Abstract: This invention relates to a discharge apparatus for storage bins and tanks having a central bottom outlet opening to allow a discharge conveyor to remove bulk material and a sweep conveyor within the storage bin, the improvement is that the outlet opening is adapted so that the sweep conveyor can be driven by its own motor or through gearing means driven by the discharge conveyor motor. A bearing support is provided for mounting the sweep conveyor with its own motor, and a structure is provided to mount a gear box connectably drivable by the discharge conveyor. The gear box arrangement comprises an upper and lower conventional gear box, together with a clutch to engage or disengage the sweep conveyor as required. Another improvement resides in having the sweep auger of the single drive system detachable. A further improvement lies in supplying a broom auger, in parallel with the sweep auger.

Abstract: A grain storage unloading system (10) with a series of augers for unloading grain (42) from a storage bin (11) is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for unloading grain (42) from a storage bin (11). The system includes a horizontal discharge auger conveyer (20) disposed above the bin's floor, the outlet end (25) of the horizontal auger conveyer (20) communicating with a point outside the grain bin (11). The inlet end (24) of the horizontal auger conveyer is interconnected to a vertical auger conveyer (13). The present invention also includes a sweep auger (32), the length of the sweep auger (32) extending the radius of the grain bin, which transports grain (42) radially toward a central part of the bin (11).

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.

Abstract: A silo unloader has an auger collector for moving material to an impeller operable to discharge material from a tower silo. A sprocket and endless chain secured to a transition assembly mounted on the impeller drives the collector around the silo wall. Wheels on the outer end of the collector and wheels on a biased arm on the inner end of the frame stabilize the unloader in the silo. A stop pivotally connected to the collector limits its backward movement by lifting the collector from the material.

Abstract: An unloading system for a container, such a forage box, includes a floor and a pair of parallel sidewalls. An auger is located in the container and a hydraulic motor on the auger rotates the auger to convey material in the container toward one end thereof. The auger is mounted on movable carriages and a second hydraulic motor drives the carriages to advance the auger transversely across the floor of the container between the sidewalls while the auger is rotating. A second cross auger is positioned adjacent the discharge end of the aforementioned auger and extends transversely of the container to receive the material conveyed by the first auger and discharge it from the container, and the second auger is also driven by a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor which transversely advances the first auger includes a relief valve which controls the hydraulic fluid pressure of that motor to vary the speed of the transverse movement across the floor of the container.

Abstract: Motive power device for a delivery device located at the base of an upright silo in the shape of a worm screw rotatable about its longitudinal axis, which is swivelable around a central bearing across a circular annularly shaped bottom surface of the silo with the help of a step motor, which consists of two identically designed shoe brakes self-locking counter to the drive direction and engaging at an abutment assigned to the silo wall, of which the one is linked rigidly and the other one displaceably through a controllable power cylinder in the area of a support bearing of the worm and cooperates with the abutment located at the silo wall.

Abstract: A floor sweep auger system for mounting in an existing grain bin of the type having a wood or concrete floor and a cylindrical wall. A stationary auger is mounted with an inner intake end secured to the floor at the center of the bin and an outer discharge end extending through the wall of the bin at a location above the floor. A moveable auger, which has a length substantially equal to the radius of the bin, is mounted for sweeping an arc of approximately 360.degree.. A center mounting coupling of the moveable auger, which has a fixed pivot axis and a moveable pivot axis, allows the moveable auger to start from a position parallel to and adjacent one side of the stationary auger and to swing through the arc to a terminal position parallel to and adjacent the opposite side of the stationary auger.

Abstract: An extraction device for silos with a circular floor having an opening in the form of a central funnel is disclosed. An endless screw having one end positioned centrally with respect to the opening in the silo floor is adapted to sweep angularly over the floor, bringing the product contained in the silo towards the central funnel for evacuation of the product onto a conveyor positioned beneath the floor of the silo. A cross-piece extends across the central funnel opening, providing a rigid mount for a central support. A protective cover, generally conical in form, is fixed to the central support. The protective cover overlaps the central opening and covers a first motor adapted to drive the screw about its axis. A fixed ring is connected to the protective cover. A rotating ring is mounted for rotation to the fixed ring along a circular bearing surface. The rotating ring supports the endless screw and its motor.

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: Auger conveyor apparatus is described which is adapted to convey bulk material. The conveyor includes a plurality of axially aligned and connected segments which are coupled in such a manner that one segment drives an adjacent segment after limited rotation relative to the adjacent segment. The connected segments are self-supporting, and incoming bulk material has access to the apparatus essentially along its full length. The apparatus may be used in a variety of applications including, among others, bottom unloading devices for storage structures.

Abstract: A sweep auger attachment for use in combination with an unloading conveyor. The sweep auger includes a first auger coupled to a second auger. A backboard, for directing grain into engagement with the augers extends along one side of the first and second augers. The first auger is rotatably mounted by a bracket to the backboard. A support arm, mounted on the backboard, supports the second auger. The sweep auger is selectively pivotally mounted on the loading conveyor between a first and a second position. The sweep auger longitudinal plane, defined by the axes of the first and second augers, is offset with respect to the pivot axis in the first position, and aligned with the pivot axis in the second position.

