CA1241927A - Elevator - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A novel mobile elevator for particulate material is provided herein. The elevator includes an elongate conveyor tube having an inlet port and an outlet port and conveyor means for conveying particulate material through the tube. Motor means are provided for operating such conveyor means. First and second elevation means are provided which are independently operable selectively to incline the conveyor tube relative to a ground surface. A
freestanding wheel support frame is provided for the conveyor tube, the frame including a transversely-extending axle located generally centrally of the conveyor tube and having a ground-engaging wheel at each end. The frame further includes another wheel located intermediate the axle and the inlet port. Means are provided selectively to move the center of mass of the conveyor tube longitudinally of the support frame. Finally, drive means are provided for selectively independently driving the ground-engaging wheels at the ends of the axle.

Description

~241927

-2-This invention is concerned with elevators for particulate material and particularly although not exclusively to grain augers.
Due to more efficient farming methods and the increases in acreage under cultivation, farmers are now faced with handling substantially larger quantities of grain during harvesting operations. In addition, it is essential that the grain is harvested not only at the peak of its maturity but also as rapidly as possible under suitable weather conditions to avoid the risk of weather spoilage.
Increased overhead costs in farming have necessitated the use of contract labour in many operations including harvesting and transportation ox the harvested wheat from a farmer's storage silo to a rail head, mill silo or the like. Accordingly it is essential that the duration of grain handling operations be reduced as much as possible to alleviate the cost of contract labour.
2~ In most farm situations the harvested grain is first transferred directly from a header into a transport vehicle such as a truck. The grain is then transported to a storage silo located at a suitable position in the field. In practice, a farm may have a plurality of small silos (either fixed or transportable) located at different positions in the field to reduce travelling time between the header and A :

lZ41927 , -3-the silo. Alternatively, the plurality of silos may be located together at the same site as for many farmers the cost of a plurality of small silos may be substantially less than a single large silo of equivalent volume together with its associated integral grain handling apparatus.
These smaller silos usually comprise a cylindrical body having a conical roof and a conical floor. The silo is elevated on a framework to enable the hopper of a grain auger to be located below an outlet port in the conical floor. Larger silos may be supported on a concrete base with a sunken trough adjacent an outlet port, the trough acting as a feed hopper for a feed end of a grain auger.
When loading the silo, a grain auger is positioned such that its outlet chute is located over an inlet port in the roof of the silo and the feed hopper below an outlet port on the transport vehicle.
Unloading of the silo is achieved by positioning the feed hopper of the auger below the elevated outlet port of the silo and the outlet chute above the wall of the transportation vehicle.
It can be seen therefore that the requirements of a grain auger are manoeuvrability as well as adjustability in terms of its angle of inclination.
Prior art augers of this kind generally cbmprise an elongate screw auger located within a 12~
,- -4-tubular body, drive means located at the outlet end adjacent a fixed outlet chute arranged at right angles to the rotational axis of the auger, a wheeled support frame and means to elevate the outlet end of the auger.
The wheeled frame comprised a transverse axle with a wheel at each end and for transportation and the auger sometimes included a removable tow-bar at the feed end of the auger body. In its lowered position, the feed end of the auger body rests upon the ground with the auger body inclined to the ground at about 25 degrees. The centre of gravity of the apparatus is arranged to be close to the axis of the transverse wheel axle to enable the auger to be manoeuvred by hand. However when the auger is elevated, e.g. by a mechanical or hydraulic jacking means between the frame and the auger body, the centre of gravity becomes located intermediate the ground wheels and the feed end. Accordingly when elevated such prior art augers are very difficult to manoeuvre.
2~ In order to provide greater feed capacity for such augers, the overall dimensions have been increased with a consequent increase in difficulty of use and manoeuvrability.
Other problems with prior art augers relate to weed hopper design and the tow-bar to facilitate towing by a towing vehicle. Many prior art augers include a removable feed hopper to enable the device to be fed ~L24192~

