Patents Assigned to Meridian Manufacturing Inc.
  • Patent number: 11414265
    Abstract: A hopper bottom for supporting a cylindrical side wall of a grain bin includes a hopper wall having an inverted cone shape supported on upright support legs. A manifold duct is supported above the hopper wall to define a manifold passage therein extending circumferentially adjacent to the peripheral edge of the hopper wall. A plurality of outlet openings formed in the manifold duct in communication from the manifold passage to an interior of the hopper wall for open communication with the grain bin thereabove. An inlet opening extending through the hopper wall in alignment with the manifold duct receives ventilation air from a blower to direct the flow through the manifold duct and into the grain bin through the outlet openings of the manifold duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Franz Wall Siemens
  • Patent number: 11066825
    Abstract: A quonset style building is provided with an arched-roof defining a width, length and height, and tower supporting the roof adjacent its apex. The tower separates storage areas on opposite sides of the building. The tower also permits the building height and width to be increased over conventional quonset buildings, and allows the width to be 3× the height, while withstanding typical weather forces, including wind and snow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Kleisinger, Andrew Froese, Andreas Riffel
  • Patent number: 10807792
    Abstract: A bulk storage bin is provided for grain and particulate material and includes a hopper bottom formed by a plurality of trapezoidal panels, each having upper and lower edges and opposite side edges. Flanges extend outwardly along each edge of each panel to provide a bolted flanged joint for adjacent panels. Plate assemblies extend along the upper edge of each panel to form a continuous 360° compression ring when the panels are assembled. Each flange has a portion extending behind the plate assemblies, with interior bolt holes. An access hole is provided at each end of each plate assembly for access to the interior bolt holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Froese, Jason Fehr, Aaron Dyck, Benjamin Penner
  • Patent number: 9840367
    Abstract: A multi-function closure is provided for a liquid containment tank. The tank has an upper wall with an inspection opening therein. The closure includes a ring attached to the upper wall and extending around the inspection opening. A pan is removably fastened to the ring, and has a bottom and side wall forming a reservoir for collection of spilled liquid. A lid is pivotally connected to the pan for movement between open and closed positions, and can be locked in the closed position. Multiple ports are formed in the bottom of the pan for filling the tank with liquid, and suctioning or pumping liquid from the tank for discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher T. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 9834126
    Abstract: A belt or auger conveyor is rotatably mounted on the frame of a seed cart or tender. The conveyor is mounted on a bracket, which in turn is mounted on the housing of a brake assembly. The brake assembly is rotatably mounted on a spindle fixed to a carriage, which is rollably mounted on tracks of the frame. The carriage allows the inlet of the roller to be longitudinally positioned for receiving seed or grain from a hopper or bulk container, while the spindle allows the outlet end of the conveyor to be rotated approximately 180° for positioning above a planter, truck or other receptacle. The brake assembly allows the rotational position of the conveyor to be infinitely adjusted without limitation to preset positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: MERIDIAN MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Juan Neufeld, Jeffrey Paul Grindle
  • Patent number: 9566891
    Abstract: A belt conveyor and an auger conveyor are interchangeably mountable on a seed cart or tender. A mounting bracket slidably receives the lower end of the selected conveyor, which is hooked into position at the lower end of the bracket. A removable pin is inserted through the upper end of the bracket and the conveyor to retain the conveyor on the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket can be moved on a carriage along tracks on the frame of the seed cart or tender to position the inlet of the conveyor to receive seeds from bulk seed boxes or a hopper. The conveyor can be rotated to an infinite number of positions along a 180° radius to discharge seed in a desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Neufeld, Jeffrey Paul Grindle
  • Patent number: 9145264
    Abstract: A grain auger has a frame, a conveyor mounted on the frame for movement between a lowered transport position and a raised use position, and an axle with a pair of wheels to rollably support the auger. The axle has angular disposed hollow members with telescoping arms extending therefrom so that the length and height of the axle is adjustable. A cradle is provided on top of the axle, with a support block at the top of the lift assembly for nesting in the cradle when the conveyor is in the lowered transport position, to minimize the cantilever of the conveyor during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Douglas Houssian, Bradley Metro Zazula
  • Patent number: 9096385
    Abstract: In an agricultural conveyor, an auger housing is formed of modular tube sections and an inline drive assembly for driving rotation of the auger member relative to the auger housing which is connected in series between the modular tube sections. The auger housing is supported on an adjustable carriage frame for transport. The auger housing is supported on a portion of the carriage frame by a roller assembly having rollers engaging diametrically opposed top and bottom sides of the auger housing for rolling movement along the auger housing. The connection between at least one adjacent pair of modular tube sections is arranged to allow the roller assembly to roll across the connection along the length of the assembled auger housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing, Inc
    Inventors: Terry Douglas Houssian, Bradley Metro Zazula
  • Patent number: 8967357
    Abstract: A grain auger having a discharge chute with a primary opening is also provided with at least one secondary opening and a door movable between opened and closed positions relative to the secondary opening. The door is normally closed by spring bias, but will open if the primary discharge opening becomes blocked, thereby releasing grain through the secondary opening, to prevent damage to the auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Douglas Houssian, Bradley Metro Zazula
  • Publication number: 20140227068
    Abstract: A seed cart has a trailer with the hopper cantilevered over the trailer. The trailer includes a track extending along the left and side and rear end. A conveyor is mounted on a carriage for movement along the track, such that the conveyor can extend from the left side of the trailer or from the rear end of the trailer. The conveyor is pivotal for approximately 180°. The conveyor inlet and outlet can be positioned for loading and unloading the hopper, and can be spaced from the hopper for loading and unloading two separate containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: MERIDIAN MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Juan Neufeld, Bernie Thiessen
  • Patent number: 8746439
    Abstract: A feed auger assembly which conveys particular material to an implement includes a first auger housing with a first auger flight rotatable therein, a second auger housing concentrically receiving the first auger housing therein so as to define an annular space therebetween, and a second auger flight rotatable within the annular space. The discharge end of the first auger housing is arranged to discharge into the annular space between the intermediate end and the outlet end of the second auger housing as the first auger housing is longitudinally slidable relative to the second auger housing in the longitudinal direction. The distance between the inlet end of first auger housing and the outlet end of the second auger housing is thus adjustable during a conveying operation of the augers being rotated within the respective housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Douglas Houssian
  • Patent number: 8733816
    Abstract: A cover assembly includes a roller member rotatably supported by a bracket assembly on one end of the intake hopper of an agricultural conveyor such that a sheet member rolled onto the roller member can be unrolled to span across the intake opening. The cover assembly also includes a support frame pivotally coupled to the intake hopper between a working position and a stored position. In the working position a portion of the frame is centrally located above the intake opening and protrudes upwardly beyond respective sides of the housing of the intake hopper to support the sheet member to slope downward from a central apex to prevent accumulation of precipitation thereon. In the stored position the support frame is shorter in height relative to the housing than in the working position and the sheet member is rolled onto the roller so as not to interfere with normal operation of the intake hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley Metro Zazula
  • Patent number: D741981
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MERIDIAN MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Fitzgerald, Sam J. Plett, Mark A. Loewen