Having Axially Varying Capacity Patents (Class 198/661)
  • Patent number: 11930740
    Abstract: The combine may include a threshing tank that is configured to store a threshing product obtained by the threshing device and includes a lower tapered portion formed in a bottom portion. A bottom screw is provided inside the lower tapered portion and configured to discharge the threshing product from the threshing tank. A threshing discharge device is connected to the bottom screw and configured to convey the threshing product from the bottom screw and discharge the threshing product in a body outward direction. The threshing tank includes an inspection port formed in a bottom section of the lower tapered portion, and a lid configured to open and close the inspection port, and the lid opens and closes by swinging upward and downward about a swing axis that is not parallel with a screw axis of the bottom screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Shinya, Yusaku Yoshida, Tsuyoshi Kumatori, Takashi Kitahara, Yoshifumi Tango, Ryohei Higashitaki, Toshinari Nishimura, Masakazu Hino, Shota Hayashi, Nobuki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 11805731
    Abstract: An auger cover for an auger conveyor for a grain bin of a combine harvester includes a cover plate that is hingedly attached to the auger conveyor. The hinge attaching the cover plate to the auger conveyor has a hinge plate that includes a flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Leandro Conte Da Silva, Paolo Dal Lago, Gianfranco Dal Santo
  • Patent number: 10765062
    Abstract: A combine harvester including a grain tank having an auger trough in which a screw conveyor of an unloading system is disposed. The screw conveyor is operable to define an upturning side and a downturning side. The grain tank includes a floor section that covers the upturning side to prevent back flow and the formation of a stagnation zone in the vicinity thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: AGCO DO BRASIL SOLUÇÕES AGRÍCOLAS LTDA
    Inventor: Marcelo Carpenedo
  • Patent number: 10509383
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a shared variable frequency drive for operating more than one mechanical systems of a grain bin. The control system includes at least one processor circuit that is configured to operate the shared VFD in both a first mode, wherein operating in the first mode results in operating a fan assembly of the grain bin, and a second mode, wherein operating in the second mode results in operating an unload sweep assembly within the grain bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: ISC Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Dahlin
  • Patent number: 10426092
    Abstract: A cart for transporting and conveying agricultural materials is provided. The cart includes a frame; a set of wheels or tracks coupled with said frame; and a hitch assembly coupled with said frame to allow the cart to be towed on the wheels or tracks behind a tow vehicle. The cart further includes a hopper defined by a plurality of walls supported by the frame and having a hopper opening to receive agricultural material and a discharge opening for discharging agricultural material. The cart further includes a conveyor assembly coupled to the hopper, the conveyor assembly including an inlet in communication with the discharge opening to receive agricultural material therefrom and an outlet to discharge agricultural material. The conveyor assembly includes a lower conveyor section and an upper conveyor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill, Ronald J. Schlimgen
  • Patent number: 10240903
    Abstract: A lead collection system and method for reducing the incidence of equipment failures, equipment breakages, and/or safety hazards is provided. The lead collection system may include one or more augers that carry lead to a lead containment barrel. The auger(s) may be equipped with a specialized shear coupling designed such that the shear coupling breaks and stops auger movement before the auger may break. The auger(s) may also be equipped with one or more rotational sensors to detect actual shaft speed and compare it to the inputted speed, and cause a system error if a difference is detected. A lead containment barrel may also be provided, with an ultrasonic sensor for detecting lead fill in the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Action Target Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Coe, Darren Wall, Tim Hakala, Kevin Tomaszewski
  • Patent number: 10175611
    Abstract: A toner conveyance device includes a conveying screw having a shaft and a spiral blade. The spiral blade includes a start end-side blade adjacent to a bearing positioned at a start end part side in a toner conveyance path, a terminal-side blade adjacent to a bearing positioned at a terminal part side, and an intermediate blade. A toner discharge port is provided between the intermediate blade and the terminal-side blade. A spiral winding direction of the terminal-side blade is opposite to that of the intermediate blade, a spiral winding direction of the start end-side blade is equal to that of the intermediate blade, and a blade diameter of the start end-side blade and a blade diameter of the terminal-side blade are smaller than that of the intermediate blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Shinji Nemoto
  • Patent number: 10011442
    Abstract: A sweep assembly rotatable along a sweep path in a bin and comprising a housing, a particulate sweep assembly to move particulate matter, and a sweep drive assembly to move the sweep assembly across the floor surface. At least one support assembly may have a support condition characterized by the support assembly providing support to the housing of the sweep assembly and a non-support condition characterized by the support assembly not providing support to the housing. The support assembly may change from the support condition to the non-support condition by movement of the sweep assembly along the sweep path. In some embodiments, the support assembly may comprise a sweep-mounted component moving with the sweep assembly along the sweep path and a floor-mounted component being stationary with respect to movement of the sweep assembly along the sweep path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Sioux Steel Company