by a stream of grain or the like issuing from an elevated silo outlet or an outlet chute of a transport vehicle or with the hopper removed, the feed end of the auger may be inserted directly into a body of grain. Such hoppers usually comprise a square mouth opening and are supported only by their attachment to the auger tube. In consequence, the hopper must be accurately aligned to avoid wastage and damage to the hopper when in use.
Those augers with a fixed tow-bar are limited by the forward extension of the tow-bar to certain specific uses, while others with removable tow-bars, while being less limited, are inconvenient to use due to the need continually to connect or to disconnect the tow-bar from the auger tube.
It is an aim of the present invention to overcome or alleviate the problems of prior art elevators and to provide a relatively inexpensive, high capacity unit which, in use, is easier to use.
According to one aspect of the invention, a mobile elevator i6 provided for particulate material, the elevator comprising in combination: an elongate conveyor tube having an inlet port and an outlet port; conveyor means for conveying particulate material through the tube; motor means for operating the conveyar means;
first and second elevation means independently operable selectively to incline the conveyor tube relative to a ground surface; a freestanding wheel support frame for the conveyor tube, the frame including a transversely-extending axle located . .

generally centrally of the conveyor tube and having a ground-engaging wheel at each end, the frame further including another wheel located intermediate the axle and the inlet port; means selectively to move the center of mass of the conveyor tube longitudinally of the support frame; and drive means for selectively independently driving the ground-engaging wheels at the ends of the axle.
Preferably the elevator also includes manual control means for the drive means, the manual control means being located generally centrally of the conveyor tube. The elevator may also include a retractable towbar pivotally attached at one end thereof to the conveyor tube and having releasable attachment means intermediate the ends of the towbar, the releasable attachment means being connectable to a conveyor guard extending from one end of the conveyor tube to place the towbar in an extended position for towing, and disconnectable to enable the towbar to be pivoted to a retracted position, whereby the towbar extends along the conveyor tube away from the conveyor guard.

The means for moving the center of mass preferably is associated with one of the elevation means and comprises an articulated frame having upper and lower link members. The first elevation means preferably is connected between the upper and lower link members. The first and second elevation means preferably are hydraulic cylinders.

' ,.

lZ4~927 Preferably the support frame also includes a frame portion extending between the axle and the conveyor tube, and an arm pivotally depending from the frame portion; and preferably the another wheel is a castor wheel secured to the free end of the arm. The second elevation means preferably extends between the arm and the frame portion. The conveyor means preferably is an auger.
The elevator may also include a feed hopper for removable attachment to the inlet port of the conveyor tube, the feed 10 hopper having a resiliently-deformable upper wall portion around the mouth opening of the hopper. Preferably, the elevator also includes a releasable conveyor feed assembly connected to the inlet port, the releasable conveyor feed assembly comprising a support frame, a housing connected to the support frame, and powered axially-aligned screw augers located in the housing for feeding particulate material towards the inlet port of the conveyor tube, the screw augers being arranged transversely to the conveyor tube on opposite sides of the inlet port.

In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile grain auger in a substantially horizontal state;
FIG. 2 illustrates the auger in an inclined state;
FIG. 3 illustrates a retractable tow-bar assembly;
FIG. 4 illustrates a feed hopper assembly;
FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of an alternative feed hopper;

