Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02486269 2007-01-12
AUGER WITH FORWARD ANGLED LEADING EDGE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to vertical augers, and in one
embodiment this
invention pertains to vertical augers used in agricultural mixers.
20 DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND
[0003] Agricultural mixers are used for mixing feed materials such as hay,
silage and
other nutrients including animal feed supplements and grains. These feed
materials are then
discharged and fed to various livestock such as cattle and dairy cows.
Sometimes the mixing
of such feed materials includes depositing a whole round or square bale of hay
into the mixer.
The mixer then cuts and processes the bale into the desired consistency before
and during the
mixing of the other feed nutrients.
[0004] In known mixers, there are many different configurations including
horizontal
30 augers, reel-type arrangements, and vertical augers. In the vertical auger
type mixers, the
auger designs are often very similar. The auger generally consists of a center
core on a
vertical axis, with helical auger flighting wrapped around this core. The
auger flighting has
an overall conical appearance, being wider at the base and narrower at the
top. The wide
leading edge of the flighting at the bottom of the mixer is made to travel
close to the flat floor
1
CA 02486269 2004-11-16
WO 03/103821 PCT/US03/15401
of the mixer, scooping or peeling the material upwards onto the flighting.
Often, a hardened
bar (e.g., a grader blade) is added to the leading edge to increase the
durability of the auger.
[0005] The leading edge of a typical vertical auger flighting is generally
oriented on a
radial line from the center of the vertical axis, perpendicular to the
direction of rotation. The
main reason for this straight leading edge design is because of the way the
flighting is
manufactured. The flighting starts as a flat circular plate with a single cut
from the center to
the edge. When this flat plate is formed into a helical flight, the leading
edge remains a
straight line from the center axis. It is easy to add the grader bar to this
straight leading edge
to complete the auger assembly.
[0006] A disadvantage of the straight leading edge design is that it tends to
push or plow
materials rather than scooping the material on top of itself. The tendency is
particularly
evident in longer length hay or sticky materials, which can wrap around or
build up on the
leading edge. This resulting plowing action requires higher horsepower, and
limits the
mixing ability and processing speed of the mixer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, it is, therefore, desirable to have an improved design for
augers that
can reduce these wrap-around and build-up problems in order to reduce the
energy
consumption and to increase the productivity of agricultural mixers and other
similar devices.
[0008] Thus, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a
vertical mixer
auger with a forward leading edge, which overcomes the problems associated
with prior art
devices and makes a considerable contribution to the art of mixing feed
materials. Depending
on the embodiment of the present invention, other advantages include, for
example:
(a) providing a leading edge that creates a wedge effect while in rotary
motion, allowing it to
more easily move through feed materials;
(b) providing a leading edge that reduces the horsepower required to mix feed
materials;
(c) providing a leading edge that tends to cut or slice material with a longer
slanted edge
rather than pushing material with a shorter straight edge;
(d) providing a leading edge that improves the sweeping action at the floor of
the mixer; and
(e) providing a leading edge that is more durable and efficient in use.
2
CA 02486269 2007-01-12
According to the present invention, there is provided an auger for a vertical
mixer having an axis and a direction of rotation, said auger comprising:
a core; and
a helical flighting secured to and disposed coaxially with said core, said
helical
flighting having a leading and a trailing edge and said leading edge having an
inner and an
outer portion, wherein
said outer portion extends ahead of said inner portion with respect to a
radial line
perpendicular to and extending from said axis of rotation.
According to the present invention, there is also provided an auger for a
vertical
mixer having an axis and a direction of rotation, said auger comprising:
a core; and
a helical flighting secured to and disposed coaxially with said core, said
helical
flighting having a leading and a trailing edge and
said leading edge having an inner and an outer portion,
said outer portion is disposed at an angle forward of said inner portion.
According to the present invention, there is also provided an auger for a
vertical
mixer having an axis and a direction of rotation, said auger comprising:
a core; and
a helical flighting secured to and disposed coaxially with said core, said
helical
flighting having a leading and a trailing edge and
said leading edge having an inner and an outer portion, wherein
said outer portion is configured to form a wedge shaped point
whereby said leading edge can more easily move through materials being mixed.
3
CA 02486269 2007-01-12
According to the present invention, there is also provided an agricultural
mixer
for mixing hay or silage with other nutrients comprising:
a frame;
a mixing chamber having a floor and a sidewall; and
at least one auger mounted within the mixing chamber, said auger comprising:
a core;
a helical flighting secured to and disposed coaxially with said core;
said helical flighting having a leading and a trailing edge;
said leading edge having an inner and an outer portion; and
said outer portion extends ahead of said inner portion.
According to the present invention, there is also provided an agricultural
mixer
for mixing hay or silage with other nutrients comprising:
a frame;
a mixing chamber having a floor and a sidewall; and
at least one auger mounted within the mixing chamber, said auger comprising:
a core;
a helical flighting secured to and disposed coaxially with said core;
said helical flighting having a leading and a trailing edge;
said leading edge having an inner and an outer portion; and
said outer portion being disposed at an angle forward of said inner portion.
