Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02254384 1998-11-23
FOLDING AUGER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to materials transport, such as grain or the like. In
particular, the
invention relates to a foldable auger, comprising an auger tube and auger
flighting, for use
in transporting grain or other particulate or fluid material. The auger
comprises three or
more sections that may be folded in on themselves for transport or storage,
with the folding
being actuated by a single hydraulic cylinder or other like actuating means.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a mobile conveying apparatus, for example a transportable grain auger
apparatus, it is
desirable to provide a means whereby a lengthy elongate conveyor may be folded
for storage
and transport. Typical grain conveyors incorporate a lengthy auger, comprising
an auger
tube, auger ffighting and drive means for rotating the auger. It can be
awkward to transport
and store such apparatus. Foldable conveyors, including foldable augers, are
known in the
prior art. For example, U.S. Patent 3,337,068 (Meharry) discloses an auger
arrangement,
wherein the main auger flighting and housing is foldable in two parts about a
central hinged
joint. The respective auger flightings in the first and second parts are keyed
together when
the auger is unfolded for use to permit the flighting in the first part to
rotatably drive the
flighting of the second part. One drawback of the arrangement disclosed in
this reference
is that the operator is required to manually fold the auger, which may be
difficult if the auger
is heavy or is positioned inaccessibly. As well, two-part folding of the auger
may not
suffciently compact the unit for transport or storage. The first drawback has
been addressed
in the art by providing a power-driven arrangement for folding an auger or
other conveyor.
For example, U.S. Patent 3,550,793 (Davidow et al.) discloses a folding auger,
wherein the
folding and unfolding operation is driven by a hydraulic cylinder. A similar
arrangement is
shown in U.S. Patent 4,427,105 (Hawley et al.).
It is further known to provide conveyors foldable in three or more parts to
provide for more
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compact storage or transport. For example, U.S. latent 4,69,262 (van Aalst)
discloses a
pneumatic duct foldable in three parts, and supported by a folding,
hydraulically driven
exterior frame. Folding of the ti-ame i~ ~t~ected by a separate hydraulic
cylinder mounted
at each fold.
It is desirable to provide an aug~r~type cc,nveyor that is foldable in three
or more sections
into a relatively compact unit, and wherein a. i,irrgle hydraulic cylinder or
other motive force
effects the folding operation. The use ol' a single cylinder, rather than a
separate cylinder
at each joint, reduces the cost and complexity of the device and also permits
a coordinated
folding operation ofthe conveyor without the need fear ~;orytrolling and
coordinating multiple
hydraulic cylinders. Such an operation°i i5 possible through the use
of' tie rods that link
adjacent conveyor sections, with a single hydraulic cylinder nerving both to
drive the folding
of adjacent sections and actuate tla~ tie rod car reds.
Tt is also desirable to provide a conveyor foldable in three or more sections,
wherein the
folding occurs on intersecting planes. Thus, l«r example, a proximal and
middle conveyor
section might fold on a horizontal plane and the distal section fold on a
vertical plane. This
arrangement can permit a more compact folding of the conveyor, and is
particularly useful
where the conveyor extends from a large piece of ecluipnaent such as a grain
vacuum device.
In this case, the proximal sections of the conveyor should field irt a
vertical plane to permit
a section of the conveyor to rest on top ot'the equipment, while the distal
conveyor section
is conveniently folded on a horizontal lal~~ne., ire order that it nray lie
beside the proximal
folded sections of the conveyor.
The terms "proximal" and "distal" used herein are directional references
referring to
positions close to and distant fiom, respectively, the att:ack3nrent point or
base of the auger.
SUNflVIARY OF THE INVEh1TI01~1
It is an aspect of the present invention to pr°ovid~ conveyor and
conveyor housing foldable
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in three or more parts, and wherein folding is effected by means of a single
hydraulic or
pneumatic cylinder or other actuator means. It is a further aspect to provide
a folding
conveyor, wherein the proximal sections ofthe conve.yar housing fold along a
first plane and
the distal section folds on a second plane generally interesting the first
plane.
The invention comprises in orre aspect a conveyor apparatus comprising an
elongate
conveyor housing and material transport means within the housing and
comprising first,
second and third conveyor sections pivotally~ained together, foldable about
first and second
pivot means between an extended coaxial arrangement and a folded non-coaxial
arrangement and farming when fully extended, a unitary cc,~raveyor;
first retraction means connected to the second sectiarr to IK~Id tire first
and second sections
about a first axis;
second retraction means associated with said third section to fold said third
section relative
to said second section about a second axis; and
linkage means associated with the first and second retraction means whereby
the first
retraction means operatively drives said secaxnd r~etractiarr means to fold
said third section
relative to said second section.
