Storage hopper assembly

• US 8,371,657 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timpte, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Timpte, Inc.
• Inventors: Bielfelt, Terry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutman, H
• Application Number:
  US13/021,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20110198911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 298/24, 298/27, 414/548, 414/467, 105/239, 105/247, 105/248, 105/250, 105/280, 105/282.1
• US Class Current: 298/27
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/56 the load-transporting element having bottom discharging openings

Abstract

A transport assembly for transporting granular material may define at least a first egress for releasing a first portion of a granular material. The device may also include a door assembly slidably coupled with the transport assembly for at least substantially covering the first egress in a first position for retaining granular material and for at least substantially uncovering the first egress in a second position for controllably releasing the first portion of the granular material. The device may also include a linear actuator assembly coupled with the transport assembly and the door assembly for moving the door assembly between the first position and the second position. The device may also include a pump assembly coupled with the linear actuator assembly for actuating the linear actuator assembly to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a transport assembly for transporting granular material, the transport assembly defining at least a first egress and a second egress, the first egress for releasing a first portion of the granular material, and the second egress for releasing a second portion of the granular material;

a first door assembly slidably coupled with the transport assembly, the first door assembly including a first single door panel configured for at least substantially covering the first egress in a first position for retaining granular material and at least substantially uncovering the first egress in a second position for controllably releasing the first portion of the granular material;

a second door assembly slidably coupled with the transport assembly, the second door assembly including a second single door panel configured for at least substantially covering the second egress in a third position for retaining granular material and at least substantially uncovering the second egress in a fourth position for controllably releasing the second portion of the granular material;

a first linear actuator assembly coupled with the transport assembly and the first door assembly, wherein the first linear actuator assembly is configured to extend or retract in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the first door assembly for moving the first door assembly between the first position and the second position;

a second linear actuator assembly coupled with the transport assembly and the second door assembly, wherein the second linear actuator assembly is configured to extend or retract in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the second door assembly for moving the second door assembly between the third position and the fourth position;

a pump assembly coupled with the first linear actuator assembly and the second linear actuator assembly, the pump assembly for actuating the first linear actuator assembly to move the first door assembly between the first position and the second position, and for actuating the second linear actuator assembly to move the second door assembly between the third position and the fourth position; and

a selector valve connected between the pump assembly and the first linear actuator assembly and between the pump assembly and the second linear actuator assembly for selecting at least one of the first linear actuator assembly or the second linear actuator assembly and controlling the movement of at least one of the first door assembly or the second door assembly,

wherein the first door assembly, the second door assembly, the first linear actuator assembly, and the second linear actuator assembly are above a plane formed by axles of wheels of the transport assembly.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first linear actuator assembly or the second linear actuator assembly is configured such that a piston rod coupled with at least one of the first door assembly or the second door assembly is retracted when the at least one of the first door assembly or the second door assembly is in the first position for retaining the granular material.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one tube for connecting at least one of the first linear actuator assembly to the pump assembly or the second linear actuator assembly to the pump assembly; and

an A-frame structure for at least partially covering the at least one tube.

2. The device of 1, wherein at least one of the first linear actuator assembly or the second linear actuator assembly comprises a plurality of hydraulic cylinders.

3. The device of 1, wherein the pump assembly comprises a crank assembly for driving the pump assembly and actuating at least one of the first linear actuator assembly to move the first door assembly between the first position and the second position or for actuating the second linear actuator assembly to move the second door assembly between the third position and the fourth position.

4. The device of 3, wherein the crank assembly is configured for operation by hand.

5. The device of 3, wherein the crank assembly is configured for operation via an electrically powered hand drill.

6. The device of 1, wherein the pump assembly comprises a motor assembly for driving the pump assembly and actuating at least one of the first linear actuator assembly to move the first door assembly between the first position or the second position or for actuating the second linear actuator assembly to move the second door assembly between the third position and the fourth position.