f - 7 a -FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the hopper of Figure 5;
FIG. 7 shows a front perspective view of a screw feeder which may be employed in place of a feed hopper; and FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the screw feeder of Figure 7.
In FIG. 1, the apparatus includes a support frame 1 having a transversely-extending axle 24 (FIG. 2) with a ground-engaging wheel 2 at either end thereof. The rear end 3 of the support frame 1 is pivotally attached to the conveyor tube 4 which has a screw auger 5 rotatably mounted within it. The tube 4 ,~ 2glg27 , and the screw auger S form an auger assembly. The forward end of the auger assembly includes drive means 6 such as a hydraulic motor to operate the auger screw. The outlet port 7 of the conveyor tube 4 5~ includes a hood 8 which is pivotally mounted to the tube to direct the stream of grain issuing from outlet port 7 at a selected angle. The conveyor tube is reinforced with a truss-like frame 9 having a central upright frame member 10 located approximately at the centre of mass of the auger assembly. An articulated frame comprising an upper link frame 11 and a lower link frame 12 is pivotally connected between frame member 10 and the transversely extending axle 24. An hydraulic cylinder 13 is pivotally connected between upper link frame 11 and lower link frame 12.
The support frame 1 includes a main frame 14a, an arm 14 pivotally connected at its upper end to frame 14a and a castor wheel assembly 15. The assembly 15 is secured to the lower end of arm 14. A further hydraulic cylinder 16 is pivotally connected between frame 14a and arm 14. The castor wheel assembly 15 includes means to vary the castor angle by tilting of pivot pin 16. The housing 17 for pivot pin 16 is pivotally connected adjacent its base to arm 14 and includes an apertured bracket (not shown) which may be pinned in registry with one of a series of apertures on a bracket associated with arm 14 thereby varying the - ~24~9Z7 castor angle of pivot pin 16. Alternatively, the castor angle may be varied by any other suitable mechanical or hydraulic means.
The rear or feed end of the auger assembly includes a removable feed hopper 18 and a retractable tow-bar 19, both of which are desc.ibed in more detail .later.
The support frame 1 has mounted to it a source of hydraulic power comprising an engine 20, a fluid reservoir 21, hydraulic control valves 22 and an operator's seat 23. Control valves 22 are arranged to selectively control the auger screw drive 6, the hydraulic cylinders 13 and 16 as well as the hydraulic motors associated with ground wheels 2. The apparatus of FIG. 1 thus comprises a self-propelled screw auger elevator.
FIG. 3 shows the method of attachment of the retractable tow-bar 19. One end 29 of tow-bar 19 is pivotally attached to the conveyor tube 4 by a bolt or the like 30. A bracket 31 is releasably attached to boss 27 by a pin or the like 32. To retract the tow-bar or to fit the hopper 18, pin 32 is removed and the tow-bar 19 is lowered slightly such that bracket 31 clears boss 27. The tow-bar is then pivoted rearwardly and bracket 31 is connected to the pin 32 by a further boss (not shown) on the underside of conveyor tube 4.