Preferably, the second axis is rotationally displaced Ii~orn the first axis by
about ~0 degrees.
In another aspect, the housing sections are joined together by first and
second hinges, each
comprising first and second hinge legs. Ea~;h of the hinge legs has a first
end pivotally
mounted to a respective conveyor housing section irabaard of a. corresponding
end of said
housing, and a second end meeting at are apex of' said hinge wherein said legs
are pivotally
pointed together at said apex, said hinge fornuir~g a generally triangular
structure with said
conveyor to longitudinally displace said sections apart loom each other as
said sections are
folded about said hinge. The first retraction means may be pivotally mounted
at an end
thereof to said first hinge at generally the ~Gpex thereafT.
Conveniently, the linkage means comprises a tie rod having first and second
ends, said first
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Conveniently, the linkage means comprises a tie rod having first and second
ends, said first
end mounted to said first conveyor sec;tiorr .and said second end pivotally
mounted to the
third conveyor section.
In a further aspect, the invention comprises an auger comprising an auger
housing and an
auger flighting, said auger being foldable in at least three sections and
comprising retraction
means associated with said first and second sections arid operable between
first and second
positions whereby in said first position said first and second sections are
fully extended and
in said second position said sections are folded about a first axis; second
retraction means
associated with said third section arrd operabte between first and second
positions whereby
in said first position said third auger section is fully extended to relative
to said second
section and in said second position, said third section is folded relative to
said second
section about a second axis; and linkage rnearrs associated with said first
and second
retraction means whereby actuation of said first retractic:~n means operates
said second
retraction means between said first and second positions.
In another aspect, the present invention c~ompr ices a conveyor housing
apparatus comprising
a conveyor housing for connection to an auger system, the housing having a
first conveyor
section proximal to the auger system, at least second arvd third foldable
conveyor sections
foldable one relative to tire other, first pivot means lvr pivotally mounting
the first and
second sections about a. ~rst axis, whereby the second see,tiory is foldable
about the first
pivot axis, second pivot means for pivotally r~rounting the second and third
sections about
a second pivot axis whereby the third section is foldable about the second
pivot axis, the
first, second and third sections forming a non-coaxial arrangement when
folded, and when
in a non-folded relationship, the first, second and third sections form a
fully extended coaxial
urutary conveyor, first retraction means associated with tlrcsecond section to
fold the
second section about the first axis, second retraction rrreans associated with
the third section
to fold the third section about the jecorrd axis, and floe first and second
retraction means
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being in operative association whereby actuation ofthe first retraction means
is effective to
permit the second retraction means to ti~rd the third section relative to the
second section.
In another aspect, the present invention cranapr~ises a conveyor housing
apparatus comprising
an elongate conveyor housing and material transport rtleans within the
housing, the
conveyor housing having first, second and thiod conveyor sections pivotally
joined together
and foldable about first and second pivot ri3ean s between an extended coaxial
arrangement
and a folded non-coaxial arrangement and forming when fully extended, a
unitary conveyor,
first retraction means connected to the second section to fold the first and
second sections
about a first axis, actuation means for driving the first retraction means,
second retraction
means associated with the third section to permit 1'aldir~g of"the third
section relative to the
second section about a second axis, linkage means associated with the first
and second
retraction means whereby actuation o#° the first retraction nieaivs by
the actuation means
synchronously drives the second retraction means to fold the third section
relative to the
second section, and first and second pivot r~rmans comprising first and second
hinge means
angularly displaced from each other, each of the hinge means comprising a pair
of legs
joined to a corresponding section, the legs being pivotally joined together at
a position
displaced from the conveyor housing for displacing the conveyor sections apart
from each
other when the hinges open.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
auger housing
for enclosing an auger campr~ising a first proximal housing section for
connection to an
auger system, second and third foldable krc~usirig sections, first pivot means
for pivotally
mounting the first and second sections about a first axis, whereby the second
section is
foldable about the first pivot axis, second pivot means for pivotally mounting
the second and
third sections about a second pivot axis; whereby the third section is
foldable about the
second pivot axis, the first, second and third sections forming a non-coaxial
auger housing
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. ;.~ b _.
