Patents Assigned to GSI GROUP LLC
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Publication number: 20180160646Abstract: An animal house climate control system uses a method for operating a baffle of an air inlet of an animal house with a motor using timed inlet control. The method includes performing a calibration sequence to calculate opening velocity and opening inertia values and closing velocity and closing inertia values. The method also includes moving the baffle from an initial position to a final position by calculating a calculated power on time for the motor using the opening inertia or closing inertia values. The method can also include calculating a real position error value by comparing the calculated on time for the motor and a measured on time for the motor and using the real position error value to calculate adjusted opening and closing velocity values.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2016Publication date: June 14, 2018Applicant: The GSI Group, LLCInventors: Nicolas Bégin, Benoit R. Laberge, Yvon Gaudreau, Khaled SAAD
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Publication number: 20180027761Abstract: A climate control system for an animal house having a plurality of climate control outputs such as heaters or ventilation fans has a control unit that regulates operation of climate control outputs. The control unit has a plurality of input terminals and a plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of sensing devices located in a different portion of the animal house and connected to one of the plurality of input terminals of the control unit with a connector to provide a signal to the control unit which is used to control the climate in the animal house. Each sensing device includes a thermal resistive sensor and an indicating LED configured to be selectively turned on by the control unit to indicate when the sensing unit is connected to the control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2016Publication date: February 1, 2018Applicant: The GSI GROUP, LLCInventors: Marco BOUCHARD, Yvon Gaudreau, Jonathan BRODEUR, Benoit R. LABERGE
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Patent number: 9863703Abstract: A grain drying tower comprises a heater and blower separating a heating plenum and a cooling plenum. The dryer is provided with a heat reclamation/heat recycling system and/or counter-flow cooling to reduce the energy requirements of the tower dryer. The heat reclamation system comprises a chamber external to the outer wall of the tower and which is and located at a point along the drying path. The bottom of the chamber is open to the atmosphere. Hot exhaust air enters the heat reclamation chamber at the top of the chamber and is drawn back into the tower by the blower as the exhaust air exits the open bottom of the chamber. In the counter-flow, the walls defining the grain path of the in the cooling section are not air permeable, and air is drawn into the cooling section through outer wall ducts which are closed at the inner wall. The entering air travels up through heated grain to be warmed, and then enters the plenum through inner wall ducts, which are closed at the outer wall of the tower.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: The GSI Group, LLCInventor: David Morrison
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Patent number: 9493957Abstract: A plank (10) used to construct a platform such as a catwalk (C3, C4) extending about the exterior or interior of a building (B) includes first and second generally horizontal sections (12, 22). The second generally horizontal section of the plank extends from one side of the first section. During construction of the platform, the first section of one plank overlaps the second section of an adjacent plank. A third generally vertical section (52) of the plank extends generally perpendicularly from one side of the second section and includes lips (58, 60) at its inner and outer ends for attaching the plank to toe boards (40, 44) to secure the plank to the frames. When installed, the planks extend from a side of the building. The resulting catwalk extends either in a straight line, or is curved, depending upon the amount of overlap the first and second sections of the respective planks.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2012Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: The GSI Group LLCInventors: Paul Kent Miller, Chirag Chandrakant Patel, Arron Justin Cochran, Robb Glenn Williams, Satheesh Kumar Somu
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Patent number: 9493300Abstract: An impactor is externally securable to a container of flowable material to break up bridging or clumping of the material in the container. The impactor comprises a strike plate mountable to an outlet hopper or the like and a drive which axially reciprocally moves the hammer, such that operation of the drive causes the hammer to impact the strike plate to thereby pass vibrations into the container.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: The GSI Group LLCInventors: Brad Eversole, Thomas D. Fleshner, Thomas Stuthman
