Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GRAIN BIN TEMPERATURE PROBE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a temperature sensing probe arranged
to be penetrated into a bed of particulate material, for example a bed of
grain in a
grain bin, for measuring the temperature at one or more prescribed depths
within the
bed of grain and for communicating the measured temperatures to a user of the
probe.
BACKGROUND
When storing grain in storage bins it is common to monitor the
temperature of the grain at various depths within the bin to ensure the grain
is
adequately ventilated and maintained at proper conditions to minimize the
spoilage
thereof. Temperature monitoring in grain bins is commonly accomplished by
sensors
suspended by cables within a grain bin at various depths such that the sensors
are
directly wired to a main controller typically supported at a fixed location on
the bin
itself. Due to the sensors being supported on cables, the cables must already
be
supported in place before grain is placed in the grain bin. Accordingly, the
sensors
cannot be readily displaced from one grain bin to another once in use with
grain
surrounding the sensors in the bin. One example of sensors supported by cables
is
disclosed in US Patent 4,102,194 by Eng.
US Patent Application Publication 2005/0080567 by Wieting et al
discloses a further example of a grain bin monitoring system in which sensors
supported within the bin, typically using cables or other conventional means,
communicate with a transmitter supported on the bin structure for transmitting
data to
a remote receiver. Similar to the example above, once the bin is filled with
grain, the
sensors cannot be readily relocated to different bins such that a separate
array of
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sensors and transmitter must be supported on each bin to be monitored and the
equipment must be already in place before filling the bin with grain.
US Patent 3,199,353 by Burnight discloses a grain temperature sensing
device comprising an elongate housing arranged to be penetrated into a bed of
grain.
Sensors on the housing communicate with a display directly mounted on the
housing
such that the user must climb to the top of the bin or into the bin itself for
each reading
even if the device is left in place inserted in the bed of grain. The housing
of the
device is described as being formed in sections threadably connected to one
another,
however, each of the temperature sensors require conductors to maintain
connection
between the sensors and the display at the top end of the housing.
Accordingly, even
when the section of the housing are separated, the conductors remain connected
such that the sections of the housing cannot be fully separated but are only
foldable
relative to one another such that the conductors are readily susceptible to
damage.
Even if separate connectors are provided to disconnect the conductors, the
user
would still be required to perform a second awkward manipulation of
disconnecting
the conductors each time the sections of the housing are to be separated from
one
another such that the extra manipulation of the conductors results in the
conductors
still being readily susceptible to damage over long term use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to. one aspect of the invention there is provided a temperature
sensing probe for sensing temperature within a columnar bed of grain in an
upright
storage structure, the probe comprising:
an elongate housing extending in a longitudinal direction between
opposing top and bottom ends;
a tip supported at the bottom end of the housing and arranged for
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penetration into the bed of grain;
a plurality of temperature sensors supported on the housing at spaced
positions in the longitudinal direction so as to be arranged for penetration
into the bed
of grain together with the housing, each temperature sensor having a sensor
identification and being arranged to measure a temperature;
a receiver arranged to be located remotely from the housing; and
a transmitter connected to the housing and arranged to transmit the
measured temperatures and the sensor identification associated therewith to
the
receiver for being displayed to a user.
By providing a transmitter on the housing of the probe for insertion into
the bed of grain together with the sensors on the housing, the transmitter and
the
sensors are readily portable from one grain bin to another and can be readily
penetrated into the bed of grain even after the grain bin is already full.
Furthermore,
the transmitter permits multiple readings to be taken at several different
intervals of
time without the user being required to climb to the top of the bin when the
probe is
simply left in place in the grain bin. The probe according to the present
invention is
thus much more adaptable to different applications than the prior art
configurations
and is more readily used for sensing temperatures in more than one full bin
and at
different intervals of time within the same bin.