arrangement when folded, and when in a non~folded relationship, the fast,
second and third
sections form a fully extended coaxial unitary auger housing, first retraction
means
associated with the second section to tall the second section about the first
axis, second
retraction means associated with the third section to f~rld the third section
about the second
axis, the first and second retraction means being in operative association
whereby actuation
of the first retraction means is effective tc.~ permit the second retraction
means to fold the
third section relative to the second section.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an
auger housing
foldable in at least three sections comprising at least Iirst, second and
third hauling sections
first retraction means associated with the fiirst and ses~ond sections and
operable between
first and second positions whereby ire the first pcrsitian floe frr~st arrd
second sections are fully
extended and in the second position tl~e sectiarrs are fazded about a first
axis, actuator means
associated with the first retraction means, second retraa;tion means
associated with the third
section and operable between first and second pasiti~>ras whereby in the first
;position the
third auger section il fully extended reiat.iv~; to tyre second section and in
the second
position, and the third section is folded relative, to the second section
about a second axis,
the second retraction means comprising lirika~;e means associated with the
inrst and second
retraction means whereby actuation af' tl~e tir-st r-etractiarr means by the
actuator means
operates the second retraction r~aearis b~.~tweer~ the Iirsr and second
positions of the second
and third sections.
In another aspect of the invention, there is ltrc:avided an auger comprising
an auger housing
and an auger flighting, the auger being fi~~ldable in at least three sections,
the auger housing
comprising f rst, second arrd third hausiry sections, lirvst retraction means
associated with
the first and second sections and operable between tir°sc a,nd second
positions whereby in the
first position the first and second sectiarrs ar°e fully extended and
in the second position the
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sections are folded about a first axis, actuator means associated with the
first
retraction means, second retraction means associated with the third section
and
operable between first and second positions whereby in the first position the
third
auger section is fully extended to relative to the second section and in the
second position, the third section is folded relative to the second section
about a
second axis, linkage means associated with the first and second retraction
means whereby actuation of the first retraction means by the actuator means
synchronously drives the second retraction means between the first and second
positions, first and second pivot means comprising first and second hinge
means
angulariy displaced from each other, each of the hinge means comprising a pair
of legs joined to a corresponding section, the legs being pivotally joined
together
at a position displaced from the conveyor housing for displacing the conveyor
sections apart from each other when the hinges open, and a plurality of
foldable
releasably connectable auger flighting sections.
The present invention will now be described by way of a preferred embodiment.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present irlvention there is provided
a
conveyor housing apparatus comprising, a conveyor housing for connection to
an auger system, the housing having a first conveyor section proximal to the
auger system, at least second and third foldable conveyor sections foldable
one
relative to the other, first pivot means for pivotally mounting the first and
second
sections about a first axis, whereby the second section is foldable about the
first
pivot axis, second pivot means for pivotally mounting the second and third
sections about a second pivot axis whereby the third section is foldable about
the second pivot axis, the first, second and third sections forming a non-
coaxial
arrangement when folded, and when in a non-folded relationship, the first,
second and third sections form a fully extended coaxiial unitary conveyor,
first
retraction means associated with the second section to fold the second section
about the first axis, actuation means to operate the first retraction means,
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second retraction means associated with the third section to fold the third
section
about the second axis, and, the first and second retraction means being in
operative association whereby actuation of the first retraction means
operatively
drives the second retraction means to fold the third section relative to the
second
section.
In a second embodiment of the present invention there is provided a conveyor
housing apparatus comprising an elongate conveyor housing and material
transport means within the housing, the conveyor housing having first, second
and third conveyor sections pivotally joined together and foldable about first
and
second pivot means between an extended coaxial arrangement and a folded
non-coaxial arrangement and forming when fully extended, a unitary conveyor,
first retraction means connected to the second section to fold the first and
second sections about a first axis, actuation means 'for driving the first
retraction
means second retraction means associated with the third section to permit
folding of the third section relative to the second section about a second
axis,
linkage means associated with the first and second retraction means whereby
actuation of the first retraction means by the actuation means synchronously
drives the second retraction means to fold the third ~;ection relative to the
second
section, and first and second pivot means comprising first and second hinge
means angularly displaced from each other, each of the hinge means comprising
a pair of legs joined to a corresponding section, the legs being pivotally
joined
together at a position displaced from the conveyor housing for displacing the
conveyor sections apart from each other when the hinges open.