7. The device of 6, wherein the motor assembly is remotely controllable.

10. A device, comprising:

a transport assembly for transporting granular material, the transport assembly defining at least a first egress for releasing a first portion of the granular material;

a door assembly slidably coupled with the transport assembly, the door assembly including a single door panel configured for at least substantially covering the first egress in a first position for retaining granular material and at least substantially uncovering the first egress in a second position for controllably releasing the first portion of the granular material;

a linear actuator assembly coupled with the transport assembly and the door assembly, wherein the linear actuator assembly is configured to extend or retract in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the door assembly for moving the door assembly between the first position and the second position; and

a pump assembly coupled with the linear actuator assembly for actuating the linear actuator assembly to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position,

wherein the door assembly and the linear actuator assembly are above a plane formed by axles of wheels of the transport assembly.

17. The device of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one tube for connecting the linear actuator assembly to the pump assembly, and an A-frame structure for at least partially covering the at least one tube.

11. The device of 10, wherein the linear actuator assembly comprises a plurality of hydraulic cylinders.

12. The device of 10, wherein the pump assembly comprises a crank assembly for driving the pump assembly and actuating the linear actuator assembly to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position.

13. The device of 12, wherein the crank assembly is configured for operation by hand.

14. The device of 12, wherein the crank assembly is configured for operation via an electrically powered hand drill.

15. The device of 10, wherein the pump assembly comprises a motor assembly for driving the pump assembly and actuating the linear actuator assembly to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position.

16. The device of 15, wherein the motor assembly is remotely controllable.

18. A device, comprising:

a transport assembly for transporting granular material, the transport assembly defining at least a first egress and a second egress, the first egress for releasing a first portion of the granular material, and the second egress for releasing a second portion of the granular material;

a first door assembly slidably coupled with the transport assembly, the first door assembly including a first single door panel configured for at least substantially covering the first egress in a first position for retaining granular material and at least substantially uncovering the first egress in a second position for controllably releasing the first portion of the granular material;

a second door assembly slidably coupled with the transport assembly, the second door assembly including a second single door panel configured for at least substantially covering the second egress in a third position for retaining granular material and at least substantially uncovering the second egress in a fourth position for controllably releasing the second portion of the granular material;

a first linear actuator assembly coupled with the transport assembly and the first door assembly, wherein the first linear actuator assembly is configured to retract or contract in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the first door assembly for moving the first door assembly between the first position and the second position;

a second linear actuator assembly coupled with the transport assembly and the second door assembly, wherein the second linear actuator assembly is configured to extend or retract in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the second door assembly for moving the second door assembly between the third position and the fourth position;

a pump assembly coupled with the first linear actuator assembly and the second linear actuator assembly, the pump assembly for actuating the first linear actuator assembly to move the first door assembly between the first position and the second position, and for actuating the second linear actuator assembly to move the second door assembly between the third position and the fourth position;

a first selector valve connected between the pump assembly and the first linear actuator assembly for controlling the movement of the first door assembly; and

a second selector valve connected between the pump assembly and the second linear actuator assembly for controlling the movement of the second door assembly,

wherein the first door assembly, the second door assembly, the first linear actuator assembly, and the second linear actuator assembly are above a plane formed by axles of wheels of the transport assembly.

19. The device of 18, wherein at least one of the first linear actuator assembly or the second linear actuator assembly comprises a plurality of hydraulic cylinders.

20. The device of 18, wherein the pump assembly is remotely controllable.

21. A device, comprising:

a transport assembly for transporting granular material, the transport assembly defining at least a first egress for releasing a first portion of the granular material;

a door assembly slidably coupled with the transport assembly, the door assembly including a single door panel configured for at least substantially covering the first egress in a first position for retaining granular material and at least substantially uncovering the first egress in a second position for controllably releasing the first portion of the granular material;

a linear actuator assembly coupled with the transport assembly and the door assembly, wherein the linear actuator assembly is configured to extend or retract in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the door assembly for moving the door assembly between the first position and the second position;

a pump assembly coupled with the linear actuator assembly for actuating the linear actuator assembly to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position; and

a selector valve connected between the pump assembly and the linear actuator assembly for controlling the movement of the door assembly,

wherein the door assembly and the linear actuator assembly are above a plane formed by axles of wheels of the transport assembly.

22. The device of 21, wherein the linear actuator assembly comprises a plurality of hydraulic cylinders.

23. The device of 21, wherein the pump assembly is remotely controllable.