Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MANIPULATIVE AUGER SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
100011 The present invention relates generally to augers used in the handling
of material. More
specifically, the present invention relates to the accurate loading of any
material, such as a
harvested product including but not limited to harvested grain into a vehicle,
such as a truck or
wagon, without the need for either piece of equipment to be moved. To that
end, the present
invention relates to an auger, the output end of which is capable of three-
directional movement.
The auger of the present invention is capable of both manual and electronic
control. The invention
further relates to a surge bin employing said auger.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Harvest is generally a very busy time of year for those in the
agriculture industry. Time
and efficiency are important factors for a successful harvest. The task
requires use of many
resources, including equipment and personnel. For example, a typical grain
harvest operation
includes at least one combine to remove a crop from a field, but more often
includes
approximately three combines per field. Usually, each combine dispenses
harvested product into a
grain wagon, which a tractor pulls alongside the combine. Generally, the grain
cart includes a
means for removing the grain from the cart and depositing it into an apparatus
that will transport
the grain to a permanent or semi-permanent destination, such as a grain
elevator, biofuel plant, or
grain bin. Such apparatuses include, but are not limited to, grain wagons and
semi-trucks.
[0003] Most farms are measured in sections of land, with a section being
approximately one
square mile, and one quarter section being a common farm size. One quarter
section is
approximately 160 acres. Most agricultural operations require three combines
to harvest a quarter
section of grain. Accordingly, the harvest task requires three combine
operators as well as three
tractor operators to pull grain wagons alongside the combines. Moreover,
operators are required
for the trucks and grain wagons used to transport the harvested grain to a
destination. Hence,
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harvest is a labor and personnel intensive activity that must be completed in
a short time.
[0004] One semi-permanent destination for a harvested product, such as a
harvested grain
product, is a surge bin. A surge bin is a large, yet portable, grain storage
apparatus for use during
harvest. The surge bin is placed in a field to be harvested. Once the combines
fill their respective
grain carts, the grain carts unload into the surge bin via means such as an
auger or belt conveyer.
The surge bin holds the grain until a transport apparatus, such as a truck or
grain wagon, is
available to move the product to a destination located outside of the field.
At such time as a
transport apparatus becomes available, the harvested product is moved to same.
In addition, surge
bins are useful for co-ops and elevators to store product. One means for
moving harvested
material from the surge bin is by an auger.
[00051 Traditionally, augers are stationary devices, although some
agricultural augers have the
ability to pivot in a limited manner. Some agricultural augers pivot about a
hinge, such as a piano
hinge, to permit folding of an upper portion of the auger when not in use.
However, when folded,
these augers no longer permit material to be moved. Accordingly, in order to
evenly distribute
grain in a truck or wagon, one of the apparatuses must be moved. For example,
when a grain cart
is unloading into the trailer of a semi-truck, one or both of the grain cart
and semi-truck must be
moved to evenly distribute grain in the semi-truck. In another example, when
moving grain from a
stationary surge bin to the trailer of a semi-truck, the semi-truck must be
moved during the loading
process. This activity requires two operators, an operator for the surge bin
auger and an operator
to run the semi-truck.
[0006] An auger with limited pivotal movement is described in United States
Patent No.
5,409,344, which provides an auger device having an upper and lower auger. The
lower auger is
fixed to a grain cart, while the upper auger is capable of pivoting around a
single axis. Although
this provides for some movement of the auger, the auger described in United
States Patent No.
5,409,344 is only capable of movement in a circular arc. Accordingly, the
prior art auger is unable
to fill a transport apparatus, such as a semi-truck, from the same horizontal
plane above the truck.
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Another auger with limited pivotal movement is described in United States
Patent No. 5,800,116,
which provides an auger having a single auger length. The single auger length
is capable of
pivotal movement in two planes, allowing for front-to-back movement and up-and-
down
movement of the auger with respect to the grain cart to which it is attached.
However, because of
the limited, two-directional movement of the auger, the problems associated
with the circular path
discussed above are still present. Additionally, some augers of the prior art
employ adjustable
spouts or outputs to dispense material in a particular direction. However,
these augers are not
capable of a full range of movement, thus requiring movement or precise
parking of an apparatus
to be filled.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an auger assembly that is
capable of a full range
of three-directional motion, including, but not limited to, front-to-back, up-
and-down, and in-and-
out motions with respect to a material handling device to which it is
attached. There is further a
need in the art for a surge bin employing such an auger, which would eliminate
the need for a
second operator to facilitate the transfer of grain from the surge bin to a
semi-truck or wagon.
