"VENTILATED STORAGE APPARATUS" FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a ventilated storage apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a ventilated storage apparatus for agricultural materials.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Large volumes of grain and other agricultural materials are commonly stored inside walled structures covered by sheeting, such as a tarpaulin, to keep the stored materials secure in the structure and protected from environmental elements. In order to keep the sheeting in place and covering the stored materials, the sheeting is secured to the upper and outer edges of the walls of the structure using fastening means.

[0003] These storage structures do not allow for efficient fumigation and aeration of the stored materials which can lead to infestation and decay of the materials.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus that facilitates fumigation and aeration of stored agricultural materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage apparatus comprising:

a plurality of supporting structures, the supporting structures being adapted to be arranged together around a storage area for storing agricultural materials therein; and

a sheet for covering the stored materials, the sheet being fastenable to each supporting structure, wherein each supporting structure comprises a hollow body defining an internal volume, the body comprising an external wall, an internal wall and a pair of opposed side walls, wherein the external, internal and side walls each comprise an aperture,

whereby each aperture is configured to allow gaseous or other substances to pass through the aperture thereby allowing for fumigation and aeration of agricultural materials stored in the storage area.

[0006] Each aperture in each side wall of the body of each supporting structure may be shaped and positioned such that the aperture substantially aligns with an aperture in a side wall of an adjacent storage structure, the arrangement providing that the substance may flow into the adjacent storage structure via the aperture.

[0007] Each aperture may be covered by a gauze.

[0008] Each side wall of each supporting structure may have an attachment means disposed thereon for attaching the supporting structure to an adjacent supporting structure in order to increase a storage capacity of the storage apparatus.

[0009] The, or each, attachment means may comprise one or more male components or female components, wherein each male component is adapted to engage releasably with a complementary female component disposed on the adjacent supporting structure.

[0010] The body of each supporting structure may further comprise a base section having one or more spikes for securing the supporting structure to an underlying substrate or adjacent ground.

[001 1 ] The body of each supporting structure may comprise one or more lifting points.

[0012] The sheet may comprise a tarpaulin.

[0013] The agricultural material stored may comprise grain.

[0014] In accordance with one further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for supplying a gaseous substance to a storage area of a storage apparatus, wherein the storage apparatus comprises a: plurality of supporting structures, each supporting structure comprising a body having an external wall, an internal wall and two sides walls; and

sheet that covers the storage area and is fastenable to each supporting structure,

the method comprising the steps of:

pumping the substance into the body of at least one of the supporting structures via an aperture in the external wall of the body;

allowing the substance to flow from the body into the storage area via an aperture in the internal wall of the body; and

allowing the substance to flow through an aperture in a side wall of the body and into a complementary aperture in a side wall of a body of an adjacent storage structure.

[0015] In accordance with one further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for extracting a gaseous substance from a storage area of a storage apparatus, wherein the storage apparatus comprises a:

plurality of supporting structures, each supporting structure comprising a body having an external wall, an internal wall and two sides walls; and

sheet that covers the storage area and is fastenable to each supporting structure,

the method comprising the steps of:

extracting the substance from the body of at least one of the supporting structures via an aperture in the external wall of the body thereby causing the substance to flow:

from the storage area into the body via an aperture in the internal wall of the body; and

out from the body via the aperture in the external wall of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0017] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a storage apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 is a side view of the storage apparatus of Figure 1 ; and [0019] Figure 3 is a top view of the storage apparatus of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a storage apparatus 10 for the secure storage and/or treatment of agricultural material in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention .

[0021] The storage apparatus 10 comprises a supporting structure 12 comprising a hollow body 14 that defines an internal volume 16 therein. In the Figures, the body 14 is depicted in elongated form and having a cross-sectional shape that is substantially triangular.

[0022] The body 14 comprises an external wall 20 disposed at a rear end 22 of the supporting structure 12, a substantially horizontal base 24, an internal wall 26 disposed at a front end of 28 the supporting structure 12 and a pair of opposed side walls 30. Preferably, the external wall 20 is substantially vertical and the internal wall 26 is diagonally inclined relative to the body 14. A clamping apparatus 18 is, preferably, affixed to the rear end 22 of the body 14.