    Inventor: William Witt
  • Patent number: 9687948
    Abstract: A bar feeder for separately feeding longitudinal bars (3, 3?) from a storage unit (1) to a transportation unit (2) is provided. The storage unit (1) comprises a delivery mechanism, which delivers bars (3) in delivery direction to the transport unit (2). The transport unit (2) comprises separated, moveable spaces (8) for accommodating the bars (3?), wherein the spaces are moveable in a transport direction. An abutment screw section is provided on the transport unit, which is moveable from a blocking position for blocking a bar (3) in delivery direction and a release position for allowing movement of the bar in delivery direction and into a space. The abutment screw section is switched between the blocking position and the release position by a rotational movement of the transport unit (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: LNS Management SA
    Inventors: Frank Antonin Reisser, Etienne Todoerti
  • Patent number: 9403682
    Abstract: A cylindrical screw feeder main body, catalyst feeding portions for introducing a catalyst into the screw feeder main body, low hydrocarbon feeding portions for introducing a low hydrocarbon into the screw feeder main body as a raw material, a screw for conveying the catalyst and nanocarbon produced by pyrolysis of the low hydrocarbon in the feeder main body, a solid matter discharging portion for discharging the catalyst and the nanocarbon conveyed by the screw out of the screw feeder main body and a gas discharging portion for discharging the unreacted low hydrocarbon and hydrogen produced by the pyrolysis of the low hydrocarbon out of the screw feeder main body are provided. Nanocarbon grown with the catalyst as top with time is continuously discharged out of the screw feeder main body while unused catalyst is being fed thereto at the same amount as that of nanocarbon, allowing efficient continuous reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignees: National University Corporation Kitami Institute of Technology, THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS, LTD., KAJIMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Tada, Satoru Nakamura, Tetsunari Nakamura, Hajime Kakihara, Yoshitaka Togo, Kikuo Koseki, Hiroyuki Takasuna
  • Patent number: 9127506
    Abstract: An auger having a cutting unit for removing ground material and a conveyor flight for conveying the ground material removed by the cutting unit, whereby the conveyor flight has several conveyor flight pieces which are arranged along an axial direction of the auger and connected to each other in a detachable manner. A central receiving shaft is provided, on which the cutting member is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner. Furthermore, each of the conveyor flight pieces of the conveyor flight has a mounting pipe which is mounted onto the central receiving shaft, whereby the central receiving shaft projects through the mounting pipe such that the conveyor flight pieces are to be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the central receiving shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Bauer Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Stimpfle-Ziegler
  • Patent number: 8919537
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the treatment of bulk material, comprising a platform 24?, 24?, 28 for supporting bulk material and at least one outfeeding device 28 arranged on the platform for feeding bulk material placed on the platform towards an outlet 29 arranged on the platform, wherein the feeding device has a feeding direction towards the outlet, a first and a second beam 30, 31, 32, 33 is arranged on the platform above the outfeeding device, which beams extends transversal to the feeding direction of the outfeeding device and at least a portion in over of the width of the outfeeding device, wherein the second beam 32 being arranged at a higher level above the outfeeding device than the first beam 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Joseph Vogele AG
    Inventors: Conny Andersson, Allan Carlsson
  • Patent number: 8910773
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the treatment of bulk material, comprising a platform 24?, 24?, 28 for supporting bulk material and at least one outfeeding device 28 arranged on the platform for feeding bulk material placed on the platform towards an outlet 29 arranged on the platform, wherein the feeding device has a feeding direction towards the outlet, a first and a second beam 30, 31, 32, 33 is arranged on the platform above the outfeeding device, which beams extends transversal to the feeding direction of the outfeeding device and at least a portion in over of the width of the outfeeding device, wherein the second beam 32 being arranged at a higher level above the outfeeding device than the first beam 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Joseph Vogele AG
    Inventors: Conny Andersson, Allan Carlsson
  • Patent number: 8763786
    Abstract: In a workpiece feeding apparatus having a rotating shaft adapted to rotate to separate and individually feed a plate-like workpiece suspended side by side in an axial direction along a helical region formed on an outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft and drop the plate-like workpiece from an edge thereof and a motor rotating the rotating shaft, the rotating shaft includes a first rod connected to the motor, and a second rod rotatably connected to the first rod and having a helical region formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second rod and a workpiece hanger at the edge to extend perpendicular to the axial direction and to be bent at a distal end, such that the second rod stops rotating when the workpiece is hung from the distal end of the workpiece hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Honda Sun Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Uchinashi
