Abstract: A dwelling assembly that has a continuous sidewall and an opening for a door and a window. A roof assembly is provided with first and second roofs that are spaced apart such that the outer roof acts as a heat shield for the inner roof to ensure the interior of the dwelling is a minimum temperature. In addition, ballast boxes are utilized in order to provide additional weight to the dwelling and a planting area in association with the dwelling assembly.

Abstract: A floor support for a grain bin floor made from a sheet of galvanized steel having a top surface, a bottom surface and flat ends. The floor support has a plurality of flanges and notches disposed within the top surface and a plurality of openings disposed through the sheet of galvanized steel. Positioned between each opening is a first bend. Positioned on either side of selected first bends is a second bend thereby forming a z-shaped floor support.

Abstract: A roof vent assembly wherein the grain bin has a corrugated cylindrical wall and a roof structure having a plurality of triangular roof panels. A vent assembly is connected to the roof. The vent assembly has a base. The base has a back wall, two side walls and a front wall which extend upwardly from the flange. The back wall and sidewalls are generally straight whereas the front wall extends outwardly to a point, peak or crest. When connected to the grain bin roof, the peak of the vent assembly is positioned to point upwardly. This peak prevents the build up of moisture and debris thereby extending the life of the grain bin roof assembly.

Abstract: A sump clearing device having a elongated tube attached to a backboard of a sweep auger. A second tube is attached to and extends through a sidewall of a grain bin. The second tube is aligned with the elongated tube. An elongated member having a clearing device is inserted through the second and elongated tube such that the clearing device is positioned above a center sump of the bin.

Abstract: A sweep control system having a sweep auger rotationally mounted about a central axis of a center sump and operatively connected to pusher motor(s). A sensor measures the load on the sweep auger and sends a signal to the controller. The controller compares the detected load to a predetermined load and sends a signal to a variable speed drive based on the comparison. The variable speed drive is connected to the pusher motor(s) and adjusts the speed of the pusher motor(s) based upon the received signal.

Abstract: A latch apparatus for releasably securing a cover member over an access opening in a bulk storage structure. The latch apparatus is pivotally mounted to a cover member and includes a pair of latch members and a latch bar connected to and extending between the latch members. The latch members have a receptacle that receives a catch member and an extension that extends away from the latch member opposite the receptacle. The extension engages the cover member when the latch member is moved from a locked position to an unlocked position to prevent injury to a user.

Abstract: A floor support for a grain bin floor made from a sheet of galvanized steel having a top surface, a bottom surface and flat ends. The floor support has a plurality of flanges and notches disposed within the top surface and a plurality of openings disposed through the sheet of galvanized steel. Positioned between each opening is a first bend. Positioned on either side of selected first bends is a second bend thereby forming a z-shaped floor support.

Abstract: A latch apparatus for releasably securing a cover member over an access opening in a bulk storage structure. The latch apparatus is pivotally mounted to a cover member and includes a pair of latch members and a latch bar connected to and extending between the latch members. The latch members have a receptacle that receives a catch member and an extension that extends away from the latch member opposite the receptacle. The extension engages the cover member when the latch member is moved from a locked position to an unlocked position to prevent injury to a user.

Abstract: A grain bin roof ring mounting bracket having a mounting plate secured to a roof bin, a clip portion extending vertically from the mounting plate, and a back portion that extends outwardly from the clip portion.

Abstract: A sweep auger apparatus is radially disposed within a circular bin for moving a free-flowing granular material across the floor of the bin towards the center of the bin. A motor is connected to the radial inner end of the auger shaft to rotate the auger flighting about its horizontal axis. A drive wheel is connected to the radial outer end of the auger shaft for supporting the outer end of the auger shaft and for revolving the auger around the central vertical axis of the bin. The improved sweep auger includes panels or a tube connected to the backboard of the auger so as to reside beneath the auger flighting, and thereby minimize the amount of granular material left on the floor as the sweep auger revolves around the bin floor. The panels are adjustably mounted to accommodate variations in the level of the bin floor.

Abstract: A vane axial fan housing includes a main body having an outlet end and an inlet end opposite the outlet end. An inlet endplate is secured across the inlet end of the main body and has an inlet opening therein circumscribed by an adjacent venturi-shaped flange integrally formed in the inlet endplate so as to extend toward the outlet end. The venturi-shaped flange also serves to mount the inlet endplate to the inlet end of the main body.

Abstract: Implements for the removal of insects from plants are provided which dedicate an individual axial flow centrifugal fan unit to each crop row unit. The fan unit also destroys the insects so removed. The frame of the implement can be articulated and driven in such a manner so as to permit fan unit position adjustment while the fans are driven and running. In some embodiments, each fan unit is constructed with means which directs at least a portion of the exhaust of the fan to the plant row in order to further facilitate insect dislodgement and removal into the intake of the fan.

Abstract: A switch assembly which is attached to a portion of the agricultural tractor and implement combination in order to control operation of a guidance system. The switch assembly includes a switch, a switch support assembly, an attachment assembly, and an adjustment assembly. The switch is a mercury tilt switch which is designed for horizontal mounting. The switch is activated when tilted above the horizontal and is deactivated when tilted below the horizontal. The switch assembly is mounted to the hitch system of an agricultural tractor. When the operator raises the hitch system, the mercury switch automatically switches the control system from the automatic mode to the manual mode. When the operator lowers the hitch system, the mercury switch automatically switches the control system from the manual mode to the automatic mode. The switch is sealed to prevent dirt and debris from interfering with the operation of the switch.

Abstract: An improved grain bin floor support system which utilizes a plurality of floor supports for supporting interlocking floor panels. The floor support is constructed of an upper rail for supporting floor panels, vertical members extending from the upper rail to the foundation of the bin, and a horizontal member which is attached to the vertical members and disposed between the upper rail and the base of the bin. The upper rail has a plurality of recesses and crowns between the recesses. The floor panels have a generally planar top portion and depending flanges which engage in nesting relation with the adjacent flange of the adjacent panel. The depth and spacing of the recesses along the upper rail are such that the floor panels are supported by engagement of the recesses of the upper rail against the depending flanges.

Abstract: A rotary grain screener is disclosed in which the primary grain-advancing flighting is mounted on the internal surface of the rotary screener drum and an inner auger is mounted on a central axial drive shaft to advance the grain forward in the drum at a greater rate than is accomplished by the flighting on the internal surface of the drum. The screener drum is supported on the central drive shaft which has a support bearing on the input auger housing and the drum is further provided at the input end with two annular bearing plates which are attached to the end plate of the drum and have a close fit around the input auger housing for closure and support purposes. A single motive power source drives the drive assembly which operates both the input auger and the screener drum.

Abstract: A ridge tillage attachment for conventional row-crop planters for use in minimum tillage planting on row ridges is disclosed. This ridge tillage attachment includes a tool portion and a linkage portion. The linkage portion has a parallelogram linkage support system and is attached to the planter. The tool portion is detachable from the linkage portion and is in the form of a tool support beam with guide wheels, cutting discs and sweep plates mounted thereto. The linkage portion of the unit is designed so that it can remain attached to the planter after the tool portion has been detached. An adjustable compression spring down-pressure system acts directly above the tillage implements to apply maximum down pressure. The guide wheels can be adjusted relative to the tool support beam by a height adjustment structure located directly above the wheels. The cutter discs are slightly offset to prevent plugging between them and to facilitate penetration of the soil.