Grain distributor and method

Apparatus for evenly distributing grain into a bin and comprising:

• a conveyor means mounted in a bin and extending from a central area toward a peripheral area thereof,
• chute means for introducing grain onto one portion of said conveyor means proximate said central area, said conveyor means having a moving conveying surface for conveying said grain outwardly toward said peripheral area in a radial direction,
• means mounting said conveyor means for sweeping around said bin in a horizontal plane,
• discharge means for removing sequential portions of grain from said conveying surface and dropping the portions evenly into said bin as said conveyor means sweeps around said bin to evenly fill said bin, and
• a multi-speed drive means for said conveyor means, a chute means for introducing grain onto said conveyor means, and further including grain sensing switching means operatively disposed with said chute means for controlling said drive means to operate at a first speed in response to the presence of a preselected volume of grain in said chute, and at a greater speed in response to a greater volume of grain in said chute.

Apparatus for dropping grain into a bin to fill said bin evenly, said apparatus comprising:

• a conveyor means for moving grain thereon radially with respect to said bin between a central area of said bin and a periphery thereof, and being rotationally mounted for sweeping around said bin in a horizontal circular plane,
• a plurality of sweeper bar means extending at an angle across said conveyor means to divert sequential portions of grain off a side of said conveyor means, said sweeper bar means each extending respectively further across said conveyor means than a preceding sweeper bar means downstream thereof, and
• a transition plate means extending along one edge of said conveyor means for receiving grain directed by said sweeper bar means and guiding said grain from said conveyor means into said bin, and
• a plurality of grain engaging vane means on said transition plate, said vane means in register with said sweeper bars for directing grain into said bin.

Apparatus for distributing grain into a bin and comprising:

• a conveyor disposed radially in an upper portion of a bin and extending from a central area toward a peripheral area thereof, said conveyor having a grain conveying surface for moving grain introduced thereon at a central portion of the bin radially outwardly toward a peripheral area of the bin,
• said conveyor being rotationally mounted within said bin for sweeping around said bin, said conveyor transcribing a circular plane within said bin,
• said grain carrying surface having a leading edge and a trailing edge along respective opposite sides thereof,
• discharge means for discharging grain from one edge of said conveyor, said discharge means including a plurality of sweeper bars extending across said grain carrying surface for removing portions of grain therefrom and discharging sequential portions into said bin from said one edge, and
• a transition plate means disposed along one of said leading and said tracking edge for receiving discharged grain from one edge of said conveyor and for distributing grain into said bin, said plate means being inclined downwardly from said one of said leading and trailing edges, and
• a plurality of vanes on said transition plate, one vane in operative register with each of said sweeper bars for directing grain on said transition plate.

Apparatus for dropping grain into a bin to fill said bin evenly, said apparatus comprising:

• a conveyor means including a belt for moving grain thereon radially with respect to said bin between a central area of said bin and a periphery thereof, and being rotationally mounted for sweeping around said bin in a horizontal circular plane,
• said conveyor means having a longitudinal edge in the direction of sweep around said bin, and a parallel trailing edge,
• a plurality of sweeper bar means extending at an angle across said conveyor belt toward said trailing edge to divert sequential portions of grain off a side of said conveyor means, said sweeper bar means each extending respectively further across said conveyor belt than a preceding sweeper bar means downstream thereof,
• a conveyor side wall extending along said leading edge above said conveyor belt for preventing grain from falling from said leading edge into said bin,
• an inclined transition plate extending along said trailing edge from a position at least adjacent a first one of said sweeper bar means to a position adjacent at least a last one of said sweeper bar means, and
• vane means on said transition plate disposed in operative register with each of said sweeper bar means for guiding grain on said transition plate.

A method of evenly distributing grain into a bin comprising the steps of:

• introducing grain onto a conveyor within a bin,
• conveying grain in a radial direction with respect to a central area of said bin,
• sweeping said conveyor around said bin,
• sequentially diverting selected portions of said conveyed grain from said conveyor onto a transition plate,
• spreading diverted grain on said plate,
• guiding sequential portions of grain on said plate by vanes associated with each diverted selected portion, and
• dropping diverted grain from said plate into said bin to fill said bin evenly.