Abstract:
A drain apparatus for the intake end of an auger is disclosed. The drain apparatus comprises a bearing with radial arms, a cover with a cover portion, a drain and a drain cap for removably closing the opening of the drain. The drain apparatus facilitates a clean in place procedure.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not Applicable  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to auger transport apparatus, and more specifically to a cleaning drain apparatus for an auger assembly.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    This invention relates generally to the field of auger-type conveyors (hereinafter “augers”) and more specifically to an improved cleaning drain apparatus for an auger. Augers are well known in the art, examples of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,507,873; 2,541,984; 3,057,522; 4,613,275 and 5,009,254, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Augers are known to be an efficient means of unloading particulate or semi-fluid materials. By way of example, augers are useful to unload grain, beaded ice cream, and popcorn, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,800,116; 5,126,156 and 5,657,684, respectively, the disclosures of which hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
           [0005]    A typical auger comprises a helical flight or screw type conveyor enclosed within a conduit. Proximal to one end of the conduit is an outlet for expelling material moved by the auger. An intake end is disposed at the opposite end of the conduit. Proximal to the intake end of the conduit is an intake in the form of an upwardly disposed neck. The intake end of the conduit is generally disposed below the outlet end of the conduit. Material is fed to the intake by gravity. Rotation of the screw type conveyor draws material upwards from the bottom of the transport mechanism to the top of the transport mechanism, where it is subsequently discharged from the outlet into a receptacle.  
           [0006]    United States Patent Application 2002/0129616, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, discloses an auger comprising improvements that facilitate cleaning in place. The auger comprises a novel drain line at the outlet end to provide a port of exit for wash and rinse solutions. In addition, the auger assembly is configured with a faceplate that may be removed to permit the removal of debris that may accumulate near the bottom of the auger. Despite these improvements, deficiencies in the cleaning system are still encountered. First, because the flow of cleaning solutions around the outlet end is not optimal, cleaning in place does not always provide the desired degree of cleaning. Second, because the faceplate supports the auger bearing at the bottom of the auger, removal of the faceplate to clean the outlet end destabilizes the screw type conveyor, making it vulnerable to damage. There remains a need in the art for improvements in auger conveyors that improve cleaning in place, and which allow access to the inside of the auger bottom for cleaning purposes without destabilizing the screw type conveyor.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The primary object of the invention is to provide a drain line apparatus for an auger assembly that provides improved flow characteristics for wash and rinse solutions to facilitate cleaning in place.  
           [0008]    Another object of the invention is to provide a bearing support for an auger assembly that permits wash and rinse solutions to flow freely around the bearing support.  
           [0009]    Another object of the invention is to provide a bearing support for an auger assembly that is stable when it is exposed for cleaning.  
           [0010]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.  
           [0011]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a drain line apparatus for an auger assembly comprising a rounded cover part, a drain line part, and a means for closing the drain line part.  
           [0012]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a bearing support for an auger assembly comprising radial arms that attach a bearing to the conduit of the auger. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a side view of an auger assembly incorporating the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 a  is a sectional view of the intake end of the auger assembly in FIG. 1.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 b  is a sectional view of the intake end of the auger assembly taken along section line  2 B- 2 B in FIG. 1.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 shows a side view of an auger assembly  10  of the present invention. The auger comprises a screw type conveyor  20  coupled to and extending around a rotatable axle  25  enclosed within a conduit  30 . Near an intake end  40  of the conduit  30  is an upwardly disposed intake  50 . The intake  50  receives material, such as frozen beads of ice cream or other particulate material, which is fed to the intake  50  by gravity. When the axle  25  is rotated around its axis or rotation, the coupled screw type conveyor  20  rotates around the same axis, drawing material from the intake  50  through the conduit  30 , and conveying it to the outlet  60 , where the material is subsequently discharged. The screw type conveyor  20 , axle  25 , conduit  30 , intake  50  and outlet  60  are constructed of materials customarily used in the art, such as stainless steel.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 a  shows that the axle  25  is positioned within a lower bearing  35 , which permits rotation of the axle  25  relative to the conduit  30 . The lower bearing  35  is coupled to a lower bearing support  36 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 b  illustrates a cross section through the intake end  40  of the conduit  30  at the level of the lower bearing  35 . In the present embodiment, three arms  90  of the bearing support  36  rigidly support the bearing  35  such that axle  25  remains in the center of the conduit  30 .  
         [0021]    Returning to FIG. 2 a , a cover  80  (also referred to herein as a “cover structure”) closes the intake end  40  of the conduit  30 , by attaching to the bearing support  36 . By way of example, the cover  80  may be constructed from stainless steel, although other construction materials are suitable. In the embodiment shown, the cover  80  is secured to the bearing support  36  with bolts  95 , which, by way of example, may be constructed of brass, with a gasket  96  interposed between the cover  80 , which gasket  96 , by way of example, may be constructed of Teflon, and the bearing support  36 . The cover  80  comprises a cover part  82 , a drain line  84 , and a means for closing the drain line  84 , such as cap  86 , or alternatively a valve or stopper. The cover part  82  provides a chamber below the bearing  35  and bearing support  36  into which wash and rinse solutions can flow, providing an optimal cleaning environment. In the preferred embodiment, the cover part  82  is substantially rounded or hemispherical, which has been observed to provide the best results when cleaning in place.  
         [0022]    While the auger assembly  10  is in operation conveying material, the drain line is closed, for example by securely but removably attaching a drain cap  86  to the drain line  84 . In one embodiment, the drain cap  86  is removably attached to the drain  84  with sanitary Tri-Clamp fittings. For example, Tri-Clamp ferrule P/N L14AM7 may be used for the drain line  84 . In this embodiment, the drain cap  86  is Tri-Clamp solid end cap P/N 16AMP. A Tri-Clamp gasket P/N 40MP-UW is inserted between the drain line  84  and the drain cap  86 , and Tri-Clamp single pin heavy duty clamp P/N 13MHHM removably secures the drain cap  86  to the drain  84 .  
         [0023]    Debris has a tendency to fall from material conveyed by the auger assembly  10 , accumulating around the bearing  35  and bearing support  36 . In the prior art, this debris could be effectively cleaned only by dismantling the intake end  40  of the auger assembly  10  followed by flushing with cleaners and disinfectants. However, the fluid flow forces generated near and around the bearing  35  were not sufficient to dislodge the debris. In the present invention, the auger assembly  10  may be readily cleaned without dismantling. To clean the auger assembly  10 , the drain line  84  is opened, and wash and rinse solutions and disinfectants are passed into the conduit  30  through the outlet  60  and/or the intake  50 . Alternatively, a nozzle may be provided at the outlet end of the auger assembly for accepting wash and rinse solutions. The wash and rinse solutions and disinfectants flow downward against the flighting of the screw type conveyor, passing freely between the arms  90  of the bearing support  36 , and exiting from the drain  84 . The currents or fluid flow forces created by the cleaners and disinfectants, flowing past the bearing  35 , between the arms  90 , between the bearing support  36  and cover structure  80  and exiting through the drain  84 , effectively remove debris from the bearing  35  and the arms  90 , allowing the auger assembly  10  to be cleaned without dismantling. When removal of the cover structure  80  is required to allow inspection of the interior of the intake end  40 , the bearing  35  is advantageously attached to the conduit  30 , allowing removal of the cover structure  80  without destabilizing the screw type conveyor  20 .  
         [0024]    The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment or embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly and legally entitled.