MODULAR STORAGE BIN SWEEP SYSTEM

• US 20130064629A1
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sioux Steel
• Original Assignee: Sioux Steel
• Inventors: SCHUELKE, BRIAN, Stumpe, Leroy B., Schuld, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,967,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/327
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 25/2018 Bottom unloading units for tower silos
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/28 Piling or unpiling loose materials in bulk, e.g. coal, manure, timber, not otherwise provided for by soil-shifting or like equipment E02F
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/38 Mechanical devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/425 arranged to be movable
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/4836 and moving material over a stationary surface, e.g. sweep arms or wheels

Abstract

A modular storage bin sweep system utilizing paddles to sweep particulate matter across a floor may comprise a sweep assembly including at least two units connectable together. The assembly may comprise a plurality of interconnected paddles, a power unit configured to the paddles, a drive unit configured to move the sweep assembly with respect to a surface of the bin below the sweep assembly. In some embodiments, a traction enhancement structure may increase traction of the drive unit on the floor. In some embodiments, a pivot unit is configured to permit a degree of pivotability of the axes of the units with respect to each other, and may be combined with a drive unit. In some embodiments, the power unit includes a rotary electrical power transfer structure configured to transfer electrical power to the power unit when rotating in the bin.

Claims

1. A modular storage bin sweep system utilizing paddles to sweep particulate matter across a floor surface of a bin, the system comprising:

a sweep assembly including at least two units connectable together in a substantially linear array, the sweep assembly having an inboard end for locating toward a center of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, the sweep assembly comprising;

a plurality of interconnected paddles movable in a succession on a path along at least a portion of the sweep assembly between the inboard and outboard ends;

a power unit configured to carry a portion of the succession of interconnected paddles and move the succession of paddles along the path of the sweep assembly, the power unit being positioned toward the inboard end of the sweep assembly,

a drive unit configured to carry a portion of the succession of interconnected paddles and move the sweep assembly with respect to a surface of the bin below the sweep assembly, the drive unit being positioned toward the outboard end from the inboard end of the sweep assembly. the drive unit including a surface engaging portion configured to engage a surface below the sweep assembly and move the sweep assembly with respect to the surface, the surface engaging portion comprising at least one surface engaging wheel resting on the surface of the bin; and

a traction enhancement structure configured to increase traction of the drive unit on the surface below the sweep assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the traction enhancement structure is adjustable to provide an adjustable degree of traction enhancement.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the traction enhancement structure is mounted on the drive unit of the sweep assembly to apply downward pressure on the at least one surface engaging wheel.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the traction enhancement structure is positioned adjacent to the surface engaging portion of the drive unit of the sweep assembly to apply downward pressure on the at least one surface engaging wheel.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the surface engaging portion of the drive unit extend rearwardly with respect to the succession of interconnected paddles, and the traction enhancement structure also extends rearwardly with respect to the succession of interconnected paddles.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the traction enhancement structure comprises:

at least one weight element; and

a weight support configured to support at least one weight element in a removable manner.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the traction enhancement structure comprises:

at least one weight element; and

a weight support configured to support at least one weight element;

wherein the weight support is elongated to support a plurality of the weight elements thereon.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the traction enhancement structure comprises:

at least one weight element; and

a weight support configured to support at least one weight element;

wherein the weight support is elongated to permit positioning of the at least one weight element at positions along a length of the elongated weight support.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the surface engaging portion is engaged by the succession of interconnected paddles in a manner driving the at least one surface engaging wheel to rotate.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the power unit includes a motor portion configured to move the succession of interconnected paddles along the path.

11. A modular storage bin sweep system utilizing paddles to sweep particulate matter across a floor surface of a bin, the system comprising:

a sweep assembly including at least two units connectable together in a substantially linear array, the sweep assembly having an inboard end for locating toward a center of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, the sweep assembly comprising;

a plurality of interconnected paddles movable in a succession on a path along at least a portion of the sweep assembly between the inboard and outboard ends;

a power unit configured to carry a portion of the succession of interconnected paddles and move the succession of paddles along the path of the sweep assembly, the power unit being positioned toward the inboard end of the sweep assembly,

a drive unit configured to carry a portion of the succession of interconnected paddles and move the sweep assembly with respect to a surface of the bin below the sweep assembly, the drive unit being positioned toward the outboard end from the inboard end of the sweep assembly. the drive unit including a surface engaging portion configured to engage a surface below the sweep assembly and move the sweep assembly with respect to the surface, the surface engaging portion comprising at least one surface engaging wheel resting on the surface of the bin; and

a pivot unit configured to carry a portion of the succession of interconnected paddles and to permit a degree of pivotability of the axes of the units with respect to each other in the substantially linear array of units of the sweep assembly.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the degree of pivotability of the units is in a substantially vertical plane about a substantially horizontal axis.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the pivot unit has a pair of connected sections movable with respect to each other, each of the sections being connectable to other units of the substantially linear array.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the connected sections are connected at adjacent ends by a pivot structure in a manner that permits relative movement therebetween.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the pivot structure comprises one or more pivot arms extending from a first one of the connected sections to mount on pivot tabs extending from a second one of the connected sections, the pivot arms and pivot tabs being pivotally fastened together by pivot pins.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the pivot pins extend along a substantially horizontal axis to permit pivoting about the horizontal axis but not about a vertical axis.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the pivot unit is positioned between the power unit and the drive unit in the substantially linear array.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the pivot unit is configured to move the sweep assembly with respect to a surface of the bin below the sweep assembly.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the pivot unit includes a surface engaging portion configured to engage a surface below the sweep assembly and move the sweep assembly with respect to the surface.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the power unit includes a motor portion configured to move the succession of interconnected paddles along the path.

21. A modular storage bin sweep system utilizing paddles to sweep particulate matter across a floor surface of a bin, the system comprising:

a sweep assembly including at least two units connectable together in a substantially linear array, the sweep assembly having an inboard end for locating toward a center of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, the sweep assembly comprising;

a plurality of interconnected paddles movable in a succession on a path along at least a portion of the sweep assembly between the inboard and outboard ends;

a power unit configured to carry a portion of the succession of interconnected paddles and move the succession of paddles along the path of the sweep assembly, the power unit being positioned toward the inboard end of the sweep assembly,

a drive unit configured to carry a portion of the succession of interconnected paddles and move the sweep assembly with respect to a surface of the bin below the sweep assembly, the drive unit being positioned toward the outboard end from the inboard end of the sweep assembly. the drive unit including a surface engaging portion configured to engage a surface below the sweep assembly and move the sweep assembly with respect to the surface, the surface engaging portion comprising at least one surface engaging wheel resting on the surface of the bin; and

wherein the power unit includes a rotary electrical power transfer structure configured to transfer electrical power to the power unit when rotating in the bin.