US3235229A - Silo unloader winch assembly - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 15, 1966 F. E. BUSCHBOM 3,235,229

SILO UNLOADER WINCH ASSEMBLY Original Filed March 30, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

, IN V EN TOR. Fwvof. Bax/130M gwzew Feb. 15, 1966 F. E. BUSCHBOM 3,235,229

SILO UNLOADER WINCH ASSEMBLY Original Filed March 30. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. FLOYD E. Bl/JCHBOM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,235,229 SILO UNLOADER WINCH ASSEMBLY Floyd E. Buschboin, Long Lake, Minn, asslgnor to V3117 dale Corporation, Long Lake, Minn a corporation of Minnesota Continuation of application Ser. No. 18,698, Mar. 359,

1960. This application Feb. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 270,483

12 Claims. (til. 254i86) This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 18,698, filed March 30, 1960 and now abandoned,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for eiiectuating the easy elevation and letdown of a silo unloader within atower silo or the like. Specifically, it relates to a new and useful winch assembly and means for attaching it to the wall of the silo, permitting increased ease and versatility of operations.

The winch assembly of this invention is adapted to be positioned releasably or relatively permanently upon the upright wall of a tower silo (or other appropriate location) and to provide a means whereby the unloader, a

relatively heavy object, may be elevated with varying degree of rapidity and/or exertion, either manually or mechanically. D

It is therefore an object of tlllS invention to prov1de a new and useful means for elevating and letting down of a silo unloader.

A further object of this invention is to pr-ov1de a new and useful winch assembly of improved versatility.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful winch assembly which may be releasably secured to the wall of a silo and maintained in position by the weight of the object being lowered, or which may be more permanently secured to the silo wall.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful winch-assembly whereby a plurality of mechanical advantages are provided for the operation thereof.

A further object of this invention is the provision of the winch assembly whereby provision is made for manua1 or machine operation of the driving mechanism for the winch.

Still a further object of this invention resides in the structural details of the means for attaching it to the silo wall.

Yet another object of this invention resides in the structural details of the means providing a plurality of mechanical advantages for its use.

Likewise, the structural details of the means whereby a mechanical drive means for the operation of the winch may be utilized is a further object of this invention.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent and apparent in the structure as described, pictured and claimed and will become more evident as the description proceeds.

It is the intention of the applicant to fulfill these objects even though they are not specifically named.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

This invention will be described with reference to the drawings in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of the winch assembly of the invention positioned upon the exterior of a tower silo wall showing certain portions in phantom outline;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the structure of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view partly broken away; and

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view taken opposite the end of the view of FIGURE 2 and showing alternate attachment of the winch assembly to the silo wall.

Reference is now made to the drawings. In the drawings is shown a fragmentary portion of the curved vertical wall'of a tower silo designated W1 in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 and W2 in FIGURE 4. This wall may be con ventioually made of a number of materials such as concrete or other staves, or blocks, poured concrete or the like or wood or similar materials.

In FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, it is illustrated. as comprising a material such as concrete or the like, which is relatively hard to penetrate and in FIGURE 4 is shown illustrated as wood or other material which is more readily penetrated.

In the use of staves or the like, a number of annular bands or hoops are conventionally passed around thesilo at varying levels to confine any outward expansion of the silo wall, particularly when the silo is full, These are placed as horizontal rings at various levels and a por tion of one of these hoops or bands is shown and designated as In in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. When the winch is used in cooperation with one of such bands for mounting, a pair of mounting bars 11 and 12, each having turned ends 13 is used. The turned ends 13 are forced upwardly underneath the hoop l0 and lie against the silo wall W1. The bars are then secured to the winch assembly 15 through bolts l4inserted into studs located. on the winch assembly housing. it will thus be seen that in the position of FIGURES l3, the weight of the unloader on the cable C will draw the winch in the direction of the arrow U 1in FIGURE 2 and maintain it in position on the silo we 1.

When the Winch assembly is used as shown in FIG- URE 4 and mounted upon a surface which may be penetrated, the bars 11 are reversed so that the turned portions 13 extend outwardly from the slio wall. Then the bars 11 and 12 are secured to the wall W2 by screws 16 or other similar means, and spaced from the wall by washers 17 to provide clearance for the heads of bolts 14 as shown in FIGURE 4.

Each bar 11 and 12 is thus provided with four apertures, two for the reception of bolts 14 and two for the reception of screws 16, as desired.

