CA2036064C - Telescopic auger - Google Patents

Telescopic auger

Info

Publication number
CA2036064C
CA2036064C CA002036064A CA2036064A CA2036064C CA 2036064 C CA2036064 C CA 2036064C CA 002036064 A CA002036064 A CA 002036064A CA 2036064 A CA2036064 A CA 2036064A CA 2036064 C CA2036064 C CA 2036064C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
auger
core
auger section
bin
section
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002036064A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2036064A1 (en
Inventor
Danny S. Kuzub
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HI-QUAL MANUFACTURING Ltd
Original Assignee
HI-QUAL MANUFACTURING LTD.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by HI-QUAL MANUFACTURING LTD. filed Critical HI-QUAL MANUFACTURING LTD.
Publication of CA2036064A1 publication Critical patent/CA2036064A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2036064C publication Critical patent/CA2036064C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G65/00Loading or unloading
    • B65G65/30Methods or devices for filling or emptying bunkers, hoppers, tanks, or like containers, of interest apart from their use in particular chemical or physical processes or their application in particular machines, e.g. not covered by a single other subclass
    • B65G65/34Emptying devices
    • B65G65/40Devices for emptying otherwise than from the top
    • B65G65/46Devices for emptying otherwise than from the top using screw conveyors
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G33/00Screw or rotary spiral conveyors
    • B65G33/08Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for fluent solid materials
    • B65G33/14Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for fluent solid materials comprising a screw or screws enclosed in a tubular housing
    • B65G33/16Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for fluent solid materials comprising a screw or screws enclosed in a tubular housing with flexible screws operating in flexible tubes
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G33/00Screw or rotary spiral conveyors
    • B65G33/08Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for fluent solid materials
    • B65G33/14Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for fluent solid materials comprising a screw or screws enclosed in a tubular housing
    • B65G33/18Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for fluent solid materials comprising a screw or screws enclosed in a tubular housing with multiple screws in parallel arrangements, e.g. concentric
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G33/00Screw or rotary spiral conveyors
    • B65G33/24Details
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G33/00Screw or rotary spiral conveyors
    • B65G33/24Details
    • B65G33/32Adaptations of bearings or couplings for supporting and connecting screws

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
TELESCOPIC AUGER
A telescopic auger includes a first drive tube and a second drive member coaxial with the drive tube and slidable inside the drive tube in telescopic manner. A flight is attached to the drive tube in helical arrangement. A second flight section is-attached to the drive member at an outer end only of the drive member with the second flight being threaded into the end of the first flight so that rotation of one relative to the other causes the length of the threaded engagement to increase or decrease to allow telescopic adjust-ment of the length of the total auger flight. This arrange-ment can be used in a bin sweep which allows the sweep to be adjusted in length to accommodate bins of different diameter.
The sweep section is driven across the ground by a drive track at an outer end of the auger section. The auger section is coupled to a main auger section which extends from the centre Or the bin outwardly to the exterior of the bin by a flexible or rotary joint which allows the sweep section to rotate through 360° during operation. The rotary joint is provided by a flexible auger core to which is attached a plurality of separate collars each carrying a helical flight section. The total drive for the system can therefore be provided by a motor at an outer end of the main auger section.