Such an auger would further have the ability to fill the long trailer of a
semi-truck while moving
along a straight path above the trailer, which allows for increased accuracy
during the process.
Furthermore, such an auger would have the ability to occupy any point in space
above the trailer
during filling without movement of the bin to which the auger is attached or
the semi-truck.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present invention provides a manipulative auger system wherein the
auger assembly is
capable of three-directional movement, thus allowing a user to move the auger
over the top of a
semi-truck trailer in a straight line so as to evenly fill the trailer. Also
included in the present
invention is a material handling apparatus, including but not limited to a
grain cart or surge bin,
employing said auger assembly. The provided auger assembly includes a first
auger section and a
second auger section connected by a joint. The first auger section moves
harvested product from
the material handling apparatus to the second auger section by way of a
transition through the
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joint. The second auger section moves the harvested product from the first
auger section to an
auger assembly output, which dispenses product into a transport apparatus. The
present invention
provides an auger that may move across the length of a transport apparatus,
such as the trailer of a
semi-truck or a grain wagon. Therefore, both the material handling apparatus
to which the auger is
attached and the transport apparatus into which the auger is unloading may
remain stationary. This
eliminates the need for a second operator, as the driver of the semi-truck or
tractor pulling the
grain wagon may park his apparatus, disembark from same, and operate the
auger.
[0009] In the preferred embodiment, the first auger section is movably
connected to the wall of a
material handling apparatus that is closest to the tractor pulling same.
Preferably, material flows
through at least one auger door located in the material handling apparatus
that regulates the flow of
product. The first auger section is further connected to a joint, which
connects the first auger
section and second auger section. The joint is movably connected to the first
auger section. The
second auger section is movably connected to the joint. Accordingly, the auger
assembly includes
three points at which movement may occur, allowing for three-directional
movement of the auger
assembly output. The auger assembly output is located at the opposite end of
the second auger
section from the joint. Product is discharged through the auger assembly
output.
[0010] In the preferred embodiment, the auger assembly includes an electronic
controller which is
adapted to control movement of the auger and/or the auger door(s). Further, in
the preferred
embodiment, the auger assembly is also capable of manual control, such as via
a joystick. The
electronic controller takes the form of a console that includes a screen and
control buttons. The
controller may be located in the cab of the tractor pulling the material
handling apparatus to which
the auger is attached or may be located on the material handling apparatus,
such as a surge bin or
grain cart. In the preferred embodiment, the controller is located in the cab
of the tractor.
Furthermore, the tractor provides power for the hydraulic, power take-off, and
electronics of the
auger assembly components. Alternatively, the power for the above-referenced
systems could
come from another source, such as a source self-contained on the surge bin. In
the preferred
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embodiment, the controller is adapted to automatically start and/or stop an
unloading process.
[0011] Also provided is a material handling apparatus including a storage
container for storing
material, an auger door, and an auger assembly. The material handling
apparatus, which may
include but is not limited to a surge bin or grain cart, generally stores
material temporarily during
the harvest process. Accordingly, the device must be able to quickly and
accurately unload
product into another handling device. To that end, the output of the auger
assembly is capable of
three-directional movement. Further, the auger may be electronically and/or
manually controlled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view according to one embodiment of an
auger assembly and
material handling apparatus of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the auger assembly and material
handling apparatus of
FIG. 1 wherein the auger assembly is in its non-operational or resting
position.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the auger assembly of FIG. 1.
10015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the auger assembly and material
handling apparatus of
FIG. I.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the material handling apparatus of
FIG. 1 taken along
the lines 5-5 in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an auger door of the material
handling apparatus of
FIG. 4.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the auger assembly and material
handling apparatus of
FIG. 1 displaying movement of the auger assembly in a first direction.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the first auger section, joint, and a
portion of the second
auger section of the auger assembly of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG 9 is a cross-sectional view of the first auger section, joint, and
a portion of the second
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auger section taken along the lines 9-9 in FIG. 8.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the auger assembly and material handling
apparatus of FIG.
