WO2012076286A1

WO2012076286A1 - Grain transporter machine

Info

Publication number: WO2012076286A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/069919
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sergio Osvaldo Saffarano
Original assignee: Donosvasa S.A.; Fernandez Ballester, Carlos Luis
Priority date: 2010-12-07
Filing date: 2011-11-11
Publication date: 2012-06-14
Also published as: AR079313A1

Abstract

A transporter machine (1) for grains, seeds, or any kind of bulk material to be unloaded from a lorry (2) or the like, so as to enable the prompt feeding of silo bags by means of a silo bagger, wherein the transporter machine (1) receives the grains from the lorry, which remains still, lifts them up and leads them into the silo bagger until the lorry (2) is completely emptied, due to the ability of the grain transporter machine to pivot around a pivot axis (y) generally coinciding with the grain inlet (6), supported by a set of wheels (13,14) that jointly allow the transporter machine to: turn while working, adopt a self-motion position wherein the transporter machine can be directed and position itself behind another new lorry, and a towing position wherein the transporter machine can be attached to a vehicle to be transported within or out the working field.

Description

GRAIN TRANSPORTER MACHINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to devices, equipment, machinery and tools used for transport, handling and storage of bulk products, more particularly, related to handling agricultural bulk products, and yet more particularly, this invention is related to a transporter machine for grains, seeds and the like, allowing the direct unloading of grains from lorries for grain transport and the prompt filling of silo bags by means of a silo bagger.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the current situation, needs and problems related to loading, handling, transporting and storing of solid bulk products, preferably grains or seeds and the like, meaning to be stored in silos for a period of time, the appropriate storage option for the purposes of the present invention is silo bags especially manufactured for bulk storage of seeds, pastures, grains, and the like. Silo bags for bulk storage are an option to replace the traditional cylindrical metallic silo providing similar conditions of temperature, light and physical isolation needed for the grains to last during a long period of time before use or trade thereof. Silo bags are filled by means of specially designed machinery, known as silo baggers or feeders, or simply baggers, generally connected to a tractor that unfolds the bag while filling it with bulk material as the tractor moves forward. Thus, once filled up, the bag lies on the ground forming an oblong or flat tunnel. In this way, generally being around at least 60 to 75 meters long, the silo bag provides the same storage capacity as a traditional silo, thus compensating for the height thereof.

The grains, seeds or bulk material, hereinafter designated interchangeably as "grains" or "grain", to be fed into the grain silo bagger, are often provided from lorries with load trailer or the like, hereinafter designated in general as "lorry" or "lorries". In this sense, such lorries with trailer have large grain load capacity so as to transport a large amount of grains from the fields being harvested to the destination where they can be stored in the silo bags in the fewer possible trips.

Lorries generally arrive one after the other at the grain storage site, which makes it necessary to have an unloading process as fast and direct as possible from the lorry to its final destination into the silo bag.

Today this task (unloading from lorries and filling silo bags) generally requires the use of a self-unloading grain hopper, which often consists of a large tank or vessel on wheels that must be previously filled in with the lorry content, unloading the grains by means of a screw conveyor or the like, and staff carrying out the final unloading task (sweeping cereals) with the manual use of spades. Once filled, the self- unloading grain hopper remains still by the lorry as the latter unloads cereal therein, being the hopper towed as the silo bagger moves forward by means of a screw conveyor and the grain is led into the silo bagger as the latter works unfolding and filling the silo bag.

This parallel movement forward by the self-unloading hopper and the silo bagger occurs until there is no more content in the self-unloading hopper, when it must be refilled with a new bulk of grains from the lorry, which has been waiting for the unloading to end. It is important to consider that, in general, the amount of grains contained by a lorry with trailer is much larger than the capacity of the self-unloading hopper, thus requiring the loading and unloading of a lorry many steps as regards the self-unloading hopper, and making the lorry remain in the unloading site more time than desired. It is well-known that the capacity of lorries with trailers is two or three times greater than the capacity of self-unloading hoppers, thus making it impossible to unload the lorry in only one unloading operation.

