Abstract: A drive mechanism for imparting intermittent movement to an output member. The drive mechanism includes a rotatable input member which operates through a crank to move a beam with oscillatory or reciprocating movement. The beam is interconnected with a one-way overrunning clutch associated with the output member so that oscillatory movement of the beam is transmitted to the clutch. The clutch is designed such that rotation of the clutch in a first direction will cause the clutch to engage the output member to rotate the output member, while the clutch is freely rotatable with respect to the output member in a second direction. A resilient member, such as a compression spring, interconnects one end of the beam and the clutch and if the output member encounters an excessive load, oscillation of the beam in the first direction will compress the spring to provide overload protection for the drive. A second overrunning clutch can also be associated with the output member and is fixed against rotation.

Abstract: An improved cutter chain construction for a bottom unloader of a storage structure. A cutter arm is mounted for rotation about the center of the storage structure, and an endless chain travels in an endless path on the cutter arm and carries a plurality of cutting members or hooks that are mounted at spaced intervals along the length of the chain. Each cutting member has a relatively thin body with a sharp leading edge and an outer enlarged head. The cutting members are mounted in a sequence along the length of the chain. A first cutting member in the sequence extends laterally outward from the chain and is disposed in a first plane, while the next succeeding cutting member lies in a second plane disposed at an acute angle to the first plane, whereby movement of the cutting members through the stored material will cut a wedge shaped mass.

Abstract: A pre-assembled turntable mounting unit for a storage structure. The storage structure is mounted on a foundation having a radial trough extending from the center of the structure to the exterior. A pre-assembled turntable mounting unit is disposed in the inner end of the trough at the center of the storage structure. The turntable mounting unit includes a fixed mounting ring which rests on the upper surface of the foundation bordering the trough and a plurality of angle-shaped roller support brackets are supported on the ring. A turntable, which supports the inner end of a rotatable sweep arm, is mounted for rotation on rollers carried by the roller brackets. By removing the anchor bolts the entire turntable mounting unit can be readily removed from the storage structure. The drive transmission that acts to rotate the sweep arm about its axis is mounted in a pre-established position on a platform suspended in the trough from the turntable mounting ring.

Abstract: A bulk storage container (10) has a cylindrical body section (12) joined at its lower end to a tapering conical section (14) which terminates in an outlet (16) for the container. A cylindrical skirt section (18) of the same diameter as the body section (12) surrounds the conical section (14). The body section (12), the conical section (14) and the skirt section (18) are joined by way of a plurality of joint members (50) arranged side by side around the periphery of the container (10). Each joint member (50) has first attachment devices (52) for attachment to the body section (12), second attachment devices (60) for attachment to the conical section (14) and third attachment devices (56) for attachment to the skirt section (18). The first and third attachment devices (52,56) are vertically spaced so that the supporting force for the body section (12) is transmitted through the joint members (50). The second attachment devices (60) are vertically located between the first and third attachment devices.

Abstract: A submersible motor pump assembly having an improved driving connection between the motor and pump. The motor shaft and pump shaft are disposed in end-to-end relation and a bolt extends through an axial passage in the pump shaft and the projecting end of the bolt is threaded in an axial opening in the end of the motor shaft. The outer or opposite end of the pump shaft is formed with a recess that communicates with the passage and the head of the bolt is fixed against rotation with respect to the pump shaft by a bolt retainer which is disposed with the recess. A shear pin interconnects the mating ends of the two shafts to provide a driving connection. The hand of the thread on the bolt is such that rotation of the motor shaft, after shearing of the shear pin, will cause the bolt to be unthreaded from the motor shaft to prevent locking up of the shafts.

Abstract: A tank construction having a floor formed of interconnected panels. The tank includes a generally cylindrical shell which is supported on a footing and a floor encloses the lower end of the shell. A sump is located centrally of the floor and the floor consists of a plurality of generally pie-shaped panels which extend between the sump to the shell. Bolts connect the inner edge of the panels to the sump, as well as connecting the side edges of the panel together and connecting the outer edges of the panels to a foundation angle which supports the lower end of the shell of the tank. The lower ends of anchor bolts are embedded in the footing and the upper ends of the anchor bolts are located on the outside of the shell and are secured to generally hat-shaped anchor chairs that are mounted on the outer surface of the shell.

Abstract: An improved roller mill construction. Material to be milled or ground is fed through a discharge opening in a hopper to a pair of cooperating rolls that are mounted within a housing. The discharge opening is enclosed by a sliding gate which is biased to the closed position and can be opened by manual operation of a pull rod. An adjustable setting mechanism is incorporated with the pull rod and enables the gate to be held at an infinite number of open positions.

