Abstract: The feeder device located at the centre section of a front of a harvester. The feeder device comprises one or more flights configured for improving operation of the feeder device. The feeder device comprises a shaft including a plurality of flights. They extend substantially along the entire length of the shaft and are arranged in a spaced apart relationship with respect to each other. In this manner, a threaded-like formation defined by the spaced apart arrangement of flights extends substantially along the entire length of the shaft of the feeder device.

Abstract: A flexible material handling apparatus is arranged to be installed on a full face heading machine. The apparatus includes a material handling member and a linkage member coupled together in a head-tail manner by a joint connection, and the linkage member at the other end may be coupled to a frame of a heading machine. The entire apparatus may be retracted to rest on the side of the machine frame and maintained there by a locking means. The material handling member may be swivelled about two separate vertical axes and brought outwardly to an oblique front position, where one or more locking means may be included to secure the material handling member fixed in place relative to the machine frame.

Abstract: Transverse conveyor (10) of an agricultural harvesting machine, with a basic body (13), the axis of rotation of which extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of a harvesting vehicle carrying the harvesting machine, and with at least two helical transverse conveyor elements (14a, 14b) which are connected to the basic body (13) and have at least two windings (15a, 15b), wherein the respective transverse conveyor element (14a, 14b) serves for conveying crop from a respective lateral edge portion (16, 18) of the transverse conveyor in the direction of a central portion (17) of the transverse conveyor. According to the invention, a distance between adjacently arranged windings (15a, 15c, 15b, 15d) of the transverse conveyor element (14a, 14c, 14b, 14d) is smaller in the region of the lateral edge portions (16, 18) of the transverse conveyor (10) than in the central portion (17) of the transverse conveyor (10).

Abstract: A multiple-stage snow thrower having a housing, a power supply operatively connected to a plurality of drive shafts for rotating a plurality of stage assemblies. Each stage assembly of the multiple-stage snow thrower is configured to move snow either axially along the axis of rotation or radially away from the axis of rotation. The first stage assembly is configured to expel snow from the housing, thereby throwing the snow away from the snow thrower. The second, third, and fourth stages assemblies are configured to push the snow toward the longitudinal centerline of the housing and then rearwardly toward the first stage assembly.

Abstract: A harvester includes a cross conveying auger with a helical blade. An auger pan extends under and behind the auger and forms a trough portion below the auger. A lower rear quadrant of the auger pan is contoured includes one or more projections to provide resistance to radial movement of the ears of corn so that the ears and are moved longitudinally inward along the auger.

Abstract: A header has a cutterbar table that is movably mounted to a frame and configured to cut a standing crop, an intake auger mounted to the frame and configured to receive the cut crop; the intake auger further being configured to rotate, during a normal state, in a predetermined direction, and to rotate, during a corrective state, in a predetermined reversed direction, an actuator assembly configured to displace the cutterbar table relative to the frame, thereby changing a distance between the cutterbar table and the intake auger, a control unit configured to, upon receipt of an error signal indicative of a need to operate in the corrective state control the actuator assembly to displace the cutterbar table away from the intake auger to a safe operating position, prior to controlling the intake auger to rotate in the predetermined reversed direction.

Abstract: A pickup unit for an agricultural harvesting machine includes a frame; a pickup roll carried by the frame; and a feed assist roll carried by the frame and positioned adjacent to the pickup roll. The feed assist roll has a plurality of radially outwardly extending cleats spaced apart around a periphery thereof, and a plurality of extension plates. Each extension plate is removably attached to and extends a corresponding cleat.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a header with an infeed assembly including a driving element configured to rotate; a cylinder rotationally coupled to the driving element and having a plurality of openings formed therein; and a paddle assembly eccentrically positioned and rotationally held within the cylinder. Each paddle assembly includes a plurality of paddles variably positioned through the openings in the cylinder. Each paddle includes a laterally slidable wing that withdraws into the cylinder when the paddle retracts into the cylinder, and slides outwardly as the paddle extends form the cylinder.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester has a frame with a floor surface and an auger to laterally transport crop material towards a central aperture, wherein a cutter bar forms the leading edge of the header and is moveable via a slide between a retracted and an extended position, the header further includes a belt conveyor for transporting crop material from the cutter bar to the auger, the belt conveyor is provided with a belt-length-adapting mechanism so that the length of the belt is changeable between a short track and a long track respectively corresponding to the retracted position and the extended position.

