Friction driven beltless grain spreader

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10302177-B2
Application number	US-201715803194-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2017
Priority date	Nov 4, 2016
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

A friction driven beltless grain spreader system is presented that includes a spreader cone having a pulley and a grain deflector configured to disperse the flow of grain. A motor having a driven wheel and an idler wheel are pivotally connected to the spreader cone in operative engagement with the pulley such that the idler wheel is positioned between the driven wheel and the pulley. A tension member applies a force that pulls the driven wheel and intermediary wheel into the pulley. As the motor rotates the driven wheel rotates the idler wheel which rotates the pulley. When forces spike, such as when the motor is turned on or a heavy flow of grain hits the system, one or more of the driven wheel, intermediary wheel and/or pulley slip with respect to the other wheels thereby preventing breakage of the system.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A grain spreader system, comprising:
a spreader cone;
a pulley operably connected to the spreader cone;
a deflector operably connected to the pulley;
a motor;
the motor having a drive shaft;
a driven wheel connected to the drive shaft;
an idler wheel;
wherein the idler wheel is positioned between the pulley and the drive wheel;
wherein the driven wheel, idler wheel and pulley are in operative frictional engagement with one another;
wherein the idler wheel includes a tire section formed of a compressible nonmetallic material and a rigid metallic core;
wherein operation of the motor causes rotation of the driven wheel which causes rotation of the idler wheel which causes rotation of the pulley which causes rotation of the deflector;
wherein the presence of the tire section formed of a compressible nonmetallic material on the idler wheel absorbs shock and vibration.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein when forces spike, the idler wheel facilitates slippage between the driven wheel and the pulley.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein when forces exceed the frictional engagement between the driven wheel, idler wheel and pulley, at least one of the driven wheel, idler wheel or pulley slip with respect to the others.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulley is rotatably connected to the spreader cone.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulley is positioned above the deflector.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the grain spreader is reversible.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the axis of rotation of the pulley, the driven wheel and the idler wheel are positioned in approximate parallel spaced alignment to one another.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the compressible nonmetallic material of the idler wheel is formed of a rubber, plastic or composite material.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the tire section of the idler wheel is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of: a rubber material, a synthetic rubber material, a plastic material, an ultra-high molecular weight material, a poly material, a urethane material, a polyurethane material, and a composite material.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the driven wheel and pulley wheel are formed of a metallic material.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor is connected to the spreader cone at a pivot point.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the idler wheel is connected to the spreader cone at a pivot point.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor and the idler wheel are connected to the spreader cone at a pivot point.

14. A grain spreader system, comprising:
a spreader cone;
a pulley operably connected to the spreader cone such that the pulley rotates with respect to the spreader cone;
an idler wheel positioned between a driven wheel and the pulley;
the idler wheel having a rigid metallic core and a tire section formed of a compressible nonmetallic material;
a motor connected to the driven wheel;
a deflector connected to the pulley;
wherein when the motor is activated and grain is poured into the spreader cone, the deflector rotates and spreads the grain;
wherein the presence of the tire section formed of a compressible nonmetallic material on the idler wheel absorbs shock and vibration.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein when forces spike, the idler wheel facilitates slippage between the driven wheel and the pulley.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein when forces exceed the frictional engagement between the driven wheel, idler wheel and pulley, at least one of the driven wheel, idler wheel or pulley slip with respect to the others.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the axis of rotation of the pulley wheel, the driven wheel and the idler wheel are positioned in approximate alignment to one another.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein a tensioning member pulls the driven wheel and idler wheel into contact with one another.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the tire section of the idler wheel is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of: a rubber material, a synthetic rubber material, a plastic material, an ultra-high molecular weight material, a poly material, a urethane material, a polyurethane material, and a composite material.

20. A grain spreader, comprising:
a spreader cone;
an idler wheel positioned between a driven wheel and a pulley;
a motor connected to the drive wheel;
a deflector connected to the pulley;
a tension member connected to the spreader cone and the motor;
the tension member configured to pull the drive wheel, the idler wheel and the pulley into frictional engagement with one another;
wherein the idler wheel includes a tire section formed of a compressible nonmetallic material and a rigid metallic core;
wherein the presence of the tire section formed of a compressible nonmetallic material on the idler wheel absorbs shock and vibration.

21. A grain spreader system, comprising:
a spreader cone;
a pulley operably connected to the spreader cone;
a deflector operably connected to the pulley;
a motor;
the motor having a drive shaft;
a driven wheel connected to the drive shaft;
an idler wheel;
wherein the driven wheel is pivotally connected relative to the pulley and the idler wheel;
wherein the idler wheel is pivotally connected relative to the pulley and the driven wheel such that the relative position of the pulley and the driven wheel may change with respect to the idler wheel;
wherein the idler wheel is positioned between the pulley and the drive wheel;
wherein a tensioning member pulls the driven wheel the idler wheel and the pulley into contact with one another such that the driven wheel, the idler wheel and the pulley are in operative frictional engagement with one another;
wherein operation of the motor causes rotation of the driven wheel which causes rotation of the idler wheel which causes rotation of the pulley which causes rotation of the deflector.

22. The system of claim 21 , further comprising:
wherein the idler wheel includes a tire section formed of a compressible nonmetallic material and a rigid metallic core;
wherein the presence of the tire section formed of a compressible nonmetallic material on the idler wheel absorbs shock and vibration.

Assignees

• Koehler Matthew Koenen
• Marcks Randal L
• Sukup Mfg

Inventors

• Koehler Matthew Koenen
• Marcks Randal L

Classifications

• B65G69/0458

  with rotating means, e.g. tables, arms · CPC title

• A01F25/14

  Containers specially adapted for storing · CPC title

• B65G69/0441

  with chutes, deflector means or channels (B65G69/0458 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65G65/4836 Primary

  and moving material over a stationary surface, e.g. sweep arms or wheels · CPC title

• A01C17/005

  Driving mechanisms for the throwing devices · CPC title