Each temperature sensor is preferably supported in a peripheral wall of
the housing. More particularly, each temperature sensor preferably includes an
exterior surface which is mounted to be substantially flush with a portion of
the
peripheral wall of the housing which surrounds the sensor. When the exterior
surface
of each temperature sensor is substantially flat and an exterior surface of
the housing
is substantially cylindrical, the portion of the peripheral wall about each
temperature
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sensor preferably includes a recessed portion which is gradually recessed in
relation
to the cylindrical exterior surface of the housing so as to be substantially
flush with the
flat exterior surface the temperature sensor.
The tip may include an inner portion arranged to be coupled to the
bottom end of the housing, an intermediate portion having an outer diameter
which is
greater than the inner portion and the housing, and an outer portion which is
gradually
tapered in the longitudinal direction from the intermediate portion to an
outer apex.
The transmitter is preferably supported on the top end of the housing.
When provided in combination with a plurality of probes of like
configuration, each having a transmitter arranged for communication with a
common
receiver, preferably each transmitter includes a transmitter identification
and the
receiver is arranged to associate each measured temperature received with the
respective sensor identification and the respective transmitter
identification.
When provided in combination with an auxiliary multifunction device
16 including a display screen, the receiver may be supported in an auxiliary
housing
including a connector arranged for selective connection to the auxiliary
multifunction
device so as to be arranged to display the measured temperatures on the
display
screen of the auxiliary multifunction device.
Preferably a main communication wire extends longitudinally through
the housing and so as to be connected between the transmitter and each of the
temperature sensors and so as to be arranged to both deliver electrical power
from
the transmitter to the sensors and to communicate measured temperatures from
the
sensors to the transmitter along the main communication wire. The housing is
may
be connected between the temperature sensors and the transmitter so as to be
arranged to function as an electrical ground in this instance.
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The probe may further comprise:
i) each temperature sensor being electrically connected to the
transmitter;
ii) the housing including a plurality of modular sections arranged for
5 connection in series with one another in the longitudinal direction;
ii) each adjacent pair of modular sections being mechanically connected
by a first mating connector on one of the sections and a second mating
connector on
the other one of the sections which are arranged for mating connection;
iv) each adjacent pair of modular sections being electrically connected
by a first electrical contact on one of the sections and a second electrical
contact on
the other one of the adjacent pair of modular sections; and
v) the first and second electrical contacts of each adjacent pair of
modular sections being aligned and arranged for mating contact with one
another
when the first and second mating connectors of the adjacent pair of modular
sections
are connected with one another.
Preferably the first and second electrical contacts of each adjacent pair
of modular sections are connected in series with the main communication wire
coaxially with the threaded connection of the adjacent pair of modular
sections such
that the first and second electrical contacts are arranged for abutment with
one
another as the first and second mating connectors are threadably connected.
Each modular section preferably includes two temperature sensors at
longitudinally spaced positions thereon.
The probe may further comprise:
i) each modular section including a first connector at a bottom end and a
second connector at an opposing top end arranged for mating connection with
the first
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connector of an adjacent modular section;
ii) the tip including a second connector arranged for mating connection
with the first connector of a lowermost one of the modular sections;
iii) the transmitter being supported in a transmitter housing including a
=
first connector arranged for mating connection with the second connector of an
uppermost one of the modular sections; and
=
iv) each first connector being arranged for connection with each second
connector such that the modular sections are substantially identical to one
another
and readily interchangeable with one another in series between the tip and the
transmitter housing.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided
a temperature sensing probe for sensing temperature within a columnar bed of
grain
in an upright storage structure, the probe comprising:
an elongate housing extending in a longitudinal direction between
opposing top and bottom ends, the housing including a plurality of modular
sections
arranged for connection in series with one another in the longitudinal
direction;
a tip supported at the bottom end of the housing and arranged for
penetration into the bed of grain;
a plurality of temperature sensors supported on the housing at spaced
positions in the longitudinal direction so as to be arranged for penetration
into the bed
of grain together with the housing, each temperature sensor having a sensor
identification and being arranged to measure a temperature;
a communicating element supported on the housing and arranged to
