Patent ID: 9288946
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: A01F,B65G

Claim Text:
1. An elongated sweep apparatus for moving particulate matter in a bin having a bin floor on which the matter rests, a bin sump located toward a center of the bin floor, and a bin gearbox at least partially located in the bin sump, the sweep apparatus having an inboard end for locating toward a central area of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, the sweep apparatus comprising: a sweep assembly movable over the floor of the bin, the sweep assembly comprising a particulate sweep structure configured to move particulate matter toward the inboard end of the elongated sweep apparatus, and a housing extending between the opposite ends of the sweep apparatus with a portion of the sweep structure being positioned in the housing; and a connection structure configured to link the sweep assembly to the bin gearbox in a manner that maintains a portion of the particulate sweep structure over the bin sump at all rotational positions of the sweep assembly in the bin; wherein a first portion of the particulate sweep structure extends along a primary movement axis and a second portion of the particulate sweep structure extends along a secondary movement axis, the primary movement axis extending substantially parallel to the floor and the secondary movement axis being inclined upwardly from the primary movement axis.