Abstract:
A portable feed mill machine having a plurality of spaced-apart feed mills positioned on a wheeled frame such as a trailer. Any one of the feed mills may be taken out of operation for repair without the other feed mills being taken out of operation. The machine may have a plurality of mechanized devices rather than the feed mills.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a portable feed mill apparatus and more particularly to a portable feed mill apparatus wherein a plurality of spaced-apart feed mills are positioned on a wheeled frame such as a trailer. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a portable feed mill apparatus wherein any one of the feed mills on the wheeled frame may be taken out of operation for repair without the other feed mills being taken out of operation. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Feed mills such as roller mills have long been provided to grind feed such as corn, oats, etc., for feeding cattle, horses, etc. Further, in recent years, a plurality of spaced-apart feed mills have been positioned on a wheeled frame such as a trailer or truck. The feed mills on the wheeled frame are usually driven by the PTO of a tractor. The feed mills are driven in series by a drive shaft connected to the tractor PTO. However, if one of the feed mills must be repaired and taken out of operation, the other feed mills on the wheeled frame must be taken out of service while the feed mill to be repaired is out of service. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A portable feed mill apparatus is disclosed including a wheeled frame having a forward end, a rearward end, a first side and a second side. A first feed mill is mounted on the wheeled frame at the forward end thereof and a second feed mill is mounted on the wheeled frame rearwardly of the first feed mill. A third mill is mounted on the wheeled frame rearwardly of the second feed mill. Each of the feed mills have a feed hopper, with upper and lower ends, at the upper ends thereof which are configured to contain a feed constituent therein. Each of the feed mills have a rotatable mill positioned therein below the lower end of the feed hopper thereof. Each of the rotatable mills have a horizontally disposed mill drive shaft extending forwardly therefrom. Each of the mill drive shafts have a drive pulley fixedly secured thereto forwardly of the forward side thereof. A first bearing is mounted on the wheeled frame at the forward end thereof forwardly of the first feed mill and a second bearing is mounted on the wheeled frame rearwardly of the first bearing. A horizontally disposed and rotatable jackshaft, having forward and rearward ends, has its forward end mounted in the first bearing and its rearward end rotatably mounted in the second bearing. A jackshaft pulley is fixedly mounted on the jackshaft between the first and second bearings for rotation with the jackshaft. The forward end of the jackshaft is operatively connected to a rotational power source such as a PTO, motor or engine. 
     A third bearing is mounted on the wheeled frame at the first side thereof and which is positioned laterally outwardly of the jackshaft. A fourth bearing is mounted on the wheeled frame rearwardly of the third bearing. The first shaft extends rearwardly through the fourth bearing whereby the rearward end of the first shaft is positioned rearwardly of the fourth bearing. A first pulley is fixedly mounted on the first shaft between the third and fourth bearings and a first drive belt extends around the first pulley and the jackshaft pulley. A second pulley is fixedly mounted on the first shaft between the third and fourth bearings. A second drive belt extends around the second pulley and the drive pulley on the mill drive shaft of the first feed mill. A first universal joint is provided having forward and rearward ends with the forward end of the first universal joint being secured to the rearward end of the first shaft. A horizontally disposed and rotatable second shaft, having forward and rearward ends, has its forward end secured to the rearward end of the first universal joint. The apparatus also includes a second universal joint having forward and rearward ends with the forward end of the second universal joint being secured to the rearward end of the second shaft. A fifth bearing is secured to the wheeled frame rearwardly of the second universal joint and a sixth bearing is secured to the wheeled frame rearwardly of the fifth bearing. The apparatus also includes a third horizontally and rotatable shaft having forward and rearward ends with the third shaft being rotatably mounted in the fifth and sixth bearings so that the forward end of the third shaft is positioned forwardly of the fifth bearing and so that the rearward end of the third shaft is positioned rearwardly of the sixth bearing. The forward end of the third shaft is secured to the rearward end of the second universal joint. A third pulley is fixedly mounted on the forward end of the third shaft forwardly of the fifth bearing. A third drive belt extends around the third pulley and the drive pulley on the mill drive shaft of the second feed mill. 