Description

TELESCOPIC AUGER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to augers for trans porting materials and particularly but not exclusively to an auger assembly which can be used as a bin sweep for clearing a bin flocr of the stored particulate material. -BACKGROUND
Augers are used in many locations for transporting various particular materials. An auger comprises a helical flighting mounted on an elongate drive member so that the flighting is rotated around the axis of the drive member. The flighting is mounted within a confining member or shroud which may be in the form of a tube, or may have one side open and cooperates with the flighting to force the material longitudi-nally of the axis. one example of an auger is that of a bin sweep, which is a device for drawing grain across the bin floor to the inlet of a main unloading auger.
Bin sweeps which are attached at the lower end which is the feed end of a main auger are well known and arranged to be coupled to the lower end of the main auger to be driven by that lower end and include a helical flight to sweep the materlal from the bin toward the lower end for transportation along the main auger. An example of this device is shown in U.S. Patent 2,640,577 (Roscoe). The~e devices have many dis-'f~
advantages in that they do carry out much shoveling. In particular the sweep cannot rotate fully around the lower end of the auger and is limited to a certain arc within the bin.
In addition the sweep is of a fixed length so that it cannot accommodate different sized of bins.
Another example of a device of this type is shown in U.S. Patent 2,763,362 (Greaves) which shows a sweep of this general type which is coupled together in three lengths to attempt to increase the amount of area which can be swept but again there are many problems. A further older device is shown in U.S. Patent 2,393,572 (Soma) which provides again a ~weep of limited action but in this case the material is dis-charged through an air duct out of the bin. The sweep itself however remains with difficulty in covering the full area of the bin.
More recent devices shown in U.S. Patent 4,669,941 (West) which shows the device which can pivot around a fixed point within a bin but again the sweeping arc of the device is limited and the device i8 necessarily fixed within a particu-lar bin and cannot be used with more than one bin.
A yet iurther device is ~hown in the more recent U.S. patent 4,824,312 ~SchiltZ) which discloses a iixed duct mounted within the bin which extends from one wall to a cen-tral po~ition at which there is a vertical auger ~ection. At .
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t 3 20;~6064 the bottom end of the vertical auger section is coupled a sweep auger which can rotate 360 around the bin floor. The sweep auger can be decoupled and removed but the remainder of the equipment remains coupled within the bin.
This device therefore has a number of disadvantages.
Firstly the main part of the device remains fixed within a bin and therefore each bin requires a separate piece of equipment at accumulatively high cost. Secondly the device is associated with a particular diameter of bin and cannot be used with other types of bins. Thirdly the coupling between the auger section which extend6 outwardly of the wall of the bin, the vertical section and the sweep section is obtained by gear boxes located inside the auger tubes which thus seriously restr$ct the amount of flow which is obtained and thus significantly increases the amount of time necessary for cleanout of the bin. Furthermore the sweep auger section has a shroud around a rear part of the auger section to assist in transportation of the material but otherwise is uncovered and is driven by a large wheel at the outside end. This drive system will cause the auger once freed from the material to move rapidly around the floor of the bin which can be very dangerous to any user within the bin. Furthermore the exposure of the flight is again very dangerous in that the rapidly mov~ng sweep can seriously damage the legs of the user .. . .

~ 4 ~ 203606~

if caught unawares within the bin.
Flexible couplings provided in an auger system are known for example in U.S. Patents 3,092,241 (Dubie), 3,709,357 (Brown) and 3,727,746 (Slusher). The first of these patents provides a flexible sleeve formed in a plurality of movable sections together with a flexible core within the sleeve which carries a plurality of separate collars. However this provides a construction which has a very gradual radius of curvature so that the material must be lifed to a relatively high level by the inefficient auger system at the curved section thus significantly reducing the speed of transport of the material.
In addition the design shown is totally unsuitable for use as a deivce for removing material from a bin. The further two patents of Brown and Slusher simply disclose flexible auger flights which curve around a required corner but which are unsuitable for use with particular material.
Auger systems which can be expanded or contracted in length are also known for example U.S. Patents 4,356,910 (Toggstad), 2,845,167 (Heiken), and 3,605,995 (Maack). In each of these cases an auger system includes a telesopic sleeve and an auger flight formed from two portions one of which can be screwed relative to the other to increase and decrease the amount of overlap between the two flight sections. In Heiken \. " ~ . ' ,' ' , ':
,. ,~
, ' the movement is obtained by rotating an inner drive element carrying one flight portion relative to an outer drive element to thus provide the screw action following which the inner and outer drive elements are coupled by a transverse pin holding the auger at the required length. In Maack, the length of the device is controlled by fixing the length of the outer sleeves.
In Toggstad the total length of the auger is controlled by either a cylinder system which moves the telescopic tube in and out or as shown in the drawings by a threaded rod which locks the outer end of the sleeve relative to the outer end of the first flight section. These devices are therefore difficult to adjust and accordingly are unsuitable for use where rapid adjustment is required for example in a bin sweep.
SUMMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bin sweep comprising a first auger section having an auger tube, a screw conveyor with a first core and a first helical ~light secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the first core about a longitudinal axis of the first core, a second auger section with a shroud, a second core and a second helical flight screwed therealong so as to be rotatable with the second core about a longitudinal axis of the second core, means mounting the first auger section such that it can extend from a .~ ' . . ,,,,~ ~, .