Therefore, it is convenient to have a grain transporter machine with the capacity to unload a lorry carrying grains, for instance, from a harvest, completely and directly into the receiving hopper of the silo bagger, which can go along with the movement forward of the silo bagger as the silo bag is unfolded and filled in lying on the ground.

According to the prior art, in many cases the transport, handling and/or storage of certain bulk products - either food or not, of materials as diverse as concrete, mud, stones, sand, seeds, vegetables, pulse, among others- made it necessary to design a wide range of devices for the lifting and transport of such products that can be applied in several fields.

Thus, there are some previous technological developments in the art of special interest for the purposes of the present invention in patent documents such as EP 175422 in the name of Zijlstra & Bolhuis B.V., which discloses a conveyor belt for filling potato baskets. The machine described and depicted in such patent document can pivot on a support base to distribute the potato load into the baskets. This type of embodiment and others of an overall similar structure as described in patent document FR 2292408 in the name of Powerscreen International Limited or patent US 3563364 granted to Harsco Corporation, or patent US 3067858 granted to S Loosli, in general comprise a design for which it is not possible to perform the specific working tasks that are possible as a result of the present invention and as it will be better described in detail below.

The device disclosed by patent EP 175422 Bl, states that the use of a driving means in only one of the wheels is an obstacle for its function, using and disclosing a double motorization system, i.e. two wheels independently driven. Together with this system, it provides a system for detecting obstacles in each of these two wheels so as to allow a change in their movement direction, all this around a pivot axis determined by a support base. Furthermore, the device disclosed incorporates a third wheel that turns freely adapting to the direction track of the two motorized wheels, thus acting solely as support and not directing the track. This structure as disclosed requires a double control of driving means and a double control of direction for both motorized wheels, something that is not necessary for the purposes of the present invention.

Likewise, inventions as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document FR 2292408 only comprise two wheels and a support base, thus generally conditioning their function to a still position and/or exclusively depend on towing to be relocated, that is, to change their working position. For example, another invention as disclosed in patent US 3563364 above, in spite of disclosing possible means of motorizing wheels, it also comprises a third wheel that can be oriented manually by the worker. In general, this kind of structure allows a stationary transport of bulk products by means of an elevating conveyor belt and has limited movement when the wheels in the outlet point are parallel one from the other, thus allowing limited control of the direction by means of the third wheel in the opposite end.

Finally, the device disclosed in patent US 3067858 above, also shows a structure comprising two steerable wheels, actioned by chains and being the third wheel freely orientable, being the device generally used as a portable conveyor belt, not incorporating in the design thereof characteristics that can effectively meet the working conditions described below in the present application when filling silo bags directly from a lorry. Consequently, such devices cannot be satisfactorily applied to said working conditions.

