Abstract: The embodiments described comprise a method of filling a flat bottom or hopper bottom grain bin with grain, seeds, or other granular or particulate materials by pushing the granular material through a nominally horizontal or inclined cylindrical tube or u-trough into the bottom center floor opening, where a smooth pipe elbow or inclined plane causes the granular material to turn and flow upward where it cascades into a pile on the floor or into the coned bin hopper bottom, with the pile continuing to rise to a desired level, then reversing the embodiment direction of operation, removing all freely flowing material from the bin through the same tube, using this embodiment to fill and unload several bins, minimizing conveyors to fill and unload every bin. A vertical slotted fill pipe can provide a method to reduce friction while filling tall bins by reducing friction of forcing grain through grain.

Abstract: Aeration drying and disinfecting grain crops in bulk and pretreating seeds includes passing through a bulk of grain crops and seeds disinfecting and drying agents including an ozone and air mixture and surrounding air, subdividing the disinfecting and drying agents into a plurality of streams spaced from one another in a vertical direction, and passing the streams at different heights through levels located at corresponding heights of the bulk of grain crops and seeds transversely in a substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: This process embodies forcing air through grain and granular biological products using a high volume horizontal airflow from a central vertical pervious tube to one or more plenum chambers near the structure sidewall to dry or cool products. Cross-flow air movement can be supplied by either suction or pressure. This conditioning and drying method has advantages over conventional storage structures, especially where product depth is much greater than diameter. In this process, horizontal air typically moves only ? to ? of vertical distances. Horizontal airflow resistance through elongated seeds is 50-60 percent of vertical airflow. Power for horizontal airflow is typically 8-15% that of vertical airflow. Grain and seed drying costs will be 15-30% of high temperature drying. To enhance germination, storage and grain and seed quality, and to kill or exclude insect pests, ozone is applied to drying or aeration airstreams for treating stored products and storages.

Abstract: Aeration drying and disinfecting grain crops in bulk and pretreating seeds includes passing through a bulk of grain crops and seeds disinfecting and drying agents including an ozone and air mixture and surrounding air, subdividing the disinfecting and drying agents into a plurality of streams spaced from one another in a vertical direction, and passing the streams at different heights through levels located at corresponding heights of the bulk of grain crops and seeds transversely in a substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for elimination of mold, pests, insects and the like from bulk, stored grain and milled grain products and other biological items by pushing an ozone-containing atmosphere up through the grain or biological items and providing and maintaining an ozone-containing atmosphere in contact with the upper surface of the grain or biological items and maintaining an ozone-containing atmosphere in the spaces of the storage contained that are below the grain or biological items.

Abstract: This process embodies forcing air through grain and granular biological products using a high volume horizontal airflow from a central vertical pervious tube to one or more plenum chambers near the structure sidewall to dry or cool products. Cross-flow air movement can be supplied by either suction or pressure. This conditioning and drying method has advantages over conventional storage structures, especially where product depth is much greater than diameter. In this process, horizontal air typically moves only ? to ? of vertical distances. Horizontal airflow resistance through elongated seeds is 50-60 percent of vertical airflow. Power for horizontal airflow is typically 8-15% that of vertical airflow. Grain and seed drying costs will be 15-30% of high temperature drying. To enhance germination, storage and grain and seed quality, and to kill or exclude insect pests, ozone is applied to drying or aeration airstreams for treating stored products and storages.

Abstract: A cross flow grain drying and conditioning apparatus having an improved grain column configuration wherein the thickness is narrower at the top and bottom thereof than at an intermediate portion thereof for optimumly confining the grain to be dried. A single blower operates to force heated drying air through a first zone of the column of grain and to pull cooling air through a second zone or alternatively to push heated air through both the first and second zones by opening or closing a plenum divider which can be closed to define the zones or opened to combine the zones.

Abstract: A continuous grain drying and conditioning apparatus of a type including a burner and blower, or a multiplicity of burners and blowers, surrounded by a plenum chamber, air pervious grain holding walls positioned outwardly with respect to the plenum chamber is characterized by having a plenum divider which is selectively adjustable in position to divide the grain holding walls into a heating section and a cooling section. A multiplicity of grain turning apparatus of full and partial width of the grain column is disposed in the grain column for separating the grain mass into two or more separate divisions and then turning the cooler-wetter grain inwardly as it moves downwardly and turning the hotter-dryer grain outwardly as it moves downwardly in the grain column. Grain is constantly removed from the bottom of the apparatus at a rate governed by the average temperature of the air exiting the grain at a point adjacent the position of the plenum divider and a point closer to the input of the grain.

Abstract: A grain drying and conditioning apparatus having a housing with an outer pervious skin with impervious end walls, air inlet, grain inlet, grain outlet and air exhaust duct structures connected thereto has air pervious walls which are spaced within the structure for confining a column of grain to be dried. A blower and heater mechanism is also connected to the housing for causing heated air to be forced through a first zone of the column of grain in one direction to heat and extract moisture therefrom and simultaneously causing air for cooling the grain to be pulled through a second zone of the grain column in an opposite direction, or, by simple adjustments, to be pushed in the same direction as the flow of the heated air.

Abstract: A continuous grain drying and conditioning apparatus of a type including a burner and blower, or a multiplicity of burners and blowers, surrounded by a plenum chamber, air pervious grain holding walls positioned outwardly with respect to the plenum chamber is characterized by having a plenum divider which is selectively adjustable in position to divide the grain holding walls into a heating section and a cooling section. A multiplicity of grain turning apparatus of full and partial width of the grain column is disposed in the grain column for separating the grain mass into two or more separate divisions and then turning the cooler-wetter grain inwardly as it moves downwardly and turning the hotter-dryer grain outwardly as it moves downwardly in the grain column. Grain is constantly removed from the bottom of the apparatus at a rate governed by the average temperature of the air exiting the grain at a point adjacent the position of the plenum divider and a point closer to the input of the grain.

Abstract: A continuous grain drying and conditioning apparatus of a type including a burner and blower, or a multiplicity of burners and blowers, surrounded by a plenum chamber, air pervious grain holding walls positioned outwardly with respect to the plenum chamber is characerized by having a plenum divider which is selectively adjustable in position to divide the grain holding walls into a heating section and a cooling section. Grain turning apparatus is disposed in the grain column for separating the grain mass into two separate divisions and then turning the cooler-wetter grain inwardly as it moves downwardly and turning the hotter-dryer grain outwardly as it moves downwardly in the grain column. Grain is constantly removed from the bottom of the apparatus at a rate governed by the average temperature of the air exiting the grain at a point adjacent the position of the plenum divider and a point closer to the input of the grain.