AUGER CONVEYOR WITH REMOVABLE SCREEN ATTACHMENTS  AND METHOD OF USING SAME

The present disclosure relates to an auger assembly that cleans the crop being conveyed during the auguring process. The assembly comprises a number of variously gauged rapidly removable screens that can be selected and easily installed in the assembly depending on the crop being conveyed, and the type of foreign material that is to be removed. A second auger then propels the foreign material to a waste collection port.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to farming equipment, particularly to a screw auger conveyor, and more particularly to a screw auger conveyor with a removable screen attachment.

BACKGROUND

Grains, seeds and crops that have been processed by threshing machines, such as a combine harvester, frequently contain undesired foreign particles such as soil, weed seeds, chaff, broken kernels and other foreign particles. It is necessary to remove such materials prior to storing the grain because these materials interfere with air flow when the grain is being dried and stored and can cause areas of spoiled grain.

Numerous different types of agriculture equipment are known that are able to clean and separate particular crops from the extraneous material. For example, some equipment uses winnowing techniques, wherein the uncleaned crops are tossed in a stream of moving air or dropped into a hopper that has forced air circulation. Other types of equipment use a combination of screening or sifting whereby the recently harvested crops are passed over one or more appropriately sized screens, the foreign matter being urged through the screens via augers or vibration.

Typically, such large pieces of farming equipment are centrally located, and farmers are required to bring their harvested crops to the central locations to have them screened. In the time it takes to transport the crops to the winnowing or screening facility, and then wait for other farmers' crops to be cleaned, significant spoiling of the crop may have occurred.

There is therefore a need for a piece of farming equipment that can be owned by individual farmers. The embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein have evolved with the general object of improving upon prior rotary auger conveyors to provide grain screening capabilities, which are portable, easy to use and which at the same time are inexpensive to manufacture, rugged and reliable.

BRIEF SUMMARY

It is an object of the invention to provide an auger conveyor with removable screen attachments and method of using same.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is provided an essentially cylindrical crop cleaning device, said device comprising: a housing having first and second ends and first and second longitudinal opposing sides, said housing having defined within it an upper housing, configured to receive an upper fighting, and a lower housing, configured to receive a lower fighting; a lid having first and second ends and first and second longitudinal opposing sides configured to cooperate with said first and second ends and first and second longitudinal opposing sides of said housing; a plurality of hinges connecting said first side of said housing to said first side of said lid; a crop entry port positioned in said upper housing, partially on said first end of said housing and partially on said first end of said lid; a cleaned crop exit port, positioned in said upper housing, partially on said second end of said housing and partially on said second end of said lid; a screened area, within said upper housing and said lid, said screened area defining a path surrounding said upper fighting, between said crop entry port and said cleaned crop exit port; a lower fighting operationally installed in said lower housing; and a waste exit port situated in said lower housing towards said second end of said housing, wherein, when said upper fighting is installed, the crop to be cleaned is propelled along said path within said screened area, from said crop entry port through said cleaned crop exit port, waste materials that pass out of said screened area fall into said lower housing are are augured towards and through said waste exit port by said lower fighting.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of cleaning a crop, using the claimed device, comprising the steps: installing an appropriate gauge of arced screen in said upper housing and said lid; securing said upper auger in said path defined by said screened area; attaching a transfer auger device to said crop entry port; attaching a transport or swing out auger to said cleaned crop exit port; activating said upper and lower flightings; and delivering crop to be cleaned into said transfer auger.

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Devices and methods for carrying out the invention are presented in terms of embodiments depicted within the FIGS. However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and the configurations shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.

In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises of an essentially cylindrical body having a lower compartment or housing and a lid. The housing is sized and configured to receive upper and lower screw auger flightings, wherein the upper fighting is surrounded by removable screens. In operation, the crop to be cleaned is fed into one end of the upper screw auger area and the fighting causes foreign matter to pass through the screens into the bottom of the housing. The cleaned crop exits the other end of the upper screw auger area. The lower screw auger fighting propels the separated foreign matter to an exit port.

