CA2111430A1 - Hopper assembly for grain auger - Google Patents
Hopper assembly for grain augerInfo
- Publication number
- CA2111430A1 CA2111430A1 CA002111430A CA2111430A CA2111430A1 CA 2111430 A1 CA2111430 A1 CA 2111430A1 CA 002111430 A CA002111430 A CA 002111430A CA 2111430 A CA2111430 A CA 2111430A CA 2111430 A1 CA2111430 A1 CA 2111430A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- particulate material
- hopper assembly
- cover
- auger
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G33/00—Screw or rotary spiral conveyors
- B65G33/24—Details
Abstract
A conventional grain auger includes an elongated cylindrical tubular housing with an open bottom inlet end for receiving grain, an auger shaft carrying a helical flight in the housing for feeding grain through the housing, a drive for the auger shaft and an open top discharge end for discharging grain from the housing. It has been proposed to provide an auxiliary opening above the bottom inlet end of the housing with a hopper mounted on the housing around the opening for receiving residual grain particles, which cannot be picked up by the auger. A
simple alternative to the fixedly mounted hopper includes a cover for removable mounting on the housing for opening and closing the auxiliary inlet opening, and a funnel removably mounted above the cover for directing particulate material into the auxiliary opening.
simple alternative to the fixedly mounted hopper includes a cover for removable mounting on the housing for opening and closing the auxiliary inlet opening, and a funnel removably mounted above the cover for directing particulate material into the auxiliary opening.
Description
211~430 This invention relates to a hopper assembly, and in particular to a hopper assembly for use on a particulate material auger.
Conventional particulate material augers, such as grain augers include an elongated cylindrical tubular housing with an open bottom inlet end for receiving rain, an auger shaft carrying helical flight in the housing for feeding grain through the housing, a drive for the auger shaft, and an open top discharge end for discharging grain from the housing. During normal use, the housing is inclined at an acute angle and the bottom, inlet end is inserted into a storage bin or the like. The drive is started to cause the auger to remove the grain from the bin. When the bulk of the grain has been removed, residual material remains, i.e.
the auger cannot pick up all of the grain.
The usual solution to the above defined problem is to shovel the remaining particles into an auxiliary inlet opening in the side of the housing near the bottom, inlet end thereof. Such a solution is described, for example in Canadian Patent No. 1,181,356, which issued to H.O. Redfield on January 22, 1985. The Redfield patent describes an auxiliary, clean up opening in the auger housing and a hopper box permanently mounted on the auger housing around the opening.
Simply stated, the present invention provides an 2111~30 alternative solution in the form of a relatively simple hopper assembly, which includes a cover, and which is intended to be removably mounted on an auger housing. The assembly described herein reduces the bulkiness of the auger during transporting, and reduces the likelihood of damage to the hopper. Moreover, the assembly provides a cover which is easily moved between open and closed positions, preventing extraneous material falling into the auger during transporting or non-use.
Accordingly, this invention relates to a hopper assembly for use on a particulate material auger, which includes an elongated cylindrical housing, an inlet end for introducing particulate material into the housing, an outlet end for discharging particulate material from the housing, an auger screw in the housing for feeding particulate material from the inlet end to the outlet end thereof, and an auxiliary inlet opening in said housing downstream of the inlet end therof in the direction of particulate material travel, said hopper assembly comprising bracket means for mounting on said housing means bordering said inlet opening;
cover means slidable in said bracket means for movement between a closed position covering said inlet opening and an open position permitting the passage of particulate material through said opening into the housing; and funnel means mounted in said bracket means for directing particulate 211~30 material into said inlet opening.
The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein:
Figure l is a schematic, exploded, perspective view of a hopper assembly in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of most of the hopper assembly of Fig. 1;
Figure 3 is a partially exploded, perspective view of a second embodiment of the hopper assembly with a cover omitted; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cover for use with the assemblies of Figs. 1 to 3.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the hopper assembly of the present invention which is generally indicated at 1 is intended for use on a conventional auger of the type including a hollow cylindrical housing 2. As mentioned above, the housing 2 contains a shaft carrying a helical flight, neither of which is shown. The hopper assembly 1 is mounted on the housing 2 around an auxiliary inlet opening 3 in the top side wall of the housing near the bottom, inlet end thereof.
