Grain spreader for loading grain bin
AssigneeExtron Company
InventorsRandall G. Honeck, Dustin D. Paloranta, Greggory C. Phelps
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus to facilitate the loading of a grain bin such that the level in the grain bin increases generally uniformly and the distribution of grain size in the grain bin is generally uniform as well. The method includes redirecting the flow of the grain from the conveyer as it flows into the grain bin. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an adjustable leveling band for redirecting the grain uniformly to a plurality of radially extending chutes. In one embodiment, the angle of the chutes can also be easily adjusted.
Claims23
A grain spreader, comprising:
- a hopper, the hopper oriented to funnel grain in a downward direction;
- a leveling band positioned below and downstream of the hopper;
- an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust and set:
- i) a roll of the leveling band relative to the hopper about a first axis;
- ii) a pitch of the leveling band relative to the hopper about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
- and
- iii) a height of the entire leveling band relative to the hopper along a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes;
- and
- a plurality of radially and downwardly extending chutes positioned below and downstream of the leveling band;
- wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of rods connected to the leveling band that are configured to pull and push on the leveling band to change the roll of the leveling band and the pitch of the leveling band.
A method of distributing grain while loading a grain bin comprising:
- controlling a direction and a flow of grain feeding into the grain bin by:
- adjusting a roll of a leveling band relative to a hopper about a first axis;
- adjusting a pitch of the leveling band relative to the hopper about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
- adjusting a height of the entire leveling band relative to the hopper about a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes;
- and
- adjusting a downward angle of a plurality of chutes located below the leveling band by adjusting the position of a collar that rides along a center post,
- wherein the adjusting of the roll and the adjusting of the pitch are accomplished by causing a plurality of rods connected to the leveling band to pull or push the leveling band.
A grain spreader for funneling grain in a downward direction from a hopper to a plurality of radially and downwardly extending chutes, comprising:
- a leveling band adapted to be positioned below and downstream of the hopper and adapted to be positioned above and upstream of the chutes;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust and set a roll and a pitch of the leveling band relative to the hopper to each of at least five radially different tilt directions from a vertical axis without rotating the leveling band about the vertical axis, the roll being about a first horizontal axis and the pitch being about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the first horizontal axis,
- wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a hanger assembly that interfaces with a plurality of rods connected to the leveling band.
A grain spreader for funneling grain in a downward direction from a hopper through a leveling band positioned below and downstream of the hopper to a plurality of radially and downwardly extending chutes positioned below and downstream of the leveling band, comprising:
- an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust and set:
- i) a roll of the leveling band relative to the hopper about a first axis;
- ii) a pitch of the leveling band relative to the hopper about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
- and
- iii) a height of the entire leveling band relative to the hopper along a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes,
- the adjustment mechanism including a plurality of rods adapted to be connected between the hopper and the leveling band and configured to pull and push on the leveling band to change the roll, the pitch and the height of the leveling band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.