Folding auger coupling mechanism

{
  "publication_number": "US2020128736A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Folding auger coupling mechanism",
  "abstract": "A foldable auger having a first and second auger assemblies, each having a respective housing, auger screw and rotation axis. A pivot joins the assemblies, and is configured to permit the second auger assembly to fold relative to the first auger assembly. A first drive coupler is located at an end of the first auger screw and offset from the first axis, and a second drive coupler is located at an end of the second auger screw and offset from the second axis. A drive sleeve is rigidly connected to the end of the second auger screw. The drive sleeve has at least one slot that slidingly receives the second drive coupler. The second drive coupler is movable between a first position in driving connection with the first drive coupler, and a second position not in driving connection with the first drive coupler.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A foldable auger comprising: a first auger assembly comprising a first housing extending along a first axis, and a first auger screw mounted within the first housing to rotate about the first axis; a second auger assembly comprising a second housing extending along a second axis, and a second auger screw mounted within the second housing to rotate about the second axis; a pivot joining a distal end of the first housing to a proximal end of the second housing, the pivot being configured to permit the second auger assembly to move relative to the first auger assembly between a first housing position in which the second axis is not coaxially aligned with the first axis, and a second housing position in which the second axis is coaxially aligned with the first axis; a first drive coupler located at a distal end of the first auger screw and offset from the first axis; a drive sleeve located at a proximal end of the second auger screw and rigidly connected to the second auger screw, the drive sleeve comprising at least one slot offset from and extending parallel to the second axis; and a second drive coupler located at the proximal end of the second auger screw and offset from the second axis, the second drive coupler extending into the slot and being movable within the slot parallel to the second axis between a first coupler position in which the second drive coupler is in driving connection with the first drive coupler when the second housing is in the second housing position, and a second coupler position in which the second drive coupler is not in driving connection with the first drive coupler when the second housing is in the second housing position. 2. The foldable auger of claim 1, wherein the drive sleeve further comprises an annular ring and the at least one slot is formed by a gap in the annular ring. 3. The foldable auger of claim 2, wherein the second auger screw comprises a hollow shaft and the annular ring is secured to the second auger screw inside the hollow shaft. 4. The foldable auger of claim 1, wherein the second auger screw comprises a hollow shaft having a support plate located therein, the drive sleeve is fixed between the proximal end of the second auger screw and the support plate, and at least one spring is located within the hollow shaft between the drive sleeve and the support plate. 5. The foldable auger of claim 4, wherein the drive sleeve and the support plate are interconnected to form a subassembly that is attached as a unit to the second auger screw. 6. The foldable auger of claim 4, wherein the support plate comprises a bearing passage extending along the second axis, and the second drive coupler comprises a slider extending along the second axis and slidably received within the bearing passage. 7. The foldable auger of claim 1, wherein the second drive coupler comprises a slider extending along the second axis, and at least one cog extending radially with respect to the second rotation axis from a first portion of the slider. 8. The foldable auger of claim 7, wherein the drive sleeve further comprises a first bearing surface slidingly receiving the first portion of the slider, the second auger screw comprises a second bearing surface slidingly receiving a second portion of the slider, and further comprising a spring located between the first portion of the slider and the second bearing surface. 9. The foldable auger of claim 7, wherein the first drive coupler comprises a centering post extending along the first axis, and the second drive coupler comprises a centering post receptacle extending along the second axis and configured to receive the centering post when the second housing is in the second housing position. 10. The foldable auger of claim 1, wherein the first drive coupler comprises one or more first cogs extending parallel to the first axis, and the second coupler comprises one or more second cogs extending parallel to the second axis. 11. The foldable auger of claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to: apply an operating torque to rotate the first auger screw about the first axis, and wherein the first drive coupler is configured to transmit at least a portion of the operating torque to the second drive coupler when the second housing is in the second housing position and the second drive coupler is in the first coupler position; or apply an operating torque to rotate the second auger screw about the first axis, and wherein the second drive coupler is configured to transmit at least a portion of the operating torque to the first drive coupler when the second housing is in the second housing position and the second drive coupler is in the first coupler position. 