Abstract: A grain bin unload conveyor trough can have a wall profile including a lowermost curved wall portion. Lower portions of a pair of side walls can be spaced laterally from each other at a first interior lateral width, and upper portions of the side walls can be spaced laterally from each other at a second interior lateral width that is greater than the first interior lateral width. A shelf portion of each side wall can extend laterally outwardly from the lower to the upper portion of the side walls. An auger hanger can extend laterally across the conveyor trough and can be supported on the shelf portions of the side walls. The auger hanger can extend down to hold an auger shaft of a grain bin unload conveyor auger in the conveyor trough centrally within the first interior lateral width between the lower portions of the side walls.

Abstract: An auger can be drivingly coupled to an input shaft of a wheel reduction gearbox. The wheel reduction gearbox can drivingly couple the input shaft to an output shaft of the wheel reduction gearbox. The output shaft can be drivingly coupled to a sweep end wheel. The sweep end wheel can include a plurality of tread brackets, a wheel plate, and an adjustable coupling corresponding to each of the tread brackets. Each adjustable coupling can selectively couple one of the tread brackets to the wheel plate in one of a plurality of radial positions. Each of the plurality of radial positions can correspond to the tread bracket being located at a different radial distance from a central axis of rotation of the wheel plate.

Abstract: A gearbox below a grain bin floor can have a shift coupling movable between a drive position and a neutral position. A control rod can be axially movable between a corresponding drive position and a corresponding neutral position. A pair of biasing members can be operably positioned between the control rod and the shift coupling to bias the shift coupling in opposite directions. The opposite biasing forces of the biasing members can act against each other to bias the control rod into the neutral positioning recess to retain the external shift coupling and the control rod in the neutral position and the corresponding neutral position, respectively. The opposite biasing force of the biasing members can bias the control rod into the drive positioning recess to retain the external shift coupling and the control rod in the drive position and the corresponding drive position, respectively.

Abstract: An unload conveyor and a sweep conveyor can be positioned below and above a floor of the grain bin, respectively. A below floor gearbox and an above floor gearbox can be positioned below and above a sloped wall, respectively, of a sump. The sloped wall can be designed to shed grain toward a sump basin. A coupling shaft can extend through a non-circular sump shaft aperture in the sloped wall to couple the below floor gearbox to the above-floor gearbox. The coupling shaft can extend vertically. A pair of seal cover plates can form a horizontal wall extending perpendicular to the coupling shaft. The horizontal wall can have a circular sealing aperture therein and through which the coupling shaft extends. A washer can be provided adjacent the circular sealing aperture that can be free to move laterally with wobbling of the coupling shaft.

Abstract: A grain bin unload conveyor trough can have a wall profile including a lowermost curved wall portion. Lower portions of a pair of side walls can be spaced laterally from each other at a first interior lateral width, and upper portions of the side walls can be spaced laterally from each other at a second interior lateral width that is greater than the first interior lateral width. A shelf portion of each side wall can extend laterally outwardly from the lower to the upper portion of the side walls. An auger hanger can extend laterally across the conveyor trough and can be supported on the shelf portions of the side walls. The auger hanger can extend down to hold an auger shaft of a grain bin unload conveyor auger in the conveyor trough centrally within the first interior lateral width between the lower portions of the side walls.

Abstract: An auger can be drivingly coupled to an input shaft of a wheel reduction gearbox. The wheel reduction gearbox can drivingly couple the input shaft to an output shaft of the wheel reduction gearbox. The output shaft can be drivingly coupled to a sweep end wheel. The sweep end wheel can include a plurality of tread brackets, a wheel plate, and an adjustable coupling corresponding to each of the tread brackets. Each adjustable coupling can selectively couple one of the tread brackets to the wheel plate in one of a plurality of radial positions. Each of the plurality of radial positions can correspond to the tread bracket being located at a different radial distance from a central axis of rotation of the wheel plate.

Abstract: A gearbox below a grain bin floor can have a shift coupling movable between a drive position and a neutral position. A control rod can be axially movable between a corresponding drive position and a corresponding neutral position. A pair of biasing members can be operably positioned between the control rod and the shift coupling to bias the shift coupling in opposite directions. The opposite biasing forces of the biasing members can act against each other to bias the control rod into the neutral positioning recess to retain the external shift coupling and the control rod in the neutral position and the corresponding neutral position, respectively. The opposite biasing force of the biasing members can bias the control rod into the drive positioning recess to retain the external shift coupling and the control rod in the drive position and the corresponding drive position, respectively.

Abstract: An unload conveyor and a sweep conveyor can be positioned below and above a floor of the grain bin, respectively. A below floor gearbox and an above floor gearbox can be positioned below and above a sloped wall, respectively, of a sump. The sloped wall can be designed to shed grain toward a sump basin. A coupling shaft can extend through a non-circular sump shaft aperture in the sloped wall to couple the below floor gearbox to the above-floor gearbox. The coupling shaft can extend vertically. A pair of seal cover plates can form a horizontal wall extending perpendicular to the coupling shaft. The horizontal wall can have a circular sealing aperture therein and through which the coupling shaft extends. A washer can be provided adjacent the circular sealing aperture that can be free to move laterally with wobbling of the coupling shaft.

