Safety grain bin door latch system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12098020-B2
Application number	US-202117391606-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2021
Priority date	Jul 29, 2019
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

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 the opposing side frame members;
an outer door;
wherein the outer door moves between an open position and a closed position;
a safety mechanism;
wherein the safety mechanism includes a light;
wherein the safety mechanism is configured to provide a visual indication that the inner door is in the open position when the inner door is in the open position and the outer door is in the closed position;
wherein the light is visible from an exterior of the grain bin while the outer door is in the closed position.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the safety mechanism is configured to turn the light on when the inner door is in the open position and the outer door is in the closed position;
wherein the safety mechanism is configured to turn the light off when the inner door is in the closed position;
wherein the light is visible from an exterior of the grain bin while the outer door is in the closed position.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the safety mechanism is configured to turn the light off when the inner door is in the open position and the outer door is in the closed position;
wherein the safety mechanism is configured to turn the light on when the inner door is in the closed position;
wherein the light is visible from an exterior of the grain bin while the outer door is in the closed position.

4. 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 the opposing side frame members;
an outer door;
a pair of hinges connecting the outer door to the door frame;
wherein the outer door includes a handle assembly;
wherein the outer door includes a first set of connection assemblies positioned on a left side of the outer door;
wherein the outer door includes a second set of connection assemblies positioned on a right side of the outer door;
wherein the pair of hinges and the handle assembly are configured to be connectable to the outer door by the first set of connection assemblies and are configured to be connectable to the outer door by the second set of connection assemblies, thereby permitting hinges and handle assembly to be connected to either the right side or the left side of the outer door;
wherein the outer door moves between an open position and a closed position; a safety mechanism;
wherein the safety mechanism provides a visual indication that the inner door is in the open position when the inner door is in the open position and the outer door is in the closed position;
wherein the visual indication the safety mechanism provides that the inner door is in the open position is a first color; and
wherein the visual indication the safety mechanism provides that the inner door is in the closed position is a second color that is different from the first color.

5. 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 the opposing side frame members;
an outer door;
a pair of hinges connecting the outer door to the door frame;
wherein the outer door includes a handle assembly;
wherein the outer door includes a first set of connection assemblies positioned on a left side of the outer door;
wherein the outer door includes a second set of connection assemblies positioned on a right side of the outer door;
wherein the pair of hinges and the handle assembly are configured to be connectable to the outer door by the first set of connection assemblies and are configured to be connectable to the outer door by the second set of connection assemblies, thereby permitting hinges and handle assembly to be connected to either the right side or the left side of the outer door;
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 the open position;
wherein the safety mechanism includes a lever;
wherein a portion of the inner door engages the lever when the inner door is in the closed position such that when the inner door is in the closed position the inner door engages the safety mechanism to move the safety mechanism to a position wherein the outer door may latch in the closed position.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first set of connection assemblies are vertically symmetric to the second set of connection assemblies.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first set of connection assemblies include a first set of fastener holes;
wherein the second set of connection assemblies include a second set of fastener holes;
wherein the first set of fastener holes are vertically symmetric to the second set of fastener holes.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first set of connection assemblies include a first set of fastener holes positioned in a first triangular arrangement;
wherein the second set of connection assemblies include a second set of fastener holes positioned in a second triangular arrangement;
wherein the first triangular arrangement is vertically symmetric to the second triangular arrangement.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the handle assembly is configured to latch the outer door when the outer door is in the closed position.

10. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a safety mechanism;
wherein the safety mechanism prevents latching of the outer door in the closed position when the inner door is in the open position;
wherein the safety mechanism is operably connected to the door frame.

11. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a safety mechanism;
wherein the safety mechanism prevents latching of the outer door in the closed position when the inner door is in the open position;
wherein the safety mechanism is operably connected to the outer door.

12. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a safety mechanism;
wherein the safety mechanism prevents latching of the outer door in the closed position when the inner door is in the open position;
wherein the safety mechanism is operably connected to the inner door.

13. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a safety mechanism;
wherein the safety mechanism prevents latching of the outer door in the closed position when the inner door is in the open position;
wherein the safety mechanism facilitates latching of the outer door in the closed position when the inner door is in the closed position.

14. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a safety mechanism;
wherein the safety mechanism prevents latching of the outer door in the closed position when the inner door i

Assignees

• Sukup Mfg

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A01F25/16

  Arrangements in forage silos · CPC title

• B65D88/08 Primary

  with a vertical axis · CPC title

• B65D90/22

  Safety features · CPC title

• E05C7/02

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

• E05C7/005

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