Abstract: A livestock feeding apparatus which includes an endless belt conveyor. Feed is supplied to the upper run of the belt and is selectively discharged from either side of the conveyor belt by a feed discharge unit. The feed discharge unit includes a frame mounted to travel in a reciprocating path above the belt and the frame carries a feed diverting plow and a rotatable brush. The plow and brush are disposed in generally parallel arrangement and can be pivoted between a first diagonal position with respect to the side edge of the belt to a second diagonal position. Movement of the conveyor belt is transmitted through a drive mechanism to rotate the brush about its axis. As the feed discharge unit moves relative to the belt, feed is discharged from the side edge of the moving belt by the plow and the brush acts to remove residual feed from behind the plow.

Abstract: A conveyor construction for conveying materials, such as grain, to an elevated location. The conveyor construction comprises a base or supporting structure and an auger conveyor is mounted horizontally on the base. Grain is fed into a hopper at one end of the auger and the discharge end of the auger is provided with a pair of kicker paddles which propel the grain laterally into the lower end of a vertical endless belt conveyor. The endless belt conveyor includes a plurality of integrally molded cleats that convey the grain upwardly within a vertical passage in the conveyor housing and the grain is discharged from the upper end of the housing. The vertical conveyor is mounted for pivoting movement relative to the auger conveyor to adjust the angularity of the vertical conveyor.

Abstract: An adjustable over-the-top agitator for a liquid manure tank. To periodically break up the crust on liquid manure stored in an open top tank, the liquid manure is withdrawn from the bottom of the tank and is discharged through a nozzle on the end of an external delivery pipe into contact with the crust. The upper end of the delivery pipe is connected by a swivel coupling to a vertical end of a connecting pipe, while the opposite horizontal end of the connecting pipe is connected by a second swivel coupling to the discharge nozzle. By rotating the connecting pipe about the axis of the delivery pipe, the nozzle can be moved in a horizontal path, while swiveling the discharge nozzle about the horizontal end of the connecting pipe moves the nozzle in a vertical arc. A torsion spring is associated with the second swivel coupling to bias the discharge nozzle to a horizontal position.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing free descent of a motor-pump unit. The motor-pump unit is mounted within a manure-containing pit for vertical sliding movement on a fixed column, and an elevating mechanism is employed for raising and lowering the pump within the pit and includes a cable having one end which is coiled on a drum while the opposite end of the cable is connected to the motor-pump unit. The weight of the motor-pump unit normally applies substantial tension to the cable. A mechanism is incorporated which is responsive to slackening of the cable and acts to arrest free descent of the motor-pump unit, as well as discontinuing operation of the cable drum mechanism.

Abstract: An improved breather system for a sealed storage structure. The roof of the storage structure is provided with an opening and a generally cylindrical, vertically disposed, breather bag is located within the structure with the neck of the bag being sealed within the opening. A cable is attached to the inner surface of the bag at the lower end of the bag and extends upwardly through a series of vertically spaced tubular guides and exits through the neck of the bag to the exterior. Each of the tubular guides is connected to the inner surface of the bag by a series of cables. A storage sleeve can be mounted on the roof in communication with the opening. By pulling upwardly on the cable, the bag will be drawn upwardly out of the storage structure and into the storage sleeve to a location where the bag will not interfere with filling of the storage structure with a stored material.

Abstract: A sprocket construction for a zero caternary chain. In a zero caternary chain, a tensioning system is utilized to prevent caternary or slack in the chain and as a result of the high degree of tensioning, the bushings of the chain ride against the roots of the sprocket teeth. To prevent erosion of the sprocket teeth and bushings, the root diameter is modified to provide an enlarged operating pitch diameter for a predetermined increase in pitch length of the link. The pitch line clearance is enlarged so that it is equal to 2% to 25% of the working pitch diameter and produces a pressure angle of 20.degree. to 40.degree..

