Abstract:
A forage transporter allowing both front and rear unloading using an apron conveyor passing along the floor of the forage transporter provides a single control lever selectively enabling a forward drive for forward unloading and a rear drive for rear unloading while providing a mechanical lockout preventing simultaneous activation of the front and rear drives.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to forage boxes and in particular to an improved mechanism for controlling a chain drive used to remove materials from the forage box. 
         [0002]    Forage is generally plant material such as plant leaves and stems that may be eaten by grazing livestock but, as used herein, may also include other fodder material including grains and the like. 
         [0003]    Forage is often transported to cattle or other animals through the use of a forage box supported on a trailer or truck for ready transport. The forage box may receive forage, for example, directly from a tractor-mounted shredder during a harvesting process, traveling next to the tractor during that harvesting. The forage boxes may then be transported to a location removed from the harvesting site where the forage will be stored or dispensed to the animals. 
         [0004]    Typically forage boxes provide for a mechanism for ejecting forage from the forage box after the forage box has been filled. This mechanism is often in the form of an apron conveyor consisting of chains that pass along the floor of the forage box in a loop between separated and horizontally disposed front and rear driveshaft at the front and rear of the forage box floor. Rotation of the shafts causes the chains and crossbars on the chains to pull the forage along the floor and ejected the forage out of the box. 
         [0005]    Versatile forage boxes may remove the forage from the rear of the box, typically to dispense the forage on the ground or in a ground-level container, or from the front of the box. Operating the forage box to remove forage from the front of the forage box offers finer control in the dispensing of the forage typically through a set of augers or similar feeder rollers which may meter the release of forage, for example, to be deposited on a cross conveyor, for example, for bagging or other operations. 
         [0006]    During the front and rear unloading operations, the conveyor chains operate in opposite directions as driven by separate front and rear drive mechanisms associated with the front and rear driveshafts. These different drive mechanisms allow the upper length of the chain to always be operated in a pull, rather than push, fashion avoiding the need for complex and precise chain tensioning mechanisms. 
         [0007]    It is critical that both of the front and rear drive mechanisms not be engaged at the same time such as could cause catastrophic failure of the equipment. Exclusive operation of only one of the front and rear drive mechanisms at a time is ensured through the use of a drive plate forming an essential mechanical coupling between each drive mechanism and its respective driveshaft. A single drive plate is provided that must be physically removed from the rear driveshaft to be placed on the front driveshaft in order to drive the front driveshaft, and physically removed from the front driveshaft to be placed on the rear driveshaft in order to drive the rear driveshaft. In this way, both driveshafts cannot be activated at the same time. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a forage box that greatly simplifies conversion between front unloading and rear unloading through the use of the drive mechanism having a control operator that may be accessed from a single location to exclusively connect either of the drive mechanisms to their respective driveshafts. The control operator implements a mechanical lockout providing assurance that only one driveshaft at a time may be connected. The need to move a drive plate, generally entailing an unbolting and bolting operation, may be replaced by a relatively simple movement of the control operator between two positions. 
         [0009]    More specifically, the present invention provides a forage transporter having a forage container with a floor and upstanding sidewalls for defining a volume for holding forage. An apron conveyor provides one or more conveyor belts connected in a loop between a front and rear conveyor driveshaft positioned at a front and rear of the floor so that rotation of the front and rear conveyor driveshafts moves the conveyor belts along the floor to eject forage contained in the volume. A front and rear drive mechanism is attach to the front and rear conveyor driveshafts, respectively, the front drive mechanism operating to move the conveyor belts to eject forage from a front of the forage container and the rear drive mechanism operating to move the conveyor belt to eject forage from a rear of the forage container. A control operator accessible from a single location is manually movable to a first state to activate the rear drive mechanism while deactivating the front drive mechanism and movable to a second state to activate the front drive mechanism while deactivating the rear drive mechanism, the control operator providing a mechanical lockout preventing simultaneous activation of the rear drive mechanism and front drive mechanism. 
         [0010]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to eliminate the time-consuming and cumbersome need to move a single drive plate between a front and rear drive mechanism to convert a forage box from front unloading to rear unloading, while avoiding the possibility of simultaneous front and rearward activation of the apron conveyor. 
