US 12,329,071 B2
Method and system for automatically controlling ventilation of a grain storage bin to maintain the grain parameters within a predefined range
Anthony R Wendler, Armstrong, IA (US)
Filed by Anthony R Wendler, Armstrong, IA (US)
Filed on Jul. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/373,795.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/094,917, filed on Oct. 22, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/050,876, filed on Jul. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0007587 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. A01F 25/22 (2006.01); A01F 25/16 (2006.01); A23B 9/08 (2006.01)
CPC A01F 25/22 (2013.01) [A01F 25/163 (2013.01); A23B 9/08 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automatic grain ventilation system to maintain a predefined temperature-humidity range of the grains stored in a storage bin, comprising:
a plurality of ventilation fans installed to the storage bin to enable moving the air through the stored grains; and
a ventilation control system mounted on the storage bin, comprising:
a fan switch control unit coupled to the plurality of ventilation fans to constantly operate the plurality of ventilation fans, comprising:
a first switch, and
a second switch,
wherein the first switch and the second switch are solid-state switches to operate in at least one of open state and close state,
wherein initially the first switch to remain in the close state and the second switch to remain in the open state, and
wherein at least one of the first switch and the second switch to transmit an alarm signal to the plurality of ventilation fans for at least one of activation and deactivation of the plurality of ventilation fans when the alarm signal is received,
a weather station configured to set a desired external temperature-humidity range and identify the weather conditions to ventilate the stored grains,
wherein the weather station comprises an environmental sensor to continuously capture at least one of the real-time external temperature and external humidity,
wherein the weather station comprises a controller to generate the alarm signal and transmit to the first switch of the fan switch control unit to deactivate the plurality of ventilation fans when at least one of the captured external temperature and external humidity deviate from a predefined external temperature-humidity range, and
wherein the controller to generate another alarm signal and to transmit to the first switch to convert the first switch into close state when at least one of the captured external temperature and external humidity return within the predefined external temperature-humidity range,
a first grain characteristics monitoring device coupled to a first sensing probe configured to set a desired grain temperature-humidity range,
wherein a first end of the first sensing probe coupled to the first grain characteristics monitoring device and a second end of the first sensing probe positioned in the storage bin to continuously capture the real-time temperature-humidity of the surrounding grains,
wherein the first grain characteristics monitoring device comprises a first alert controller to generate and transmit the alarm signal to the second switch through the first switch of the fan switch control unit to activate the plurality of ventilation fans when at least one of the captured grain temperature and grain humidity deviate from a predefined grain temperature-humidity range, and
wherein the first alert controller to generate and transmit the alarm signal to the second switch to convert the second switch into open state when at least one of the captured grain temperature and grain humidity return within the predefined grain temperature-humidity range, and
a second grain characteristics monitoring device coupled to a second sensing probe configured to set a desired grain temperature-humidity range,
wherein a first end of the second sensing probe coupled to the second grain characteristics monitoring device and a second end of the second sensing probe positioned in the storage bin to continuously capture the real-time temperature-humidity of the surrounding grains,
wherein the second grain characteristics monitoring device comprises a second alert controller to generate and transmit the alarm signal to the second switch through the first switch of the fan switch control unit to activate the plurality of ventilation fans when at least one of the captured grain temperature and grain humidity deviate from the predefined grain temperature-humidity range, and
wherein the second alert controller to generate and transmit the alarm signal to the second switch to convert the second switch into open state when at least one of the captured grain temperature and grain humidity return within the predefined grain temperature-humidity range.