CA3080999A1 - Power take off shaft assembly and mobile swing auger attachment - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a power take off (PTO) shaft assembly and mobile swing auger attachment.

Description

POWER TAKE OFF SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND MOBILE SWING AUGER
ATTACHMENT
FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a power take off (PTO) shaft assembly and .. mobile swing auger attachment.
BACKGROUND
In the field of farming and agriculture, there are primarily two types of grain augers used to transfer grain from grain hauling trucks into bins or other storage units: conventional and mobile swing augers. Mobile swing augers are attachable to a main auger, which are well known in the art. The PTO on a tractor or other power source often powers these mobile swing augers.
Typically, a mobile swing auger consists of a first auger section defined by a length of auger flighting within a round tubing section mounted on an adjustable undercarriage. The configuration is such that the longer auger section sits at an incline with an opening at the top serving as an outlet and another opening at the bottom serving as an inlet. The mounting of the longer auger section to the undercarriage is constructed so that an adjustment to the undercarriage linkage allows the angle of inclination of the longer auger section to be increased or decreased, thus making it possible to position the outlet at any certain height along a desired range.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 The inlet of the longer auger section is coupled with a PTO of a tractor or other power source for supplying power to the auger.
Typically, a second shorter section of auger flighting within a round tubing section is used in combination with the above configuration. An outlet of the shorter auger section feeds into the inlet for the longer auger section.
An inlet on the shorter auger section is normally coupled to a grain collection hopper to facilitate receipt of grain as it is dumped into the hopper from a grain hauling truck or trailer. The second auger section pivots at the point of connection with the first auger section allowing the second auger inlet and its associated grain collection hopper to be swung from side to side to allow positioning of the grain collection hopper under a truck permitting a grain hauling truck or trailer to unload into the grain collection hopper.
Conventional PTO shaft assemblies are linear which limits the placement of the PTO dependent accessory to directly behind the tractor or other power source. When utilizing a conventional PTO shaft assembly for powering a mobile swing auger, the mobile swing auger must as a result be positioned directly behind the tractor or other power source. Operating the PTO of the tractor or other power source requires the operator to attend at the rear of the tractor or next to the power source to engage the PTO. This conventional PTO shaft and subsequent placement of the mobile swing auger directly behind the tractor or other power source causes issues for Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 safety as unloading grain trucks must be aligned, maneuvered, and operated close to the engaged PTO.
Previous devices have aimed to reduce this problem by redesigning the entire swing auger and repositioning the power drive and gearbox affixed thereto. However, these devicess have never reached commercial success and farmers continue to face safety and maneuverability issues with the conventional swing auger and conventional PTO shaft. U.S. Patent No.
4,526,265 illustrates a conventional auger configuration which allows a tractor to be coupled beside and a conventional auger, attaching to the tractor at at least two points prohibiting the configuration from pivoting. By attaching to the tractor at at least two points, this devices reduces maneuverability as the multiple point connection prohibits the device from pivoting and therefore the auger must always remain parallel to the tractor.
The patent requires users to replace their conventional auger as a whole rather than using an attachment on an existing conventional auger. As a result, U.S. Patent No. 4,526,265 requires complicated features to permit the user to raise and lower the outlet of the auger.
A need therefore exists in the art for simplified configuration for swing augers, allowing more flexibility when positioned in relation to their respective power take off.
SUMMARY