The hopper assembly 1 includes a pair of generally F-shaped brackets 5 which are mounted parallel to each other on the housing 2, one on each side of the opening 3. The 21114~0 -brackets 5 open towards each other forming a pair of tracks for receiving a cover 6 and/or a hopper 7. The cover 6 is merely a rectangular metal or plastic plate, which is arcuate in cross section for conforming to the shape of the auger housing 2. A knob 8 on one end of the cover 6 facilitates manual handling thereof. The cover 6 is connected to the housing 2 at one end of a bracket 5 as by a chain 9. As best shown in Fig. 2, the cover 6 slides in the lowermost tracks in the brackets 5 between an open position tFig. 1) and a closed position (not shown~ over the opening 3.
The hopper 7 includes a baseplate 10 similar in shape to the cover 6, and a funnel 11. In the embodiment shown, the funnel 11 includes a frusto-conical lower portion 12 with a cylindrical neck 14 at the top end thereof for supporting a cylindrical neck 15 on the bottom end of an inverted frusto-conical upper portion 16. The necks 14 and 15 are interconnected by screws 17.
In a second embodiment of the invention (Fig. 3), the bottom ends of the brackets 5 ~closest to the inlet end of the housing 1) are interconnected by a crossbar 20, which acts as a stop for the cover 6 (not shown). The hopper, which is generally indicated at 21, includes a baseplate 10, an inverted frusto-pyramidal lower funnel portion 22 integral with the baseplate 10, and an upper funnel portion 23. The upper funnel portion 23 has a rectangular bottom end 24 for sliding over the top end of the lower funnel portion 22, and a circular top end 25. The funnel portions 22 and 23 are connected to each other by screws 26 or nuts and bolts ~not shown), which pass through aligned openings 27 in such funnel portions.
As will be appreciated, the funnel 11 could be attached as by welding directly to baseplate 10, which would obviate the necessity of portion 12.
Referring to Fig. 4, the brackets 5 can be integral with the crossbar 20. The cover 29 illustrated in Fig. 4 includes a flange 30 at the top end thereof defining a handle for manually moving the cover. A projection 32 is provided near the other end of the cover 29. The projection 32 engages a projection ~not shown) on the bottom of the baseplate 10 ~Figs. 1 and 3) for limiting outward movement of the cover 29, i.e. for ensuring that the cover remains in the brackets 5 when moved to the open position.
As mentioned above, for storage or transporting, the cover 6 or 29 is in the closed position and the hopper 7 or 21 is removed from the brackets 5. When the hopper assembly is required, the hopper 7 or 21 is slid into the brackets 5, and the cover 6 or 29 is moved to the open position.
In order to improve the safety of the hopper assembly, a wire mesh ~not shown) can be mounted over or under the 2 ~ 3 0 housing opening 3. Of course, the openings in the mesh must be larger than the grain particles to prevent clogging.
Conventional particulate material augers, such as grain augers include an elongated cylindrical tubular housing with an open bottom inlet end for receiving rain, an auger shaft carrying helical flight in the housing for feeding grain through the housing, a drive for the auger shaft, and an open top discharge end for discharging grain from the housing. During normal use, the housing is inclined at an acute angle and the bottom, inlet end is inserted into a storage bin or the like. The drive is started to cause the auger to remove the grain from the bin. When the bulk of the grain has been removed, residual material remains, i.e.
the auger cannot pick up all of the grain.
The usual solution to the above defined problem is to shovel the remaining particles into an auxiliary inlet opening in the side of the housing near the bottom, inlet end thereof. Such a solution is described, for example in Canadian Patent No. 1,181,356, which issued to H.O. Redfield on January 22, 1985. The Redfield patent describes an auxiliary, clean up opening in the auger housing and a hopper box permanently mounted on the auger housing around the opening.
Simply stated, the present invention provides an 2111~30 alternative solution in the form of a relatively simple hopper assembly, which includes a cover, and which is intended to be removably mounted on an auger housing. The assembly described herein reduces the bulkiness of the auger during transporting, and reduces the likelihood of damage to the hopper. Moreover, the assembly provides a cover which is easily moved between open and closed positions, preventing extraneous material falling into the auger during transporting or non-use.