1, displaying movement of the auger assembly in a second direction.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the auger assembly and material
handling apparatus
of FIG. 1 displaying movement of the auger assembly in a third direction.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the auger assembly and material
handling apparatus of
FIG 1. dispensing material from a first position into a semi-trailer.
[0024] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the auger assembly and material
handling apparatus of
FIG 1. dispensing material from a second position into a semi-trailer.
[0025] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the auger assembly and material
handling apparatus of
FIG 1. dispensing material from a third position into a semi-trailer.
[0026] FIG. 15 is a schematic according to one embodiment of a joystick, auger
assembly, and
electronic controller of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 16 is a screen of an electronic controller according to one
embodiment of an
electronic controller of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] The following is a detailed description of an embodiment of an auger
assembly 100 for
moving material. One particular use of such an auger assembly 100 is for the
movement of a
harvested crop, such as during the harvest operation itself. Also included in
the present invention
is a material handling apparatus 200 employing the auger assembly 100 of the
present invention.
For ease of discussion and understanding, the following detailed description
and illustrations often
refer to the auger assembly 100 for use with a material handling apparatus 200
that is a surge bin.
It should be appreciated that the auger assembly 100 of the present invention
may be used with any
equipment, whether directed to a harvest function or otherwise. Further, it
should be appreciated
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that the material handling apparatus 200 may be any agricultural equipment
that handles a
harvested crop, whether during the actual harvest operation or at a point in
time thereafter.
Oftentimes, the detailed description will refer to a material that is a grain.
However, it should be
appreciated that the present invention is for use with any material.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, an auger assembly 100 (sometimes "assembly") and
material handling
apparatus 200 (sometimes "apparatus") are shown. The assembly 100 includes a
first auger
section 102 and a second auger section 104. The assembly 100 further includes
a joint 106 located
between and connecting the first auger section 102 and second auger section
104, which is shown
in further detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. The first auger section 102 is connected
at its proximal end 112
to a material handling apparatus 200 at an auger assembly intake 108 (shown in
FIG. 3). In the
illustrated embodiment, the material handling apparatus is a surge bin. As is
known in the art, a
surge bin for agricultural use is a large, yet transportable storage bin.
During a harvest operation,
the surge bin may be pulled by a tractor from field to field to temporarily
store harvested product.
Further advantages of a surge bin of the present invention will be discussed
in further detail below.
FIG. 1 illustrates the auger assembly 100 of the present invention in an
operational mode. As seen
in FIG. 2, the auger assembly 100 may also be folded into a non-operational or
resting position
when not in use. Generally the auger assembly 100 of the present invention is
designed to
dispense grain on the right side of a material handling apparatus 200;
however, one of skill in the
art will recognize that the auger assembly 100 of the present invention may be
adapted to dispense
material in any direction.
[0030] As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 3, the first auger section 102
includes a flighting
152 enclosed in a tubular housing 154. Accordingly, the first auger section
102 is configured to
move material upwardly out of the apparatus 200. As discussed above, the first
auger section 102
is connected to the apparatus 200 at its proximal end 112. The first auger
section 102 is connected
to the joint 106 at its distal end 114. Also attached to the joint 106 is the
second auger section 104.
The second auger section 104 includes a proximal end 116 connected to the
joint 106, and a distal
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end 118. Similar to the first auger section 102, the second auger section
includes a flighting 156
and tubular housing 158. Accordingly, the second auger section 104 is also
adapted to move
material. As shown in FIG. 3, the second auger section 104, is preferably
assembled from three
portions of flighting 156 and tubular housing 158. Furthermore, the second
auger section 104
includes a hydraulic motor 182 and corresponding drive block 184 to drive the
flighting 156 of the
second auger section 104. Referring to FIG. 4, at the distal end 118 is an
auger assembly output
120. The auger assembly output 120 is adapted to dispense grain into a second
device, such as a
transport apparatus 122. The transport apparatus 122 could be, but is not
limited to, a grain wagon
or the trailer of a semi-truck adapted to transport grain. Generally the auger
assembly output 120
is angled downward to form a spout to direct the flow of material into the
transport apparatus 122.
Further shown in FIG. 3 are bearings 152 and support plates 154 where the
portions of auger
flighting meet.