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Patent number: 9247718Abstract: A feed level sensor for a poultry feeding system is positioned within the drop tube of a control feeder of the feeding system. The sensor comprise a first light emitter/light detector pair to detect when the level of feed in the drop tube falls below a predetermined “empty” level and a second light emitter/light detector pair to detect when feed in the drop tube is at a predetermined “full” level in the drop tube. The sensor emits a “start” signal to activate a drive to deliver feed to the feeders along a feed line when it is detected that feed in the control feeder drop tube falls below the “empty” level and emits a “stop” signal to deactivate the drive when it detects that feed within the drop tube is at the “full” level.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2014Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: The GSI Group, LLCInventor: Nathan Pickens
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Patent number: 9194604Abstract: A burner assembly for a grain bin for heating air moving through the assembly to dry grain in the bin. The burner assembly has a collector adapted to receive fuel from a fuel line. A burner housing attaches to the collector receives fuel from the fuel line. A nozzle is secured to the burner. A flame diverter downstream from the burner housing diverts the flame outwardly from the burner nozzle toward the housing wall. A flame cone having a slope generally similar to the slope of the diverter is positioned near the burner to define a gap between the inside face of the diverter and the outer surface of the flame cone so as to provide a path for the burning fuel to travel from the burner outwardly toward the housing walls for a more complete combustion of the fuel.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: The GSI Group, LLCInventor: Neil Bowsher
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Patent number: 9126774Abstract: A pneumatic conveying system is disclosed for conveying a granular product, such as grain, from a grain inlet device to a selected one of a plurality of grain bins or other storage vessels. The system includes a blower for forcing air under pressure into a conveyor piping system. A grain inlet device is located downstream from the blower. The piping system has a portion leading from the grain inlet to an inlet in a first one of the vessels. A discharge/bypass valve is connected to a portion of the piping system leading from the grain inlet so as to receive the granular product being conveyed therethrough with the valve having a discharge outlet for discharging the granular product into the vessel. The valve is installed on the vessel such that the discharge outlet is in communication with the interior of the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2014Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: THE GSI GROUP, LLCInventors: L. Michael Watson, Robert C. Brush
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Patent number: 8978320Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus and systems for forming a temporary storage facility for granular materials such as agricultural products including grain and corn. The temporary storage facility includes a retaining wall constructed by connecting free-standing wall sections in a circular or rectangular shape. The free-standing wall sections have overlapping elements on the face to hold the agricultural products inside the retaining wall sections while admitting air for ventilation. Ventilation holes are made in the panel elements so as to admit air but prevent water or vermin entry to protect the agricultural products.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: The GSI Group, LLCInventor: Howard S. Johnson
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Patent number: 8925486Abstract: An animal feeder is provided having a movable gate between a hopper portion and a trough portion of the feeder. An adjustment mechanism is positioned on the hopper wall above gate and is operable to adjust the position of the gate, and hence, the size of the opening between the hopper and trough. The adjustment mechanism allows for easy control of the size of the opening between the hopper and the trough.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: The GSI Group, LLCInventors: James M. Adermann, John Frankovich
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Patent number: 8915214Abstract: A feed level sensor for a poultry feeding system is positioned within the drop tube of a control feeder of the feeding system. The sensor comprise a first light emitter/light detector pair to detect when the level of feed in the drop tube falls below a predetermined “empty” level and a second light emitter/light detector pair to detect when feed in the drop tube is at a predetermined “full” level in the drop tube. The sensor emits a “start” signal to activate a drive to deliver feed to the feeders along a feed line when it is detected that feed in the control feeder drop tube falls below the “empty” level and emits a “stop” signal to deactivate the drive when it detects that feed within the drop tube is at the “full” level.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2012Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: The GSI Group, LLCInventor: Nathan Pickens
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Publication number: 20140251221Abstract: An animal feeder is provided having a movable gate between a hopper portion and a trough portion of the feeder. An adjustment mechanism is positioned on the hopper wall above gate and is operable to adjust the position of the gate, and hence, the size of the opening between the hopper and trough. The adjustment mechanism allows for easy control of the size of the opening between the hopper and the trough.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: The GSI Group, LLCInventors: James M. Adermann, John Frankovich
