CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/115,308 filed November 17, 2008 and U.S. Application No. 12/609,249 filed October 30, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed toward a vent for use with a grain bin such as a bin for drying grain or storage. Typically, a grain bin is equipped with a means to facilitate air flow through an enclosure to provide an appropriate moisture level, prevent the build up of dust particles within the bin, and prevent precipitation, debris and birds from entering the bin. Particularly with drying bins the vent provides an exhaust for the large volume of air used. Roof vents in the form of capped or covered apertures cut into the roof of the structure have been used to perform these functions. Roof vents of this type do not always create effective air flow within the storage enclosure and are difficult to seal. This type of vent requires additional time to install, requires cutting openings in the roof, and they are susceptible to wind and ice damage. Another type of vent system is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,867,046 to Yoder. The Yoder system comprises a plurality of brackets or brace members that raise the roof structure of a bin a distance above a wall enclosure to create a series of air vents therebetween. To prevent debris and birds from entering the bin a screen mesh is connected to and extends between the brace members. While this system may improve air circulation, the system is comprised of many parts, is difficult and expensive to manufacture, and is time consuming and difficult to install. Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a vent that addresses these deficiencies. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A grain bin assembly wherein the grain bin has a corrugated cylindrical wall and a roof structure having a plurality of triangular roof panels. The plurality of roof panels have rib junctions which form a gap. A vent assembly is positioned between the corrugated cylindrical wall and the roof structure. The vent assembly has a plurality of louvers positioned within the vent assembly. The vent assembly provides improved venting of the grain bin assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a grain bin assembly having a vent assembly;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a grain bin assembly having a vent assembly,"

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a vent assembly! and Fig. 4 is a plan view of a plurality of vent assemblies formed out of a single piece of sheet metal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A conventional grain drying bin 10 has a roof structure 12 having triangular roof panels 14 joined together at rib junctions 16. The bin 10 also has a cylindrical wall 18 generally formed from corrugated metal panels 20. Mounted between the roof structure 12 and the wall 18 is a vent assembly 22 comprised of a plurality of elongated vent members 24.

The elongated members 24 have a plurality of transverse slots 26 cut into the top edge 28 which permit the elongated member 24 to bend without crimping. Positioned in-between the slots 26 are a plurality of apertures 30 that receive a bolt 32 for attaching the elongated member 24 to the roof structure 12. Cut into the top edge 28 and extending outwardly from the top edge 28 are a plurality of triangular shaped members 34. The triangular shaped members 34 are positioned to align with the rib junctions 16 and are bent in relation to the elongated member 24 to fill a gap 36 created by the rib junction 16 to prevent debris and birds from entering the bin 10. The top 28 of the elongated member 24 is bent at approximately the inward end 38 of the slots 26 to form a flange 40 to align with the angle of the roof 12 and facilitate mounting the elongated member 24 to the roof structure 12. Below the flange 40, on the elongated member 24, are a plurality of openings 42. Preferably, the openings 42 are louvers that are positioned such that the opening 42 faces upward or toward the flange 40. By positioning the louver 42 in this manner, grain will not leak out should the bin be filled to the level of the vent 24. Alternatively, some or all of the louvers 42 may face downward, or at an angle. The louvers or openings 42 permit air to flow in and out of the bin 10, while the overhang 44 of the roof structure 12 and the louvers 42 keep precipitation, debris and birds out.

In one embodiment, louvers 42 are formed by cutting a slit 43 in the elongated vent members 24 and depressing the louver body 43a away from the vent member 24 to create a mouth 43b. Pressing the louver body 43a away from the vent member 24 creates an angled bend in the base 43c and sides 43d which connects the louver body 43a to the elongated vent member 24.

On the bottom 46 of the elongated member 24 are a plurality of apertures 48 that receive bolts 50 to attach the elongated member 24 to the wall 18. The apertures 30, 48 on the flange 40 and at the bottom 46 of the elongated member 24 allow for easy and faster installation during erection of the vent 24 to the roof 12 structure and the wall 18 than existing vents.

A plurality of elongated members 24 may be cut from a single sheet of metal 52 which saves material and reduces the number of parts and the cost. The advantages of the vent 24 over the prior art are that there are fewer parts, the vent costs less to manufacture, takes less time to install, and eliminates obstructions on the roof 12 where snow and debris can accumulate.

From the above discussion it will be appreciated that the vent for a grain bin presented provides an improved venting assembly which improves air flow through a grain bin, comprises fewer parts than the prior art, is easier to install than prior art vents and is less expensive. Accordingly, the vent for a grain bin provides and offers many advantages over the prior art. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other various modifications could be made to the device without parting from the spirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be covered thereby.