communicate the measured temperatures and the sensor identification associated
therewith to a user;
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each temperature sensor being electrically connected to the
communicating element;
each adjacent pair of modular sections being mechanically connected
by a first mating connector on one of the sections and a second mating
connector on
the other one of the sections which are arranged for mating connection;
each adjacent pair of modular sections being electrically connected by a
first electrical contact on one of the sections and a second electrical
contact on the
other one of the adjacent pair of modular sections; and
the first and second electrical contacts of each adjacent pair of modular
sections being aligned and arranged for mating contact with one another when
the
first and second mating connectors of the adjacent pair of modular sections
are
connected with one another.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a
temperature sensing probe for sensing temperature within a columnar bed of
grain in
an upright storage structure, the probe comprising:
an elongate housing extending in a longitudinal direction between
opposing top and bottom ends, the housing including a plurality of modular
sections
arranged for connection in series with one another in the longitudinal
direction;
a tip supported at the bottom end of the housing and arranged for
penetration into the bed of grain;
each modular section of the housing comprising:
at least one temperature sensor supported thereon such that the
temperature sensors are supported on the housing at spaced positions in the
longitudinal direction so as to be arranged for penetration into the bed of
grain
together with the housing, each temperature sensor having a sensor
identification and
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being arranged to measure a temperature; and
electrical connectors arranged for electrically connecting said at
least one temperature sensor of each modular section with said at least one
temperature sensor of the other modular sections such that the modular
sections are
readily separable from one another by disconnecting the electrical connectors;
and
a communicating element supported on the housing and arranged to
communicate the measured temperatures and the sensor identification associated
therewith to a user.
By further forming the housing of the probe in modular sections
including both mechanical connections between the sections and electrical
connections between the sections which are automatically aligned and connected
upon connecting the mechanical connections, the modular housing remains
durable
and convenient to readily assemble and disassemble as may be desired. By
providing consistent configurations of connectors between the modular sections
and
between the transmitter housing and the tip at opposing ends of the housing,
the
number of intermediate modular sections can be varied and the sections
themselves
can be readily interchanged with one another as may be desired by a user in a
manner which is unprecedented in the prior art.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an exploded view of the components of the temperature
sensing probes.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the transmitter housing.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the intermediate
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modular sections of the housing.
Figure 4 is a partially sectional elevational view of the various sections
of the probe.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying figures, there is illustrated a temperature
sensing probe generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The probe 10 is
particularly suited for penetration down through a columnar bed of particulate
material
in a storage structure, for example grain stored within a conventional
cylindrical
storage bin.
The probe 10 includes a main housing 12 including a plurality of
temperature sensors 14 thereon, a tip 15 for penetrating the housing into the
bed of
grain and a transmitter 16 supported thereon. Accordingly, the temperature
sensors
14 can be penetrated together with the housing into the bed of grain. In some
instances, one or more housings 12 of like configuration can be arranged to
transmit
measured temperature data to a common receiver 18 by providing the transmitter
16
of each housing 12 with a respective transmitter identification to be
associated with
the respective temperature data.
The receiver 18 comprises a receiver housing 20 including a suitable
electrical connector 22 for connection to an auxiliary multi-function device
24, for
example a device including crop moisture data. The device 24 typically
includes a
display screen 26 with an internal power supply and a suitable input connector
28 for
connection to the electrical connector 22 of the receiver housing. When the
receiver
housing is connected to the auxiliary device 24 temperature data received by
the
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receiver from the transmitters of various housings is communicated through the
connector to the auxiliary device 24 for displaying the data to the user on
the display
screen. Electrical power for operating the receiver housing can be received
through
the connector 22 from the power source of the auxiliary multifunction device
24, or the
5 receiver may include its own internal power source. The connector 22
permits the
receiver housing to remain readily separable from the multifunction device 24.
In
alternative arrangements, the receiver 18 comprises a dedicated device
including its
own display screen and internal power supply for displaying data directly to
the user.