  • Patent number: 8746439
    Abstract: A feed auger assembly which conveys particular material to an implement includes a first auger housing with a first auger flight rotatable therein, a second auger housing concentrically receiving the first auger housing therein so as to define an annular space therebetween, and a second auger flight rotatable within the annular space. The discharge end of the first auger housing is arranged to discharge into the annular space between the intermediate end and the outlet end of the second auger housing as the first auger housing is longitudinally slidable relative to the second auger housing in the longitudinal direction. The distance between the inlet end of first auger housing and the outlet end of the second auger housing is thus adjustable during a conveying operation of the augers being rotated within the respective housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Douglas Houssian
  • Patent number: 8727106
    Abstract: A traction unit (1), particularly for packaging machines, comprising means for moving at least one grip element (2), which can move along a predefined closed path (3) and has at least two pairs of teeth (4a, 4b) which protrude substantially at right angles from the closed path (3), for the clamping of products (5) to be packaged and their traction along a portion of the closed path (3); the mutual transverse arrangement of the pairs of teeth (4a, 4b) being configurable by means of an adjustment device (6) which is located substantially outside the closed path (3), the movement means being located substantially inside the closed path (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Tissue Machinery Company S.p.A.
    Inventor: Francesco Maria Bernardi
  • Patent number: 8646593
    Abstract: A device for the treatment of bulk material including a platform for supporting the bulk material and at least one outfeeding device on the platform for feeding bulk material placed on the platform towards an outlet arranged on the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Joseph Vogele AG
    Inventors: Conny Andersson, Allan Carlsson
  • Publication number: 20140014475
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a hopper and an auger conveyor for conveying solid items, wherein the auger conveyor comprises an auger and an outlet pipe enclosing the auger along at least a part of the length of the auger, the outlet pipe having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the outlet pipe is mounted at its inlet end to the hopper for receiving solid items from the hopper through an outlet opening near the bottom of the hopper, and the auger extends partly along at least a part of the bottom of the hopper, partly inside the outlet pipe along substantially the full length thereof, and wherein at least a part of the inner surface of the hopper above the outlet opening is inclined towards the direction of conveyance of the auger conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Jens Trudslev, Jonas Ubbesen
  • Patent number: 7976259
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system for feeding biomass into a pressured vessel, the system includes a screw-feeding housing, a drive motor, a rotary airlock, a first conveyor screw, a second conveyor screw, a barrel, a low friction liner attached to a substantial portion of the inside surface of the barrel, a pressure sensor positioned within the screw-feeding housing for monitoring backpressure, a compression disk, an actuator, a function controller which controls the pressure sensor, the drive motor and the actuator, and a control loop which comprises the function controller, the actuator, the drive motor, and the pressure sensor for monitoring backpressure within the screw-feeding housing and for controlling and adjusting the force applied by the actuator to the compression disk and the torque applied by the drive motor to the first conveyor screw, thereby effectuating an effectively sealed biomass plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventors: Joe David Craig, Joe Don Nevill, Lyle Allen Craig
  • Patent number: 7732718
    Abstract: A combination weighing apparatus includes a dispersion unit, conveying units and weighing units. The dispersion unit is arranged to radially disperse product material. The conveying units are arranged around a periphery of the dispersion unit. The weighing units are arranged around a periphery of the conveying units. Each of the conveying units includes a trough. At least one of the troughs has a cross-sectional diameter that gradually increases generally from the inside end to the outside end so that the one of the troughs and an adjacent one of the troughs are kept in contact with each other from the inside ends to the outside ends. At least one of the conveying units has a spiral member disposed over a bottom surface of the trough. The spiral member is configured and arranged to convey the product material supplied from the dispersion unit toward the outside end of the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Tatsuoka, Hiroshi Hattori, Mikio Kishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090123262
    Abstract: A high-throughput auger includes a receiving end auger portion that has a first shaft. The receiving end auger portion also includes a first screw having a first pitch and a first diameter, and a first housing portion of a second diameter. The auger also includes a main auger portion coupled to a discharge end of the receiving end auger portion. The main auger portion includes a second shaft, a second screw having a second pitch and a third diameter, and a second housing of a fourth diameter. The first diameter is greater than the third diameter and the second pitch is greater than the first pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill, Ryan Fleshner
  • Patent number: 6540067