According to the present invention, there is also provided an agricultural
mixer
for mixing hay or silage with other nutrients comprising:
a frame;
a mixing chamber having a floor and a sidewall; and
at least one auger mounted within the mixing chamber, said auger comprising:
a core;
a helical flighting secured to and, disposed coaxially with said core;
said helical flighting having a leading and a trailing edge;
said leading edge having an inner and an outer portion; and
said outer portion forming a wedge shaped point.
3a
CA 02486269 2007-01-12
[0009] Preferably, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
an auger for vertical mixers comprising a forward angled leading edge is
disclosed. An agricultural mixer for mixing hay or silage with other nutrients
is
also disclosed, comprising a frame, a mixing chamber having a floor and a
sidewall, and at least one vertical auger comprising a forward angled leading
edge being mounted within the mixing chamber. This vertical auger further
comprises a core, and a helical flighting secured to and disposed coaxially
with
the core. The leading edge of the helical flighting has an inner and an outer
portion, wherein the outer portion of this leading edge extends ahead of the
inner portion of the leading edge with respect to the direction of rotation of
the
auger.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparent
and more
readily appreciated from the following detailed description of the exemplary
embodiments of
the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:
[0011] Fig. 1 is perspective view of a vertical feed mixer;
[0012] Fig. 2 is a top view of the vertical mixer shown in Fig. 1;
[0013] Fig. 3 is a side view of the vertical mixer shown in Fig. 1;
[0014] Fig. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of the vertical mixer auger shown
in Fig. 1;
[0015] Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the leading edge shown in Fig. 4 taken
along line A-A
of Fig. 4;
[0016] Fig. 6 is a perspective view exemplifying another embodiment of the
leading edge
of the present invention;and
[0017] Fig. 7 is a perspective view exemplifying yet another embodiment of the
leading
edge of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE1NVENTION
[0018] With reference to the drawings, a vertical feed mixer is generally
designated by
the reference number 10. As illustrated in Figs. 1-3, the mixer includes a
floor 12, a sidewall
14, and an open upper end 16. The mixer is mounted upon a frame 18, including
wheels 20.
A tongue 22 extending from the frame 18 is adapted to be hitched to a tractor
or other prime
mover. The sidewall 14 includes a discharge opening 24 with a discharge door
26 movable
3b
CA 02486269 2004-11-16
WO 03/103821 PCT/US03/15401
between open and closed positions by a hydraulic cylinder 28. A discharge
chute 30 extends
outwardly adjacent to the discharge opening 24.
[0019] The floor 12 and the sidewall 14 define a mixing chamber 32. An auger
34 is
rotatably mounted within the mixing chamber 32, and includes a vertically
disposed core 36.
As illustrated, the mixing chamber 32 may also include two or more augers 34.
The core 36
and the auger 34 rotate around an axis of rotation 37, as shown in Fig. 4. A
helical flighting
38 is secured to and disposed coaxially with the core 36. A driveline 40 for
rotating the auger
34 is operatively connected to the power takeoff of the tractor. The
sidewa1114 is oval or
oblong at the top edge of the mixer 10, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the sides
14A of the
sidewall 14 are closer to the auger 34 than are the ends 14B of the sidewall
14.
[0020] As shown in Fig.4, the helical flighting 38 has a leading edge 42 and a
trailing
edge 44. The leading edge 42 is adjacent to the floor 12 during normal
operation. The
helical flighting also has an inside edge 46 which is secured to the core 36,
and an outside
edge 48. The outside edge 48 often has knives 49 attached, which facilitates
the cutting of
materials placed inside the mixing chamber 32. The auger 34 rotates in a
direction of rotation
50 around the axis of rotation 37. The design of the mixing chamber 32, as
well as other
features of the present invention, can be, but is not limited to being,
implemented similarly to
the corresponding component of the Verti-Maxx vertical auger of Kuhn-Knight
Inc.
[0021] The leading edge 42 of the helical flighting 38 has an inner portion 52
and an
outer portion 54. The inner portion 52 of the leading edge 42 is adjacent to
the core 36, and
is normally parallel with a radial line 56 extending from the axis of rotation
37. The outer
portion 54 of the leading edge 42 is adjacent to the inner portion 52, and and
slants forward of
the inner portion 52 in the direction of rotation 50. In a preferred
embodiment, the angle of
the outer portion 54 to the inner portion 52 is approximately 140 degrees,
however an angle
range from 90 degrees to 175 degrees could be utilized. Specific sub-ranges
contemplated for
use with the present invention include 130-150 degrees, and more generally 120-
160 degrees.