- 6 - 2036~64 first feed end thereof within a bin to be emptied of a stored material to a second discharge end exteriorly of the bin for discharge of the material, means connecting the second auger section to the first feed end of the first auger sectionl said connecting means allowing rotation of the second auger section about a vertical axis defined on the first auger section such that the second auger section can rotate around the vertical axis through 360 within the bin to collect the material from an area surrounding said first end, drive means for drivingly rotating said second auger section about said vertical axis, and means for supporting the first auger section for transportation of the first auger section with the second auger section coupled thereto and supported thereby in cantilever manner from a bin to a second bin, said supporting means being arranged at said second discharge end of the first auger section such that the supporting means can be arranged exteriorly of the bin to insert the first auger section, said connecting means and said second auger section into a position adjacent a center of the bin.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a bin sweep comprising a first auger section having an auger tube, a screw conveyor with a first core and a first helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the first core about a longitudinal axis of the first core within the auger tube, a second auger section having a shroud, a second ., , - , .. , . . ~.. ...
.. . ..

- 7 ~ 2036064 core and a second helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the second core about a longitudinal axis of the second core within the shroud, means for supporting the first auger section with the s~cond auger section coupled thereto at a first feed end thereof and supported thereby in cantilever manner, said supporting means being arranged at a second discharge end of the auger tube, such that the auger tube can extend from said first feed end thereof within a bin to be emptied of a stored material to said second discharge end exteriorly of the bin for discharge of the material, a first substantially right angle rigid tubular rigid elbow having a first end connected to and substantially contiguous with the auger tube, a second substantially right angle tubular elbow having a first end connected to the shroud, means coupling a eecond end of the first elbow to a second end of the second elbow, said coupling means allowing rotation between said first and second elbows to cause rotation of the second auger section about a vertical axis defined on the first auger section such that the second auger section can rotate around the vertical axis through 360 within the bin to collect the material from an area eurrounding said first end, drive means for drivingly rotating eaid eecond auger section about said vertical axis, and meane for communicating rotation of said first core to said second core comprising a flexible core portion secured to an end of the first core and to an end of the second core, said flexible core portion extending through an interior of said first and second elbows and said coupling means, said flexible core portion carrying a plurality of separate collars thereon each having auger flight means thereon for transporting material through said elbows, and pivot coupling means mounting said shroud on said second elbow for pivotal movement of the shroud about a horizontal axis transverse to the length of the second auger section.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a bin sweep comprising a first auger section having an auger tube, a screw conveyor with a first core and a first helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the first core about a longitudinal axis of the first core, a eecond auger section having a shroud, a second core and a second helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the eecond core about a longitudinal axis of the second core, means mounting a first feed end of the auger tube within a bin to be emptied of a etored material to a second discharge end of the auger tube exteriorly of the bin for discharge of the material, means coupling the second auger section to said first feed end of the firet auger qection, said coupling means allowing ~,,J

. ' ' ; ~ , . '' :

~-;
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.. . .

9 2~36~64 rotation of the second auger section about a vertical axis defined on the first auger section such that the second auger section can rotate around the vertical axis through 360 within the bin to collect the material from an area surrounding said first feed end, drive means for drivingly rotating said second auger section about said vertical axis, wherein said drive means comprises a drive element mounted on said second core at an end thereof remote from said vertical axis and drivingly rotatable by said second core about a longitudinal axis of the core, the drive element having a rotating peripheral drive for contacting a floor of the bin in a driving action, means mounting the drive element such that the drive surface remains in contact with the ground and is moved in a direction to cause movement of said second auger section around said vertical axis, and drive communication means responsive to rotation of the second core to cause said driving action of the drive element and arranged such that the speed of the movement of the second auger around said vertical axis is less than the angular velocity of the peripheral edge of the second helical flight around said axis of the second core.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a bin sweep comprising a first auger section having an auger tube, a screw conveyor with a first core and a first helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the first core about a longitudinal axis of the first core, a second auger section having shroud means extending along the length thereof, a second core and a second helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the second core about a longitudinal axis of the second core, means mounting the first auger s~ction such that it can extend from a first feed end thereof within a bin to be emptied of a stored material to a second discharge end exteriorly of the bin for dischrage of the material, means coupling the second auger section to the first feed end of the first auger section, said coupling means allowing rotation of the second auger section about a vertical axis defined on the first auger section such that the second auger section can rotate around the vertical axis through 360 within the bin to collect the material from an area surrounding said first feed end, drive means for drivingly rotating said second auger section about said vertical axis, the shroud means including a top portion and a rear portion both of which are formed by a substantially imperforate sheet confining the material collected by the second helical flight for transportation by the flight along the shroud means to the first auger section, said shroud means further including a front portion defined by a grid structure having transversely spaced, , . . . . .. .
.
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.