~Z41927 IG. 4 shows hopper 18 attached to the feed end of conveyor tube 4 with the tow-bar 19 in its extended position. The hopper is supported at its lower rear wall 28 by boss 27 extending therethrough and also by releasable screw clamp 26 extending around the conveyor tube 4.
The feed hopper 18 is formed with a substantially circular mouth and an upper rim 25 of a resiliently deformable material such as rubber or plastics. The circular mouth permits the hopper to be fed from either side or the front. This is considered to be an advantage over prior art square or rectangular hoppers designed generally to be fed only from the front. The resilient rim 25 is able to withstand accidental minor collisions with silos, transport trucks and the like without damaging the hopper mouth as in prior art screw augers. The resilient rim also enables the hopper to firmly engage against a vertical surface such as the rear wall of a transport vehicle adjacent an outlet port therein to reduce spillage.
Figures 5 and 6 show an alternative feed hopper 40 to that shown in Figure 4. Like parts bear the same numerals as used in Figure 4. The hopper has side walls 41, 42 and an end wall 43. Boss 27 extends through wall 43 and a releasable screw clamp 26 extending around tube 4 secures the hopper to the tube. The hopper 40 is substantially trapezoidal in 124~927 cross section and has a raised end 44. The hopper is provided with a rim 45 of resiliently deformable material such as rubber or plastics. The rim 45 has a raised portion 46 adjacent end 44. Rivets 47 secure the rim 45 to walls 41, 42, 43.
Figures 7 and 8 show yet a further alternative feed mechanism for the screw auger.
The feed mechanism 50, known as a "sweep", comprises oppositely directed augers 73, 74 which direct grain or other particulate matter inwardly towards the feed end of screw auger 5 for feeding up conveyor tube 4.
The "sweep" 50 comprises a tubular frame member in the form of a torque table 51, end housings 76, 77. Augers 73, 74 are journalled at their inner ends in bearings 78, 79 respectively which bearings are suspended from torque tube 51 by brackets 80. The augers 73, 74 are journalled at their outer ends in housings 76, 77 which house a suitable drive mechanism such as a gear train, chain and sprocket assembly or belt and pulley for rotation of augers 73, 74. The augers are powered by a fluid powered motor 70 operatively connected to a rotating shaft contained within torque tube 51, which shaft is operatively connected to the drive mechanisms contained within housings 76, 77. The flights of augers 73, 74 are of opposite hand and thus augers 73, 74 both rotate in the same direction. By completely housing the drive shaft and drive mechanisms within the torque tube 51 and housings 76, 77 the entire drive train is protected against intrusion of dust and foreign matter such as grain thereby reducing operational maintenance requirements.
The sweep 51 has a support collar 52 comprising ring 53 and rods 54. The ends of rods are apertured and fit through eyes 55 on the tube 4.
Wedges 56 pass through the apertures and releasably secure the feeder 50 to the tube 4 for rapid attachment and detachment of the sweep assembly 50. The sweep 51 has two support wheels 60 journalled about an axle 61.
The axle 61 is connected to shroud 57 by bracket 62.
Mounting 63 is adjustably securable to the tube 51 and for this purpose has a series of apertures 64, a selected one of which may be used to secure mounting 63 to the tube 51 via bracket 65.
The embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 is particularly suitable for handling of grain and like particulate material which is stored as a pile on a ground surface. The operation of the apparatus according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. The apparatus is driven to a suitable location say in the orientation shown in FIG.
1. To facilitate manoeuvrability, the pivot pin 16 of the castor wheel assembly 15 is placed in an -` ~241927 approximately vertical position and steering is effected by selectively actuating the control valves of the hydraulic motors associated with each ground wheel. As the drive to one ground wheel may be reversed relative to the other, the castored frame -enables the apparatus to be turned within its own length. Upon approaching a silo, the outlet end of the screw auger 5 is elevated by means of hydraulic cylinder 13. This extends upper and lower link frames 11 and 12 such that the centre of mass of the screw auger assembly remains substantially over the transversly extending axle 24 even when the conveyor tube reaches its maximum angle of inclination. The outlet port 7 is positioned over silo inlet and the angle of the pivotal chute 8 is adjusted to direct the stream of grain accurately into the silo. When elevating the outlet end of the screw auger asembly, appropriate adjustment may be made with hydraulic cylinder 16 either to prevent feed hopper 18 from contacting the ground or to accurately locate it below the outlet of a transport vehicle.
To unload a silo into a transport vehicle, substantially the reverse procedures to that mentioned above are employed. The apparatus is driven towards the silo with the feed hopper 18 preceding. The hopper is located below an outlet port of the silo and by suitable operation of either or both of cylinders 13 ~2~192~ -and 16, the outlet port 7 of the auger conveyor assembly is lowered to a suitable height above the transport vehicle. As can be seen in FIG. 2, tow-bar l9 is folded to a retracted position to avoid fouling with the silo support structure.
To unload an unelevated silo of the type having a sunken pit or trough adjacent its base, it is necessary to remove the feed hopper from the end of the conveyor tube. This is readily accomplished by releasing screw clamp 26 and sliding the hopper over the boss 27 extending through a lower wall 28 of the hopper. The apparatus is then propelled towards the pit with the feed end of the screw auger being lowered by means of cylinder 16.
It will be clear from the foregoing description and attached drawings that the elevator according to the invention offers a substantial improvement over prior art elevators of this type.
Possibly the greatest advantage is that a substantially 2 larger, high capacity screw auger is capable of being operated by a sole operator with a far greater degree of manoeuvrability than hitherto possible.
A particular advantage of the presentinvention will be apparent. When prior art grain augers are fully inclined, the centre of mass of the screw auger assembly becomes located between the supporting ground wheels and the feed end of the conveyor tube which ~Z419Z7 normally rests on the ground surface for support.
According great difficulty is encountered in removing or attaching a removable hopper or tow-bar assembly due to the weight of the conveyor tube at the feed end.
With the present invention, cylinder 16 is used to elevate the feed end to permit such removal or attachment by a single operator.
A number of modifications or variations to the invention are of course possible. To provide a greater degree of stability in use, the apparatus may be provided with an adjustable axle assembly to vary track width. The main axle tube may include a hollow sub-axle rotatably journalled at each end and adapted for connection to a drive means. An axle shaft connected to a wheel may be slidably located within the sub-axle to increase or decreas track width. The axle shaft and sub-axle may be locked together by a grub screw or the like. In this manner the track width of the apparatus may be reduced to comply with road traffic regulations or to fit a rail car for rail transport. In use, the track width may be inceased to enhance the stability of the elevator, particularly in the fully elevated position.
In a further modification, the lower end of cylinder 13 may be disconnectable from cross bar 12a on link frame 12 to permit the conveyor tube 4 to rest on cross bar 12a. A further cross bar (not shown) is 12~927 provided at a lower position on link frame 12 for connection to the free end of cylinder 13. In this manner the height of the apparatus may be substantially reduced for storage, towing or transportation purposes.
When transporting the device over long distances by towing behind a vehicle, it is possible that a directly connected hydraulic drive system may become overheated. To avoid this problem the drive system may be indirectly connected to road wheels 2 via a disconnectable drive mechanism i.e. a chain and sprocket drive. Rather than have the hydraulic motors directly connected to the wheel hubs the motors may be attached to the axle tube or frame 1. A chain connects sprockets on the drive motor and the wheel hub and a chain tensioner may be provided whereby in the untensioned state the chain may be removed to allow free wheeling of road wheels 2. Alternatively the device may be provided with a removable transportation assembly comprising a wheeled axle incorporating a suitable shock absorbing suspension such as a rubber filled torque tube assembly or the like. In this manner the removable transportation assembly is attached to the axle of the device or to frame 1. The road wheels 2 are removed to permit transportation.