         [0011]    The first state may be a positioning of the control operator in a first position and the second state may be the positioning of the control operator in a second state different from the first state. 
         [0012]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a natural lockout of simultaneous operations by requiring mutually exclusive position states of a single operator. 
         [0013]    The control operator may further be manually movable to a third position activating neither the front drive nor the rear drive mechanism and the third position may be located between the first and second positions. 
         [0014]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to mechanically enforce a deactivation of one driveshaft before activation of the other driveshaft to avoid the possibility of instantaneous simultaneous activation and the resulting mechanical shock. 
         [0015]    The control operator may provide first and second independent axes of motion, and movement of the control operator along a first axis of motion may activate the rear drive mechanism and movement of the control operator along the second axis may activate the front drive mechanism, and a control operator guide may allow only movement along one axis at a time and a change in axial motion only when the control operator is at the third position. 
         [0016]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to mechanically restrain inadvertent rapid switching between front and rear unloading by requiring two-axes of motion preventing over-travel in one direction from changing the unloading mode. 
         [0017]    The front drive mechanism may provide a power takeoff coupling for receiving rotating power communicating through a first clutch with the front conveyor driveshaft. The rear drive mechanism may provide a hydraulic motor receiving hydraulic power through a hydraulic valve and attached to the rear conveyor driveshaft. The control operator may then communicate with the first clutch and with the hydraulic valve to provide a positive mechanical interlock controlling the valve and the first clutch allowing operation of only one of the front and rear drive mechanisms at a time. 
         [0018]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a mechanism that accommodates simultaneous control of different power sources better suited for front and rear unloading. 
         [0019]    The first axis of motion may provide for a translation of a control shaft and a second axis of motion may provide a rotation of the control shaft, the control shaft communicating with the front and rear drive mechanisms. 
         [0020]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a method of communicating mechanical control signals for two different control actions through a single mechanical shaft. 
         [0021]    The control lever may be positioned at the front of the floor. 
         [0022]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to permit control of the unloading process at a point allowing closer supervision of front unloading commensurate with types of operations performed at these different unloading directions. 
         [0023]    The forage transporter may further include wheels and axles supporting the forage container for transport along the ground. 
         [0024]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a forage transporter that may be used as a trailer or as a truck component. 
         [0025]    The first clutch may be a variable sheave belt drive and the motion between the first and third positions may change an effective gear ratio in transmission of mechanical power through the first clutch. 
         [0026]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to permit a single control to provide not only a shifting of modes from front unloading to rear unloading but to also control a speed of unloading. 
         [0027]    The first axis of motion may be substantially horizontal and the second axis of motion may be substantially vertical. 
         [0028]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to enlist the mechanical advantage inherent in moving an operator with downward motion to control the variable “gearing” of the clutch. 
         [0029]    The forage container may include a set of vertically arrayed, horizontally extending feeder rollers positioned at a front of the forage container and mechanically communicating with the power takeoff coupling to rotate the feeder rollers to eject forage from the forage container and further including a second clutch mechanism positioned between the power takeoff coupling and the vertically arrayed feeder rollers. 
         [0030]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a system compatible with feeder rollers often used in forage boxes that may deactivate the rollers during rearward unloading. 
         [0031]    The power takeoff coupling may communicate through the second clutch to a roller driveshaft for the vertically arrayed feeder rollers and communicate from the roller driveshaft to the front conveyor driveshaft through the first clutch. 
         [0032]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to ensure a correct sequencing of the feeder rollers and apron conveyor so that the feeder rollers are activated before front unloading of the forage box. 
         [0033]    The first clutch may be a variable sheave belt drive. 
         [0034]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a control operator that may control a direction of unloading as well as a rate of unloading. 
         [0035]    The second clutch may communicate with the roller driveshaft through an elastic belt drive. 
         [0036]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide shock reduction inherent in V-belt drives and the like. 
         [0037]    The forage container may include a cross conveyor extending perpendicular to axis of movement of the conveyor belts at the front of the floor, the cross conveyor mechanically communicating with the second clutch before the first clutch. 
         [0038]    It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to accommodate cross conveyors and to ensure their operation before operation of the apron conveyor such as might otherwise cause undesirable spillage of the forage. 
