Bin sweep system with particle agglomeration breakup capability

A bin sweep system for moving particulate matter across a floor surface of a bin, the system comprising:

• a sweep assembly positionable on the floor surface of the bin and movable across the floor surface, the sweep assembly having an inboard end for locating toward to a central area of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, the sweep assembly having a forward side oriented toward a direction of forward movement of the sweep assembly with respect to the floor surface to engage particulate matter to be moved, the sweep assembly including a plurality of interconnected paddles movable in a succession on a path along at least a portion of the sweep assembly between the inboard and outboard ends, the plurality of paddles being mounted on an endless loop member at spaced locations along the endless loop;
• a particle agglomeration breakup assembly including at least one nozzle positioned on the sweep assembly to expel a fluid adjacent to the forward side of the sweep assembly to impact particulate matter located adjacent to the forward side of the sweep assembly and facilitate breakup of any particle agglomerations positioned forwardly of the sweep assembly;
• and
• wherein the at least one nozzle has a spray pattern of flow from the nozzle, the spray pattern being a fan pattern.

A bin sweep system for moving particulate matter across a floor surface of a bin, the system comprising:

• a sweep assembly positionable on the floor surface of the bin and movable across the floor surface, the sweep assembly having an inboard end for locating toward to a central area of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, the sweep assembly having a forward side oriented toward a direction of movement for orienting toward particulate matter to be moved;
• and
• a particle agglomeration breakup assembly configured to expel a fluid adjacent to the sweep assembly to impact particulate matter located adjacent to the forward side of the sweep assembly and facilitate breakup of any particle agglomerations positioned forwardly of the sweep assembly;
• wherein the particle agglomeration breakup assembly includes at least one nozzle directed forwardly with respect to the sweep assembly such that fluid flow from the nozzle is capable of impacting particles positioned forwardly of the sweep assembly;
• wherein the at least one nozzle comprises a plurality of nozzles on the sweep, the nozzles of the plurality of nozzles being spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the sweep assembly between the inboard end and the outboard end of the sweep assembly;
• wherein the particle agglomeration breakup assembly includes a conduit system connected to the plurality of nozzles to provide a fluid to the nozzles;
• and
• wherein each of the nozzles has a spray pattern of flow from the nozzle, the spray pattern being a fan pattern.