Abstract: A header for a combine harvester capable of improving the flow of grain from the header to a feeder house and reducing grain buildup about a void proximate an aft section of the header is disclosed. The header includes a chassis and a cross auger extending in a widthwise direction of the chassis. The header also includes a feed mechanism mounted on the chassis proximate a posterior end of the cross auger and within the void of the header.

Abstract: A system for conveying biomass is disclosed. The system is configured to convey biomass for collection, transport, or processing. The system comprises a housing comprising an opening configured for the entry of biomass, at least one shoe skid configured to offset the housing in a vertical orientation, an apparatus at least partially within the housing comprising at least one rotating blade assembly, and a conduit configured to discharge biomass from the housing so that biomass entering into the housing can be projected by the apparatus through the conduit for collection or transport. The system may comprise conduit that is extendable and has articulation segments for vertical movement. The system may comprise a housing that comprises a member to dislodge the biomass from a pile to flow into the opening. The system may comprise at least one shoe skid that comprises a large surface area and projects forward of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides modified push beams for insertion and use in a series of push beams or segments during highwall mining operations to capture residual coal or “fines” that might otherwise be left behind. A first modified beam or recovery beam is provided to divert residual coal on the floor of the mine to the sides, and/or a second modified beam captures the residual coal on the sides of the mine, which may include the coal diverted by the first modified beam, through a side entry system comprising side channel(s) with side auger(s) to combine this captured residual coal with the bulk flow of mined material in a main channel of the recovery beam that is continuous among the series of beams or segments. Methods are also provided for the operation of the modified beams and their insertion into the series of beams of a highwall miner.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for stacking rolling material, such as e.g. wood chips, bark or grain into a pile (10) and reclaiming from the pile (10) to a material-discharging conveyor (20) located below the storing point, which apparatus comprises a center column (30) that supports a stacker boom (40) and a reclaimer boom (50), an equalizing hopper (60), at least one conveyor (25) located in the equalizing hopper (60) for transmitting the material being discharged to the discharging conveyor (20). A characteristic feature of the apparatus is that the center column (30) is supported directly through the equalizing hopper (60) onto the bottom of the equalizing hopper's (60) foundation.

Abstract: An auger apparatus for moving in a forward direction into a quantity of granular material includes an enclosed housing having a horizontal main floor and right and left inclined floors sloping downward and outward from corresponding ends of the main floor, and walls extending upward from lower ends of the inclined floors. Right and left feed auger tubes extend laterally from the walls, and feed augers are mounted in the tubes. Outer front portions of the feed auger tubes are open to expose outer portions of the feed augers. A main auger tube extends upward from a top of the housing, and a main auger extends from the main floor upward through the main auger. A middle material moving apparatus is mounted forward of the housing and moves grain laterally to the exposed outer portions of the feed augers as the housing moves forward.

Abstract: Material handling apparatus (10) for collecting and handling particulate material such as particulate coal, the apparatus (10) comprising an elongated hollow conveyor housing (19) along which an endless chain (43) extends, the chain (43) carrying a plurality of transverse flights (44), the housing (19) being supported adjustably on a mobile chassis (11), and a materials collection head (31) at one end of the housing (19) which includes augers (38) for directing particulate material towards a central portion of the head (31) for engagement by the flights (44) which convey the collected materials along the housing (10) to an outlet (21).

Abstract: An apparatus for moving grain from a grain includes a vertical main auger at a rear end of a frame, a knife extending rearward to cut the grain bag, a turret auger pivotally attached to the top of the main auger, and a feed auger extending laterally from the bottom intake of the main auger. A bias element forces a pair of pinching rollers against each other. A drive rotates the pinching rollers such that an empty portion of the bag can be fed between the rollers and the rollers rotated to pull the empty bag upward from the ground and forward between the rollers such that the empty bag falls on the ground in front of the rollers as the frame moves rearward, and such that the frame is pulled rearward by the rollers and the feed auger moves rearward into a filled portion of the grain bag.