The winch assembly, generally designated 15, comprises a frame 18 of generally U-shaped configuration. As shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4, the frame 18 has a base portion 18A arcu-ately shaped in transverse crosssection and a gear housing 19 having a cover plate 20 emovably secured thereto by bolts 21 with a gasket (not shown) interposed therebetween as desired. The housing is provided with an elbow 22 threaded thereinto at the bottom to provide a means for introducing or draining oil which oil provides a bath for the worm 23 and worm gear 24 as desired.

The worm 23 is pinned, as shown in FIGURE 2, to a worm shaft 23A, the ends of which are situated in bushings in housing 19 serving as bearing surfaces. A thrust bearing 25 is provided adjacent the rear end of worm 23 and a bushing 26 adjacent the front end. The front end 27 of the worm shaft 23A extends outwardly of the housing and is provided with a plurality of keyways as shown in FIGURE 2.

Mating worm gear 24 is positioned upon a spool shaft 28, positioned in bushings in housing I? and frame portion 29, serving as a bearing bracket. Gear 24 is pinned to shaft 28 at one end and the winch spool 36 is pinned thereto between housing 19 and portion 29.

The silo unloader cable C is appropriately positioned on the spool as shown in FIGURE 2. Secured to portion 29 is a boss 31 threaded to receive bolt 32 and support a bracket arm 33 to which is welded or otherwise secured a countershaft bracket 34. It will be appreciated that by tightening or loosening of bolt 32 the arm 33 may be fixed or swung in an arc respectively with reference to FIGURE 1 to serve as a belt tightener.

Bracket 34 serves as a bearing for a countershaft 35 having a washer 35B welded to its rear end and in abutment with the machined surface of bracket 34. (A bushing providing a bearing surface may be used in bracket 34 if desired.) Shaft 35 extends forwardly and is provided with two keyways, one of which serves to secure a pulley or sheave 36 to it. She-ave 36 is also provided with a set screW36A to secure it in position, as shown. Sheave 36 has a belt 37 positioned thereon which passes around pulley or sheave 38 of substantially larger diameter and which is keyed on shaft 23A and secured in posit-ion by set screw 38A. Positioned on shaft 23A and releasably secured thereto by a key and a set screw 39 is a handle assembly 40 comprising a crank 41 passing through aligned apertures in the sleeve 42 having secured thereto by welding or otherwise a nut 43 in which a winch driving stud 44 is positioned. Winch driving stud 44 comprises a threaded shank threaded into nut 43 and bearing against crank 41 to maintain it in position, and an integral nut 45 and an extending rod portion.

It will be seen that the crank 41 may be utilized in n the position shown to rotate spool 30 to wind the cable C thereon and elevate the unloader or to unwind the cable C to lower the unloader manually. If greater mechanical advantage is desired, the set screw 39 may be loosened, a key inserted in the way 35A on shaft 35 and the winch crank utilized to operate the winch more slowly but with greater mechanical advantage, as where a person of lesser strength desires to operate the winch or greater speed is not desired.

The stud 44 provides means whereby the winch may be operated mechanically, either with the winch crank 11 in position as shown-or preferably with it removed. To remove the winch crank 41 the stud 44 is rotated in its threaded engagement with not 43 to draw it outwardly from the nut 43 and crank 41 may then be removed. The stud 4-4 may then be threaded inwardly until nut 45 engages nut 43. The chuck of an electric drill may then be positioned over the stud 44. Stud 44 is shown to be provided with a right hand thread so that as the drill rotates in a clockwise position (when viewed from the operators end of the drill) engagement with the stud will serve to continuously maintain the nut 45 tightly in the nut 43. As will then be appreciated, the drill may be utilized with the sleeve 42 in the position of FIGURES 1-4 or in position on the countershaft 35 to elevate the unloader mechanically.

The threading of stud 44 and gears 23 and 24 are so chosen that the rotation of the drill to be used (preferably) counterclockwise from the operators position will continuously maintain stud 44 in tightened position and wind cable C on the winch spool 30.

Likewise, as will be appreciated, sheaves 36 and 38 may be interchanged on shafts 35 and 23A to provide more rapid operation either by hand in cooperation with crank 41 or mechanically in cooperation with stud 44, when desired.

It will therefore be seen that this invention provides aplura-lity of methods of attachment to a silo wall, means providing a plurality of mechanical advantages which may be utilized for either a manual operation of the winch or a mechanical operation thereof.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, The

specific embodiments described are given by way of example only and the invention islimited only by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A silo unloader winch assembly comprising a frame, a spool rotatable in said frame, a first sheave, a second sheave of smaller dimension than said first sheave, belt means connecting said sheaves, extending shaft means for each of said sheaves, means for operatively interconnecting one of said shafts and said spool, and releasable crank means positioned on one of said shafts.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by a mounting bracket means secured in adjustable angular position to one end of said winch frame and said bracket means providing a bearing sleeve rotatably supporting one of said shaft means, said shaft means in said bearing sleeve having flange means at one end precluding Withdrawal of said shaft means in one direction and one of said sheaves secured to the other end of said shaft means having a flange, said bearing sleeve being between said flange and said sheave.

