Patent Publication Number: US-2022234818-A1

Title: Seed carrier with pivoting conveyor

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/918,785, filed Jul. 1, 2020, which is a Continuation of Ser. No. 16/384,457, filed Apr. 15, 2019, which is a Continuation of Ser. No. 15/673,724, filed on Aug. 10, 2017, now abandoned, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/606,794, filed on Jan. 27, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,745,123 which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/541,553, filed Jul. 3, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,967,940, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/031,867, filed Feb. 15, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,221,047, which claims priority to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/901,321 filed on Feb. 15, 2007, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a conveyor system for a grain or seed carrier. The conveyor system includes a novel pivot system that allows it to either load or unload a container by pivoting it into a loading or unloading position. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Conveyor systems for moving grain, seed, etc. are well known. Auger systems are used to rapidly move grain such as feed or the like, while belt driven conveyors are often used for moving more expensive payload, such as seed. 
     One belt driven conveyor system includes a generally flat belt constructed from a flexible, sturdy material such as rubber or nylon. The conveyor is housed in a tube with rollers on both ends so that the belt may rotate in order to transmit material from one end to the other. Such conveyors are used for unloading seed carriers or the like. However, current conveyors have several problems. 
     First, current conveyors have the problem that the material being moved can be damaged by the rollers. Second, current conveyors do not have a full range of motion as implemented in seed carries. Third, current conveyors are only implemented for unloading. 
     There is a need for new and improved conveyor systems that allow a wagon to be unloaded and loaded using a single mechanism. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a seed tender or carrier is provided that includes a main hopper for holding seed and a conveyor for transferring seed to and from the main hopper. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, in an unloading position, one end of the conveyor may be positioned under the discharge of the main hopper and coupled with a pivoting support arm. In the unload position, the conveyor can be used to transfer seed from the main hopper to another location, such as to a planter, seeding unit, or the like. A pivot mechanism allows the conveyor to be rotated from under the box into a loading position in which the conveyor intake can rest on the ground or on a stand while the conveyor discharge is positioned to allow conveyed material to be discharged into the main hopper. In this loading position, the conveyor can be used to fill the main hopper. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a conveyor hopper is provided on the intake side of the conveyor. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pivot mechanism allows the conveyor to swing from side to side to simplify unloading of the main hopper and the filling of planters, etc. The pivot mechanism can include a hydraulic cylinder that adjusts the vertical height of the conveyor discharge relative for different filling applications. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a pivot single pivot point can be provided at one end of the support arm to allow the conveyor to be rotated between the loading and unloading position. The conveyor may be balanced on the pivot point at a location near or at the center of gravity, thereby permitting the conveyor to be rotated with minimal effort on the part of the operator. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor can be rotated through at least 180 degrees about a vertical axis and so that it may be positioned in either a forward or rearward transport position. This feature enables the tender to be pulled by different vehicles such as by a pick-up truck with the conveyor forward or by a grain truck with the conveyor rearward. 
     Further applications and advantages of various aspects and embodiments of the present invention are discussed below with reference to the drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a seed carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of a seed carrier in an unloading position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a seed carrier in a loading position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of a base system for the seed carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a view of a lever mechanism for the base system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of a seed carrier in a transport position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a view of a belt conveyor for the seed carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a view of the discharge end of a conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a forward view of a conveyor belt wrapping around a roller according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a view of the conveyor hopper in an unloading position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates the receiving end of the conveyor according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, a number of illustrative embodiments are described herein with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as providing examples of the principles of the invention and such examples are not intended to limit the invention to preferred embodiments described herein and/or illustrated herein. 
     In embodiments of the present invention, the novel conveyor pivot system can be implemented with seed carrier or seeding machines. The following section describes non-limiting examples of illustrative seeding equipment according to embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the following examples are provided for illustration and the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described herein. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram depicting a seed carrier having a tube conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention. The seed carrier  100  includes a main hopper  105  coupled to a frame  107  by legs  106 . A conveyor  104  is supported by a support arm  102  coupled with a pivoting mechanism  101  fixed to the frame  107 . The conveyor  104  is pivotably coupled with the support arm by a coupling  103  at a point that is preferably near or at the center of gravity of the conveyor  104 . The conveyor  104  is also coupled to the support arm  102  by a latch (not shown) at the bottom of the conveyor. The latch allows the conveyor  104  to be uncoupled from the support arm  102  at the bottom so that the conveyor is free to rotate about the coupling  103 . By positioning the coupling  103  at or near the center of gravity of the conveyor  104 , the conveyor  104  balances on the pivoting coupling  103  such that little effort is required to rotate the conveyor  104 . 
     The conveyor  104  includes a conveyor hopper  108  at its base, which is shown in the unloading position below the gravity discharge  110  of the main hopper  105 . At the other end of the conveyor  104  is the discharge  112 . Seed can be gravity feed from the main hopper  105  into the conveyor hopper  108 , which can then be moved to the discharge  112  of the conveyor  104  by an internal elevator (not shown). In one embodiment, the elevator is a motor-driven belt type elevator coupled onto rollers at both ends of the conveyor. 
     The seed carrier  100  may be transported by conventional means such as on a trailer.  FIG. 2  illustrates the seed carrier  100  on a three axle trailer  200  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the conveyor  104  is in the unloading position. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the seed carrier  100  in the loading position. As shown, the conveyor  104  is uncoupled from the support arm  102  at its base and rotated 180 degrees about pivot coupling  103  so that the conveyor hopper  108  is positioned at a convenient location away from the carrier while the discharge  112  of the conveyor  104  is located over the main hopper  105 . A stand  307  is provided for holding the conveyor hopper  108  in place. The stand  307  may be integrated with the conveyor  104 . 