Abstract: The invention concerns a filling arrangement (12) for a bulk unloader having a conveyor belt travelling in an endless path and provided with material receiving pockets (9).

Abstract: A drawing and conveying arm includes a box-like duct which is internally provided with a conveyor belt and has, at one end, a wide drawing inlet in which a mill for drawing and cutting material is located. The opposite end of the arm is articulated to a container for the drawn material and/or to a supporting framework. The improved drawing and conveying arm also includes a second counter-rotating mill which is provided in the drawing inlet in a position which is parallel and proximate to the first mill. Both mills can conveniently be removed to load for example farinaceous products.

Abstract: An unloader for bulk materials is provided to transfer material such as cement from a barge or other bulk container. It includes a moveable and rotatable support member such as a crane or cantilevered arm that is adjacent the bulk container. A first conveyor or auger is connected to the support for pivotal movement and extends generally horizontally. A second conveyor or auger is connected to the distal end of the first conveyor for pivotal movement and is generally vertically oriented. A feeder unit is connected to the distal end of the second conveyor for universal and rotational movement. The feeder includes an uplift portion communicating with the second conveyor, the uplift portion advancing the bulk material at a rate slower than the second conveyor, and a collector portion communicating with the uplift portion. The collector portion includes converging auger assembly to advance the bulk material towards the uplift portion and to assist in transferring it into the uplift portion.

Abstract: A rotor for an agricultural feed bagger comprising an elongated cylindrical member having first and second sets of rotor teeth mounted therein with the first and second sets being arranged on the cylindrical member in opposing helical fashions. First and second sets of auxiliary rotor teeth are mounted on the cylindrical member within the helical patterns defined by the first and second sets of rotor teeth so that silage material delivered to the center of the rotor will be subjected to a greater number of rotor teeth than silage delivered to the ends of the rotor.

Abstract: The two ends of the luffable and swivelable arms of the gantry of an overburden excavator each have a horizontal bolt for a frame of the drive, on the axis of rotation or drive shaft of which is mounted a rotary cutter in the form of a cutter drum. The rotary cutters are disposed on both sides of a receiving conveyor. The axes of rotation of the shafts rotating the rotary cutters are oriented approximately parallel to the plane of symmetry (longitudinal axis) of the receiving conveyor belt. The angle of the rotary cutter axis can be adjusted in relation to the plane of the roadway by the length adjuster in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, which is located between a bearing lug of the arm and a bearing lug of the frame. The rotary cutters transport the material via transverse conveyors to the converyor belt.

Abstract: A barge which is capable of offloading bulk cargoes to dockside without requiring assistance from onshore equipment or other floating equipment. The barge has a movable auger support housing and a to move the housing. An auger container is pivotably mounted to the housing with a rotating screwshaped auger mounted within the container. A first conveyor is located within the support housing to transport bulk cargo from the auger which lifts the cargo, from a lower level to a higher level, to a second conveyor located along the edge of the cargo hold. A moveable third conveyor is positioned to receive cargo from the second conveyor and to transport the material off the barge.

Abstract: An unloader for bulk materials is provided to transfer material such as cement from a barge or other bulk container. It includes a moveable and rotatable support member such as a crane or cantilevered arm that is adjacent the bulk container. A first conveyor or auger is connected to the support for pivotal movement and extends generally horizontally. A second conveyor or auger is connected to the distal end of the first conveyor for pivotal movement and is generally vertically oriented. A feeder unit is connected to the distal end of the second conveyor for universal and rotational movement. The feeder includes an uplift portion communicating with the second conveyor, the uplift portion advancing the bulk material at a rate slower than the second conveyor, and a collector portion communicating with the uplift portion. The collector portion includes converging auger assembly to advance the bulk material towards the uplift portion and to assist in transferring it into the uplift portion.

