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;
- a roll and pitch adjustment mechanism configured to adjust and set the tilt of the leveling band;
- and
- a plurality of radially downwardly extending chutes positioned below and downstream of the leveling band.
A method of distributing grain while loading a grain bin comprising:
- adjusting the tilt of a leveling band to account for the direction of grain feeding into the grain bin.
A grain spreader for funneling grain in a downward direction from a hopper to a plurality of radially 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
- a roll and pitch adjustment mechanism configured to adjust and set a tilt of 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 downwardly extending chutes positioned below and downstream of the leveling band, comprising:
- a roll and pitch adjustment mechanism configured to adjust and set a tilt of the leveling band, the roll and pitch 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 tilt of the leveling band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.