Vehicle for receiving and delivering agricultural seeds and other granular material

• US 10,150,400 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: J&M Manufacturing Company Incorporated (J & M Industries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: J&M Manufacturing Company Incorporated (J & M Industries, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wood, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Saul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Romano, Ashley K
• Application Number:
  US15/454,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20180257536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/003 Bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/36 using endless chains or belts thereon

Abstract

A vehicle for receiving and delivering granular material, such as agricultural seeds, includes a frame supporting a container defining an open top chamber having a bottom outlet. An elongated conveyor is supported by a system which includes a first support arm having one end pivotally connected to a side wall of the container for multiple directional movement and a second support arm pivotably connected to the opposite end of the first support arm. The opposite end of the second support arm supports an intermediate portion of the conveyor near its center of gravity and in suspended relation for tilting and rotating the conveyor. Power actuators are connected to rotate and pivot the first support arm to position the conveyor in many selected positions including the conveyor inlet under the outlet of the chamber, a storage position and a position between horizontal and substantially inclined for filling other containers.

Claims

1. A vehicle for receiving and discharging granular material comprising:

a frame supporting a container having walls including opposite side walls defining an open top chamber for receiving the material, the container also having a bottom outlet with a closure for discharging the material,

an elongated conveyor having a conveyor housing enclosing a moveable conveying member, the conveyor having a material receiving end portion at one end and a discharge outlet at the opposite end,

a support system for the conveyor and including a base support member connected to an upper portion of one of the side walls of the container,

a first support arm including an upper elongated arm member and a lower elongated arm member in parallel spaced relation, with each elongated arm member having opposite end portions pivotally connected to opposite end members for pivotal movement of each elongated arm member relative to each end member,

one of the end members of the first support arm pivotally connected to the base support member and supporting the one end portion of the first support arm for vertical and horizontal movement,

a substantially horizontal elongated second support arm having one end portion pivotally connected to an opposite end member of the first support arm for horizontal movement of the second support arm relative to the first support arm,

the horizontal elongated second support arm having an opposite end portion coupled to and supporting an intermediate portion of the conveyor housing in suspended relation at substantially the center of gravity of the conveyor and providing for pivotal and rotational movement of the conveyor in vertical and horizontal directions relative to the second support arm,

a power actuator connected to the upper arm member and the lower arm member of the first support arm and operable to move the first support arm, the second support arm and the conveyor in a vertical direction, and

the support system including the first support arm and the horizontal second support arm providing for moving the conveyor between a storage position adjacent the container, an inclined unloading position with the material receiving end portion of the conveyor located under the outlet of the container, an inclined loading position with the discharge outlet of the conveyor located above the open top container, and an inclined position spaced laterally outwardly from the vehicle.

2. A vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein the power actuator is located between the parallel elongated arm members of the first support arm and is pivotally connected to both of the arm members.

3. A vehicle as defined in claim 1 and including a power actuator adjacent the base support member and connected by a rack and sprocket to rotate the first support arm, the second support arm and the conveyor in a horizontal direction.