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Patent number: 8820181Abstract: A sampler improves sampling and moisture measurements by reducing the introduction of fines, providing a more representative grain sample, and improving the ability to make consistent moisture measurements. The sampler has a body positioned to receive grain from a grain flow path. A primary auger positioned within the body has a shaft and a fin configured to lift and propel a portion of the grain up to and through a sampling opening. A sensor assembly operatively connected to the body and in communication with the sampling opening is configured to receive the portion of grain indicate the moisture content of the portion of grain.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: The GSI Group, LLCInventor: Neil Bowsher
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Patent number: 8800491Abstract: An animal feeder is provided having a movable gate between a hopper portion and a trough portion of the feeder. An adjustment mechanism is positioned on the hopper wall above gate and is operable to adjust the position of the gate, and hence, the size of the opening between the hopper and trough. The adjustment mechanism allows for easy control of the size of the opening between the hopper and the trough.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: The GSI Group, LLCInventors: James M. Adermann, John Frankovich
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Patent number: 8784013Abstract: A pneumatic conveying system is disclosed for conveying a granular product, such as grain, from a grain inlet device to a selected one of a plurality of grain bins or other storage vessels. The system includes a blower for forcing air under pressure into a conveyor piping system. A grain inlet device is located downstream from the blower. The piping system has a portion leading from the grain inlet to an inlet in a first one of the vessels. A discharge/bypass valve is connected to a portion of the piping system leading from the grain inlet so as to receive the granular product being conveyed therethrough with the valve having a discharge outlet for discharging the granular product into the vessel. The valve is installed on the vessel such that the discharge outlet is in communication with the interior of the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: The GSI Group, LLCInventors: L. Michael Watson, Robert C. Brush
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Patent number: 8670863Abstract: A grain for the storage of grain millions of bushels of grain comprises a floor, a peripheral wall and a flexible covering. The grain bin includes an unloading system which enables the grain to be unloaded from the grain bin without the need to remove the covering and which substantially reduces the dust typically produced during unloading of currently used temporary grain bins.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: The GSI Group, LLCInventors: Jason Luster, Brett D. Andricks, Robert Rasmus
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Patent number: 8601714Abstract: A grain turner for turning grain in a drying tower includes opposed generally vertical side walls and a generally vertical dividing plate (which is shorter than the side walls) extending between the side walls; the dividing plate defining inner and an outer vertical channels in a portion of the turner. An inner inclined plate is pivotally connected to one side wall to be within the inner channel and an outer inclined plate is connected to the other side wall to be within the outer channel. The inclined plates are pivotal between a first position in which they are inclined downwardly in a opposite widthwise directions and a second position in which they are generally adjacent their respective side walls. The inclined plates have a length such that when they are in the first position, their lower edges are proximate a bottom of the divider plate.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: The GSI Group, LLCInventors: David Morrison, Jared Becker
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Publication number: 20130233293Abstract: A burner assembly for a grain bin for heating air moving through the assembly to dry grain in the bin. The burner assembly has a collector adapted to receive fuel from a fuel line. A burner housing attaches to the collector receives fuel from the fuel line. A nozzle is secured to the burner. A flame diverter downstream from the burner housing diverts the flame outwardly from the burner nozzle toward the housing wall. A flame cone having a slope generally similar to the slope of the diverter is positioned near the burner to define a gap between the inside face of the diverter and the outer surface of the flame cone so as to provide a path for the burning fuel to travel from the burner outwardly toward the housing walls for a more complete combustion of the fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: THE GSI GROUP, LLCInventor: Neil Bowsher
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Patent number: D768011Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: The GSI Group, LLCInventors: Adam A. Weiss, Jonathan Brodeur, Benoit R. Laberge, Laurent Landrin, Yvon Gaudreau
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Patent number: D768515Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: The GSI Group, LLC.Inventors: Adam A. Weiss, Jonathan Brodeur, Benoit R. Laberge, Laurent Landrin, Yvon Gaudreau