Patent Application
20150237803
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to farm equipment, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for transferring agricultural material from a storage bin or container to farm equipment, such as a seed tender.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transfer conveyors are generally used to assist in the transfer of material from a storage bin or container to another bin or container. For example, in farming applications, transfer conveyors are sometimes used to transfer seed from a storage bin or container to a seed tender.
However, transfer conveyors known in the art are large and have to be transported separately from the other farm equipment to the work site. The transportation of the transfer conveyor requires additional workers and/or extra equipment (e.g., a truck or a trailer).
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a transfer conveyor for transport on a farm implement with a trailer including a dock configured to store the transfer conveyor includes a receptacle defining a receiving area with an open top and a first conveyor disposed in the receiving area and configured to move material in the receiving area along an axis. The transfer conveyor further includes a second conveyor having an end pivotably coupled to the receptacle adjacent an opening in a side or bottom of the receptacle. The second conveyor is pivotable between a storage position in which the second conveyor is positioned across the open top of the receptacle and an operating position in which the second conveyor extends outwardly from the receptacle.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle includes a plurality of wheels and at least one of the plurality of wheels propels the conveyor.
In an embodiment of the present invention, an angle of the second conveyor relative to the axis of the first conveyor is adjustable in the operating position.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle also includes a sump at the bottom of the receiving area and the first conveyor is configured to convey material from the sump.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle further includes a coupling member which protrudes from the top of the receptacle adjacent the open top, and the second conveyor is pivotably coupled to the coupling member.
In another aspect of the present invention, a farm implement for transporting a transfer conveyor includes a trailer and a bin mounted on the trailer. The farm implement also includes a conveyor positionable in a loading position in which a conveyor output is positioned over the bin. The farm implement further includes a dock mounted on the trailer and configured to support a transfer conveyor. The dock is moveable between a storage position and a deployed position in which the dock is inclined and an end of the dock contacts a ground.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the transfer conveyor is configured to be moved on and off the dock. A height of the transfer conveyor may be less than a distance between the dock and the farm implement conveyor when the cart conveyor is in a transport position.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dock is extendable.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the trailer includes support members including a cavity in which the dock is mounted.
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 and not intended to limit the invention to the preferred embodiments described and/or illustrated herein.
The transfer conveyor 100 includes a receptacle 102 with a base 103 and sidewalls 105 extending upwardly from the base to an opening 104 at the top of the receptacle 102. The base 103 and the sidewalls 105 define a receiving area 106 for material to be transferred via the transfer conveyor 100. The opening 104 and the receiving area 106 are configured to receive material from a discharge of a storage bin or container, such as a bin or container mounted on a trailer (see, e.g.,
The transfer conveyor 100 is configured to transfer material, such as seed, from a storage bin to a farm implement, such as a seed tender 150, and the receiving area 106 has at least enough capacity to receive the material discharged from the storage bin without overflowing prior to transferring the material to the seed tender 150. The transfer conveyor 100 may also include a grate 108 positioned in the opening 104 to break up any material entering the conveyor and to help prevent an operator from placing his hand in the conveyor while parts are moving.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle 102 is mounted on wheels 118a-d. At least two of the wheels 118a-b at one end of the transfer conveyor 100 are motor driven. The other wheels 118c-d may be driven or un-driven. If un-driven, the wheels 118c-d are preferably mounted to also swivel about a vertical axis for maneuverability, as shown.
The transfer conveyor 100 also includes a first conveyor section or portion 109 disposed in receptacle 102 at the bottom of the receiving area 106 and a second conveyor section or portion 110 extending outwardly from the receptacle 102. The first conveyor portion 109 is configured to convey material along a longitudinal axis A (see
A first end of the tubular housing 111 is in communication with a discharge opening in a side wall 105 of the receptacle 102, adjacent a terminal end of the first conveyor portion 109, to receive material from the receiving area 106. A second end of the tubular housing 111 carries a spout 112 for directing material from the second conveyor portion 110 to another farm implement, such as a seed tender.
The second conveyor 110 includes a discharge 112 and a first end 114 pivotably coupled to the base 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first end of the second conveyor 110 is pivotably coupled to the base 102 at a coupling member 116, which may be a protrusion extending from the base 102 on the face which the second conveyor 110 is adjacent in the storage position. The coupling member 116 may include an opening in which the first end of the transfer conveyor 114 is positioned.
In operation, the first conveyor portion 109 conveys material out of the receptacle 102 to the second conveyor portion 110, and the second conveyor portion 110 discharges the material from the transfer conveyor 100 via spout 112. The second conveyor portion 110 is pivotable between a stored position (
The seed tender 150 includes a trailer 152 with a gooseneck hitch, a bin 154 coupled to the trailer 152, and a seed tender conveyor 156 coupled to the seed tender by a support arm 162 that permits the conveyor to be pivoted between loading and unloading positions, e.g., as described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 8,221,047, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The conveyor 156 may be positioned in an unloading position (
In accordance with the present invention, the seed tender 150 is also provided with a dock 164 coupled to the trailer 152. More specifically, the trailer 152 is provided with a pair of support members 163 extending forwardly of the bin 154 in a generally parallel relation to one another and the longitudinal axis C to connect with the gooseneck hitch at the front of the trailer. In an embodiment of the present invention, the support members 163 may be angled relative to each other such that the distance between the support members narrows moving away from the bin 154. In an embodiment, the support members 163 have respective depressed portions 165 in longitudinal alignment with one another to define a platform that cradles the ramp or dock 164. In the embodiment shown, the ramp or dock 164 is coupled to the support members 163 between the front of the bin 154 and the hitch. The dock 164 is configured to support the transfer conveyor 100 and can be moved between a horizontal storage position (
The dock 164 may be two tracks or rails spaced apart such that the tires 118 a-d of the transfer conveyor can engage both tracks simultaneously. In another embodiment, the dock 164 may be a single ramp at least as wide as the transfer conveyor 150. In an embodiment of the present invention, the dock 164 may be mounted on a frame 168 including cross-members extending transversely between the rails of the dock 164. The frame 168 is configured to assist the dock in supporting the weight of the transfer conveyor 100 and in maintaining the orientation and alignment of the rails of the dock 164 when the dock 164 is moving between storage and deployed positions.
