CA2257048C - Auger for filling seeders - Google Patents
Auger for filling seeders Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2257048C CA2257048C CA002257048A CA2257048A CA2257048C CA 2257048 C CA2257048 C CA 2257048C CA 002257048 A CA002257048 A CA 002257048A CA 2257048 A CA2257048 A CA 2257048A CA 2257048 C CA2257048 C CA 2257048C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- auger
- hopper
- extension
- conveyor
- tube
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
- A01C15/00—Fertiliser distributors
- A01C15/003—Bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P1/00—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading
- B60P1/40—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using screw conveyors thereon
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P1/00—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading
- B60P1/40—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using screw conveyors thereon
- B60P1/42—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using screw conveyors thereon mounted on the load-transporting element
Abstract
The invention provides an auger conveyor adapted for mounting to an agricultural seeder for conveying bulk granular material such as seed and fertilizer from the central dump chute of a hopper-bottom trailer to tanks located on the seeder. A straight auger enclosed in a tube extends substantially from the ground to a point above the loading ports of the tanks. An auger extension is operatively attached to the bottom end of the straight auger by an angular drive such that when the auger conveyor is in its loading position the auger extension extends substantially horizontally along the ground. An auger hopper is attached to the tube and directs bulk granular material received from the hopper bottom trailer into the auger extension and intake end of the tube for conveyance into the tanks. The free end of the auger extension is rotatably mounted to the end of the hopper. Clean-out ports and a wheel to facilitate positioning are also provided, as is a kit for attachment to existing augers.
Description
F&~ ~9'~-02-02 AUGER FOR FILLING SEEDERS
This invention deals with the field of augers for filling seeders, and in particular such an auger that can be used to load seeders from hopper-bottomed trailers.
1o BACKGROUND
Present day agricultural seeders, and particularly air seeders, commonly are equipped with an auger for loading seed, fertilizer and so forth into the tanks of the seeder. These i5 seeder augers comprise a straight tube, with an auger or screw conveyor inside, a flexible spout at the top discharge end for directing material into the proper tank, and a hopper at the bottom end for receiving material from a truck.
Zo Examples of such augers on conventional drills, where the seed/fertilizer tanks extend the width of the implement, are F&R: 4 9~-02-02 _ page shown in United States Patent Numbers 5,484,249 to Klatt and 5, 529, 455 to Kaster et al. An early application on an air seeder, where the seed/fertilizer tanks are located in a mounted tank in the centre of the implement width, is shown in s United States Patent Number 4,312,621 to Quanbeck et al.
Since that time, such air seeder tanks have become most commonly towed on a cart ahead of or behind the implement.
The auger is mounted on a swivelling linkage so that it may be to adjusted to direct seed/fertilizer from the truck to the proper tank, and further so that the receiving end may be positioned under the clean-out ports of the seed/fert.i_lizer tanks to allow transfer~fr_om the tanks back into the truck.
The hopper on the end of the auger is often plastic, and 15 rotatable on the auger tube so that it may be turned for clean out. The auger hopper configuration is however substantially the same as that indicated in the above prior patents: a straight tube with a flexible spout at the top and a hopper at the bottom.
F&K 495-02-02 On today's large farms, hopper-bottom semi-trailers are commonly used for hauling grain to market. The owners of these semi-trailers also wou7_d like to use them for hauling seed and fertilizer to the field for loading into air seeders.
s The presently known air seeder augers do not, however, allow dumping from the centrally located trailer dump chute into the auger hopper since the angle on the auger causes the auger to contact the sides of the trailer before the auger hopper is in position under the chute. To overcome this problem, extra io chutes may be cut into the slanting wall of the trailer hopper, and a short spout attached thereto for directing the material into the auger hopper. This method is inexpensive however it leaves a considerable amount of material in the bottom of the trailer that must be manually pushed up and i5 through the side hole.
Alternatively, there are available short augers which are mounted on the semi-trailers which carry the seed or fertilizer from the trailer' s central dump chute to the auger 2o hopper. These are expensive and also require power which is most often taken from the hydraulic system of the air seeder F&K 495-02-02 auger, requiring hooking up hydraulic hoses when filling and then disconnecting again when finished.
A seeder auger which could be used directly to load from the central chutes of hopper-bottom semi-trailers would be beneficial.
SUML~1ARY OF THE INVENTION
to It is an object of the present invention to provide an auger conveyor for mounting on an agricultural seeder that will receive seed or fertilizer f.r_om the central dump chute of a hopper-bottom trailer and convey same to the tanks of the i5 seeder.
