Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AUGER TRANSFER CONVEYOR
This disclosure relates to the field of conveyors and in particular a transfer
conveyor for
receiving granular material from a discharge, such as the discharge of a
hopper bottom
trailer.
BACKGROUND
Granular material such as gain and like agricultural products are commonly
transported
in trailers with hoppered compartments. The granular material is discharged
through an
opening in the bottom center of the trailer. To receive this discharged
material a
conveyor intake is located under the discharge opening. In permanent conveyor
installations the trailer is commonly driven over a receiving pit and ,the
material is
directed to the conveyor intake.
In many industries however, such as agriculture, portable conveyors are used
which are
moved from location to location. These portable conveyors typically include a
transfer
conveyor with a conveyor intake located under the trailer discharge opening,
and a
conveyor discharge oriented to discharge into the intake of a main conveyor.
One such
common transfer conveyor is a swing auger pivotally attached to the main
conveyor
intake, such as disclosed in United States Patent Number 8,662,285 to Jesse.
The
conveyor intake is provided by a receiving container with sides sloping to
direct received
material into one or more generally horizontal augers, which carry the
material to an
inclined auger which in turn carries the material to the main auger.
It is also known to configure the transfer conveyor intake such that the
trailer drives over
the intake to locate the trailer discharge over the intake. United States
Patent Number
5,964,566 to Stewart et al. discloses a drive-over transfer conveyor where the
conveying
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mechanism is provided by a chain with paddles which provides a low profile to
facilitate
driving over the intake. United States Patent Number 4,813,839 to Compton
discloses a
drive-over transfer conveyor where the conveying mechanism is provided by a
belt which
also provides a low profile.
United States Patent Number 7,090,066 to Kirsch discloses a drive-over
transfer
conveyor where the conveying mechanism inside the receiving container is
provided by a
pair of augers, each with an open horizontal section extending along an intake
hopper and
an inclined section enclosed in an auger tube and connected to the horizontal
section by a
universal joint. The inclined sections both discharge into an enclosed auger
with a
significantly larger diameter. The ramps of Kirsch are configured to fold up
to provide a
sufficient ramp length to allow a trailer to roll over the top of the
receiving container
which is higher than that of Stewart et al.
Since the capacity of an auger is related to its diameter, the augers in such
transfer
conveyors typically have a sufficiently large diameter to provide the desired
capacity.
Typically there are two to three horizontal augers, each with a diameter of 6
inches or
more.
Some products such as oilseeds and fertilizer are problematic for conveying
with a belt
conveyor. Oilseeds such as canola are very small and slippery and leak into
various areas
of the conveyor and build up a gummy accumulation on rollers and other parts.
Some
fertilizers react with rubber belting reducing belt life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure provides a transfer conveyor apparatus that overcomes
problems
in the prior art.
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The present disclosure provides an auger transfer conveyor apparatus for
granular
material. The apparatus comprises a conveyor body defined by right and left
side walls, a
front wall, and a floor comprising a substantially horizontally oriented front
floor section
and an upward and rearward sloping rear floor section. There is a plurality of
substantially parallel auger assemblies, each auger assembly comprising a
substantially
horizontal auger section extending along the front floor section, an inclined
auger section
extending along the sloping rear floor section to a transfer discharge at a
top edge of the
rear floor section, and a flexible joint connecting the horizontal auger
section to the
inclined auger section. The auger assemblies are open such that during
operation
granular material moves from the front wall toward the transfer discharge
above and
between the auger assemblies, and an auger drive is operative to rotate the
auger
assemblies.
