Patent ID: 8136654

Claim:
An auger conveyor, comprising: a housing having at least one end; a first mounting bracket comprising a pair of parallel rails that form a first landing and a second mounting bracket comprising a pair of parallel rails that form a second landing, wherein the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket are attached to the housing at locations so as to be positioned diametrically opposite one another; a first auger screw section attached to a first end of the coupling shaft; and a second auger screw section attached to a second end of the coupling shaft; an auger support assembly having a lateral member connected to a bushing assembly, wherein the lateral member has a first end and a second end, where the coupling shaft is rotatably mounted within the bushing assembly, and wherein the first end and second end of the lateral member have geometries that are adapted to slidably engage with the first landing of the first mounting bracket and the second landing of the second mounting bracket, respectively; wherein the auger support assembly and the coupling shaft are located within the housing, and the first end and second end of the lateral member are engaged with, but not affixed to, the first landing of the first mounting bracket and the second landing of the second mounting bracket, respectively, to support the coupling shaft within the housing and enable slidable insertion and removal of the auger support assembly, coupling shaft and first and second auger screw sections from the at least one end of the housing.