Coupling grain augers

• US 4,603,775 A
• Filed: 02/18/1983
• Issued: 08/05/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toronto-Dominion Bank
• Original Assignee: Westfield Industries, Ltd. (AG Growth International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Plett, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nase, Jeffrey V.
• Application Number:
  US06/467,656
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 198/306, 198/311, 198/313, 198/314, 198/320, 198/589, 198/593, 198/583, 198/584, 285/223, 285/265, 285/272, 285/164, 403/57, 403/74, 414/573, 414/300, 414/293
• US Class Current: 198/589
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 33/32 Adaptations of bearings or couplings for supporting and connecting screws B65G33/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A coupling between two auger conveyor tubes is formed from three linkages providing rotation about fixed axes arranged mutually at right angles. The coupling is formed by a pair of coaxial rings coupled by pivot pins, a second pivot pin connection and a rotational sliding fit connection between a spout of the first auger and one of the sleeves or between an inlet opening of the second auger and one of the sleeves. The coupling arrangement allows the use with a main auger of a feed auger which can be pivoted relative to the inlet of the main auger to a storage position and to various working positions to accommodate varying ground conditions and varying positions of discharge of the material to be conveyed.

Claims

1. An auger arrangement comprising a main auger including an auger tube having a feed end and a discharge end, means for supporting the auger tube at an inclination to the horizontal and to alter the elevation of the discharge end, a rotatably mounted helical auger flight within the tube for transporting particulate material within the tube from the feed end to the discharge end, the flight including an exposed portion at said feed end which projects outwardly from the tube and ground wheels for mounting said supporting means;

rigid casing means substantially surrounding and enclosing the exposed portion of the flight having closed side walls and an upper wall extending directly over said exposed portion, means rigidly mounting said casing means on said tube, said upper wall defining an opening which directly overlies said exposed portion;

a feed auger including an auger tube having a feed end and a discharge end and a rotatably mounted helical auger flight within the tube for transporting particulate material within the tube from the feed end to the discharge end, hopper means at the feed end of the feed auger, a downwardly depending discharge spout at the discharge end of the feed auger and coupling means for mounting said spout on said upper wall, said coupling means comprising a first sleeve coupling portion surrounding the spout which allows rotational movement of the spout relative to the upper surface about a first longitudinal of the spout, a first pivot ring coupling portion surrounding said spout and providing pivotal movement of said spout relative to said upper surface about a second axis transverse to said spout, and a second pivot ring coupling portion surrounding said spout and providing pivotal movement of said spout relative to said spout relative to said upper surface about a third axis transverse to said spout and transverse to said second axis, said coupling portions being arranged to maintain said spout against lateral shifting relative to said opening while allowing rotational movement relative thereto about said three axes, whereby said spout extends into said opening for direct unhindered discharge of material onto said exposed portion.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the three coupling portions are arranged such that the axes lie at substantially right angles to one another.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first auger is movable between a stored position adjacent the second auger and a working position generally at right angles to the stored position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of the augers includes means for receiving drive power from the power-take-off shaft of a tractor and the other auger includes hydraulic motor means for receiving hydraulic power from a tractor.

5. An auger arrangement comprising a main auger including an auger tube having a feed end and a discharge end, means for supporting the auger tube at an inclination to the horizontal and to alter the elevation of the discharge end, a rotatably mounted helical auger flight within the tube for transporting particulate material within the tube from the feed end to the discharge end, the flight including an exposed portion at said feed end which projects outwardly from the tube and ground wheels for mounting said supporting means;

rigid casing means substantially surrounding and enclosing the exposed portion of the flight having closed side walls and an upper wall extending directly over said exposed portion, means rigidly mounting said casing means on said tube, said upper wall defining an opening which directly vertically overlies said exposed portion;

a feed auger including an auger tube having a feed end and a discharge end and a rotatably mounted helical auger flight within the tube for transporting particulate material within the tube from the feed end to the discharge end, hopper means at the feed end of the feed auger, a downwardly depending discharge spout at the discharge end of the feed auger and coupling means for mounting said spout on said upper wall, said coupling means comprising a first sleeve coupling portion surrounding the spout which allows rotational movement of the spout relative to the upper surface about a first axis longitudinal of the spout, a first pivot ring coupling portion surrounding said spout and providing pivotal movement of said spout relative to said upper surface about a second axis transverse to said spout, and a second pivot ring coupling portion surrounding said spout providing pivotal movement of said spout device relative to said upper surface about a third axis transverse to said spout and transverse to said second axis, said coupling portions being arranged to maintain said spout against lateral shifting relative to said opening while allowing rotational movement relative thereto about said three axes, whereby said spout extends into said opening for direct unhindered discharge of material onto said exposed portion, said hopper means including ground engaging means spaced on respective sides of said feed auger whereby said feed auger is stably supported in a feed position by said ground engaging means and said coupling means.

6. An auger arrangement comprising a main auger including an auger tube having a feed end and a discharge end, means for supporting the auger tube at an inclination to the horizontal and to alter the elevation of the discharge end, a rotatably mounted helical auger flight within the tube for transporting particulate material within the tube from the feed end to the discharge end, the flight including an exposed portion at said feed end which projects outwardly from the tube and ground wheels said supporting means;

rigid casing means substantially surrounding and enclosing the exposed portion of the flight having closed side walls and an upper wall extending over said exposed portion, means rigidly mounting said casing means on said tube, said upper wall defining an opening which directly vertically overlies said exposed portion for receiving said particulate material therethrough for flowing by graviy on to said exposed portion;

a feed auger including an auger tube having a feed end and a discharge end and a rotatably mounted helical auger flight within the tube for transporting particulate material within the tube from the feed end to the discharge end, hopper means at the feed end of the feed auger, a downwardly depending discharge spout at the discharge end of the feed auger and coupling means for mounting said spout on said upper wall, said coupling means comprising a first sleeve coupling portion surrounding the spout which allows rotational movement of the spout relative to the upper surface about a first axis longitudinal of the spout, a first pivot ring coupling portion surrounding said spout and providing pivotal movement of said spout relative to said upper surface about a second axis transverse to said spout, and a second pivot ring coupling portion surrounding said spout and providing pivotal movement of said spout relative to said upper surface about a third axis transverse to said spout and transverse to said second axis, said coupling portions being arranged to maintain said spout against lateral shifting relative to said opening while allowing rotational movement relative thereto about said three axes, whereby said spout extends into said opening for direct unhindered discharge of material onto said exposed portion.