The present disclosure provides a simple and economical transfer conveyor
apparatus
that can be provided in a stand-alone configuration. The inclined auger
sections are
closely spaced and are open, not enclosed by tubes or covered with plates such
that
granular material such as grain moves up the sloping rear wall in a wave that
is
significantly higher than the auger sections themselves. The transfer conveyor
apparatus
can be combined with a main conveyor to form a high capacity receiving
transfer
conveyor with a low profile suitable for a drive over configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred
embodiments
are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best
understood in
conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several
diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
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Fig. 1 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of an auger transfer conveyor
apparatus of the present disclosure;
Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a schematic top view of an alternate arrangement of the inclined
auger
sections of the embodiment of Fig. 1 where the inclined auger flights overlap;
Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of a combination of an auger transfer conveyor
apparatus similar to the embodiment of claim 1, connected to discharge into
the intake
of a main conveyor;
Fig. 5 is a schematic top view of front and rear ends of the combination shown
in Fig.
4;
Fig. 6 is a schematic top view of an alternate embodiment of an auger transfer
conveyor apparatus of the present disclosure where the augers are driven by a
motor
connected to a rear end of one of the inclined auger shafts;
Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the conveyor body of the combination
of Fig.
1 with hopper extensions, ramps, and a grate installed thereon for using the
embodiment of Fig. 1 as a drive-over transfer conveyor and where the hopper
extensions, ramps, and gate are in a lowered drive-over position;
Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the receiving hopper of Fig. 6 where
the
hopper extensions, ramps, and grate are in a raised operating position
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Figs. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate an embodiment of an auger transfer
conveyor
apparatus 1 of the present disclosure for granular material. The apparatus
comprises a
conveyor body 3 defined by right and left side walls 5R, 51,, a front wall 7,
and a floor 9
comprising a substantially horizontally oriented front floor section 9F and an
upward and
rearward sloping rear floor section 9R.
As illustrated the right and left side walls 5R, 5L slope upward and rearward
to follow the
rear floor section 9R. The rear portions of the right and left side walls 5R,
5L are also
higher in order to contain the greater depth of granular material above the
rear floor
section 9R.
A plurality of substantially parallel auger assemblies 11 each comprises a
substantially
horizontal auger section I 1F extending along the front floor section 9F, an
inclined auger
section 11 R extending along the sloping rear floor section 9R to a transfer
discharge 13 at
a top edge 15 of the rear floor section 9R, and a flexible joint 17, such as a
universal
joint, connecting the horizontal auger section 11F to the inclined auger
section 11R. An
auger drive 19 is operative to rotate the auger assemblies I I.
The auger assemblies 11 are open such that during operation granular material
moves
from the front wail 7 toward the transfer discharge 13 above and between the
auger
assemblies 11. The phantom line GM in Fig. 2 indicates generally the level of
granular
material in the apparatus I considerably above the inclined auger sections I
IR during
operation.
Each horizontal auger section 11F has a horizontal auger shaft 21F and a
horizontal auger
flight 23F extending from the horizontal auger shaft 21F, and the horizontal
auger flight
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23F has a horizontal auger flight diameter DI. Similarly each inclined auger
section 11R
has an inclined auger shaft 21R and an inclined auger flight 23R extending
from the
inclined auger shaft 21R, and the inclined auger flight 23R has an inclined
auger flight
diameter D2.
In the illustrated apparatus 1 the inclined auger flight diameter D2 is
greater than the
horizontal auger flight diameter DI. The right inclined auger flight 23RR is
in proximity
to and parallel to a rear portion of the right side wall 5R and the left
inclined auger flight
23RL is in proximity to and parallel to a rear portion of the left side wall
5L. The
inclined auger shafts 21R are substantially parallel and spaced apart by a
spacing distance
SD substantially equal to the inclined auger flight diameter D2 such that the
edges of
adjacent inclined auger flights 23R move along the same path.
The arrangement essentially fills the interior of the area between the right
and left side
walls 5R, 5L with rearward moving inclined auger flights 23 such that there
are no dead
spots where granular material can simply rest, and capacity is increased. A
significant
depth of granular material is generated above the inclined auger flights 23R
during
conveying operations.