[0023] The supporting structure 12 is adapted such that, in use, a plurality of supporting structures 12 may be arranged together around a storage area for storing agricultural materials therein.

[0024] The supporting structure 12 is also, preferably, adapted such that a plurality of supporting structures 12 may be attached together to increase available storage capacity. Each side wall 30 of the body 14, therefore, has an attachment means 32 disposed thereon for attaching the supporting structure 12 to an adjacent supporting structure. Each attachment means 32 comprises one or more male components 34, provided as a pin 36. The pin 36 is adapted to connect releasably to a complementary female component on the adjacent supporting structure, preferably provided as an aperture in an attachment means on the adjacent supporting structure (not shown).

[0025] The body 14 comprises one or more lifting points 38 to facilitate transportation and movement of the storage apparatus 10 into a desired position. As best shown in Figure 3, each lifting point 38 preferably comprises a support bar 40 disposed inside, and spanning, a cavity 42. The support bar 40 may be connected to a hook of a crane, for example, to lift and move the storage apparatus 10.

[0026] The base 24 of the body 14 comprises one or more spikes 44 which anchor and secure the storage apparatus 10 to an underlying substrate or adjacent ground.

[0027] A plurality of the supporting structures 12 may, for example, be arranged and attached in an oval or circular configuration to provide, collectively, a generally circular internal storage area. In such configurations, the internal wall 26 of the body 14 of each supporting structure 12 faces and forms a perimeter of the storage area, and the external wall 20 of each body 14 forms an outer perimeter of the assembled storage arrangement.

[0028] Once the supporting structures 12 are arranged around the storage area, a sheet, such as a tarpaulin for example (not shown), is placed over the storage area and fastened to each of the supporting structures 12, preferably using the clamping apparatus 18.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, the internal wall 26 of the body 14 of the storage apparatus 10 comprises a front vent 46 which is provided as an aperture 48 in the internal wall 26 which allows for the passage of a gaseous or other substance. Further, as shown in Figure 2, the side walls 30 also each comprise a respective side vent 50. The side vents 50 on each side wall 30 are each shaped and positioned such that they generally align with a side vent 50 on a side wall 30 of an adjacent storage apparatus 10, the arrangement providing that a substance may flow from the first storage apparatus into the adjacent storage apparatus via the side vents 15.

[0030] The front vent 46 and the, or each, side vent 50, may each be covered by a gauze (not shown) for stopping unwanted passage of solid materials, such as a solid materia] stored in the storage apparatus 10, for example. [0031] A substance, such as a gas, for example, may be pumped into the body 14 of the storage apparatus 10, for example, via a vent disposed in its external wall 20 (not shown).

[0032] In situations where a plurality of storage apparatuses 10 have been arranged and assembled together to provide an enlarged storage area, the substance may be pumped into the body 14 of single storage apparatus 10 in the arrangement. Alternatively, the substance may be pumped into the body 14 of more than one storage apparatus 10 in the arrangement (for example, two storage apparatuses 10 disposed at opposed ends of the arrangement).

[0033] Pumping the substance into the storage apparatus 10, in turn, allows for passage of the substance into adjacent attached storage apparatuses 10 via the side vents 50, and through the front vents 46 of each storage apparatus 10 into the storage area defined by the, or each, storage apparatus 10.

[0034] The arrangement of vents allows gaseous substances, including fumigants (such as phosphine, for example) to be easily supplied to material stored by the storage apparatus 10. The side vents 50 ensure that the substance circulates evenly around each supporting structure 12 that has been assembled together and disperses evenly into the storage area.

[0035] It will appreciated that the arrangement of vents also allows for forced extraction of substances, including gaseous substances, from the storage area to the outside environment by, for example, attaching a vacuum pump to a vent (not shown) disposed in the external wall 20 of the storage apparatus 10.

[0036] Alternatively, the arrangement of vents also serve to facilitate efficient general aeration and vent ilation of the storage area.

[0037] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0038] In the claims that follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.