Single drive dual hopper conveyor system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021284469-A1
Application number	US-202117194413-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2021
Priority date	Mar 10, 2020
Publication date	Sep 16, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A single drive dual hopper conveyor system is presented having a center conveyor system and a pair of side conveyor systems that are connected to one another. A single motor is connected to the center conveyor system and drives movement of a belt within the center conveyor system. The connection of the center conveyor system to the side conveyor system causes the belts of the side conveyor systems to be simultaneously driven as the belt of the center conveyor system is driven. This arrangement eliminates the need for multiple motors. A guide at the center of the belts is configured to guide the belts through the center of the housings and prevent the buildup of grain within a cut-out section of the flights of the belt that is needed to allow access to the links of the belts to facilitate driving of the belts.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A single drive dual hopper conveyor system, comprising:
a center conveyor system; the center conveyor system extending from a tail section to a head section; a pair of side conveyor systems; the side conveyor systems extending from a tail section to a head section; a motor operatively connected to the center conveyor system; the side conveyor systems operatively connected to the center conveyor system; wherein operation of the motor simultaneously drives operation of the center conveyor system and drives operation of the side conveyor systems.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a hopper associated with each of the side conveyor systems, wherein each side conveyor systems is configured to receive grain through the associated hopper, wherein each side conveyor system is configured to convey the received grain to the center conveyor system.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the side conveyor systems are configured to convey grain toward the center conveyor system.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the head section of the side conveyor systems are positioned adjacent and above the tail section of the center conveyor system such that grain conveyed from the side conveyor systems is dispensed onto the center conveyor system.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the side conveyor systems are positioned in approximate linear alignment with one another and wherein the center conveyor system is positioned in approximate perpendicular alignment to the side conveyor systems.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the side conveyor systems include a belt, wherein the side conveyor systems are configured to carry grain on an upper side of the belt.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the center conveyor system includes a belt, wherein the center conveyor system is configured to carry grain on an upper side of the belt.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the side conveyor systems include a belt having a plurality of links, pans and flights.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the center conveyor system includes a belt having a plurality of links, pans and flights.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to rotate a shaft connected to the head section of the center conveyor system.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the motor is operatively connected to a gearbox that is operatively connected to a shaft connected to the head section of the center conveyor system.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tail section of the center conveyor system is operatively connected to the head section of the side conveyor systems such that rotation of the center conveyor system causes rotation of the side conveyor systems.

13 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a gearbox positioned between each side conveyor systems and the center conveyor system.

14 . A single drive dual hopper conveyor system, comprising:
a first hopper; a first side conveyor system; wherein the first hopper provides a path for grain to the first side conveyor system; a second hopper; a second side conveyor system; wherein the second hopper provides a path for grain to the second side conveyor system; a center conveyor system; a motor; wherein the motor is operably connected to the first side conveyor system, the second side conveyor system and the center conveyor system; wherein the motor is configured to simultaneously operate the first side conveyor system, the second side conveyor system and the center conveyor system.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first side conveyor system is a conveyor.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first conveyor system is a drag chain.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first conveyor system is an auger.

18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first conveyor system is a belt.

19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first conveyor system, the second conveyor system and the center conveyor system is selected from the group consisting of a conveyor, a drag chain, an auger and a belt.

20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first conveyor system and the second conveyor system are configured to carry grain toward the center conveyor system positioned approximately at the center between the first conveyor system and the second conveyor system.

21 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first conveyor system and the second conveyor system are housed within a housing.

22 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first hopper and second hopper are connected to a housing.

23 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the center conveyor system has a head section and a tail section, wherein the tail section is positioned between the first side conveyor system and the second side conveyor system.

24 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the center conveyor system has an tail section and a head section, wherein the head section feeds grain to an exterior grain transfer or storage device.

25 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the motor is operably connected to the center conveyor system, the first conveyor system and the second conveyor system by a chain drive system or a belt drive system.

26 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first hopper of the first side conveyor system is configured to receive grain from a first hopper of a grain trailer and the second hopper of the second side conveyor system is configured to receive grain from a second hopper of the grain trailer simultaneous with the motor operating the first conveyor system, the second conveyor system and the center conveyor system.

27 . A high side conveyor system, comprising:
a housing; the housing having an upper chamber; the housing having a lower chamber; the housing having a pan; the pan having an upper surface; the pan having a lower surface; the pan positioned between the upper chamber and the lower chamber; a belt; the belt positioned within the housing such that the belt travels forward in the upper chamber; the belt positioned within the housing such that the belt travels rearward in the lower chamber; the belt having a plurality of links; the belt having a plurality of flights; the flights having a first cut-out section; a guide; the guide positioned within the first cut-out section; the guide configured to prevent the buildup of grain within the area of the cut-out section.

28 . The system of claim 27 , further comprising a belt support arrangement;
wherein the conveyor system includes a first straight section configured to transport grain horizontally, wherein the conveyor system includes a second straight section configured to transport grain at an inclined angled; and wherein the conveyor system includes a curved section configured to transport grain from the first straight section to the second straight section. wherein the housing includes a top wall; wherein the belt support arrangement is positioned on the top wall in the curved section; wherein the flights have a second cut-out section; wherein the belt support arrangement is positioned within the second cut-out section; wherein the belt support arrangement is configured to maintain separation between top wall of housing and belt during operation.

29 . The system of claim 27 , further comprising a belt support arrangement;
wherein the conveyor s

Assignees

• Sukup Mfg

Inventors

• Heilskov Chris
• Brownmiller David Jay
• Zweck Adam
• Platte Dustin

Classifications

• B65G47/53

  between conveyors which cross one another · CPC title

• B65G19/28

  Troughs, channels, or conduits · CPC title

• B65G67/24 Primary

  Unloading land vehicles · CPC title

• B65G2201/042

  Granular material · CPC title

• B65G47/58

  for materials in bulk · CPC title