Patent ID: 7736048

Claim:
An auger assembly operable within a hopper having a hopper length dimension, said auger assembly comprising: at least two auger segments, each auger segment including a shaft defining a central axis of said auger segment and fighting affixed to said shaft to convey material engaged by said fighting along said central axis when said shaft is rotated, said shaft have an end formed with a half round connection portion, each said auger segment having a segment length dimension that is less than said hopper length dimension; at least one interior bearing mounted to a support structure and having a jack shaft rotatably supported by said interior bearing, said jack shaft extending outwardly from each side of said interior bearing and having opposing half round connection ends configured in a mating relationship with said half round connection portion of said auger segment located on opposing sides of said interior bearing, the summation of the segment length dimensions being substantially equal to said hopper length dimension, said jack shaft and said auger shafts being aligned; a fastener connecting each said half-round connection end to a corresponding half round connection portion on the corresponding said auger segment shaft; and a pair of outer end bearings mounted on said support structure and rotatably receiving the shaft of the corresponding said auger segment.