[00311 Referring again to FIG. 4, a perspective view of the assembly 100 and
apparatus 200 of the
present invention is shown. Specifically, in the embodiment shown, the
assembly 100 is attached
to an apparatus 200 that is a surge bin 202. The surge bin 202 generally
includes a frame 204,
wheels 206, and a hitch 208 configured to be attached to a tractor. The surge
bin 202 further
includes a container 210 for holding material, generally a harvested product.
The surge bin 202 is
transportable from location to location. It should be appreciated that the
assembly 100 need not be
attached to a surge bin 202 and further need not be attached to a
transportable device. For
example, the assembly 100 may be adapted for use with a grain cart or grain
bin. The assembly
100 and apparatus 200 are connected at the auger assembly intake 108. The
auger assembly intake
108 is generally tubular in shape and facilitates the movement of product from
the surge bin 202 to
the first auger section 102. The auger assembly intake 108 is connected to a
complimentary
shaped opening in the container 210 by any attachment means known in the art,
such as nuts and
bolts. The auger assembly intake 108 receives material from a material
handling apparatus auger
214.
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[0032] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, material travels from the container 210 to
the first auger
section 102 via the material handling apparatus auger 214 located at the
bottom of the container
210. FIG 5 is a cross-sectional view of a material handling apparatus of the
present invention
showing the material handling apparatus auger 214 and material handling
apparatus auger doors
216. FIG. 6 is a larger view of a material handling apparatus auger door 216
of the present
invention. In the preferred embodiment, the material handling apparatus auger
214 spans the
length of the material handling apparatus 200 and is located beneath nine
material handling
apparatus auger doors 216 that can be activated to open and close as necessary
to control the flow
of material from the container 210 to the auger assembly 100. When the doors
are open, material
may drop from the container 210 to the material handling apparatus auger 214,
which includes a
flighting that is not enclosed by a tube. Accordingly, the material handling
apparatus auger grabs
the material and pushes it forward to the auger assembly 100. When determining
the position of
the material handling apparatus 200 in a field, the ground should be fairly
level, but need not be
completely level. The weight of the apparatus 200 will cause it to sink into
the ground slightly,
allowing the apparatus 200 to level itself.
[0033] Turning to FIG. 4, the first auger section 102 pivots about an axis 124
that extends
longitudinally through the center of the auger assembly intake 108. Axis 124
is fixed in relation to
the container 210 and lower auger section 102. The range of movement about
axis 124 may be
any value. However, when determining the range of movement of the auger
assembly 100, it
should be remembered that the entire auger assembly 100 must be able to safely
clear all parts of
the material handling apparatus 200 and any transport apparatuses 122 into
which the auger
assembly 100 will unload. This motion is further depicted in FIG. 7. It should
be appreciated that
any range of motion may be used as the application so requires. Further, in
the preferred
embodiment, the movement of the first auger section 102 is carried out by a
pair of hydraulic
cylinders 126, 128. One of skill in the art will recognize that any means may
be used to facilitate
movement of the first auger section 102 whether known now or in the future.
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[0034] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in the preferred embodiment, the first
auger section 102 is
connected to the material handling apparatus 200 by means of a first turret
joint 160. The turret
joint includes a small diameter cylinder 162 located within a large diameter
cylinder 164, which is
just large enough to fit over the small diameter cylinder 162 and allow
rotation. The large
diameter cylinder 164 is connected to the first auger section 102. As the
hydraulic cylinders 126,
128 cause the first auger section 102 to pivot, the large diameter cylinder
164 rotates with the
lower auger section 102. The small diameter cylinder 162 of the auger assembly
intake 108
remains stationary. Material, such as grain in the illustrated embodiment,
moves freely through
the small diameter cylinder 162 into the first auger section 102. As one
skilled in the art will
recognize, the configuration of the first turret joint 160, particularly the
placement and attachment
of the small diameter cylinder 162 and large diameter cylinder 164 may be
reversed. Moreover,
the length of the small diameter cylinder 162 within the large diameter
cylinder 164 may vary as
the application so requires.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a joint 106 connects the first auger section
102 and second
auger section 104. The joint 106 is shown in further detail in FIGS. 8 and 9.
