Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"COUPLING GRAIN AUGERS"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVrNTION
This invention relates to apparatus for conveying
material and particularly new and useful improvements for
obtaining flexible connections between rigid auger tube sec-
tions on portable grain auger assemblies.
Over the last several years new configurations of
portable grain handling equipment have come into use which
utilize more than one straight section of auger flighting
and tubing. Such configurations have been developed due to
features relating to unloading hopper bottom trailers, flexi-
ble auger hopper positioning and the use of farm tractors to
position grain augers.
Since the relative positioning of the two auger
sections connecting together may vary significantly from job
to job, a flexible coupling mecnanism which allows freedom
of movement and yet facilitates smooth material flow from
the outlet of one section to the inlet of another section
is desirable.
Typically~ a portable grain auger consists of a
long piece of flighting within a round tubing section mount-
ed on an adjustable undercarriage. The configuration is
such that the tube 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 auger tub-
ing to the undercarriage is constructed so that an adjust-
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ment to the undercarriage linkage allows the angle of in-
clination of the auger to be changed; thus making it poss-
ible to position the outlet at any desired height.
Another shorter section of auger flighting and
tubing is often used in combination with this configura-
tion is such a manner that the outlet of the short auger
section feeds into the inlet for the long inclined auger
tube. The inlet on the short auger is then normally fitt-
ed with a hopper to facilitate dumping into it from a truck
or trailer. While the outlet of the short auger section
remains fixed in position relative to the inlet of the long
~~ auger section, the inlet of the short auger can normally be
swung from side to side and raised and lowered with re-
spect to the outlet as required.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention is designed to provide a
more practical method of connecting the outlet of one tub-
ing section to the inlet of another tubing section on por-
table grain auger systems which utilize more than one sec-
tion of straight line flighting.
It is one advantage of the invention that thefirst conveying tube may comprise a first auger and the in-
let tube inlet box of a second or main auger.
- Accordingly the invention provides an apparatus
for conveying material comprising a conveying tube having
an outlet spout, an inlet having an opening into which said
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spout extends for discharging conveyed material and means
for coupling said spout to said inlet comprising three
coupling portions each arranged to allow pivotal movement
about a respective one of three different axes and to main-
tain the axes fixed relative to each other.
One practical embodiment of a portable bin load-
ing conveyor having these two auger sections uses the power-
take-off of a farm tractor to power the main auger section
and the hydraulic system of this same tractor to operate a
hydraulic motor mounted at one end of the flighting shaft
off the first or feed auger section. With this configura-
tion the tractor is nitched to the inlet end of the main
auger tube and a drive shaft is utilized to power the main
auger flighting directly from the lower end. The feed
auger section which feeds into the main auger is then posi-
tioned at right angles to the tractor and main auger assem-
bly, so that the flow of grain changes direction between
the two auger sections. Thus, the inlet hopper for truck
unloading is placed well to one side of the main assembly.
Tnis configuration allows the tractor to be util-
ized for positioning the grain auger and furthermore allows
it to remain attached to the hitch point during the opera-
tion, at which time it is also used to power both sections
of~auger flighting.
In order to utilize the full capability of this
type of system it is desirable to connect the two auger
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sections in such a manner tnat the feed auger section can
be folded back for transport as well as positioned adequate-
ly for operation at any angle of inclination of the main
auger, without causing any restriction in the grain flow
between the two auger sections. In addition, it is desir-
able to have as much flexibility of movement in the opera-
ting position as possible so that the inlet hopper may be
moved to more readily match the position of a vehicle dump-
ing into this hopper.
According to one advantageous form of the inven-
tion, the outlet spout is pointed downward when it is in
its normal operating position. The inlet end of the long
auger section meanwhile is fitted with an enclosure that
includes the opening at the top positioned directly above
the open inlet flighting. Within this opening are posi-
tioned two concentric rings, each of which is free to ro-
tate about one axis running through the center of the
ring and parallel with the plane of the ring. The outer
ring is constructed with two pins on its outer circum-
ference which retains it within swivel points mounted on
the intake enclosure. The inner ring, which fits inside
the outer ring, is also constructed with two pins opposite
each other on the outer circumference. These pins retain
it-within swivel points on the outer ring and allow rota-
tion of the inside ring relative to the outside ring. By
having the two axes of rotation for these rings at right
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angles to each other two degrees of freedom in rotation
result.
The third degree of freedom in rotation is ob-
tained by inserting the round outlet spout of the feed auger
section inside the inner ring, mounted at the top of the
enclosure of the main auger. Since the outlet spout is free
to rotate within this ring a third degree of rotational
freedom perpendicular to the inner ring results.