longitudinally extending bars allowing entry of the material into the second auger section as the second auger section moves around said vertical axis.
It is also desirable to provide a transporting mechanism at the outer end of the second section, driven by the second core. This is used to swing the sweep through an arc while grain is drawn by the sweep into the main auger.
Another preferred characteristic of the invention is the coupling of the sweep to a main auger tube through the use of a rotary union including a flexible screw section. This includes a flexible shaft and double flighted screw 3 segments spaced along the flexible shaft. The flexible shaft is connected at its opposite ends to the sweep screw and the screw of the main auger so that a single hydraulic motor can drive the complete system. There is no discontinuity in the feed from the sweep through to the main auger outlet. This also allows the sweep to swing through 360 about the end of the main auger.
With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the best mode known to the applicant and of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an unloading auger according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation like Figure 1 in cross ~ection;
Figure 3 is a detail of a flexible auger screw section;
Figure 4 is a cross section along line 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a section of a bin sweep showing details _ 13_ 2 03 606 of a sweep transport;
Figure 6 is section along line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is an end view of the sweep transporting mechanism; mechanism; and Figure 8 is a side elevational of the auger attached to a support trailer in a raised position for transportation.
Figure 9 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view though a a modified embodiment of the bin sweep.
Figure 10 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view through an upper part of the bin sweep of Figure 9 showing an adjustable discharge auger.
~TAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a bin sweep 10 including a main auger section 12 for delivering the grain through an outlet 13 for discharge into a hopper of a further transportation system. The auger aleo includes a sweep 14 for gathering grain from the floor of a bin and feeding it to the main auger 12.
The main auger includes an auger tube 16 carrying on its outer end an hydraulic motor 18. The motor 18 drives an auger ecrew 20 extending along the tube 16. Screw 20 includes a shaft 22 and helical flighting 24.
At the end of the main auger, opposite the hydraulic motor, the tube 16 i5 connected to a rigid tubular elbow 26.

' : , 2~36064 The elbow 26 is in turn connected to a second elbow 28 through a rotary joint 30. Both elbows turn through approximately 90 making a total of the order of 180~, but preferably slightly less than 100 to provide the configuration shown. The joint includes an annular rin~ 32 fixed to the elbow 26 and over-lapping the confronting end of the elbow 28 and a radial flange 34 extending from the end of the ring 32 into an annular slot 36 in the elbow 28.
At the end of the elbow 28 opposite the rotary joint 30 is a shroud 38 that is connected to a sweep housing 40 through the use of two diametrically opposed pivot pins 41.
To feed grain through the two elbows 26 and 28, from the sweep screw to the main auger screw 20, there is a flexi-ble auger screw section 42 that connects at one end to the ~crew 20 and at the opposite end to a sweep screw 44 that extends the length of the 6weep housing 40. At the outer end of the housing 40 i6 a sweep transporting mechanism 46 that engages the floor and causes the sweep to rotate about the rotary joint 30. To facilitate this movement, the elbow 28 is ~upported on a stud 48 coaxial with the rotary joint 30.
The configuration of the flexible ~crew section 42 iB illustrated most clearly at Figures 3 and 4. The screw has a flexible shaft 50 that i~ composed of a four braid hydraulic hlgh pressure hose 52 surrounding a smaller two braid :' :
' . . ' ' ' , ;
. . .
. . .
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.. . .