It is a further object o.f the present invention to provide a kit for installation on an existing seeder auger conveyor so that such auger conveyors will receive seed or fertilizer from 2o the central dump chute of a hopper-bottom trailer and convey same to the tanks of the seeder..
F&i< 495-02-C2 The invention accomplishes these objects providing in one aspect an auger conveyor adapted for_ mounting to an agricultural seeder for conveying bulk granular material such as seed and fertilizer from the central dump chute of_ a s hopper-bottom trailer to tanks located on the seeder, said auger conveyor having a loading position and a stored position, said auger conveyor comprising: a straight auger enclosed in a tube, said tube extending substantially from the ground to a point above the loading ports of said tanks when io said auger conveyor is in said loading position, said tube having a discharge end at the top thereof and an intake end at the bottom thereof; an angular drive; an auger extension having a drive end and a free end, said auger extension operatively attached at.the drive end thereof to the bottom i5 end of said straight auger by said angular drive such that when said auger conveyor is in said loading position, said auger extension extends substantially horizontally along the ground and such that when said straight auger is rotating, said auger extension is also rotating; an auger hopper having 2o an attached end and a free end, said attached end thereof attached to said intake end of the tube, said auger hopper F&K 995-02-02 having an open top and enclosing said intake end of the tube and enclosing said auger_ extension, said auger hopper further rotatably attached at said free end thereof to said free end of the auger extension, said auger hopper directing bulk granular material received by said hopper into said auger extension and said intake end of the tube for conveyance up said auger conveyor and into said tanks; and means to rotationally drive said straight auger.
io In a second aspect the invention provides a kit for installation on an auger ~cc>nveyor, said auger conveyor mounted to an agricultural seeder f_or conveying bulk granular material such as seed and fertilizer to tanks located on the seeder when said auger conveyor is moved into its loading position, is said kit, when installed, allowing said auger conveyor to convey said bulk granular rnaterial from the central dump chute of a hopper-bottom trailer to said tanks, said kit comprising:
an angular drive adapted to attach to the bottom end of the auger of said auger conveyor; an auger extension mavly 2o drive end and a free end, said auger extension operatively attached at the drive end thereof to said angular drive such E'~K 4 95-02-02 that when said auger conveyor is in said loading position, said auger extension extends substantially horizontally along the ground and such that when said straight auger is rotating, said auger extension is also rotating; and an auger hopper having an attached end and a free end, said attached end thereof adapted for attachment to said auger conveyor, said auger hopper having an open top and enclosing the bottom end of said auger conveyor and enclosing said auger extension, said auger hopper further adapted for rotatable attachment at 1o said free end thereof to said free end of the auger extension, said auger hopper, when installed, directing bulk granular material received by said hopper into said auger extension and said auger conveyor for conveyance up said auger conveyor and into said tanks.
The auger hopper could further comprise at least one clean-out port along the bottom thereof and means to selectively open and close the clean-out port, such as a sliding panel.
2o A steady bearing could be rotatably attached to the drive end of the auger extension with the housing of the steady bearing attached to the bottom of the auger hopper. The steady bearing would stabilize the auger extension and reduce vibration and wear.
s The angular drive could be a universal joint, thereby allowing the auger hopper to rotate around the auger tube as is done with prior art hoppers to facilitate clean out. The universal joint is preferably operatively connected to the auger extension by a pin with a rectilinear cross-section sliding in to a mating aperture on the axis of said auger extension. The connection allows the universal joint to operate with less vibration and stress as the shaft is allowed to slide in the auger extension and follow the slight movements of the universal joint as it rotates. The opposite enci of the i5 universal j oint could be. connected to the straight auger by a pin, as sliding movement in one end only will reduce vibration.
Where clean out ports are used, the hopper can be fixed to the 2o auger tube and in that case, the angular drive could be a gear box or any other angular drive which would transmit rotation F&K 495-02-02 from the driven auger of= the auger conveyor to the auger extension, since in that case the drive angle between the straight auger and the auger extension could be fixed.
The auger hopper could be supported by a wheel for moving the auger hopper along the ground. The wheel could be rotatably attached to the free end of the hopper. The axis of the wheel could be substantially parallel to the axis of the auger extension, for conveniently swinging the auger hopper under 1o the hopper-bottom trailer chute, or could be on a castor or have any other convenient configuration preferred by the user.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in 2o each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
Figure 1 is an end view of the embodiment mounted on an air-seeder tank cart and in the loading position under a hopper bottom trailer;
Figure 2 is a top view of the illustration of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a top view of the embodiment, a kit mounted on an existing auger conveyor;
to Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view along line XX in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional end view along line YY in Figure 3.
