Temporary storage system for agricultural products
View Patent ↗Disclosed herein are apparatus and systems for forming a temporary storage facility for granular materials such as agricultural products including grain and corn. The temporary storage facility includes a retaining wall constructed by connecting free-standing wall sections in a circular or rectangular shape. The free-standing wall sections have overlapping elements on the face to hold the agricultural products inside the retaining wall sections while admitting air for ventilation. Ventilation holes are made in the panel elements so as to admit air but prevent water or vermin entry to protect the agricultural products.
1. An apparatus for temporarily storing agricultural products on a surface, comprising:
a plurality of wall sections spaced closely to form a retaining wall, each wall section having at least one support structure and a plurality of overlapping elements, the plurality of overlapping elements having a generally J-shaped cross-section with an overlap section, a center section, an upper section, an upper exterior section, and an upper perforated section having a plurality of perforations, the upper exterior section being perpendicular to the upper perforated section, the upper perforated section being perpendicular to the upper section, the center section angles away from the upper section, the overlap section angles away from the center section and is substantially parallel to the upper exterior section, and the upper section being mounted flush to the at least one support structure, wherein the at least one support structure further comprises:
a base that is engageable with the surface;
a back support connected to the plurality of overlapping elements;
a brace connecting the base and the back support in a substantially triangular formation; and
a predetermined angle between the back support and base, wherein the predetermined angle is the angle of repose of the temporarily stored agricultural products.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upper perforated section extends away from the at least one support structure.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining wall formed by the plurality of wall sections has a circular shape.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining wall formed by the plurality of wall sections has a rectangular shape.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the total area of the plurality of perforations in the upper perforated section equals between 12% and 13% of the total area of the upper perforated section.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each perforation has a diameter of substantially 0.75 inches.