Patent Publication Number: US-2017355538-A1

Title: Auger transfer conveyor

Description:
This disclosure relates to the field of conveyors and in particular a transfer conveyor for receiving granular material from a discharge, such as the discharge of a hopper bottom trailer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Granular material such as grain and like agricultural products are commonly transported in trailers with hoppered compartments. The granular material is discharged through an opening in the bottom center of the trailer. To receive this discharged material a conveyor intake is located under the discharge opening. In permanent conveyor installations the trailer is commonly driven over a receiving pit and the material is directed to the conveyor intake. 
     In many industries however, such as agriculture, portable conveyors are used which are moved from location to location. These portable conveyors typically include a transfer conveyor with a conveyor intake located under the trailer discharge opening, and a conveyor discharge oriented to discharge into the intake of a main conveyor. One such common transfer conveyor is a swing auger pivotally attached to the main conveyor intake, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,662,285 to Jesse. The conveyor intake is provided by a receiving container with sides sloping to direct received material into one or more generally horizontal augers, which carry the material to an inclined auger which in turn carries the material to the main auger. 
     It is also known to configure the transfer conveyor intake such that the trailer drives over the intake to locate the trailer discharge over the intake. U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,566 to Stewart et al. discloses a drive-over transfer conveyor where the conveying mechanism is provided by a chain with paddles which provides a low profile to facilitate driving over the intake. U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,839 to Compton discloses a drive-over transfer conveyor where the conveying mechanism is provided by a belt which also provides a low profile. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,066 to Kirsch discloses a drive-over transfer conveyor where the conveying mechanism inside the receiving container is provided by a pair of augers, each with an open horizontal section extending along an intake hopper and an inclined section enclosed in an auger tube and connected to the horizontal section by a universal joint. The inclined sections both discharge into an enclosed auger with a significantly larger diameter. The ramps of Kirsch are configured to fold up to provide a sufficient ramp length to allow a trailer to roll over the top of the receiving container which is higher than that of Stewart et al. 
     Since the capacity of an auger is related to its diameter, the augers in such transfer conveyors typically have a sufficiently large diameter to provide the desired capacity. Typically, there are two to three horizontal augers, each with a diameter of 6 inches or more. 
     Some products such as oilseeds and fertilizer are problematic for conveying with a belt conveyor. Oilseeds such as canola are very small and slippery and leak into various areas of the conveyor and build up a gummy accumulation on rollers and other parts. Some fertilizers react with rubber belting reducing belt life. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure provides a transfer conveyor apparatus that overcomes problems in the prior art. 
     The present disclosure provides an auger transfer conveyor apparatus for granular material. The apparatus comprises a conveyor body defined by right and left side walls, a front wall, and a floor comprising a substantially horizontally oriented front floor section and an upward and rearward sloping rear floor section. There is a plurality of substantially parallel auger assemblies, each auger assembly comprising a substantially horizontal auger section extending along the front floor section, an inclined auger section extending along the sloping rear floor section to a transfer discharge at a top edge of the rear floor section, and a flexible joint connecting the horizontal auger section to the inclined auger section. The auger assemblies are open such that during operation granular material moves from the front wall toward the transfer discharge above and between the auger assemblies, and an auger drive is operative to rotate the auger assemblies. 
     The present disclosure provides a simple and economical transfer conveyor apparatus that can be provided in a stand-alone configuration. The inclined auger sections are closely spaced and are open, not enclosed by tubes or covered with plates such that granular material such as grain moves up the sloping rear wall in a wave that is significantly higher than the auger sections themselves. The transfer conveyor apparatus can be combined with a main conveyor to form a high capacity receiving transfer conveyor with a low profile suitable for a drive over configuration. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic top view of an embodiment of an auger transfer conveyor apparatus of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic top view of an alternate arrangement of the inclined auger sections of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  where the inclined auger flights overlap; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of a combination of an auger transfer conveyor apparatus similar to the embodiment of claim  1 , connected to discharge into the intake of a main conveyor; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic top view of front and rear ends of the combination shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic top view of an alternate embodiment of an auger transfer conveyor apparatus of the present disclosure where the augers are driven by a motor connected to a rear end of one of the inclined auger shafts; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view of the conveyor body of the combination of  FIG. 1  with hopper extensions, ramps, and a grate installed thereon for using the embodiment of  FIG. 1  as a drive-over transfer conveyor and where the hopper extensions, ramps, and grate are in a lowered drive-over position; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic perspective view of the receiving hopper of  FIG. 6  where the hopper extensions, ramps, and grate are in a raised operating position 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  schematically illustrate an embodiment of an auger transfer conveyor apparatus  1  of the present disclosure for granular material. The apparatus comprises a conveyor body  3  defined by right and left side walls  5 R,  5 L, a front wall  7 , and a floor  9  comprising a substantially horizontally oriented front floor section  9 F and an upward and rearward sloping rear floor section  9 R. 
