Grain cart periscope

• US 5,842,920 A
• Filed: 06/09/1997
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary Siepker
• Original Assignee: Gary Siepker
• Inventors: Siepker, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): MELIUS, TERRY L
• Application Number:
  US08/871,149
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 460/119, 460/114, 460/115, 460/149, 460/150, 460/903, 414/340, 414/345, 414/389, 414/398
• US Class Current: 460/119
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/1275 for the level of grain in grain tanks

Abstract

A periscope of the present invention is adapted to allow a farmer to monitor the inside of a wagon while it is being filled with grain from a grain cart. In this way, the farmer will know when the wagon is full and can prevent the wagon from overfilling and spilling grain. The top mirror of the periscope is convex in shape and can be adjusted to change the field of view.

Claims

1. A method of filling a wagon with grain from a grain cart comprising the steps of:

providing sides on said wagon;

providing a tractor having a cab with at least one window;

providing a grain cart having an auger for auguring grain from the grain cart to the wagon;

mounting a periscope to the tractor cab, wherein the periscope has a bottom opening facing the window of the cab and a top opening facing the wagon;

aligning the auger of the grain cart with the wagon;

activating the auger to start auguring grain into the wagon;

looking through the periscope to determine when the wagon is full of grain; and

stopping the auger when it is determined that the wagon is full of grain.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing a bottom mirror for the periscope, the bottom mirror being disposed near the bottom opening; and

providing a top mirror for the periscope, the top mirror being disposed near the top opening of the periscope,

wherein the top mirror has a convex shape for providing a wider angle view.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of adjusting the position of the top convex mirror to adjust the field of view.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of providing a ball joint operatively coupled between the periscope and the top convex mirror for allowing the top convex mirror to be adjusted.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of providing a hood formed at the top of the periscope, wherein the hood defines the top opening of the periscope.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the hood is able to swivel relative to the periscope, the method further comprising the step of swiveling the hood to adjust the field of view.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the top opening defined by the hood is larger than the bottom opening.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of adjusting the height of the periscope to allow a user to see over the sides of the wagon.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a gasket formed around the bottom opening for providing a seal between the window of the cab and the periscope.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing an elongated mounting bracket coupled to the periscope and disposed in a generally horizontal orientation; and

bolting the mounting bracket to the cab of the tractor to mount the periscope to the tractor.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of mounting a spotlight to the periscope, wherein the spotlight is directed toward the wagon.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a mounting hook on the periscope for attaching to the cab of the tractor.

13. An apparatus for monitoring a wagon from a cab of a vehicle while the wagon is being filled with grain comprising:

a periscope mounted to the cab of the vehicle, the periscope having a bottom end and a top end;

wherein the bottom end includes a first opening facing a window of the cab; and

wherein the top end includes a second opening facing the wagon such that a user looking into the bottom end of the periscope can see inside the wagon through the periscope, thereby monitoring the filling of the wagon.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the periscope further comprises:

a bottom mirror formed near the bottom end of the periscope; and

a top mirror formed near the top end of the periscope.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the top mirror comprises a convex shaped mirror.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the convex top mirror is adjustable.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a ball joint coupled between the convex top mirror and the periscope for allowing the convex mirror to be adjusted.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a gasket disposed at the first opening, wherein the gasket forms a seal between the periscope and the window of the cab.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a hood formed at the top end of the periscope, wherein the second opening is defined by the hood, and wherein the second opening is wider than the remainder of the periscope.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a horizontal mounting bracket coupled to the periscope and being adapted to be bolted to the cab of the vehicle.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a downwardly facing hook coupled to the periscope for securing the periscope to the cab of the vehicle.

22. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a light coupled to the periscope to illuminate the wagon being filled with grain.