This connection therefore allows the short auger
to be positioned at any desired angle relative to the main
auger assembly; the only restriction being due to the phys-
ical construction of the complete assembly. The material
being conveyed is dropped through the center of this swivel
apparatus and into the top of the main auger inlet without
restriction regardless of the position of the feed auger.
Thus, the feed auger can also be swung to either side of
the main auger assembly very easily to allow truck unload-
ing from whatever position is most convenient. Further-
more, the feed auger section may be swung backward along-
side the main auger tube and raised free of the ground very
easily for transport, while still remaining fully connected.
With the foregoing in view, and other advantages
as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to
which this invention relates as this specification proceeds,
the invention is herein described by reference to the ac-
companying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes
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a description of the best mode known to the applicant and
of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of
the present invention, in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a plan view of a portable auger sys-
tem which utilizes a main auger section and a feed auger
section connected to a tractor and showing in full line
the operating position and in phantom line the transport
position.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1 showing
only the transport position of the feed auger section.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the connection
between auger sections.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the connection of
~5 Figure 3 showing the main auger inlet enclosure with the
feed auger section removed.
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing
an alternative connection arrangement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the embodiment of a
portable grain conveyor system in which two separate auger
sections are utilized. This unit, collectively designated
as 10, is shown attached to a farm tractor 11 in both of
these figures.
The conveyor unit comprises a long inclined auger
tube section 12, and a shorter or feed auger tube section
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17 attached to the inlet area of the main auger 12. An
outlet spout 18 of the short auger 17 feeds into an intake
enclosure 19 of the main auger section 12.
The main auger 12 is supported by undercarriage
frame members, 13 and 14, carried on an axle 16 with spac-
ed wheels 15. The angle of incline and hence the position
of an outlet 20 of the main auger section 12 can be adjust-
ed by moving the top pivot of the undercarriage frame mem-
bers 14 along a track 21 on the underside of the auger
tube. The mechanism for controlling the positioning com-
prises as shown a cable 22 and winch 23 arrangement but
alternative devices can be used. The lower end of the
main auger 12 is attached to the tractor by the use of a
hitch member 24 which is of conventional arrangement.
The auger conveyor unit is shown in full line in
Figure l in working position with the shorter or feed auger
tube 17 extending out from the main auger 12 substantially
at right angles thereto. In this position, trucks can be
unloaded into a hopper section 2'5 at the end of the short
auger most commonly by backing in along side the tractor.
The hopper 25 is fitted with small wheels 26 at its free
end so that it may be swung back and forth about a vertical
axis passing through the connection of its spout 18 with
the intake 19 for optimum positioning dependent upon ground
conditions or to meet the dump position of the truck.
As shown in Figure ~, the main auger 12 includes
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a main auger flighting 27 mounted on a flighting shaft 28
which extends through a bottom bearing 29 and is then con-
nected to a telescopic drive shaft 30 ~Figure 2) coupled
to the tractor power-take-off. The feed auger section 17
is powered by a hydraulic motor 31 mounted at its upper end
and connected to the tractor hydraulics system through
hoses 32.
As snOwn in Figure 2 and the phantom lines in
Figure 1, the feed auger section 17 can be moved to a trans-
port position with the short auger 17 and hopper 25 swung
back toward the main auger 12. From this position it can
~~ De raised free of the ground by a cable 35 including a
winch arrangement (not shown) guided by an arm 34. It is
this configuration which is used to back the auger into
position against a grain bin and to transport it between
job sites.
Since the angle of inclination of the main auger
12, height of the hitch point 24, angle at which the feed
auger 17 is swung away from the main tube section and the
2 0 extent to which the hopper 25 is raised are all variable,
it is necessary to have a connection between the short
auger outlet spout 18 and the main auger intake enclosure
19 such that rotation is permitted about all three axes of
a~rectangular coordinate system. The conveyed commodity
must meanwhile be free to drop through the outlet spout
into the top of the intake flighting of the main auger tube.
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Figures 3 and 4 show views of a connection which
allows three degrees of rotational freedom and maintains
the discharge for the outlet spout 18 directly above the
intake flighting 27. Specifically, a hole 33 is formed in
the top of the intake enclosure 19, within which two con-
centric flat iron rings, 36 and 37, are positioned.