~ 15- 203606~

hydraulic high pressure hose 54, which in turn surrounds a multi-strand cable 56 which serves as a core for the flexible shaft. The flighting on the shaft is sectional. Each section includes a sleeve 58 secured to the shaft with diametrically opposed self-tapping screws 50. A rubber sleeve 61 may be fitted between the shaft and the sleeve 58 where desired. The flighting includes two flight sections 62 and 64 connected to each sleeve 58. Each extends over substantially 180 sf arc.
The two flight sections are diametrically opposed, that is they are arranged 180 out of phase, so that during use, the ~ections serve to centre the flexible shaft in the curve of the two elbows 26 and 28.
The housing 40 of the sweep 14 is a telescopic hous-ing having an outer section 66 with a back wall 68, a top wall 70 and a 6eries of elongate grating tubes or bars 72 along the front side. The outer sweep housing is connected to the shroud 38 as discussed above. An inner sweep housing matches the outer housing in its overall shape. It includes a back wall 76 that ~lides along the inside of the back wall 68, a top wall 78 that ~lide6 on the underside of the top wall 70 and a serie~ of grating rods or bar~ 80 that slide into the grating tubee 72 from their outer ends. A handle 82 is provided at the outer end of the sweep housing ~ection 74. The outer sweep ~ousinq is thus freely longitudinally movable to increase or . , -: . , , -, : : , , , :. ,", . ,. ,.. , ; : - , . ::
, decrease the total effective length thereof.
Within the sweep is a fixed screw conveyor section 84 consisting of a tube 86 fixed at one end to the flexible shaft 50 of the flexible screw section 42. The tube 86 carries flighting 88 in a conventional way, This is combined with a telescoping screw conveyor section 90 that extends along the housing section 74. The screw section 90 includes a rod 92 that slides into the tube 86 and flighting 94 that is con-nected to the rod 92 only at the outer end 95 of the flight-ing. The helical flighting 94 is in threaded engagement with the flighting 88 of the fixed screw section so that it can be screwed in and out on the fixed section to shorten or lengthen the sweep auger.
At the outer end of the rod 92, beyond the end of the flighting 94 is a brake disc 96. This runs through a caliper 98 carried by the housing section 74. A brake lever 100 may be used selectively to engage the caliper with the brake disc, thus temporarily inhibiting or preventing rotation o~ the sweep screw section 90. If at the 6ame time, the screw ~ection 84 is rotated, the screw section 90 will be threaded either in or out, to shorten or lengthen the sweep according to the direction of rotation o~ the screw section 84.
~ he rod 92 i~ supported in a bearing 102 in the end wall 104 o~ the tele~coping housing ~ection 74. On the outside .. , . . : ,, ..,.., ; . ., , ': ' ' ' ' ':' .. : ' ~ . , . . - -' ' . .:
- .. . . :.-:: . .- - - ~

- 17- 2 ~ 3 6 0 6 4 of the wall 104, the rod carries a chain sprocket 106 which has an outer diameter less than that of the periphery of the flight. Below the sprocket 106 and spaced apart are two tubular chain guides 108 that entrain a short transport chain 110 that is driven by the sprocket 106. Rotation of the rod 90 drives the sprocket 106 and thus the chain 110. The chain projects below the outer end of the housing 74 so that during operation of the sweep, the chain acts as a drive track.
Consequently, the outer end of the sweep will be caused to swing in an arc about the rotary joint 30 where the two elbows 26 and 28 meet. As the diameter of the sprocket is reduced, the forward velocity of the anger is reduced relative to the angular velocity of the periphery of the flight, thus prevent-ing the auger from moving at a relatively high speed across the floor which could catch the user unawares.
Where desired, the sweep can be lengthened or short-ened by using the brake lever 100 and, where necessary, reversing the direction of rotation of the auger. The only communication of drive therefore from the screw conveyor 84 to the ~crew conveyor 90 i5 provided by the contact between the ~lights as there i6 no drive connection between the cores that i~ the rod 92 and the tube 86.
In ùse of the unloading auger, the sweep may be rotated through 360 around the rotary joint 30 to provide ,. , ~ ,. ..
. .

-, . . . .

complete floor coverage. The telescoping action of the sweep can adjust the sweep length to suit bins of varying diameter.
As shown schematically in Figure 8, the pivotal action of the shroud and bin sweep section about the pins 41 allows the angle of the main auger section 12 to be varied in accordance with the requirements. In addition the shroud and bin sweep section can be lifted and attached by a hook mechanism 16A to the underside of the main auger section for storage and transportation.
For purposes of transportation the ~ain auger section can be mounted upon a suitable support mechanism for example a trailer 150, the three point hitch of a conventional tractor, on a front end loader attachment of a tractor or it can be mounted directly upon a conventional grain auger preferably of the type having its own transportation system.
The details of these devices are not shown but a cantilever support syste~ is schematically indicated at ~OA which provides a bracket for attachment to one of the above items, for example including a pin which extends through a sleeve lOB
forming part of the bracket. In this way the whole device is cantilevered out from the support bracket and can be simply inserted into a bin by driving the support system toward the bin with the elbow 30 pro~ecting forwardly so that this extend~ through an open door of the bin toward the centre of , - .: . , 19 203606~

