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Why Use Brock Grains Bins, You Ask?
Click Here For Some Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.

Dear Loyal Customers and Friends,

Below are some frequently asked questions about grain weight, bin capacity and other areas of interest in the grain handling business.

Question: How much is a bushel?
Answer: One bushel is a measure of volume. It is equal to 1.2445 cubic feet. Another way to describe it, would be to imagine a block that is 1.076 feet long by 1.076 feet wide by 1.076 feet in depth. This is equal to slightly over 58/64ths of a cubic foot. Due to the different densities of the various grains, one bushel of corn will weigh a different amount than one bushel of wheat or rice.

Question: What is compaction?
Answer: The consolidation of grain in a bin due to the pressure of the grain piled above it. Several factors affect compaction such as type of grain, moisture content, method of filling, bin size, sidewall material, and test weight. We use 6% when figuring bushel capacities for the price list. We use 8% when figuring grain loads on the sidewall. There is an ASAE standard S413.1 that gives equations or there is a computer program available both of which consider all these factors compute the amount of compaction.

Question: Why do some competitors state a higher bushel capacity than Brock for exactly the same size bin?
Answer: According to the formula the diameter is measured from the center line of the neutral axis. For example, a 48" diameter bin actually has a diameter of 47.75 feet. The measurement for height is to be 1: below the top of the sidewall. The maximum angle of repose for filling is 28 degrees. If there is a full floor in the bin that height must be deducted from the eve height. Compaction can also be taken into account. There is a formula that allows the amount of compaction to vary because of the bin diameter, the depth of the grain and the type of grain. This formula is very complicated and therefore Brock has used the average figure of 6% compaction in all bins, which is for corn in a corrugated steel bin. Keep in mind that this is also a volume calculation. No matter what grain is in the bin it is still based on the volume figure of one bushel equals 1.2445 cubic feet.

Question: What does "tensile strength" mean when discussing steel for a grain bin?
Answer: The resistance of a material to a force tending to tear it apart, measured as the maximum tension the material can withstand without tearing. We determine this by cutting a "dog bone" shaped piece of steel out of a sheet or coil and pulling it apart while recording the maximum force necessary to do this. Yield Strength, on the other hand is the maximum force that a material can carry without suffering any permanent deformation.

Question: What is a 2, 5, or 8 bolt?
Answer: When talking about the grade of bolt, we are talking most generally about the tensile strength of the bolt a specified by SAE Standards. Bolts can also be specified per ASTM Standards.

  • An SAE J429 grade 2 (ASTM A307) bolt has a tensile strength of 60,000 psi.
  • An SAE J429 grade 5 (ASTM A449) bolt has a tensile strength of 120,000 psi.
  • An SAE J429 grade 8.2 (ASTM A490) bolt has a tensile strength of 150,000 psi

Question: Are nuts the same grade as bolts, and why?
Answer: Yes, and there are various grades of nuts such as Grade 2, 5 and 8. However, we specify only a Grade 2 nut on our grain bins. The reason for this is that in nearly all the applications we have, such as body sheet hoop tension, the loads are transferred through the bolt as shear loads and not tension loads.

Question: What value is there in discussing bin weights when comparing Brock products vs. Competitors?
Answer: Over the past several years improvements in steel quality and bin design have reduced the total weight of our bins, not unlike the improvements i the manufacturing of pickup trucks. Few would argue that trucks built years ago are better than those built today. However, the weight of todays trucks is significantly less. Improvements in the design and the materials used combine to create a better, stronger product. Some of our competitors have not implemented all of these changes and rely strictly on "more pounds of steel, equals more strength".

Question: Why do steel bins rust?
Answer: There are many reasons a bin might rust. The top ten reasons, and not in any order:

  • Scratched during shipment or construction
  • Acid Rain
  • Poor aeration package
  • Dirt and chaff on roof
  • Down spouts, catwalks, and conveyors
  • Accessory equipment on a bin
  • Welding
  • Poor galvanizing
  • Poor grain management
  • Age of bin

Question: What is Brock's containment product line?
Answer: Brock containment rings were designed for the oil refinement industry to contain petroleum products and replace the old earthen dyke containment systems. Brock has designed various containment sizes, shapes and capacities to meet to specifications of the oil industry. The containment rings come in the following shapes: round, oblong, square and rectangle. These containment rings come in three different heights: 22", 36" and 44" high rings, these range in diameter from 15 to 60 feet. The capacities range from 1,771 gallons or 42 barrels to 168, 338 gallons or 4,008 barrels. For Brock dealers, who are in the oil industry areas, these galvanized containment rings would be an asset to their business. The oil industry has accepted these containment rings as an alternative to the earthen dyke systems.

Question: What Brock commercial bins have two ring doors and which ones have a one-ring door?
Answer: All Brock commercial bins both Kansas City 4" Next Generation and Milford 2.67". Commercial bins come standard with a 1 tier or 1 ring door. 1 1/2 tier and 2 ring doors are optional on many of the current models and we plan to include more models as door designs are completed for larger and taller bins. The door selected for each bin is based upon the load (measured in pounds/inch) exerted upon the door panels and frame. These factors change with diameter and height of the bin, so the strength of the frame and the guages of the door panels get heavier as bins get larger and taller

Question: What roof comes standard on a Next Generation grain bin?
Answer: On the Next Generation 15' through 48' the 3 panel, or Kansas City roof, is standard. On the 54' through the 90' the Milford 4 panel roof is standard except on the 75', which is offered with only the Kansas City 3 panel. The 105' also has the Kansas City 3 panel as standard.

Question: What is a good way to seal a bin?
Answer:

1. Foundation sealant (traditionally used by Kansas City Dealers) - Sticky, caulk-like material of butyl rubber modified with and asphaltic polymer.

  • Tacky and soft enough to adhere to the undeside of grain bin flange.
  • Polycarbonates incorporated t aid in compression.
  • Chemical resistance.
  • Weatherability.

2. AST Hi-Acrylic Universal Closure (traditionally used by Milford dealers). AST sealant tapes are preformed, resilient, self-adhesive, made from an open-cell foam impregnated with a water-based, acryclic-modified asphalt emulsion.

  • Will not dry out and become brittle.
  • UV stable.
  • Highly resistant to aging and vermin.
  • Will not extrude when squeezed.

3. Nyloflexil System - Nyloflexil is a brush-on sealant, whick forms a thick, flexible membrane that provides total waterfroofing protection without cracking or chipping.

  • Etching agent to remove foreign materials to allow for proper bonding and adhesion.