As can be seen in
FIG. 9, the cross-sectional shape of the joint 106 is a quadrilateral. The
joint 106 is connected to
the first auger section 102 at its bottom 148 and to the second auger section
104 on a side 150. As
shown in FIG. 3, the joint 106 connects with the first auger section 102 via a
circular opening that
is complimentary to the tubular housing of the first auger section 102. The
joint 106 connects to
the second auger section 104 via a circular opening 138 in the side of the
second auger section 104
near the proximal end 116 of the second auger section 104. The joint 106
includes an internal
transition area 146 where the material flows from the first auger section 102
to the second auger
section 104. In the preferred embodiment, the transition area 146 does not
include a flighting,
rather the action of the first auger section 102 forces material through the
transition area 146 by
continuing to push material through the assembly 100.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 4, the joint 106 rotates, about an axis 134 that
extends through the center
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of the length of the first auger section 102. As one skilled in the art will
recognize, as the first
auger section 102 is moved about axis 124, axis 134 also pivots about axis
124, thus contributing
to the three-directional movement of the auger assembly output 120.
Accordingly, the axis 134
about which the joint 106 rotates is not necessarily fixed in space. This
movement is further
depicted in FIG. 10. The range of motion about axis 134 may be any value, but
will often be
limited to avoid hitting other components of the apparatus 200 or other
equipment used in
proximity to the apparatus 200, such as a transport apparatus 122. However,
one of skill in the art
will recognize that any range of motion may be used as the application so
requires.
[0037] In the preferred embodiment, the movement of the joint 106 is carried
out by a single
hydraulic cylinder 131, which is connected to a brace 132. The brace 132
supports the weight of
the second auger section 104. It should be appreciated that any means may be
used to facilitate
movement of the joint 106 whether known now or in the future. Referring to
FIG. 3, a second
turret joint 166 provides for the rotational movement of the joint 106 about
axis 134. The turret
joint includes a small diameter cylinder 168 and a large diameter cylinder
170. The large diameter
cylinder 170 spins around the small diameter cylinder 168 when activated by
the hydraulic
cylinder 131. The second auger section 104 is attached to the large diameter,
outer cylinder of the
joint 106. Accordingly, as the joint 106 rotates, the second auger section 104
rotates with the joint
106. As one skilled in the art will recognize, the configuration of the second
turret joint 166,
particularly the placement and attachment of the small diameter cylinder 168
and large diameter
cylinder 170 may be reversed. Moreover, the length of the small diameter
cylinder 168 within the
large diameter cylinder 170 may vary as the application so requires.
[0038] Referring again to FIG. 4, the second auger section 104 further
includes the auger
assembly output 120. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the second auger section 104 is
preferably made of
three auger portions that have been connected to form one continuous second
auger section 104.
The second auger section 104 pivots about an axis 136 that extends through the
center of the
circular opening 138 through which material travels from the joint 106 to the
second auger section
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104. As the first section pivots about axis 124 and the joint rotates about
axis 134, axis 136 will
move as well, thus creating the three directional movement of the auger
assembly 100.
Accordingly, axis 136 is not necessarily fixed in space. The movement is
further depicted in FIG.
11. The range of motion about axis 136 may be any value, although in most
embodiments, the
range of motion need not be greater than 90 degrees. One of skill in the art
will recognize that the
range of motion will depend on the application.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 3, in the preferred embodiment, the movement of the
second auger
section 104 is facilitated by a hydraulic cylinder 140, which is connected to
the brace 132. One of
skill in the art will recognize that any means may be used to effect movement
of the second auger
section 104 about axis 136. Further, in the preferred embodiment the second
auger section 104 is
connected to the joint 106 though a third turret joint 172. The third turret
joint 172 also includes a
small diameter cylinder 174 within a large diameter cylinder 176. The large
diameter cylinder 176
is connected to the second auger section 104 and rotates around the small
diameter cylinder 174.
