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US 2017/0303471 A1Published application
Merger and merger assembly
AssigneeKuhn North America, Inc.
InventorDennis WILLIAMS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A merger that picks up and distributes materials from a ground surface is provided. The merger includes a frame that provides support to the merger, a pick-up head affixed to the frame that lifts the materials from the ground surface, a height adjuster affixed to the frame that maintains a minimum clearance between the ground surface and the pick-up head, and a conveyor affixed to the frame that receives the materials from the pick-up head. The conveyor includes a first belt and a second belt that independently distributes the materials on the ground surface from at least one of a first side of the frame and a second side of the frame.
Claims20
1:
- A merger to pick up and to distribute materials from a ground surface, comprising:
- a frame;
- a pick-up head affixed to the frame that lifts the materials from the ground surface;
- and
- a conveyor affixed to the frame that receives the materials from the pick-up head,
- wherein the conveyor includes a first belt and a second belt that independently distribute the materials on the ground surface from at least one of a first side of the frame and a second side of the frame.
3 more elements
2:
- The merger as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
- a first driving system configured to drive the first belt;
- and
- a second driving system configured to drive the second belt,
- wherein the first driving system and the second driving system are configured to be operated independently.
2 more elements
3:
- The merger as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first driving system includes a first roller that drives the first belt and the second driving system includes a second active roller that drives the second belt.
4:
- The merger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first belt is supported by a first conveyor frame placed between the first side of the frame and a central axis of the frame and the second belt is supported by a second conveyor frame placed between the second side of the frame and the central axis of the frame.
5:
- The merger as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first conveyor frame includes a first pair of rails that supports the first belt and the second conveyor frame includes a second pair of rails that supports the second belt.
6:
- The merger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pick-up head includes a series of guards extending between a first end plate and a second end plate to guide a series of pick-up teeth, the first end plate protruding along the first side of the frame and the second end plate protruding along the second side of the frame.
7:
- The merger as claimed in claim 6, wherein the series of guards is separated by a central guard assembly to form a first series of guards laterally aligned with the first belt and a second series of guards laterally aligned with the second belt.
8:
- The merger as claimed in claim 7, wherein the central guard assembly includes a central cam configured to support with the first end plate and the second end plate at least one drive shaft that provides a rotational motion of the pick-up teeth.
9:
- The merger as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a height adjuster affixed to the frame that maintains a minimum clearance between the ground surface and the pick-up head, wherein the height adjuster includes at least one skid shoe positioned below at least one of the pick-up head and the conveyor that contacts the ground surface.
10:
- The merger as claimed in claim 9, wherein the height adjuster further comprises:
- a linkage system that connects the at least one skid shoe and the frame, and
- a linear actuator that actuates the linkage to adjust the minimum clearance between the ground surface and the pick-up head.
11:
- A merger to pick up and to distribute materials from a ground surface, comprising:
- a vertical frame assembly;
- a horizontal frame assembly including:
- a rear support member affixed to the vertical frame assembly,
- a front support member opposite to the rear support member, and
- cross members extending between the rear support member and the front support member;
- a pick-up head affixed to the from support member that lifts the materials from the ground surface;
- and
- a conveyor positioned on the cross members that receives the materials,
- wherein the conveyor includes a first belt and a second belt that independently distribute the materials on the ground surface from a first side of the horizontal frame assembly, a second side of the horizontal frame assembly, or the combination thereof.
7 more elements
12:
- The merger as claimed in claim 11, further includes:
- a first driving system configured to drive the first belt and
- a second driving system configured to drive the second belt,
- wherein the first driving system and the second driving system are configured to be operated independently.
1 more element
13:
- The merger as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first driving system includes a first active roller placed between the front support member and the rear support member that drives the first belt and the second driving system includes a second active roller placed between the front support member and the rear support member that drives the second belt.
14:
- The merger as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first belt is supported by a first conveyor frame placed between the first side of horizontal frame assembly and a central axis of the horizontal frame assembly and the second belt is supported by a second conveyor frame placed between the second side horizontal frame assembly and the central axis of the horizontal frame assembly.
15:
- The merger as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first conveyor frame includes a first pair of rails affixed to the cross members that supports the first belt and the second conveyor frame includes a second pair of rails affixed to the cross members that supports the second belt.
16:
- The merger as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pick-up head includes a series of guards extending between a first end plate and a second end plate to guide a series of pick-up teeth, the first end plate protruding along the first side of the horizontal frame assembly from a first end of the front support member and the second end plate protruding along the second side of the horizontal frame assembly from a second end of the front support.
17:
- The merger as claimed in claim 16, wherein the series of guards is separated by a central guard assembly to form a first series of guards laterally aligned with the first belt and a second series of guards laterally aligned with the second belt.
18:
- The merger as claimed in claim 17, wherein the central guard assembly includes a central cam configured to support with the first end plate and the second end plate at least one drive shaft that provides a rotational motion of the pick-up teeth.
19:
- The merger as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a height adjuster affixed to the horizontal frame assembly that maintains a minimum clearance between the ground surface and the pick-up head, wherein the height adjustor includes at least one skid shoe positioned below at least one of the pick-up head and the conveyor that contacts the ground surface.
20:
- The merger as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a reversible mechanical drive configured to drive the first belt at a first selected speed in a first selected direction;
- and to drive the second belt at a second selected speed in a second selected direction.