Despite all above existing devices and machinery, there is still a need for unloading and transporting grains directly from lorries into the silo bags, saving time and operative costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a grain transporter machine that enables a prompt and direct unload of bulk material from a lorry with trailer, so as to enable the feeding of grains into a silo bagger in one unloading working cycle, due to the ability of the grain transporter machine to change the grain outlet position following the silo bagger hopper so as to lead the load therein while the lorry remains still and unloading its cargo into the transporter grain inlet.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a grain transporter machine that, in addition, enables self-motion and maneuverability, that is, it can adopt a new working position within the working field when it is necessary to be relocated to receive the load from a new lorry with cargo in a new forward position along the feeding of the silo bagger.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a grain transporter machine that can be set in a towing position, thus enabling the towing thereof by a pickup or the like, for instance, along a rural road or a main road, being arranged as compact as possible.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a grain transporter machine that comprises a chassis that supports a number of components, used for the transport of grain, seeds or any kind of bulk material to be unloaded from a lorry with trailer or the like, where such transporter machine has at least one conducting tube with a grain inlet on its lower end and a grain outlet on the upper end, the grain or bulk material being lifted and unloaded by driving means positioned within such at least one conducting tube, such as screw conveyors, conveyor belts and the like. In addition, such transporter comprises a pivot support means with at least one corner wheel and, supplementary, a pole or the like, generally positioned under such grain inlet, that defines a pivot vertical axis (y). Furthermore, the grain transporter machine also comprises at least two steerable wheels on the opposite chassis end, close to the grain outlet and positioned on both sides of the conducting tube so as to balance the transporter machine and so that when the at least three wheels work together, the machine can adopt three different positions: a grain transporting position, wherein the steerable wheels are positioned in a way that the rotation axes thereof allow the transporter machine to pivot around the bulk material inlet; a self-motion position, wherein at least one of such steerable wheels is set parallel to the corner wheel of the pivot support means and another of the steerable wheels is actioned by a steering command and driving means; and a towing position where the steerable wheels are positioned in a parallel way one from the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of the object of this invention, it is further disclosed by reference to the enclosed drawings which represent, but are not limited to, a preferred embodiment thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the transporter machine of the present invention, when beginning a grain transport cycle with the lorry wagon or trailer unloading grain into the transporter grain hopper.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the grain transporter of the present invention, wherein the broken arrows indicate the wheel paths along its working cycle.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the equipment set used for silo bag storage, wherein the back of a lorry is unloading grain into the grain inlet of the grain transporter of the present invention; furthermore, to the right, this figure shows a silo bag being unfolded by the silo bagger attached to the tractor as it is fed by the grain outlet of such transporter. Figure 4 is a side view of the grain transporter of the present invention, wherein the inside of the conducting tube is partially shown through a partial view, showing a screw conveyor as a first embodiment of the bulk material propeller.

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial view of the top section of the conducting tube showing a second embodiment of such bulk material propeller.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a firs embodiment of the grain transporter machine of the present invention, showing two enlarged views of two of the most relevant parts of the machine for the purposes of the present invention.

Figure 7 and 8 are top views of the work equipment set in accordance with Figure 3, showing two representative time points in a working cycle, wherein Figure 7 is the beginning of the cycle with the transport of grains from the lorry to the silo bagger and Figure 8 is the end of the cycle of transport of grains from the lorry to the silo bagger generally coinciding with the emptying of the lorry.

Figure 9 is a perspective view similar to Figure 2, but having already folded the conducting tube in its top grain lifting part and having fixed the steering wheels so as to set the transporter machine in towing position.

Figure 10 shows the transporter of the present invention set in towing position and attached to a towing vehicle.

Figure 11 shows another embodiment of the present invention, from the stand point of Figure 4, and incorporating a grain suction pipe; and Figure 12 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention, from the stand point of Figure 4, comprising two pieces of conveyor belt in a pipe or tube and an intermediate dropping tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is now hereby further detailed based on a first preferred embodiment with reference to annexed Figures 1 to 12. Although the machine of the present invention will be described below by means of a preferred embodiment, the main object of which is to transport agricultural grains, any other type of bulk material can be transported without inconvenience using the transporter machine herein described.

Figure 1 shows the general structure of a first preferred embodiment of the transporter machine (1) of the present invention. Next to such transporter machine and behind it, a lorry or trailer (2) is starting to unload its cargo into the reception hopper (8) of the transporter.

This lorry (2) contains grain (G) from the harvest, which as stated hereinabove, is being unloaded through a grain outlet (3). The rate or flow of grains (G) being unloaded can be determined by means of the leaning position or slope of the lorry (2) and the opening of the guillotine door (4) covering the grain outlet (3)

The grain transporter machine (1) comprises a conducting tube (5) made up in a preferred embodiment by a number of cylindrical cross section tubes (5a), (5b) and (5c), positioned one after the other and making a conducting channel wherein the bulk material flows, i.e, the grains (G) to be stored. In this way, this conducting tube (5) comprises in its lower end a grain inlet (6) a grain outlet (7) and in its upper end.

In order to help receive the flow of grains both at the beginning and end of the conducting tube (5), there is a reception hopper (8) that forms a preferred channel to lead the grain into the grain inlet (6), and a steerable header (9) that forms a preferred channel to direct the outlet of grains.

Being the direction of the grain transported determined by the conducting tube (5), the rate, direction and strength of grain movement (G) within the conducting tube is achieved by a propeller (10) in the inside of the tube (5), depicted better in Figures 4 and 5, which in a preferred embodiment is a screw conveyor, a conveyor belt and the like.

