Abstract: A method for assisting a compaction-appropriate distribution of harvested material in a flat silo includes providing a silo vehicle having a control unit, ascertaining a dry-substance density to be achieved via the control unit, determining a maximally producible compaction pressure via the control unit, ascertaining a maximally permissible layer thickness via the control unit for the implementation of a distribution-and-compaction process, determining a layer thickness currently being applied during the implementation of the distribution-and-compaction process in a location-specific manner via a GPS receiver, comparing the maximally permissible layer thickness and the layer thickness currently being applied in the location-specific manner via the control unit in order to ascertain a target layer thickness, and driving a regulating device of a distribution tool provided on the silo vehicle to assimilate the layer thickness currently being applied to the target layer thickness via the control unit in an automa

Abstract: A system for moving particles across a floor surface of a storage bin having a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the floor surface. The system may comprise a bin sweep apparatus having an inboard end for locating toward to a central area of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin. The system may also comprise a peripheral sweeping apparatus configured to mount on the bin sweep apparatus to sweep particles on the floor surface adjacent to the peripheral wall toward the bin sweep apparatus. The peripheral sweeping apparatus may be mounted on the bin sweep apparatus toward the outboard end thereof.

Abstract: A modular storage bin sweep system utilizing paddles to sweep particulate matter across a floor may comprise a sweep assembly including at least two units connectable together. The assembly may comprise a plurality of interconnected paddles, a power unit configured to the paddles, a drive unit configured to move the sweep assembly with respect to a surface of the bin below the sweep assembly. In some embodiments, a traction enhancement structure may increase traction of the drive unit on the floor. In some embodiments, a pivot unit is configured to permit a degree of pivotability of the axes of the units with respect to each other, and may be combined with a drive unit. In some embodiments, the power unit includes a rotary electrical power transfer structure configured to transfer electrical power to the power unit when rotating in the bin.

Abstract: A tube picking mechanism is designed for use in an automated, ultra-low temperature (e.g., ?80° C.) storage and retrieval systems which stores biological or chemical samples. The samples are contained in storage tubes held in SBS footprint storage racks that are loaded into trays located within an ultra-low temperature freezer compartment (?80° C.). A tube picking mechanism resides in a tube picking chamber that is located adjacent the freezer compartment. The tube picking chamber is maintained at about ?20° C. when the tube picking mechanism is in operation. The tube picking mechanism includes a cache within the tube picking chamber to facilitate fast paced shuttling of the tube racks from the freezer compartment into the tube picking chamber. The shuttle has a clamping mechanism to secure a tube rack in place when a gripper head picks a tube from the rack. The system also includes a push pin that pushes on the bottom of the respective tube as it is being picked from the tube rack.

Abstract: An unloading system for a grain bin. The unloading system includes a sweep conveyor for sweeping grain from the interior of the grain bin to a well in the floor of the grain bin. The sweep conveyor includes an elongated frame, a first sprocket at one end of the frame, a second sprocket at the other end of the frame, an endless chain extending between the first and second sprockets, a plurality of spaced apart paddles attached to the chain, and a motor for causing the chain to rotate whereby the paddles will drag or sweep grain to the well in the floor of the grain bin.

Abstract: A screw conveyor is provided with a drive in which cogged wheels are supported such that they are radially movable in relation to each other, parallel to a straight line perpendicular to a pressure line of tooth contact of the cogged wheels and parallel to surfaces of contact. The screw conveyor includes a frame adapted to turn around a vertical turning axis and a conveyor screw adapted to turn with the frame. A second one of the cogged wheels is supported such that it is movable vertically.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing bulk materials from a laterally enclosed storage area wherein the apparatus may be substantially buried within the bulk material (11). The apparatus includes a support column (16) mounted at a base into a support floor (25). An auger (17) is attached with an axial mount at the base of the support column for enabling rotational declination of the auger from (i) a vertical orientation wherein the auger is nearly parallel with the vertical axis of the support column, (ii) through intermediate angles of declination (54), to (iii) a substantially horizontal orientation (55) wherein the auger is adjacent to the support floor. The suspension cable (61) is coupled between the support column and auger to enable selective adjustment of auger declination. A rotational displacement drive (35) is coupled to the support column to rotate the column about its vertical axis, along with the attached auger. A rotational drive motor (51) is mounted at a distal end of the auger.

Abstract: A device for the emptying of the residual product stored in a silo comprises a series of beams, for example, two or three beams. The first beam is mounted pivotably at a first end thereof on a pivot situated at the center of the discharge opening of the silo. Toward its second end, the first beam is articulated via a pivot to a first end of the second beam. If three beams are provided, the second end of the second beam is similarly articulated via a pivot to the first end of the third beam. Each beam supports a rotatable endless screw for feeding the product in the direction of the first end that beam and thus toward the discharge opening of the silo, and bears against the base of the silo via a drivable wheel which enables the beam to be pivotally displaced over the base of the silo. Each beam also carries a motor assembly for driving the endless screw and the wheel associated with that beam.

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.

Abstract: A top unloading silo unloader pendently supported in a tower silo. The unloader has a material collector moved around the silo with leading and trailing drive wheels. An impeller receives material from the collector and throws the material into an out chute which directs the material to a doorway leading to an upright passageway. The drive wheels are mounted on opposite ends of a rocker arm rotatably supported on a support. The support is connected to the impeller housing. Power is applied to both wheels by separate drive shafts connected to a gear box. A collector leveling apparatus has a linear actuator connected to the unloader frame. A cable connects the linear actuator with the outer end of the collector and the support in a manner so that the outer end of the collector can be raised or lowered and held in a selected position in response to operation of the actuator. The linear actuator has a reversible electric motor coupled to a motor controller.

Abstract: A silo unloader is of the type having a tripod with inwardly and upwardly inclined legs, including a main leg and lateral legs, surmounting the wall of a cylindrical silo, and a silo unloader mechanism has three generally radially extending horizontal support arms to each of which is secured a suspension cable trained over a sheave at the upper end of one of the tripod legs to suspend the mechanism in the silo. Each of the sheaves is journalled in a yoke which is freely suspended at the upper end of a tripod leg, and because of the way the suspension cables must run from the winch to the sheaves, the yokes are displaced from a vertical suspension by the load on the cables. The structure of the support arms permits securement thereto of the three suspension cables at points which compensate for the displacement of the sheave yokes, so as to cause each cable to hang effectively vertically from the sheave over which it is trained.

Abstract: A top unloading silo unloader pendantly supported in a tower silo. The unloader has a material collector moved around the silo with an automatic leveling and drive structure. An impeller receives material from the collector and throws the material into an out chute which directs the material to a doorway leading to an upright passageway. The leveling and drive structure mounted on the outer end of the collector has leading and trailing drive wheels connected with adjustable mounts to a leveling apparatus. Power is applied to both wheels by separate drive shafts connected to the power transmission for the augers of the collector. The leveling apparatus has a base secured to the collector. Supports pivotally mounted on opposite ends of the base are attached to the mounts for the wheels. A linear actuator connected to the supports operates to concurrently pivot the supports in opposite directions so that the outer end of the collector can be raised or lowered and held in a selected position.