3. A silo unloader winch assembly having a winch spool comprising a first shaft having a sheave secured thereto and operatively associated with said winch spool, a second shaft having a sheave of smaller dimension than said first sheave secured thereto, a belt connecting said two sheaves, a sleeve, said sleeve positioned on one of said shafts and apertured for the reception of a winch crank therein, a winch crank in said sleeve aperture, means releasably securing said winch crank therein including an extending member adapted to receive a chuck.

4. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that said shafts are of substantially the same dimension to receive said sleeve. I

5. A winch assembly for a silo unloader or the like comprising a frame, a winch drum journalled for rotation therein, reduction gear means for said winch drum journalled for rotation in said frame, a first sheave of larger dimension, a second sheave of smaller dimension, belt means interconnecting the two sheaves, extending shaft means for each of said sheaves rotatably secured to said frame and positioned in substantially parallel extension, said shaft means for said sheave of larger dimension comprising part of said reduction gear means, and releasable crank means positioned on one of said shaft means.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which there is a bracket means secured in adjustable angular position to one end of said frame, said bracket means providing a bearing for said associated shaft means, said second sheave and its associated shaft means being journalled for rotation in said bracket bearing.

7. The structure of claim 5 in which said shaft means both extend from said frame at substantially right angles to the axis of rotation of said winch drum at one side thereof and said frame providing mounting surfaces substantially at the other side of said winch drum, and said frame means being so configured that the top of said winch drum is substantially unobstructed.

8. The structure of claim 5 in which said extending shaft means for said sheaves are of substantially the same diameter.

9. A silo unloader winch assembly including a winch spool, a frame of generally U-shaped configuration and providing a base portion extending along one side of the winch spool, the top, bottom and front of the winch spool being substantially unobstructed, said frame having an arcuate cross-section throughout said base portion extending along one side of said winch spool, said cross-section 11. A silo unloader winch assembly comprising, a frame, a winch spool having a shaft journalled for rotation in said frame, said frame providing a bearing surface at one end thereof for reception of one end of said winch spool shaft and a lubricant retaining housing at the other end thereof for receiving the other end of said winch spool shaft, a worm gear secured to said other end of said winch spool shaft, a worm shaft journalled for rotation in said housing having one end extending from said housing and a worm secured to said worm shaft and engaging said worm gear, a first sheave mounted on said worm shaft, a bracket secured in adjustable angular position to the end of said frame opposite said housing, an extending shaft means journalled for rotation in said bracket, said shaft journalled in said bracket being in parallel extension to said Worm shaft, a second sheave on said extending shaft journalled in said bracket, and belt means interconnecting the two sheaves.

12. A silo unloader winch assembly comprising a frame means, a winch spool means secured to said frame means for rotation therein, a shaft means for actuating said winch spool means and having an end extending from said frame means, a second shaft means spaced from said shaft means, rotatably secured to said frame means and extending in the same direction therefrom, a first sheave of larger dimension secured to one of said shafts for rotation therewith, a second sheave of smaller dimension secured to the other of said shafts for rotation therewith, belt means interconnecting the said two sheaves, and releasable crank means positioned on either of said shaft means selectively.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 732,377 6/1903 Rowntree 254186 X 747,401 12/ 1903 Foltz. 1,150,351 8/1915 Elmore 254150 1,353,238 9/1920 Holmes 254--186 1,380,779 6/1921 Craig 254145 1,806,482 5/1931 Mellon. 1,825,359 9/1931 Manley 254145 2,546,863 3/1951 Moore 254187 2,668,036 2/1954 Klemm. 2,727,604 12/ 1955 Robertson 254-186 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SILO UNLOADER WINCH ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FRAME, A SPOOL ROTATABLE IN SAID FRAME, A FIRST SHEAVE, A SECOND SHEAVE OF SMALLER DIMENSION THAN SAID FIRST SHEAVE, BELT MEANS CONNECTING SAID SHEAVES, EXTENDING SHAFT MEANS FOR EACH OF SAID SHEAVES, MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTING ONE OF SAID SHAFTS AND SAID SPOOL, AND RELEASABLE CRANK MEANS POSITIONED ON ONE OF SAID SHAFTS.

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