Diagnostic Grain Probe

This invention pertains to a device which is designed to provide regular and factual information concerning the status of stored grain. The gist of the invention is a sectional probe device composed primarily of standard sampling sections, a drive section and a tip section with gates within those sections to catch and hold samples of grain and to record the temperature of the captured grain samples on a thermometer. The sections are aligned and held together by an alignment bar which positively joins separate sections by the use of detent buttons. Additionally, the alignment bar is designed to provide a space to locate and attach the thermometer in each section. The thermometers are shielded and may be used in any or all sections of the probe. Further, the drive section is a standard sampling section modified by the addition of a welded, downwardly spiraling flight which enables the probe to be driven into the grain. Below the drive section is attached a small sampling section called the "tip" section. This tip section is shorter than the standard section and adapted with a rounded end so that grain may be penetrated but the bottom of the grain storage facility will not be punctured. Additionally, the tip section is also designed to include sampling gates and a thermometer so that a sample close to the bottom of the grain storage facility may be obtained. The invention also includes a drive adapter which is inserted into the top of each section as they are sequentially driven into the grain. The drive adapter has a tapered hexagon shaped tip which allows fast, easy coupling with a drive unit utilized to rotate the probe as it is driven into or out of grain. Further, the device utilizes a gate-actuating tool which fits over the squared alignment bar once the drive adapter is removed. When the gate-actuating tool is turned a quarter turn in either direction all the gates in the probe are opened and samples are taken. When the tool is returned to its original position the samples are secured within the probe as it was taken at each depth within the grain. Finally, the device utilizes a detent release tool designed to depress the detent buttons securing the individual sections together so that the sections may be separated as the probe is withdrawn from the grain. The detent release tool is curved to fit the hand of the probe operator.

While there are numerous types and designs of grain testing devices, to the best of this inventor's knowledge, there has never been an invention such as this designed to simultaneously obtain several samples of grain at various depths and accurately record the temperature of the grain at each depth with a probe capable of being driven into grain masses up to 100-plus feet in depth and return the individual samples to the surface for further investigation. Prior grain testing devices were designed to be continuously and constantly pushed into grain to a depth that was shallow in comparison to this device. Further, previous devices, once pushed as far into the grain as was possible, could not be pulled up to a different depth without lifting the top of the sampling device and filling the sampler with grain. These devices typically could be pushed no more than 15 to 20 feet into the grain and could only provide the operator with one sample at one place. Additionally, these hand driven devices were time consuming to use. Further, these devices have typically been made of brass which conducted heat into the sample and provided false readings on the thermometer, if one was provided.

Other prior inventions consisted of temperature cables which were designed to be horizontally introduced into the grain mass to provide temperatures at different levels. These devices, if inserted prior to loading the facility with grain, would typically break off or bend down to the floor as grain was loaded. After grain was loaded, the insertion of these devices was difficult or impossible. Additionally, once the temperature cable was inserted, it was difficult or impossible to determine if the temperature readout was accurate or if the device was damaged in some respect. Additionally, these temperature sensing cables could not provide samples of the material sensed so that it was impossible to determine whether a hot spot was caused by moisture or insects or some other abnormality.

Other temperature sensing devices are manually pushed into the grain and in some cases an attempt is made to pull air from within the grain over the temperature sensing device for an accurate reading of the temperature of the grain at a specific location. These devices, however, suffer in that they generally get plugged up with grain in the process of attempting to draw air from within the grain itself, and further, they are limited in that they are manual insertion devices and can only be inserted to a depth of approximately 15 feet.

This invention consists of a diagnostic grain probe made up of several probe sections. The probe sections interlock and are kept in place by an alignment bar which serves the dual purpose of securing each section to the other and also providing a place to secure a thermometer within each of the sections of the probe. The drive section of the probe is equipped with a downwardly slanting spiral flight, which, when the shaft is rotated, drives the probe into or out of the grain. Further, each section of the probe has a grain sampling gate which may be simultaneously opened and closed by a manual gate-actuating tool from the surface of the grain facility. A shorter tip section is attached beneath the drive section of the device to allow sampling of the grain to within 8 inches of the bottom of the grain storage facility as well as to allow for a temperature reading at that depth.

While this device is particularly well suited for application to grain sampling and temperature readouts in grain storage facilities to depths of up to 100-plus feet, it is anticipated that other practical uses of the invention are readily available. That is, the device can be employed as a means to insert vertical temperature sensing devices or adapted to take liquid, solid, or gas insecticides to the exact location of the infestation for spot treating of infested grain. Further, application can be envisioned for the modification of the device to provide for remote sensing along each section of the device for temperatures without necessitating the withdrawal of the probe to read each individual thermometer.