the bin for operation of the sweep section.
As shown in Figure 8, the trailer includes a main longitudinal hitch beam 151. A pair of ground wheels 152 are mounted on rearwardly extending bifurcated section or saddle 153 pivotally mounted on a transverse axle 154. The saddle 153 supports the discharge end of the main auger section 12 in fixed position extending longitudinally outwardly from the saddle in a direction opposite to the hitch beam 151. The discharge spout 13 can thus discharge downwardly between legs of the saddle 153 and behind the hitch beam 151 into the hopper of a conventional auger or other device received between the wheel 152. The main auger section 12 can be pivoted about the axle 154 by actuation of a cylinder 157, which causes the saddle 153 and the main auger section carried thereby to pivot relative to the hitch beam 151 which is maintained horizontal by its coupling to the towing vehicle.
The arrangement of the extendable first and second auger sections is such that when the device is operating in it~ conventional rotational mode so that the device is driven forwardly by the drive system 46, the outer auger flight section will automatically tend to extend or expand because of the resistance applied to the end ~ection of flighting caused by the grain to be transported. This end section therefore tends to screw out into the pile of grain like a wood screw.

'' ~

This movement is allowed due to the absence of any locking mechanism as the combined length of the shrouds and due to the coupling between the cores being provided by the contact between the flights. As shown in Figure 9, this tendency can be assisted by a coil spring 160 mounted in the tubular core 86 and acting to expel the core 92. This assists the auto-matic expansion in the situation where only a short length of the flight 94 is free to engage the material. Thus auto-matically the end section of the sweep extends to follow the edge of the grain bin. If however the sweep runs into an obstruction in the bin for example an angle iron or channel upright of the wall, this will cause the sweep to stop and the track drive system will slip on the floor. To retract the section of the sweep, the disc brake can simply be momentarily applied either directly by the operative within the bin or by the remote control and this will cause the outer section to automatically retract into the inner section to an extent sufficient to allow the device to go around the obstruction.
The brake can also be applied automatically by a sensing gauge 161 in the form of a wheel projecting forwardly from the outer end of the auger section 14 and directly mechanically con-nected to the brake lever lOOA. Alternatively, the sensing device can be an electronic eye acting to operate the brake electromechanically. The device then continues to rotate ~' , . .. . .. . . . .

_21 - 2036~64 around the bin while the device automatically extends back to the maximum position.
As shown in Figure 10, the principle of the extend-able auger system described previously is also applied to the discharge end 124 of the main auger 12. It can however also b~
applied to the discharge end of a conventional auger. In this case the auger comprises a first auger sleeve 130 within which is mounted a drive tube 132 which carries an auger flight 134 welded to the outside of the drive tube 132.
~ further auger sleeve 136 is mounted coaxially with the sleeve 130 and slides outside the first sleeve 130 so that it can move longitudinally of the sleeve in a telescoping action. The sleeve 136 is closed at its outer end 137 and carries a bearing 146. A sidewall of the sleeve 136 includes a discharge spout 138.
Within the sleeve 136 is mounted a further auger core 148 which is of slightly smaller diameter than the tube 132 so that it can slide inside the tube 132 in a telescoping action. On the outside of the tube 148 is mounted a further flight 150 which again is attached solely at the outer end of the tube 150 and extends from that connection point freely along the tube 150 to engagement with an outer end portion of the flight 134. The flight 150 is thus constrained by its engagement with the tube 148 at one end and its engagement J, ~ ' . : . -' '.''''' ;7 ' ', _ 22_ 203606~

with the flight 134 at the Gther end.
A tension spring is mounted inside the tube 132 soas to apply force to the core 148 tending to reduce the total effective length of the two screw conveyors. This retraction will be accommodated by increasing the amount of overlap between the auger flight sections 134 and 150 by screw thread-inq the flight 150 into the flight 134 as previously explained.
At a rest position therefore, the total length of the auger is at a minimum which can be limited by suitable stops (not shown) if it is desired to increase the length of the auger to more the point of discharge from the mouth 138, the rotation of the outer flight 150 can be temporarily inhibited causing it to rotate relative to the flight 134 and thus to unscrew from the flight 134 to increase the effective length of the auger. In this case, the temporary inhibition o~ the rotation of flight 150 can be achieved by a brake or more simply can be obtained by a flap 147 which inhibits the e~cape of the particulate material through the mouth 138 and thus inhibits rotation of the flight 150 which cannot push ~urther grain toward the mouth. At the same time the grain presses against the end wall 137 thus assisting the expansion actlon. Operation of the flap can thus cause the auger to expand and contract as required to keep the mouth 138 at a J ~ ~, , ..
.
..

