is
to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of
teaching those skilled in the art the manner of carrying out the
invention. It is further understood that the form of the inven-
tion herewith shown and described is to be taken as the present-
ly preferred embodiment. Various changes may be made in the
shape, size and general arrangement of components. For example,
equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and
described herein, parts may be used independently of the use of
other features, all as will be apparent to one skilled in the
art after having the benefits of the description of the inven-
29 tion.
