Abstract: A grain bin access door and chute system that can be retrofitted into existing grain bins or installed in new grain bins. The access panel includes an outer door and an inner door and allows a user to quickly access and assess the grain within a bin without fear of falling into the grain or through the crust of grain which can form a bridge on the top of grain. The access door includes a lever-controlled chute door and pipe-chute connection. This allows grain to be gravity fed into awaiting grain trucks or rail cars without using a more dangerous grain auger and without relying on outside energy sources. Additionally, grain transferred through a gravity-fed method is less likely to become damaged than grain transferred through a grain auger. An optional grain agitator may likewise be installed within the grain bin.

Abstract: A bottom unloader for conveying feed material from a silo is disclosed. The unloader may have a housing with a drive unit and discharge, a conveyor positioned in the trough of a silo and a rotating cutter arm. The bottom unloader may be equipped with heavy-duty hooks having a wide uniform forward profile to prevent breaking and clogging of the conveyor. The hooks may be arranged in a repeating sequence to optimize unloading. The silo trough may have a wide chamfered section to prevent bridging. A discharge cover may extend from the conveyor to cover the top of the trough within the silo. The discharge cover remains fixed to conveyor backbone and is removed from the silo with conveyor.

Abstract: A power sweep for an agricultural grain bin includes a powered belt conveyor adapted to unload the grain when desired. The inboard end of the belt conveyor includes an idler roller which is frictionally coupled to the inner surface of the belt and, through a power transmission, may be actuated, by means of a clutch, to drive a power sweep for cleaning residual grain from the bottom of the storage bin after the belt conveyor has removed the bulk of the grain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for wine pomace extraction from wine processing tanks in a manner so as to minimize maceration of the wine pomace so as not to taint wine entrained within the pomace. In the present invention, wine pomace is mechanically transported out the processing tank by a conveyor means. Wine pomace is guided into the collecting path of the conveyor means by a mechanical sweeper attached to the conveyor means. In a preferred embodiment, a conveyor with sweeper wing attachments is mounted on a portable cart. The invention is positioned into the processing tank through an entry portal and secured to a tank containing pomace. The conveyor transports pomace to a receiver bin until the majority of pomace is extracted. Sweeper wings are deployed to guide remaining pomace into the collecting path of the conveyor.

Abstract: One embodiment provides for a material reclaiming apparatus for use with a bulk storage bin. The bulk storage bin includes a bottom which defines an elongated plurality of outlet openings from the storage bin. The material reclaiming apparatus includes a plurality of gates. Each gate is associated with a respective outlet opening, and each gate is moveable from a first position (blocking the associated outlet opening), to a second position (not blocking the associated outlet opening). The material reclaiming apparatus further includes a traveling reclaimer located beneath the bottom of the bulk storage bin, and which is configured to travel along the bottom beneath the gates. The traveling reclaimer includes a gate actuator. As a result of positioning the traveling reclaimer under any given gate, the gate actuator engages the gate to allow the gate actuator to move the gate from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying bulk material generally consisting of a support, a guide member defining a passageway providing a circuitous path, having a base section supported on the support and a section cantilevered relative to the support; at least two sprockets disposed in such passageway and rotatably supported on the guide member, one of such sprockets being disposed in the cantilevered section of the guide member and having a substantially vertically disposed axis of rotation; a rope assembly including an endless rope disposed in the passageway along the circuitous path and reeved around the sprockets, and a plurality of discs spaced along such rope, and a motor for driving one of the sprockets, wherein the guide member includes a inlet communicating with the passageway for feeding material therein and a discharge outlet communicating with the passageway about a portion of the periphery of the one socket.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying bulk material generally consisting of a support, a guide member defining a passageway providing a circuitous path, having a base section supported on the support and a section cantilevered relative to the support; at least two sprockets disposed in such passageway and rotatably supported on the guide member, one of such sprockets being disposed in the cantilevered section of the guide member and having a substantially vertically disposed axis of rotation; a rope assembly including an endless rope disposed in the passageway along the circuitous path and reeved around the sprockets, and a plurality of discs spaced along such rope, and a motor for driving one of the sprockets, wherein the guide member includes a inlet communicating with the passageway for feeding material therein and a discharge outlet communicating with the passageway about a portion of the periphery of the one socket.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying bulk material generally consisting of a support and a guide means defining a passageway. The passageway has a vertical section and a horizontal section cantilevered to the vertical section. A endless rope assembly passes around the passageway. Disc are displaced along the rope to catch and transfer bulk material along the passageway. The bulk material is injected into the passageway at the lower end of the vertical section and is ejected at the end of the horizontal section. A motor drives sprockets located at the ends of the passageway and at the cantilevered portion. Such guide means may consist of a single passageway or a pair of passageways of differing lengths, and such support may be movable on wheels.

Abstract: A conveyor gallery lateral restraint system for a reticulated dome structure includes a pair of load transfer pads integrated into the conveyor gallery and dome structure. Only loads normal to the outer surfaces of the load transfer pads, and thus loads along the reticulated surface of the dome structure, are transferred to the dome structure by the load transfer pads. Because of characteristics of the load transfer pads and their orientation relative to the dome surface, substantially no loads that are normal to the surface of the dome structure are transferred to the dome structure by the conveyor gallery.

Abstract: This invention relates to a grain storage unloading system of a type which can be moved from grain bin to grain bin and includes a sweep section which can rotate relative to a discharge section to sweep a circular area within the bin and to carry the material from the bin outwardly from the bin for collection

Abstract: A silo rotary unloader monitor provides an indication of a rotational speed of the rotary collector ring of a material unloading device suspended within the top portion of a vertical silo. A limit switch has an actuating sensor biased into engagement with a sinusoidal cylindrical surface formed on a wheel mounted for rotation with the rotary collector ring. An electric circuit connected to the limit switch causes a remotely mounted electric signalling lamp or buzzer to flash or sound at a rate proportional to the rotary speed of the collector ring.

Abstract: A storage and dispensing system for ice in flake or particle form is disclosed utilizing a storage bin with driven screw augers extending outwardly over and above an ice storage space, the discharge end of the screw augers being pivotally mounted at the discharge end thereof with the other end of the augers being flexibly suspended for arcuate movement about the pivoted end to a position above the stored ice and being lowered into contact with the stored ice for auger dispensing, the auger being lowered as ice is discharged; the auger dispenser is oscillatable lengthwise during dispensing drive and is equipped with ice cutting blades on the outer edges of the screw flights and at the free end of such flights so as to ensure cutting a path through the particle ice as the conveyor device descends through the stored ice for dispensing purposes.