Grain Vacuums/Suction Blowers

Grain Vacuums/Suction Blowers are used on/off farm to convey bulk grain from truck/wagon to storage bin or processing equipment, from dryer to bin, from bin to truck, from bin to bin as well as to clean up spills and remove the remaining grain from a just-emptied bin. These units are portable, either tractor- or electric/pneumatic-powered, and vary in capacity (up to 5,000 bushels per hour). The vacuum, created by a turbine-type blower, draws the grain onto a suction cyclone, where it is separated from the air and directed through a pipeline to the discharge cyclone, which decelerates the grain, allowing it to gravity-flow out of the bottom of the cyclone.

Cost: $23,000-$36,000 tractor driven or $9,900-$22,700 electric/pneumatic

Impairment Category: Back, Strength/endurance, Upper extremity