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 The present disclosure firstly provides for a PTO shaft assembly for use with a mobile swing auger for transferring power from the PTO of a power source to a mobile swing auger, where the shaft assembly pivots in at least one direction before coupling with an input drive shaft of a mobile swing auger.
The present disclosure secondly provides for a shaft assembly for use with a mobile swing auger comprising of an input shaft having a first end adapted for connecting to a tractor or other power source and having a second end connectable to an input of a gearbox. This gearbox input is located along a first axis having an output located along a second axis. Coupling means are then used to join the gearbox output to a first end of a second shaft along the second axis. This second shaft is coupled on a second end to a mobile swing auger intake drive for supplying power thereto.
This disclosure thirdly provides for a shaft assembly for use with a mobile .. swing auger comprising an input shaft having a first end adapted for connecting to tractor or other power source PTO and having a second end connectable to an input of a gearbox. This gearbox input is located along a first axis having an output located along a second axis. Coupling means are then used to join the gearbox output to a first end of a second shaft along the second axis. This second shaft has a second end connectable to an input of a second gearbox, with this input being located along the second axis and having an output located along a third axis. Coupling means are then used to join the second gearbox output to a first end of a third shaft along a Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 third axis. This third shaft is coupled on a second end to a mobile swing auger intake drive for supplying power thereto.
It is to be understood that other aspects of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various embodiments of the disclosure are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the disclosure is capable for other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly .. the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure provides a shaft assembly for coupling to an existing conventional mobile swing auger for transferring power from a power take off (PTO) to the mobile swing auger. The shaft assembly comprises a first, single point of pivotable connection between a source of the PTO and the shaft assembly and a second connection between the shaft assembly and an intake drive of the conventional mobile swing auger. The second connection allows variation in an angle of incline of the conventional swing auger without altering elevation of the shaft assembly or the second connection.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A further, detailed, description of the disclosure, briefly described above, will follow by reference to the following drawings of specific embodiments of the disclosure. The drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a plan view of the assembly of the present disclosure connected to a tractor as a power source;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the assembly of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the shaft assembly; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the assembly of the present disclosure.
The drawing is not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated in order more clearly to depict certain features.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
The description that follows and the embodiments described therein are provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, of particular embodiments of the principles of various aspects of the present disclosure.
These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the disclosure in its various aspects.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 This disclosure relates to a new and useful mobile swing auger attachment (4) having a PTO shaft assembly (2) and, particularly useful when powered by a tractor (6) or other power source. The present disclosure is designed to overcome some of the difficulties and the safety risks encountered when positioning a mobile swing auger (12) directly behind the tractor or other power source (6) and subsequently positioning the unloading grain truck (not shown) next to the engaged PTO (10). While the present device will often be powered by the output PTO of a tractor, the device can be powered by any power source having a PTO output, and thus any references to a power source include a reference to a tractor or other power source.
The present PTO shaft assembly (2) that transposes the power provided by the PTO (10) in one or more directions, allowing the mobile swing auger (12) to be positioned in a location that does not have to be not directly .. behind the tractor or other power source (6). Unlike U.S. Patent No.
4,526,265, the present mobile swing auger attachment (4) is coupled to the existing swing auger (12) without the need to modify the existing swing auger (12) and can therefore be used on any mobile swing auger.
In a preferred embodiment, the PTO shaft assembly (2) has a first input shaft (14) with a first end and a second end, adapted for connecting, on the first end, to a tractor or other source (6) of PTO (10). This first shaft (14) is connected, on the second end, to a first gearbox (16). The first gearbox may have an input located along a first axis and an output located along a Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 second axis. Coupling means are used to join the first gearbox (16) output to a first end of a second shaft (18), said second shaft (18) oriented along the second axis. This second shaft (18) is connectable on a second end to either the mobile swing auger (12) in one embodiment, or in another embodiment, to a second gearbox (20) having an input located along the second axis and an output oreinted along a third axis. Coupling means are used to join the second gearbox (20) output shaft to a third shaft (22) on a first end thereof. A second end of the third shaft (22) is then couplable to a mobile swing auger intake drive (26) for supplying power to to the swing auger (12). Unlike U.S. Patent No. 4,526,265, it is not required to place the mobile swing auger intake drive (26) close to the auger inlet, elinniting the need for the heigh of the auger intake drive (26) to vary with changes in the angle of incline of the nnobel swing auger (12). The present device is workable with two shafts and a gearbox, and may optionally have more than three shafts and more than two gearboxes, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
The second gearbox can be supported by a pair of spaced apart castor wheels (38) mounted to the third beam which allow the device to pivot and be easily maneuvered. In a preferred embodiment, the above mentioned castor wheels are wheels with tires.
The above mentioned first, second and third shafts (14), (18), (22) may vary in length. In one embodiment, the first shaft (14) and the third shaft (22) are equal in length and the second shaft (18) is different. In another Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 embodiment, the first shaft (14) and the third shaft (22) are equal in length and the second shaft (18) is longer than the first shaft (14). In a preferred embodiment, the first shaft (14) and third shaft (22) are approximately three feet in length, while the second shaft (18) is approximately six feet in length.
In one embodiment, the above mentioned first gearbox (16) and second gearbox (20) are configured such that the angle between the first shaft (14) and the second shaft (18) and between the second shaft (18) and the third shaft (22) is between 0 and 180 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the above mentioned first gearbox (16) and second gearbox (20) are configured such that the output on the second axis is located approximately 90 degrees from the input on the first axis and where the input on the second axis is located approximately 90 degrees from the output on the third axis.
In general, the input and output of the gearboxes can be configured in different ways to meet requirements of the arrangement of the mobile swing auger (12) with the power source (6), grain truck etc.
The above mentioned shafts can also be configured in different non-planar or non-horizontal angles to meet requirements of the user. That is, the shafts may in some cases present a lift or drop from an output end to an input end thereof.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the protective cover (not shown) is affixed between the gearboxes (16) (20) allowing the shafts to rotate within the cover.
The mobile swing auger attachment (4) further comprises a mechanism for supporting the PTO shaft assembly (2) as the PTO shaft assembly (2) extends and pivots away from the tractor (6) or other power source. In a preferred embodiment, a frame (28) comprised of at least one beam, and more preferably a number of beams that correspond to the number of shafts, supports the PTO shaft assembly (2).
The frame (28) in a most preferred embodiment comprises a first beam (30) supporting the first shaft (14) on one axis. This first beam (30) can be coupled to the rear of the tractor (6) or other power source preferably through the use of a rear hitch lug or three point hitch and the first beam (30) is optionally supportable by a jack or other support structure fixed or movable on at least one end. In the present disclosure, the swing auger attachment (4) attaches to the tractor or other power source (6) only at one point, without the need for an additional attachment points, thus allowing the swing auger attachment (4) to pivot about its connection to the PTO (10). The first beam (30) is connecteded to a second beam (36) below the first gearbox (16) and second shaft (20), and can in turn be supported by a castor wheel (38) or other supportive structure that could be movable or fixed. The second beam (36) is connectable to a third beam (40) to support the second gearbox (20) and third shaft (22), if these are Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 present. The third beam (40) and is also supportable by a castor wheel (38) or other fixed or movable supportive structure. Unlike U.S. Patent No.
4,526,265, the present swing auger attachment (4) is not required to be raised and lowered along with the mobile swing auger (12).
In one embodiment, the above frame (28) is connected to the protective cover.
The above-mentioned first, second and third beams (30) (36) (40) may vary in length. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the first, second and third beams (30) (36) (40) correspond to the length of the first, second and third shafts (14) (18) (22).
In one embodiment, the above mentioned first beam (30) and second beam (36) are configured such that the angle between the first beam (30) on the first axis and the second beam (36) on the second axis is between 0 and 180 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the first beam (30) is connected to the second beam (36) at an angle of approximately 90 degrees, and the third beam (40) is connected to the second beam (36) at an angle equal to approximately 90 degrees. However, the first beam (30) and second beam (36) and the second beam (36) and third beam (40) can be configured in different ways to meet attachment requirements. For example, the first, second, and third beams can be configured to match the angles of the first and second shafts (14) (18) (22).