This propeller (10) for the bulk material, in a preferred embodiment, is driven by an engine (11) which for the purposes of the present invention may be a single internal combustion engine connected to that propeller (10) by means of pulleys, belts and axis. Furthermore, it is possible to add a coupling or clutching mechanism to start or stop the action of this propeller (10), that is, the turning of the screw conveyor or the forward movement of a conveyor belt. Moreover, this engine may be of any other kind, such as an electric engine or the like.

In particular, turning back to the description of such conducting tube (5), depicted better in Figures 1 or 4, in a preferred embodiment, it comprises a first section (5a) generally positioned horizontally, that within it can transport grains (G) into the second section (5b) and then into the third section (5c). Such second (5b) and third (5c) sections, for the purposes of the present invention, form a single sloping grain lifting section since they allow to reach the bagger hopper (28) as described hereinbelow. As a person skilled in the art can see, the lengths and sections used to transport the grain (5) can change so as to make them more convenient in order to achieve the same grain transport effect as described in the present invention, without limitation to the scope of the present invention. This means that the conducting tube (5) can be continuous and/or partitioned, open between sections incorporating consecutive collecting trays and consecutive collecting or propelling means that turn independently or jointly, etc. In this sense and as an example, Figure 12 shows in a simplified scheme of a possible embodiment of the conducting tube (5) divided in two sections, an upper section (5s) and a lower section (5i). In this way, there are two straight pieces of transporter conveyor belt used as propellers (10) driven by a single belt or chain (38). In this embodiment, the first section of the conveyor belt leads the grain being transported into the second section of the conveyor belt. Furthermore, it is also possible to incorporate an intermediate hopper or tray (41) to lead the grains from the first section of the conveyor belt and into the lower part of the second conveyor belt. However, as a person skilled in the art can see, other embodiments are possible combining different sections for lifting and transporting grains. Figure 11 shows another embodiment, wherein a so-called cyclone (42), that is, a device used to separate air particles by means of centrifugal force, is added, which comprises a suction hose (43) connected thereto, so as to suck up any grain remaining inside the lorry and to make use thereof in any other convenient circumstance. In this case, air suction within such cyclone (42) may be carried out by connecting it to a centrifugal fan (44) as depicted by way of example in Figure 11.

However, for the purposes of the present invention, and as depicted better in Figures 1, 3, and 6, in a preferred embodiment, the conducting tube (5) is a continuous closed tube which runs from the grain inlet (6) to the grain outlet (7), which presents a transport section (5a) generally positioned horizontally holding in the inside the first part of the propeller (10), such as a screw conveyor, and a sloping section (5b) (5c) holding in the inside the final part of this propeller (10), such as a screw conveyor. In a preferred embodiment, both ends of the screw conveyor (10) are connected by a homocinetic joint and/or cardan joint and/or the like in the point where the conducting tube (5) changes direction.

It is worth mentioning that the division of the sloping tube in two sections (5b) and (5c) is only in order to allow the breaking or folding of this portion of the tube for towing or storage of the transporter machine, as depicted better in Figures 9 and 10. For this reason, despite the fact two sections (5b) and (5c) are illustrated and referred to, it is also possible to have a single continuous sloping lifting piece, without any limitation to the present invention.

As better depicted in Figures 1, 2 and 6, the support chassis (12) holding the number of components of the present grain transporter machine (1), also holds such conducting tube (5) and stands on the ground on at least two wheels (13) and (14). In general, such wheels are generally placed in a symmetric position to the conducting tube (5) that leads the grain upwards, by the grain outlet (7) in the end of the chassis (12), so as to absorb and balance the transporter (1) weight at operation or in motion. In particular, this generally symmetric position can be clearly seen in the top views from Figures 7 and 8.