The various embodiments of the invention have fixtures and fittings along the edges of the housing to allow rapid and easy replacement of the screens. The screens may have differing gauges ranging down to64th to accommodate seed & grain cleaning. The screens may be made from wire mesh, bar grading, perforated metal, channel grating, fiberglass grating, and can be made from a wide variety of materials including, aluminum, stainless, and plastic. Indeed, in some instances, when the crop to be augured does not need to be cleaned, the screens can be blank plates with no perforations.

The crop to be augured or cleaned may be delivered to the entry port on the housing by means known to those in the field including but not limited to transfer augers. Transfer augers typically have 8″ or 10″ diameter connector pipes, which attach directly to the entry port on the housing, and are powered by gas, electric or a hydraulic drive. These transfer augers have a low profile, usually less than 12″ high and are light and maneuverable thereby allowing the hopper of the transfer auger to fit under crop hopper bottom bins and trailers for fast and easy unloading.

After the crop has been cleaned, it exits the housing and is typically transported to the storage bins or hoppers or to transport trucks by way of a transport or swing out auger.

FIGS. 1A, B and C illustrate perspective (A) and end (B and C) views of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1Ashows the housing102that accommodates the lower screen106that is secured in place by an angled beam116that is attached to a ladder122on the housing102by means of fasteners118.

FIGS. 1Band C show the complete assembly104comprising a lid110and a housing102. The housing102comprises a lower housing120and an upper housing124. The lower housing120accommodates a lower fighting112and has a waste exit port114.

The upper screen108is sized and proportioned to fit within the lid110, and is similarly attached to a ladder122along the outer edge of the lid110by means of fasteners118.

FIGS. 2A, B and C illustrate placement of upper rafters202that are positioned in the lid110to support the upper screen108. In some instances, the upper screen108consists of two sections and is supported on an arced upper central support rafter512.FIGS. 2Band C show a cross sectional view of the lid110taken across line a-b.

FIGS. 3A, B, C and D illustrate various views of the complete assembly104.

FIGS. 3Aand B show the relative positions of the lower fighting112in the lower housing120and the upper fighting308in the upper housing124. The crop to be cleaned is augured into the crop entry port304by a transfer auger (not shown). The upper fighting308propels the crop to the cleaned along the entire length of the essentially cylindrical assembly310. Particulate waste materials pass through the lower screen106and collect in the lower housing120. The lower fighting112in the lower housing120then propels the waste material along the essentially cylindrical assembly310and out through the waste exit port114.

FIG. 3Cshows a perspective view of the complete assembly104. In operation, the essentially cylindrical assembly310may be inclined such that the crop entry port304is lower than the cleaned crop exit port306. Inclining the essentially cylindrical assembly310causes the crop to be cleaned to spend a longer period of time within the complete assembly104thereby removing more waste materials and creating a cleaner crop. The greater the angle of incline, the greater the length of time that the crop resides in the complete assembly104and the cleaner the augured crop. In some embodiments of the invention, a chain is affixed at a first attachment point314on the lid110and at a second attachment point316on the essentially cylindrical assembly310. The length of the chain is selected to be of sufficient length to allow the lid to open fully, but to not cause the hinges402to sprain due to over extension.

FIG. 3Dshows a cross sectional view of the complete assembly104taken along line a-b inFIG. 3B.

FIG. 4A, B, C, and D illustrate various embodiments of the complete assembly104. The complete assembly104comprises the upper housing124, lower housing120and lid110.FIG. 4Ashows a top view showing the lid110having several hinges402along one side of the complete assembly104. The crop entry port304can be seen at one end of the assembly and the cleaned crop exit port306can be seen at the other end of the assembly.FIG. 4Bshows a side view of the complete assembly104. The crop entry port304and cleaned crop exit port306can be seen, along with the waste exit port114.FIG. 4Cis a perspective view of the complete assembly104.FIG. 4Dshows a cross sectional view of the complete assembly104. The upper fighting308can be seen encompassed within the upper housing124and the lid110.