     The apparatus further includes a third universal joint having forward and rearward ends with the forward end of the third universal joint being secured to the rearward end of the third shaft. A fourth horizontally disposed and rotatable shaft has its forward end secured to the rearward end of the third universal joint. A fourth universal joint, having forward and rearward ends, has its forward end secured to the rearward end of the fourth shaft. 
     A seventh bearing is secured to the wheeled frame forwardly of the rearward end of the wheeled frame and an eighth bearing is secured to the wheeled frame rearwardly of the seventh bearing. A fifth horizontally disposed and rotatable shaft, having forward and rearward ends, has its rearward end rotatably mounted in the eighth bearing and which extends rearwardly therefrom and has its forward end rotatably extending forwardly through the seventh bearing so that the forward end of the fifth shaft is positioned forwardly of the seventh bearing. The forward end of the fifth shaft is secured to the rearward end of the fourth universal joint. A fourth pulley is fixedly secured to the forward end of the fifth shaft forwardly of the seventh bearing. A fourth drive belt extends around the fourth pulley and the drive pulley on the mill drive shaft of the third feed mill. 
     The third-eighth bearings are selectively slidably movable laterally with respect to the wheeled frame so that associated shafts and pulleys thereon may move inwardly to enable the drive belts associated therewith to be removed therefrom if one of the feed mills requires repair. The universal joints may also be separated from their respective shafts so that the drive belts associated therewith may be removed therefrom. The fact that the individual feed mills may be taken out of operation without affecting the operation of the other feed mills of the apparatus enables the other feed mills to continue operating even though one of the feed mills has been taken out of operation for repair or maintenance. 
     Preferably, some of the bearings have belt tensioning bolt assemblies associated therewith to aid in tensioning the drive belts associated therewith. In some cases, the belt tensioning bolt assemblies may not be needed. 
     A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved portable feed mill apparatus. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a portable feed mill apparatus wherein one of the feed mills on the apparatus may be taken out of operation without affecting the operation of the other feed mills of the apparatus. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a portable feed mill apparatus which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the portable feed mill apparatus of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the portable feed mill apparatus of this invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the front end of the portable feed mill apparatus of this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a portion of the portable feed mill apparatus of this invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial top view of a portion of the portable feed mill apparatus of this invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of a portion of the portable feed mill apparatus of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The numeral  10  refers to the portable feed mill apparatus of this invention. Apparatus  10  includes a wheeled frame  12  such as a tractor with the wheeled frame  12  having a forward end  14 , a rearward end  16 , a left side  18  and a right side  20 . A hitch  22  is provided at the forward end of frame  12  for connection to a tractor or the like having a PTO shaft  24  extending rearwardly therefrom. A platform  26  is provided at the forward end of the wheeled frame  12 . A first feed mill  28  is mounted on wheeled frame  12  as seen in  FIG. 1 . Spaced-apart feed mills  30  and  32  are also positioned on wheeled frame  12  as seen in  FIG. 1 . Feed mills  28 ,  30  and  32  have feed hoppers  34 ,  36 , and  38  at their upper ends which are configured to contain feed constituents therein such as corn, oats, etc. A mill such as a roller mill is positioned in each of the feed mills below the hoppers thereof for grinding the feed therein. The ground feed is discharged from the lower ends of the feed mills. The feed mills  28 ,  30  and  32  have drive shafts extending forwardly from the roller mill therein upon which pulleys  40 ,  42  and  44  are mounted thereon respectively for rotation therewith. 