Both wheels (13) and (14) by the grain outlet (7) are steerable so as to modify the transporter motion. More specifically and better depicted in Figure 6, the wheel (13) can be steered and fixed so as to follow a generally round path (15), regarding the grain inlet (6). Furthermore, the wheel (14), better depicted in close-up "B", may be steered so as to follow said round path (15) in order to make the transporter machine (1) pivot with respect to the grain inlet (6). However, for the purposes of this invention and in a preferred embodiment, at least one of the wheels (13) and/or (14) is actioned by a steering engine (16), in a preferred embodiment, a rotating hydraulic motor. Furthermore, such steering wheel driven by such engine (16) is controlled by means of a steering command, which for the purposes of the present invention, is a double effect hydraulic cylinder (25).

In a preferred embodiment, it is possible to incorporate a rotating hydraulic engine with a gear wheel (17) in its spindle to make the wheel (14) steer when acting on an internal circular rack (18), being this mechanism either attachable or detachable. Likewise, in order to obtain flow hydraulic power, it is possible to use a hydraulic generator (19) through the above-mentioned engine (11), through pulleys and belts. In addition, it is possible to use such hydraulic power for other functions of movement, forwarding and turning, as described above or below, and driven from a control panel (20). This control panel (20), in a preferred embodiment, is held by poles (21) that allow a person standing on platform (22) attached to the support chassis (12) to drive the transporter machine (1) in a convenient form.

The direction of one of the wheels, for this preferred embodiment, wheel (13), can be achieved by means of a hinge mechanism or supporting vertical axis or steering joint that pivots with respect to the chassis (12), thus allowing to fix the wheel direction (13) in different positions, for instance, by means of some kind of pin (23) with a handle that is inserted in appropriate holes (24) (see figure 2), made on both the chassis and the hinge holding the wheel (13). However, a person skilled in the art may apply other means of fixing the direction of the wheel (13) into position. As regards wheel (14), it can be directed by a hinge mechanism or supporting vertical axis or steering joint similar to wheel (13), but steered and fixed in position by means of an actuator (25) such as a hydraulic cylinder. In this preferred embodiment, at least one of these wheels (13) or (14) is steerable so that at least one working position can be set allowing the transporter machine to generally turn with respect to such grain inlet (6) as better depicted in Figures 7 and 8.

In particular, the transporter machine (1) of the present invention comprises a pivot support means (26) generally placed below the grain inlet (6), so that the transporter machine (1) can be turned around the grain inlet (6). Such pivot support means comprises at least one corner wheel (27). For the purposes of the present invention, it is necessary to establish a pivot vertical axis (y) of the transporter machine, so that once the transporter machine (1) is set in position with its grain inlet (6) to receive the grain (G) from the lorry (2), such pivot vertical axis remains still while the wheels (13) and (14) make a round path generally around such pivot vertical axis (y).

For the purposes of the present invention, this pivoting axis (y) may be secured by incorporating a pole (37) or any other similar piece that may be dug in the ground and help the machine turn generally around the grain inlet (6), generally coinciding with the transporter machine pivot axis (y), as better depicted in Figures 7 and 8 which show this turning from a top view.

Therefore, for the purposes of the present invention, this pivot support means (26) also comprises a corner wheel (27), a pole (37) generally positioned below the grain inlet (6) which generally coincides with the transporter pivot axis (y) in such position of grain transport.

However, the special configuration of wheels (27), (13) and (14) of the present invention allow a turning movement around the pivot axis (y) regardless the use of pole (37) in a more convenient form and as described hereinbelow.

Therefore, any support means, as a set or single support means (26) that allows the transporter machine (1) to turn around such pivot axis (y) can be used, including a small-diameter wheel that can be fixed when the other parts of the set are rotating, or in contrast, the sharp end of the chassis (12) itself can be placed on the ground since such chassis is generally placed on ground, thus enabling the transporter machine to turn around as mentioned above, as long as such turning is around such pivot axis (y), which generally coincides with the grain inlet (6).

With reference to Figure 6, "close-up A" shows an embodiment of this pivot support means (26) that comprises a corner wheel (27) and additionally a pole (37) or some kind of stuck cone. This corner wheel (27) may be lifted or lowered by means of a hydraulic actuator to allow the sticking of such pole (37) when such wheel (27) is lifted. Therefore, this pole (37) or an equivalent piece goes up or down with respect to such corner wheel (27), because such corner wheel is held by a tow bar (31) articulated to such chassis (12) which is lifted or lowered by a hydraulic mechanism (32) or an equivalent device.