         [0039]    These particular objects and advantages may apply to only some embodiments falling within the claims and thus do not define the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0040]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view in partial cutaway of an example forage wagon suitable for use with the present invention showing the forage box with an internal apron conveyor extending between front and rear conveyor driveshafts, the former attached to a front drive mechanism receiving power from a power takeoff (PTO) coupling and the latter attached to a rear drive mechanism having a hydraulic motor; 
           [0041]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an outfeed clutch assembly communicating power between the PTO and the front drive mechanism showing a control operator used for control of the first clutch/variable speed drive applying power to the front conveyor driveshaft and for control of a hydraulic valve for applying power to the second conveyor driveshaft; 
           [0042]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the clutch/variable speed drive applying power to the front conveyor driveshaft and the feeder rollers; 
           [0043]      FIG. 4  is a simplified elevational view of the front drive mechanism showing the power transmission path through a chain sprocket, a set of belt drives and the clutch/variable speed drive; 
           [0044]      FIG. 5  is a simplified view of the control operator in a front-unload position activating the rear drive mechanism; 
           [0045]      FIG. 6  is a figure similar to that of  FIG. 5  showing the control operator in a intermediary position disengaging the front and rear drive mechanisms; and 
           [0046]      FIG. 7  is a figure similar to that of  FIGS. 5 and 6  showing the control operator in a rear unload position operating the front drive and controllably adjusting the speed of the drive. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0047]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front and rear unloading forage transporter  10  may include a forage box  12  providing a generally horizontal floor  14  and left and right upstanding sidewalls  16  and  18  defining a volume therein for receiving forage. The forage transporter  10  may optionally include a top  20  attached to the left and right upstanding sidewall  16  and  18  to partially cover the forage-receiving volume. 
         [0048]    The forage box  12  may be open at a front face  22  and a rear face  24 . The rear face  24  may be closed by pivoting door  26  hinging about a horizontal axis at the upper edge of the door (as shown) or two doors pivoting about vertical axes as hingeably attached to the left and right upstanding sidewalls  16  and  18  respectively (not shown). 
         [0049]    Generally the forage box  12  will be attached to a wheel set  27 , for example, to produce a forage wagon (as shown) which may be drawn by a draw bar  28  or as part of an integrated rear bed of a truck or the like (not shown). 
         [0050]    Positioned at a front and rear edge of the floor  14  and generally parallel to the front and rear edges of the floor  14  are front and rear conveyor driveshafts  30  and  32  which may rotate along generally horizontal axes parallel to the floor  14  and aligned with their width. Apron chains  34  connected in a loop between and around the front and rear conveyor driveshafts  30  and  32  present a first extent above the floor  14  and a second extent returning below the floor  14  (not visible in  FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment, the apron chains  34  are provided in pairs, each pair connected by slats  36  extending perpendicularly to the extent of the apron chains  34  which provide upwardly extending projections that may engage with the forage in the forage box  12 . Rotation of the front and rear conveyor driveshafts  30  and  32  in one direction will cause the apron chains  34  to move so as to transport forage in one direction, for example, out of the rear of the forage box  12 , and rotation of the front and rear conveyor driveshafts  30  and  32  in the opposite direction will cause the apron chains  34  to move so as to transport forage in the opposite direction, for example, out of the front of the box  12 . 
         [0051]    The rear conveyor driveshaft  32  may connect to a rear drive mechanism  38  being, in one embodiment, a hydraulic motor as will be described below. This hydraulic motor may receive pressurized hydraulic fluid from an external source through hydraulic lines  40 , for example, connected to a hydraulic pump in a tractor or truck or the like. 
         [0052]    The front conveyor driveshaft  30  connects to a front drive mechanism  42 , as will be described in more detail below, which receives power from a power takeoff (PTO) driveshaft  44  extending forward from the front of the transporter  10  along a front-to-rear axis  45  to be received by a corresponding PTO output shaft of a tractor or truck (not shown). The PTO driveshaft  44  is received by an independent outfeed clutch  46  as will also be described below. 
         [0053]    The front drive mechanism  42 , as well as driving the front conveyor driveshaft  30 , may drive a set of three feed rollers  48 , for example augers, in rotation about a set of vertically displaced horizontal axes at the front face  22  of the feed box  12 . Generally drive mechanism  38  may directly rotate the lowest most feed roller  48  through a direct coupling shaft and power may be transmitted to the other to feed rollers  48  through a set of overlapping chain drives  50 . 
