| 主权项 |
1. A grain silo lid comprising:
a frame configured to surround a grain silo roof lid, wherein the frame is mounted to a mounting ring disposed on a top end of a grain silo, the frame having a front end, a rear end, a first side, a second side, a top side, a bottom side, and a center portion disposed between the front end, the rear end, the first and second sides, the top side, and the bottom side, the center portion having a forward half and a rearward half; a continuous opening centrally disposed within the forward half of the center portion; a motor-powered slidegate member mounted within the frame, the slidegate member slidingly disposed within the rearward half and alternately slidingly disposed within the forward half; an actuation mechanism in operational communication with the slidegate member wherein the slidegate member is transformed from a closed position in which the slidegate member completely covers the opening disposed in the forward half to an open position in which the slidegate member is disposed in the entire rearward half; a plurality of roller-element bearing assemblies disposed along the entire first side and the entire second side between the top side and the bottom side of the frame, wherein the slidegate member slidingly engages the roller-element bearing assemblies upon activation of the actuation mechanism; wherein the slidegate member is configured to cover the top end of the grain silo; a crossmember continuously disposed between the first side and the second side along a central horizontal axis of the center portion of the frame, wherein the crossmember divides the center portion into the forward half and the rearward half; a first flange continuously disposed along the first side on the bottom side, the first flange having a first section and a central second protrusion extending therefrom; a second flange continuously disposed along the second side on the bottom side; a third flange continuously disposed along the rear end on the bottom side; a brace attached to the frame, wherein the brace secures the frame to the grain silo; wherein each roller-element bearing assembly comprises:
a bolt disposed through an inside wall of the frame on one of the first side and the second side;a first nut;a first washer;a roller bearing;a second washer;a second nut;wherein the first nut is disposed against the inside wall of the frame closest to a head of the bolt, the bolt disposed on an opposite side of the inside wall;wherein the second nut is disposed farthest from the bolt head;wherein the roller bearing is centrally disposed between the first washer and the second washer; wherein the brace comprises an upper end, a lower end, and an elongated midportion disposed therebetween, wherein the upper end attaches to the frame bottom side proximal to the front end; wherein the lower end is disposed at approximately a 90-degree angle to the midportion toward a forward side of the midportion; wherein the upper end is disposed at an angle to the midportion in a direction opposite from the angle of the lower end; a controller disposed at ground level proximal to the grain silo is in operational communication with the motor; a fourth flange centrally disposed on the front end; wherein the actuation mechanism comprises:
a motor disposed on the fourth flange;a power source in operational communication with the motor; anda worm drive in operational communication with the motor, the worm drive disposed along a central vertical axis of the frame; a first worm sleeve disposed on the slidegate member proximal to an internal end of the slidegate member; a second worm sleeve disposed on the slidegate proximal to an external end of the slidegate member; a plurality of spaced apart roller-element bearing assemblies disposed along the entire first side and the entire second side between the top side and the bottom side, wherein the slidegate member slidingly engages the roller-element bearing assemblies; wherein activation of the motor activates the worm drive; wherein upon activation of the worm drive, the worm drives engage the slidegate member; wherein upon engagement of the slidegate member by the worm drive, the slidegate member slides over the roller-element bearing assemblies into a closed position over the opening and alternately into an open position. |
