Device for opening and closing the discharge door of a bulk seed box
OwnerTom J. Beckinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device is described for opening and closing the discharge door of a bulk seed box. The device comprises a portable lightweight structure which is attached to the box and which uses an electrically operated screw actuator to move the discharge door of the box from its closed position to its open position and vice versa. The device also includes a spreader mechanism which relieves the stress or tension on the supporting slide or track for the discharge door so that the discharge door may be more easily opened and closed.
Claims20
A hand-held device for opening and closing a discharge door, having an inner end, an outer end, and opposite sides, which is horizontally slidably mounted at the lower end of a bulk seed box with the seed box having an opening formed therein at each of the opposite sides of the discharge door adjacent the outer end thereof, the discharge door being movable between closed and open positions, comprising:
- a horizontally disposed generally U-shaped frame having an elongated base portion with horizontally spaced-apart first and second legs extending from the opposite ends of said base portion;
- each of said legs having free ends spaced from said base portion;
- said free ends of said legs adapted to be inserted into the openings on the seed box at the sides of the sliding discharge door;
- a selectively operable spreader mechanism secured to and extending between said legs adjacent said free ends thereof;
- an electrically powered screw actuator mechanism mounted on said frame which includes an actuator rod which is parallel to said legs and which is movable between extended and retracted positions;
- said actuator rod having an outer end;
- and
- discharge door engagement structure at said outer end of said actuator rod for selective engagement with the outer end of the discharge door whereby retraction of said actuator rod will cause the discharge door to be slidably moved to said open position and so that extension of said actuator rod will cause the discharge door to be moved to said closed position.
In combination:
- a bulk seed box having a lower end;
- said bulk seed box having a seed discharge opening at said lower end thereof;
- said bulk seed box having a horizontally disposed discharge door, having an inner end, an outer end, and opposite sides, slidably mounted at said lower end of said bulk seed box and which is slidably movable between open and closed positions;
- said discharge door, when in said closed position, closing said seed discharge opening;
- said discharge door, when in said open position, permitting seed to pass downwardly through said seed discharge opening;
- said bulk seed box having an opening formed therein at each of said opposite sides of said discharge door;
- a hand-held device for opening and closing said discharge door, comprising:
- a horizontally disposed generally U-shaped frame having an elongated base portion with horizontally spaced-apart first and second legs extending from the opposite ends of said base portion;
- each of said legs having free ends spaced from said base portion;
- said free ends of said legs adapted to be inserted into the openings on the seed box at the sides of the sliding discharge door;
- a selectively operable spreader mechanism secured to and extending between said legs adjacent said free ends thereof;
- an electrically powered screw actuator mechanism mounted on said frame which includes an actuator rod which is parallel to said legs and which is movable between extended and retracted positions;
- said actuator rod having an outer end;
- and
- discharge door engagement structure at said outer end of said actuator rod for selective engagement with the outer end of the discharge door whereby retraction of said actuator rod will cause the discharge door to be slidably moved to said open position and so that extension of said actuator rod will cause the discharge door to be moved to said closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.