Seed carrier with pivoting conveyor

• US 9,745,123 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unverferth Mfg Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unverferth Mfg Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Petersen, Brian James, Smith, David Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Saul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berry, Jr., Willie
• Application Number:
  US14/606,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20150197395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 414523, 111 11, 198312, 198315, 198316, 198317, 198318
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/003 Bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/006 Hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 90/10 Unloading means
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/00 Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading vehicles for carrying harvested crops with means for self-loading or self-unloading A01D90/00; peculiar to refuse collecting-vehicles B65F; loading or unloading vehicles by means not incorporated therein B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/54 characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying filling or emptying features for flexible large containers B65B69/0075; construction or shape of discharge section of hoppers B65D88/28; gates or closures B65D90/54; filling or emptying bunkers, hoppers, or like containers B65G65/30

Abstract

A seed carrier includes a main hopper coupled with a frame via leg members. The main hopper has a discharge. A base plate is coupled with the frame. A support arm is rotatably coupled with the base plate at a first end. A belt driven conveyor having a conveyor hopper at a first end and a discharge at a second end is rotatably coupled with a second end of the support arm at an approximate center of gravity thereof. A latch mechanism is provided for detachably coupling the first end of the conveyor with the first end of the support arm such that the conveyor hopper is position below the main hopper discharge. When the conveyor is uncoupled from the first end of the support arm, the conveyor can rotate to a loading position wherein the discharge thereof can be positioned over the main hopper.

Claims

1. A seed or grain tender comprising:

a main hopper having a main hopper discharge;

a support arm having first and second ends;

said first end of said support arm being located below said main hopper and being rotatable about a first axis of rotation, and said first end of said support arm being rotatable about a second axis of rotation that is perpendicular to said first axis of rotation;

a conveyor having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, a conveyor hopper at said first end, a conveyor discharge at said second end, and an internal elevator for moving seed or grain from said conveyor hopper to said conveyor discharge;

said second end of said support arm being coupled with said conveyor between said first and second ends of said conveyor, said conveyor being rotatable about a third axis of rotation at said second end of said support arm that is not parallel to said conveyor longitudinal axis, and said conveyor being rotatable in relation to said second end of said support arm about said third of axis of rotation between an unloading position wherein said conveyor hopper is disposed below said main hopper discharge to receive agricultural product from said main hopper and a loading position wherein said conveyor discharge is disposed above said main hopper to dispense agricultural product into said main hopper, and

a hydraulic piston extending at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane to connect with a portion of said support arm spaced from said second axis of rotation.

2. The seed or grain tender of claim 1, wherein said first axis of rotation extends through said main hopper discharge.

3. The seed or grain tender of claim 1, wherein said second axis of rotation extends through said first end of said support arm.

4. The seed or grain tender of claim 1, wherein said third axis of rotation extends through said conveyor.

5. The seed or grain tender of claim 1, wherein said third axis of rotation extends through said second end of said support arm.

6. The seed or grain tender of claim 1, wherein said third axis of rotation extends through said conveyor and said second end of said support arm.

7. The seed or grain tender of claim 1, wherein said third axis of rotation is oriented at an angle having a vertical component.

8. The seed or grain tender of claim 1, wherein said second end of said support arm is coupled with said conveyor at or near said approximate center of gravity of said conveyor.

9. The seed or grain tender of claim 1, further comprising a stand coupled with said first end of said conveyor and movable between a stowed position allowing said conveyor hopper to be positioned below said main hopper discharge when said conveyor is in said unloading position and an extended position supporting said conveyor hopper above the ground when said conveyor is in said loading position.

10. A seed or grain tender comprising:

a main hopper having an upper portion with a main hopper intake opening and a lower portion with a main hopper discharge;

a support arm having a first end proximate said lower portion of said main hopper and a second end;

wherein said support arm is pivotable about a first axis of rotation proximate said first end of said support arm to cause said support arm to be movable between an operating position wherein said support arm extends outwardly relative to said main hopper and a storage position wherein said support arm is folded inwardly towards said main hopper in relation to said operating position, said support arm further being pivotable about a second axis of rotation proximate said first end of said support arm to cause an elevation of said second end of said support arm to be adjustable;

a conveyor having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, a conveyor hopper at said first end, a conveyor discharge at said second end, and an internal elevator for moving seed or grain from said conveyor hopper to said conveyor discharge; and

said second end of said support arm being coupled with said conveyor between said first and second conveyor ends, said conveyor being rotatable about a third axis of rotation proximate said second end of said support arm that is not parallel to said conveyor longitudinal axis, and said conveyor being rotatable in relation to said second end of said support arm about said third of axis of rotation between an unloading position wherein said conveyor hopper is disposed below said main hopper discharge to receive agricultural product from said main hopper and a loading position wherein said conveyor discharge is disposed above said intake opening of said main hopper to dispense agricultural product into said main hopper.

11. The seed or grain tender of claim 10, wherein said first axis of rotation extends through said main hopper discharge.

12. The seed or grain tender of claim 10, wherein said second axis of rotation extends through said first end of said support arm.

13. The seed or grain tender of claim 10, wherein said third axis of rotation extends through said conveyor.

14. The seed or grain tender of claim 10, wherein said third axis of rotation extends through said second end of said support arm.

15. The seed or grain tender of claim 10, wherein said third axis of rotation extends through said conveyor and said second end of said support arm.

16. The seed or grain tender of claim 10, wherein said third axis of rotation is oriented at an angle having a vertical component.

17. The seed or grain tender of claim 16, wherein said first axis of rotation is vertical.

18. The seed or grain tender of claim 17, wherein said second axis of rotation is horizontal.

19. The seed or grain tender of claim 10, wherein said second end of said support arm is coupled with said conveyor at an approximate center of gravity of said conveyor.

20. The seed or grain tender of claim 10, further comprising a hydraulic piston extending at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane to connect with a portion of said support arm spaced from said second axis of rotation.

21. The seed or grain tender of claim 10, further comprising a stand coupled with said first end of said conveyor and movable between a stowed position allowing said conveyor hopper to be positioned below said main hopper discharge when said conveyor is in said unloading position and an extended position supporting said conveyor hopper above the ground when said conveyor is in said loading position.