Movable conveyor for loading a container

• US 20060193717A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Decker Colony Farms Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Decker Colony Farms Ltd.
• Inventors: Waldner, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 7,488,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/523
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/003 Bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 41/002 Pivotably mounted

Abstract

A container for example for a seeder includes a filling conveyor mounted on one with a bottom hopper and an upper filling spout with the conveyor being movable in a direction inwardly and outwardly relative to the side of the container to different positions relative to the container for cooperation with a supply. This is achieved by mounting the conveyor on a swivel coupling at the outer end of an arm which can be raised and lowered by pivotal movement about an inner end at the container. The hopper is supported on two pairs of ground wheels, each pair being arranged on a respective side of the hopper for supporting the respective side and each pair comprising a respective one of a pair of castor wheels mounted at respective ends of a pivotal beam extending along the respective side of the hopper and pivotal about an axis transverse to the hopper.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a container;

a conveyor duct having a conveyor member mounted therein and operable to move a particulate material within the duct from a lower feed end to an upper discharge end;

a hopper at the lower feed end into which the particulate material can be poured;

a discharge spout at the upper end for discharging the particulate material from the duct;

at least one ground wheel on the hopper for supporting the hopper for movement over the ground adjacent the container to allow movement of the hopper to different positions relative to the container for cooperation with a supply;

and a mounting assembly for mounting the conveyor duct on the container for movement relative thereto, the mounting assembly comprising;

a support bracket mounted on a side of the container;

a first portion mounted on the support bracket for pivotal movement about an upright axis such that the first portion can turn about the axis from a position along the side of the container to a position extending outwardly from the container;

an arm portion having an inner end mounted on the first portion for pivotal movement about a transverse axis on the first portion such that an outer end of the arm can move from a raised position standing upwardly from the first portion along the side of the container to a lowered position extending outwardly from the side of the container;

a drive member for driving lifting movement of the arm portion;

a swivel connection between the outer end of the arm portion and the conveyor duct at a position on the conveyor duct intermediate the upper and lower ends, the swivel connection being arranged

to support the conveyor duct at the outer end of the arm portion;

to allow the conveyor duct to pivot about a horizontal axis transverse to the duct such that the conveyor duct can change in angle relative to the arm portion as the arm portion raises and lowers and such that, with the hopper resting on the ground and the arm portion extending outwardly from the side of the container, raising of the arm portion causes the hopper to be pulled in toward the container while lifting the upper end of the conveyor duct upward;

and to allow the conveyor duct to pivot about an upright axis at the outer end of the arm portion.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the swivel connection includes an upright post which extends from the outer end of the arm to the conveyor duct and coupling member which controls an angle of the post relative to the arm portion to maintain the post upright as the arm portion changes in angle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the post provides the upright axis at the outer end of the arm portion.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conveyor duct is pivotally connected to the upper end of the post to define the horizontal axis.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the coupling member comprises a link extending from the first portion to the post and extending along the arm portion generally parallel thereto.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drive member comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the arm portion is telescopic to extend the outer end away from the container.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the arm portion and conveyor duct can be moved from a retracted position alongside the container with the hopper drawn in toward the container to allow a supply vehicle to move along side the container to an extended position in which the hopper is moved outwardly to underlie a center point of the vehicle to receive material discharged therefrom.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one ground wheel of the hopper comprises two pairs of ground wheels, each pair being arranged on a respective side of the hopper for supporting the respective side and each pair comprising a respective one of a pair of castor wheels mounted at respective ends of a pivotal beam extending along the respective side of the hopper and pivotal about an axis transverse to the hopper.

10. Apparatus comprising:

a container;

a conveyor duct having a conveyor member mounted therein and operable to move a particulate material within the duct from a lower feed end to an upper discharge end;

a hopper at the lower feed end into which the particulate material can be poured;

a discharge spout at the upper end for discharging the particulate material from the duct;

and a mounting assembly for mounting the conveyor duct on the container for movement relative thereto to allow movement of the hopper in a direction inwardly and outwardly relative to the side of the container to different positions relative to the container for cooperation with a supply;

wherein the hopper is supported on two pairs of ground wheels, each pair being arranged on a respective side of the hopper for supporting the respective side and each pair comprising a respective one of a pair of castor wheels mounted at respective ends of a pivotal beam extending along the respective side of the hopper and pivotal about an axis transverse to the hopper.