As one skilled in the art will recognize, the configuration of the third
turret joint 172, particularly
the placement and attachment of the small diameter cylinder 174 and large
diameter cylinder 176
may be reversed. Moreover, the length of the small diameter cylinder 174
within the large
diameter cylinder 176 may vary as the application so requires. As shown in
FIG. 2, the second
auger section 104 may be folded into a storage position. Referring to FIG. 3,
hydraulic cylinder
130 rotates the joint 106 and second auger section 104 into the storage
position.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 7, 10, and 11, the pivotal movements of the various
components of the
auger assembly 100 are shown. For ease of discussion, directional references
in the following
discussion of FIGS. 7, 10, and 11 will be from the perspective of viewing the
front of the assembly
100 and apparatus 200, with the front wall 201 being the wall closest to the
tractor pulling the
material handling apparatus 200 to which the assembly is attached FIG. 7 shows
the assembly
100 in a first position in solid lines and a second position in broken lines.
This movement about
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axis 124 facilitates right-to-left (or in-and-out) movement of the auger
assembly and particularly
the auger assembly output 120 and up-and-down movement, as well as a
combination of same.
FIG. 10 shows the front-to-back movement of the second auger section 104, and
particularly the
auger output assembly 120 and represents the position of the assembly 100 as
it rotates about axis
134. A first assembly 100 position is shown in solid lines, while a second
assembly 100 position is
shown in broken lines. FIG. 11 shows the up-and-down movement of the second
auger section
104 and auger assembly output 120 as it pivots about axis 136. As the assembly
100 is able to
move about three axes 124, 134, 136, the auger assembly 100, including the
auger assembly output
120, is capable of three directional movement. Further, the assembly 100 is
capable of rotating
about two and three axes simultaneously, providing for seamless movement of
the auger assembly
output 120 from one point in space to the next.
100411 A significant advantage of moving the assembly 100 from one location to
the next is the
ability to fill a transport apparatus 122 without moving the transport
apparatus 122 or the apparatus
200 during the loading process. Rather, the operator may manipulate the
location of the assembly
100, and particularly the auger assembly output 120, to evenly dispense
product throughout the
entire area of the transport apparatus 122. As one skilled in the art will
recognize, transport
apparatuses 122 may include, but are not limited to, semi-trucks and grain
wagons. As discussed
above, one embodiment of an apparatus 200 of the present invention is a surge
bin 202. Although
a surge bin 202 of the present invention may be used in any manner by any
party to store material,
it is anticipated that the surge bin 202 will most often be temporarily
located in a field that is being
harvested. Grain carts that receive product from a combine harvesting in the
field unload into the
surge bin 202 located in the field. The surge bin acts as a temporary storage
location for the
harvested material. Accordingly, the grain carts need not wait until a semi-
truck or grain wagon is
available to transport the product to a location off-site, such as an elevator
or grain bin. Once a
transport apparatus 122 is available, the surge bin unloads product into the
apparatus 122.
Moreover, as discussed above, traditionally the task of unloading product into
a transport
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apparatus 122 has required two operators, one to operate the auger and another
to move the
transport apparatus 122. However, the assembly 100 of the present invention
only requires one
operator. Because the auger assembly output 120 is capable of three-
dimensional movement, the
transport apparatus 122 may remain stationary during the unloading process.
Accordingly, the
operator of the transport apparatus 122 may park the apparatus 122 and
disembark to operate the
assembly 100.
100421 The movement of the assembly 100 during the process of unloading
material, specifically
grain 123, from a surge bin 202 of the present invention into the trailer 212
of a semi-truck is
shown in FIGS. 12-14. In FIG. 12, the auger assembly output 120 is located
above the front of the
trailer. By manipulating the auger 100, which will be discussed in further
detail below, the
operator can move the auger assembly output 120 to any position within reach
above the trailer
212. For example, in FIG. 13, the auger assembly output 120 is located above
the center of the
trailer 212. To accomplish this movement, the joint 106 must rotate about axis
134 to the right
(when viewing FIGS. 12-14). Due to the circular rotational pattern, this
movement alone may
cause the auger assembly output 122 to move to a position which is no longer
above the trailer to
be filled. Accordingly, the first auger section 102 pivots about the axis 124
to move the auger
assembly 100 in-and-out as required. In the illustrated example, the first
auger section 102 pivots
left about axis 124 to move the auger assembly 100 in. Further, in this
particular example, the
movement about axis 124 will have the consequence of raising the auger
assembly output 120.