Figure 5A is an enlarged cross-sectional view as indicated on Figure 5 of the sliding connection of the universal joint to the auger extension.
F&K 99~-02-02 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS:
Figures 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the invention in use. An auger conveyor i is mounted to an air-seeder tank cart 2 for conveying bulk granular material such as seed and fertilizer from the central dump chute 3 of a hopper-bottom trailer 4 to tanks 5 located on the air-seeder tank cart 2.
The auger conveyor 1 has a 1_oading position as ill ustrated for loading the tanks 5, and a stored position (not illustrated) io for use when the air-seeder is working in the field.
The auger conveyor comprises a straight auger 6 enclosed in a tube 7. The tube 7 extends substantially from the ground 8 to a point above the loading port 9 of the tanks 5 when in the i5 loading position. The tube 7 has a discharge end 10 at the top thereof and an intake end 11 at the bottom thereof . A
flexible spout 12 is located at the top discharge end 10 of the tube 7 to direct the bulk granular material into the loading port 9.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a kit installed on an existing F&K 495-02-02 auger conveyor 1. A universal joint 13 is used as an angular drive, allowing the auger hopper 20 to rotate around the auger tube 7 as is done with prior art hoppers to facilitate clean out. It is attached to the bottom end of the straight auger 6 by insertion into the hollow core of the straight auger 6 and is secured by a pin or bolt 14. The opposite end of the universal joint 13 is a pin 45 with a rectilinear cross-section as shown in Figure 5A. The pin 45 slides into the hollow core of the drive end 16 of the auger extension 15 io which hollow core is formed into a mating aperture 46 to slidingly engage the pin 45. This preferred connection transmits rotation from the universal joint 13 to the auger extension 15 but also allows the pin 46 to slide in and out of the aperture 46 a short way as the universal joint 13 rotates, i5 thereby reducing vibration and wear.
The drive end 16 of the auger extension 15 is secured in a steady bearing 48 which is attached to the auger hopper 20 by bearing bracket 49 fixed to a reinforcing plate 50 attached on 2o the bottom of the auger hopper 20 by bolts 51 through the auger hopper 20.
_ ~.s 495-02-02 The free end 17 of the auger extension 15 extends tizrough a hole 18 in the free end l9of the auger hopper 20 where it is secured in a bearing 21. The bearing 21 is mounted to the outside of the free end 19 of the auger hopper 20 in a pillow block 22 secured to the free end 19 by bolts 23.
The attached end 24 of the auger hopper 20 is attached to the intake end 11 of the tube 7 by clamp 30 and bolts 31. The clamp 30 may be tightened to the tube 7 so that it is fixed to thereto or may be left loose so that it may be rotated on the tube 7 for clean out. Clamp stop 47 is welded to the tube 7 to prevent the clamp 30, in this loosened state, from sliding down the tube 7 and causing the pin 45 to disengage from the aperture 46.
The auger hopper 20 has an open top 25 and encloses the intake end 11 of the tube 7 and encloses the auger extension 15. The sloping sides 26 of the auger hopper 20 direct the bulk granular material received by the auger hopper 20 from the 2o central dump chute 3 of a hopper-bottom trailer 4 into the auger extension 15 and the intake end 11 of the tube 7 for F&K <~_.95-02-02 conveyance up the auger conveyor 1 and into the tanks 5.
As best seen in Figures 4 and 5 the auger hopper 20 has a clean-out port 40 in the bottom thereof which is closed by a s conventional sliding panel 41 held by guides 42. One or more of these may be provided to facilitate cleaning out the auger hopper 20.
Existing auger conveyors for air-seeders have an upper portion l0 27 of the tube 7 at the intake end 11 removed to allow the bulk granular material to enter the auger conveyor 1. While the invention will work satisfactorily with this open portion, Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an optional cover 28 to cover this open portion in order to improve feeding and prevent bulk i5 granular material from being thrown about by the action of the universal joint 13 as it rotates. Where the invention is not in kit form, but is manufactured as original equipment, this upper portion 27 of the intake end 11 of the tube 7 may be left in place instead of being removed, or a slide could be 2o employed to allow adjustment of the open portion.
F&K 495-02-02 The straight auger 6 is rotationally driven by a hydraulic motor 29 at the upper discharge end 12 of the tube 7, and when the straight auger 6 is rotating the auger extension 15 is also rotating.
As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a wheel 32 is rotatably mounted to the free end 19 of the auger hopper 20 by wheel bracket 33 attached by the bolts 23 that hold the pillow block 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the axis of the wheel 32 io is substantially parallel to the axis of the auger extension.