FIGS. 5A, B, C, and D illustrate various embodiments of the lid110assembly.FIG. 5Ashows a perspective view of the lid110.FIG. 5Bshows a side view of the lid110, featuring lid locks502attached along the opposite side of the lid110to the hinges402. The lid110also features a handle504situated on the same side of the lid110to the lid locks502.FIG. 5Cis a cross sectional view of the lid110. This figure shows the relative positions of the hinges402, and the lid locks502. Also illustrated is a watertight seal506that confers protection against snow and rain for the complete assembly104.FIG. 5Dillustrates an underside view of the lid110. The watertight seals506can be seen at either end of the lid110. An arced upper central support rafter512can be seen approximately midway along the lid110. This arced upper central support rafter512serves to support the upper screen108. In the embodiments of the invention having two upper screens108, the arced upper central support rafter512supports the overlap of the upper screens108.

FIGS. 6A, B, C, and D illustrate various different housings102in accordance with different embodiments of the invention. The housing102comprises an upper housing124that partially accommodates the upper fighting308(not shown) and the lower housing120accommodates the lower fighting112(not shown).FIG. 6Ashows a perspective of the housing102showing the hinges402and the lid locks502. The ladders122along either side of the upper housing124are positioned to cooperate with the edges of the one or more lower screens106. The arced ledge608and the upper rafters202function to support the one or more lower screens106. A stopper602can be seen at the cleaned crop exit port306, the function of the stopper602is to prevent the tube that transports the cleaned crop to the swing out auger from damaging the housing102.FIG. 6Bis a top view of the housing102. The arced ledge608and r rafter604can be seen in more detail.FIG. 6Cis a cross section view of the complete assembly104. The position of the upper fighting308in the space formed by the upper housing124and the lid110can be seen. The lower fighting112can be seen within the lower housing120.FIG. 6Dshows a side view of the housing102clearly showing the upper housing124and lower housing120. A hydraulic motor mount606can be seen mounted on the outer surface of the lower housing120that drives the lower fighting112. Various different braces610may to welded onto the housing102at various different locations as and where additional support is needed.

FIGS. 7Aand B illustrate the lid110with an embodiment having two upper screens108.FIG. 7Ashows how a first upper screen702and a second upper screen704nest into the lid110resting on the arced upper rafters510. The first upper screen702and second upper screen704are secured in place by strips of angled beams116that clip over the upper edge of the upper screens108. The angled beams116in turn are secured to the ladders122by numerous fasteners118. The watertight seal506can clearly be seen, along with the handle504, lid locks502, and hinges402.FIG. 7Bis an exploded cross section view of the lid, showing in greater detail how the first upper screen702and second upper screen704are attached to the sides of the lid110.

FIGS. 8Aand B illustrate the complete assembly104in particular showing how the lower screens106are nested into the upper housing124.FIG. 8Ashows and exploded perspective view of the housing102. The lower fighting112is secured in place in the lower housing120by means of a bearing806fastened in place using bearing bolts808. An inner slot cover810is fastened over the slot812to prevent loss of grain during operation. The first lower screen802and second lower screen804are fastened in place resting on the arced ledges608and upper rafters202. The edges of the lower screens106are clamped in place by the angled beams116that are secured to the ladders122by the fasteners118,FIG. 8Bis an exploded cross-sectional view of the complete assembly104, showing in greater detail the attachment of the lower screens106. And subsequent placement of the upper fighting308above the upper screens108.

FIGS. 9A, B, C, and D illustrate various embodiments of the complete assembly104.FIG. 9Ashows a cross sectional side view of the housing102and lid110. The position of the upper fighting308and lower fighting112can be seen. The upper fighting shafts906is secured in place at one end by a bearing806and at the other driven end by a cupper902.FIG. 9Bis a side view of the housing102and lid110. The lid locks502can be seen securing the opening edge of the lid110to the upper housing124.FIG. 9Cis a perspective view of the complete assembly104demonstrating how the upper and lower ladders122abut thereby forming a continuous cylindrical screened in space that accommodates the upper fighting308.FIG. 9Dis a cross sectional view of the housing102and lid110assembly.

