Automatic scraper chain tensioning apparatus
AssigneePatz Corporation
InventorsDavid C. Pellman, David W. Kaus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chain tensioning apparatus for tensioning a chain of an agricultural barn cleaner. The barn cleaner chain is moved by a motor-driven drive sprocket mounted in a drive tower after contacting a first idler rotatably mounted to the drive tower. A second idler is mounted to the frame and positioned further away from the drive tower than the first idler such that, as the chain moves toward the drive tower, the chain contacts the second idler before contacting the first idler. A chain tensioning idler contacts the chain between the first idler and the second idler and is capable of movement in a direction transverse to the movement of the chain. A biasing member biases the chain tensioning idler toward a take-up position and away from a chain-taut position.
Claims20
A chain tensioning apparatus for tensioning a chain of an agricultural barn cleaner, the barn cleaner including at least one gutter scraper connected to a chain, the chain being moved by a motor-driven drive sprocket mounted in a drive tower after contacting a first idler rotatably mounted to the drive tower, the chain tensioning apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a second idler mounted to the frame and positioned further away from the drive tower than the first idler such that, as the chain moves toward the drive tower, the chain contacts the second idler before contacting the first idler;
- a chain tensioning idler contacting the chain between the first idler and the second idler and capable of movement in a direction transverse to the movement of the chain;
- and
- a biasing member for biasing the chain tensioning idler toward a take-up position where the chain between the first and second idlers is relatively greater, and away from a chain-taut position where the length of chain between the first and second idlers is relatively less.
An agricultural barn cleaner, comprising:
- at least one gutter scraper;
- a chain connected to the gutter scraper;
- a drive tower including a motor-driven drive sprocket mounted in the drive tower and connected to the chain, and a first idler rotatably mounted to the drive tower, the motor-driven sprocket moving the chain toward the drive tower after contacting the first idler;
- and
- a chain tensioning apparatus having:
- a frame;
- a second idler mounted to the frame and positioned further away from the drive tower than the first idler such that, as the chain moves toward the drive tower, the chain contacts the second idler before contacting the first idler;
- a chain tensioning idler contacting the chain between the first idler and the second idler and capable of movement in a direction transverse to the movement of the chain;
- and
- a biasing member for biasing the chain tensioning idler toward a take-up position where the chain between the first and second idlers is relatively greater, and away from a chain-taut position where the length of chain between the first and second idlers is relatively less.
A chain tensioning apparatus for tensioning a chain of an agricultural barn cleaner, the barn cleaner including at least one gutter scraper connected to a chain, the chain being moved by a motor-driven drive sprocket mounted in a drive tower, the chain tensioning apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first idler mounted to the frame;
- a second idler mounted to the frame and positioned further away from the drive tower than the first idler such that, in a mode where the chain moves toward the drive tower, the chain contacts the second idler before contacting the first idler;
- a chain tensioning idler contacting the chain between the first idler and the second idler and capable of movement in a direction transverse to the movement of the chain;
- and
- a biasing member for biasing the chain tensioning idler toward a take-up position where the chain between the first and second idlers is relatively greater, and away from a chain-taut position where the length of chain between the first and second idlers is relatively less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.