Fig. 3 schematically illustrates an alternate arrangement of the inclined
auger sections
11R' where the inclined auger shafts 21R' are spaced apart by a spacing
distance SD' that
is less than the inclined auger flight diameter D2'. It is contemplated that
moving the
inclined auger shafts 21R' closer together as in Fig. 3 so the inclined auger
flicks 23R'
overlap will provide more area of inclined auger flights 23R' moving rearward
and
upward along the rear floor section 9R and so increase capacity.
In the illustrated apparatus 1 the horizontal auger shafts 2IF extend through
the front wall
'7 to forward ends 25 thereof located forward of the front wall 7, and the
auger drive 19 is
connected to the forward end 25 of each horizontal auger shaft 21F to drive
each auger
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assembly 11. The auger drive 19 comprises a drive shaft 2'7 extending through
the rear
floor section 9R substantially parallel to and between two of the horizontal
auger sections
11F and through the front wall 7 to a forward end 29 thereof, and a drive
mechanism 31,
such as chains, gears, or the like connects the forward end 29 of the drive
shaft 27 to the
forward end 25 of each horizontal auger shaft 21F. A motor 33 is connected to
a rear end
of the drive shaft 27 rearward of the rear floor section 9R.
Alternatively as also illustrated in Fig. 1 in suitable situations the motor
33 can be
located forward of the front wall and be connected by the drive mechanism 31
directly to
the forward end 25 of each horizontal auger shaft 21F.
The auger transfer conveyor apparatus 1 is a stand-alone apparatus to which
wheels,
skids, and the like can be added to maneuver the apparatus 1 as required, or
the apparatus
1 can simply be moved by a loader tractor or the like. Figs. 4 and 5
schematically
illustrate a combination transfer and main conveyor apparatus 101 of the
present
disclosure.
As in the apparatus 1 described above the apparatus 101 comprises a conveyor
body 103
defined by right and left side walls 105R, 105L, a front wall 107, and a floor
109
comprising a substantially horizontally oriented front floor section 109F and
an upward
and rearward sloping rear floor section 109R. A plurality of substantially
parallel auger
assemblies 111 each comprises a substantially horizontal auger section 111F
extending
along the front floor section 109F with the horizontal auger shafts 121F
thereof extending
through the front wall 107 to forward ends 125 thereof located forward of the
front wall
107. The auger assemblies 111 each comprise as well an inclined auger section
111R
extending along the sloping rear floor section 109R to a transfer discharge
113 at a top
edge 115 of the rear floor section 109R, and a flexible joint 117, such as a
universal joint,
connecting the horizontal auger section 111F to the inclined auger section
111R.
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A main conveyor 135 is connected to the rear floor section 109R of the
conveyor body
103 and slopes rearward and upward from the transfer discharge 113. A main
intake 137
of the main conveyor 135 is configured to receive granular material from the
transfer
discharge 113 and convey the granular material to a main discharge 139. In the
illustrated apparatus 101 the transfer discharge 113 includes a chute 141
configured to
receive granular material carried to the top edge 115 of the rear floor
section 109R and
direct the granular material into the main intake 137.
The main conveyor 135 could be of any type and in the illustrated apparatus
101 the
main conveyor is an auger conveyor comprising a main auger 143 with a main
auger
shaft 145 and a main auger flight 147 extending from the main auger shaft 145
and a
main auger drive 149 located at an upper end of the main auger 143 rotates the
main
auger shaft 145. The lower end of the main auger shaft 145 is connected
through flexible
joints 117 to a drive shaft 127 extending through the rear floor section 109R
of the
conveyor body 103 substantially parallel to and between two of the horizontal
auger
sections 111F and through the front wall 107 to a forward end thereof, and a
drive
mechanism 131 connects the forward end 129 of the drive shaft 127 to the
forward end
125 of each horizontal auger shaft 121F.