In this way, the transporter (1) adopts a convenient working position, as shown in Figure 3, wherein the pivot support means (26) is in contact with the ground through such pole (37) and/or the corner wheel (27). However, being the preferred configuration of the pivot support means (26) fixed by the pole (37) in the form of a sticking cone, it can also remain stuck on the ground while the corner wheel (27) is also on the ground, and parallel to wheel (13) pivoting both around the pivot axis (y) on which the whole transporter machine (1) turns. That is to say, regardless of the shape of such pivot support means, its construction enables the turning around the pivot axis (y) generally positioned coinciding with the grain inlet (6). Thus, every time the transporter machine (1) turns during the grain transport working cycle, the grain inlet (6) is preferably connected to the reception hopper (8) but generally still while receiving the amount of grains unloaded from the loaded lorry (2). As it is better shown in Figure 8, the position of the corner wheel (27) is such that in the grain transporting position, that is, when it is actively turning, the rotation axis of at least one of the steerable wheels, for this embodiment, steerable wheel (13), is parallel to the rotation axis of the corner wheel (27) and the prolongation of both axis generally intersect such pivot axis (y) of the transporter machine, thus resulting in two round paths around the pivot axis (y) and, consequently, keeping the position of the grain inlet (6) fixed/

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the grain transporting position, the prolongation of the axes of the steerable wheels (13) and (14) intersect the pivot axis, allowing the transporter machine to pivot around the bulk material inlet.

As better shown in Figure 3, the lorry (2) is in unloading position having its gate (4) up ready to let the grain (G) out in a controlled way. The grain (G) is collected by a reception hopper (8) towards the grain inlet (6) propelled and lifted through the conducting tube (5) towards the grain outlet (7) while directed at the same time by a steerable header (9) towards a hopper (28) of the silo bagger (29) to fill gradually the silo bag (30).

Therefore, such grain inlet (6) preferably consists of a grain conducting system designed so that the reception hopper (8) is connected to the grain inlet (6), and in the grain outlet (7) there is a steerable header connected to allow the raising and lowering of the grain outlet, that is, a new position for this grain outlet (7), which is now steerable. In this way, there is also an improvement in the grain outlet direction, thus allowing a better feeding of the reception hopper (28) of the silo bagger (29).

Particularly, it can be observed that the lowering of the pole (37) of pivot support means (26) is achieved by lifting the tow bar (31) on which the corner wheel is held (27), thus allowing pole (37) to go down. This up and down movement of the wheel (27) and the tow bar (31) can be conveniently achieved by pivoting the bar over the chassis (12) by means of a joint on both sides of the chassis (12) and by placing the bar (31) upwards or downwards by means of a hydraulic cylinder (32) or similar device. Furthermore, other alternative and/or simultaneous lifting mechanisms of wheel (27) and sticking pole (37) may be applied.

For further description of the way the grain transport (G) is carried out, Figures 7 and 8 are annexed. These figures show the beginning of the working cycle of the grain transport (G), in which the reception hopper (8) works leading or collecting the grains (G) loaded on the lorry (2) and coming out through the outlet in a controlled way. This flow of grains (G) comes in through the grain inlet (6) and is led and raised through the conducting tube (5) due to the propeller (10) and unloaded through the grain outlet (7) into the hopper (28) of the silo bag (30).

It can be observed that the position of the transporter machine (1) in Figure 7 is behind the grain outlet position of the lorry (2), referenced with broken line (x), and this is achieved keeping the pivot vertical axis (y) generally fixed and coinciding with the grain inlet, thus allowing the transporter machine (1) to turn backwards in relation to the lorry.

It is worth mentioning that such reception hopper (8) can rotate with respect to the grain inlet (6), thus remaining relatively still below the outlet (3) for unloading grains (G), notwithstanding the turning position of the transporter itself and securing the reception of the amount of grains from the lorry (2). The turning movement of the reception hopper (8) with respect to the grain inlet (6) can be achieved by any well- known means of construction, such as a simple fitting of pipes one into another, or a more complex mechanism of fitting flanges and bearings, among many other options.

