S3 UFO AERATION User manual

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the future of
grain
aeration
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MOBILE
MODULAR
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...an alternate universe
of airflow performance.
Installation
mANUAL
Read this manual Before
installing your UFO Aeration.
It contains important stuff that
you need to know so that you
don’t hurt yourself or others.

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LET’S GET STARTED…
Thank you for your purchase of UFO Aeration. UFO Aeration is recommended for
hopper bottom bins that are less than 30’ in diameter and have a wall height of less than
30’. It is for use in grain only. Do not use it with fertilizer. Do not use it with a heater.

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SAFETY
UFO Aeration is easy to install but does require that you know how to safely operate
tools like a torch or cutting wheel. There are a few things to watch out for:
1. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, steel
toed boots, and safety gloves.
2. Make sure that you have adequate light to work.
3. Make sure that if you are changing up the number of stages or disassembling
your UFO Aeration to use in a different bin, that the aeration fan is disconnected
and the bin is empty.
4. If your bin is already standing, you are going to have to get in the bin to install
your UFO Aeration. Make sure you open the bin lid and prop open the door to
ensure you have appropriate ventilation.
5. If you are entering the bin, make sure that someone knows where you are and
when you are expected home. Better yet, have someone else give you a hand.

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THE PARTS IN YOUR KIT
1 –Base Ring, made up of 3 identical parts that will form a full ring that is 36” in
diameter
1 –Upper Ring, made up of 3 identical bent parts that will form a full ring that looks
almost like a triangle with a central hole in it.
3 –Short Legs, 22” long, painted gray
3 –Inboard Legs, 46-1/2” long with washers welded on one end, painted gray
3 –Outboard Legs, 45” long, no washers, painted gray
3 –Lower Column Legs, 36” long with a plate welded on the bottom, painted gray
3 –Outboard Legs, 44” long but we painted them black so it is easy to tell the difference
between these and the gray legs.
3 –Inboard Legs, 44” long with a notch cut out, painted black
3 –Upper Column Legs, 36” long with a bracket welded on the top, painted black
6 –Mounting Feet
3 –Connecting Brackets
3 –Clamping Tabs
1 –Base Disc
1 –Nose Cone
Stages, made up of 2 Halves:
UFO 4 Stage Kit = 8 Halves
UFO 6 Stage Kit = 12 Halves
1 –Upper Duct
1 –Lower Duct
1 –Duct Elbow, with End Cap
1 –Duct Flange, made up of two 9” flange pieces and 14” flange pieces that will form a
rectangle
1 –Bolt Kit (we threw in extra fasteners so don’t be alarmed if you have a few left over
when you are done)
10’ – Neoprene
1 –Leg Angle Jig

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INSTALLATION
You are going to need a few tools:
1. Electric drill with 7/16” bit and a ½” bit
2. Ox-fuel cutting torch or hand grinder with part off wheel
3. Marker
4. Level
5. 9/16” and 3/4” open ended wrench
6. 9/16” and 3/4” ratchet sockets and ratchet
7. 5/16” and 3/8” hex driver bit
8. Duct tape
9. Fire extinguisher
10.Tape measure
11.A punch to help with pin alignment
12.Tightening specifications, listed below in Figure 1
Figure 1: Tightening Specifications
Tightening Torque
Bolt Diameter
Metal
Polymer
3/8” NC bolt and nut
40 ft-lbs
15 ft-lbs
1/2” NC bolt and nut
45 ft-lbs
Not applicable
¼” Self-tapping screw –ducting,
modues, and cone
Until screw flange
contacts the metal
surface, use discretion
Until screw flange
contacts the polymer
surface, use discretion
You are not going to need:
1. A crane or winching device
2. An entire day of your time
3. A chiropractor the day after installation

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We have broken the installation into 8 big steps:
1. Assemble the Lower Support Base Sub Assembly
2. Mount the Lower Support Base Sub Assembly and add the Gray Inboard Legs
3. Mount the 1st Stage and the Column Legs to the Lower Support Base Sub
Assembly
4. Assemble and Mount the Remaining UFO Stages
5. Assemble the Inboard Legs
6. Install the Upper Ring
7. Install the Nose Cone
8. Install the Outboard Legs
9. Install the Ducting
Let’s Get Started….
1. ASSEMBLE THE LOWER SUPPORT BASE SUB ASSEMBLY
You are going to need:
1 –Base Ring, made up of 3 identical parts that will form a full ring that is 36” in
diameter
3 –Short Legs, 22” long, painted gray
3 –Inboard Legs, 46 ½” long, painted gray
6 –Mounting Feet (you will use the other 3 later, don’t panic)
1 –Base Disc
3 –Connecting Brackets
1 –Leg Angle Jig
From the Bolt Kit:
6 –3/8” whiz bolts
6 –3/8” whiz nuts
6 –1/2” x 3 1/2” bolts (watch out, there are also 1/2” bolts that are only 3”
long that you will need elsewhere. Darn engineers)
12 –1/2” washers
6 –1/2” nuts
Assemble the Base Ring by using three Connecting Brackets. Bolt each Connecting
Bracket to the joint of the adjacent base 1/3 section using two 3/8” bolts and nuts per
Connecting Bracket in the inner bolt positions on the ring, as per Figure 2. The bolts
should be positioned approximately at the midpoint of the Connecting Bracket’s
slots. Tighten all hardware to the appropriate torque.

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Figure 2: Base Ring Assembly
With the Connecting Brackets facing upward (yes, the Base Ring is upside down
but, trust us, it’s easier), bolt the unslotted end of the Short Legs to the Connecting
Brackets, using one 1/2” bolt, two 1/2” washers, and one 1/2” nut per Connecting
Bracket. The slotted side of the Short Legs should be facing downwards.

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Figure 3: Lower Support Base Sub Assembly
Bolt a Mounting Foot to the slotted end of each of the Short Legs, using one 3-1/2” x
1/2” bolt, two 1/2” washers, and one 1/2” nut per Mounting Foot, as per Figure 3.
Thread the nuts on finger tight –they will be removed temporarily for the next step.
Flip the Lower Support Base right side up and position the Base Ring so it is directly
over the center of the hopper cone hole.

Page 8 of 31
2. MOUNT THE LOWER SUPPORT BASE SUB ASSEMBLY AND ADD THE GRAY
INBOARD LEGS
Consider where you want to position the ducting that connects your aeration fan to
your UFO Aeration. Rotate the Lower Support Base Sub Assembly into a position
that aligns one of the V-notches, as shown in Figure 4, in the Base Ring with where
the ducting will go.
Figure 4: V-notch
Re-check the angle of each leg. It is critical that this angle is correct for later
components to line up properly. Measure from the edge of the hopper bottom
opening to the bottom edge of all three feet to help ensure the UFO is positioned
concentric to the opening.
Use your level to ensure that the UFO is level horizontally and vertically.
Position the bottom Mounting Feet so they rest comfortably on the hopper cone.
Mark each of the Mounting Feet’s 4 holes onto the hopper’s surface using a marker.
Move the Lower Support Base Sub Assembly out of your way.
Using your 7/16” drill bit, drill the 12 holes in your hopper.
Put the Lower Support Base Sub Assembly back into position. Make sure that one
of the V-notches is still aligned with where you want your ducting to go.

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Bolt the bottom Mounting Feet to the hopper using four 3/8” bolts and nuts per
Mounting Foot, as per Figure 5. The nuts will be on the outside of the bin.
Figure 5: Lower Support Base Sub Assembly Mounting
If you need it, you now have a platform you can stand on for the rest of the assembly
process.