     A horizontally disposed and transversely extending first bearing  46  is mounted on platform  26  by bolts  47  and is selectively transversely slidably adjustable with respect to platform  26 . A belt tensioning bolt assembly  48  is provided to selectively move bearing  46  towards the right side  20  of wheeled frame  12  when the bolts  47  have been loosened to permit the slidable movement of bearing  46 . A horizontally disposed and transversely extending second bearing  50  is mounted on platform  26  by bolts  51  rearwardly of bearing  46  and is selectively transversely slidably adjustable with respect to platform  26 . A belt tensioning bolt assembly  52  is provided to selectively move bearing  50  towards the right side  20  of wheeled frame  12  when the bolts  51  have been loosened to permit the slidable movement of bearing  50 . A jackshaft  54  is rotatably mounted in bearings  46  and  50  so that its forward end is positioned forwardly of bearing  46  for connection to the PTO shaft  24  or to another source of rotational power such as an engine, a motor, etc. A jackshaft pulley  58  is mounted on shaft  54  between bearings  46  and  50  for rotation with shaft  54 . Preferably the bearings  46  and  50  are pillow block bearings which are self-aligning. 
     The numeral  60  refers to a horizontally disposed and transversely extending third bearing which is mounted on platform  26  laterally outwardly of bearings  46  and  50  as seen in  FIG. 3 . Bearing  60  is selectively transversely slidably adjustable with respect to platform  26  by bolts  61 . A belt tensioning bolt assembly  62  is provided to selectively move bearing  60  towards the left side  18  of wheeled frame  12  when the bolts  61  have been loosened to permit the slidable movement of bearing  60 . A horizontally disposed and transversely extending fourth bearing  64  is secured to platform  26  rearwardly of bearing  60 . Bearing  64  is selectively transversely slidably adjustable with respect to platform  26  by bolts  65 . A belt tensioning bolt assembly  66  is provided to selectively move bearing  64  towards the right side  20  of wheeled frame  12  when the bolts  65  have been loosened to permit the slidable movement of bearing  64 . A belt tensioning bolt assembly  67  is provided to selectively move bearing  64  towards the left side  18  of wheeled frame  12  when the bolts  65  have been loosened. An elongated first shaft  68 , having a forward end  70  and a rearward end  72 , is rotatably mounted in bearings  60  and  64  so that the rearward end  72  of shaft  68  is positioned rearwardly of bearing  64 . A first pulley  74  is mounted on shaft  68  for rotation therewith. A first drive belt  76  extends around pulleys  74  and  58 . A second pulley  78  is secured to shaft  68  for rotation therewith forwardly of bearing  64  as seen in  FIG. 3 . A second drive belt  80  extends around pulleys  78  and  40  as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
     The rearward end of jackshaft  54  will normally be extended rearwardly through bearing  46  so that jackshaft pulley  58  may be slipped onto jackshaft  54 . One end of the belt  76  is then slipped onto the pulley. The rearward end of jackshaft  54  will then be extended into bearing  50 . The jackshaft pulley  58  will then be secured to jackshaft  54  for rotation therewith. 
     The forward end  70  of shaft  68  will normally be extended forwardly through bearing  64  so that pulleys  74  and  78  may be slipped onto shaft  68 . The outer ends of belts  76  and  80  will then be slipped onto the pulleys  74  and  78  respectively. The forward end  70  of shaft  68  is then positioned in bearing  60 . The pulleys  74  and  78  will then be secured to shaft  68  for rotation therewith. 
     The proper tension will be imposed in belt  76  by belt tensioning bolt assemblies  48  and  52  being operated to urge bearings  46  and  50  towards the right side of the wheeled frame and by operating the belt tensioning bolt assembly  62  to urge bearing  60  towards the left side  18  of wheeled frame  12 . The nuts on bolts  47 ,  51  and  61  will then be tightened. The proper tension in belt  80  will be achieved by way of the belt tensioning bolt assembly  67 . When the belt  80  has been properly tensioned, the nuts on bolts  65  will then be tightened. 
