US 4,669,941 AGranted

Grain auger system

AssigneeAr-Man Construction, Ltd.

InventorsRobert A. West, Glenn R. Ager

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Abstract

A floor sweep auger system for mounting in an existing grain bin of the type having a wood or concrete floor and a cylindrical wall. A stationary auger is mounted with an inner intake end secured to the floor at the center of the bin and an outer discharge end extending through the wall of the bin at a location above the floor. A moveable auger, which has a length substantially equal to the radius of the bin, is mounted for sweeping an arc of approximately 360.degree.. A center mounting coupling of the moveable auger, which has a fixed pivot axis and a moveable pivot axis, allows the moveable auger to start from a position parallel to and adjacent one side of the stationary auger and to swing through the arc to a terminal position parallel to and adjacent the opposite side of the stationary auger. The system is particularly designed for use in existing grain bins without requiring any modification to the floor and yet will allow a pick-up of substantially all of the grain in the bin without any manual movement of the grain.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A floor sweep auger having a relatively flat floor and a cylindrical outer wall, said system comprising:

a stationary auger including an outer auger tube having an inlet end and an exterior end, anchor means for permanently fixing said inlet end on said floor at substantially the center point of the cylindrical wall, with the exterior end of the auger tube extending outwardly through the wall at a location above the floor;
a removable powerhead attachable to the exterior end of said auger tube, said powerhead including motor means drivingly connected to a spiral auger member for reception throughout the length of the auger tube;
a movable sweep auger having an inner discharge end and a length substantially equal to but less than the radius of the cylindrical wall;
and
pivot coupling means for pivotally connecting said inner end of the sweep auger to the floor, said coupling means having a primary pivot means permitting pivotal movement of said coupling means about a first vertical axis at the center point of said cylindrical wall, said primary pivot means including a rotary member detachably mountable relative to said anchor means, and a secondary pivot means for permitting pivoting of the inner end of said sweep auger about a second vertical axis spaced from said first vertical axis to allow the sweep auger to pivot through a sweep arc of approximately 360.degree. between positions immediately adjacent opposite sides of the stationary auger,
said coupling means further including an arm member having means connecting said arm member to said rotary member, and a connector member having means secured to the inner end of the sweep auger and pivotally connected to an outer end of said arm member for providing the second vertical axis, said means connecting said arm member to said rotary member including means permitting rotation of the outer end of said arm member about a substantially horizontal axis whereby said sweep auger can swing upward in a vertical plane when said sweep auger is in the initial position adjacent said stationary auger.

3 more elements

A floor sweep auger system for installation in a grain bin having a relatively flat floor and a cylindrical outer wall, said system comprising:

a stationary outer auger tube having an inlet end and an exterior end;
anchor means for permanently fixing said inlet end on the floor at substantially the center point of the cylindrical wall, with the exterior end of said auger tube extending outwardly through the wall at a location above the floor;
a removable powerhead attachable to the exterior end of said auger tube, said powerhead including motor means drivingly connected to a spiral augur member for reception throughout the length of said auger tube;
a movable sweep auger having an inner discharge end and a length substantially equal to but less than the radius of the cylindrical wall;
and
coupling means for pivotally connecting said inner end of said sweep auger to the floor, said coupling means having a first pivot means detachably mountable on said anchor means permitting pivotal movement of said coupling means about a first vertical axis at the center point of the cylindrical wall, secondary pivot means connected to said inner end of said sween auger for permitting pivoting of the inner end of said sweep auger about a second vertical axis spaced from said first vertical axis, and means interconnecting said first and second pivot means for providing vertical motion in said sweep auger so that said auger is movable in vertical and horizontal planes as it pivots through a sweep arc of approximately 360.degree. between positions immediately adjacent opposite sides of the stationary auger.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.