Other configurations, such as a castor wheel could also be used. One of the objectives is to keep the hopper kit relatively light, since putting the auger conveyor 1 into the stored position requires the operator to manually lift the i5 intake end 11 of the tube 7, and therefore the auger hopper 20, into a raised saddle.
The kit then consists of the universal joint 13, the auger extension 15, the auger hopper 20, pillow block 22, bearing 20 23, wheel 32, wheel bracket 33, the steady bearing 48 with bracket 49 and plate 50, clamp stop 47 and clamp 30. The kit F&K 495-02-02 may further include a cover 28 for installation over the removed upper portion 27 of the intake end 11 of the tube 7.
The cover 28 could be resilient material such as plastic that would snap over the tube 7. The auger hopper 20 is also s preferably a plastic material to reduce weight. When originally manufactured, these features would be built into the auger conveyor 1.
As can be seen in the figures, when the auger conveyor 1 is in io the loading position as illustrated, the auger extension 15 extends substantially horizontally along the ground 8.
Figures 1 and 2 show the auger hopper in position under the central dump chute 3 of the hopper-bottom trailer 4. The auger conveyor 1 is conventionally mounted to the air-seeder i5 tank cart 2 at the two pivotal connections 35, 36 allowing the auger hopper 20 to be rolled along approximately the path indicated by the broken line P in Figure 2 to a position under the central dump chute 3.
2o The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes c~K 495-02-02 and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or_ modif_ications in s structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
This invention deals with the field of augers for filling seeders, and in particular such an auger that can be used to load seeders from hopper-bottomed trailers.
1o BACKGROUND
Present day agricultural seeders, and particularly air seeders, commonly are equipped with an auger for loading seed, fertilizer and so forth into the tanks of the seeder. These i5 seeder augers comprise a straight tube, with an auger or screw conveyor inside, a flexible spout at the top discharge end for directing material into the proper tank, and a hopper at the bottom end for receiving material from a truck.
Zo Examples of such augers on conventional drills, where the seed/fertilizer tanks extend the width of the implement, are F&R: 4 9~-02-02 _ page shown in United States Patent Numbers 5,484,249 to Klatt and 5, 529, 455 to Kaster et al. An early application on an air seeder, where the seed/fertilizer tanks are located in a mounted tank in the centre of the implement width, is shown in s United States Patent Number 4,312,621 to Quanbeck et al.
Since that time, such air seeder tanks have become most commonly towed on a cart ahead of or behind the implement.
The auger is mounted on a swivelling linkage so that it may be to adjusted to direct seed/fertilizer from the truck to the proper tank, and further so that the receiving end may be positioned under the clean-out ports of the seed/fert.i_lizer tanks to allow transfer~fr_om the tanks back into the truck.
The hopper on the end of the auger is often plastic, and 15 rotatable on the auger tube so that it may be turned for clean out. The auger hopper configuration is however substantially the same as that indicated in the above prior patents: a straight tube with a flexible spout at the top and a hopper at the bottom.
F&K 495-02-02 On today's large farms, hopper-bottom semi-trailers are commonly used for hauling grain to market. The owners of these semi-trailers also wou7_d like to use them for hauling seed and fertilizer to the field for loading into air seeders.
s The presently known air seeder augers do not, however, allow dumping from the centrally located trailer dump chute into the auger hopper since the angle on the auger causes the auger to contact the sides of the trailer before the auger hopper is in position under the chute. To overcome this problem, extra io chutes may be cut into the slanting wall of the trailer hopper, and a short spout attached thereto for directing the material into the auger hopper. This method is inexpensive however it leaves a considerable amount of material in the bottom of the trailer that must be manually pushed up and i5 through the side hole.
Alternatively, there are available short augers which are mounted on the semi-trailers which carry the seed or fertilizer from the trailer' s central dump chute to the auger 2o hopper. These are expensive and also require power which is most often taken from the hydraulic system of the air seeder F&K 495-02-02 auger, requiring hooking up hydraulic hoses when filling and then disconnecting again when finished.
A seeder auger which could be used directly to load from the central chutes of hopper-bottom semi-trailers would be beneficial.
SUML~1ARY OF THE INVENTION
to It is an object of the present invention to provide an auger conveyor for mounting on an agricultural seeder that will receive seed or fertilizer f.r_om the central dump chute of a hopper-bottom trailer and convey same to the tanks of the i5 seeder.
It is a further object o.f the present invention to provide a kit for installation on an existing seeder auger conveyor so that such auger conveyors will receive seed or fertilizer from 2o the central dump chute of a hopper-bottom trailer and convey same to the tanks of the seeder..