[0022] Beveled grader bars made of hardened or abrasion-resistant steel are
sometimes
welded or bolted to the leading edge 42 to increase the durability of the
leading edge 42. An
inner grader bar 58 is attached to the inner portion 52 of the leading edge
42. An outer grader
bar 60 is attached to the outer portion 54 of the leading edge 42. Fig. 5
shows a cross section
of the attachment between the leading edge 42 of the flighting 38 and the
outer grader bar 60
taken along line A-A of Fig. 4.
[0023] Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the forward angled leading
edge. In
this configuration, the inner portion 52 of the leading edge 42 is not
parallel to the radial line
4
CA 02486269 2004-11-16
WO 03/103821 PCT/US03/15401
56, but slants backward therefrom with respect to the direction of rotation
50, while the outer
portion 54 of the leading edge 42 slants forward with respect to the inner
portion 52 of the
leading edge 42.
[0024] Fig. 7 shows yet another alternative embodiment of the forward angled
leading
edge. In this configuration, the inner portion 52 of the leading edge 42 is
also not parallel to
the radial line 56, but slants forward therefrom, while the outer portion 54
of the leading edge
42 is further slanted forward to respect to the inner portion 52 of the
leading edge 42.
[0025] The inner portion 52 and the outer portion 54 may also be separated by
a number
of intermediate portions (not shown). For example, a first intermediate
portion angled
forward of the inner portion 52, but not angled as far forward as the outer
portion 54, may
also be used. Alternatively, the inner portion 52 and the outer portion 54 may
be repeated a
number of times to form a saw-toothed configuration.
[0026] The inner portion 52 and the outer portion 54 also need not be linear.
That is, the
inner portion 52 may be curved and may even be curved all the way to the outer
portion 54
(which itself may be curved).
Operation
[0027] In operation, the operator attaches a tractor or other power source to
the driveline
40 using a telescoping PTO (not shown) to transmit rotational power to the
mixer 10. The
hay or other long stemmed forages in the form of large round or square bales
are added into
the mixing chamber 32 while the auger 34 is rotating. Some mixers 10 utilize a
larger mixing
chamber 32 with multiple augers 34. The knives 49 on the auger(s) 34 cooperate
with the
sidewall 14 to cut the bulky hay into shorter lengths for feeding to the
livestock. Additional
feed materials, including grains, silage, and other feed supplements, are then
added into the
mixing chamber 32 and mixed with the hay. Due to the oblong shape of the
mixing chamber
32, the hay and other feed material tend to migrate downward toward the ends
14B of the
sidewall 14 and upward adjacent the opposite sides 14A of the mixing chamber
32. This
upward and downward flow of the hay and other feed material, together with the
rotation of
the auger(s) provides a thorough mixing action. During this mixing action, the
discharge
door 26 is closed so that no feed material is discharged through the discharge
opening 24.
[0028] As shown in Fig.4, the auger 34 rotates around the axis of rotation 37
in the
direction of rotation 50; the leading edge 42 and grader bars 58 and 60 travel
adjacent to the
floor 12 directing material onto the flighting 38. The feed materials travel
upward along the
top face of the flighting 38 until they cascade off the trailing edge 44 or
outside edge 48. The
CA 02486269 2004-11-16
WO 03/103821 PCT/US03/15401
materials then settle downward until the flighting 38 can again engage them.
The forward
leading angle of the outer portion 58 of the leading edge 42 forms a pointed
wedge shape,
which can more easily move through the feed materials. Compared to prior-art
auger
designs, the close proximity of the leading edge 42 and inner and outer grader
bars 58 and 60
to the floor 12 help to reduce the horsepower required to rotate the auger(s)
34 and minimize
the material remaining on the floor 12 after mixing and discharge is complete.
[0029] At the completion of the mixing operation, the hydraulic cylinder 28 is
actuated to
open the door 26 so that feed materials can be discharged out of the discharge
opening 24.
The centrifugal effect caused by the rotation of auger(s) 34 helps to push the
feed materials
out of the discharge opening 24 and onto the discharge chute 30 for delivery
to the livestock
feeding bunk or trough (not shown). The speed of the rotating auger(s) 34 is
normally around
24 - 30 revolutions per minute, but can be increased at the end of the load to
increase the
discharge of the feed materials.
[0030] Accordingly, the vertical mixer with a forward angled leading edge
creates a
wedge effect while in rotary motion, allowing it to more easily move through
the feed
materials. This feature lowers the horsepower required for the nlixing,
especially during the
startup of the augers. The forward angled leading edge also tends to cut or
slice material with
the longer slanted edge rather than pushing or plowing them with a shorter
straight edge, and
thus requires less horsepower. The forward angled leading edge also improves
the sweeping
action at the floor, while providing a stronger leading edge, which is more
durable and
efficient in use.
[0031] Although the description above contains many specifics, these should
not be
construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing
illustrations of some
of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of
the invention
should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents,
rather than by the
examples given.
6
