Bin sweep assembly and method
AssigneeActuant Corporation
InventorsJames Alan Klubertanz, Kyle Mark Matenaer, Dennis James Zolp, Bradley Joseph Ballweg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bin sweep system having a sweep auger and a brush, wherein the brush extends radially beyond the end of the sweep auger to contact the bin wall during operation of the bin sweep to sweep material away from the wall. The sweep auger rotates about a first axis and the brush rotates about a second axis.
Claims20
A bin sweep system for a bin having a wall, the bin sweep system comprising:
- a motor;
- a sweep auger having a first end and a second end radially displaced from the first end, the sweep auger being coupled to the motor at the first end for rotation about a first axis;
- a wheel coupled to the second end, the wheel being driven for rotation about the first axis by the motor;
- and
- a brush coupled to the second end and driven by the motor about a second axis of rotation, the brush extending radially beyond the second end of the sweep auger and the wheel to contact the wall, at least one of the sweep auger and the wheel being spaced from the wall.
A method of using a bin sweep system to remove material from a bin having a floor and a wall, the method comprising:
- providing a sweep auger having a first end and a second end radially displaced from the first end, the sweep auger being positioned within the bin for rotation about a first axis substantially parallel to the floor and spaced from the wall;
- providing a brush coupled to the second end for rotation about a second axis substantially parallel to and in contact with the wall;
- operating the sweep auger about the first axis to cause movement of the material towards an opening in the bin floor;
- and
- operating the brush about the second axis to move material located adjacent the wall to a position of the sweep auger spaced inwardly of the wall.
A bin sweep system for a bin having a wall, the bin sweep system comprising:
- a motor;
- a sweep auger having a first end and a second end radially displaced from the first end, the sweep auger being coupled to the motor at the first end for rotation about a first axis, the sweep auger being spaced from the wall;
- a brush pivotably coupled to the second end and driven by the motor about a second axis of rotation, the brush extending radially beyond the second end of the sweep auger to contact the wall;
- and
- a biasing element to bias the brush into contact with the wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.