As the silo bagger (29) stretches and fills the silo bag (30), it moves forward in the same direction as the tractor (33), that is, upwards in Figures 7 and 8, so the movement forward of the hopper (28) of the silo bagger (29) is accompanied by the turning of the transporter machine (1) around the pivot vertical axis (y), generally coinciding with the position of the grain inlet (6) controlled by the turning driving means of at least one of the wheels, in this case wheel (14). As the tractor (33) moves forward, the silo bag (30) is filled and the hopper (28) moves forward, and the grain outlet (7) goes along with this movement when the transporter machine (1) turns in this way, always leading the flow of grains (G) into the hopper (28). Figure 8 shows more clearly the position the wheels take when the transporter machine pivots while loading grains into the silo bagger (29). Particularly, it shows both steerable wheels (13) and (14) positioned so as to let the transporter machine turn around such pivot vertical axis (y), generally coinciding with the grain inlet (6). A particular position of the path direction (15') of the non-motorized steerable wheel (13) that is parallel to the path position (15^") of the corner wheel (27), not only allows the required rotation while lifting and unloading grain, but also allows the appropriate self- positioning of the transporter machine (1) behind the following lorry to be unloaded.

This advantageous possibility of self-motion or self-transport of the transporter machine (1), is possible because of the motorized wheel (14) that moves the transporter machine forwards and backwards determining its way and direction, when combined with the parallel direction paths of both wheels (13) and (27) as a "motorized tricycle". It can thus be seen that the path direction of the non-motorized steerable wheel (13) is directed parallel to the corner wheel (27); having the latter a fixed path position, so as to allow the appropriate movement both in the pivoting turn with respect to the grain inlet, and the movement of transporter machine to its new working position.

Completed thus the working cycle, when the lorry comes to the position depicted in Figure 8, it has generally already unloaded all its load, and the transporter machine is left in front of the lorry (2), or at least in front of the reference line (x) of the grain outlet (G), while at the same time the silo bag has been filled with the load of the lorry. In this way, the lorry has remained still for a relatively short period of time, but enough to be unloaded and is then free to make a new travel, for instance, back to the field being harvested. In order to highlight the advantages offered by the working cycle that can be achieved by this new grain transporter, this fast unloading fashion and simultaneous silo bag filling can be compared to the traditional work alternative consisting in instructing the lorry driver to keep the engine on and stay behind the lorry wheel during the unloading cycle, consecutively moving forward and stopping to go along with the forward movement of the silo bagger (29) in an inconsistent and imprecise way. Advantageously, this is not the case when using the transporter machine of the present invention and the advantageous working operation thereof.

In contrast, having this new transporter machine (1) of the present invention, it is an advantage that it is possible to receive a loaded lorry, put it in such a position so that the whole set is placed in a similar position as in Figure 7, start the propeller (10), starting to fill the silo bag (30), as at the same time the hopper (28) moves forward along with the turning movement of the transporter machine(l) itself, with respect to the pivot support means (26), so that upon finishing the unloading of the lorry, let such lorry free, and moving the self-motioned transporter machine (1) to a new position to receive another loaded lorry, and begin a new working cycle, thus optimizing the movements and working hours.

It should be noted that the path of the grain outlet (6) of the transporter machine (1) is circular around the pivot vertical axis (y), the grain is led into the hopper (28) in different positions, closer or further away from the geometrical centre of the main hopper (28) of the silo bagger (29). In this sense, given its size, the hopper can take such change of position from which the grains (G) are unloaded, it is possible to direct the steerable header (9) to lead the flow of grains (G) so as to fit the hopper (28) by making the steerable header (9) turn using for example a winch (39) and wire.

Having filled one or more silo bags (30), or having all the lorries been unloaded at the end of a workday, it is possible to fold the transporter (1) so that it can be towed by means of a vehicle (34) such as a pick-up.