12. An agricultural combine comprising: a grain hopper; and foldable auger operatively connected to the grain hopper, the foldable auger comprising: a first auger assembly comprising a first housing extending along a first axis, and a first auger screw mounted within the first housing to rotate about the first axis; a second auger assembly comprising a second housing extending along a second axis, and a second auger screw mounted within the second housing to rotate about the second axis; a pivot joining a distal end of the first housing to a proximal end of the second housing, the pivot being configured to permit the second auger assembly to move relative to the first auger assembly between a first housing position in which the second axis is not coaxially aligned with the first axis, and a second housing position in which the second axis is coaxially aligned with the first axis; a first drive coupler located at a distal end of the first auger screw and offset from the first axis; a drive sleeve located at a proximal end of the second auger screw and rigidly connected to the second auger screw, the drive sleeve comprising at least one slot offset from and extending parallel to the second axis; and a second drive coupler located at the proximal end of the second auger screw and offset from the second axis, the second drive coupler extending into the slot and being movable within the slot parallel to the second axis between a first coupler position in which the second drive coupler is in driving connection with the first drive coupler when the second housing is in the second housing position, and a second coupler position in which the second drive coupler is not in driving connection with the first drive coupler when the second housing is in the second housing position. 13. The agricultural combine of claim 12, wherein the drive sleeve further comprises an annular ring and the at least one slot is formed by a gap in the annular ring. 14. The agricultural combine of claim 12, wherein the second auger screw comprises a hollow shaft having a support plate located therein, the drive sleeve is fixed between the proximal end of the second auger screw and the support plate, and at least one spring is located within the hollow shaft between the drive sleeve and the support plate. 15. The agricultural combine of claim 14, wherein the drive sleeve and the support plate are interconnected to form a subassembly that is attached as a unit to the second auger screw. 16. The agricultural combine of claim 14, wherein the support plate comprises a bearing passage extending along the second axis, and the second drive coupler comprises a slider extending along the second axis and slidably received within the bearing passage. 17. The agricultural combine of claim 12, wherein the second drive coupler comprises a slider extending along the second axis, and at least one cog extending radially with respect to the second rotation axis from a first portion of the slider. 18. The agricultural combine of claim 17, wherein the drive sleeve further comprises a first bearing surface slidingly receiving the first portion of the slider, the second auger screw comprises a second bearing surface slidingly receiving a second portion of the slider, and further comprising a spring located between the first portion of the slider and the second bearing surface. 19. The agricultural combine of claim 17, wherein the first drive coupler comprises a centering post extending along the first axis, and the second drive coupler comprises a centering post receptacle extending along the second axis and configured to receive the centering post when the second housing is in the second housing position. 20. The agricultural combine of claim 12, wherein the first drive coupler comprises one or more first cogs extending parallel to the first axis, and the second coupler comprises one or more second cogs extending parallel to the second axis."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Some agricultural machines have an auger that is used to convey separated grain or other material from the machine to other locations. For example, an agricultural combine typically has an auger that is used to unload grain from a grain tank on the combine to an external grain cart or other receptacle. A typical auger includes an auger screw located inside a cylindrical housing. Rotation of the auger screw carries grain or other material along the length of the housing until it is expelled out the end of the housing.\n\nIn some cases, it is desirable for the auger to be retractable to protect the auger when it is not in use and to allow the equipment to be more maneuverable and to navigate through smaller spaces. Retractable augers have been provided in various configurations. For example, it is known to make the auger screw and housing as a unitary assembly that can be pivoted relative to the combine to place the auger alongside the combine's body. In this case, the entire length of the auger may be moved as a single unit relative to the rest of the equipment.\n\nIt is also known to make an auger foldable to allow the overall length of the auger to be reduced or to better conform the retracted auger to the shape of the combine. In such cases the auger includes a folding joint connecting a first auger screw and its associated housing with a second auger screw and its associated housing. Examples of such devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,033,377; 8,827,782; 7,494,409; 7,367,881; 7,287,639 and 7,168,554.",
  "cpc": [
    "A01D 41/1217",
    "A01D 41/12",
    "A01D 61/00",
    "A01F 12/46",
    "B65G 33/14",
    "B65G 33/26",
    "B65G 33/32"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A01D 41/12",
    "B65G 33/32"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "CNH Industrial America LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Clayton E. Banks, Jr.",
    "Cooper Linde",
    "William Mark McCully"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-10-30",
  "publication_date": "2020-04-30",
  "priority_date": "2018-10-30",
  "application_number": "US-201816175062-A",
  "family_id": "68424691",
  "cited_by_count": 8
}