The dock 164 may include telescoping members 170 a-b (e.g., like the rails shown) including a top member 170a which houses a bottom member 170b. The dock 164 is preferably pivotably coupled to the trailer 152 at a first location and detachably coupled to the trailer 152 at a second location (e.g., via the transfer conveyor). In an embodiment, the dock 164 is coupled to the trailer at the second location by a ratchet and strap assembly 174 that connects the transfer conveyor 100 to the trailer to maintain the dock 164 in a horizontal storage position between the transfer conveyor 100 and the trailer 152. Alternatively, the ratchet and strap assembly 174 may be connected directly to the dock to secure the dock 164 to the trailer 152 in the storage position when the transfer conveyor 100 is not loaded on the trailer.
To move the dock 164 from the storage position to the deployed position, the transfer conveyor is detached from the trailer 152 at the second position allowing the dock to pivot about the first position. Bottom rail members 170b are extended laterally outwardly (relative to the longitudinal axis of the trailer) from respective top rail members 170a. The transfer conveyor 100 is then moved on to the extended bottom members 170b (either by self-propulsion or a winch and cable system, or the like), and the dock 164 is configured such that the shift in weight of the transfer conveyor from the upper members to the extended lower members is sufficient to cause the dock 164 to pivot downwardly until ends of the bottom members 170b contact the ground. In an embodiment of the present invention, a damper (such as a hydraulic, pneumatic or spring-cushioned shock absorber) may be positioned between the trailer 152 and the dock 164 to control the rate of descent of the ramp.
In order to move the dock back into a storage position, the transfer conveyor 100 is propelled up or pulled by a powered or manual winch and cable onto the dock 164 until it is on the top members 170b, and the weight of the transfer conveyor 100 causes the dock to pivot into a storage position. In an embodiment, the dock 164 may include wheel stops 166 configured to stop the motion of a transfer conveyor 100 at an end of the dock opposite the open end of the top members 170a. The stops 166 may be plates or protrusions extending upwardly from the dock 164. The dock 164 may also include a hook 172 attached to the trailer 152 and configured to engage a loop or other protrusion on the transfer conveyor 100 when it is driven up the dock 164. The hook 172 and the stops 166 stop the motion of the transfer conveyor 100 when it is driven up the dock into a storage position and assist in maintaining the transfer conveyor 100 in the storage position securely during transport. In an embodiment of the present invention, a second damper may be positioned between the dock 164 and the trailer 152 to control the descent of the dock 164 when moving from the deployed position to the storage position. When the dock 164 has returned to a storage position, the transfer conveyor is coupled to the strap and ratchet assembly 174 to maintain it in position.
Once a desired amount of material has been transferred, the bin discharge is closed and the conveyor portions are turned off. The transfer conveyor may then be steered out from underneath the storage bin and the second conveyor portion folded into the storage position. The transfer conveyor may then be steered to the trailer and made to climb the ramp until it is in the storage or transport position.
A second control member 2 may control operation of the conveyor members housed in the first conveyor portion 109 and the second conveyor portion 110. For example, the second control member 2 may be a switch or knob to turn the conveyor members on and off. A third control member 3 may control the speed of the conveyor members when they are in operation. The third control member 3 may be a toggle or joystick. In an embodiment of the present invention, the same control member may turn the conveyor on and off and control the speed of the conveyor. The fourth control member 4 may be configured to control pivoting or folding of the second conveyor portion 110 about its first end 114. The fourth control member 4 may be used to move the second conveyor portion 110 from a storage position to an operating position, and, in the operating position, control the height of the spout 112 via the angle of the second conveyor portion 110. The controller 1600 may be on board the transfer conveyor 100 or it may be separate from the transfer conveyor 100 and coupled via a cord or wirelessly (e.g., using radio frequency signals).
From the above it will be appreciated that the transfer conveyor and the farm implement for transporting the same of the present invention allows a transfer conveyor to be transported to a work location on the same farm implement with which it will be operating. It will also be appreciated that various changes can be made to the system without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, the transfer conveyor may be propelled by tracks or treads instead of wheels. In another example, the conveyor portions or members in the transfer conveyor can be belt conveyors, screw augers or pneumatic conveyors. In a further example, the motors can be gas, electric or hydraulic drive motors, or some combination of the foregoing types of drive motors. In another example, the transfer conveyor can be used to transfer material from stationary bins or containers or bins or containers on trucks, trailers or rail cars. In a further example, the transfer conveyor can be used to transfer various types of agricultural materials, including, without limitation, seed, grains, fertilizer, feed, etc. These and other modifications are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13765592 | Feb 2013 | US |
| Child | 14697326 | US |
