Safety grain bin door latch system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11111074-B2
Application number	US-202016935938-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2020
Priority date	Jul 29, 2019
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A safety door latch system is presented for a grain bin having a door frame. An inner door is connected to the door frame that is configured to move between an open position and a closed position. An outer door is connected to the door frame and is configured to move between an open position and a closed position. A safety mechanism is connected to the door frame and is configured to move between an open position and a closed position. When the inner door frame is moved to a closed position, a portion of the inner door engages the safety mechanism thereby causing the safety mechanism to move to the closed position. When the safety mechanism is in the closed position, the outer door may be latched to the safety mechanism. When the safety mechanism is in the open position, the outer door cannot latch to the safety mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A safety grain bin door system for a grain bin having a sidewall the system, comprising:
a door frame connected to the sidewall;
the door frame having an upper frame member, a lower frame member and opposing side frame members;
an inner door;
the inner door connected to the door frame;
wherein the inner door moves between an open position and a closed position;
the inner door configured to transmit hoop stress across opposing side frame members;
an outer door;
the outer door connected to the door frame;
wherein the outer door moves between an open position and a closed position;
a safety mechanism;
wherein the safety mechanism prevents the outer door from closing when the inner door is in the open position.

2. A safety grain bin door system for a grain bin having a sidewall the system, comprising:
a door frame connected to the sidewall;
the door frame having an upper frame member, a lower frame member and opposing side frame members;
an inner door;
the inner door connected to the door frame;
wherein the inner door moves between an open position and a closed position;
the inner door configured to transmit hoop stress across opposing side frame members;
an outer door;
the outer door connected to the door frame;
wherein the outer door moves between an open position and a closed position;
a safety mechanism;
wherein the safety mechanism prevents latching of the outer door in a closed position when the inner door is in an open position; and
wherein the safety mechanism includes a slot that receives a portion of the outer door when the outer door is in a closed position and the inner door is in a closed position.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the safety mechanism is operably connected to the door frame.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the safety mechanism is operably connected to the outer door.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the safety mechanism is operably connected to the inner door.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the safety mechanism facilitates latching of the outer door in a closed position when the inner door is in a closed position.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the safety mechanism moves between an open position, when the inner door is open, and a closed position, when the inner door is closed.

8. A safety grain bin door system for a grain bin having a sidewall the system, comprising:
a door frame connected to the sidewall;
the door frame having an upper frame member, a lower frame member and opposing side frame members;
an inner door;
the inner door connected to the door frame;
wherein the inner door moves between an open position and a closed position;
the inner door configured to transmit hoop stress across opposing side frame members;
an outer door;
the outer door connected to the door frame;
wherein the outer door moves between an open position and a closed position;
a safety mechanism;
wherein the safety mechanism prevents latching of the outer door in a closed position when the inner door is in a open position; and
wherein the safety mechanism includes a lever that engages a portion of the inner door when the inner door is in a closed position.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the lever engages the portion of the inner door when the inner door is in a closed position such that when the inner door is in a closed position the lever of the safety mechanism engages the inner door and the safety mechanism is moved to a position wherein the outer door may latch in a closed position.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the lever that engages the portion of the portion of the inner door when the inner door is in a closed position such that when the inner door is in an open position the lever of the safety mechanism is not engaged with the inner door and the safety mechanism remains in a position wherein the outer door may not latch in a closed position.

11. A safety grain bin door system for a grain bin having a sidewall the system, comprising:
a door frame connected to the sidewall;
the door frame having an upper frame member, a lower frame member and opposing side frame members;
an inner door;
the inner door connected to the door frame;
wherein the inner door moves between an open position and a closed position;
the inner door configured to transmit hoop stress across opposing side frame members;
an outer door;
the outer door connected to the door frame;
wherein the of door moves between an open position and a closed position;
a safety mechanism;
wherein the safety mechanism prevents latching of the outer door in a closed position when the inner door is in an open position; and
wherein the safety mechanism includes a bias member that maintains the safety mechanism in an open position when the inner door is in an open position.

12. A safety grain bin door system for a grain bin having a sidewall the system, comprising:
a door frame connected to the sidewall;
the door frame having an upper frame member, a lower frame member and opposing side frame members;
an inner door;
the inner door connected to the door frame;
wherein the inner door moves between an open position and a closed position;
the inner door configured to transmit hoop stress across opposing side frame members;
an outer door;
the outer door connected to the door frame;
wherein the outer door moves between an open position and a closed position;
a safety mechanism;
wherein the safety mechanism facilitates latching of the outer door in a closed position when the inner door is in a closed position and
wherein the safety mechanism includes a lever that engages a portion of the inner door when the inner door is in a closed position.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the safety mechanism prevents latching of the outer door in a closed position when the inner door is in an open position.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the safety mechanism is operably connected to the door frame.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the safety mechanism is operably connected to the outer door.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the safety mechanism prevents latching of the outer door in a closed position when the inner door is in an open position.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the safety mechanism is operably connected to the inner door.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the lever engages the portion of the inner door when the inner door is in a closed position such that when the inner door is in a closed position the lever of the safety mechanism engages the inner door and is moved to a position wherein the outer door may latch in a closed position.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the lever engages the portion of the inner door when the inner door is in a closed position such that when the inner door is in an open position the lever of the safety mechanism is not engaged with the inner door and the safety mechanism remains in a position wherein the outer door may not latch in the closed position.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the safety mechanism includes a slot that receives a portion of the outer door when the outer door is in a closed position and the inner door is in a closed position.

21. The system of claim 12 , wherein the safety mechanism includes a bias member that maintains the safety mechanism in an open position when the inner door is in an open position.

22. The system of claim 12 , wherein the safety mechanism moves between an open position, when the inner

Assignees

• Sukup Mfg

Inventors

• West Connor Lee
• Sauerbrei Andrew Joseph
• Poppen Bradley Allan
• Brownmiller David Jay
• Hanig John Arthur

Classifications

• B65D90/008

  Doors for containers, e.g. ISO-containers (locking E05B83/12) · CPC title

• E05C7/005

  for "Dutch doors", i.e. upper and lower wings · CPC title

• B65D90/22 Primary

  Safety features · CPC title

• E05C7/02

  for wings which lie one behind the other when closed {(E05C7/002 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65D90/024

  with features of cylindrical curvature · CPC title