Shaft for side-by-side conveyor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10485160-B2
Application number	US-201916266860-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2019
Priority date	Jun 29, 2016
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

A motor shaft assembly includes a first shaft, a first motor, a second shaft and a second motor. The first shaft has a first end and a second end. The first motor is attached to the first end of the first shaft and is configured to rotate the first shaft about a longitudinal axis. The first shaft and the first motor have a longitudinal bore. The second shaft has a first end and a second end, wherein a portion of the second shaft is positioned in the longitudinal bore. The second motor is attached to the first end of the second shaft and is configured to rotate the second shaft about the longitudinal axis. A conveyor assembly includes a first shaft, sprocket, motor, and conveyor, and a second shaft, sprocket, motor and conveyor. An agricultural apparatus includes a tank, a boom, conveyors and motors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conveyor assembly comprising:
a first shaft coupled to a first sprocket and defining a first longitudinal bore;
a first conveyor engaged by the first sprocket;
a first motor coupled to the first shaft and configured to rotate the first shaft and the first sprocket to advance the first conveyor;
a second shaft coupled to a second sprocket, wherein a portion of the second shaft is in the first longitudinal bore;
a second conveyor engaged by the second sprocket;
a second motor coupled to the second shaft and configured to rotate the second shaft and the second sprocket to advance the second conveyor;
a third shaft coupled to a third sprocket and defining a second longitudinal bore;
a third conveyor engaged by the third sprocket;
a third motor coupled to the third shaft and configured to rotate the third shaft and the third sprocket to advance the third conveyor;
a fourth shaft coupled to a fourth sprocket, wherein a portion of the fourth shaft is in the second longitudinal bore;
a fourth conveyor engaged by the fourth sprocket; and
a fourth motor coupled to the fourth shaft and configured to rotate the fourth shaft and the fourth sprocket to advance the fourth conveyor.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first conveyor is aligned side-by-side with a portion of the second conveyor in a plane substantially parallel to the first longitudinal bore.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first conveyor and second conveyor is configured as an endless belt.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first housing wall to which the first motor is attached.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , further comprising:
a second housing wall; and
a bearing connected to the second shaft and to the second housing wall.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein there is no physical contact between the second shaft and the first shaft.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein there is no physical contact between the second shaft and the first motor.

8. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal bore is oriented along a first axis, and wherein the second longitudinal bore is oriented along a second axis parallel to the first axis.

9. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal bore and the second longitudinal bore are oriented along a common axis.

10. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first shaft, the second shaft, the third shaft, and the fourth shaft rotate independently of one another.

11. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with each of the first motor, the second motor, the third motor, and the fourth motor.

12. The conveyor assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a relief valve in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump.

13. An agricultural apparatus comprising:
a tank configured to contain a supply of particulate material;
a conveyor assembly configured to transport the particulate material, the conveyor comprising:
a first shaft coupled to a first sprocket and defining a first longitudinal bore;
a first conveyor engaged by the first sprocket;
a first motor coupled to the first shaft and configured to rotate the first shaft and the first sprocket to advance the first conveyor;
a second shaft coupled to a second sprocket, wherein a portion of the second shaft is in the first longitudinal bore;
a second conveyor engaged by the second sprocket;
a second motor coupled to the second shaft and configured to rotate the second shaft and the second sprocket to advance the second conveyor;
a third shaft coupled to a third sprocket and defining a second longitudinal bore;
a third conveyor engaged by the third sprocket;
a third motor coupled to the third shaft and configured to rotate the third shaft and the third sprocket to advance the third conveyor;
a fourth shaft coupled to a fourth sprocket, wherein a portion of the fourth shaft is in the second longitudinal bore;
a fourth conveyor engaged by the fourth sprocket; and
a fourth motor coupled to the fourth shaft and configured to rotate the fourth shaft and the fourth sprocket to advance the fourth conveyor;

a boom extending outwardly from the tank and configured to distribute the particulate material, the boom comprising at least a first boom portion and a second boom portion along a longitudinal extent thereof, wherein the first boom portion is configured to receive a first portion of the particulate material from the first conveyor, and wherein the second boom portion is configured to receive a second portion of the particulate material from the second conveyor.

14. The agricultural apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the boom comprises a third boom portion and a fourth boom portion, wherein the third boom portion is configured to receive a third portion of the particulate material from the third conveyor, and wherein the fourth boom portion is configured to receive a fourth portion of the particulate material from the fourth conveyor.

15. The agricultural apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first longitudinal bore and the second longitudinal bore are oriented along a common axis.

16. The agricultural apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first boom portion is configured to receive a third portion of the particulate material from the third conveyor, and wherein the second boom portion is configured to receive a fourth portion of the particulate material from the fourth conveyor.

17. The agricultural apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first longitudinal bore is oriented along a first axis, and wherein the second longitudinal bore is oriented along a second axis parallel to the first axis.

18. The agricultural apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the tank defines at least a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the first and second conveyors are configured to transport particulate material from the first compartment, and wherein the third and fourth conveyors are configured to transport particulate material from the second compartment.

19. The agricultural apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a first guide configured to direct the first portion of the particulate material from the first conveyor toward the first boom section and a second guide configured to direct the second portion of the particulate material from the second conveyor toward the second boom section.

20. The agricultural apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a third guide configured to direct a third portion of the particulate material from the third conveyor toward the first boom section and a fourth guide configured to direct a fourth portion of the particulate material from the fourth conveyor toward the second boom section.

Assignees

• Agco Corp

Inventors

• Zimmerman Jeffrey Michael
• Wohlhuter Mark Ronald

Classifications

• B65G39/04

  the rollers comprising a number of roller forming elements mounted on a single axle · CPC title

• B65G15/20

  arranged side by side, e.g. for conveyance of flat articles in vertical position · CPC title

• A01C15/122

  with moving floor parts · CPC title

• B65G15/22

  comprising a series of co-operating units · CPC title

• B65G2201/042

  Granular material · CPC title