Each probe housing 12 is elongate in a longitudinal direction between
10 opposing top and bottom ends. The housing is generally tubular comprising a
cylindrical peripheral wall 30 surrounding a hollow interior extending between
the top
and bottom ends. The housing supports the tip 15 at the bottom end to assist
penetration of the housing into the bed of grain and a transmitter 16 within a
transmitter housing 36 supported at the top end thereof.
The housing 12 is formed of a plurality of separate modular sections 38
which are substantially identical to one another and which are abutted end to
end in
series with one another in the longitudinal direction. Each section 38
supports two of
the temperature sensors 14 thereon such that one of the sensors is adjacent a
bottom
end of the section and the other sensor is located centrally at an
intermediate location
along the length of the section.
Each modular section comprises a section of the tubular peripheral wall
of the housing which is internally threaded at both ends such that a coupler
40 can be
mounted at one end for joining to adjacent sections. In the illustrated
embodiment the
coupler comprises a plug which is externally threaded at both ends such that
one end
can be mounted in the bottom end of the respective modular section while the
other
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end defines a first mating connector 42 at the bottom end of respective
modular
section. The internally threaded top end of each modular section thus defines
a
second mating connector 44 which can be threadably connected to the first
connector
42 at the bottom end of any of the other modular sections 38. In this instance
the
bottom end of each modular section can be interchangeably mated with the
connector
at the top end of the adjacent section therebelow regardless of the order of
the
sections in series with one another.
In alternative arrangements, the coupler 40 can be mounted in the top
end such that the first connector at the bottom end of each section 38
comprises an
internally threaded female socket while the protrusion portion of the coupler
40 at the
top end would define an externally threaded male connector while still
allowing
interchangeable connection between the different modular sections.
The housing 12 further comprises a main communication wire 46
extending in the longitudinal direction coaxially through the housing between
the
opposing top and bottom ends thereof. The communication wire is similarly
formed in
sections with each section of the wire 46 spanning a respective modular
section 38 of
the housing such that the sections of the main wire 46 are electrically
disconnected
and reconnected together with mechanical disconnection and reconnection of
different modular sections 38 with one another.
Each sensor 14 includes a flat exterior sensing surface 48 which is
supported in the peripheral wall of the housing so as to be exposed directly
to the bed
of grain surrounding the housing in use. Each sensor 14 is further arranged
such that
the peripheral surface 50 about the external surface 48 comprises a ground
connection while the inner surface 52 opposite the exterior surface 48
comprises a
positive contact also functioning as a data communication contact of the
sensor. A
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conductor spring 54 communicates in the radial direction between the central
main
wire 46 and the inner surface 52 of each sensor with the spring being under
compression to maintain positive contact with both the sensor and the main
wire 46.
In this manner, the sensors are connected to the printed circuit board of the
transmitter such that the main wire 46 serves a dual function of supplying
electrical
power from the transmitter PCB to the sensors and acting as a conduit for
transmitting
data from the sensors back to the transmitter. The housing in this instance
functions
as the ground in communication between the peripheral surface 50 of each
sensor
and the corresponding ground connection on the printed circuit board of the
transmitter.
The peripheral wall of the housing includes a recessed portion 56 in the
cylindrical exterior surface of the housing about each sensor in which the
exterior
surface is gradually recessed from the cylindrical exterior surface of the
housing to the
flat exterior sensing surface 48 of the respective sensor. In this manner the
flat
exterior surface of each sensor is substantially flush mounted with the
surrounding
recessed portion of the peripheral wall at the exterior of the housing. Once
the sensor
has been mounted in place, the portion of the rim of the bore in the wall
receiving the
sensor therein includes deformations 58 formed therein so as to partly overlap
a
peripheral edge of the sensor and retain the sensor mounted within the
peripheral
wall.
