US 4,512,687 AGranted

Conveyor assemblies for detachable mounting to a tractor

OwnerSilvanus T. Ennsinventor

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Abstract

Present conveyors such as portable grain augers are most commonly positioned, raised and lowered manually and are powered by a small air-cooled engine, electric motor or a tractor power take-off. The disclosed conveyor system utilizes a tractor for all modes of transport, positioning, raising and lowering, and powering the conveyor. The undercarriage configuration allows a tractor to be coupled beside and in parallel with the conveyor. The undercarriage moves as a unit with the tractor but is freestanding when uncoupled. The tractor power take-off is utilized to drive the conveyor through the use of any one of several drive systems and the tractor electrical and hydraulic systems may be used to power controls for raising and lowering the conveyor. In grain augers, in addition to the mechanical auger flighting used to move the grain, a pneumatic system may also be adapted to this unit. Its function is primarily the same as that of present drag or clean-up augers which are used to move grain toward the auger intake during clean-up operations. The pneumatic system features only a suction stage with the grain being taken in through a suction hose and deposited into a cyclone above the auger flighting. The blower or fan is mounted on the undercarriage behind the tractor and is powered by the tractor power take-off independently of the auger flighting.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An auger for mounting to an associated tractor, having a longitudinal axis along which it normally moves, a drawbar hitch and a PTO at a rear position thereof in side by side relationship therewith, said assembly comprising in combination a freestanding tricycle undercarriage including a frame having a rear axle member arranged transverse to a longitudinal axis of said auger, a pair of spaced apart rear ground engaging wheels on respective ends of said axle member and a front castor wheel assembly mounted to said frame forwardly of said axle member, an auger tube having an inlet end and a discharge end and arranged substantially along said auger axis with said discharge end forwardly of said axle, means mounting said auger tube on said undercarriage for movement thereof so as to raise and lower said inlet and discharge ends from a transport position to various working positions and vice-versa, said frame including hitch means connected to said transverse axle member adjacent one rear wheel thereof and extending forwardly therefrom for connection to said drawbar hitch and interconnecting means arranged generally transverse to said auger axis and attached to said frame forwardly of said axle for connecting said frame to said tractor at a position thereof forwardly of said drawbar hitch whereby, when connected, said tractor can move said auger with the auger axis held parallel to the tractor axis, and drive connection means for taking drive from said PTO to drive said auger.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.