The main auger 143 is enclosed in a main auger tube 151 and the apparatus 101
is
configured such that a bottom of the main auger tube 151 and the front floor
section 109F
of the conveyor body 103 rest on the ground 153, and the conveyor discharge
113 is
located at the top of the main auger tube 151. Thus in the apparatus 101,
granular
material is only moved vertically a short distance, less than the diameter of
the main
auger tube 151, compared to conventional swing augers where the vertical
distance
moved is much greater. This relatively short vertical lift allows the open
inclined auger
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section 111R to move significant amounts of granular material with no tube
enclosing the
augers.
The height HB of the conveyor body 103 is only slightly larger than the
horizontal auger
flight diameter D1, and so by using horizontal auger sections 111F with
relatively small
diameters, such as between about 3.5 and 4.5 inches, the height HB can be
reduced to
make it easier for trailer wheels to roll over the conveyor body 103 in a
drive-over type
transfer conveyor.
Fig. 6 schematically illustrates an alternate auger transfer conveyor
apparatus 201 where
a motor 233 is connected to a rear end of the inclined auger shaft 221R of a
selected
auger assembly 211, and wherein the drive mechanism 231 connects the forward
end of
the horizontal auger shaft 221F of the selected auger assembly 211 to the
forward end of
each other horizontal auger shaft 211.
Figs. 7 and 8 schematically illustrate the conveyor body 103 with right and
left rear
ramps 155R, 155L sloping downward and outward from rear portions of the
corresponding right and left side walls 105R, 105L of the conveyor body 103
just
forward of where the floor transitions from the horizontal front floor section
to the
inclined rear floor section. A wheel support member 157 extends over the
conveyor body
103 aligned with the right and left rear ramps 155 and is configured to
support the wheels
of a loaded trailer passing over the conveyor body 103. Because granular
material is
carried in something like a wave above the horizontal auger sections 111F
there is a
considerable depth of granular material above the horizontal auger sections
111F at the
rear end of the conveyor body 103 where the wheel support member 157 is
located. Thus
it is necessary that the wheel support member 157 be movable from the lowered
drive-
over position illustrated in Fig. 7, to a raised operating position shown in
Fig. 8 where
same does not interfere with the flow of granular material.
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A front ramp apparatus 159 is attached to a front end of the conveyor body
103, and
comprises a top plate 161 with right and left edges 161R, 1611. substantially
aligned with
the top edges 163R, 163L of the right and left side walls of the conveyor body
103, and
right and left front ramps 165R, 165L sloping downward and outward from the
right and
left edges 161R, 161L of the top plate 161. The front ramp apparatus 159 is
outside the
conveyor body 103 and so can remain in the same position during drive-over or
conveying operations.
To contain the depth of granular material that is generated above the
horizontal auger
sections 111F during conveying operations, right and left hopper extension
plates 167R,
167L are pivotally attached to the top edges 163R, 163L of the right and left
side walls.
The right and left hopper extension plates 167R, 167L extend rearward from the
front
wall 7 of the conveyor body 103 and are movable from a lowered drive-over
position
resting on the corresponding right and left rear ramps 155 as seen in Fig. 7,
to a raised
operating position sloping upward and outward from the top edges 163R, 163L of
the
corresponding right and left side walls.
Typically a grate 169 for safety will extend over the middle portion of the
conveyor body
103 where the discharge of a hoppered trailer will be located. This grate 169
is also
movable from a lowered drive-over position substantially aligned with top
edges 163R,
163L of the right and left side walls as seen in Fig. 7, to a raised operating
position as
seen in Fig. 8. Conveniently as shown, the grate 169 and the wheel support
member 157
are pivotally attached to the right and left hopper extension plates 167R,
167L and move
with the right and left hopper extension plates 167R, 167L from the lowered
drive-over
position of Fig. 6 to the raised operating position of Fig. 8.
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The present disclosure provides a simple and economical transfer conveyor
apparatus 1
that can be provided in a stand-alone configuration or combined with a main
conveyor to
form a high capacity receiving transfer conveyor with a low profile suitable
for a drive
over configuration.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those
skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction
and operation
shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or
modifications in
structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within
the scope of
the claimed invention.
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