Bin sweep with inclined portion

{
  "publication_number": "US9288946B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Bin sweep with inclined portion",
  "abstract": "An elongated sweep apparatus for moving particulate matter in a bin may comprise a sweep assembly movable over the floor of the bin and including a particulate sweep structure configured to move particulate matter toward the inboard end of the elongated sweep apparatus, and a housing generally extending between opposite ends of the sweep apparatus with a portion of the sweep structure being positioned in the housing. A first portion of the particulate sweep structure may extend along a primary movement axis and a second portion of the particulate sweep structure may extend along a secondary movement axis, and the primary movement axis may extend substantially parallel to the floor and the secondary movement axis being inclined upwardly from the primary movement axis.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An elongated sweep apparatus for moving particulate matter in a bin having a bin floor on which the matter rests, a bin sump located toward a center of the bin floor, and a bin gearbox at least partially located in the bin sump, the sweep apparatus having an inboard end for locating toward a central area of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, the sweep apparatus comprising: a sweep assembly movable over the floor of the bin, the sweep assembly comprising a particulate sweep structure configured to move particulate matter toward the inboard end of the elongated sweep apparatus, and a housing extending between the opposite ends of the sweep apparatus with a portion of the sweep structure being positioned in the housing; and a connection structure configured to link the sweep assembly to the bin gearbox in a manner that maintains a portion of the particulate sweep structure over the bin sump at all rotational positions of the sweep assembly in the bin; wherein a first portion of the particulate sweep structure extends along a primary movement axis and a second portion of the particulate sweep structure extends along a secondary movement axis, the primary movement axis extending substantially parallel to the floor and the secondary movement axis being inclined upwardly from the primary movement axis.",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the particulate sweep structure is located toward the inboard end and the first portion is located toward the outboard end.",
    "3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing has a primary section extending along the primary movement axis and a secondary section extending along the secondary movement axis.",
    "4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the secondary movement axis is angled upwardly from the primary movement axis at an angle with respect to the primary movement axis.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the angle has a measurement of approximately 10 degrees to approximately 45 degrees.",
    "6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the particulate sweep structure includes a plurality of interconnected paddles movable in a succession on a path along at least a portion of the sweep assembly between the inboard and outboard ends, the path having portions on opposite horizontal sides of a vertical axis passing through the bin gearbox when the connection structure is linked to the bin gearbox.",
    "7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the plurality of paddles are mounted on an endless loop member at spaced locations along the endless loop.",
    "8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the endless loop member has a first extent extending substantially along the primary movement axis and a second extent extending substantially along the secondary movement axis.",
    "9. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a deflection structure extending downwardly from the housing at the inboard end toward the bin floor, of the housing, the deflection structure being flexible.",
    "10. An elongated sweep apparatus for moving particulate matter in a bin having a bin floor on which the matter rests and a bin sump located toward a center of the bin floor, the sweep apparatus having an inboard end for locating toward a central area of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, the sweep apparatus comprising a sweep assembly movable over the floor of the bin, the sweep assembly comprising a particulate sweep structure configured to move particulate matter toward the inboard end of the elongated sweep apparatus, and a housing extending between the opposite ends of the sweep apparatus with a portion of the sweep structure being positioned in the housing; and a drive linkage configured to connect the particulate sweep structure to a bin gearbox to receive rotational power from the bin gearbox, the drive linkage having a variable effective length for adjusting to changes in a distance between the bin gearbox and the particulate sweep structure; wherein a first portion of the particulate sweep structure extends along a primary movement axis and a second portion of the particulate sweep structure extends along a secondary movement axis, the primary movement axis extending substantially parallel to the floor and the secondary movement axis being inclined upwardly from the primary movement axis.",
    "11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the drive linkage comprises a lower link assembly for connecting to the bin gearbox to receive rotational power from the gearbox and an upper link assembly connecting the lower link assembly to the particulate sweep structure, the link assemblies being movable with respect to each other to change the effective length of the drive linkage.",
    "12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the upper and lower link assemblies pivot in a scissors-like manner with respect to each other.",
    "13. The apparatus of claim 10 additionally comprising a connection structure for connecting the sweep apparatus to the bin gearbox in a manner such that a portion of the particulate sweep structure is maintained over the bin gearbox at all rotational positions of the sweep assembly on the bin floor.",
    "14. An elongated sweep apparatus for moving particulate matter in a bin having a bin floor on which the matter rests, the bin having a bin sump located toward a center of the bin floor and a bin gearbox at least partially located in the bin sump, the sweep apparatus having an inboard end for locating toward a central area of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, the sweep apparatus comprising: a sweep assembly movable over the floor of the bin, the sweep assembly comprising: a particulate sweep structure configured to move particulate matter adjacent the sweep apparatus toward the inboard end of the elongated sweep apparatus, the particulate sweep structure including a plurality of interconnected paddles movable in a succession on a path along at least a portion of the sweep assembly between the inboard and outboard ends and an endless loop member on which the paddles are mounted at spaced locations along the endless loop; a housing extending between the opposite ends of the sweep apparatus with a portion of the sweep structure being positioned in the housing; a connection structure configured to link the sweep assembly to the bin gearbox in a manner that maintains at least some paddles of the plurality of interconnected paddles of the particulate sweep structure over the bin sump as the sweep assembly rotates in the bin; and wherein a first portion of the particulate sweep structure extends along a primary movement axis and a second portion of the particulate sweep structure extends along a secondary movement axis, the primary movement axis extending substantially parallel to the floor and the secondary movement axis being angled upwardly from the primary movement axis, the second portion of the particulate sweep structure being maintained over the bin gearbox at all rotational positions of the sweep assembly in the bin.",
    "15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the connection structure is configured to position the sweep assembly with respect to the bin gearbox such that a vertical rotation axis of the sweep assembly intersects the secondary movement axis of the particulate sweep structure as the sweep assembly rotates.",
    "16. The apparatus of claim 14 additionally comprising a drive linkage configured to connect the particulate sweep structure to the bin gearbox to receive rotational power from the bin gearbox, the drive linkage having a variable effective length for adjusting to changes in a distance between the bin gearbox and the particulate sweep structure.",
    "17. A bin sweep system comprising: a bin sump extending into the floor of the bin, the bin sump being located toward a center of the bin floor; a bin gearbox extending upwardly from the bin floor and having a rotatable drive shaft for supplying rotational power; an elongated sweep apparatus for moving particulate matter across the bin floor on which the matter rests, the sweep apparatus having an inboard end locating toward the bin gearbox of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, the sweep apparatus comprising: a sweep assembly movable over the floor of the bin, the sweep assembly comprising: a particulate sweep structure configured to move particulate matter on the floor beneath the sweep apparatus toward the inboard end of the elongated sweep apparatus, the particulate sweep structure including a plurality of interconnected paddles movable in a succession on a path along at least a portion of the sweep assembly between the inboard and outboard ends and an endless loop member on which the paddles are mounted at spaced locations along the endless loop; a housing extending between the opposite ends of the sweep apparatus with a portion of the sweep structure being positioned in the housing; and a connection structure connecting the housing to the bin gearbox to guide movement of the sweep apparatus about the bin gearbox, the connection structure connecting the housing to the bin gearbox with a path of the interconnected paddles being intersected by a vertical axis of the bin gearbox at all rotational positions of the sweep assembly the bin; wherein a first portion of the particulate sweep structure extends along a primary movement axis and a second portion of the particulate sweep structure extends along a secondary movement axis, the primary movement axis extending substantially parallel to the floor and the secondary movement axis being angled upwardly from the primary movement axis, the housing having a primary section extending along the primary movement axis and a secondary section extending along the secondary movement axis.",
    "18. The system of claim 17 wherein the inboard end of the sweep apparatus extends over the bin gearbox.",
    "19. The system of claim 17 wherein a portion of the particulate sweep structure extends over the bin gearbox.",
    "20. The system of claim 17 wherein the sweep apparatus additionally comprises a drive linkage connecting the particulate sweep structure to the bin gearbox to receive rotational power from the bin gearbox, the drive linkage having a variable effective length for adjusting to changes in a distance between the bin gearbox and the particulate sweep structure."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field\n\nThe present disclosure relates to bin sweeps and more particularly pertains to a new bin sweep with inclined portion for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency with which particulate matter such as grain may be moved inside the bin.\n\n2. Description of the Prior Art\n\nKnown bin sweeps are employed to move particulate matter, and in many applications grain particles, toward the center of the bin floor so that the grain is able to fall through an opening in the floor into a space, or sump, which is in communication with a conveyor that moves the grain below the floor from the sump to a location outside of the perimeter wall of the bin. The bin sweep is generally elongated with an inboard end that is positioned toward the center of the bin floor, and an outboard end that is positioned radially outward from the inboard end toward the perimeter wall of the bin. The perimeter of the bin is generally circular and the bin sweep rotates or pivots about the inboard end so that the outboard end moves along the circumference of the bin floor. Typically, the bin sweep makes a single pass about the bin interior and the sump to clear the bin of grain.\n\nThe bin sweep may often start the bin clearing operation buried in the grain. When operating, the bin sweep attempts to move forwardly, and in doing so, engages the grain piled in the bin interior and the sweep mechanism moves the grain to the inboard end and toward the sump. In the bin sweeps known in the art, the grain tends to fall into the sump only if the distance from the inboard end to the sump is not too far.",
  "cpc": [
    "A01F 25/2018",
    "B65G 65/425",
    "B65G 65/466",
    "B65G 69/08"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A01F 25/20",
    "B65G 65/00",
    "B65G 65/42",
    "B65G 65/46",
    "B65G 69/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Sioux Steel Co"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Eric Schuld"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2012-07-26",
  "publication_date": "2016-03-22",
  "grant_date": "2016-03-22",
  "priority_date": "2012-07-26",
  "application_number": "US-201213558775-A",
  "family_id": "55487198",
  "cited_by_count": 25,
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}