The pivot axis for the outer ring 36 is provided
by two pins 38 welded to the outer circumference of the
ring, which fit inside two bushings 39 welded to the top
of the intake enclosure 12. The pivot axis for the inner
ring is provided by two pins 40 welded to the outer circum-
ference of the inner ring which fit freely inside two
drilled holes in the outer ring.
Each of these rings 36, 37 is therefore free to
rotate about an axis in the plane of the ring which runs
through its center point and passes through the respective
pair of pivot pins 38, 40. By having the pivot points for
these rings at right angles to each other the inner ring
37 is free to rotate to any angle relative to the main
auger tube 12.
The spout 18 of the feed auger 17 is constructed
of round tubing such that its outer diameter is a sliding
fit within the inner ring 37 thus holding the axes of the
spout 18 and ring 37 substantially coincident while allow-
2~ ing rotation of the feed auger 17 relative to the inner
ring 37 about the axes. Several welded lugs 41 arranged
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around the periphery of the spout 18 act to maintain proper
axial location of the spout 18 relative to the ring 37.
The axial extent of the ring 36 is merely suffi-
cient to receive the pins 38 and 40. The axial extent of
the ring 37 is greater than that of the ring 36 because it
has not only to receive the pins 40 but also to provide a
sufficient axial length of sliding contact with tne spout
18 to prevent undesirable twisting between the ring 37 and
the spout 18 which could lead to buckling of the spout thus
inhibiting the required rotational movement. The spout 18
extends through and beyond the lower extremities of the
rings 36, 37 so as to avoid any such twisting movements from
acting upon the edge of the spout. In addition the extent
of the spout 18 beyond the rings 36,37 and into the intake
enclosure 19 acts to ensure that all material supplied by
the spout properly enters the intake 19 for supply to the
main auger 12.
In this way, the spout 18 is free to rotate about
the axis of the ring 37 by an amount limited by the mechan-
ical contact of the auger 17 or hopper 25 with the main
auger 12 or with the tractor 11. Depending upon the length
of the coupling hoses 32 and other mechanical limitations
therefore the feed auger 17 may be pivoted from a position
ad-jacent one rear wheel of the tractor to a position adja-
cent the othe rear wheel. In practice movement is usually
limited to the section formed between the transport posi-
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tion shown in phantom and the position generally at right
angles thereto extending to one side of the main auger 12.
In addition, the axis of the spout 18 is free to
pivot from the generally vertical direction in any other
direction, with the limitations of movement being provided
by contact of the sides of the spout 18 with the edge of
the opening 33 or with the outer ring 36. The spacings be-
tween the rings 36, 37 and between tne outer ring 36 and
the edge of the opening 33 are chosen so that a sufficient
movement of the axis is provided to accommodate all prac-
tically required movments of the hopper 25. In practice
such movements do not exceed 30 either side of the vertical
position.
As the axis of the pins 38 and 40 are arranged
mutuallyat right angles and the axis of rotation of the
spout 18 relative to the ring 37 lies at right angles to
both, it will be appreciated that the connection system thus
formed provides relative pivotal movement between the spout
18 and the intake 19 about tnree mutually perpendicular
axes while maintaining the axes fixed relative to one
another. A universal coupling is thus formed which rigid-
ly holds the spout 18 relative to the intake 19 against any
lateral shifting while allowing the required rotational
movement. The prevention of lateral shifting avoids any
possibility of material being deposited outside the intake
19 and also prevents any possibility of the spout 18 con-
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tacting the flightings 27 of the auger 12 with resultant
damage.
An alternative arrangement of the connections be-
tween the spout 18 and the intake 19 is shown in Figure 5.
In this configuration the outer ring 361is a sliding fit with-
in the opening 33 and carries a plurality of lugs 42 around
its periphery for contacting the upper surface of the in-
take 19. Thus the ring 361 is allowed to rotate wit'nin the
opening 33 in the top of the intake 19 and is retained
againSt axial movement by the lugs 42, 41 and the weight
of the equipment resting upon it. The inner ring 371 is
mounted for pivotal movement relative to the outer ring 361
on pivot pins 381, which are fitted in drilled holes in the
outer ring. The spout 18 then is mounted for pivotal move-
ment about an axis at right angles to the pins 381 relative
to theinner ring through the use of pins 401 welded on its
outer circumference, which fit inside drilled holes in the
inner ring 361 such that the pins 401 are placed at right
angles to the pins 381.
Since various modifications can be made in my in-
vention as hereinabove described, and many apparently wide-
ly different embodiments of same made within the spirit
and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit
and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the
accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illus-
trative only and not in a limiting sense.