F&i< 495-02-C2 The invention accomplishes these objects providing in one aspect an auger conveyor adapted for_ mounting to an agricultural seeder for conveying bulk granular material such as seed and fertilizer from the central dump chute of_ a s hopper-bottom trailer to tanks located on the seeder, said auger conveyor having a loading position and a stored position, said auger conveyor comprising: a straight auger enclosed in a tube, said tube extending substantially from the ground to a point above the loading ports of said tanks when io said auger conveyor is in said loading position, said tube having a discharge end at the top thereof and an intake end at the bottom thereof; an angular drive; an auger extension having a drive end and a free end, said auger extension operatively attached at.the drive end thereof to the bottom i5 end of said straight auger by said angular drive such that when said auger conveyor is in said loading position, said auger extension extends substantially horizontally along the ground and such that when said straight auger is rotating, said auger extension is also rotating; an auger hopper having 2o an attached end and a free end, said attached end thereof attached to said intake end of the tube, said auger hopper F&K 995-02-02 having an open top and enclosing said intake end of the tube and enclosing said auger_ extension, said auger hopper further rotatably attached at said free end thereof to said free end of the auger extension, said auger hopper directing bulk granular material received by said hopper into said auger extension and said intake end of the tube for conveyance up said auger conveyor and into said tanks; and means to rotationally drive said straight auger.
io In a second aspect the invention provides a kit for installation on an auger ~cc>nveyor, said auger conveyor mounted to an agricultural seeder f_or conveying bulk granular material such as seed and fertilizer to tanks located on the seeder when said auger conveyor is moved into its loading position, is said kit, when installed, allowing said auger conveyor to convey said bulk granular rnaterial from the central dump chute of a hopper-bottom trailer to said tanks, said kit comprising:
an angular drive adapted to attach to the bottom end of the auger of said auger conveyor; an auger extension mavly 2o drive end and a free end, said auger extension operatively attached at the drive end thereof to said angular drive such E'~K 4 95-02-02 that when said auger conveyor is in said loading position, said auger extension extends substantially horizontally along the ground and such that when said straight auger is rotating, said auger extension is also rotating; and an auger hopper having an attached end and a free end, said attached end thereof adapted for attachment to said auger conveyor, said auger hopper having an open top and enclosing the bottom end of said auger conveyor and enclosing said auger extension, said auger hopper further adapted for rotatable attachment at 1o said free end thereof to said free end of the auger extension, said auger hopper, when installed, directing bulk granular material received by said hopper into said auger extension and said auger conveyor for conveyance up said auger conveyor and into said tanks.
The auger hopper could further comprise at least one clean-out port along the bottom thereof and means to selectively open and close the clean-out port, such as a sliding panel.
2o A steady bearing could be rotatably attached to the drive end of the auger extension with the housing of the steady bearing attached to the bottom of the auger hopper. The steady bearing would stabilize the auger extension and reduce vibration and wear.
s The angular drive could be a universal joint, thereby allowing the auger hopper to rotate around the auger tube as is done with prior art hoppers to facilitate clean out. The universal joint is preferably operatively connected to the auger extension by a pin with a rectilinear cross-section sliding in to a mating aperture on the axis of said auger extension. The connection allows the universal joint to operate with less vibration and stress as the shaft is allowed to slide in the auger extension and follow the slight movements of the universal joint as it rotates. The opposite enci of the i5 universal j oint could be. connected to the straight auger by a pin, as sliding movement in one end only will reduce vibration.
Where clean out ports are used, the hopper can be fixed to the 2o auger tube and in that case, the angular drive could be a gear box or any other angular drive which would transmit rotation F&K 495-02-02 from the driven auger of= the auger conveyor to the auger extension, since in that case the drive angle between the straight auger and the auger extension could be fixed.
The auger hopper could be supported by a wheel for moving the auger hopper along the ground. The wheel could be rotatably attached to the free end of the hopper. The axis of the wheel could be substantially parallel to the axis of the auger extension, for conveniently swinging the auger hopper under 1o the hopper-bottom trailer chute, or could be on a castor or have any other convenient configuration preferred by the user.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in 2o each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
Figure 1 is an end view of the embodiment mounted on an air-seeder tank cart and in the loading position under a hopper bottom trailer;
Figure 2 is a top view of the illustration of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a top view of the embodiment, a kit mounted on an existing auger conveyor;
to Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view along line XX in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional end view along line YY in Figure 3.
Figure 5A is an enlarged cross-sectional view as indicated on Figure 5 of the sliding connection of the universal joint to the auger extension.
F&K 99~-02-02 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS:
Figures 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the invention in use. An auger conveyor i is mounted to an air-seeder tank cart 2 for conveying bulk granular material such as seed and fertilizer from the central dump chute 3 of a hopper-bottom trailer 4 to tanks 5 located on the air-seeder tank cart 2.