Inyet a further alternative, pivotable free wheeling transportation sub assemblies may be attached to the axle or frame. For long distance transportation the pivotal suspension units are lowered and locked into position to elevate road wheels 2 or road wheels 2 are simply removed.
To further facilitate road transportation, a tow-bar assembly may be attached to frame 14 instead of the auger tube as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this manner the effective towing length of the assembly is substantially shortened thus avoiding the need in some districts for an escort vehicle normally required for long loads. The tow-bar may be removably attached to frame 14 whereby castor wheel assembly 15 is elevated during transportation or alternatively castor wheel assembly 15 may be removed from a mounting bracket to enable the tow-bar to be attached thereto in its stead.
It will be clear to a skilled addressee that many other modifications and variations may be possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example the screw auger conveyor may be replaced by a "belt in tube" conveyor of known type wherein an endless belt passes through the conveyor tube forming either a trough or a substantially closed moving hollow cylinder for conveying material through the conveyor tube.

Claims (11)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A mobile elevator for particulate material, said elevator comprising in combination:
an elongate conveyor tube having an inlet port and an outlet port;
conveyor means for conveying particulate material through said tube;
motor means for operating said conveyor means;
first and second elevation means independently operable selectively to incline said conveyor tube relative to a ground surface;
a freestanding wheel support frame for said conveyor tube, said frame including a transversely-extending axle located generally centrally of said conveyor tube and having a ground-engaging wheel at each end, said frame further including another wheel located intermediate said axle and said inlet port;
means selectively to move the center of mass of said conveyor tube longitudinally of said support frame; and drive means for selectively independently driving said ground-engaging wheels at the ends of said axle.

2. The elevator of claim 1, further comprising manual control means for said drive means, said manual control means being located generally centrally of said conveyor tube.

3. The elevator of claim 1, further comprising a retractable towbar pivotally attached at one end thereof to said conveyor tube and having releasable attachment means intermediate the ends of the towbar, said releasable attachment means being connectable to a conveyor guard extending from one end of said conveyor tube to place said towbar in an extended position for towing, and disconnectable to enable said towbar to be pivoted to a retracted position, whereby said towbar extends along said conveyor tube away from said conveyor guard.

4, The elevator of claim 1 wherein said means for moving the center of mass is associated with one of said elevation means and comprises an articulated frame having upper and lower link members.

5, The elevator of claim 4 wherein said first elevation means is connected between said upper and lower link members.

6, The elevator of claim 4 wherein said first and second elevation means comprise hydraulic cylinders.

7. The elevator of claim 4 wherein said support frame also comprises a frame portion extending between said axle and said conveyor tube, and an arm pivotally depending from said frame portion; and wherein said another wheel is a castor wheel secured to the free end of said arm.

8, The elevator of claim 7 wherein said second elevation means extends between said arm and the frame portion.

9. The elevator of claim 8 wherein said conveyor means comprises an auger,

10. The elevator of claim 1 including a feed hopper for removable attachment to the inlet port of said conveyor tube, said feed hopper having a resiliently-deformable upper wall portion around the mouth opening of the hopper.

11. The elevator of claim 1 including a releasable conveyor feed assembly connected to said inlet port, said releasable conveyor feed assembly comprising a support frame, a housing connected to said support frame, and powered axially-aligned screw augers located in said housing for feeding particulate material towards the inlet port of said conveyor tube, said screw augers being arranged transversely to said conveyor tube on opposite sides of said inlet port.