FIGS. 10A, B, and C illustrate a means of improving the cleaning of the seed, grains or crops within the upper housing124. In one embodiment of the invention, the upper fighting308has paddles1002attached at intervals along the fighting. The paddles1002, in this particular embodiment, are right angled sections that are bolted to the fighting. The paddles have the effect of disrupting the flow of the crops and thereby increasing the residency time within the screens.FIG. 10Dshows a typical lid lock502system used to secure the lid110to the upper housing124. In this embodiment, the lid lock502comprises a clip1004that may be attached to either the lid110or the upper housing124and a clasp1008that is activated by means of a lever1006. Again the clasp1008and lever1006part of the assembly can be attached to the upper housing124or the lid110.

In conclusion, variations in the embodiments of the invention as described herein include grain, seed, or crop cleaning devices having a frame or housing with a plurality of parallel augers or flightings mounted in the frame or housing for simultaneously auguring the grain, seed, or crop from one end of the device to the other end of the device, wherein the grain, seed, or crop is cleaned while auguring. The augers or flightings that transfer the grain, seed, or crop being surrounded by cylindrical screens. The screens having openings in their mesh smaller than the size of grain, seed, or crop so as to retain the grain, seed or crop within the cylindrical screens. The auguring action causes the grain, seeds, or crop to travel to a cleaned crop exit port at the end of the auger. The screens allow the chaff and other foreign particles smaller than the openings in the screens to travel out through the openings to clean the grain, seed, or crop. The smaller particles gravitating into the base or lower part of the frame or housing, beneath the screened auger(s) or flighting(s). An auger in the base or lower part of the frame or housing then augers the smaller particles out of a waste exit port to be collected and discarded.

As described herein, one particular embodiment of the invention is a device that provides an improved auguring technique using flightings and variously gauged screened area defining a path for grain to be cleaned. One of the flightings is located in an upper portion of the device and transports the crop to be cleaned through the screened area where it is separated from any contaminating material that it may contain, such as weeds, dirt and husks. The contaminating material falls through the appropriately gauged screens to another fighting which transports it to a waste port.

The device described herein can be mounted in between an apparatus, such as a transfer auger, that delivers the crop to be cleaned to a crop entry port304on the device, and an apparatus, for example a transport or swing out auger, then transports the cleaned crop to a storage facility or delivery wagon,

The transfer auger-type apparatus that delivers the crop to be cleaned to the currently claimed device can be of any of those known in the field of agriculture. Similarly, the transport or swing out auger that removes the cleaned crop from the currently claimed device can be of any known apparatus.

The crop entry port304and cleaned crop exit port306are typically8″ or10″ in diameter and the transfer auger and transport or swing out augers are selected to fit these dimensions respectively.

The positioning of the transfer auger and the transport or swing out auger, which are not part of the currently claimed device, can be positioned in locations to suit the geographical location of the process. The end of the currently claimed device, where the cleaned grain, seed or crop exits, can be elevated if required. The effect of tilting the currently claimed device causes the grain, seed or crop to be cleaned by travelling up an elevated angle. This tilting of the device causes the grain, seed, or crop increase its residency time within the augured screened area, causing a more thorough cleaning process.

In some embodiments of the invention, the upper fighting308may also have paddles1002attached at various intervals that causes the grain, seed, or crop being cleaned to be more thoroughly agitated. The paddles help to keep the screens clear, and prevent plugging of the grain, seed or crop being cleaned.

In one embodiment, it is contemplated that the auguring device is manufactured to fit one or more existing upper flightings308, In another embodiment, the device may be manufactured to include a specific upper fighting308or range of upper flightings308. The upper flightings308may be of any screw flight types, including standard, short long and variable pitch, notched/folded, and ribboned. The upper flightings308may be fitted with a variety of shapes and sizes of paddles to increase the residency of the crop in the device and thereby lead to a more thorough cleaning of the crop.