As better depicted in Figures 9 and 10, in the same way, the length of the conducting tube (5) can be conveniently folded to make it shorter by means of a joint (35). Especially section (5c) can be folded back towards the grain inlet (6) so as to place it onto a support (36) embedded on some poles (21). Therefore, the structure of the conducting tube consists of a horizontal section (5a) and two sloping sections (5b) and (5c), one articulated with the other so that the upper section (5c) can be folded back and result in a more compact structure for towing or moving the transporter machine (1). Furthermore, it is preferred the incorporation of a hydraulic cylinder (40) connected to sections (5b) and (5c) in such a way that they can be easily folded or extended from the control panel (20). When the transporter must be towed, for instance, to take it on the road to another working field and/or its storage facility, the towing bar (31) is fixed in the lower position, generally in line with the chassis, as shown in Figure 10, holding the transporter machine (1) on its rear wheels (13) and (14) now positioned parallel one another so as to be towed as if it were a trailer attached to the vehicle.

The transporter machine (1) has been appropriately described in detail above according to the present invention and a preferred embodiment thereof. It is understood that complementary manufacturing details that may have not been mentioned in depth herein may correspond to embodiments or designs that may be inferred and/or known for a person skilled in the art and should not be considered a limitation in any way for the purposes of the present invention. Consequently, the figures and description herein are clear evidence of the advantages, innovation and inventive nature of the present transporter machine as well as its contribution to the agricultural labor, clearly stating the spirit and scope of the present invention in the claims annexed hereto.

Claims

1. A grain transporter machine comprising a supporting chassis on which a number of components are set, used for transporting grains, seeds or any other kind of bulk material to be unloaded from a lorry or the like, the grain transporter machine comprising: at least one conducting tube with a bulk material inlet on its lower end and a bulk material outlet on the upper end; at least one propeller for such bulk material placed within the at least one conducting tube; a pivot support means comprising at least one corner wheel, being such pivot support means generally placed below the bulk material inlet; at least two steerable wheels, placed at the end of the chassis close to the bulk material outlet and positioned on both sides of the conducting tube so that the at least three wheels allow the grain transporter machine to adopt the following three different positions: a grain transporting position, wherein the steerable wheels are positioned in a way that the rotation axes thereof allow the transporter machine to pivot around the bulk material inlet; a self-motion position, wherein at least one of such steerable wheels is set parallel to the corner wheel of the pivot support means and another of the steerable wheels is actioned by a steering command and driving means; and a towing position where the steerable wheels are positioned in a parallel way one from the other.

2. The grain transporter machine according to claim 1, wherein the pivot support means further includes a pole generally located under the bulk material inlet and generally coinciding with a pivot vertical axis of the transporter machine in the grain transporting position.

3. The grain transporter machine according to claim 2, wherein the pole goes up or down with respect to the corner wheel, the corner wheel being held by a towing bar articulated to the chassis and lifted or lowered by hydraulic action.

4. The grain transporter machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the engine driving the at least one of the steerable wheels is a hydraulic engine and wherein the driving command of the at least one wheel is motorized by means of an engine being a hydraulic cylinder.

5. The grain transporter machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the position of the corner wheel is such that in the grain transporting position, the rotation axes of the corner wheel and at least one of the steerable wheels, are parallel between one another and both axis generally intersect such pivot axis of the transporter machine, that generally coincides with the bulk material inlet.

6. The grain transporter machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bulk material inlet is connected to a reception hopper, being the bulk material outlet connected to a steerable pivoting header that allows the correct position for unloading the bulk material.

7. The grain transporter machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the conducting tube is cylindrical and comprises at least one horizontal section and two sloping sections, one articulated with the other so that the upper section can be folded back.

8. The grain transporter machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the propeller is a screw conveyor.

9. The grain transporter machine according to any one of claim 1 to 7, wherein the conducting tube has a rectangular shape and is divided into at least two sections, a first sloping section falling into a second sloping section, being propelled by a conveyor belt for each section.

10. The grain transporter machine according to any one of claim 1 to 9 further comprising a cyclone connected to a hose and bulk material suction means, being the lower bulk material outlet end thereof connected to the conducting tube of the transporter machine.