    Abstract: An ice transporting assembly transports ice and includes a sleeve and a tapered auger. The sleeve defines a frusto-conically shaped channel with an inlet having an inlet diameter and an outlet having an outlet diameter less than the inlet diameter. The tapered auger is mounted for rotation within the sleeve and is sized and adapted for positional agreement with the frusto-conically shaped channel. Ice at the inlet is transported through the frusto-conically shaped channel and out of the outlet by rotating the tapered auger about a rotational axis. Another embodiment of the ice transporting assembly includes a reducing sleeve having an upstream conduit section with an upstream conduit diameter, a downstream conduit section with a downstream conduit diameter less than the upstream conduit diameter and a tapered conduit interposing the upstream conduit section and the downstream conduit section. The tapered conduit defines a tapered channel that receives the tapered auger in positional agreement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hoshizak America, Inc.
    Inventors: David Sellers, Hiroyuki Sugie
  • Patent number: 6336573
    Abstract: A bin or hopper, preferably with one-dimensional convergence, has a slot outlet at its bottom for discharging bulk solid particulate material (such as coal, wood chips, sugar, plastic pellets, etc.) to a screw in a trough. The screw has varying flight diameter, shaft diameter, and average pitch along its length to a discharge so as to provide substantially uniform material flow velocity distribution along the slot outlet. One or more flow rate adjusters may regulate flow of material being transported by the screw. Each flow adjuster may be a vertical plate with a substantially straight-across bottom curved about a substantially horizontal axis, or with a bottom two-dimensional curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Andritz-Ahlstrom Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry R. Johanson
  • Patent number: 6186373
    Abstract: A bin or hopper, preferably with one-dimensional convergence, has a slot outlet at its bottom for discharging bulk solid particulate material (such as coal, wood chips, sugar, plastic pellets, etc.) to a screw in a trough. The screw has varying flight diameter, shaft diameter, and average pitch along its length to a discharge so as to provide substantially uniform material flow velocity distribution along the slot outlet. One or more flow rate adjusters may regulate flow of material being transported by the screw. Each flow adjuster may be a vertical plate with a substantially straight-across bottom curved about a substantially horizontal axis, or with a bottom two-dimensional curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Andritz-Ahlstrom Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry R. Johanson
  • Patent number: 6000995
    Abstract: A dosage device for feeding grained, pourable materials, particularly abrasive blasting materials. Feeding is accomplished by use of a dosage auger that employs a screw mechanism that either decreases or increases relative to the distance between the incline of the spiral wings. The device also includes an adjustable drive, a flow measuring device to monitor and control flow rates and a mixing chamber to assure full mixing of abrasive material in a compressed air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Heinrich Schlick
    Inventor: Heinz Ruholl
  • Patent number: 5975279
    Abstract: A device for individualizing and feeding individual conveying carriers into a revolving hanging conveyor system. The individualizing device contains a rotatably driven spindle provided with grooves on the spindle's surface, wherein the pitch of each groove increases in the direction of conveyance. The feed device includes the individualizing device and a transfer conveyor, wherein the speed of conveyance of the transfer conveyor is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Durkopp Adler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Blattner, Dirk Sieksmeier, Paul Janzen
  • Patent number: 5939027
    Abstract: A process for discharging a reactor characterized by reducing the volume of a powder without compacting it, including treating the powder in a densification zone including at least one Archimedes' screw arranged in a barrel. The Archimedes' screw may also have both a reduction in pitch and an increase in diameter of the shaft. The densification zone may also contain two co- or counterrotating screws arranged in a barrel and exhibiting a reduction in the pitch of the screws. Densification zones consisting of two co-rotating screws give particularly good results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Solvay Polyoletins Europe-Belsium (SA)
    Inventor: Jean-Jacques Ruelle
  • Patent number: 5871081
    Abstract: A material conveying system for accurately conveying a specific predetermined amount of a material. The system includes a large primary auger that is rotated to convey the material until the amount of material closely approaches the predetermined amount. A smaller secondary auger, disposed coaxially with the primary auger, is then rotated to convey material until the amount of material conveyed reaches the predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Easy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark K. Gaalswyk, Mark A. Owens
  • Patent number: 5865592
    Abstract: A stone metering system for a railroad track maintenance vehicle providing improved accuracy in stone delivery. The system includes a surge hopper, a number of metering augers, and a corresponding number of splitters. The metering augers convey ballast stones from the surge hopper to the corresponding splitters, which divide the stones evenly between a number of blow tubes. The pitch of the auger screw flights is increased from the inlet end of the screw to "expand" the stone and reduce the production of fines. In addition, the diameter of the final screw flight is reduced at the outlet end of the auger to provide a consistent and even flow of stone into the splitters. The splitters are dynamically adjustable to provide even distribution between the blow tubes regardless of the cant to the rails. The desired amount of stone is delivered to the tubes by rotating the auger screw the number of full or partial revolutions associated with the amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Pandrol Jackson, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5584641