Abstract: A feeder head assembly is provided which includes a single pair of augers which collect bulk material contained within a vessel. These augers advance the material to a lifting conveyor. A frame pivotally mounted to a rotatable enclosure portion of the lifting conveyor supports the augers on opposite sides of the conveyor with one end of each auger disposed proximate to the open lower end of the conveyor. Hydraulic motors disposed on the frame drive the augers. The assembly includes springs which bias the frame and augers to a perpendicular relation with the lifting conveyor whereby the assembly automatically adjusts to the configuration of the material and the bottom of the vessel.

Abstract: A device for planing a body of ground material comprising at least one tube rotatably mounted in a supporting construction capable of being moved in horizontal position and rotated parallel to itself over the surface of the body to be planed. At least one helical blade is wound about the tube and merges into a scoop at the discharge end as regards the direction of conveyance. The scoop has the same radial dimension as the helical blade, while an opening is provided in the wall portion of the tube partially surrounded by the scoop. The tube is hollow at least at the location of the scoop and the hollow part is connected to a conveyor for discharging therefrom the quantity of ground material removed from the top surface.

Abstract: An elevator-conveyor for conveying bulk material over a predetermined path, at least a portion of which is in a vertical or near vertical direction, comprises a pair of juxtaposed belts between which the bulk material is to be located, and apparatus for applying air pressure directly on one or both of the outer belt surfaces when the belts are in the vertical or near vertical direction. The air pressure presses the belts towards one another and against the interposed bulk material so as to enclose the same; and at the same time, the juxatoposed longitudinal edge portions of the belts are pressed against each other to contain the bulk material. Apparatus is also provided for ensuring effective feeding of the conveyor and the mechanical sealing thereof against undesirable air flow. Provision is made for appropriate belts for use with the conveyor.

Abstract: Crop gathering table for a combine has an auger to move crop laterally inwards towards the center of the table. The auger has a central shaft carrying helical flights, and discharge fingers to discharge crop through an opening in the rear of the table. A series of crop feeding plates mounted on the auger and extending lengthwise of it between portions of the helical flights, promote smooth flow of crop below the auger shaft.

Abstract: A forage handler adapted for mounting on a standard forage gathering device comprises a rotary head having protruding tines for dislodging forage from stacks and urging it toward the forage gathering device. The handler includes a support frame in which the rotary head is mounted, and a rotary beater or separator having teeth for breaking up large aggregations of forage and urging the same toward the forage gathering device. The support frame has a pair of booms which are pivotally connected to the gathering device and include motors to swing the rotary head into selected vertical orientations for dislodging the forage. The beater is positioned substantially parallel with and rearward of the rotary head, whereby the forage dislodged from the stacks by the rotary head is directed into the beater for flailing the forage to break up the large aggregations thereof, and urge the forage toward the gathering device.

Abstract: A pair of screw conveyors pivotally mounted on rotatable arms extending laterally from the extended ends of the bottom sprocket wheel shaft on a bucket ladder dislodge bulk material and direct it toward the buckets. The bottom sprocket wheels are journaled for rotation independent of the shaft which is rotated by a centrally located drive mechanism to position the rotatable arms and therefore the screw conveyors for various operations.

Abstract: Material is continuously dislodged by a pair of conical cutters and displaced outwardly toward the ribs of the room as the mining machine advances. The dislodged material is picked up by a transversely extending spiral conveyor and conveyed inwardly from the ribs onto the bottom strand of a flexible belt. The flexible belt has one end portion coiled on a lower rotatable spindle at a fixed discharge station adjacent the room entry. The other end portion of the flexible belt is coiled on an upper rotatable spindle positioned above the lower rotatable spindle. The intermediate portion of the flexible belt forms a lower conveying strand portion extending from the lower coil around a cylindrical idler or turn around pulley and an upper strand portion extending from the upper spindle to the turn around pulley. The upper strand portion extends between a pair of driven compression rollers to pull the upper strand toward the mining machine from the upper spindle.