     As illustrated the right and left side walls  5 R,  5 L slope upward and rearward to follow the rear floor section  9 R. The rear portions of the right and left side walls  5 R,  5 L are also higher in order to contain the greater depth of granular material above the rear floor section  9 R. 
     A plurality of substantially parallel auger assemblies  11  each comprises a substantially horizontal auger section  11 F extending along the front floor section  9 F, an inclined auger section  11 R extending along the sloping rear floor section  9 R to a transfer discharge  13  at a top edge  15  of the rear floor section  9 R, and a flexible joint  17 , such as a universal joint connecting the horizontal auger section  11 F to the inclined auger section  11 R. An auger drive  19  is operative to rotate the auger assemblies  11 . 
     The auger assemblies  11  are open such that during operation granular material moves from the front wall  7  toward the transfer discharge  13  above and between the auger assemblies  11 . The phantom line GM in  FIG. 2  indicates generally the level of granular material in the apparatus  1  considerably above the inclined auger sections  11 R during operation. 
     Each horizontal auger section  11 F has a horizontal auger shaft  21 F and a horizontal auger flight  23 F extending from the horizontal auger shaft  21 F, and the horizontal auger flight  23 F has a horizontal auger flight diameter D 1 . Similarly, each inclined auger section  11 R has an inclined auger shaft  21 R and an inclined auger flight  23 R extending from the inclined auger shaft  21 R, and the inclined auger flight  23 R has an inclined auger flight diameter D 2 . 
     In the illustrated apparatus  1  the inclined auger flight diameter D 2  is greater than the horizontal auger flight diameter D 1 . The right inclined auger flight  23 RR is in proximity to and parallel to a rear portion of the right side wall  5 R and the left inclined auger flight  23 RL is in proximity to and parallel to a rear portion of the left side wall  5 L. The inclined auger shafts  21 R are substantially parallel and spaced apart by a spacing distance SD substantially equal to the inclined auger flight diameter D 2  such that the edges of adjacent inclined auger flights  23 R move along the same path. 
     The arrangement essentially fills the interior of the area between the right and left side walls  5 R,  5 L with rearward moving inclined auger flights  23  such that there are no dead spots where granular material can simply rest, and capacity is increased. A significant depth of granular material is generated above the inclined auger flights  23 R during conveying operations. 
       FIG. 3  schematically illustrates an alternate arrangement of the inclined auger sections  11 R′ where the inclined auger shafts  21 R′ are spaced apart by a spacing distance SD′ that is less than the inclined auger flight diameter D 2 ′. It is contemplated that moving the inclined auger shafts  21 R′ closer together as in  FIG. 3  so the inclined auger flights  23 R′ overlap will provide more area of inclined auger flights  23 R′ moving rearward and upward along the rear floor section  9 R and so increase capacity. 
     In the illustrated apparatus  1  the horizontal auger shafts  21 F extend through the front wall  7  to forward ends  25  thereof located forward of the front wall  7 , and the auger drive  19  is connected to the forward end  25  of each horizontal auger shaft  21 F to drive each auger assembly  11 . The auger drive  19  comprises a drive shaft  27  extending through the rear floor section  9 R substantially parallel to and between two of the horizontal auger sections  11 F and through the front wall  7  to a forward end  29  thereof, and a drive mechanism  31 , such as chains, gears, or the like connects the forward end  29  of the drive shaft  27  to the forward end  25  of each horizontal auger shaft  21 F. A motor  33  is connected to a rear end of the drive shaft  27  rearward of the rear floor section  9 R. 
     Alternatively, as also illustrated in  FIG. 1  in suitable situations the motor  33 ′ can be located forward of the front wall and be connected by the drive mechanism  31  directly to the forward end  25  of each horizontal auger shaft  21 F. 
     The auger transfer conveyor apparatus  1  is a stand-alone apparatus to which wheels, skids, and the like can be added to maneuver the apparatus  1  as required, or the apparatus  1  can simply be moved by a loader tractor or the like.  FIGS. 4 and 5  schematically illustrate a combination transfer and main conveyor apparatus  101  of the present disclosure. 
     As in the apparatus  1  described above the apparatus  101  comprises a conveyor body  103  defined by right and left side walls  105 R,  105 L, a front wall  107 , and a floor  109  comprising a substantially horizontally oriented front floor section  109 F and an upward and rearward sloping rear floor section  109 R. A plurality of substantially parallel auger assemblies  111  each comprises a substantially horizontal auger section  111 F extending along the front floor section  109 F with the horizontal auger shafts  121 F thereof extending through the front wall  107  to forward ends  125  thereof located forward of the front wall  107 . The auger assemblies  111  each comprise as well an inclined auger section  111 R extending along the sloping rear floor section  109 R to a transfer discharge  113  at a top edge  115  of the rear floor section  109 R, and a flexible joint  117 , such as a universal joint, connecting the horizontal auger section  111 F to the inclined auger section  111 R. 