Abstract: A screen assembly for use in vibratory separators, e.g., shale shakers. The screen assembly has a support with first and second sides, and support surfaces bounded by and connected to at least a portion of the first and second sides. Overlying and adhered to at least portions of the support surfaces is a screen which has alternating planar and undulating portions of screening material.

Abstract: A mount for a screen assembly, a screen assembly with such a mount, and a vibratory separator (e.g., a shale shaker) with such a screen assembly; the mount in certain aspects including a body with an inwardly projecting handle apparatus accessible when the screen assembly with such a mount is located in operation position on a mount structure of a vibratory separator.

Abstract: Methods for making frames for screen assemblies for vibratory separators, and screen assemblies with such frames, the methods, in certain aspects, including making a frame support for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator (e.g. but not limited to with robotic welding apparatus), moving the frame support to cleaning apparatus to clean the frame support, heating the frame support, moving the heated frame support to coating apparatus, coating the frame support in the coating apparatus with protective material, allowing the coated frame support to cool so that the protective material sets, moving of the frame support in one aspect done by mechanical movement apparatus; and, in certain aspects, adding screening material to the frame to produce a screen assembly.

Abstract: A vibratory separator with a base, vibrating apparatus, a screen container on the base, the screen container having a plurality of spaced-apart drain holes, a plurality of spaced-apart screens in the screen-container, said screens oriented vertically within the screen container, and the screens positioned so that screened fluid passes through the screens and flows from the container through the plurality of spaced-apart drain holes.

Abstract: A screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the screen assembly including screening material with opposed spaced-apart sides including a first side and a second side, a side mount on each of the opposed spaced-apart sides, each side of the opposed spaced-apart sides having an edge portion, and each edge portion held within a side mount; a vibratory separator with such a screen assembly; and methods of their use.

Abstract: A method for making a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, which, in certain aspects, includes placing a first layer of screening material below a glue application apparatus, and applying with the glue apparatus an amount of glue in a pattern to a portion of the first layer of screening material, unrolling part of a second layer from a second roll and positioning the part of the second layer adjacent part of the first layer to which glue has been applied, moving the part of the second layer and the part of the first layer between opposed rotatable spaced-apart rollers to press together the part of the second layer and the part of the first layer to form a pressed-together layer of first and second layers of screening material. In certain aspects hot glue is used and is cooled following application of the second layer on the first layer.

Abstract: A unibody structure for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, and screens with such a structure, the unibody structure having, in certain aspects, an integral body member with a portion having a plurality of spaced-apart openings therethrough, the integral body member including side portions foldable to form a pair of spaced-apart integral side members, the integral body member having a plurality of spaced-apart support openings defining portions of the integral body member foldable to form a plurality of spaced-apart supports extending from a first side of the integral body member to a second side thereof and each support of the plurality of spaced-apart supports independent of each other support of the plurality of spaced-apart supports along its length.

Abstract: Methods for making a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, a screen assembly made by such methods, and a method for separating components of a fluid with a vibratory separator with such a scren assembly; the method in certain aspects including sewing together with sewing material at least two layers of screening material (e.g., two, three, four or more layers; e.

Abstract: A method for making a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the method including, in at least certain aspects, gluing together with glue at least two layers of fine screening material, allowing the glue to set, preheating the glued together at least two layers of fine screening material, placing the thus-preheated at least two layers of fine screening material in a heating apparatus, placing a coarse mesh layer on the at least two layers of screening material on the heating apparatus, placing on the coarse mesh layer a support with heat activated material thereon for adhering the support to the coarse mesh layer, and heating the coarse mesh layer, at least two fine layers of fine screening material, and the support to adhere the support to the coarse mesh layer and to glue the at least two layers of fine screening material to the coarse mesh layer.

Abstract: Methods for making screen assemblies and screens for a vibratory separator or shale shaker, such methods including applying glue in a glue pattern to at least one layer of screening material, said applying done by powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect moving with powered mechanical screen movement apparatus the at least one layer of screening material beneath the powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect, using hot melt moisture-curing glue, and in one aspect facilitating the cure of moisture-curing glue by applying moisture to it.

Abstract: Screens and screen assemblies for a vibratory separator or shale shaker, such screens and screen assemblies made by a method including applying glue in a glue pattern to at least one layer of screening material, said applying done by powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect moving with powered mechanical screen movement apparatus the at least one layer of screening material beneath the powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect, using hot melt moisture-curing glue, and in one aspect facilitating the cure of moisture-curing glue by applying moisture to it.

Abstract: A method for making a screen for a vibratory separator, the method including placing at least one layer of screening material below a glue application apparatus, the glue application apparatus including a main body and a plurality of movable glue nozzles movably connected to the body, applying with the movable glue nozzles an amount of glue, in a pattern to at least a portion of the at least one layer of screening material by moving the movable glue nozzles over the at least one layer of screening material. The method wherein the glue application apparatus includes at least one stationary glue nozzle secured immovably to the main body, the method including applying at least one shearable glue bead having a length to the screening material so that shearing the screening material along the length of the at least one shearable glue bead produces separate sections of the screening material.