203606~

required location.
Since various modifications can be made in my inven-tion as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the clai.ms without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

J,, .
,

Claims

CLAIMS:
(1) A bin sweep comprising a first auger section having an auger tube, a screw conveyor with a first core and a first helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the first core about a longitudinal axis of the first core, a second auger section with a shroud, a second core and a second helical flight screwed therealong so as to be rotatable with the second core about a longitudinal axis of the second core, means mounting the first auger section such that it can extend from a first feed end thereof within a bin to be emptied of a stored material to a second discharge end exteriorly of the bin for discharge of the material, means connecting the second auger section to the first feed end of the first auger section, said connecting means allowing rotation of the second auger section about a vertical axis defined on the first auger section such that the second auger section can rotate around the vertical axis through 360° within the bin to collect the material from an area surrounding said first end, drive means for drivingly rotating said second auger section about said vertical axis, and means for supporting the first auger section for transportation of the first auger section with the second auger section coupled thereto and supported thereby in cantilever manner from a bin to a second bin, said supporting means being arranged at said second discharge end of the first auger section such that the supporting means can be arranged exteriorly of the bin to insert the first auger section, said connecting means and said second auger section into a position adjacent a center of the bin.

(2) The bin sweep according to Claim 1 including pivot coupling means connecting the end of the second auger section to the connecting means, said pivot connecting means allowing pivotal action of the second auger section about a substantially horizontal axis.
(3) The bin sweep according to Claim 1 including a flexible auger core portion secured to an end of the first core of the first auger section and to an end of the second core of the second auger section, said flexible core portion extending through said connecting means substantially concentrically therein, a plurality of collars secured to the flexible core at positions spaced therealong, each collar having attached thereto helical flight means for transporting material from the second auger section through said coupling means into the first auger section.
(4) The bin sweep according to Claim 3 wherein the connecting means comprises a first substantially ninety degree rigid tubular elbow member, having one end contiguous with the first auger section and a second end spaced therefrom, a second substantially ninety degree rigid tubular elbow member having one end connected to the second auger section and a second end spaced therefrom and a coupling member connecting the second end of the first elbow member to the second end of the second elbow member and defining a bearing element to provide said rotation of the second auger section about said vertical axis.
(5) The bin sweep according to Claim 1 wherein said drive means is mounted at an end of the second core remote from said vertical axis and includes means for engaging a floor of the bin to cause rotation of the second auger section around the vertical axis, said drive means comprising a chain sprocket secured to the second core and having a diameter less than that of the second helical flight, chain guide means positioned below the sprocket and the chain entrained around the sprocket and the chain guide means for engagement with the floor for causing driving action in response to rotation of the second core.
(6) The bin sweep according to Claim 1 including means for varying the effective length of the second auger section.
(7) The bin sweep according to Claim 1 including shroud means extending over an upper and rear part of the first auger section such that the forward movement of the first auger section allows entry of material through a front face thereof.
(8) The bin sweep according to Claim 7 wherein the shroud means includes an open front face facing forwardly in a direction of travel of the screw conveyors around said vertical axis, said front face including a plurality of bars extending longitudinally of the screw conveyors.
(9) A bin sweep comprising a first auger section having an auger tube, a screw conveyor with a first core and a first helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the first core about a longitudinal axis of the first core within the auger tube, a second auger section having a shroud, a second core and a second helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the second core about a longitudinal axis of the second core within the shroud, means for supporting the first auger section with the second auger section coupled thereto at a first feed end thereof and supported thereby in cantilever manner, said supporting means being arranged at a second discharge end of the auger tube, such that the auger tube can extend from said first feed end thereof within a bin to be emptied of a stored material to said second discharge end exteriorly of the bin for discharge of the material, a first substantially right angle rigid tubular rigid elbow having a first end connected to and substantially contiguous with the auger tube, a second substantially right angle tubular elbow having a first end connected to the shroud, means coupling a second end of the first elbow to a second end of the second elbow, said coupling means allowing rotation between said first and second elbows to cause rotation of the second auger section about a vertical axis defined on the first auger section such that the second auger section can rotate around the vertical axis through 360° within the bin to collect the material from an area surrounding said first end, drive means for drivingly rotating said second auger section about said vertical axis, and means for communicating rotation of said first core to said second core comprising a flexible core portion secured to an end of the first core and to an end of the second core, said flexible core portion extending through an interior of said first and second elbows and said coupling means, said flexible core portion carrying a plurality of separate collars thereon each having auger flight means thereon for transporting material through said elbows, and pivot coupling means mounting said shroud on said second elbow for pivotal movement of the shroud about a horizontal axis transverse to the length of the second auger section.
