Silo Hopper, a Silo Base and a Method for Setting Up a Silo

Abstract

Provided is a silo hopper with a hopper opening for connection to a silo cell with a rectangular cross-section. The silo hopper includes a hopper wall which encloses the hopper opening. The hopper wall extends from an upper plane to a lower plane lying parallel thereto and tapers from a rectangular upper cross-section in the upper plane to a smaller lower cross-section in the lower plane. The silo hopper is self-supporting and is provided at at least one corner, preferably at all corners, with a leg segment. The leg segment extends at right angles to the upper plane and includes a first plate part which is parallel to a first side of the upper cross-section and includes a second plate part which is parallel to a second side of the upper cross-section lying at right angles to the first side. The first and second plate parts are mutually connected close to the hopper opening by a third plate part. The third plate part forms an angle of 135 with the first and second plate part, as seen perpendicularly of the upper plane. Also provided are a silo base and a method for erecting a silo.

Claims

1. A silo hopper for connection to a silo cell with a rectangular cross-section, which silo hopper comprises a hopper opening with a hopper wall which encloses the hopper opening, which hopper wall extends from an upper plane to a lower plane lying parallel thereto and tapers from a rectangular upper cross-section in the upper plane to a smaller lower cross-section in the lower plane, wherein the silo hopper is self-supporting and is provided at at least one corner, preferably at all corners, with a leg segment, which leg segment extends at right angles to the upper plane and comprises a first plate part which is parallel to a first side of the upper cross-section and comprises a second plate part which is parallel to a second side of the upper cross-section lying at right angles to the first side, which first and second plate part are mutually connected close to the hopper opening by a third plate part, which third plate part forms an angle of 135 with the first and second plate part, as seen perpendicularly of the upper plane.

2. The silo hopper according to claim 1, wherein a tongue with bolt holes is provided on the upper edge of the hopper wall for the purpose of attaching the silo hopper to the walls of a silo cell by means of bolt connections.

3. The silo hopper according to claim 1, wherein at least one leg segment, preferably each of the plate parts of the at least one leg segment, is provided with bolt holes for attaching the at least one leg segment to a support structure of a silo by means of bolt connections.

4. A silo base with at least one silo hopper according to claim 1, wherein the silo base also comprises at least one octagonal bushing, each of the internal angles of which is 135, wherein each of the leg segments of the at least one silo hopper is structurally connected to a respective octagonal bushing.

5. A method for erecting a silo, comprising the steps of: providing at least one silo hopper according to claim 3; providing an octagonal bushing, each of the internal angles of which is 135; forming at least a part of an octagon by means of 1-4 adjacent leg segments; and structurally connecting the adjacent leg segments to each other by connecting each of the leg segments to the bushing.

6. The method for erecting a silo according to claim 5 with at least one silo hopper, wherein the bushing is provided with bolt holes corresponding with the bolt holes of the adjacent leg segments and wherein the leg segments are substantially, preferably exclusively structurally connected to each other by means of bolt connections arranged through the corresponding bolt holes

7. The method for erecting a silo according to claim 5, also comprising the steps of: providing at least one silo cell wall part; arranging the at least one silo cell wall part on the at least one silo hopper connected to the bushing; and mutually structurally connecting the at least one silo cell wall part to the bushing, preferably substantially, more preferably exclusively by means of at least one bolt connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a silo according to the invention in perspective view.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a detail of a silo hopper according to the invention.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for erecting a silo according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a silo 1 according to the invention. The silo 1 has silo base formed by four silo hoppers 2. The silo hoppers 2 are mutually connected by means of octagonal bushings 3 arranged at the junctions of the leg segments. Silo cell walls 4 of the sheet piling type are arranged on the silo hoppers 2 for the purpose of forming the silo cell wall.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a detail of a silo hopper 21, in which is visible a leg segment 22 which is constructed from a first 23, second 24 and third 25 plate part. The adjacent plate parts 23, 24, 25 have a mutual angle of 135 and therefore form a quarter of an equiangular octagon. Provided in the third plate part 25 are bolt holes 26 for coupling to an octagonal bushing. Also provided is a bolt hole 27 for coupling the leg segment 22 to an underlying structure. Provided on the upper edge of the hopper opening is a lip 28 provided with bolt holes 29, whereby a structural coupling to silo cell walls can be formed by means of a bolt connection.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram 30 of a method for erecting a silo according to the invention. In a first step 31 at least one silo hopper is provided. In a second step 32 an octagonal bushing is provided, each of the internal angles of which is 135. In a subsequent step 33 at least a part of an octagon is formed by means of 1-4 adjacent leg segments, wherein in the subsequent step 34 the adjacent leg segments are structurally connected to each other with the bushing. A silo base according to the invention is hereby obtained. In a possible further step 35 at least one silo cell wall part can additionally be provided. In the subsequent step 36 the at least one silo cell wall part is structurally connected to the bushing for the purpose of obtaining a silo according to the invention.