Abstract: A bottom unloader having a material conveyor for moving material from a hopper centrally located in a bin to a location outside of the bin. A drive apparatus mounted on the outer end of the conveyor operates the conveyor and adjusts the tension on the conveyor chain. The outer end of the conveyor has a door that is clamped to a closed position with eccentric clamping locks. An elongated auger collector is mounted on a rotatable turntable located in the central hopper. A cap having a side opening for the auger collector is mounted on the turntable. The auger collector is drivably connected with the conveyor so that, when the conveyor is operated, the auger collector is rotated. A separate drive operated with a hydraulic motor is used to move the auger collector in a circular path.

Abstract: A device for discharging pulverulent products contained in a cylindrical silo from an appropriate part of the lower periphery of the silo, in which a radial horizontal arm equipped with an Archimedia's screw is placed in the immediate vicinity of the lowest part of the silo and is mounted on a turret, in which there is placed a fixed vertical shaft co-axial with the silo, having a first pinion which cooperates with a second pinion secured to the shaft of the Archimedean screw, and wherein a chain given by a motor is provided to rotate the arm and the turret around the axis of the silo.

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 ring gear located beneath the center of the silo and which carries the mount for the auger, may be engaged by push-pull mechanisms that function as force or torque multipliers. The ring gear, upon being engaged and moved, caused the incremental sweeping motion of the auger across the floor. A manual adjustment is provided for interrupting the advancing motion of the auger, if desired.

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: 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 ring gear located beneath the center of the silo and which carries the mount for the auger, may be engaged by push-pull mechanisms that function as force or torque multipliers. The ring gear, upon being engaged and moved, caused the incremental sweeping motion of the auger across the floor. A manual adjustment is provided for interrupting the advancing motion of the auger, if desired.

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: A storage silo, for agricultural products and the like is provided, particularly adapted for use with silos of the bottom unloader type, and which are filled through a fill pipe extending from about ground level, to the upper end of the silo. A particularly unique connection is provided between the top and bottom of the silo, for substantially eliminating a pressure differential between the top and bottom that could otherwise have adverse affects on the silage upon filling at the side. The interconnection between the top and the bottom is through the silo fill pipe, and a vent line, and additionally may be provided for including silage gas bags in common interconnection with the fill pipe. The bottom end of the fill pipe is telescopically extendable for attachment to a silage blower, and a closure for the bottom end of the fill pipe is adapted to sealingly close the fill pipe with the telescopically extendable member within the fill pipe.

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.

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.

Abstract: A device for discharging bulk material so as to effect uniform descent of the bulk material. A rotary screw conveyor is surrounded by an elongated drum, the drum and the screw conveyor being rotated independently of each other and mounted for movement together in a straight line path perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the screw conveyor and drum. The drum is prevented from detrimental deflection during long periods of non-use, and is easy to start up after such long periods of non-use.

Abstract: In the silo unloader art, wherein a bottom unloader is used, and specifically an unloader of the generally central discharge type, wherein an auger delivers silage to the central zone of a silo, as the auger rotates on its own axis, and sweeps across the bottom of a silo, to a passageway through the floor of the silo, generally at the center of the silo, an openable closure is provided for the silo, for controlling the flow of silage through the passageways. Particularly, when the silo is closed down for the night, and when the silage is of the dry, granular, readily flowable type, the openable closure allows the passageways to be closed so as not to allow silage to build up and become compacted in the passageway area beneath the silo floor and around the silo exit auger.

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 generally vertically disposed bin arranged to receive grain to be dried. Moist grain enters the bin through the top at which point it is distributed relatively uniformly over the full planar area thereof. The bin is equipped with a first floor having air passage perforations therein. The first perforated floor is adapted to carry a substantial column of the moist grain thereon which is subjected to the passage of hot air moving upwardly therethrough. An auger sweep is arranged and constructed to regularly remove portions of the grain lying closest to the surface of the perforated first floor and discharge that grain downwardly through a passageway in the first floor where it is distributed relatively uniformly over a substantial column of grain carried on a second floor spaced beneath the first floor in the bin. The second floor also has air passage perforations therein to permit passage upwardly therethrough of cool air.

Abstract: Apparatus for reliably causing flow of material from a bin, of circular transverse section about a vertical axis, having a conical bottom converging downwardly to a central discharge chamber, including: a central shaft rotatable in the discharge chamber about the vertical axis; a first arm on the central shaft for preventing material from said bin from packing around the central shaft; a second arm on the central shaft for preventing material from said bin from bridging at the entrance to the discharge chamber; a universal joint at the top of the central shaft; a traveller shaft connected at one end to the universal joint for rotation, with rotation of the central shaft, about its own axis and about the vertical axis; a single chain extending spirally around the traveller shaft for a major portion of its length and secured at both ends to the traveller shaft, for loosening material in the conical bottom of the bin by contact lateral of the traveller shaft therewith; a plurality of flat pieces of resilient mat