Due to the circular path of the assembly, movement of the assembly 100 about
axis 124 can both
raise and lower the auger assembly output 120 depending on the starting and
ending position of the
assembly 100. To counteract the upward movement of the auger assembly output
120, the second
auger section 104 pivots downwardly about axis 136. Through the three-
directional movement of
the auger assembly 100, it is possible to maintain output of material along a
straight path from the
front to rear of the trailer. This results in even filling of the trailer from
the front to the back more
efficiently than the circular path of prior art augers. Moreover, the three-
directional movement of
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CA 02791435 2012-10-01
the auger assembly 100 of the present invention allows the user to fill the
entire trailer without
moving either the semi-truck or the material handling apparatus 200 to which
the assembly 100 is
attached.
[0043] A similar sequence of movement is used to move the auger assembly
output 120 from its
position in FIG. 13 to its position in FIG. 14. FIG. 14 illustrates the auger
assembly output 120
above the rear of the trailer 212. To effect this movement, the joint 106
again rotates to the left
about axis 134. The circular movement of the second auger section 106 will
cause the auger
assembly output 120 to move inwardly. In a simultaneous action, the first
auger section 102 pivots
to the right about axis 124 to counteract the inward motion. Because the
movement of the
assembly 100 about axis 124 alone would cause the auger assembly output 120 to
drop, the second
auger section 104 will pivot upward about axis 136 to maintain the auger
assembly output at a
height above the trailer and prevent the assembly 100 from coming into contact
with the trailer
212. The simultaneous combination of these movements causes the auger assembly
output 120 to
dispense grain in the same horizontal plane as the assembly 100 moves from the
position shown in
FIG. 13 to the position shown in FIG. 14.
[0044] As referenced above and shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the preferred
embodiment, the
various movements of the assembly 100 are carried out by a hydraulic system.
Preferably, the
hydraulic system is powered by a single hydraulic control block located on the
apparatus 200. In
the preferred embodiment, the auger assembly 100 includes dual controls. The
hydraulic control
block includes valve banks with levers that control the auger assembly and a
joystick is
electronically attached to the auger assembly 100, which will be discussed in
further detail below.
The flighting of the three individual augers ¨ the first auger section 102,
the second auger section
104, and the material handling apparatus auger 214 ¨ are each powered by one
of three dedicated
motors. In other embodiments of the present invention, the power for any of
the movements of the
auger assembly 100 or other parts of the apparatus 200 may come from either
the material
handling apparatus 200 or the tractor pulling the apparatus 200.
CA 02791435 2012-10-01
[0045] Referring to FIG. 15, the auger assembly 100 of the present invention
may be controlled
by an electronic or electric controller 142. The electronic controller 142 may
be connected to the
auger assembly 100 by any method known in the art now or in the future,
including but not limited
to, a wired connection and a wireless connection. In the preferred embodiment,
the electronic
that the controller 142 may send information to the joystick 144 regarding the
automatic start
and/or shut-down sequences, which will be discussed in further detail below.
[0046] The preferred electronic controller 142 is capable of receiving and
storing information
regarding the weight of material located in the apparatus 200 and the weight
of material that the
[0047] By way of example, an apparatus 200 of the present invention may be
located in a field
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CA 02791435 2012-10-01
cart or semi-truck, will park beside the apparatus 200, within range of the
auger assembly 100, to
be filled with harvested material. An operator, such as the driver of the
transport apparatus will
use the joystick 144 to position the auger assembly 100 above the container of
the transport
apparatus 122. The operator will then use the electronic controller to the
fill the transport
apparatus 122. In some cases the operator will be required to enter
information about the transport
apparatus 122, such as an identification name and maximum weight. In other
cases, such as if the
transport apparatus 122 has been used with the electronic controller 142
previously, the
information will already be stored in the controller 142, and the operator
will simply need to select
the transport apparatus 122 from the list stored in the controller 142.
[0048] Once the operator instructs the controller 142 to begin the unloading
process, the
controller 142 automatically controls same, while the operator uses the
joystick 144 to control the
movement of the auger assembly 100. FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of a
controller program
adapted to fill a transport apparatus 122 from material located in a surge bin
202, specifically a
main information screen 217. The program includes information related to the
capacity of a
transport apparatus 122, designated as "Yellow Truck" in the figure, as well
as a bar graph 220
showing the weight of material that has been transferred to the transport
apparatus 122. The
program further provides information regarding the weight of material in the
surge bin 202, by
way of another bar graph 222. The program receives signals from one or more
scales located on
the surge bin 202 of the present invention to measure the weight of same. The
weight of material
in the transport apparatus 122 is calculated by the program based on the flow
rate of material to the
apparatus 122. The illustrated program further includes a bar graph 218 and
related information
regarding the capacity of a grain cart and the actual weight of material in
same. The electronic
controller 142 controls the auger doors 216 to allow grain to drop down to the
material handling
apparatus auger 214. In the preferred embodiment, the speed of the flighting
of all auger sections
is constant and controlled by the electronic controller 142.
17
CA 02791435 2012-10-01
[0049] Once the transport apparatus 122 is nearly full, the electronic
controller 142 will
automatically initiate shut-down of the auger. In the preferred embodiment,
when there is 1120
pounds of material left to be unloaded, the controller 142 initiates the shut-
down sequence. This
value may be changed by the user, but is automatically changed to correct
scale readings as
described in further detail below. Of course, the controller may be programmed
to initiate shut-
down when any amount of material remains to be moved to the transport
apparatus 122. This shut-
down signal is also transmitted to the joystick 144. Preferably the controller
142 and joystick 144
are hardwired to each other. However, the two components may be connected via
any means
known in the art, either now or in the future. In the preferred embodiment,
the transport apparatus
122 will be filled within 65 pounds of its capacity during the automatic
filling process; however,
this value will fluctuate due to factors including but not limited to, the
variety, moisture content,
and type of grain. It should be appreciated that the transport apparatus 122
could be filled within
any value of its capacity without departing from the scope of the present
invention. The self-
correcting feature of the assembly 100 and electronic controller 142, which
will be discussed in
further detail below, will keep this value as close to zero as possible. In
addition to transport
apparatuses 122 with a single container for filling, the electronic controller
142 may be
programmed to fill transport apparatuses 122 with multiple containers, such as
double tank trucks,
including those wherein the tanks are different capacities.
[0050] The electronic controller 142 may optionally be programmed to self-
correct by any
percentage based on the accuracy of each load into a particular transport
apparatus 122. For
example, if a semi-trailer may hold 10,000 pounds of material and the user
programs the electronic
controller 142 to self-correct by 50%, the first time the apparatus 200
unloads into the trailer, it
will be programmed to fill the trailer with an amount of material that is less
than 10,000 pounds,
for example 9000 pounds. If the capacity of the specific trailer is not
changed following the first
loading, the controller 142 will then correct itself by 50%. Accordingly, in
the second filling of
the particular trailer, the electronic controller will fill the transport
apparatus 122 with 9500
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CA 02791435 2012-10-01
pounds of material. If the capacity is not changed, the transport apparatus
122 will be filled with
9750 pounds of material during the third filling, and so on. As one of skill
in the art will
recognize, the controller 142 may be programmed to load the transport
apparatus 122 to any
percent full as the application may require. It should be appreciated that the
self-correct feature
may be used to both increase and decrease the amount of grain moved to a
transport apparatus 122.
This feature may be used to both prevent both over-filling and under-filling
of a transport
apparatus 122 and, accordingly, leads to increased accuracy during filling.
[0051] Although various representative embodiments of this invention have been
described above
with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make
numerous alterations to
the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the
inventive subject
matter set forth in the specification and claims. Joinder references (e.g.
attached, adhered, joined)
are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a
connection of
elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references
do not necessarily
infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each
other. In some
instances, in methodologies directly or indirectly set forth herein, various
steps and operations are
described in one possible order of operation, but those skilled in the art
will recognize that steps
and operations may be rearranged, replaced, or eliminated without necessarily
departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that all matter
contained in the above
description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as
illustrative only and not
limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from
the spirit of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
[0052] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the
embodiments
outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements
and/or substantial
equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently foreseen, may
become apparent to
those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Listing the steps of a method
in a certain order does
not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method.
Accordingly, the
19
CA 02791435 2012-10-01
=
embodiments of the invention set forth above are intended to be illustrative,
not limiting. Persons
skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail
without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is
intended to embrace all
known or earlier developed alternatives, modifications, variations,
improvements, and/or
substantial equivalents.
