AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT DRIVE SYSTEM

• US 20110290621A1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brandt Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Brandt Industries Limited
• Inventors: Bodie, Cameron, Vass, Donald Grant
• Granted Patent: US 8,911,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/674
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/06 Gearings
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/46 Mechanical grain conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19 Gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19074 Single drive plural driven
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19614 Disconnecting means

Abstract

An agricultural equipment drive system comprises a main drive shaft connectable to a power source, a first gear box, a second gear box and a second drive shaft. The first gear box has a first gear box input connected to the main drive shaft and a first gear box output at a first angle to the first gear box input. The second gear box has a second gear box input connected to the first gear box output and a second gear box output at a second angle to the second gear box input. The second drive shaft connects the first gear box output to the second gear box input.

Claims

1. An agricultural equipment drive system comprising:

a main drive shaft connectable to a power source;

a first gear box having a first gear box input connected to the main drive shaft and a first gear box output at a first angle to the first gear box input;

at least one second gear box having a second gear box input connected to the first gear output and a second gear box output at a second angle to the second gear box input; and

a second drive shaft;

wherein the second drive shaft connects the first gear box output to the second gear box input.

2. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the second drive shaft is bendable.

3. The drive system of claim 2 wherein the second drive shaft comprises a universal joint.

4. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the second gear box output is at an angle of about 90 degrees to the first gear box input.

5. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the first angle is about 135 degrees and the second angle is about 45 degrees in a direction opposite to the first angle.

6. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the first gear box and the second gear box are substantially identical.

7. The drive system of claim 1 further comprising a grain conveyor.

8. The drive system of claim 7 wherein the grain conveyor comprises a grain auger.

9. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the second drive shaft comprises a disconnect adapted to disconnect the first gear box from the second gear box if the load exceeds a predetermined limit.

10. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the first gear box further comprises a second output.

11. The drive system of claim 10 wherein the second output is substantially in line with the first gear box input.

12. The drive system of claim 10 wherein the first gear box and the second gear box are substantially identical but oppositely connected wherein the second gear box input is equivalent to the second output and the second gear box output is equivalent to the first gear box output.

13. The drive system of claim 10 wherein the second output is connectable to a fan drive.

14. The drive system of claim 13 wherein the fan drive comprises at least one of a belt drive and a fan gear box.

15. The drive system of claim 14 further comprising a substantially horizontal fan connected to a fan gear box output.

16. The drive system of claim 15 further comprising a grain conveyor wherein the fan is above the grain conveyor.

17. A grain vacuum drive system comprising:

a drive shaft connectable to a power source;

a first gear box having a first gear box input connected to the drive shaft, a first gear box output and a second gear box output at a different angle from the first gear box output;

the first gear box output being connectable to a fan drive and the second gear box output being connectable to a conveyor drive.

18. The grain vacuum drive system of claim 17 further comprising a second gear box connected to the second gear box output.

19. The grain vacuum drive system of claim 18 wherein the first and second gear boxes are substantially identical.

20. The grain vacuum drive system of claim 18 wherein an output of the second gear box is at an angle of about 90 degrees to the first gear box output.