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 The above mentioned first, second and third beams can be configured in different non-planar variations to meet certain requirements of the user. In a preferred embodiment, the first, second, and third beams match the planar variation of the first, second, and third shafts.
The present device can be used on any mobile swing auger and no modification of the mobile swing auger is required.
The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure.
Various modifications to those embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular, such as by use of the article "a" or "an" is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless specifically so stated, but rather "one or more". All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout the disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the elements of the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 construed under the provisions of 35 USC 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for" or "step for".

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15

Claims (11)

Claims:

1. A shaft assembly for coupling to an existing conventional mobile swing auger for transferring power from a power take off (PTO) to the mobile swing auger, said shaft assembly comprising:
a. a first, single point of pivotable connection between a source of the PTO and the shaft assembly; and b. a second connection between the shaft assembly and an intake drive of the conventional mobile swing auger, wherein said second connection allows variation in an angle of incline of the conventional swing auger without altering elevation of the shaft assembly or the second connection.

2. The shaft assembly of claim 1 further comprising a. a first shaft having a first end connectable to the source of the PTO;
b. a first gearbox having an input of connectable to a second end of the first input shaft; and c. a second shaft having a first end of connectable to an output of said first gear box and having a second end connectable to the mobile swing auger intake drive for supplying power thereto, Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 wherein said first gearbox input connects to the first shaft along a first axis and said first gearbox output connects to the second shaft along a second axis.

3. The shaft assembly of claim 2, further comprising:
a. a second gearbox having an input connectable to the second end of of the second shaft; and b. a third shaft having a first end connectable to an output of said second gearbox and having a second end connectible to the mobile swing auger intake drive for supplying power thereto, .. whereinthe second gearbox input connects the second shaft along the second axis and the second gearbox outlet connects to the third shaft along a third axis.

4. The shaft assembly as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a frame to support the shaft assebly.

5. The shaft assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the frame comprises a beam arranged to support said first, second or third shafts.

6. The shaft assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frame comprises a first beam to support the first shaft and the first gearbox, said first beam serving as the first, single point of pivotable connection; a Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15 second beam to support the second shaft and the second gearbox; and a third beam to support the third shaft.

7. The shaft assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the second gearbox is further supported by a pair of spaced apart castor wheel assemblies.

8. The shaft assembly as claimed in 6 wherein the first beam is pivotably coupled to the source of the PTO via a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a hitch lug and a three point hitch.

9. The shaft assembly as claimed in 1 where the source of the PTO is a tractor.

10. The shaft assembly as claimed in 4 wherein the shaft assembly is enclosed by a protective cover.

11. The shaft assembly as claimed in 10 wherein the protective cover is supported by the frame.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-15