    Abstract: A stone metering system for a railroad track maintenance vehicle providing improved accuracy in stone delivery. The system includes a surge hopper, a number of metering augers, and a corresponding number of splitters. The metering augers convey ballast stones from the surge hopper to the corresponding splitters, which divide the stones evenly between a number of blow tubes. The pitch of the auger screw flights is increased from the inlet end of the screw to "expand" the stone and reduce the production of fines. In addition, the diameter of the final screw flight is reduced at the outlet end of the auger to provide a consistent and even flow of stone into the splitters. The splitters are dynamically adjustable to provide even distribution between the blow tubes regardless of the cant to the rails. The desired amount of stone is delivered to the tubes by rotating the auger screw the number of full or partial revolutions associated with the amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Pandrol Jackson, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5558203
    Abstract: A transporting device includes a housing having a feed opening and a discharge opening defining a transporting direction. The housing has a partial section and a remaining section. A conveyor worm is disposed in the housing, is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and has a smaller pitch in the partial section than in the remaining section. The smaller pitch of the conveyor worm is disposed at a distance from the feed opening, as seen in the transporting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hartmut Herm, Karl May, Karlheinz Unverzagt, Helmut Werdinig
  • Patent number: 5443352
    Abstract: A combine grain tank has a floor and a pair of fore-and-aft feed augers above the floor for moving grain forwardly along the floor of the tank to a laterally extending trough in the forward end of the floor. A laterally extending discharge auger is mounted in the trough for moving grain laterally along the floor to an auger-type unloading conveyor exteriorly of the grain tank. The discharge auger has constant diameter flighting along its length mounted on an auger tube that has a larger diameter upstream of the point where the feed auger nearest the unloading conveyor feeds grain into the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Ernst Schuhmacher
  • Patent number: 5351805
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Miller Formless Co. Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Miller, Allen R. Miller, Charles P. Miller
  • Patent number: 5183147
    Abstract: A system for handling agricultural chemicals, such as herbicides, pesticides, and the like which are supplied in dry form. A refillable tank includes an integral, internal auger that horizontally extends through the bottom portion of the tank and is adapted to feed dry chemicals from an outlet in one side of the integer auger, and an internal flow regulating system for apportioning the chemical into the auger. The internal tank auger is driven by a detachable drive motor which is connected to the drive end of the internal tank auger. A feeder hose having a flexible, internal auger detachably connects to the outlet end of the internal tank auger by a cam lock coupling provided on one end of the feeder hose and on the outlet end of the internal tank auger. An auger coupling extending from the cam lock coupling end of the feeder hose mateingly engages the internal tank auger when connected. A drybreak assembly connects the feeder hose with a planter hopper box for later dissemination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Murray Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Callahan, Craig Reese, Douglas P. Baxter, Stephen M. Murray
  • Patent number: 5122263
    Abstract: A continuously and automatically functioning device for the drainage of sludge treated with a flocculent, especially of sewage sludge, comprising a screw conveyor installation with a driven conveyor screw consisting of shaft (16) and helix (17) and a screen wall (18). The screw conveyor installation possesses a first cylindrical area (10) of a large diameter and gap width followed by a conical area (12) for purposes of volume reduction in the throughput direction of the sludge. Connected to the conical area (12) of the screw conveyor installation is at least one pressure area (13) which, with the diameter of the shaft (16) being constant, possesses a decreasing lead of the conveyor helix (17) at the side of the entrance, and in its final area carries a conical piece (49) placed upon the shaft (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Inventor: Hans G. Huber
  • Patent number: 5117654
    Abstract: An ice dispenser for a refrigeration apparatus includes a container for storing ice bodies. The container has opposite front and rear walls and an access opening through the front wall. A housing is secured at the front wall adjacent the access opening and has a dispensing space for dispensing ice bodies. An ice conveyor transfers ice bodies stored in the container to the dispensing space. The ice conveyor includes a wire auger and a cylindrical sleeve surrounding the wire auger for rotation therewith. The cylinder has an outer wall including a helical rib extending outwardly therefrom. The sleeve rib moves ice bodies frontwardly at a slower rate than the wire auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Mark G. Steffenhagen
  • Patent number: 5101961
    Abstract: A feed screw for use in a rectangular bin outlet permits uniform feed from the bin along a length of the screw. This is achieved with a screw of uniform pitch on a shaft comprising a plurality of coaxial and contiguous cylindrical sections having progressively decreasing diameters dimensioned so that the differences in volume capacity between each pair of contiguous sections are equal over such length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Jenike & Johanson, Inc.
