GB2117435A

GB2117435A - Silo base

Info

Publication number: GB2117435A
Application number: GB08205190A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Duncan Brunt; Clifford Harold Hudson
Original assignee: BENTALL SIMPLEX
Current assignee: BENTALL SIMPLEX
Priority date: 1982-02-22
Filing date: 1982-02-22
Publication date: 1983-10-12
Also published as: GB2117435B

Abstract

A base for supporting a silo (1) without the necessity of providing a concrete base, comprises a circumferential wall bearing means 4, formed of metal with suitable means (e.g. plates 5) for connecting the vertical walls (3) of the silo to the base. Preferably a single or double floor (7 or 7 and 8) forms a part of the base and legs (12) can be provided on the base which can be dug into the ground to improve stability. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to silos The present invention relates to supports for silos, particularly silos for granular material such as grain.

The traditional method of supporting grain silos which are generally cylindrical in shape is to provide a concrete foundation or base. Such foundations are quite expensive and involve a separate contractor to that erecting the silo. Furthermore the contractor requires the necessary skill to ensure that the concrete base is sound so as to avoid structural defects in the silo if the base is insufficiently substantial. Also the provision of the concrete base entails delay in erection of the silo whilst due to the additional civil engineering skills required and whilst the concrete cures.

A silo base in accordance with the invention for supporting the vertical walls of a silo comprises a circumferential wall bearing means formed as a metal, preferably steel, structure means for connecting the bearing means to the silo vertical walls and preferably a floor extending across the bearing means and which may be connected thereto.

Such a base can be manufactured under close factory control and can be easily erected on site using the minimum skilled labour. All that is normally required is a suitable level site.

In one embodiment of the invention additional stability is provided by attaching downwardly extending members to the bearing means. The base may have a double floor for increasing the load bearing capacity of the floor. The double floor may have stiffening members between each floor membrane or may be filled on site with filling material such as rubble or soil. Ventilating ducts may be provided between each floor membrane, the ducts being connected between the outside of the silo and the interior of the silo.

The floor may incorporate a grain sump and/or grain extraction channel so that grain gravitating to the base of the silo can be discharged through a screw conveyor suitably located in the channel.

Preferably the floor comprises several steel sheet sections which can be bolted together on site to provide the complete floor.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a vertical cross section taken through the centre of a circular base of a first embodiment of the invention, and Figure2 is a similarviewto Figure 1 of a second embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 1 there is shown the lower part of a cylindrical silo 1 which sits on a silo base 2. The silo 1 has a cylindrical vertical wall 3, although the silo could have a square or pentagonal cross section.

The base 2 for supporting the vertical wall(s) 3 of the silo comprises a circumferential wall bearing means 4, plates 5 extending upwardly from the bearing means 4 attach the wall or walls 3 to the bearing means 4 by suitable attachment means such as bolts (not shown). Extending across the top of the bearing means 4 is an upper floor membrane 7 formed of steel sheets bolted together. Extending across a lower portion of the bearing means and below the upper floor membrane 7 is a lower floor member 8. Between the membrane 7 and 8 are "I" beam stiffening members 9 and these are also connected at each end of the bearing means 4. To provide added stability for the base, the base is generally below ground level 10 and stabilizing members 12 formed as steel struts are attached by suitable means to the bearing means 4.The ground on which the silo is to stand is suitably excavated and back-filled to accommodate the stabilizing members 12 and the below ground level location of the base 2.

Ventilation ducts 14 are conveniently located between the membranes 7 and 8 and these communicate from the outside of the silo to the inside of the silo at the base of the silo. Fans may be connected as required to the ducts 14.

Additionally a sump may be provided between the membranes 7 and 8 so as to provide a location for extracting the grain at the bottom of the silo. Such a sump is not shown in the drawings. Also a channel in which a screw conveyor can be located may also be provided in the base 2 between the sump and the exterior of the silo.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 3 in which like components to Figure 1 are similarly numbered and which require no further explanation. The main difference between the embodiment in Figure 2 and that of Figure 1 is that the space between membranes 7 and 8 and is substantially fee of base components with the exception of the ventilating ducts 14 and this enables the space between membranes 7 and 8 to be packed on site with suitable backing orfilling material such as rubble or soil.

It will be appreciated that the base provide for a silo as described is simple to erect and requires no additional materials apart from thos available on site and the minimum of skilled labour is required for erection.

CLAIMS (Filed on 31-1-83) 1. A silo base for supporting the vertical walls of a silo comprising a circumferential wall bearing means formed as a metal structure, and means for connecting the bearing means to the silo vertical walls.