The auger conveyor 1 has a 1_oading position as ill ustrated for loading the tanks 5, and a stored position (not illustrated) io for use when the air-seeder is working in the field.
The auger conveyor comprises a straight auger 6 enclosed in a tube 7. The tube 7 extends substantially from the ground 8 to a point above the loading port 9 of the tanks 5 when in the i5 loading position. The tube 7 has a discharge end 10 at the top thereof and an intake end 11 at the bottom thereof . A
flexible spout 12 is located at the top discharge end 10 of the tube 7 to direct the bulk granular material into the loading port 9.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a kit installed on an existing F&K 495-02-02 auger conveyor 1. A universal joint 13 is used as an angular drive, allowing the auger hopper 20 to rotate around the auger tube 7 as is done with prior art hoppers to facilitate clean out. It is attached to the bottom end of the straight auger 6 by insertion into the hollow core of the straight auger 6 and is secured by a pin or bolt 14. The opposite end of the universal joint 13 is a pin 45 with a rectilinear cross-section as shown in Figure 5A. The pin 45 slides into the hollow core of the drive end 16 of the auger extension 15 io which hollow core is formed into a mating aperture 46 to slidingly engage the pin 45. This preferred connection transmits rotation from the universal joint 13 to the auger extension 15 but also allows the pin 46 to slide in and out of the aperture 46 a short way as the universal joint 13 rotates, i5 thereby reducing vibration and wear.
The drive end 16 of the auger extension 15 is secured in a steady bearing 48 which is attached to the auger hopper 20 by bearing bracket 49 fixed to a reinforcing plate 50 attached on 2o the bottom of the auger hopper 20 by bolts 51 through the auger hopper 20.
_ ~.s 495-02-02 The free end 17 of the auger extension 15 extends tizrough a hole 18 in the free end l9of the auger hopper 20 where it is secured in a bearing 21. The bearing 21 is mounted to the outside of the free end 19 of the auger hopper 20 in a pillow block 22 secured to the free end 19 by bolts 23.
The attached end 24 of the auger hopper 20 is attached to the intake end 11 of the tube 7 by clamp 30 and bolts 31. The clamp 30 may be tightened to the tube 7 so that it is fixed to thereto or may be left loose so that it may be rotated on the tube 7 for clean out. Clamp stop 47 is welded to the tube 7 to prevent the clamp 30, in this loosened state, from sliding down the tube 7 and causing the pin 45 to disengage from the aperture 46.
The auger hopper 20 has an open top 25 and encloses the intake end 11 of the tube 7 and encloses the auger extension 15. The sloping sides 26 of the auger hopper 20 direct the bulk granular material received by the auger hopper 20 from the 2o central dump chute 3 of a hopper-bottom trailer 4 into the auger extension 15 and the intake end 11 of the tube 7 for F&K <~_.95-02-02 conveyance up the auger conveyor 1 and into the tanks 5.
As best seen in Figures 4 and 5 the auger hopper 20 has a clean-out port 40 in the bottom thereof which is closed by a s conventional sliding panel 41 held by guides 42. One or more of these may be provided to facilitate cleaning out the auger hopper 20.
Existing auger conveyors for air-seeders have an upper portion l0 27 of the tube 7 at the intake end 11 removed to allow the bulk granular material to enter the auger conveyor 1. While the invention will work satisfactorily with this open portion, Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an optional cover 28 to cover this open portion in order to improve feeding and prevent bulk i5 granular material from being thrown about by the action of the universal joint 13 as it rotates. Where the invention is not in kit form, but is manufactured as original equipment, this upper portion 27 of the intake end 11 of the tube 7 may be left in place instead of being removed, or a slide could be 2o employed to allow adjustment of the open portion.
F&K 495-02-02 The straight auger 6 is rotationally driven by a hydraulic motor 29 at the upper discharge end 12 of the tube 7, and when the straight auger 6 is rotating the auger extension 15 is also rotating.
As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a wheel 32 is rotatably mounted to the free end 19 of the auger hopper 20 by wheel bracket 33 attached by the bolts 23 that hold the pillow block 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the axis of the wheel 32 io is substantially parallel to the axis of the auger extension.
Other configurations, such as a castor wheel could also be used. One of the objectives is to keep the hopper kit relatively light, since putting the auger conveyor 1 into the stored position requires the operator to manually lift the i5 intake end 11 of the tube 7, and therefore the auger hopper 20, into a raised saddle.