Characteristics that further describe this device are that it is self-propelled and as designed allows for an accurate deep penetration of a grain storage facility. Further, the device is insulated by its double wall construction, thereby insuring that sample readings are not influenced by different temperatures while the device is being inserted or withdrawn. Additionally, the functional utility of the device is enhanced by the fact that it is to be made of aluminum or the like with the exception of the drive section which is to be made of a high strength material such as steel. This almost all aluminum construction reduces the chance of sparks being generated by the device itself. Further, the tip of the device is rounded, as opposed to pointed as in previous inventions, thereby helping to ensure that the device itself does not damage the floor of the grain facility. Further, the device combines the advantage of being able to take temperatures at several predetermined locations while at the same time having the ability to sample grain from those same locations. Further, it is apparent that the device can be used not only to measure temperature and sample grain within the storage facility but may also be used to insert permanent temperature sensing devices, be fitted with electrical sensing devices that can provide instantaneous readouts of moisture and temperature at multiple locations within the facility, and also be fitted with an adapter to spot treat infestations with liquid, solid, or gas insecticides.

The object of the invention is to provide a diagnostic grain probe that insures that accurate grain and temperature samples from predetermined locations within a grain storage facility may be obtained rapidly and repeatedly in a short period of time.

For a description of the construction and operation of the device of this invention, reference is made to the attached drawings, and identical reference characters will be utilized to refer to an identical or equivalent structure throughout the various views in the following detailed description.

FIG. 1 is an exploded sectional view of the device in total.

FIG. 2 is the drive adapter in plan view.

FIG. 3 is the gate-actuating tool shown in plan view.

FIG. 4 is the detent release tool shown in plan view.

Referring to FIG. 1, 10 denotes the invention itself consisting of drive section 12, attached to which is downwardly spiraling flight 14 and below said drive section 12 is attached tip section 16. Above said drive section 12 is any number of standard sampling sections 18. Each standard sampling section 18 as well as the drive section 12 and tip section 16 contain a sampling gate 20. All of these sections are connected and held together by alignment bars 22 which have detents 24 and 26 oppositely positioned at each end of said alignment bar 22. In addition to securing each section to the other, alignment bar 22 also provides a place to secure thermometers 28. Said thermometers are screwably attached to alignment bars 22. Drive adapter 30 inserts into the top of each section for coupling to the drive unit, not shown. The tapered tip 32 allows for quick coupling with the drive unit and drive adapter 30 keeps sample gates 20 closed during insertion and withdrawal of the device 10 from a grain storage facility.

Dive adapter 30 is more fully described in FIG. 2 where it is shown in plan view. FIG. 3 illustrates gate-actuating tool 34 which is used after drive adapter 30 is removed, by placing gate-actuating tool 34 over the end of the top-most alignment bar 22 attached to the topmost standard sampling section 18. Said gate-actuating tool 34 is then rotated a quarter turn in either direction and thereby opens sample gates 20 in all the probe sections. Returning the gate-actuating tool 34 to its original location closes all sample gates 20 in each of the probe sections.

As previously stated, invention 10 is constructed of double walls. That is, instead of one wall as disclosed in previous devices, this invention has two walls. The outer wall is illustrated in the figures as sections 18. FIG. 1 illustrates the interlocking of section 18 with drive section 12 where the T shaped joints fit into the U shaped slots at the bottom of section 18 and the top of drive section 12 respectively. At the very top of FIG. 1, drive adapter 30 is shown poised in position to be interlocked with outer section 18. Referring to FIG. 2, it is shown and illustrated that drive adapter 30 has interlocked with section 18 by means of the downward extending T portion of the bottom of drive adapter 30 with the upward extending U section of the top of section 18. As is demonstrated by these figures, torque is transmitted through drive adapter 30 to the outer section 18 of the double walled invention 10. When drive adapter 30 is removed, it reveals the upper most portion of the top most alignment bar 22. It is clear from the discussion and the illustrations in FIG. 1, 2 and 3 that drive adapter 30 fits over connector 22 but only engages section 18 and not alignment bar 22. FIG. 3 illustrates gate actuating tool 34, which slips over the end of alignment bar 22 and engages alignment bar 22 as discussed. Rotating the gate actuating tool 34 a quarter of a turn in either direction opens sample gates 20 by the obvious means of rotating the inner tube of the previously described double walled invention 10. There is no other way to provide a double walled insulation and a means for opening all sample gates 20 in all the probe sections 18 as described and illustrated other than to have the inner wall of the double wall construction be connected by the alignment bars 22 as described and illustrated. Because drive adapter 30 fits over alignment bar 22 and into outer wall section 18 but does not engage alignment bar 22, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, no torque is transmitted to the inner wall while the device is driven into or out of the grain. Likewise, because of the double wall construction, by utilizing gate actuating tool 34, which slips over alignment bar 22, which is connected to the inner wall sections of the double walled invention 10, positive opening and closing of the gates 20 is provided.

FIG. 4 illustrates the detent release tool 36 designed with a curved handle 38 so as to be held easily by the grain probe operator for use in depressing detent buttons 24 and 26 on alignment bars 22 with detent depressor 40.

Thus, according to this invention, simultaneous grain sampling and temperature recording may be obtained deep within a grain storage facility by utilization of the above-described diagnostic grain probe. The device is lighweight, easy to assemble and maintain, and does not suffer from any of the other debilitating defects of previous grain storage sampling devices.

While the invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, that is its utilization as a grain storage sampling and temperature sensing device, the inventor does not intend to limit the invention to the particular form set forth but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.