Sweep auger drive shield with gravity reclaim

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11414281-B2
Application number	US-202016866618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2020
Priority date	Feb 1, 2017
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

A sweep auger system having a driveshaft with auger flighting and a backboard extending a length from an inward end to an outward end. An input of a gearbox is connected to an outward end of the drive shaft and a sweep wheel having a plurality of notches, arms and feet is connected to an output of the gearbox. A drive shield is placed around a rearward side of the sweep wheel that forms a channel that is configured to capture grain agitated by the drive wheel. A guide plate is connected to the gearbox and covers a portion of the gearbox. The guide plate angles from an upper outward edge downward and forward to a lower inward edge that is configured to urge the grain captured within the channel of the drive shield to move in front of the sweep auger system reducing grain left in the grain bin.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A system for unloading grain out of a grain bin, comprising:
a sweep auger;
the sweep auger extending a length from an inward end to an outward end;
a gearbox adjacent the outward end of the sweep auger;
a wheel connected adjacent the outward end of the sweep auger;
a drive shield connected adjacent the outward end of the sweep auger;
wherein the drive shield forms a pocket around the wheel;
a first guide
wherein at least a portion of the first guide is positioned within the pocket; and
wherein the wheel spins within the pocket of the drive shield, such that grain is captured within the pocket and the first guide directs grain into the path of the sweep auger.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein when the wheel spins within the pocket of the drive shield, grain piles up within the pocket until the level of the grain is at or above the first guide, at which point the grain flows by the force of gravity over the first guide and downward into the path of the sweep auger.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first guide is positioned within the pocket and vertically above the gearbox.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second guide.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
when the wheel spins within the pocket of the drive shield, grain piles up within the pocket; and
the first guide and the second guide are configured and arranged to engage grain that piles up within the pocket in a manner that directs the grain into the path of the sweep auger.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein:
the first guide is configured and arranged to direct the grain that piles up within the pocket toward the second guide; and
the second guide is configured and arranged to direct the grain into the path of the sweep auger.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel includes a plurality of feet.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel includes a plurality of notches, wherein the plurality of notches of the wheel are separated by arms that extend inward and include feet on the arms.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel includes feet, wherein the feet include teeth that provide traction.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel includes feet, wherein the feet include teeth that mesh with corresponding features in a floor of the grain bin.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the sweep auger has a forward side and a rearward side;
the sweep auger has a drive shaft with flighting extending around the drive shaft; and
the sweep auger has a backboard positioned rearward of the drive shaft.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the gearbox is positioned between the drive shaft and the wheel.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the gearbox is connected to the drive shaft and the wheel, wherein the gearbox is positioned within the pocket of the drive shield, wherein the first guide connects to the gearbox and covers a portion of the gearbox.

14. A system for unloading grain out of a grain bin, comprising:
a sweep auger;
the sweep auger extending a length from an inward end to an outward end;
the sweep auger having a forward side and a rearward side;
the sweep auger having a drive shaft with fighting extending around the drive shaft;
the sweep auger having a backboard positioned rearward of the drive shaft;
a gearbox adjacent the outward end of the sweep auger;
a wheel connected adjacent the outward end of the sweep auger;
a drive shield connected adjacent the outward end of the sweep auger;
wherein the drive shield forms a pocket around the wheel;
a guide assembly, wherein at least a portion of the guide assembly is positioned within the pocket; and
wherein the wheel spins within the pocket of the drive shield, such that grain is captured within the pocket and the guide assembly directs grain into the path of the sweep auger.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein when the wheel spins within the pocket of the drive shield, grain piles up within the pocket until the level of the grain is at or above the guide assembly, at which point the grain flows by the force of gravity over the guide assembly and downward into the path of the sweep auger.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the guide assembly includes a guide plate having at least a portion of the guide plate located vertically above the gearbox.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the guide assembly includes a first guide and a second guide.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein:
when the wheel spins within the pocket of the drive shield, grain piles up within the pocket; and
the first guide and the second guide are configured and arranged to engage grain that piles up within the pocket in a manner that directs the grain into the path of the sweep auger.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein:
the first guide is configured and arranged to direct the grain that piles up within the pocket toward the second guide; and
the second guide is configured and arranged to direct the grain into the path of the sweep auger.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the gearbox is positioned between the drive shaft and the wheel.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein the wheel includes a plurality of feet.

22. The system of claim 14 , wherein the wheel includes a plurality of notches, wherein the plurality of notches of the wheel are separated by arms that extend inward and include feet on the arms.

23. The system of claim 14 , wherein the gearbox is connected to the drive shaft and the wheel, wherein the gearbox is positioned within the pocket of the drive shield, wherein the guide assembly connects to the gearbox and covers a portion of the gearbox.

24. The system of claim 14 , wherein the wheel includes feet, wherein the feet include teeth that provide traction.

25. The system of claim 14 , wherein the wheel includes feet, wherein the feet include teeth that mesh with corresponding features in a floor of the grain bin.

26. A system for unloading grain out of a grain bin, comprising:
a sweep auger;
the sweep auger extending a length from an inward end to an outward end;
the sweep auger having a forward side and a rearward side;
the sweep auger having a drive shaft with fighting extending around the drive shaft;
the sweep auger having a backboard positioned rearward of the drive shaft;
a gearbox connected adjacent the outward end of the sweep auger;
a guide;
a drive wheel connected adjacent the outward end of the sweep auger;
a fender connected adjacent the outward end of the sweep auger;
wherein the fender forms a pocket;
wherein the drive wheel is positioned within the pocket of the fender;
wherein at least a portion of the guide is positioned within the pocket; and
wherein when the drive wheel spins within the pocket of the fender grain is captured within the pocket and the guide directs grain into the path of the sweep auger.

27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the guide is positioned within the pocket, wherein the guide directs grain piled up within the pocket to move into the path of the sweep auger.

28. The system of claim 26 , wherein the gearbox is positioned between the drive shaft and the drive wheel.

29. The system of claim 26 , wherein the drive wheel includes a plurality of feet.

30. The system of claim 26 , wherein the drive wheel includes a plurality of notches, wh

Assignees

• Sukup Mfg

Inventors

• Olson Ryan Thomas

Classifications

• B65G65/463

  arranged vertically or substantially vertically within the container (B65G65/466 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65G65/4836

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

• B65G33/10 Primary

  with non-enclosed screws · CPC title

• B65G33/18

  with multiple screws in parallel arrangements {, e.g. concentric} · CPC title

• B65G65/466 Primary

  arranged to be movable · CPC title