Abstract: An improved roller mill construction. Material to be milled or ground such is fed through a discharge opening in a hopper to a pair of cooperating rolls that are mounted within a housing. The discharge opening is enclosed by a sliding gate which is biased to the closed position and can be opened by manual operation of a pull rod. An adjustable setting mechanism is incorporated with the pull rod and enables the gate to be held at an infinite number of open positions. To adjust the spacing between the rolls, the shaft of one of the rolls is journalled within bearing assemblies that are mounted for sliding movement with respect to the housing. A rod is secured to each slidable bearing assembly and is threadedly connected to a shaft which carries a sprocket. By driving the sprockets in unison, the shafts will be rotated to thereby move the bearing assemblies and adjust the spacing between the rolls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for leveling a storage structure. A plurality of pairs of anchor bolts project upwardly from the footing of the structure and each pair is positioned in radially spaced relation. A support bar is connected to the threaded upper ends of each respective pair of bolts, and through threaded adjustment, the bars can be leveled in a radial direction, as well as leveled so that all of the bars lie in the same horizontal plane. Foundation angles are bolted to the support bars and carry a series of foundation sheets which comprise the lowermost tier of the storage structure. The bolts connecting the foundation angles to the support bars extend through slots in the lower flange of the angle, as well as slots in the bar to provide an adjustment for the foundation angle in a circumferential, as well as radial direction. By proper adjustment of the bolted connections, the foundation sheets can be properly leveled to insure the plumb condition of the storage structure.

Abstract: An overload mechanism for the drive system of a bottom silo unloader. The silo unloader includes a sweep arm mounted to rotate about the center of the silo and operable to dislodge stored material and convey the dislodged material to a delivery trough formed in the foundation. An overload mechanism is incorporated in the drive system for rotating the sweep arm about the silo, and the overload mechanism includes a drive pawl operably connected to a drive member of the drive system and disposed to be driven in a reciprocating path. A rotatable ratchet having a series of teeth is mounted to be engaged by the interruption drive pawl and engagement of the ratchet teeth by the drive pawl will incrementally rotate the ratchet in one direction. In addition, a holding pawl is engaged with the ratchet teeth to prevent rotation of the ratchet in the opposite direction. The ratchet is mounted on one end of a shaft and a sprocket is connected to the other end of the shaft and is located at the center of the silo.

Abstract: An improved drive mechanism for rotating a sweep arm in a storage structure that contains a free-flowing stored material. The inner end of the sweep arm is mounted on a turntable that is disposed in the inner end of a radially extending trough in the foundation of the storage structure. The turntable is provided with a pair of spaced, concentric, downwardly extending flanges, and a plurality of ribs connect the upper portions of the spaced flanges. The spaces between the ribs define upwardly diverging passages. A drive pin is positioned beneath each rib and extends between the spaced flanges. The teeth of a drive sprocket are engageable with the drive pins, and rotation of the sprocket acts to rotate the turntable and thus rotate the sweep arm around the structure to dislodge the stored material. As the drive sprocket is rotated, any stored material in the vicinity of the drive pins is extruded upwardly through the passages by the sprocket teeth to prevent possible jamming of the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for rotating the sweep arm of a bottom silo unloader. The silo, which contains a stored material, is mounted on a foundation and a trough is located in the foundation and extends from the center of the silo to the exterior. A sweep arm is mounted for rotation with respect to the center of the silo and acts to dislodge stored material and convey the dislodged material to the trough where a discharge conveyor mounted in the trough conveys the dislodged material to the exterior of the silo. The drive mechanism for rotating the sweep arm about the silo includes a drive shaft extending within the trough, and the inner end of the drive shaft carries a sprocket which is engageable with a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive pins mounted on a turntable that carries the inner end of the sweep arm. Rotation of the sprocket will correspondingly rotate the turntable and sweep arm about the center of the silo.

Abstract: An apparatus for agitating and pumping a liquid slurry, such as liquid manure slurry. The apparatus includes a pump which is adapted to be positioned within the lower end of a pit that contains the slurry, and the pump is operably connected to a motor which is located above the pit. The motor-pump unit is mounted for sliding vertical movement on a fixed column and can also be rotated horizontally relative to the column to vary the position of the outlet of the pump during agitation of the slurry. The apparatus also includes a means for tilting the motor-pump unit with respect to the fixed column. When the pump is raised to a location adjacent the top of the pit, the motor-pump unit can be tilted in a vertical plane to move the pump out of the pit to a position where it can be repaired or maintained.

Abstract: A chopper pump for pumping and chopping a slurry which contains fibrous material. The pump includes a housing having a bottom inlet and a tangential outlet. A single vane impeller is mounted for rotation within the housing and a generally square cutter blade is mounted on the vane and rotates in proximity with fixed cutter teeth on the housing to thereby comminute solid materials. Extending downwardly from the vane of the impeller through the inlet opening is a generally curved fin or blade that is concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller and has a sharpened leading diagonal edge adapted to cut stringy fibrous material.