Sweep auger drive shield with gravity reclaim

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11708227-B2
Application number	US-202217862474-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2022
Priority date	Feb 1, 2017
Publication date	Jul 25, 2023
Grant date	Jul 25, 2023

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;
the sweep extending a length from an inward end to an outward end;
the sweep having a forward side and a rearward side;
a gearbox;
the gearbox positioned adjacent the outward end of the sweep;
a wheel;
the wheel positioned adjacent the outward end of the sweep;
a drive shield;
the drive shield positioned adjacent the outward end of the sweep;
wherein the drive shield includes an inner portion and an outer portion;
wherein the inner portion and the outer portion form a pocket around the wheel;
wherein the inner portion includes a back wall and an inner side wall;
wherein the inner side wall extends forward and inward from the back wall at an angle;
wherein the outer portion is operably connected to the back wall of the inner portion and includes an outer side wall;
wherein the wheel spins within the pocket of the drive shield, such that grain is captured within the pocket and the inner side wall directs grain into a path of the sweep.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner side wall extends forward and inward at an angle to the length of the sweep.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the back wall extends approximately parallel to the length of the sweep.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer side wall extends approximately perpendicular to the length of the sweep.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer portion of the drive shield directly connects to the inner portion of the drive shield.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer portion of the drive shield includes a rear flange configured to operably connect with the back wall of the inner portion; and
wherein the outer side wall extends forward from the rear flange.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer portion is configured to operably connect to the back wall of the inner portion at a plurality of different positions to facilitate lateral adjustment of the outer portion relative to the inner portion.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer portion is configured to operably connect to the back wall of the inner portion at an infinite number of positions between an inner most position and an outer most position.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel includes:
a circular disc;
the circular disc forming a plane and having a periphery;
a plurality of arms positioned around the periphery of the circular disc;
wherein the plurality of arms extend to a side of the circular disc;
wherein the plurality of arms extend approximately perpendicular to the plane of the circular disc;
wherein the wheel includes a plurality of feet positioned on the plurality of arms.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel includes:
a circular disc;
the circular disc forming a plane and having a periphery;
a plurality of arms positioned around the periphery of the circular disc;
wherein the plurality of arms extend to a side of the circular disc;
wherein the plurality of arms extend approximately perpendicular to the plane of the circular disc;
wherein the wheel includes a plurality of feet positioned on the plurality of arms
wherein as the wheel spins, the plurality of feet engage a floor of the grain bin and thereby move the sweep forward;
wherein as the wheel spins, the plurality of feet engage and move grain within the pocket and the angled inner side wall directs grain into the path of the sweep.

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

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

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

14. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the sweep has a drive shaft; and
wherein the gearbox operably connects the drive shaft with the wheel.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sweep has a drive shaft with flighting extending around the drive shaft; and
wherein the gearbox operably connects the drive shaft with the wheel.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gearbox is positioned at least partially within the pocket of the drive shield.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sweep is an auger sweep.

18. A system for unloading grain out of a grain bin, comprising:
a sweep;
the sweep extending a length from an inward end to an outward end;
the sweep having a forward side and a rearward side;
a gearbox;
the gearbox positioned adjacent the outward end of the sweep;
a wheel;
the wheel positioned adjacent the outward end of the sweep;
a drive shield;
the drive shield positioned adjacent the outward end of the sweep;
wherein the drive shield includes at least a back wall, an inner side wall and an outer side wall;
wherein the back wall, the inner side wall and the outer side wall of the drive shield form a pocket;
wherein the inner side wall extends forward and inward from the back wall at an angle;
wherein the wheel spins within the pocket of the drive shield, such that grain is captured within the pocket and the inner side wall directs grain into a path of the sweep.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the inner side wall extends forward and inward at an angle to the length of the sweep.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the back wall extends approximately parallel to the length of the sweep.

21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the outer side wall extends approximately perpendicular to the length of the sweep.

22. The system of claim 18 , wherein the drive shield is formed of an inner portion and an outer portion that are connected together to form the drive shield.

23. The system of claim 18 , wherein the position of the outer side wall is adjustable so as to capture the maximum amount of grain.

24. The system of claim 18 , wherein the outer side wall is configured to operably connect to the back wall at a plurality of different positions to facilitate lateral adjustment of the outer side wall.

25. The system of claim 18 , wherein the outer side wall is configured to operably connect at an infinite number of positions between an inner most position and an outer most position.

26. The system of claim 18 , wherein the wheel includes:
a circular disc;
the circular disc forming a plane and having a periphery;
a plurality of arms positioned around the periphery of the circular disc;
wherein the plurality of arms extend to a side of the circular disc;
wherein the plurality of arms extend approximately perpendicular to the plane of the circular disc;
wherein the wheel includes a plurality of feet positioned on the plurality of arms.

27. The system of claim 18 , wherein the wheel includes:
a circular disc;
the circular disc forming a plane and having a periphery;
a plurality of arms positioned around the periphery of the circular disc;
wherein the plurality of arms extend to a side of the circular disc;
wherein the plurality of arms extend approximately perpendicular to the plane of the circular disc;
wherein the wheel includes a plurality of feet positioned on the plurality of arms wherein as the wheel spins, the plur

Assignees

• Sukup Mfg

Inventors

• Olson Ryan Thomas

Classifications

• B65G65/466 Primary

  arranged to be movable · CPC title

• A01F25/2018

  Bottom unloading units for tower silos · 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