         [0054]    The front drive mechanism  42  may further provide power to a cross conveyor  52  positioned beneath and in front of the feed rollers  48  to receive outflows from the feed rollers  48  and move them in a direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear axis  45 . 
         [0055]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the outfeed clutch  46  may provide a pair of side-by-side pulley  54  and  56  rotating generally about axes parallel to the front-to-rear axis  45  and roughly aligned with the axis of the PTO driveshaft  44 , the latter of which connects directly to pulley  54 . The pulleys  54  and  56  are joined by a V-belt  49  of the reinforced elastomeric material that fits loosely about the pulleys  54  and  56  when the clutch  46  is released and which, when the clutch  46  is engaged, is tightened around the pulleys  54  and  56  by an idler wheel  60  moved against the V-belt  49  by a clutch actuation lever  62  that may be manually engaged by operator. 
         [0056]    When the outfeed clutch  46  is engaged, a chain drive sprocket  64  attached coaxially with pulley  56  drives a chain  66  which engages a cross feed conveyor drive pulley  68  driving the cross conveyor  52  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and a auger drive sprocket  70  forming part of the front drive mechanism  42 . 
         [0057]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the auger drive sprocket  70  is attached to dual groove V-belt pulley  72  so that the two rotate together yet freely about a horizontal jack shaft  74  having an axis also parallel to the axis  45 . The pulley  72  connects via a dual groove V-belt  77  with a corresponding coplanar dual groove V-belt pulley  76  displaced vertically from pulley  72  and attached to auger driveshaft  78  to rotate auger driveshaft  78 . Auger driveshaft connects to right angle drive  80  which communicates with the lowermost feed roller  48  as also shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0058]    Auger driveshaft  78  also connects with a clutch/variable speed drive C/VSD  79  formed by a master split sheave V-belt pulley  82  having co-rotating and separable opposed frustoconical sheaves  83 . Pulley  82  is attached to auger driveshaft  78  to rotate therewith and a servant variable sheave belt pulley  84  as joined by single groove V-belt  86 . As is generally understood in the art, by changing the separation between the sheaves of the master pulley  82 , the effective diameter of the master pulley  82  may be changed controlling an effective “gear” ratio between pulleys  82  and  84 . Separation of the sheaves of the pulley  82  beyond a certain point provides a clutch action effectively disengaging pulley  82  from  84 . 
         [0059]    The separation of the sheaves  83  of the master pulley  82  is controlled by a pivoting lever  90  driven by a control shaft  92 . As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the control shaft  92  terminates at a crank  93  communicating with an arm  97  to one end of lever  90 , the other end of which attaches to one of the sheaves  83  of pulley  82 . 
         [0060]    The sheaves of the servant pulley  84  are spring biased by helical compression spring  95  to accommodate the changing effective diameter of pulley  82  by reducing or expanding the effective diameter of servant pulley  84 , passively, against the spring biasing of compression spring  95 . 
         [0061]    Servant pulley  84  is attached to jack shaft  74  to rotate therewith and to drive a chain drive  94  communicating with right angle gear drive  96 , the latter which may communicate rotative power directly to front conveyor driveshaft  30 . 
         [0062]    It will be generally understood then that power is directly conducted from the PTO driveshaft  44  to the feed rollers  48  when the outfeed clutch  46  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) is engaged. That power is only then applied to the front conveyor driveshaft  30  with engagement of CIVSD  79 . This design allows the operator to control the rate of feed forage into the feed rollers  48  while ensuring that the feed rollers  48  will be up to speed before any forage is directed into them. The V-belts  77  and  86 , as well as transferring power, provide for torsional shock absorption. 
         [0063]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the control shaft  92  may include a central shaft  100  surrounded by a coaxial tubular shaft  102 , both extending generally perpendicular to axis  45  across a front of the transporter  10 . The central shaft  100  attaches directly to the crank  93  and extends rightward (as depicted in  FIG. 2 ) to a control operator  104  in the form of an L-shaped lever extending radially from the end of the control shaft  92 . The lever may be attached to a splined collar  106  that may slide along central shaft  100  and rotate therewith as a result of entering gauging splines on the central shaft  100  and splined collar  106 . The collar  106  may further be connected to the outer tubular shaft  102  through a swivel coupling  108 . In this way, axial motion  110  of the control operator  104  is transmitted through the outer tubular shaft  102  without affecting the inner shaft  100 , whereas rotational motion  112  of the control operator  104  is transmitted through the central shaft  100  to the crank  93  without affecting the outer tubular shaft  102 . 