     The numeral  82  refers to a first universal joint which has its forward end or side selectively removably secured to the rearward end  72  of shaft  68 . A second shaft  84  has its forward end secured to the rearward end of universal joint  82  and extends rearwardly therefrom. A second universal joint  86  has its forward end or side connected to the rearward end of shaft  84 . A horizontally disposed and transversely extending fifth bearing  90  is transversely slidably secured to the wheeled frame  12  rearwardly of universal joint  86  by bolts  91  and a horizontally disposed and transversely extending sixth bearing  92  is secured to wheeled frame  12  rearwardly of bearing  88  by bolts  94 . A belt tensioning bolt assembly  96  is provided to selectively move bearing  90  towards the left side  18  of wheeled frame  12  when the bolts  91  are loosened to permit the slidable movement of bearing  90 . A belt tensioning bolt assembly  98  is provided to selectively move bearing  92  towards the right side  20  of wheeled frame  12  when the bolts  94  have been loosened. An elongated shaft  100  is rotatably mounted in bearings  90  and  92  so that its forward end is positioned forwardly of bearing  90  and so that its rearward end is positioned rearwardly of bearing  92 . The forward end of shaft  100  is selectively removably secured to the rearward end of universal joint  86 . A pulley  102  is mounted on shaft  100  for rotational movement therewith forwardly of bearing  90  as seen in  FIG. 4 . A drive belt  104  extends around pulley  102  and the pulley  42  on the drive shaft of feed mill  30 . The movement of bearing  92  towards the right side of wheeled frame causes the forward end of shaft  100  to be moved towards the left side of wheeled frame. 
     The numeral  106  refers to an eighth bearing, which is identical to bearings  60 ,  64 ,  90  and  92 , which is selectively transversely slidably mounted of wheeled frame  12  by means of bolts  108  rearwardly of bearing  92 . The numeral  110  refers to a ninth bearing, which is identical to bearings  60 ,  64 ,  90  and  92 , which is selectively transversely slidably mounted on wheeled frame  12  rearwardly of bearing  106  by bolts  112 . A shaft  114  is rotatably mounted in bearings  106  and  110  so that its forward end is positioned forwardly of bearing  106  and so that its rearward end is positioned rearwardly of bearing  110 . A pulley  116  is mounted on shaft  114  forwardly of bearing  106  for rotation with shaft  114 . A belt  118  extends around pulley  116  and pulley  44  on mill  32 . A belt tensioning bolt assembly  120  is provided to selectively slidably move bearing  106  towards the left side  18  of wheeled frame  12  when the bolts  108  are loosened. A belt tensioning bolt assembly  122  is provided to selectively slidably move bearing  110  towards the right side  20  of wheeled frame  12  when the bolts  112  are loosened. 
     A third U-joint  124  has its forward end or side selectively removably secured to the rearward end of shaft  100 . A shaft  125  has its forward end secured to the rearward end of U-joint  124  and has its rearward end secured to the forward end of a fourth U-joint  126 . The rearward end of U-joint  126  is selectively removably secured to the forward end of shaft  114 . 
     In normal operation, the rotation of the jackshaft  54  by the PTO shaft  24  causes rotation of pulleys  40 ,  42  and  44  thereby rotating the mills in feed mills  28 ,  30  and  32  respectively. Assuming that mill  30  requires maintenance or repair, the operation of all the mills  28 ,  30  and  32  is temporarily halted. The belt tensioning bolt assembly  96  is then backed off and the nuts on bolts  91  of bearing  90  are loosened. The bearing  90  is then slidably moved towards the right side of wheeled frame  12  so that the tension in belt  104  is relaxed. If needed, bearing  92  may also be slidably moved towards the right side of the wheeled frame  12 . The universal joint  86  is then disconnected from the forward end of shaft  100 . The belt  104  may then be removed from pulley  102  and moved off the forward end of shaft  100  so that power to mill  30  is removed. 
     The universal joint  86  is then connected to the forward end of shaft  100  and the bearings  90  and  92  slidably moved towards the left side of wheeled frame  12  with the nuts on bolts  91  and  94  again tightened. The PTO shaft  24  is then rotated to power mills  28  and  32  during the time that mill  30  is repaired. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.