Integrated single-pivot auger box

Claim 2

An integrated single-pivot auger box comprising a box body defining a storage chamber for support upon an underlying support surface and having a discharge opening therein adjacent to the lower portion thereof, an elongated auger tube mounted on said box body for pivoting only about a single fixed pivot axis disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said auger tube, said auger tube having an aperture in one end thereof in registration with said discharge opening in all of the pivoted positions of said auger tube, said pivot axis being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the horizontal and being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said box body, said auger tube being pivotal between a rest position and a discharge position, said auger tube in the rest position thereof being disposed adjacent to said box body and extending upwardly from said discharge opening, said auger tube in the discharge position thereof extending laterally from said box body with the discharge end thereof disposed above the underlying support surface, and an auger in said auger tube for carrying material from said discharge opening to the discharge end of said auger tube when said auger tube is in said rest position and said discharge position.

Claim 3

The integrated single-pivot auger box set forth in claim 1, wherein said box body is mounted upon a wheeled chassis for ready transport thereof.

Claim 4

The integrated single-pivot auger box set forth in claim 1, wherein the sides of said box body defining said storage chamber all slope toward said discharge opening to provide rapid and complete discharge of material from said box body.

Claim 5

The integrated single-pivot auger box set forth in claim 1, wherein said pivot axis is disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of said auger tube.

Claim 6

The integrated single-pivot auger box set forth in claim 1, wherein said pivot axis is disposed in use at an acute angle of about 50* with respect to the horizontal and is disposed in use at an acute angle of about 65* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said box body.

Claim 7

The integrated single-pivot auger box set forth in claim 1, wherein said auger tube in the discharge position thereof may be disposed at an angle of at least about 50* with respect to the horizontal.

Claim 8

The integrated single-pivot auger box set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a cradle mounted on said box body and receiving and supporting said auger tube in the rest position thereof.

Claim 9

The integrated single-pivot auger box set forth in claim 1, and further comprising hydraulic motors for driving said auger and for pivoting said auger tube with respect to said box body.

Claim 10

An integrated single-pivot auger box comprising a box body defining a storage chamber for support upon an underlying support surface and having a discharge opening therein adjacent to the lower portion thereof, an elongated auger tube mounted on said box body for pivoting only about a single fixed pivot axis disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said auger tube, said auger tube having an aperture in one end thereof in registration with said discharge opening in all of the pivoted positions of said auger tube, said pivot axis being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the horizontal and being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said box body, said auger tube being pivotal among a rest position and a high discharge position and a low discharge position, said auger tube in the rest position thereof being disposed adjacent to said box body and extending upwardly from said discharge opening, said auger tube in the high discharge position thereof extending laterally from said box body and upwardly from said discharge opening with the diScharge end thereof disposed well above the underlying support surface, said auger tube in the low discharge position thereof extending outwardly from said box body and substantially horizontally from said discharge opening with the discharge end thereof disposed a short distance above the underlying support surface, and an auger in said auger tube for carrying material from said discharge opening to the discharge end of said auger tube when said auger tube is in said rest position and said high discharge position and said low discharge position.

Claim 11

An integrated single-pivot auger box comprising a box body defining a storage chamber for support upon an underlying support surface and having a discharge opening therein adjacent to the lower portion thereof, an elongated auger tube mounted on said box body for pivoting only about a single fixed pivot axis disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said auger tube, said auger tube having an aperture in one end thereof in registration with said discharge opening in all of the pivoted positions of said auger tube, said pivot axis being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the horizontal and being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said box body, said auger tube being pivotal among a rest position and a high discharge position and a low discharge position, said auger tube in the rest position thereof being disposed adjacent to said box body and extending upwardly from said discharge opening, said auger tube in the high discharge position thereof extending laterally from said box body and upwardly from said discharge opening with the diScharge end thereof disposed well above the underlying support surface, said auger tube in the low discharge position thereof extending outwardly from said box body and substantially horizontally from said discharge opening with the discharge end thereof disposed a short distance above the underlying support surface, and an auger in said auger tube for carrying material from said discharge opening to the discharge end of said auger tube when said auger tube is in said rest position and said high discharge position and said low discharge position.

Claim 12

The integrated single-pivot auger box set forth in claim 9, wherein said auger tube in the high discharge position thereof is disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said box body, and said auger tube in the low discharge position thereof extending from said discharge opening in a direction away from the rest position of said auger tube.

Claim 13

An integral single-pivot auger box comprising a box body defining a storage chamber for support upon an underlying support surface and having a discharge opening therein adjacent to the lower portion thereof, a hopper mounted on said auger box in position to receive material from said discharge opening and having a delivery opening therein to pass material therethrough, an elongated auger tube mounted on said hopper for pivoting only about a single fixed pivot axis disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said auger tube, said auger tube having an aperture in one end thereof in registration with said delivery opening in all of the pivoted positions of said auger tube, said pivot axis being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the horizontal and being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said box body, said auger tube being pivotal between a rest position and a discharge position, said auger tube in the rest position thereof being disposed adjacent to said box body and extending upwardly from said hopper, said auger tube in the discharge position thereof extending laterally from said box body with the discharge end thereof disposed above the underlying support surface, and an auger in said auger tube for carrying material from said hopper through said delivery opening to the discharge end of said auger tube.

Claim 14

An integral single-pivot auger box comprising a box body defining a storage chamber for support upon an underlying support surface and having a discharge opening therein adjacent to the lower portion thereof, a hopper mounted on said auger box in position to receive material from said discharge opening and having a delivery opening therein to pass material therethrough, an elongated auger tube mounted on said hopper for pivoting only about a single fixed pivot axis disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said auger tube, said auger tube having an aperture in one end thereof in registration with said delivery opening in all of the pivoted positions of said auger tube, said pivot axis being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the horizontal and being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said box body, said auger tube being pivotal between a rest position and a discharge position, said auger tube in the rest position thereof being disposed adjacent to said box body and extending upwardly from said hopper, said auger tube in the discharge position thereof extending laterally from said box body with the discharge end thereof disposed above the underlying support surface, and an auger in said auger tube for carrying material from said hopper through said delivery opening to the discharge end of said auger tube.

Claim 15

An integral single-pivot auger box comprising a box body defining a storage chamber for support upon an underlying support surface and having a discharge opening therein adjacent to the lower portion thereof, a hopper mounted on said auger box in position to receive material from said discharge opening and having a delivery opening therein to pass material therethrough, an elongated auger tube mounted on said hopper for pivoting a single fixed pivot axis disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said auger tube, said pivot axis being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the horizontal and being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said box body, said auger tube being pivotal among a rest position and a high discharge position and a low discharge position, said auger tube in the rest position thereof being disposed adjacent to said box body and extending upwardly from said hopper, said auger tube in the high discharge position thereof extending laterally from said box body and upwardly from said hopper with the discharge end thereof disposed well above the underlying support surface, said auger tube in the low discharge position thereof extending outwardly from said box body and substantially horizontally from said hopper with the discharge end thereof disposed a short distance above the underlying support surface, and an auger in said auger tube for carrying material from said hopper through said delivery opening to the discharge end of said auger tube.

Claim 16

An integral single-pivot auger box comprising a box body defining a storage chamber for support upon an underlying support surface and having a discharge opening therein adjacent to the lower portion thereof, a hopper mounted on said auger box in position to receive material from said discharge opening and having a delivery opening therein to pass material therethrough, an elongated auger tube mounted on said hopper for pivoting a single fixed pivot axis disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said auger tube, said pivot axis being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the horizontal and being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said box body, said auger tube being pivotal among a rest position and a high discharge position and a low discharge position, said auger tube in the rest position thereof being disposed adjacent to said box body and extending upwardly from said hopper, said auger tube in the high discharge position thereof extending laterally from said box body and upwardly from said hopper with the discharge end thereof disposed well above the underlying support surface, said auger tube in the low discharge position thereof extending outwardly from said box body and substantially horizontally from said hopper with the discharge end thereof disposed a short distance above the underlying support surface, and an auger in said auger tube for carrying material from said hopper through said delivery opening to the discharge end of said auger tube.

Claim 17

An integral single-pivot auger box comprising a box body defIning a storage chamber for support upon an underlying support surface and having a discharge opening therein adjacent to the lower portion thereof, a hopper mounted on said auger box in position to receive material from said discharge opening, a housing mounted on said hopper for rotation with respect thereto about a pivot axis and disposed in position to receive material therefrom, said housing having a first delivery opening therein to pass material therethrough and having a second delivery opening therein to pass material therethrough, said pivot axis being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the horizontal and being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said box body, an elongated auger tube mounted on said housing for movement therewith and having one end in communication with said first delivery opening in all positions of said housing, said auger tube being pivotal with said housing between a rest position and a discharge position, said auger tube in the rest position thereof being disposed adjacent to said box body and extending upwardly from said hopper, said auger tube in the discharge position thereof extending laterally from said box body with the discharge end thereof disposed above the underlying support surface, an auger in said housing and said auger tube for carrying material from said hopper through said first delivery opening to the discharge end of said auger tube, and a door mounted on said housing and movable between a first position closing said second delivery opening and a second position uncovering at least a portion of said second delivery opening to pass material therethrough.

Claim 18

An integral single-pivot auger box comprising a box body defIning a storage chamber for support upon an underlying support surface and having a discharge opening therein adjacent to the lower portion thereof, a hopper mounted on said auger box in position to receive material from said discharge opening, a housing mounted on said hopper for rotation with respect thereto about a pivot axis and disposed in position to receive material therefrom, said housing having a first delivery opening therein to pass material therethrough and having a second delivery opening therein to pass material therethrough, said pivot axis being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the horizontal and being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said box body, an elongated auger tube mounted on said housing for movement therewith and having one end in communication with said first delivery opening in all positions of said housing, said auger tube being pivotal with said housing between a rest position and a discharge position, said auger tube in the rest position thereof being disposed adjacent to said box body and extending upwardly from said hopper, said auger tube in the discharge position thereof extending laterally from said box body with the discharge end thereof disposed above the underlying support surface, an auger in said housing and said auger tube for carrying material from said hopper through said first delivery opening to the discharge end of said auger tube, and a door mounted on said housing and movable between a first position closing said second delivery opening and a second position uncovering at least a portion of said second delivery opening to pass material therethrough.

Claim 19

The integrated single-pivot auger box set forth in claim 13, wherein said door is slidably mounted upon said housing.

Claim 20

The integral pivot and auger box set forth in claim 13, wherein said door is manually shiftable between the first and second positions thereof.

Claim 21

An integrated single-pivot auger box comprising a box body defining a storage chamber for support upon an underlying support surface and having a discharge opening therein adjacent to the lower portion thereof, an elongated lower auger tube mounted on said auger box for pivoting only about a single fixed pivot axis disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said lower auger tube, said lower auger tube having an aperture in one end thereof in registration with said discharge opening in all of the pivoted positions of said lower auger tube, said pivot axis being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the horizontal and being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said box body, said lower auger tube being pivotal between a rest position and a discharge position, said lower auger tube in the rest position thereof being disposed adjacent to said box body and extending upwardly from said discharge opening, said lower auger tube in the discharge position thereof extending laterally from said box body with the discharge end thereof disposed above the underlying support surface, an auger in said lower auger tube for carrying material from said discharge opening to the discharge end of said lower auger tube, and an outer auger tube removably mountable on the outer end of said lower auger tube for use thereon when said lower auger tube is in the discharge position thereof, said outer auger tube being removable from said lower auger tube when said lower auger tube is in the rest position thereof.

Claim 22

An integrated single-pivot auger box comprising a box body defining a storage chamber for support upon an underlying support surface and having a discharge opening therein adjacent to the lower portion thereof, an elongated lower auger tube mounted on said auger box for pivoting only about a single fixed pivot axis disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said lower auger tube, said lower auger tube having an aperture in one end thereof in registration with said discharge opening in all of the pivoted positions of said lower auger tube, said pivot axis being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the horizontal and being disposed in use at an acute angle less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said box body, said lower auger tube being pivotal between a rest position and a discharge position, said lower auger tube in the rest position thereof being disposed adjacent to said box body and extending upwardly from said discharge opening, said lower auger tube in the discharge position thereof extending laterally from said box body with the discharge end thereof disposed above the underlying support surface, an auger in said lower auger tube for carrying material from said discharge opening to the discharge end of said lower auger tube, and an outer auger tube removably mountable on the outer end of said lower auger tube for use thereon when said lower auger tube is in the discharge position thereof, said outer auger tube being removable from said lower auger tube when said lower auger tube is in the rest position thereof.