(10) The bin sweep according to Claim 9 wherein each collar carries a first and a second helical flight portion each separate from the other and lying 180° out of phase with the other and each extending over substantially only 180° around the axis.
(11) A bin sweep comprising a first auger section having an auger tube, a screw conveyor with a first core and a first helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the first core about a longitudinal axis of the first core, a second auger section having a shroud, a second core and a second helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the second core about a longitudinal axis of the second core, means mounting a first feed end of the auger tube within a bin to be emptied of a stored material to a second discharge end of the auger tube exteriorly of the bin for discharge of the material, means coupling the second auger section to said first feed end of the first auger section, said coupling means allowing rotation of the second auger section about a vertical axis defined on the first auger section such that the second auger section can rotate around the vertical axis through 360°
within the bin to collect the material from an area surrounding said first feed end, drive means for drivingly rotating said second auger section about said vertical axis, wherein said drive means comprises a drive element mounted on said second core at an end thereof remote from said vertical axis and drivingly rotatable by said second core about a longitudinal axis of the core, the drive element having a rotating peripheral drive for contacting a floor of the bin in a driving action, means mounting the drive element such that the drive surface remains in contact with the ground and is moved in a direction to cause movement of said second auger section around said vertical axis, and drive communication means responsive to rotation of the second core to cause said driving action of the drive element and arranged such that the speed of the movement of the second auger around said vertical axis is less than the angular velocity of the peripheral edge of the second helical flight around said axis of the second core.
(12) The bin sweep according to Claim 11 wherein said drive communication means comprises a chain sprocket and wherein said drive element comprises an endless chain wrapped around and driven by the peripheral surface of the drive communication means and means guiding said chain loop to form a portion of the path of movement thereof which is straight and in contact with the floor.
(13) A bin sweep comprising a first auger section having an auger tube, a screw conveyor with a first core and a first helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the first core about a longitudinal axis of the first core, a second auger section having shroud means extending along the length thereof, a second core and a second helical flight secured therealong so as to be rotatable with the second core about a longitudinal axis of the second core, means mounting the first auger section such that it can extend from a first feed end thereof within a bin to be emptied of a stored material to a second discharge end exteriorly of the bin for discharge of the material, means coupling the second auger section to the first feed end of the first auger section, said coupling means allowing rotation of the second auger section about a vertical axis defined on the first auger section such that the second auger section can rotate around the vertical axis through 360°
within the bin to collect the material from an area surrounding said first feed end, drive means for drivingly rotating said second auger section about said vertical axis, the shroud means including a top portion and a rear portion both of which are formed by a substantially imperforate sheet confining the material collected by the second helical flight for transportation by the flight along the shroud means to the first auger section, said shroud means further including a front portion defined by a grid structure having transversely spaced, longitudinally extending bars allowing entry of the material into the second auger section as the second auger section moves around said vertical axis.

(14) The bin sweep according to Claim 13 wherein the front portion includes a plurality of longitudinal bars each extending substantially parallel to the second core, said second auger section including means for varying the effective length thereof from the vertical axis to an outermost end thereof, each of said bars including a telescoping section for increasing and decreasing the effective length of the bar.
CA002036064A 1990-06-20 1991-02-11 Telescopic auger Expired - Fee Related CA2036064C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US543,866 1990-06-20
US07/543,866 US5099984A (en) 1990-06-20 1990-06-20 Telescopic auger

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CA2036064A1 CA2036064A1 (en) 1991-12-21
CA2036064C true CA2036064C (en) 1994-03-01

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US8381900B1 (en) * 2010-06-03 2013-02-26 Sudenga Industries, Inc. Extendable auger assembly
US9068298B2 (en) * 2010-12-24 2015-06-30 The Benjamin Everett Family Trust Variable width material distribution apparatus
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US5099984A (en) 1992-03-31
CA2036064A1 (en) 1991-12-21
AU8096791A (en) 1992-01-07
WO1991019658A1 (en) 1991-12-26

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