Abstract: Corrugated grain bin floor plates are manufactured from flat metal sheets by a progressive die set in a punch press. A metal sheet is fed into a slitting section of the die set to form slits in the sheet extending in the longitudinal direction of the sheets. The sheet is then fed to a corrugating section of the die where the sheet is corrugated with the corrugations running longitudinally of the sheet. The metal along the slits is stretched and reformed to form openings covered by an upper hood to prevent grain from falling through the openings. The openings are located at a neutral axis for the corrugations. The bending and drawing of the metal in the sheet provides an increase in the strength of the grain floor plates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for fabricating an arcuate seam between two pieces of sheet metal. The method involves a three-step process in which an arcuate standing seam is formed on a first piece of sheet metal, the marginal edge of a second piece of sheet metal is inserted into the pocket of the standing seam, and the pocket of the standing seam and the marginal edge inserted therein are simultaneously bent so that they lie along the surface of the first piece of sheet metal, thus locking together the two pieces of sheet metal. The arcuate standing seam is formed by an apparatus including a plurality of form roller pairs arranged along an arc. Each pair of form rollers has complementary edges that form a nip through which the arcuate edge of the sheet metal workpiece is passed, the shapes of the edges of the successive roller pairs along the arc gradually attaining the shape of the standing seam.

Abstract: A nestable roof vent for use on the roofs of grain bins and other structures where circulation of air within the structure is required. The vent includes a bird screen sized to extend across the interior of the vent housing that is secured to a flange over the opening in the bin roof so as to be free from binding contact with the vent housing. Accordingly, should the screen become clogged with husks or leaves, the screen will bend about the flange to release any pressure build-up before structural damage to the structure can occur. A locking seam, capable of being made along the curved edge of a piece of sheet metal, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A grain bin floor is formed of floor plates supported on horizontal beams supported by vertical columns made of sheet metal with lower ends of the columns having bendable teeth or the like bent by high spots in the base that would otherwise concentrate the load onto a small portion of the column and cause its failure. The preferred floor uses wood beams and the columns. Preferably, the floor plates are fastened to the beams and the latter and bearing members are interlocked to the columns. An easy method of assemblying the columns, beams and bearing plates is disclosed.

Abstract: Corrugated grain bin floor plates are manufactured from a continuous flat metal strip by a progressive die set in a punch press. The metal strip is fed into a slitting section of the die set to form slits in the sheet extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip. The strip is then fed to a corrugating section of the die set where the sheet is corrugated with the corrugations running longitudinally of the strip. The metal along the slits is stretched and reformed to form openings covered by an upper hood to prevent grain from falling through the openings. The openings are located at a neutral axis for the corrugations. The bending and drawing of the metal in the strip provides an increase in the strength of the grain floor plates. The floor plates are severed from the strip at the end of the die set.

Abstract: The grain floor system uses floor plates of substantially uniform size, for example, three feet in width and seven feet in length which are corrugated and which are nestable one within the other for storage and for transportation. The floor plates are mounted on an air frame system and have hooded openings to form air holes over an extensive portion of the floor plates such as, for example, about ten percent of the floor area. The hoods are formed to project outwardly of inclined corrugated sidewalls to limit the amount of grain which may fall therethrough. Upper and lower hoods are formed about the holes which are elongated to provide additional strength for the floor plates. The holes are located in the middle of the sidewalls forming the corrugations.