Abstract: A grain bin loading and unloading system has a vertical auger located in the center of the bin, the vertical auger being in communication with a horizontal auger disposed beneath the floor of the bin. The novel sweep auger drive has a double row sprocket rotatably mounted about the center auger column. The sweep auger proper is rotatably mounted about the center column and is driven at its inner end by a gearbox which is also rotatably mounted. The input shaft of the gearbox extends vertically downwardly and has a sprocket located thereon. That sprocket is connected to one row of the double row sprocket located about the center column such that when the double row sprocket is driven the sweep auger assembly will rotate about the center column as well as be driven so as to transport the grain to be unloaded radially inwardly.

Abstract: A low profile auger and hopper assembly for use in conveying and distributing a granular product such as animal feeds or the like is disclosed herein. The apparatus preferably comprises a hopper for receiving the product such as feed or the like and an associated auger assembly for distributing the hopper contents. The hopper preferably comprises a rigid, planar surface which is oriented substantially parallel with the ground or other surface for supporting the apparatus and a plurality of sidewalls which extend integrally upwardly from the planar surface and are rigid therewith. The auger assembly includes a tubular housing member having a rotatable auger disposed therewithin, and it is received by the hopper and oriented substantially obliquely with respect to the planar hopper surface. The lower end of the auger includes a tapered flighting portion positioned substantially adjacent to the planar surface of the hopper so that mechanical contact between the planar surface and the auger is obviated.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling and feeding large hay bales comprising the separable, cooperative, combination of a coupler unit adapted to be attached to a three-point lift hitch on a tractor, and a lift fork unit which can be readily converted into a bale feeding container by removably securing a pair of upright wall assemblies to its opposite sides. The wall assemblies have feeding spaces therein through which livestock may project their heads to reach a large hay bale supported inside the container on the lift arms of the lift fork unit. A latch device on the coupler unit is releasably engaged with coupling means on the lift fork unit in such a way that the operator of a tractor on which the coupler is mounted may actuate controls to release the latch from the tractor operator's seat.

Abstract: A livestock feeder having a plurality of animal feeding openings includes feed-holdback apparatus for preventing unnecessary waste of feed. The feeder comprises a support frame having a floor surface and at least one vertically extending side wall comprised of elongated upwardly extending pipe segments. A feedreceptive enclosure is defined between the side wall and the floor surface and is accessible to the livestock through a plurality of animal feed openings disposed within the vertical walls between the pipe segments therein. The holdback means comprises substantially C-shaped brackets which include an upper and lower horizontal portion and an integral vertical portion extending between the horizontal portions. The horizontal portions of the holdback structures include means for attaching same to the vertical segments of the side walls. The holdback apparatus defines a feeding compartment into which livestock may extend their heads for eating feed within the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention comprises a forage trailer. The trailer has an upper and lower frame with a scissor mechanism to raise and lower the upper frame. The lower frame has wheels thereon for towing. The upper frame has a box pivotally mounted to one side of the upper frame with hydraulic cylinders to pivot the box from horizontal to an angle. The box has one side wall in the direction of the pivoting action which opens up automatically to allow materials within the box to be emptied from the box while pivoted through the opening in the side wall of the box. The opening automatically closes when the box is pivoted back to horizontal.

Abstract: A drawbar on a trailer is provided with a pair of vertically extending coupling arms which are notched at their bottom ends to fit around a round coupling bar mounted for revolving movement in a horizontal plane on a base plate affixed to the rear end of a towing vehicle. The coupling bar is affixed across a mounting ring rotatably supported within a circular opening of a base plate by circular bars bearing against the base plate.

Abstract: A chassis and tilt bed support structure for a tilt bed trailer, with the chassis being comprised of a pair of elongated frame beams widely spaced apart at their rear ends by a distance substantially coinciding with the axle length and bent inwardly towards each other at their forward ends to provide a pair of relatively closed spaced, parallel, front beam segments on which the front ends of a pair of parallel, truck body support beams are supported. The body support beams are pivotally mounted on the rear end of the chassis; and a single pole drawbar and trailer hitch assembly is rigidly secured to the forward end of the closely spaced, front beam segments of the chassis.