An intermediate spacer 60 is located in the hollow interior of the tubular
housing at the location of each temperature sensor 14. The spacer comprises a
cylindrical plug of insulating material spanning the hollow interior and
including a first
axial bore extending axially therethrough to receive the main communication
wire 46
as well as a second radial bore with an exterior counter bore to receive the
spring 54
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and the inner portion of the respective sensor therein respectively. The
spacer
electrically isolates the spring 54 and main wire 46 from the surrounding
housing
functioning as a ground.
End spacers 62 are also provided within the hollow interior of the
housing at opposing ends of each modular section 38. The coupler 40 at the
bottom
end of each section includes a hollow through passage locating the respective
end
spacer 62 therein which similarly includes an axial bore through which the
main
communication wire 46 extends. The end spacer 62 at the opposing top end of
each
section is located adjacent the internally threaded end forming the second
connector
44 and also includes an axial bore threrethrough for receiving a main
communication
wire 46. The end spacer 62 also electrically isolates the main wire 46 from
the
surrounding housing. Isolating sleeves 64 also surround the main communication
wire 46 between the spacers to ensure no electrical contact between the main
communication wire 46 and the surrounding housing.
At the bottom end of each modular section, the main communicating
wire 46 supports a first contact 66 at the end thereof which protudes axially
beyond
the end of the end spacer 62 so as to be suitably arranged for abutted contact
with an
end portion of the main wire 46 protruding from the end spacer 62 at the top
end of an
adjacent modular section 38 coupled thereto when the first and second
connectors 42
and 44 are mechanically and threadably coupled. The second contact 68 defined
by
the end portion of the wire 46 protruding beyond the end spacer within the
second
connector 44 at the top end abuts the first contact 66 of an adjacent modular
section
such that the sections of the main communicating wire and the contacts between
adjacent sections are all connected in series when the modular sections of the
housing are connected in series such that the abutted contacts permit the
sensors to
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14
be electrically connected to each other . and the transmitter in the assembled
configuration.
In the illustrated embodiment, the first contact 66 supported coaxially
within the first connector 42 comprises a sprung pin 70 which is biased
outward in the .=
longitudinal direction relative to the respective portion of the main
communicating wire
46 such that the spring acting on the pin 70 ensures adequate positive contact
between the first and second electrical contacts at the coupling of each
adjacent pair
of modular sections so that the positive contact ensures transmission of
electrical
power from the transmitter to the sensors and data from the sensors to the
transmitter.
The couplers 40 and the peripheral wall of the sections of the housing
are formed of suitable metals so that the resulting first and second
connectors 42 and
44 are conductive to allow the sections of the housing to be uniformly
connected as a
ground.
As described above, the transmitter 16 is supported on a respective
circuit board 72 supported within the transmitter housing 36. The housing in
this
instance is electrically isolated from the main housing 12 of the probe. The
transmitter housing is similarly cylindrical in shape so as to be elongate in
the
longitudinal direction. A first connector 42 is provided at the bottom end
which is
substantially identical to the first connectors 42 of the modular sections so
as to
permit coupling in series with the modular sections of the main housing 12.
The
ground of the circuit board 72 of the transmitter can thus be connected
internally to
the inner end of the coupler 40 forming the first connector 42 to connect the
ground of
the circuit board to the main housing 12.
Another isolating spacer 74 is mounted within the hollow through
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passage in the coupler 40 at the inner end of the transmitter housing with an
axial
bore therethrough to receive another section of the main communication wire 46
therethrough. The section of the main wire 46 in the transmitter housing is
connected
between a similarly arranged coaxial sprung pin 70 at the outer end forming a
first
5 contact for abutment with the corresponding second contact of the
adjacent modular
section. The inner end of the wire 46 of the transmitter housing is arranged
for
suitable connection to the appropriate contact on the printed circuit board on
the
transmitter to communicate power and data between the transmitter and the
sensors.
An opposing outer end of the transmitter housing includes a readily
10 removable threaded cap 76 which provides access to a replaceable battery 78
providing electrical power to the transmitter and which can be readily
disconnected for
replacement as required. The transmitter functions to receive temperatures
measured by the respective sensors together with Identifications of the
respective
sensors associated therewith and to transmit the measured temperatures to the
15 receiver with the sensor identification and the transmitter identification
associated
therewith.