Accordingly, this invention relates to a hopper assembly for use on a particulate material auger, which includes an elongated cylindrical housing, an inlet end for introducing particulate material into the housing, an outlet end for discharging particulate material from the housing, an auger screw in the housing for feeding particulate material from the inlet end to the outlet end thereof, and an auxiliary inlet opening in said housing downstream of the inlet end therof in the direction of particulate material travel, said hopper assembly comprising bracket means for mounting on said housing means bordering said inlet opening;
cover means slidable in said bracket means for movement between a closed position covering said inlet opening and an open position permitting the passage of particulate material through said opening into the housing; and funnel means mounted in said bracket means for directing particulate 211~30 material into said inlet opening.
The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein:
Figure l is a schematic, exploded, perspective view of a hopper assembly in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of most of the hopper assembly of Fig. 1;
Figure 3 is a partially exploded, perspective view of a second embodiment of the hopper assembly with a cover omitted; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cover for use with the assemblies of Figs. 1 to 3.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the hopper assembly of the present invention which is generally indicated at 1 is intended for use on a conventional auger of the type including a hollow cylindrical housing 2. As mentioned above, the housing 2 contains a shaft carrying a helical flight, neither of which is shown. The hopper assembly 1 is mounted on the housing 2 around an auxiliary inlet opening 3 in the top side wall of the housing near the bottom, inlet end thereof.
The hopper assembly 1 includes a pair of generally F-shaped brackets 5 which are mounted parallel to each other on the housing 2, one on each side of the opening 3. The 21114~0 -brackets 5 open towards each other forming a pair of tracks for receiving a cover 6 and/or a hopper 7. The cover 6 is merely a rectangular metal or plastic plate, which is arcuate in cross section for conforming to the shape of the auger housing 2. A knob 8 on one end of the cover 6 facilitates manual handling thereof. The cover 6 is connected to the housing 2 at one end of a bracket 5 as by a chain 9. As best shown in Fig. 2, the cover 6 slides in the lowermost tracks in the brackets 5 between an open position tFig. 1) and a closed position (not shown~ over the opening 3.
The hopper 7 includes a baseplate 10 similar in shape to the cover 6, and a funnel 11. In the embodiment shown, the funnel 11 includes a frusto-conical lower portion 12 with a cylindrical neck 14 at the top end thereof for supporting a cylindrical neck 15 on the bottom end of an inverted frusto-conical upper portion 16. The necks 14 and 15 are interconnected by screws 17.
In a second embodiment of the invention (Fig. 3), the bottom ends of the brackets 5 ~closest to the inlet end of the housing 1) are interconnected by a crossbar 20, which acts as a stop for the cover 6 (not shown). The hopper, which is generally indicated at 21, includes a baseplate 10, an inverted frusto-pyramidal lower funnel portion 22 integral with the baseplate 10, and an upper funnel portion 23. The upper funnel portion 23 has a rectangular bottom end 24 for sliding over the top end of the lower funnel portion 22, and a circular top end 25. The funnel portions 22 and 23 are connected to each other by screws 26 or nuts and bolts ~not shown), which pass through aligned openings 27 in such funnel portions.
As will be appreciated, the funnel 11 could be attached as by welding directly to baseplate 10, which would obviate the necessity of portion 12.
Referring to Fig. 4, the brackets 5 can be integral with the crossbar 20. The cover 29 illustrated in Fig. 4 includes a flange 30 at the top end thereof defining a handle for manually moving the cover. A projection 32 is provided near the other end of the cover 29. The projection 32 engages a projection ~not shown) on the bottom of the baseplate 10 ~Figs. 1 and 3) for limiting outward movement of the cover 29, i.e. for ensuring that the cover remains in the brackets 5 when moved to the open position.
As mentioned above, for storage or transporting, the cover 6 or 29 is in the closed position and the hopper 7 or 21 is removed from the brackets 5. When the hopper assembly is required, the hopper 7 or 21 is slid into the brackets 5, and the cover 6 or 29 is moved to the open position.