         [0064]    A guide cowling  113  provides a slot  114  constraining motion of the control operator  104  to be able to move axially only when the control operator  104  is fully raised and to move rotationally only when the control operator  104  is in its full rightmost axial position. 
         [0065]    As depicted in  FIG. 5 , when the control operator  104  is in its full leftmost and full raised position, the crank  93  will be positioned to fully disengage the sheaves  83  of pulley  82  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) thus effectively disconnecting front conveyor driveshaft  30  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and allowing the front conveyor driveshaft  30  to freewheel. The outer tubular shaft  102  will be in its full leftmost position so that a tab  116  extending from the tubular shaft  102  will be removed from an operator  118  of a hydraulic valve  120 . This allows the hydraulic valve  120  to open allowing hydraulic fluid  122  to pass into hydraulic motor  124  forming the rear drive mechanism  38  and attached to the rear conveyor driveshaft  32 . Thus, the front conveyor driveshaft  30  will be disconnected and the rear conveyor driveshaft  32  fully connected to rotate under the influence of received hydraulic fluid. This in turn allows discharge of forage from a rear of the forage box  12  through rearward motion of the upper extent of the apron chains  34  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0066]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , control operator  104  may be retracted or moved to rightward in the axial direction as guided by slot  114  to an intermediate position. This retraction does not rotate shaft  100  and thus leaves the front conveyor driveshaft  30  disengaged from power but does retract outer tubular shaft  102  so that tab  116  engages operator  118  stopping hydraulic fluid flow and thus motion of hydraulic motor  124 . The hydraulic motor  124  may include an internal relief valve or a ratchet coupling allowing it to freewheel in a backward direction when hydraulic fluid flow ceases. Thus, in this intermediate position, neither the front conveyor driveshaft  30  nor the rear conveyor driveshaft  32  are engaged with driving power and may freewheel. 
         [0067]    It will be appreciated that an alternative type of hydraulic valve  120  may be used and the tab  116  may be repositioned so that removal of engagement of the tab  116  and operator  118  will cause a closing of the valve  120  and that the selection of a particular type valve  120  is simply a matter of engineering choice. 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the operator  104 , once at the intermediate position, may be pulled downward in rotation by a variable amount to rotate the crank  93  to engage the C/VSD  79  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) and thus to cause rotation of the front conveyor driveshaft  30  starting at low rates of rotation and increasing that rotational rate with further rotational movement of the operator  104  downward in rotational motion  112 . This rotation downward of the operator  104 , by virtue of the swivel coupling  108 , does not cause tab  116  to move away from operator  118  of valve  120  and thus holds hydraulic motor  124  in its off state. It will be appreciated that the slot  114  requires this simultaneous disengagement of the front conveyor driveshaft  30  and rear conveyor driveshaft  32  before engagement of the front conveyor driveshaft  30  may be undertaken. 
         [0069]    In the above discussion, it will be understood that although chains are described for use in the apron conveyor, that other similar materials may be used including reinforced belts and the like all of which will generally be termed belts. Further, while the above description shows a single control lever, it will be appreciated that alternative operator configurations may be used including, for example, two operator elements mechanically interlocked to act as one lever with respect to locking out simultaneous activation of the front and rear drive rollers. In addition, the term “gear ratio” should be understood as not requiring gears but refer equally to the variable diameter belt drives and the like. 
         [0070]    Certain terminology is used herein for purposes of reference only, and thus is not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “above”, and “below” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “front”, “back”, “rear”, “bottom” and “side”, describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Similarly, the terms “first”, “second” and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. 
         [0071]    When introducing elements or features of the present disclosure and the exemplary embodiments, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of such elements or features. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features other than those specifically noted. It is further to be understood that the method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed. 
         [0072]    It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein and the claims should be understood to include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims. All of the publications described herein, including patents and non-patent publications, are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.