The kit then consists of the universal joint 13, the auger extension 15, the auger hopper 20, pillow block 22, bearing 20 23, wheel 32, wheel bracket 33, the steady bearing 48 with bracket 49 and plate 50, clamp stop 47 and clamp 30. The kit F&K 495-02-02 may further include a cover 28 for installation over the removed upper portion 27 of the intake end 11 of the tube 7.
The cover 28 could be resilient material such as plastic that would snap over the tube 7. The auger hopper 20 is also s preferably a plastic material to reduce weight. When originally manufactured, these features would be built into the auger conveyor 1.
As can be seen in the figures, when the auger conveyor 1 is in io the loading position as illustrated, the auger extension 15 extends substantially horizontally along the ground 8.
Figures 1 and 2 show the auger hopper in position under the central dump chute 3 of the hopper-bottom trailer 4. The auger conveyor 1 is conventionally mounted to the air-seeder i5 tank cart 2 at the two pivotal connections 35, 36 allowing the auger hopper 20 to be rolled along approximately the path indicated by the broken line P in Figure 2 to a position under the central dump chute 3.
2o The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes c~K 495-02-02 and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or_ modif_ications in s structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
Claims
CLAIMS:
I claim:
1. An auger conveyor apparatus adapted for mounting to an agricultural seeder for conveying bulk granular material such as seed and fertilizer from a central dump chute of a hopper-bottom trailer to tanks located on the seeder, said auger conveyor having a loading position and a stored position, said auger conveyor comprising:
a straight auger enclosed in a tube, said tube extending substantially from the ground to a point above the loading ports of said tanks when said auger conveyor is in said loading position, said tube having a discharge end at a top thereof and an intake end at a bottom thereof;
an angular drive;
an auger extension having a drive end and a free end, said auger extension operatively attached at the drive end thereof to the bottom end of said straight auger by said angular drive such that when said auger conveyor is in said loading position, said auger extension extends substantially horizontally along the ground and such that when said straight auger is rotating, said auger extension is also rotating;
an auger hopper having an attached end and a free end, said attached end thereof attached to said intake end of the tube, said auger hopper having an open top and enclosing said intake end of the tube and enclosing said auger extension, said auger hopper further rotatably attached at said free end thereof to said free end of the auger extension, said auger hopper directing bulk granular material received by said hopper into said auger extension and said intake end of the tube for conveyance up said auger conveyor and into said tanks; and means to rotationally drive said straight auger.
2. A kit apparatus for installation on an auger conveyor, said auger conveyor mounted to an agricultural seeder far conveying bulk granular material such as seed and fertilizer to tanks located on the seeder when said auger conveyor is moved into its loading position, said kit, when installed, allowing said auger conveyor to convey said bulk granular material from the central dump chute of a hopper-bottom trailer to said tanks, said kit comprising:
an angular drive adapted to attach to the bottom end of the auger of said auger conveyor;
an auger extension having a drive end and a free end, said auger extension operatively attached at the drive end thereof to said angular drive such that when said auger conveyor is in said loading position, said auger extension extends substantially horizontally along the ground and such that when a straight auger is rotating, said auger extension is also rotating; and an auger hopper having an attached end and a free end, said attached end thereof adapted for attachment to said auger conveyor, said auger hopper having an open top and enclosing the bottom and of said auger conveyor and enclosing said auger extension, said auger hopper further adapted for rotatable attachment at said free end thereof to said free end of the auger extension, said auger hopper, when installed, directing bulk granular material received by said hopper into said auger extension and said auger conveyor for conveyance up said auger conveyor and into said tanks.
3. The apparatus of any one of Claim 2 further comprising a cover adapted to enclose the lower end of the auger of said auger conveyor.
4. The apparatus of any one of Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said auger hopper further comprises at least one clean-out port along the bottom thereof and means to selectively open and close said clean-out port.
5. The apparatus of Claim 4 wherein said means to selectively open and close said clean-out port comprises a sliding panel.
5. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 further comprising a steady bearing rotatably attached to said drive end of the auger extension, and a housing of said steady bearing attached to the bottom of said auger hopper.
7. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said angular drive is a universal joint.
8. The apparatus of Claim 7 wherein said universal joint is operatively connected to said auger extension by a pin with a rectilinear cross-section sliding in a mating aperture on an axis of said auger extension.
9. The apparatus of any one of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 wherein said auger hopper is supported by a wheel for moving said auger hopper along the ground.
10. The apparatus of Claim 9 wherein said wheel is rotatably attached to said free end of the auger hopper.
11. The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein the axis of said wheel is substantially parallel to an axis of said auger extension.