    Inventors: K. Eric Bengtson, E. LeRoy Baldwin
  • Patent number: 5099983
    Abstract: A portable sweep auger apparatus and method for controllably transferring predetermined continuous amounts of granular and powdered gypsum from a pile of gypsum to an irrigation ditch. The apparatus includes a base member, a driver member and an auger assembly member mechanically coupled to the driver member. The driver member and the auger assembly member are pivotally coupled to the base member to effect forward travel that depletes the gypsum pile. A first level of control is effected by a fixed auger design that coact with the driver member for regulating and delivering predetermined amounts of the gypsum material. A second level of control is effected by a slip clutch wheel coacting with the rotating auger shaft for controlling forward movement of the entire auger assembly towards and against the pile of gypsum material until the material has been depleted. A track that compensates for unleveled terrain is provided for guiding the slip clutch wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Inventors: Arthur L. Valdez, Elva R. Valdez
  • Patent number: 5052874
    Abstract: Apparatus for densifying particulate solids and for removing air from the solids includes a screw feeder that conveys the material through a recirculation chamber, then into a high pressure shroud that is closed at its downstream end by a preloaded cover in yieldable sealing engagement with the downstream end of the high pressure shroud. In a preferred embodiment, the high pressure shroud includes a perforated section that extends upstream into the recirculation chamber so that as the particulate material is compressed by the screw in the high pressure shroud, air and some of the particles are expressed through the perforations and are contained by the recirculation chamber which directs the expressed particles downward into the screw which once again pushes them into the high pressure shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: JR Johanson, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry R. Johanson
  • Patent number: 4904285
    Abstract: A deaerator for particulates capable of increasing the bulk density of the particles to reduce the volume of the particulates. In the deaerator, a perforated cylindrical section (1a) of a cylindrical body (1) includes a filter (13) formed of a sintered material. A screw conveyor (4) arranged in the cylindrical body has a screw pitch (4a, 4b) which is small and which gradually reduces the region on the downstream side of the perforated cylindrical section. The filter may be formed by sintering a fine metal fibre, a metal powder or a ceramic powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Kasei Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Yamada, Mamoru Nakayama, Kazuo Sagara
  • Patent number: 4801085
    Abstract: A manure spreader device and method of distributing any of a variety of manure materials having varying consistencies are provided. The device and method embody a concept in which a plurality of elongated augers that are longitudinally positioned within a translatable bin impart a stepped characteristic to the flow of manure material in order to loosen the manure material, if necessary, prior to its passage into a generally vertically oriented expeller assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Allied Products Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas R. Fischer
  • Patent number: 4726715
    Abstract: A screw powder feeder has a rotary screw (12) disposed at the base of a hopper (10). The screw (12) comprises a twist drill bit. Powder is discharged into a chamber (18) and picked-up by a flow of gas. The pressure in chamber (18) is varied relative to the pressure in hopper (10) to control the feed rate for a given screw speed. Ultra-low feed rates are made possible by feeding gas into the hopper (10) through the screw (12) and controlling the relative gas pressures such that the pressure in the chamber (18) exceeds the pressure in hopper (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Quantum Laser Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Steen, Vijitha M. Weerasinghe
  • Patent number: 4408947
    Abstract: A combine conveyor arrangement for transferring clean grain from a cleaning shoe to a grain tank above the shoe comprises two drivably connected screw conveyor legs whose axes lie in a common vertical plane. A unitary housing at their junction provides bearing support for the respective screw conveyors, an enclosure for a pair of bevel gears transmitting power between the two, and a transfer passage for receiving the discharged material from the first leg and conducting it to the second leg. The first leg is substantially horizontal and the second is inclined upwardly and inwardly so that the included angle between the two conveyor legs is substantially less than ninety-degrees, and the transfer passage is offset inwardly and upwardly from the intersection of the conveyor axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Ralph Lenski, Rolf W. Peiler, Klaus H. Pauli
