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US 4,106,649 AGranted
Floating grain bin extension for use with agricultural combine
AssigneeAllis-Chalmers Corporation
InventorsJohn P. Nelson, Roger D. Hanaway
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAllis-Chalmers Corporation
InventorsJohn P. Nelson, Roger D. Hanaway
Estimating the term…
A grain bin adapted to be mounted on the upper part of an agricultural combine is provided with at least one "floating" bin side wall extension which is automatically movable into substantially vertical grain-retaining position as the bin approaches and reaches a full condition. Clean grain which has been separated from the straw, chaff or the like is conveyed by an elevating conveyor which discharges the grain via a chute into the intake end of an elongated "floating" bin loading conveyor which is pivotally mounted for angular movement in a vertical plane. In the illustrated embodiment, the bin loading conveyor is an auger conveyor and the rotatable shaft of the floating auger conveyor is driven by a suitable drive means through a universal joint. As the grain level in the grain bin approaches a full condition, the bin loading conveyor moves angularly upwardly from a horizontal position due to an upward thrust on the bin loading conveyor caused by the reaction of the grain discharging from the bin loading conveyor against the upper surface of the already loaded grain. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of oppositely disposed bin side wall extensions are hingedly connected to the fore and aft walls of the upper edges of the grain bin, the bin wall extensions normally being folded downwardly in a lowered position. The respective bin wall extensions are connected by suitable link means to the floating bin loading conveyor whereby upward pivotal movement of the loading conveyor, as the level of the grain in the bin approaches a full condition, causes the bin wall extensions to be swung upwardly about their hinge connections into a vertical grain-retaining position. When the grain bin is unloaded, the hinged bin wall extensions move downwardly with the pivoted bin loading conveyor to a substantially horizontal lowered position.
In combination, a grain bin adapted to be mounted on an agricultural combine, a bin loading conveyor positioned in the upper portion of said grain bin, means for delivering grain to said bin loading conveyor, said bin loading conveyor being adapted to receive grain and to convey grain which it receives to a discharge outlet of said bin loading conveyor in overlying relation to the interior of said grain bin, support means supporting said bin loading conveyor for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis whereby said bin loading conveyor swings vertically upwardly or downwardly about said horizontal axis in accordance with the level of grain in said bin after the grain in said bin reaches a predetermined level, at least one bin wall extension for increasing the height of said bin in the region of said bin wall extension, said bin wall extension being normally positioned in a lowered position, and means connecting said bin wall extension to said bin loading conveyor whereby said bin wall extension is selectively moved upwardly to a raised grain-retaining position or is moved downwardly to said lowered position in accordance with the vertical movement of said bin loading conveyor.
In combination, a grain bin adapted to be mounted on an agricultural combine, a bin loading conveyor positioned in the upper portion of said bin, means for delivering grain to said bin loading conveyor, said bin loading conveyor being adapted to receive grain and to convey grain which it receives to a substantially downwardly directed discharge outlet of said bin loading conveyor in overlying relation to the interior of said grain bin, said bin loading conveyor comprising an auger tube and an auger mounted for rotation in said auger tube, said auger being adapted to be connected to a drive means including a universal connecting means whereby said auger remains connected in driven relation to said drive means at changing angular positions of said bin loading conveyor relative to the horizontal plane, support means supporting said auger tube for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis coincident with the center of said universal connecting means, whereby said bin loading conveyor swings vertically upwardly or downwardly about said horizontal axis in accordance with the level of grain in said bin when the grain in said bin is above a predetermined level, at least one bin wall extension for increasing the height of said bin in the region of said bin wall extension, said bin wall extension being normally positioned in a lowered position, means connecting said bin wall extension to said bin loading conveyor whereby said bin wall extension is selectively moved upwardly to a raised grain-retaining position or is moved downwardly to said lowered position in accordance with the vertical movement of said bin loading conveyor, the reaction of the grain being discharged from said discharge outlet of said bin loading conveyor against the upper surface of the already loaded grain in said bin causing an upward thrust urging said bin loading conveyor to swing upwardly about its horizontal pivotal axis whereby to cause upward movement of said bin wall extension toward a substantially vertical position, the force of gravity causing said bin loading conveyor to move downwardly and causing the bin wall extension connected to said bin loading conveyor to return to said lowered position when the level of the grain in said bin decreases to said predetermined level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.