2. A silo base as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a floor forms a part of the base and extends across the bearing means.

3. A silo base as claimed in Claims 1 or 2 wherein downwardly extending members are attached to the bearing means.

4. A silo base as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein a double floor forms a part of the base and extends across the bearing means.

5. A silo base as claimed in Claim 4 wherein stiffening members are provided between each floor membrane of the double floor.

6. A silo base as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein ventilation ducting is provided under the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to silos The present invention relates to supports for silos, particularly silos for granular material such as grain. The traditional method of supporting grain silos which are generally cylindrical in shape is to provide a concrete foundation or base. Such foundations are quite expensive and involve a separate contractor to that erecting the silo. Furthermore the contractor requires the necessary skill to ensure that the concrete base is sound so as to avoid structural defects in the silo if the base is insufficiently substantial. Also the provision of the concrete base entails delay in erection of the silo whilst due to the additional civil engineering skills required and whilst the concrete cures. A silo base in accordance with the invention for supporting the vertical walls of a silo comprises a circumferential wall bearing means formed as a metal, preferably steel, structure means for connecting the bearing means to the silo vertical walls and preferably a floor extending across the bearing means and which may be connected thereto. Such a base can be manufactured under close factory control and can be easily erected on site using the minimum skilled labour. All that is normally required is a suitable level site. In one embodiment of the invention additional stability is provided by attaching downwardly extending members to the bearing means. The base may have a double floor for increasing the load bearing capacity of the floor. The double floor may have stiffening members between each floor membrane or may be filled on site with filling material such as rubble or soil. Ventilating ducts may be provided between each floor membrane, the ducts being connected between the outside of the silo and the interior of the silo. The floor may incorporate a grain sump and/or grain extraction channel so that grain gravitating to the base of the silo can be discharged through a screw conveyor suitably located in the channel. Preferably the floor comprises several steel sheet sections which can be bolted together on site to provide the complete floor. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a vertical cross section taken through the centre of a circular base of a first embodiment of the invention, and Figure2 is a similarviewto Figure 1 of a second embodiment of the invention. In Figure 1 there is shown the lower part of a cylindrical silo 1 which sits on a silo base 2. The silo 1 has a cylindrical vertical wall 3, although the silo could have a square or pentagonal cross section. The base 2 for supporting the vertical wall(s) 3 of the silo comprises a circumferential wall bearing means 4, plates 5 extending upwardly from the bearing means 4 attach the wall or walls 3 to the bearing means 4 by suitable attachment means such as bolts (not shown). Extending across the top of the bearing means 4 is an upper floor membrane 7 formed of steel sheets bolted together. Extending across a lower portion of the bearing means and below the upper floor membrane 7 is a lower floor member 8. Between the membrane 7 and 8 are "I" beam stiffening members 9 and these are also connected at each end of the bearing means 4. To provide added stability for the base, the base is generally below ground level 10 and stabilizing members 12 formed as steel struts are attached by suitable means to the bearing means 4.The ground on which the silo is to stand is suitably excavated and back-filled to accommodate the stabilizing members 12 and the below ground level location of the base 2. Ventilation ducts 14 are conveniently located between the membranes 7 and 8 and these communicate from the outside of the silo to the inside of the silo at the base of the silo. Fans may be connected as required to the ducts 14. Additionally a sump may be provided between the membranes 7 and 8 so as to provide a location for extracting the grain at the bottom of the silo. Such a sump is not shown in the drawings. Also a channel in which a screw conveyor can be located may also be provided in the base 2 between the sump and the exterior of the silo. An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 3 in which like components to Figure 1 are similarly numbered and which require no further explanation. The main difference between the embodiment in Figure 2 and that of Figure 1 is that the space between membranes 7 and 8 and is substantially fee of base components with the exception of the ventilating ducts 14 and this enables the space between membranes 7 and 8 to be packed on site with suitable backing orfilling material such as rubble or soil. It will be appreciated that the base provide for a silo as described is simple to erect and requires no additional materials apart from thos available on site and the minimum of skilled labour is required for erection. CLAIMS (Filed on 31-1-83)

1. A silo base for supporting the vertical walls of a silo comprising a circumferential wall bearing means formed as a metal structure, and means for connecting the bearing means to the silo vertical walls.

6. A silo base as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein ventilation ducting is provided under the floor or between the membranes of a double flor.

7. A silo base as claimed in Claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon wherein the floor or floors are formed from severai steel sections adapted to be bolted together.

8. A silo base as claimed in Claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon in which the or upper floor has a sump formed therein.

9. A silo base substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A silo base substantially as described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.