Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Flow Control Apparatus For a Grain Auger
NAMES) OF INVENTOR(S):
Eric Allen Klein
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a flow control apparatus
for a grain auger.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are a number of flow control problems associated
with grain augers. A grain auger requires a minimum depth of
grain in order to operate. When the grain storage bin is
substantially empty the grain auger is unable to operate and
the farmer must remove whatever grain remains manually using
a shovel.
When a grain auger is turned off, a substantial quantity
of grain remains in the grain auger. The larger the grain
auger, the greater the quantity of grain. This quantity of
grain sometimes makes it impossible to move the grain auger
without first unloading the accumulated grain. When there is
not a transport vehicle or storage container available into
which the accumulated grain can be discharged, the grain must
be discharged onto the ground.
United States Patent 5,845,762 which issued to Stark in
1998 proposes a potential solution to the first problem. The
Stark patent reference discloses an "auger boot" which has an
grain accumulator and a grain hopper. The auger boot is placed
over a feed end of an auger. Grain is shovelled into the grain
hopper which, in turn, supplies grain to the grain accumulator.
The grain accumulator accumulates a sufficient quantity of
grain to enable the grain auger to operate. The Stark patent
reference does not propose any solution to the second problem
described above.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a flow control apparatus that is
sufficiently versatile to address more than one of the flow
control problems experienced when using a grain auger.
According to the present invention there is provided a
flow control apparatus for a grain auger which includes a body
having an auger receiving channel. An open first end
communicates with the auger receiving channel. An open second
end communicates with the auger receiving channel. An end
closure is provided that is pivotally mounted by means of a
hinge at one of the first end and the second end.
As will hereinafter be further described, the flow control
apparatus described above can be used in either of two ways.
It can be used without the end closure to shut off the flow of
grain into the grain auger. It can be used with the end
closure as a grain accumulator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a grain auger with
a flow control apparatus constructed in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention positioned to permit the
free flow of grain into the grain auger.
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the grain auger with
flow control apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, with the flow
control apparatus positioned to prevent the flow of grain into
the grain auger.
FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the grain auger with
flow control apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, with the flow
control apparatus positioned to act as a grain accumulator.
FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the grain auger with flow
control apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 3.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a flow control apparatus for a
grain auger, generally identified by reference numeral 10, will
now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 4.
Although apparatus 10 will be described with reference to
augering of grain, it will be recognized that apparatus 10 will
also be useful for augering granular or finely divided
materials other than grain.
Referring to FIGURE 1, flow control apparatus 10 includes
a body 12. Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, flow control
apparatus 10 has an auger receiving channel 14 into which an
auger 16 can be received. Body 12 has an open first end 18
communicating with auger receiving channel 14 and an open
second end 20 communicating with auger receiving channel 14.
Body 12 has projecting tabs 22 that extend from first end 18
parallel to auger receiving channel 14. Projecting tabs 22
have pin receiving apertures 24. An end closure 26 is
pivotally mounted by a hinge 28 to first end 18 of body 12.
End closure 26 has tab receiving slots 54, which receive
projecting tabs 22 as will hereinafter be further described.
A handle 34 is secured to an external surface 36 of body 12,
for use in moving body 12 relative to auger 16. Flow control
apparatus 10 has flanges 30 which extend upwardly and outwardly
from opposed upper peripheral edges 32 of auger receiving
channel 14.
Flow control apparatus 10 has two operating modes. The
first of the two operating modes is illustrated in FIGURES 1
and 2. Flow control apparatus 10 is movable laterally along a
length of auger 16 between a disengaged position in which body
12 is distanced from a working end 41 of auger 16, illustrated
in FIGURE 1, and a covering position in which body 12 covers
working end 41 of auger 16, illustrated in FIGURE 2. Referring
to FIGURE 1, when grain is to be augered, apparatus 10 is
distanced from an opening 40 at working end 41 of auger 16.
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With flow control apparatus 10 out of the way, grain can flow
freely into opening 40 at working end 41 of auger 16. The
grain is then carried by auger flighting 44 along an interior
passage 42 of auger 16. When a truck into which grain is being
loaded is close to being full it is desirable to stop the flow
of grain. Simply stopping rotation of auger flighting 44 will
stop the flow of grain, but will leave auger 16 full of grain.
When auger 16 is full of grain it is difficult, if not
impossible to move. Referring to FIGURE 2, when it is desired
to shut off the flow of grain, rotation of auger flighting 44
is maintained and flow control apparatus 10 is moved laterally
along auger 16 to the covering position with body 12 covering
opening 40. The positioning of body 12 of flow control
apparatus 10 over opening 40 prevents further grain from
entering auger 16. The continued rotation of auger flighting
44 enables grain to be emptied from auger 16.
The second of the two operating modes is illustrated in
FIGURES 3 and 4. When a granary has been substantially
emptied, a residual amount of grain remains on the floor of the
granary which cannot be picked up by auger 16. The residual
amount of grain must be moved manually using a shovel. By
repositioning flow control apparatus 10, the task of removing
the residual amount of grain is made easier as flow control
apparatus 10 can be used with auger 16. Flow control apparatus
10 is resituated on auger 16 so that first end 18 of flow
control apparatus 10 is positioned at working end 41 of auger
16. Flow control apparatus 10 is positioned so that opening
40 is uncovered and flanges 30 extend in an upward and outward
direction on each side of opening 40. Referring to FIGURE 3,
end 41 of auger 16 is closed by pivotally moving end closure
26 to cover end 41, as shown by curved arrow 56. End closure
26 is secured in position by inserting projecting tabs 22 into
tab receiving slots 54 of end closure 26 and then inserting
locking pins 58, as indicated by dotted lines 60, to prevent
tabs 22 from being withdrawn from tab receiving slots 54.
Referring to FIGURE 4, with end closure closed, the residual
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amount of grain in the Brainier can then be shovelled into
auger receiving channel between flanges 30 and end closure 26,
and thus is fed into opening 40 of auger 16. A spring 50
extends between hooks 52 on flanges 30 at second end 20. This
5 helps prevent auger receiving channel 14 from spreading as it
becomes filled with grain and helps hold flow control apparatus
in position on auger 16.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
10 modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.
