Conveyor hood assembly
AssigneeHarvest International, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Alan Sivinski, David L. Christensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hood assembly is provided for a conveyor having a housing with an inlet opening, a belt or auger for transporting particulate material through the housing from the inlet end to the outlet end. The hood assembly includes a hood pivotally mounted to the housing for movement between a closed position substantially closing the inlet end and an open position substantially exposing the inlet end. When the hood is opened, the inlet end of the conveyor housing can be visually inspected and physically cleaned to remove particulate material remnants remaining in the inlet end after the conveyor is shut off. A hopper is provided on the hood to facilitate introduction of material into the conveyor.
Claims21
An improved enclosed belt conveyor assembly for particulate material, the conveyor having opposite inlet and outlet ends, opposite pulleys at the inlet and outlet ends, a drive device to drive one of the pulleys, a belt trained about the pulleys for conveying particulate material from the inlet end to the outlet end, and a housing enclosing the belt, the housing having an open top portion and an open end portion, the improvement comprising:
- a hood pivotally mounted to the housing at the inlet end and moveable between a closed position covering the open top and end portions during operation of the conveyor and an open position uncovering the open top and end portions to provide access to the interior of the housing adjacent the inlet end when the conveyor is not operating;
- and
- the hood having an upper opening through which material passes by gravity onto the belt when the hood is in the closed position.
A hood assembly for a conveyor having a housing with an inlet opening, comprising:
- a hood pivotally connected to the housing for movement between a closed position substantially covering the inlet opening and an open position substantially exposing the inlet opening;
- a hopper mounted on top of the hood to receive particulate material;
- and
- the hood having an upper opening beneath the hopper therein through which particulate material passes by gravity from the hopper to the conveyor.
A method of eliminating residual particulate material in an agricultural conveyor having opposite inlet and outlet ends, a housing at the inlet end with an open top portion and an open end portion, a hood mounted on the housing, and a belt extending around pulleys adjacent the inlet and outlet to carry the material from the inlet to the outlet, the method comprising:
- dropping particulate material into the inlet of the conveyor via a hopper on top of the hood and an opening in the hood beneath the hopper
- moving the hood from a closed position substantially covering the open top and end portions of the housing to an open position uncovering the open top and end portions of the housing;
- then
- visually inspecting the inlet of the conveyor via the uncovered open top and end portions of the housing;
- and
- removing substantially all particulate material collected in the inlet and in the hood;
- and
- then moving the hood from the open position to the closed position.
An improved enclosed belt conveyor assembly for particulate material, the conveyor assembly having opposite inlet and outlet ends, opposite pulleys at the inlet and outlet ends, a drive device to drive one of the pulleys, a belt trained about the pulleys for conveying particulate material from the inlet end to the outlet end, and a housing enclosing the belt, the housing having an open top portion and an open end portion, the improvement comprising:
- a hood pivotally mounted to the housing at the inlet end and movable between a closed position covering the open top and end portions during operation of the conveyor and an open position uncovering the open top and end portions to provide access to the interior of the housing adjacent the inlet end when the conveyor is not operating;
- and
- the hood having a spring-assist for movement from the closed to open position.
An improved enclosed belt conveyor assembly for particulate material, the conveyor assembly having opposite inlet and outlet ends, opposite pulleys at the inlet and outlet ends, a drive device to drive one of the pulleys, a belt trained about the pulleys for conveying particulate material from the inlet end to the outlet end, and a housing enclosing the belt, the housing having an open top portion and an open end portion, the improvement comprising:
- a hood pivotally mounted to the housing at the inlet end and moveable between a closed position covering the open top and end portions during operation of the conveyor and an open position uncovering the open top and end portions to provide access to the interior of the housing adjacent the inlet end when the conveyor is not operating;
- and
- the hood having a pivotal door to provide access inside the inlet end when the hood is in the closed position.
A method of eliminating residual particulate material in an agricultural conveyor having opposite inlet and outlet ends, a housing at the inlet end with an open top portion and an open end portion, a hood mounted on the housing, and a belt extending around pulleys adjacent the inlet and outlet to carry the material from the inlet to the outlet, the method comprising:
- moving the hood from a closed position substantially covering the open top and end portions of the housing to an open position uncovering the open top and end portions of the housing;
- then
- visually inspecting the inlet of the conveyor via uncovered open top and end portions of the housing
- removing substantially all particulate material collected in the inlet and in the hood;
- and then
- moving the hood from the open position to the closed position;
- and
- biasing the hood with a spring to facilitate movement to the open position.
An improved enclosed belt conveyor assembly for particulate material, the conveyor assembly having opposite inlet and outlet ends, opposite pulleys at the inlet and outlet ends, a drive device to drive one of the pulleys, a belt trained about the pulleys for conveying particulate material from the inlet end to the outlet end, and a housing enclosing the belt, the housing having an open top portion and an open end portion, the improvement comprising:
- a hood pivotally mounted to the housing at the inlet end and moveable between a closed position covering the open top and end portions during operation of the conveyor and an open position uncovering the open top and end portions to provide access to the interior of the housing adjacent the inlet end when the conveyor is not operating;
- and
- a hopper mounted on top of the hood to introduce particulate material onto the conveyor belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.