     A main conveyor  135  is connected to the rear floor section  109 R of the conveyor body  103  and slopes rearward and upward from the transfer discharge  113 . A main intake  137  of the main conveyor  135  is configured to receive granular material from the transfer discharge  113  and convey the granular material to a main discharge  139 . In the illustrated apparatus  101  the transfer discharge  113  includes a chute  141  configured to receive granular material carried to the top edge  115  of the rear floor section  109 R and direct the granular material into the main intake  137 . 
     The main conveyor  135  could be of any type and in the illustrated apparatus  101  the main conveyor is an auger conveyor comprising a main auger  143  with a main auger shaft  145  and a main auger flight  147  extending from the main auger shaft  145  and a main auger drive  149  located at an upper end of the main auger  143  rotates the main auger shaft  145 . The lower end of the main auger shaft  145  is connected through flexible joints  117  to a drive shaft  127  extending through the rear floor section  109 R of the conveyor body  103  substantially parallel to and between two of the horizontal auger sections  111 F and through the front wall  107  to a forward end thereof, and a drive mechanism  131  connects the forward end  129  of the drive shaft  127  to the forward end  125  of each horizontal auger shaft  121 F. 
     The main auger  143  is enclosed in a main auger tube  151  and the apparatus  101  is configured such that a bottom of the main auger tube  151  and the front floor section  109 F of the conveyor body  103  rest on the ground  153 , and the conveyor discharge  113  is located at the top of the main auger tube  151 . Thus in the apparatus  101 , granular material is only moved vertically a short distance, less than the diameter of the main auger tube  151 , compared to conventional swing augers where the vertical distance moved is much greater. This relatively short vertical lift allows the open inclined auger section  111 R to move significant amounts of granular material with no tube enclosing the augers. 
     The height HB of the conveyor body  103  is only slightly larger than the horizontal auger flight diameter D 1 , and so by using horizontal auger sections  111 F with relatively small diameters, such as between about 3.5 and 4.5 inches, the height HB can be reduced to make it easier for trailer wheels to roll over the conveyor body  103  in a drive-over type transfer conveyor. 
       FIG. 6  schematically illustrates an alternate auger transfer conveyor apparatus  201  where a motor  233  is connected to a rear end of the inclined auger shaft  221 R of a selected auger assembly  211 , and wherein the drive mechanism  231  connects the forward end of the horizontal auger shaft  221 F of the selected auger assembly  211  to the forward end of each other horizontal auger shaft  211 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  schematically illustrate the conveyor body  103  with right and left rear ramps  155 R,  155 L sloping downward and outward from rear portions of the corresponding right and left side walls  105 R,  105 L of the conveyor body  103  just forward of where the floor transitions from the horizontal front floor section to the inclined rear floor section. A wheel support member  157  extends over the conveyor body  103  aligned with the right and left rear ramps  155  and is configured to support the wheels of a loaded trailer passing over the conveyor body  103 . Because granular material is carried in something like a wave above the horizontal auger sections  111 F there is a considerable depth of granular material above the horizontal auger sections  111 F at the rear end of the conveyor body  103  where the wheel support member  157  is located. Thus it is necessary that the wheel support member  157  be movable from the lowered drive-over position illustrated in  FIG. 7 , to a raised operating position shown in  FIG. 8  where same does not interfere with the flow of granular material. 
     A front ramp apparatus  159  is attached to a front end of the conveyor body  103 , and comprises a top plate  161  with right and left edges  161 R,  161 L substantially aligned with the top edges  163 R,  163 L of the right and left side walls of the conveyor body  103 , and right and left front ramps  165 R,  165 L sloping downward and outward from the right and left edges  161 R,  161 L of the top plate  161 . The front ramp apparatus  159  is outside the conveyor body  103  and so can remain in the same position during drive-over or conveying operations. 
     To contain the depth of granular material that is generated above the horizontal auger sections  111 F during conveying operations, right and left hopper extension plates  167 R,  167 L are pivotally attached to the top edges  163 R,  163 L of the right and left side walls. The right and left hopper extension plates  167 R,  167 L extend rearward from the front wall  7  of the conveyor body  103  and are movable from a lowered drive-over position resting on the corresponding right and left rear ramps  155  as seen in  FIG. 7 , to a raised operating position sloping upward and outward from the top edges  163 R,  163 L of the corresponding right and left side walls. 
     Typically, a grate  169  for safety will extend over the middle portion of the conveyor body  103  where the discharge of a hoppered trailer will be located. This grate  169  is also movable from a lowered drive-over position substantially aligned with top edges  163 R,  163 L of the right and left side walls as seen in  FIG. 7 , to a raised operating position as seen in  FIG. 8 . Conveniently as shown, the grate  169  and the wheel support member  157  are pivotally attached to the right and left hopper extension plates  167 R,  167 L and move with the right and left hopper extension plates  167 R,  167 L from the lowered drive-over position of  FIG. 6  to the raised operating position of  FIG. 8 . 
     The present disclosure provides a simple and economical transfer conveyor apparatus  1  that can be provided in a stand-alone configuration or combined with a main conveyor to form a high capacity receiving transfer conveyor with a low profile suitable for a drive over configuration. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.