Seed tender
AssigneeUsc, L.L.C.
InventorGregory A. Renyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-contained seed tender (20) includes a plurality of bins (48) as well as a conveyor system (30) with a lower conveyor (32) and a shiftable lift conveyor (34). The lift conveyor (34) is shiftable between a stowed, travel position astride the bins (48) and a central, rearwardly extending delivery position. A deployment assembly (38) serves to sequentially pivot the lift conveyor (34) about an upright axis, followed by lateral translation thereof to the central use position. The conveyor (34) can then be rotated and elevated as desired for off-loading of seeds. The tender (20) may also be used for delivery of other types of agricultural particulates.
Claims17
A tender for particulate materials, comprising:
- a particulate bin presenting an outlet;
- a conveyor system including an elongated lower conveyor and a delivery conveyer, said lower conveyor oriented to receive particulate materials from said bin outlet and to deliver the particulate materials from the lower conveyor to the delivery conveyor;
- a deployment assembly operably coupled with said delivery conveyor for movement of the delivery conveyor from a stowed position adjacent said bin to a delivery position where the delivery conveyor extends outwardly from the bin,
- said deployment assembly including a first structure operable to pivot the delivery conveyor about an upright axis from said stowed position to an intermediate position, said upright axis being fixed relative to said bin, and a second structure operable to translate the delivery conveyor along a substantially rectilinear path of travel from said intermediate position to said delivery position, where the delivery conveyor may be laterally swung and elevated or lowered.
A method for delivery of particulate materials from a particulate bin, comprising the steps of:
- shifting a delivery conveyor from a stowage position adjacent said bin to a delivery position where the delivery conveyor extends outwardly relative to the bin,
- said shifting step comprising the steps of using a first structure to pivot the delivery conveyor about a first upright axis to an intermediate position, said first upright axis being fixed relative to said bin and then using a second structure to translate the delivery conveyor along a substantially rectilinear path of travel from the intermediate position to a delivery position;
- and
- transferring said particulate materials from said bin to said delivery conveyor in order to deliver the particulate materials.
A tender for particulate materials, comprising:
- a particulate bin including upstanding upper wall structure, lower converging wall structure, and an outlet, there being an elongated stowage area beneath said converging wall structure;
- a conveyor system including an elongated lower conveyor and a delivery conveyer, said lower conveyor oriented to receive particulate materials from said bin outlet and to deliver the particulate materials from the lower conveyor to the delivery conveyor;
- a deployment assembly operably coupled with said delivery conveyor for movement of the delivery conveyor from a stowed position adjacent said bin and at least partially within said stowage area, to a delivery position where the delivery conveyor extends outwardly from the bin,
- said deployment assembly operable to first pivot said delivery conveyor about an upright axis from said stowed position to an intermediate position extending outwardly from the bin, said upright axis being fixed relative to said bin, followed by movement of the delivery conveyor to said delivery position along a substantially rectilinear path of travel.
A method for delivery of particulate materials from a particulate bin including upstanding upper wall structure and converging lower wall structure, there being an elongated stowage area beneath said lower wall structure, said method comprising the steps of:
- shifting a delivery conveyor from a stowage position adjacent said bin and at least partially within said stowage area to a delivery position where the material extends outwardly relative to the bin,
- said shifting step comprising the steps of pivoting the delivery conveyor about a first upright axis to an intermediate position extending outwardly from said stowage position, said upright axis being fixed relative to said bin and then translating the delivery conveyor from the intermediate position to a delivery position along a substantially rectilinear path of travel;
- and
- transferring said particulate materials from said bin to said delivery conveyor in order to deliver the particulate materials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.