     Accordingly, in the loading position, grain, seed or like can be feed into the conveyor hopper  108  to be moved to the discharge  112  for filling the main hopper  105 . 
       FIG. 4  is a view of the pivoting base of the support arm  102 . As shown, the support arm  102  can be pivotably coupled to a base  401  at a center point so that the support arm  102  is rotatable about a vertical axis. Wheels  403  provide support and can run along a track  402  to facilitate the support arm&#39;s  102  motion about the perimeter of the base  401 . The support arm  102  can be locked into a selected position of the base  401  by engaging a pin (not shown) with one of a plurality of the holes  407  distributed around the base  401 . The pin is disengaged with a hole by actuating a lever mechanism  404 , which lifts the pin out of a hole. The lever mechanism  404  may be spring actuated to bias the pin toward the holes, so that simply releasing the lever will allow the pin to engage with one of the holes  407 . Also shown, a hydraulic piston  405  is coupled with the support arm  102  for adjusting the height of the support arm  102 . 
       FIG. 5  is an alternative view of the support arm base. As shown, lever mechanism  404  includes a handle  504  coupled with a cross-bars  505  and  506 . Cross-bar  506  is coupled to cross-bar  505  on one end and to a plate  508  having a pin  509  on the other end, and with a pivoting coupling  502  at a point near the plate. Rotating the handle  504  applies a downward force to crossbar  506  causing it to rotate about the coupling  502  to raise the plate  508  to disengage the pin  509 . While disengaged, the base  401  is free to rotate about its vertical axis. Springs may be provided for biasing the pin  509  toward the holes  407  for engaging therewith, or the pin  509  can be engaged by gravity. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a seed carrier  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the conveyor  104  includes an elongated discharge spout  602  and is positioned in a transport position. Support members  604  may be mounted on or integral with the legs  106  for holding the conveyor  104  in a forward transport position as shown, or a rearward transport position. As shown, the carrier  100  is fixed to a dual axle trailer  606 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a basic belt driven conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention. The conveyor  104  comprises a belt  702  that winds about a pair of rollers  704 . The rollers are positioned outside a tube section  706 , a first roller being positioned in the discharge  112  and a second roller being positioned below the conveyor hopper  108 . A motor (not shown) or other means for turning the rollers may be provided at either end of the conveyor. A void  707  exists below the rollers  704  to allow the belt  702  to travel on its return path. 
       FIG. 8  is a view of a conveyor belt according to an embodiment of the present invention. The discharge end of a conveyor is shown where a conveyor belt wraps around a motor driven roller  802 . The motor may be a hydraulic motor and therefore, hydraulic hoses  804  provide hydraulic fluid flow to and from the motor. Teeth  806  are provided to push grain or seed up the conveyor. As shown, the conveyor belt is cupped in the tube section but flattens out as it reaches the roller  802 . Channeling members (seals)  808  are provided on each side of the belt to form a seal and prevent grain or seed from falling off the edges of the belt as the belt begins to conform to the tubular portion of the conveyor  104 . 
       FIG. 9  is a front view of the belt as it travels over the roller  802 . Channeling members (seals)  902  are provided on each side of the belt to form a seal and prevent grain or seed from falling off the edges of the belt as the belt flattens at the roller. As shown, the channeling members  902  are fixed to the conveyor discharge  112  with bolts, but can be fixed by other means or can be integral with the discharge. 
     Discs  904  are provided at the rollers at the edge of the belt to provide additional channeling/sealing means. The discs  904  are preferably integral with the rollers or coupled therewith so that they may rotate. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the hopper end of the conveyor  104 . As shown, conveyor hopper  108  sits above in ingress to the conveyor  104 . When coupled to the support arm  102 , as shown, the conveyor hopper  108  is positioned below a discharge of the main hopper  106 . The discharge  110  may be opened by conventional means. As showed, a wheel handle mechanism  1004  is provided for opening the discharge doors  1006 . 
     The conveyor hopper  108  is preferably manufactured from light weight materials such as plastic, canvas, rubber or vinyl. As shown, the hopper  108  may include a mechanism for opening and closing the hopper. In this embodiment, flexible coupling or hinge is provided at one end  1008  of the hopper  108  and a mechanism  1010  is provided at the end of the hopper  108  and is coupled with the conveyor  104 , such that the hopper  108  may be made to have an appropriate fit with the discharge  110  of the main hopper  105 . A flap  1012  can be provided at the bottom of the discharge  110 . 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic view of the hopper end of the conveyor. As is shown, a brush seal  1101  can be located across the belt  702 . The brush seal  1101  retains the conveyed material within the hopper and does not allow the material to enter the void  707  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) under the roller. Such an arrangement is desirable because it prevents the conveyed material from being subjected to mechanical agitation, which would result in damage to the conveyed material. The brush seal  1101  allows the conveyor teeth  806  to pass, but not the conveyed material. 
     One will understand that hydraulic power can be provided by a towing vehicle, such as a tractor or the like or alternatively, hydraulic power can be provided on the tender and driving electrically from the towing vehicle, such as a truck. 
     Thus, a number of preferred embodiments have been fully described above with reference to the drawing figures. Although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions could be made to the described embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention.