Dual purpose grain cart

• US 20030175103A1
• Filed: 03/18/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bourgault Industries Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Bourgault Industries Ltd.
• Inventors: Hunt, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 6,893,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/526
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/1208 Tanks for grain or chaff for threshing machines A01F12/60
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 90/10 Unloading means
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/42 mounted on the load-transporting element

Abstract

A two-wheeled hoppered cart is particularly adapted to receive crop from a combine and transfer same to another transport vehicle with an unloading conveyor, and to conveniently transport products to an air-seeder cart. The frame comprises a rear frame portion supporting the hoppered container, and a front frame portion extending forward and down from the rear frame portion to a hitch. A port with a gate is located below the rear frame, and a pair of wheels is mounted on the frame such that the rotational axis is located below the rear frame portion and rearward of the port. An access area below the port, ahead of the port, and to the first side of the port, is unobstructed. An intake hopper of a conventional air-seeder cart filling conveyor can be positioned under the port with the filling conveyor in front of the wheel on the first side of the cart.

Claims

1. A dual purpose two-wheeled cart adapted for attachment to a rear end of a tow vehicle for movement along the ground, the cart adapted to receive granular crop production from a combine and transfer same to another transport vehicle, and adapted to transport granular agricultural products to an air-seeder cart, the cart comprising:

a hoppered container having a floor sloping downward and inward from walls of the container to a central sump;

a frame comprising a rear frame portion supporting the hoppered container, and a front frame portion extending forward from the rear frame portion and having a front end forward of and below the rear frame portion;

a hitch on the front end of the front frame portion adapted for attachment to the rear end of a tow vehicle;

a port located below the rear frame portion and oriented substantially upright and generally facing a first side of the cart to allow granular agricultural products to flow out of the sump towards the first side of the cart;

a gate operable to open and close the port;

a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on the frame on a common rotational axis, such that the rotational axis is located below the rear frame portion and rearward of the port;

wherein an access area below the port, ahead of the port, and to the first side of the port, is unobstructed, such that an intake hopper of a conventional air-seeder cart filling conveyor can be positioned under the port with the filling conveyor in front of the wheel on the first side of the cart; and

an unloading conveyor operable to move agricultural products from the sump to a conveyor discharge located on an exterior of the container at a suitable location for discharging into a transport vehicle.

2. The cart of claim 1 further comprising a chute located under the port and operative to direct agricultural products exiting the port forward.

3. The cart of claim 2 wherein the chute also directs the agricultural products toward the first side of the cart.

4. The cart of claim 1 wherein the unloading conveyor comprises an auger, and wherein an intake of the auger is located in the sump, adjacent to the port.

5. The cart of claim 1 wherein the gate is operable to control the amount of agricultural products flowing out of the port.

6. The cart of claim 1 wherein the front frame portion slopes downward and forward from the front end of the rear frame portion.