The main housing 12 supports the tip 15 on the bottom end of the
lowermost intermediate modular section 38 for ease of penetration of the
housing into
the bed of grain. In particular, the tip includes an inner portion at the
longitudinal inner
end having an internally threaded socket functioning identically to the second
connectors 44 formed at the top end of each modular section 38. In this
manner, the
tip or another adjacent modular section can be interchangeably supported on
the
bottom end of any other modular section.
At the inner end, the inner portion has an overall diameter which is near
to the diameter of the housing, but the diameter gradually increases in the
longitudinal
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direction from the inner end of the inner portion to an intermediate portion
84 of the tip
where the diameter is greatest.
The intermediate portion 84 is generally cylindrical in shape between the
inner portion 82 and an outer portion 86 forming the free end of the tip. The
outer
diameter at the intermediate portion 84 is greater than the inner portion and
the
housing so as to be bulged outwardly in relation to the diameter of the
remainder of
the probe.
The outer portion 86 is tapered so as to be reduced in diameter from a
maximum diameter at the connection to the intermediate portion 84 to a minimum
diameter forming an apex at the outer free end of the tip.
By providing a first connector 42 at the bottom end of the transmitter
housing together with a first contact 66 mounted coaxially therein and a
corresponding connector 44 at the inner portion of the tip, the modular
sections 38
which are substantially identical to one another can be interchangeably
connected in
series between the transmitter housing and the tip as may be desired. In
addition, the
number of sections 38 in series between the transmitter housing and the tip
can also
be readily changed. In each instance electrical connection between the sensors
and
the transmitter housing is accomplished automatically by abutting contact
between the
first and second contacts of each adjacent pair of sections of the probe when
performing the threaded mechanical connection between the first and second
connectors 42 and 44 at each adjacent pair of sections.
In further embodiments, the tip 15 may include an auxiliary sensor which
is flush mounted with the exterior surface of the intermediate portion or any
other
portion of the tip to provide an additional sensing ability. In particular,
the sensor may
comprise an infrared sensor allowing instant sensing of temperature at the tip
of the
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probe. In this instance, the second connector 44 is arranged similarly to the
second
connectors of each modular section to coaxially locate a second contact
internally
therein for abutment with the first contact of the bottom end of a lowermost
modular
section. The second contact of the tip in this instance provides power to the
sensor
and receives data from the sensor as described above with regard to the
previous
sensors while a suitable grounding connection is provided internally within
the tip
between the sensor and the second connector 44 for grounding connection with
the
modular sections of the housing thereabove.
This multi-zone bin temperature probe has been designed using a "one
wire" temperature sensor. The one wire temperature sensor allows both data and
power to run on the same conductor, in addition each temperature sensor has a
unique serial number to allow sensor ID to be displayed on the handheld unit.
The
multizone probe utilizes a modular design in that up to 5 probe sections can
be
screwed together without the use of any wires. When each modular section is 5
feet
in length, the overall length of the probe can thus be approximately 25 feet
in length or
any other 5 foot interval.
As described above a connector was designed to allow easy coupling
with a very strong 'mechanical connection as well as an electrical connection.
A tip is
then screwed on one end and a transmitter module is screwed on the other end,
or for
better range can be extended outside the bin by a cable. The probe can be left
in the
bin for a long period and the temperature can be read when needed on a smart
chart
with a wireless adapter up to 300 feet away. Up to three transmitters with 10
sensors
each can be monitored by one smart chart. This will save climbing to the top
of the bin
all the time to monitor the temperature. The advantage of this over a bin
cable is that
there is no installation needed therefore it is very portable and can be moved
from bin
18
to bin. Bin cables also have to be installed before the grain goes in whereas
this can
go in a full bin.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same
made,
it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification
shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
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