In a third embodiment of the present invention there is provided an auger
housing for enclosing an auger the auger housing comprising, a first proximal
housing section for connection to an auger system, second and third foldable
housing sections, first pivot means for pivotally mounting the first and
second
sections about a first axis, whereby the second section is foldable about the
first
pivot axis, second pivot means for pivotally mounting the second and third
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sections about a second pivot axis whereby the third section is foldable about
the second pivot axis, the first, second and third sections forming a non-
coaxial
auger housing arrangement when folded, and when in a non-folded relationship,
b the first, second and third sections form a fully extended coaxial unitary
auger
housing, first retraction means associated with the second section to fold the
second section about the first axis, actuation means. to operate the first
retraction
means, second retraction means associated with the third section to fold the
third section about the second axis, and the first and second retraction means
being in operative association whereby actuation of the first retraction means
operatively drives the second retraction means to fold the third section
relative to
the second section.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is
provided an auger housing foldable in at least three sections comprising, at
least
first, second and third housing sections, first retraction means associated
with
the first and second sections and operable between fiirst and second positions
whereby in the first position the first and second sections are fully extended
and
in the second position the sections are folded about a first axis, actuator
means
associated with the first retraction means, second retraction means associated
with the third section and operable between first and second positions whereby
in the first position the third auger section is fully extended relative to
the second
section and in the second position, and the third section is folded relative
to the
second section about a second axis, and the second retraction means
comprising linkage means associated with the first and second retraction means
whereby actuation of the first retraction means by the actuator means operates
the second retraction means between the first and sE:cond positions of the
second and third sections.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided an auger comprising, an auger housing and an auger flighting, the
auger being foldable in at least three sections, the auger housing comprising,
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first, second and third housing sections, first retraction means associated
with
the first and second sections and operable between first and second positions
whereby in the first position the first and second sections are fully extended
and
in the second position the sections are folded about a first axis, actuator
means
associated with the first retraction means, second rearaction means associated
with the third section and operable between first and second positions whereby
in the first position the third auger section is fully extended to relative to
the
second section and in the second position, the third section is folded
relative to
the second section about a second axis, linkage means associated with the
first
and second retraction means whereby actuation of the first retraction means by
the actuator means synchronously drives the second retraction means between
the first and second positions, first and second pivot means comprising first
and
second hinge means angularly displaced from each other, each of the hinge
means comprising a pair of legs joined to a corresponding section, the legs
being pivotally joined together at a position displaced from the conveyor
housing
for displacing the conveyor sections apart from each other when the hinges
open, and a plurality of foldable releasably connectable auger flighting
sections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an auger according to the present invention,
in
extended position and mounted to a grain vacuum apparatus, with the auger
folding means removed for illustration of the auger components;
Figure 2 is a perspective view as in Figure 1, illustrating the auger in a
partly
folded position;
Figure 3 is a perspective view, showing the auger in folded position;
Figure 4 is a further perspective view of the device in the extended position;
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Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the device in the extended position;
and
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the device in a partly-folded position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIIVVIENT
Figures 1 to 3 show an auger tube, mounted to a grain vacuum apparatus, in
fully-extended,
partly folded and fully folded positions, respectively. The auger tube 2 is
mounted at its
proximal end 4 to grain vacuum apparatus 6 with the interior of the auger
operatively
communicating with the vacuum apparatus. It will be seen that the auger tube
may be
mounted to any suitable base or equipment article. The distal end 8 of the
auger tube
features an intake nozzle 10. The preferred embodiment of the invention
comprises a three-
part folding auger, comprised of a proximal section 12, middle section 14, and
distal section
16. Each auger tube houses a corresponding auger flighting, as will be
illustrated and
discussed in greater detail below. The auger flightings are keyed together for
common
rotatable operation. In the fully-extended position of Figure 1, the auger
effectively
comprises a linear, unitary auger structure.
During the folding process, as illustrated by the partly-folded position of
Figure 2, it will be
seen that the proximal auger section 12 remains stationary, while the middle
section 14 is
pivoted about a generally horizontal axis (i.e. the section travels within a
generally vertical
plane) and the distal section 16 is pivoted about an axis generally transverse
to the axis of
rotation of the middle section. Figure 2 shows in dotted lines the auger in
the fully folded
position, which is fizrther seen more particularly in Figure 3. The transverse
axes of folding
permits the middle and distal sections to pivot within intersecting planes,
permitting them
to lie generally side by side on the upper surface of the grain vacuum
apparatus, as seen in
Figure 3. This permits compact storage and transportation of the device.