In order to improve the safety of the hopper assembly, a wire mesh ~not shown) can be mounted over or under the 2 ~ 3 0 housing opening 3. Of course, the openings in the mesh must be larger than the grain particles to prevent clogging.
Claims (10)
1. A hopper assembly for use on a particulate material auger, which includes an elongated cylindrical housing, an inlet end for introducing particulate material into the housing, an outlet end for discharging particulate material from the housing, an auger screw in the housing for feeding particulate material from the inlet end to the outlet end thereof, and an auxiliary inlet opening in said housing downstream of the inlet end thereof in the direction of particulate material travel, said hopper assembly comprising bracket means for mounting on said housing means bordering said inlet opening; cover means slidable in said bracket means for movement between a closed position covering said inlet opening and an open position permitting the passage of particulate material through said opening into the housing; and funnel means mounted in said bracket means for directing particulate material into said inlet opening.
2. A hopper assembly according to claim 1, including first stop means for preventing movement of said cover means in said bracket means in one direction beyond the closed position.
3. A hopper assembly according to claim 2, including second stop means for preventing movement of said cover means in said bracket means in a second direction beyond the open position.
4. A hopper assembly according to claim 1, wherein said funnel means includes plate means slidable in said bracket means;
a lower funnel portion on said plate means; and an upper funnel portion for receiving particulate material.
a lower funnel portion on said plate means; and an upper funnel portion for receiving particulate material.
5. A hopper assembly according to claim 4, wherein said lower and upper funnel portions are opposed, detachably interconnected, frusto-conical tubes.
6. A hopper assembly according to claim 4, wherein said lower and upper funnel portions taper inwardly towards said housing means, said upper funnel portion defining an extension of said lower funnel portion.
7. A hopper assembly according to claim 4, wherein said bracket means includes first track means proximate said housing means for slidably receiving said cover means; and second track means remote from said housing means for slidably receiving said plate means.
8. A hopper assembly according to claim 7, including crossbar means at one end of said bracket means defining stop means for limiting movement of said cover means and said funnel means in said bracket means.
9. A hopper assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 4, including chain means for connecting said cover means to the auger housing for retaining the cover means when said cover means is removed from said bracket means.
10. A hopper assembly for use on a particulate material auger, which includes an elongated cylindrical housing, an inlet end for introducing particulate material into the housing, an outlet end for discharging particulate material from the housing, an auger screw in the housing for feeding particulate material from the inlet end to the outlet end thereof, an an auxiliary inlet opening in said housing downstream of the inlet end thereof in the direction of particulate material travel, said hopper assembly comprising a pair of opposed, generally F-shaped bracket means for mounting on said housing means bordering said inlet opening, said bracket means defining spaced apart, opposed tracks, cover means slidable in a first inner pair of said tracks proximate the auger housing for movement between a closed position covering said inlet opening and an open position permitting the passage of particulate material through said opening into the housing; funnel means slidable in a second outer pair of said tracks for alignment with the inlet opening for directing particulate material into said inlet opening; and crossbar means at one end of said bracket means preventing movement of said cover means in one direction beyond the closed position, and limiting movement of the funnel means in said one direction to alignment with the inlet opening.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002111430A CA2111430A1 (en) | 1993-12-14 | 1993-12-14 | Hopper assembly for grain auger |
| AU21643/95A AU2164395A (en) | 1993-12-14 | 1995-06-13 | Hopper assembly for grain auger |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002111430A CA2111430A1 (en) | 1993-12-14 | 1993-12-14 | Hopper assembly for grain auger |
| AU21643/95A AU2164395A (en) | 1993-12-14 | 1995-06-13 | Hopper assembly for grain auger |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2111430A1 true CA2111430A1 (en) | 1995-06-15 |
Family
ID=25618365
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002111430A Abandoned CA2111430A1 (en) | 1993-12-14 | 1993-12-14 | Hopper assembly for grain auger |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2164395A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2111430A1 (en) |
-
1993
- 1993-12-14 CA CA002111430A patent/CA2111430A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
1995
- 1995-06-13 AU AU21643/95A patent/AU2164395A/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU2164395A (en) | 1997-01-02 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |