Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TRANSPORTABLE DRIVE-OVER CONVEYOR SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The
present invention relates generally to grain or
other bulk material handling and, more particularly, to augers
and conveyors for conveying grain.
BACKGROUND
K002] In the
agricultural industry, there are generally two
categories of mechanical systems used for conveying grain, the
belt conveyor and rotary screw or auger.
[0003]
Offloading grain from a grain truck or other transport
vehicle may be done with a swing-type auger that is swung
underneath the grain-storage tank or by driving the truck over
a drive-over hopper. Grain is then discharged downwardly onto
the drive-over hopper or onto the swing-type auger. Both of
these prior-art systems have drawbacks. Swing-type augers are
cumbersome and slow to maneuver. Drive-over hoppers typically
need to be assembled and moved each time an unloading
operation is to be performed.
Nom For
example of a drive-over hopper is the PitStopTM
drive-over belt conveyor by Batco Manufacturing, a division of
Ag Growth International. This is a
portable, drive-over,
grain-receiving pit-type conveyor for fast unloading of belly-
dump trailers.
(0005] Another
example is the GrainDeckTM drive-over conveyor
by Brandt Agricultural Products Ltd.
[0006] Although
both of these drive-over conveyors provide
quick and easy unloading of grain, these separate systems do
have some shortcomings. Since these are separate systems,
they have to be moved around on their own and cannot be
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transported as a single unit. It is believed that this also
means that it will cost more to buy a separate drive-over
conveyor unit and a separate auger. The separate drive-over
units are also powered by a separate power source, whether
electric or gas motor.
[0007] Also
known in the industry is the Pit ExpressTM by Mast
Productions Inc. which is an integrated single-unit drive-over
auger conveyor. However,
this conveyor is moved on its own
wheel assembly due to its substantial weight. The drive-over
Pit Express auger cannot be folded underneath the main auger
for transport such as towing by a truck (i.e. it cannot be
lifted and supported by the main auger due to its substantial
weight).
[0008] In view
of the shortcomings of the above-mentioned
prior art technologies, an improvement would thus be highly
desirable.
SUMMARY
[0009] The
present invention is directed to a transportable
drive-over conveyor system and its method of use in the
offloading of grain from a grain truck or other transport
vehicle. The
transportable drive-over conveyor system in
general terms provides a first (drive-over) conveyor that
receives grain from the grain truck or other vehicle. The
first conveyor, e.g. a belt conveyor, delivers the grain to a
second conveyor, e.g. an auger, via a transition section that
disposes the downstream end of the first conveyor relative to
the second conveyor such that the grain falls from the first
conveyor onto the second conveyor.
[0010] One
inventive aspect of the present disclosure is a
transportable drive-over conveyor system comprising a drive-
over hopper for receiving grain and having a belted conveyor
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for conveying the grain, a transition section pivotally
connected at an upstream end to the drive-over hopper and an
auger mounted at a downstream end of the transition section,
wherein the transition section transfers the grain from the
belted conveyor to the auger.
[0011] Another inventive aspect of the present disclosure is
a method of unloading and conveying grain, the method
comprising driving a grain truck over a drive-over hopper,
receiving grain from the truck into the drive-over hopper,
conveying the grain using a belted conveyor to a transition
section pivotally connected at an upstream end to the drive-
over hopper and mounted at a downstream end to an auger, the
transition section elevating and dumping the grain onto the
auger for conveying by the auger.
[0012] Another inventive aspect of the present disclosure is
a material-handling system comprising a first conveyor for
receiving and conveying material such as grain, seed,
fertilizer or industrial substances or products, the first
conveyor having a geometry adapted for driving over, a
transition section pivotally connected at an upstream end to
the first conveyor, and a second conveyor secured at a
downstream end of the transition section, wherein a downstream
end of the first conveyor is disposed above an upstream end of
the second conveyor to enable material to fall from the first
conveyor onto the second conveyor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Further features and advantages of the present
technology will become apparent from the following detailed
description, taken in combination with the appended drawings,
in which:
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[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a grain truck driving over a
transportable drive-over conveyor system in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an isometric view depicting a caster wheel
and associated mechanism used to raise a drive-over hopper of
the conveyor system;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a side cutaway view of the conveyor system
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is an isometric cutaway view of a belted
conveyor and connected transition section and further
depicting the belt travel path;
[0018] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the transition section;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a side view of the transition section;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a front view of the transition section;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the drive-over
hopper in a grain-unloading position;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the drive-over
hopper in a drive position;
[0023] FIG. 10 depicts a first radius R1 for the hopper when
the hopper is locked to the transition section and a second
radius R2 for when the hopper is unlocked from the transition
section;
pom FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the conveyor
system in the drive position;
[0025] FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a drive-over hopper
showing the foldable ramp and detachable drive wheel;
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[0026] FIG. 12A
is an isometric view of a variant of the
foldable ramp having a universal-type joint to reduce the
moments transferred to the conveyor body when placed on
irregular or soft ground;
[0027] FIG. 12B
is another isometric view of the foldable
ramp in folded onto the belted hopper; and
[0028] FIG. 12C
is another isometric view of the foldable
ramp showing the universal-type joint.
P029] It will be noted that throughout the appended
drawings, like features are identified by like reference
numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] FIG. 1
depicts a grain truck designated generally by
reference numeral 2 driving over a transportable drive-over
conveyor system 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. The grain
truck has a grain container 4
with a "belly-dump" discharge mechanism for discharging grain
downwardly onto the transportable drive-over conveyor system
(or simply "conveyor system").
[0031] In
general, the conveyor system 10 includes a drive-
over hopper 20 for receiving grain. The drive-over hopper has
a belted conveyor 22 for conveying the grain. The
conveyor
system 10 also includes a transition section 30 pivotally
connected at an upstream end 32 to the drive-over hopper 20.
The conveyor system 10 also includes an auger 40 mounted at a
downstream end 34 of the transition section 30. The
transition section 30 functions to transfer the grain from the
belted conveyor 20 to the auger 40. This provides a belt-to-
auger (or belt-over-auger) conveyor system.
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[0on] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a portion of the
conveyor system 10 showing the drive-over hopper 20 and a
portion of the transition section 30. The drive-over hopper
20 has ramps 24 to facilitate the act of driving a truck or
other vehicle over the hopper 20. Each ramp
24 has an
inclined ramp surface which may be formed of a solid surface,
a grating or a combination of both such as shown in the
figure. The ramps 24 may be pivotally mounted via hinges or
other such rotational mechanism to the hopper top enable the
ramps to be folded for transport as will be explained in
greater detail below. In the embodiment illustrated by way of
example in FIG. 2, the conveyor system 10 comprises a pair of
height-adjustable caster wheels 36 mounted to an outer portion
of the transition section 30. The
caster wheels may be
individually raised and lowered by a height-adjusting
mechanism 38 that may include a hand-operated lever 39 and
mechanical linkages to raise or lower each caster wheel. The
height-adjusting mechanism is mounted to the outer portion of
the transition section in the illustrated embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 3 is
a side cutaway view of the conveyor system
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
In the illustrated embodiment, the belted conveyor 22 is
either fixed-angle or adjustable in angle and operates at an
angle of up to 25 degrees from a horizontal plane and whereas
the auger 40 is also either fixed-angle or adjustable in angle
and operates at an angle of up to 45 degrees from the
horizontal plane. However,
it will be appreciated that in
other embodiments, the belted conveyor may operate above 25
degrees and/or the auger may operate above 45 degrees. In
this illustrated embodiment, a drive motor 25 is provided for
driving the belted conveyor 22. The drive
motor 25 may
optionally be a hydraulic motor. The drive motor 25 may be
mounted with a grain-discharging section 26 of the belted
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hopper 20. In other
words, the hopper 20 includes a flat
conveyor belt section 22 followed by a raised or inclined
grain-discharging section 26. In the embodiment illustrated by
way of example in FIG. 3, the grain-discharging section 26
(also referred to as a belt hopper) includes a housing 27 that
accommodates an inclined/ramped belt portion 28 that elevates
the grain as the grain travels up the inclined/ramped belt
portion 28. Grain is dumped (i.e. poured, cascaded or
otherwise transferred) from the downstream end of the
inclined/ramped belt portion 28 onto extension flighting 42 of
the auger 40. Note how
the extension flighting 42 of the
auger 40 extends into the transition section 30 from the main
flighting 41. In the
illustrated embodiment, the extension
flighting 42 extending into the transition section is an
extension of the main flighting 41. The extension flighting
42 is mechanically coupled or joined to the main flighting
41. Note that the extension flighting and main flighting have
different pitches (turns per inch).
pox FIG. 4 is
an isometric cutaway view of a belted hopper
20 (or hopper-type conveyor) and its downstream grain-
discharging section 26. FIG. 4
further depicts by way of
example the belt travel path 50. The belt travel path 50 in
this example configuration defines an S-shaped path 51
followed by an inclined path 52 (corresponding to
inclined/ramped belt portion 28) to elevate the grain relative
to a lower portion of the flighting of the auger and to dump
the grain onto the lower portion of the flighting of the auger
(i.e. onto the extension flighting 42). The inclined belt path
52 is inclined relative to the main conveying path 53 (i.e.
the path of the belt along the main horizontal (flat)
conveying section. The S-
shaped path is located at or near
the junction of the flat portion of the belt conveyor and the
inclined portion 28.
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[0036] FIGS. 5-7
illustrate the transition section 30 with
its upstream end 32 and downstream end 34. The
transition
section (or "transition") 30 is a key component of the
conveyor system 10 because this is where the belted hopper 20
unloads the grain onto the auger 40. The transition section
30 was designed to ensure it could feed the auger at its
maximum capacity. During testing, once the transition section
30 was capable of feeding the auger 40 at its maximum capacity
then the belt speed was adjusted to match the maximum amount
that the transition section 30 and auger 40 could handle. The
transition section 30 also provides an attachment point for
the belted hopper 20. When the auger angle changes, the angle
of the swing tube (i.e. auger 20) relative to the hopper 20
also changes. Therefore, the transition section 30 to the
hopper 20 has to be attached to allow for this rotation while
still having the belt feed the transition section 30 without
spilling.
[0036] FIG. 5 is
an isometric view of the transition section
30. As shown by way of example in this figure, the transition
section 30 comprises an enclosure defining a grain inlet 35 at
the upstream end 32, a converging duct 36 and a grain outlet
37 at the downstream end 34.
[0037] FIG. 6 is
a side view of the transition section 30.
As shown by way of example in this figure, the inlet 35
(defining an inlet section 35a) comprises a front lip 36 and
angled side walls 38, a first converging section 39, that is
higher than the lip and side walls, having a first angle of
convergence and a second converging section 39a having a
second angle of convergence greater than the first angle of
convergence, and wherein the second converging section
terminates in a flanged outlet 37 adapted to connect to a
swing tube of the auger.
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[0038] FIG. 7 is
a front view of the transition section. The
front lip 36 may be a rectangular panel as shown in this
figure. In this particular embodiment, the height of the lip
36 represents less than half of the height of the first
converging section 39 although this may be different in other
embodiments.
[0039] FIG. 8 is
a cross-sectional view of the drive-over
hopper 20 in a grain-unloading position. The grain-unloading
position is the position (and configuration) of the hopper
when the grain is being unloaded from a belly-dump truck onto
the belt hopper. In the
grain-unloading position, the
conveyor system is not designed to be moved (either
repositioned relative to the truck or grain bin or to be
transported to another site). As shown by way of example in
FIG. 8, in this configuration, the ramp 24 is deployed
(unfolded) to permit a truck to drive over the drive-over
hopper 20. The
caster wheel 36 is also raised in this
configuration.
[0040] FIG. 9 is
a cross-sectional view of the drive-over
hopper 20 in a drive position. The drive
position is the
position and configuration for driving, moving Or
repositioning the hopper. In the drive position, the conveyor
system is not designed to unload grain. As shown by way of
example in FIG. 9, in this configuration, the ramp 24 is
folded onto the drive-over hopper 20. The caster wheel 36 is
also lowered (fully deployed) in this configuration. A drive
wheel 60 (or, more generally, a drive wheel subsystem) may be
attached to the drive-over hopper 20 as will be explained in
greater detail below with respect to FIG. 12. This
drive
wheel 60 enables the conveyor system 10 to travel in an arc to
be deployed (unfolded) or folded. Depending
on whether the
hopper 20 is locked or pinned (i.e. connected) to the
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transition section 30, the hopper 20 will travel one of two
different arcs.
[0:41] FIG. 10 depicts a first radius R1 for the hopper 20
when the hopper 20 is locked (e.g. pinned) to the transition
section 30 and a second radius R2 for when the hopper 20 is
unlocked (e.g. unpinned) from the transition section 30. When
unlocked, the hopper 20 pivots relative to the transition
section about pivot point 33. This is a lockable pivot which,
in one embodiment, may be locked or unlocked by inserting or
removing a locking pin. The hopper may be folded by driving
the drive wheel 60 to fold the hopper relative to the
transition and auger. The drive wheel also is used to unfold
the hopper (by reversing direction). When pinned together the
drive wheel also drives the entire conveyor system 10
including the hopper 20, transition 30 and auger 40.
(0042] In one embodiment, in which the side of the transition
section is flush with the side of the hopper 20, the drive-
over hopper 20 pivots (about a substantially vertical axis)
relative to the transition section 30 to fold 180 degrees
relative to the transition section 30 and the connected auger
40. In other variations, the folding angle may be greater or
less than 180 degrees.
VIM] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the conveyor
system 10 in the drive position (or drive configuration), i.e.
with the caster wheel 36 deployed and the drive wheel 60
attached. Note
that the ramp 24 is folded onto the belted
hopper 20 in this configuration.
[ow] FIG. 12
is an isometric view of the drive-over hopper
20 showing the foldable ramp 24 and the detachable drive wheel
60. The drive wheel 60 may be a hydraulic drive wheel in this
one exemplary embodiment although other drive wheel subsystems
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may be employed. In this
embodiment, the axis of the drive
wheel 60 is substantially parallel to a general direction of
grain travel on the top belt of the belted hopper.
[0045] For
repositioning, the drive wheel 60 is attached and
the ramp 24 raised and folded onto the belted hopper 20. This
figure depicts a foldable ramp 24 that pivotally unfolds to
provide an inclined ramp surface and pivotally folds onto the
onto the hopper for transport. In this embodiment, the ramp
24 folds about an axis that is perpendicular to a direction of
conveyance. The single detachable hydraulic drive wheel 60 is
only attachable to the system (belted hopper) when the ramp 24
is folded onto the hopper for transport. The folding ramp 24
in this illustrated embodiment is a flip-over ramp. The flip-
over ramp 24 may be flipped (i.e. rotated or pivoted) about an
axis of rotation that is orthogonal (perpendicular) to the
general direction of grain travel on the top belt of the
belted hopper. When flipped up onto the hopper, there is room
to attach the wheel 60; otherwise, when the ramp is down, the
ramp physically blocks attachment of the wheel. Likewise,
when the wheel is attached, the ramp cannot physically be
lowered. The
interaction between the wheel and ramp thus
provides a failsafe mechanism to ensure that the conveyor can
only be moved when the ramp is up and the wheel attached and,
conversely, that grain can only be unloaded when the ramp is
down and the drive wheel detached. The configuration of the
ramp (up versus down) visually signals to the unloading crew
and/or truck driver whether or not the conveyor system is
currently configured for unloading grain.
K046] FIG. 12A
is an isometric view of a variant of the
foldable ramp 24A having a universal-type joint to reduce the
moments transferred to the conveyor body when placed on
irregular or soft ground. In other
words, this universally-
jointed ramp 24A eliminates or at least substantially reduces
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the twist or torsion on the frame of the conveyor system when
the truck drives over the ramp 24A on uneven or irregular
ground. FIG. 12B
shows the foldable ramp 24A being folded
about an axis perpendicular to a direction of conveyance. FIG.
120 is another isometric view of the foldable ramp 24A showing
the universal-type joint 24E. With reference to FIG. 12B, The
axis about which the ramp folds onto the belted 20 is denoted
by 240. The axis
240 is perpendicular to the direction of
material conveyance which is denoted by 24D. The ramp
can
thus pivot about the axis 24C but also about an axis parallel
to the axis of conveyance 24D. With reference to FIG. 12A and
FIG. 12B, the ramp 24A also includes hinged flaps 24E. These
flaps 24E are raised for transport and lowered for unloading.
[0047] The
conveyor system disclosed in this specification is
thus a single (fully integrated) system that combines both
technologies (belt conveyor and screw auger) into one single
integral apparatus or machine. The belted drive-over hopper
dumps the grain onto the flighting to be carried upwardly by
the auger. The belt
hopper is powered by a hydraulic motor
that may receive its power supply from the hydraulic output of
a tractor or other equivalent source. The rotational power is
supplied from the power takeoff (PTO) output of the tractor.
Therefore, all the flighting is powered from the PTO and the
belt is powered hydraulically. The two separate power systems
both originate from the same source (which is usually a
tractor).
[0048] One novel
aspect of the invention is that the belted
drive-over hopper is attached to the auger (i.e. swing tube of
a regular rotary screw auger).
Therefore, the apparatus is
one single unit that can be transported in one piece. Prior-
art drive-over hoppers are separate units that unload into the
main auger.
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[0049] A
tremendous benefit of having a belted system that
attaches directly to the main auger is that the system can be
transported as one single piece of equipment. It can be
deployed with ease when setting up at a bin site for
unloading. The drive-
over portion can remain flat on the
ground and the auger transition will pivot about the belted
hopper when raising or lowering the auger.
V0514 This conveyor system has a low profile drive-over
hopper that is attached to the main auger in order to
constitute a single (integral) piece of equipment. Westfield
Industries, a division of Ag Growth International, currently
has a drive-over hopper designed with flighting. The flighting
requires a minimum height and therefore the ramps have to be
longer to enable the truck to drive over the top of the
structure enclosing the flighting. The present design is much
less bulky, lighter and easier to move around. This low-
profile drive-over belted hopper is small and light enough to
transport with the auger. Because of the belted conveyor, the
hopper in this illustrated embodiment is only 414" (11.4 cm) in
height. This compact design (low height) means that the ramps
leading to the hopper are substantially smaller and lighter
than in the prior art. The deck height of the Brandt conveyor
mentioned above is 5 34" (14.6 cm) which is 1 14" (3.2 cm)
higher than the present design. This
means that the ramps
would have to be extended out further making the whole unit
wider and heavier and would not be able to be attached to the
auger as one unit. The Batco conveyor is also much bigger and
heavier than the present design and would also not be
attachable to an auger as a single unit. The PitStop has a 7
3-11 (19 cm) clearance height and is 8' (2.5 m) wide which is
much larger than the present design.
[0051] The inventors have moreover recognized that a
further technical hurdle arises in designing a means for
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attaching a belted hopper to a screw auger to have a single
integrated apparatus or machine. In the embodiments disclosed
herein, the belt utilizes rollers in an S-configuration in
order to transition the belt from a substantially horizontal
position to an incline in order unload the product (e.g.
grain) into the new transition from above. The new
auger
transition provides a pivot point (denoted by reference
numeral 31 in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6) to which the belted hopper is
connected so that, when the auger is raised, the flighting and
belt remain in close contact to minimize wasted product (i.e.
product that does not transfer from the belt portion to the
auger swing tube).
V052] The drive-over concept is designed to decrease the
amount of time it takes to unload product from the
truck/trailer, which is crucial in the grain industry. With
the increasing popularity of trailers with underside discharge
chutes (e.g. Wilson Trailer Company Pacesetter Super-B), the
main slowdown is lining up each trailer with the hopper. The
drive-over concept allows the hopper to be positioned
permanently for each bin and the truckers do not have to worry
about moving the hopper under the truck each time they come to
unload.
[0053] The belted drive-over hopper provides a compact,
lightweight and low profile design that is conducive for
trucks driving over the hopper (without being too bulky or
heavy for transport).
[0om] This new
concept of transferring grain from the belt
conveyor to the auger as a single mechanical system employs
two newly designed components that attach to the auger's swing
tube. As depicted in FIG. 11, these are the belted hopper 20
and the transition section 30 (or transition box or simply
"transition").
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[0055] As
mentioned above with respect to FIG. 8 and FIG.
9, the belted hopper 20 has two different configurations.
FIG. 8 shows by way of example the hopper in the auger
position or unloading position with the ramp 24 deployed and
caster wheels 36 raised. In the unloading configuration, the
ramp 24 has to be lowered for a truck to drive over the hopper
20. To move
or drive/reposition the conveyor to a new
location, the end ramp must be folded up and the caster wheels
locked down. The drive wheel 60 may then be re-attached for
the drive configuration shown by way of example in FIG. 9. It
is also then ready for transport by utilizing the hydraulic
drive wheel to power the system to its transport position.
[0056] The
conveyor system 10 can be been folded into the
transport position. In the transport position, the hopper 20
folds underneath the auger 40. The
conveyor system 10 is
light enough and compact enough to be towed by a pickup truck.
[0057] OTHER EMBODIMENTS
[0058] The
inventive concepts disclosed herein may be applied
to other material-handling systems. Materials
may include
other agricultural products, like seeds, fertilizer, or other
such bulk materials, or may include other products or
substances in other industrial applications. The belted
conveyor disclosed in the illustrated embodiment may be
replaced with a low-profile drive-over auger or the auger may
be replaced with replaced with a belted conveyor. Thus, the
conveyor system may be belt-belt, belt-auger (as illustrated),
auger-belt or auger-auger. Therefore, in broad terms, a
material-handling system includes a first conveyor for
receiving and conveying material, the first conveyor having a
geometry adapted for driving over, a transition section
pivotally connected at an upstream end to the first conveyor,
and a second conveyor secured at a downstream end of the
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transition section, wherein a downstream end of the first
conveyor is disposed above an upstream end of the second
conveyor to enable material to fall from the first conveyor
onto the second conveyor. The first conveyor may optionally
be pivoted about a substantially vertical axis relative to the
transition section to fold 180 degrees relative to the
transition section and the second conveyor. Optionally, the
system includes a height-adjustable caster wheel mounted to
the transition section. Optionally, the system includes a
single detachable hydraulic drive wheel that is only
attachable to the system when the ramp is folded onto the
hopper for transport.
Optionally, the system includes a
foldable ramp that pivotally unfolds to provide an inclined
ramp surface and pivotally folds onto the first conveyor for
transport.
[0059] The main implementation of the material-handling
system is the illustrated embodiment disclosed above which the
first conveyor is a belted conveyor whereas the second
conveyor is an auger. In one specific embodiment, the belted
conveyor is operable at an angle of up to 25 degrees from a
horizontal plane whereas the auger is operable at an angle of
up to 45 degrees from the horizontal plane. In that
illustrated embodiment, and as described above, the first
conveyor has a belt travel path that defines an S-shaped path
followed by an inclined path to elevate the material relative
to a lower portion of a flighting of the auger and to dump the
material onto the lower portion of the flighting of the auger.
The system may also fold into a transportable position by
folding the first conveyor underneath the second conveyor. In
other words, the system folds as a single integrated unit for
transport.
[0060] METHOD
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U061] The novel
conveyor system also enables a novel method
of unloading and conveying grain or other material. For
unloading grain, this method entails driving a grain truck
over a drive-over hopper, receiving grain from the truck into
the drive-over hopper and conveying the grain using a belted
conveyor to a transition section pivotally connected at an
upstream end to the drive-over hopper and mounted at a
downstream end to an auger. The transition section elevates
and dumps the grain onto the auger for conveying by the auger.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises pivotally
unfolding a ramp to provide an inclined ramp surface for the
truck to drive over the drive-over hopper and, after unloading
is complete, pivotally folding the ramp onto the hopper for
transport. In one
embodiment, the method further comprises
attaching a single detachable hydraulic drive wheel that is
only attachable when the ramp has been folded onto the hopper
for transport. In one embodiment, the method further comprises
unfolding the drive-over hopper 180 degrees relative to the
transition section for unloading and then, after unloading is
complete, folding the drive-over hopper 180 degrees relative
to the transition section for transport. As noted above, in
other variations, the folding angle may be greater or less
than 180 degrees. An analogous method may be performed for
unloading other material, substances or products with similar
or analogous physical characteristics.
[0062] The
embodiments of the invention described above are
intended to be exemplary only. As will
be appreciated by
those of ordinary skill in the art, to whom this specification
is addressed, many obvious variations, modifications, and
refinements can be made to the embodiments presented herein
without departing from the inventive concept(s) disclosed
herein. The scope
of the exclusive right sought by the
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applicant(s) is therefore intended to be limited solely by the
appended claims.
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