The respective auger housings each feature a flange 24 at an end of the
housing for contact
with an abutting housing. The flanges 24 each have a mating surface 26 for
contact with an
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abutting housing. The flanges 24 each have a mating surface 26 for contact
with an abutting
flange. The flanges 24 permit the housings 12-16 to generally sealingly engage
each other when
the apparatus is in its extended, operating position.
Turning to Figures 4-6, adjacent auger housings 12 to 16 are hinged together
by means of paired
external hinge sets 30 and 40, joining the sections 12 and 14 (hinge 30) and
14 and 16 (hinge
40). Each hinge set 30 and 40 consists of paired scissors hinges (a) and (b)
mounted adjacent
to each other, in parallel spaced relation. Each hinge (a) and (b) comprises
first and second
folding legs 33(a) and 33(b), respectively, joined centrally by a pivot joint
33(c). The respective
free ends of the legs are each pivotally mounted to a corresponding auger
housing section. A
central folding arm 35 is disposed between the hinges 30, the respective ends
of the arm being
each mounted to adjacent section. The arm extends outwardly from the auger
tube to form a
tentlike hinge structure, the apex of the structure comprising a pivot joint
31 joining first and
second limbs 37(a) and (b) of the arm pivotally together. The arm 35 thus
folds and unfolds in
concert with the relative movement of the corresponding auger housing
sections.
The folding action of the proximal and middle auger sections is driven by a
hydraulic piston 32
pivotally mounted at its stationary end to the proximal housing 12 by way of
pivot mount 34.
The actuator rod 36 of hydraulic piston 32 is pivotally mounted at its distal
end to the pivot joint
31 of the folding arm 35. It will be seen that retraction of rod 36 draws the
apex of arm 35
proximally towards the proximate end of the conveyor, thus rotating the middle
conveyor
section 14 about a generally vertical plane into a folded position. Extension
of actuator rod 36
achieves the opposite motion, unfolding the middle section 14. As the housing
sections unfold,
they diverge apart from each other. This function results from the pivotal
mounting of the legs
33 and 37 whereby the respective mounts are displaced from the joint between
respective
adjacent housing sections.
The proximal and distal housing sections are linked by tie rod 46. A rigid
elongate tie rod
mount plate 49 is mounted at one end to the proximate housing 12, and parallel
thereto. The
second end of the tie rod mount plate extends outwardly past the distal end of
the housing
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section 12. The proximal end of the tie rod 46 is pivotally mounted by way of
pivot joint
48 to the second end of the mount 49. The distal end of the tie rod 46 is
pivotally mounted
at pivot joint 31 to the apex of folding arm 35 on the distal housing section
16. It will be
seen that as the proximal and middle housing sections are folded together by
the retraction
of piston 32, and the respective housings diverge, the tie rod 46 will be
retracted
longitudinally relative to the middle and distal housings. The retractive
displacement of the
rod 46 urges the apex of the hinge 30(b) in a proximal direction. This in turn
folds the distal
auger section 16 inwardly towards the middle auger section.
The hinges 30 and 40 are mounted such that their respective apices are
displaced by about
90° relative to each other. Thus, in the preferred version, the hinge
30 extends generally
upwardly from the auger tube while the hinge 40 extends generally horizontally
from the
auger tube. The rotational displacement of the respective hinges permits the
distal auger
section 16 to be folded about a plane generally transverse to the plane of
folding of the
proximal and middle sections. Further, the tie rod 46 is angled relative to
the longitudinal
axis of the auger tube, penmitting the tie rod to translate the generally
horizontal folding axis
of auger sections 12 and 14 into a substantially vertical folding axis of
auger section 16.
The hydraulic cylinder 32 is driven by a source of pressurized hydraulic
fluid, not shown, and
is controlled by control means, not shown, all in a fashion well known in the
prior art.
There may further be provided a strap or other retaining means, not shown, to
bundle the
auger sections together in their fully folded positions.
The auger flightings 60 are rotatably journalled within their respective auger
housings. The
respective auger shafts 62 are releasably joined together by means of a keyway
or other
releasable drive coupling means, to communicate rotational drive from the
first, drive auger
flighting to second and subsequent, driven auger flightings. A first auger
flighting, is
rotatably driven by conventional drive means, not shown.
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_$_
Although the invention has been described by way of a preferred embodiment
thereof, it will
be seen by those experienced in the prior art to which the invention pertains
that numerous
variations and departures from the described embodiment may be made, while
still remaining
within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as the present invention
is defined in the
appended claims.
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