The screens that are fitted into the lid110and in the upper housing124can be selected to remove the specific type of garbage (weed seeds, dirt, etc.) from whole grains, seeds or crops. In one embodiment one screen may run the entire length of the device, being supported on the arced ledges608and upper and lower rafters604,604,510, and512, and secured in place by way of the angled beams116, ladders122and fasteners118. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, two or more screens may be installed within the lid and two or more further screens installed in the upper housing124. In the embodiments having multiple screens, the screens are optionally overlapped and supported on arced ledges608and specifically widened central rafters604and512. Again the screens are secured in place by way of angled beams116, ladders122and fasteners. Since the size of the grain may vary it is intended that the mesh be smaller than at least a large majority of the grain being handled. However, it is contemplated to provide screens in several different size meshes for different size grain.

The ladders122comprise two parallel side rail pieces of metal, which may be strip, angle or box. Cross members are welded at intervals to opposing edges to form a ladder. Typically, four ladders122are used in the construction of each complete assembly104. One of the side rails is attached to the inner ‘hinge’ edge of the upper housing124, and another side rail is attached to the inner ‘opening’ edge of the upper housing124. Another one of the side rails is attached to the inner ‘hinge’ edge of the lid110, and another side rail is attached to the inner ‘opening’ edge of the lid110. The angled beams116are then bolted to the opposing side rails, that extend horizontally into the upper housing124and lid110, clipping the lower screen106and upper screen108in place. At certain points along the upper housing124and lid110. The arced upper rafters510and upper rafters202support the abutting side rails of the opposing ladders122.

The lid110on the device allows the apparatus to function in the rain or in damp conditions and thereby protects the grain, seed or crop being cleaned from becoming wet. It is important to keep the grain, seed and crops dry to prevent spoiling due to subsequent growth of mold. The lid110can be secured in place in the closed position by means of the lid locks502situated along the opening edge of the lid110.

A chain, or some other mechanism, is fastened to the opening side of the lid110and the opening side of the upper housing124to prevent the lid110from opening too far and thereby spraining the hinges402situated on the opposite sides of the lid110and upper housing124.

Each end of the complete assembly104has a watertight seal506that cooperates with a water tight channel508around the crop entry port304and the cleaned crop exit port306. In one embodiment this functionality is achieved by the lid110being fabricated to be a little bit narrower than the main body so that when the lid is closed it sits inside. Then there is a cap, such as a jeb cap, that extends over the outside edge such that when it rains, the water drips right off the edge and not into the housing102. Moreover, the combination of the watertight seals506and water tight channels508and jeb cap prevents the interior of the complete assembly104from rusting.

When the cleaned crop exits the port306it may be collected in a box that is attached to the swing out auger. A connection pipe connects to a swing out auger and there is a stopper that encompasses the cleaned crop exit port306. The box connection has a wall with a hole exactly the same size as the cleaned crop exit port306. The wall is about a quarter inch thick, it sits right up again the stopper602. The bolt-on connectors are bolted onto the opposing side of the box wall to stop the box wall and cleaned crop exit port306from sliding apart. This connection can still allow the swing out auger box and the cleaned crop exit port306to swivel.

Regarding the lower fighting112, this can be powered either a small electric motor or by hydraulic means. The hydraulic or electric motor is mounted on the outer surface of the lower housing120that drives the lower fighting112, as shown inFIG. 6. On the inside, of the lower housing120there is a cupper902which connects to the lower fighting shaft904. On the other end of the lower fighting shaft904there is a bearing806. The lower fighting112is easily removable by taking the bearing off and disconnecting the cupper902at the other end. The lower fighting112slides out from the slot812, which then covered by the slot cover810which is held on by the bearing bolts808.

Regarding the upper fighting308, it runs from the crop entry port304to the cleaned crop exit port306, connecting the grain, seed or crop in the transfer hopper to the connection box which is connected to the swing out auger. The box is a connection unit which allows it to turn 90 degrees. It connects to the bottom auger. The tractor turns the PTO which directly or indirectly turns both the swing out auger and the upper fighting308.

The advantages conferred by the instantly claimed embodiments of the invention include the ability of the farmer being able to clean his grains, seeds or crops on his farm as opposed to having to take it to a cleaning facility. More importantly, it is possible to provide immediate grain, seed or crop cleaning system, which reduces spoilage. The device therefore saves time of transportation to facility and reduces cost associated with transporting to and using a cleaning facility cleaning.