Abstract:
A hanger bearing assembly has a bearing enclosed within a plurality of mounting plates. The mounting plates are slidably and removably attached w supports on the interior sidewalIs of a trough.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention is directed toward a hanger bearing assembly and more particularly to a self-aligning removable hanger bearing assembly. 
         [0002]    Hanger bearing assemblies are well known in the art for use in relation to augers for removal of grain from a bin. Hanger bearing assemblies support the auger to prevent the auger from laying on the bottom of a trough. When used without a hanger bearing assembly operation of the auger is noisy and rough. 
         [0003]    To improve upon this some manufacturers use bearing assemblies that are bolted in place and cannot be removed without accessing the trough which is not practical, particularly when the bin is fully loaded. Others use a bearing assembly that rides on and is supported by a rail that extends the entire length of the trough. While helpful, this device requires a specially formed trough. Yet another alternative involves a removable bearing assembly attached to an auger, but the device has no means for preventing the bearing assembly from tipping over as the assembly is slid in and out of the trough. Therefore, a need exists in the art for a hanger bearing assembly that addresses these needs. 
         [0004]    An objective of the present invention is to provide a hanger bearing assembly that allows removal of an auger without accessing the bearing assembly. 
         [0005]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hanger bearing assembly that provides little restriction to flowing grain. 
         [0006]    A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a hanger bearing assembly that does not roll over to the side of the auger when slid in and out of a trough. 
         [0007]    These and other objectives will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art based upon the following written description, drawings, and claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A hanger bearing assembly has a bearing enclosed within a plurality of mounting plates. The mounting plates, which engage one another in side-by-side arrangement, have an elongated support member. 
         [0009]    A plurality of trough support members are secured to the inside of the side walls of a trough in spaced parallel relation so as to form a groove. The end of the bearing housing&#39;s elongated support member is slidably and removably received within the groove. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a hanger bearing assembly; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an end view of a mounting plate for a hanger bearing assembly; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an end view of a hanger bearing assembly; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a hanger bearing assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is an exploded perspective view of one example of a hanger bearing assembly  10 . The assembly  10  includes a bearing housing  12  formed by a plurality of mounting plates  14 , a spacer  16 , and a bearing  18 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , each mounting plate  14  has a first  20  and a second  22  side. The first side  20  has a lower arcuate section  24  having a pair of protuberances  26  with each protuberance  26  having an opening or hole  28 . The lower arcuate section  24  terminates in a generally vertical connecting section  30  that has a pair holes  32  and a notch  34  on a lower edge. The vertical connecting section  30  terminates in an elongated support member  36  having a protuberance  38  extending upwardly from a top edge  40 . The protuberance  38  has a hole  42 . The elongated support member  36  terminates in an upwardly extending ear  44  and a downwardly extending L-shaped tab  46 . The end of the elongated support member  36  and the L-shaped tab form a C-shaped channel  48 . 
         [0015]    The second side  22  of the mounting plate  14  is similar to the first side  20 , but differs in three ways. First, the lower arcuate section  24  of the second side  22  has a single protuberance  26  having a hole  28 . Second, the vertical connecting section  30  does not have holes and also has an outwardly extending prong  50  on a lower edge. The prong  50  is positioned to fit within notch  34  when the connecting sections  30  of the first side  20  and second side  22  are aligned end to end. Third, the elongated support member  36  of the first side  20  is longer than the support member  36  of the second side  22 . Also, when the first side  20  and the second side  22  are aligned end to end, the lower arcuate sections  24  form a ring that fits around bearing  18 . The bearing  18  is of any type and preferably is made of wood. 
         [0016]    To assemble the bearing housing  12  the first  20  and second  22  sides of one mounting plate  14  are aligned end to end around bearing  18  as previously described. The next adjacent mounting plate  14  is reversed and engages the side of the first mounting plate  14  such that holes  28  on the lower arcuate section align as do holes  42  on the elongated support members  36 . Because the elongated support member  36  of the first side  20  is longer than the elongated member  36  of the second side  22 , when adjacent mounting plates  14  are reversed, holes  32  on the vertical connecting section  30  of each mounting plate  14  align. Additional mounting plates  14  are added, reversing direction each time, so that holes  28 ,  32 , and  42  align. Any number of mounting plates  14  may be used as needed and six are preferred. Preferably, the bearing housing  12  is laminated. 
         [0017]    At one end of the bearing housing  12  a spacer  16  engages the side of the mounting plate  14 . In one example, the spacer  16  has a first arcuate section  52  and a second arcuate section  54  both having a pair of protuberances  56  with each protuberance  56  having a hole  58 . When spacer  16  engages the side of a mounting plate  14 , holes  58  align with holes  28  on the lower arcuate section  24  of the mounting plate  14  and with one of the holes  32  on the vertical connecting section  30 . To complete the bearing assembly  10  a plurality of screws  60  are inserted through aligned holes  28 ,  32 ,  42 , and  58  and are secured with locking nuts  62 . 
         [0018]    The bearing assembly  10  is attached to the shaft  64  of an auger  66  such that the shaft  64  extends through the bearing  18 . The bearing assembly  10  is also removably and slidably attached to first or upper supports  68  and second or lower supports  70  that are secured to opposite sidewalk  72  of a trough  74 . The first  68  and second  70  supports are secured in spaced parallel relation to form a grove  76  therebetween, are similar in shape, and are inverted in relation to one another. The ends  78  of supports  68  and  70  are tapered away from one another to form ramps. The second support  70  is attached directly to the sidewall  72  of the trough  74 , while the first support  68  has a spacer  79  separating the first support  68  from the sidewall  72 . The width of the spacer  79  is less than the width of support  68  such that a slot  80  is formed above groove  76 . 
         [0019]    The bearing assembly  10 , with the auger  66  attached, is moved through the trough  74  toward supports  68  and  70 . The lower surface of the elongated support member  36  engages a tapered end of the lower support  70 . The bearing assembly  10  slides up the ramp or tapered end  78  of the lower support  70  as the ear  44  is received in slot  80  and the end of the elongated support member  36  is received in groove  76 . Also, the C-shaped channel  48 , partially formed by the L-shaped tab  46  receives the lower support  70 . Not only does this raise the auger  66  off the bottom of the trough  74 , but the ears  44  within slot  80  keep the bearing assembly  10  locked in place, the upper support  68  keeps the bearing assembly  10  from lifting up, and the L-shaped tab  46  keeps the bearing assembly  10  aligned and prevents the assembly  10  from rolling over. For longer augers  66  requiring multiple bearing assemblies  10  multiple mounts having upper and lower supports  68  and  70  are used. 
         [0020]    Thus, a hanger bearing assembly has been disclosed that, at the very least, meets each and every objective.