Bin sweep auger unplugging system

A bin sweep auger, comprising:

• a backboard;
• a drive shaft having an inner end and an outer end;
• a first fighting extending from the drive shaft;
• a drive unit connected to the inner end of the drive shaft, wherein the drive unit is configured to selectively rotate the drive shaft in a first direction or a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite of the second direction;
• a driven shaft having an inner end and an outer end, wherein the driven shaft is rotatably connected to the backboard;
• a second flighting extending from the driven shaft;
• a clutch connected between the drive shaft and the driven shaft;
• wherein the outer end of the drive shaft is connected to the first side of the clutch;
• wherein the inner end of the driven shaft is connected to the second side of the clutch;
• wherein the clutch is configured for engaging or disengaging to selectively lock or unlock the rotation of the drive shaft with the driven shaft;
• wherein the first flighting and the second flighting have the same flighting direction;
• a plurality of projections extending from the drive shaft, wherein the projections are adapted for breaking up clumps of granular material;
• wherein the projections are each comprised of an elongated member extending outwardly from the drive shaft;
• wherein the drive unit is comprised of a motor connected to at least one gearbox that rotates the drive shaft in the first direction or the second direction;
• wherein the at least one gearbox is comprised of a first gearbox connected to an unloading conveyor and a second gearbox connected to the first gearbox by a connecting shaft, wherein the drive shaft extends from the second gearbox;
• and
• a control member connected to the first gearbox, wherein the control member controls the rotational direction of the connecting shaft.

A bin sweep auger, comprising:

• a backboard;
• a drive shaft having an inner end and an outer end;
• a first fighting extending from the drive shaft;
• at least one gearbox connected to the inner end of the drive shaft,
• a motor connected to the at least one gearbox;
• wherein the at least one gearbox and motor are configured to selectively rotate the drive shaft in a first direction or a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite of the second direction;
• a driven shaft having an inner end and an outer end, wherein the driven shaft is rotatably connected to the backboard;
• a second flighting extending from the driven shaft;
• a clutch connected between the drive shaft and the driven shaft;
• wherein the clutch is concentrically positioned with respect to the drive shaft and the driven shaft;
• wherein the outer end of the drive shaft is connected to the first side of the clutch;
• wherein the inner end of the driven shaft is connected to the second side of the clutch;
• wherein the clutch is configured for engaging or disengaging to selectively lock or unlock the rotation of the drive shaft with the driven shaft;
• wherein the clutch is comprised of a one-way clutch, wherein the clutch engages when the drive shaft rotates in the first direction so that the drive shaft rotates the driven shaft in the first direction, and wherein the clutch disengages when the drive shaft rotates in a second direction so that the drive shaft does not rotate the driven shaft;
• wherein the first flighting and the second fighting have the same flighting direction;
• and
• a plurality of projections extending from the drive shaft, wherein the projections are adapted for breaking up clumps of granular material;
• wherein the projections are each comprised of an elongated member extending outwardly from the drive shaft;
• wherein the at least one gearbox is comprised of a first gearbox connected to an unloading conveyor and a second gearbox connected to the first gearbox by a connecting shaft, wherein the drive shaft extends from the second gearbox;
• and
• a control member connected to the first gearbox, wherein the control member controls the rotational direction of the connecting shaft.

A method of using a bin sweep auger having a backboard, a drive shaft having an inner end and an outer end, a first fighting extending from the drive shaft, a drive unit connected to the inner end of the drive shaft, wherein the drive unit is configured to selectively rotate the drive shaft in a first direction or a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite of the second direction, a driven shaft having an inner end and an outer end, wherein the driven shaft is rotatably connected to the backboard, a second fighting extending from the driven shaft, a clutch connected between the drive shaft and the driven shaft, wherein the outer end of the drive shaft is connected to the first side of the clutch, wherein the inner end of the driven shaft is connected to the second side of the clutch, and wherein the clutch is configured for engaging or disengaging to selectively lock or unlock the rotation of the drive shaft with the driven shaft, said method comprising:

• rotating the drive shaft in the first direction by the drive unit to unload grain from a grain bin;
• determining that a grain clump exists that is blocking the free flow of grain into an unloading sump in the grain bin;
• rotating the drive shaft in the second direction by the drive unit to disengage the clutch after determining that a grain clump exists;
• and
• breaking up the grain clump by the rotation of the drive shaft in the second direction.