  • Patent number: 4405239
    Abstract: Extruders are widely used to transform solid plastic materials into molten plastic materials. Because of the low thermal conductivity of plastic materials and the inefficient mixing of the plastic materials inside an extruder, the heat is not evenly distributed in the material being processed and some portion of the material emerges from the extruder with excessive heat. This invention discloses a new screw with a novel mixing section which promotes mixing of the hot, molten material with the cold, unmolten material inside the screw channel by its unique geometry, thereby improving the heat transfer from the hot, molten material to the cold, unmolten material and increasing the energy efficiency of the extruder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Inventors: Chan I. Chung, Robert A. Barr
  • Patent number: 4391561
    Abstract: A pump for feeding granular material into a pressurized zone having a feed screw (14) located within a cylinder (12). The cylinder is tapered (34) at its discharge end, and the outside diameter of the flights (32) is also tapered (43). The clearance (38) of the tapered flights is significantly greater than the clearance (40) of the non-tapered flights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Smith, Bruce M. Pote
  • Patent number: 4386695
    Abstract: A sweep arm construction for a bottom unloading mechanism used to unload generally free flowing material from a silo or storage structure. The sweep arm is mounted to rotate about the center of the silo and undercut the stored material and convey it to the center of the silo where it is delivered to a discharge auger that operates in a radially extending trough in the silo foundation. The sweep auger is composed of a series of shaft sections of different diameters with the innermost shaft section having the largest diameter. A helical flight is associated with each shaft section and the flight on each shaft section has a progressively increasing radial depth in a direction toward the inner end of the sweep arm to provide a uniformly increasing rate of delivery to the auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Harvestore Products, Inc.
    Inventor: George E. Olson
  • Patent number: 4379106
    Abstract: The steam expander conveys the expanding heat expandable thermoplastic elements along a horizontal axis using a plurality of paddle frames. The paddle frames serve to agitate and tumble the elements during movement from an inlet to an outlet. At the same time, steam is injected into the housing of the expander to expand the elements. The expanded elements can be drawn off via a vacuum line to an overhead hopper or hoppers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Inventor: Harry Bussey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4377364
    Abstract: Silo unloading apparatus of the bottom unloading type is provided, wherein an auger is mounted for rotation on its own axis and for arcuate sweeping motion across the floor of the silo, conveying silage toward a central opening, and a single drive is provided for driving a central shaft that both rotates the auger about its own axis, and which rotates an intermediate mechanism that transfers relatively uniform rotational motion from the shaft into an intermittent rotational motion whereby a band located in the silo floor and spaced from the center of the silo is incrementally driven preferably by means of a toothed wheel, for incrementally sweeping the auger across the silo floor. The band is carried in a generally circular track in the floor of a silo and a cover for the opening into the track is provided, carried by the band for movement therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Inventor: Richard L. Weaver
  • Patent number: 4328913
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a new and improved screw conveyor useful for bagging animal bedding comprising subdivided newsprint. The screw of the auger has flights of predetermined different heights which avoid undue compaction of the bedding as it is conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: Recycled Paper Bedding, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick W. Whiteman
  • Patent number: 4215978
    Abstract: In a resin moulding screw provided with helical flight and valley, the bottom surface of valley is divided into a plurality of portions along a dividing line, and the divided portions are alternately displaced in the radial direction to form wavy contours. Barriers are provided to cross the dividing line to form dams which prevent intercommunication of the valleys at the bottom of the screw groove to prevent decrease of the thrust pressure along the flight for efficiently blending and melting solid and molten resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1980
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seizo Takayama, Kiyoshi Hashimoto