I claim:
1. An auger conveyor apparatus adapted for mounting to an agricultural seeder for conveying bulk granular material such as seed and fertilizer from a central dump chute of a hopper-bottom trailer to tanks located on the seeder, said auger conveyor having a loading position and a stored position, said auger conveyor comprising:
a straight auger enclosed in a tube, said tube extending substantially from the ground to a point above the loading ports of said tanks when said auger conveyor is in said loading position, said tube having a discharge end at a top thereof and an intake end at a bottom thereof;
an angular drive;
an auger extension having a drive end and a free end, said auger extension operatively attached at the drive end thereof to the bottom end of said straight auger by said angular drive such that when said auger conveyor is in said loading position, said auger extension extends substantially horizontally along the ground and such that when said straight auger is rotating, said auger extension is also rotating;
an auger hopper having an attached end and a free end, said attached end thereof attached to said intake end of the tube, said auger hopper having an open top and enclosing said intake end of the tube and enclosing said auger extension, said auger hopper further rotatably attached at said free end thereof to said free end of the auger extension, said auger hopper directing bulk granular material received by said hopper into said auger extension and said intake end of the tube for conveyance up said auger conveyor and into said tanks; and means to rotationally drive said straight auger.
2. A kit apparatus for installation on an auger conveyor, said auger conveyor mounted to an agricultural seeder far conveying bulk granular material such as seed and fertilizer to tanks located on the seeder when said auger conveyor is moved into its loading position, said kit, when installed, allowing said auger conveyor to convey said bulk granular material from the central dump chute of a hopper-bottom trailer to said tanks, said kit comprising:
an angular drive adapted to attach to the bottom end of the auger of said auger conveyor;
an auger extension having a drive end and a free end, said auger extension operatively attached at the drive end thereof to said angular drive such that when said auger conveyor is in said loading position, said auger extension extends substantially horizontally along the ground and such that when a straight auger is rotating, said auger extension is also rotating; and an auger hopper having an attached end and a free end, said attached end thereof adapted for attachment to said auger conveyor, said auger hopper having an open top and enclosing the bottom and of said auger conveyor and enclosing said auger extension, said auger hopper further adapted for rotatable attachment at said free end thereof to said free end of the auger extension, said auger hopper, when installed, directing bulk granular material received by said hopper into said auger extension and said auger conveyor for conveyance up said auger conveyor and into said tanks.
3. The apparatus of any one of Claim 2 further comprising a cover adapted to enclose the lower end of the auger of said auger conveyor.
4. The apparatus of any one of Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said auger hopper further comprises at least one clean-out port along the bottom thereof and means to selectively open and close said clean-out port.
5. The apparatus of Claim 4 wherein said means to selectively open and close said clean-out port comprises a sliding panel.
5. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 further comprising a steady bearing rotatably attached to said drive end of the auger extension, and a housing of said steady bearing attached to the bottom of said auger hopper.
7. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said angular drive is a universal joint.
8. The apparatus of Claim 7 wherein said universal joint is operatively connected to said auger extension by a pin with a rectilinear cross-section sliding in a mating aperture on an axis of said auger extension.
9. The apparatus of any one of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 wherein said auger hopper is supported by a wheel for moving said auger hopper along the ground.
10. The apparatus of Claim 9 wherein said wheel is rotatably attached to said free end of the auger hopper.
11. The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein the axis of said wheel is substantially parallel to an axis of said auger extension.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002257048A CA2257048C (en) | 1998-12-30 | 1998-12-30 | Auger for filling seeders |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002257048A CA2257048C (en) | 1998-12-30 | 1998-12-30 | Auger for filling seeders |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2257048A1 CA2257048A1 (en) | 2000-06-30 |
| CA2257048C true CA2257048C (en) | 2005-05-17 |
Family
ID=29425899
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002257048A Expired - Lifetime CA2257048C (en) | 1998-12-30 | 1998-12-30 | Auger for filling seeders |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2257048C (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA2376424C (en) | 2002-03-12 | 2005-02-01 | Bourgault Industries Ltd. | Dual purpose grain cart |
| US7267519B2 (en) | 2004-04-26 | 2007-09-11 | Bourgault Industries Ltd. | Loading conveyor with folding hopper for agricultural commodity carts |
| US8479911B2 (en) | 2011-08-22 | 2013-07-09 | Convey-AU Industries Inc. | Movable conveyor for loading a container |
| CN110214503A (en) * | 2019-07-15 | 2019-09-10 | 农业农村部南京农业机械化研究所 | Hand push portable orchard continuous fertilization machine |
-
1998
- 1998-12-30 CA CA002257048A patent/CA2257048C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2257048A1 (en) | 2000-06-30 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20181231 |