Patent US3580549A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3580549A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Grain stirring device
Assignee: David Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1969-07-31
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1989-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A device for stirring material in a cylindrical container and which includes a support means mounted within the container for orbital movements about the vertical axis thereof, a trolley means mounted on the support means for movements radially toward and away from the all of the container, and a stirring auger having the upper end thereof rotatably mounted on an auger support means carried by the trolley means. The auger support means depends from the trolley means and extends laterally outwardly therefrom toward the wall of the container so as to position the auger in close proximity and substantially parallel to the wall of the container when the trolley means is fully moved radially toward the wall of the container. Drive means is connected to move the support means in its orbital path of travel, to move the trolley means radially toward and away from the wall responsive to movement of the support means, and to rotate the stirring auger.
Inventors
- 👤 David M Murphy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:22
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B9/00; F26B9/06; F26B9/08; F26B9/082; F26B9/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
Apparatus for stirring material in a cylindrical container comprising: a. support means; b. means mounting said support means for movement about a vertical axis in an orbital path above the material to be stirred in the container; c. trolley means mounted on said support means for movements radially toward and away from the wall of the container; d. said trolley means including auger support means depending from and extending laterally outwardly from said trolley means toward the wall of the container whereby said auger support means will be positioned in close proximity to the wall of the container when said trolley means is fully moved radially toward the wall of the container; e. a stirring auger; f. means rotatably mounting the upper end of said stirring auger on said auger support means whereby said stirring auger extends downwardly from said auger support means substantially parallel to the wall of the container; and g. drive means connected to move said support means in said orbital path, to move said trolley means radially toward and away from the wall of the container, and to rotate said stirring auger.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
Apparatus for stirring material in a cylindrical container comprising: a. support means; b. means mounting said support means for movement about a vertical axis in an orbital path above the material to be stirred in the container; c. trolley means mounted on said support means for movements radially toward and away from the wall of the container; d. said trolley means including auger support means depending from and extending laterally outwardly from said trolley means toward the wall of the container whereby said auger support means will be positioned in close proximity to the wall of the container when said trolley means is fully moved radially toward the wall of the container; e. a stirring auger; f. means rotatably mounting the upper end of said stirring auger on said auger support means whereby said stirring auger extends downwardly from said auger support means substantially parallel to the wall of the container; and g. drive means connected to move said support means in said orbital path, to move said trolley means radially toward and away from the wall of the container, and to rotate said stirring auger.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure of claim 1 in which said upper end of said auger is mounted for pivotal movement on generally horizontal axes which extend in directions generally normal to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The structure of claim 2 in further combination with means for disabling said drive means for said support means when said auger exceeds a given angle of inclination relative to a vertical axis upon pivotal movements of said auger on said horizontal axes during said orbital and radial movement of said support and trolley means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The structure of claim 3 in which said means for disabling said drive means for said support means is switch means connected to be operable responsive to pivotal movement of said auger about said horizontal axes in a direction generally parallel to the orbital movement of said support means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The structure of claim 3 in which said means for disabling said drive means for said support means is switch means connected to be operable responsive to pivotal movement of said auger about said horizontal axes in a direction generally parallel to the movement of said trolley means toward and away from the container wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
188 words
The structure of claim 1 in which said trolley means includes: a. a depending leg; b. a first pair of laterally spaced wheels rotatably carried by the upper end of said depending leg and adapted to engage an upper surface of said support means to support said trolley means for said radial movements thereof toward and away from the wall of the container; c. stabilizer arm means having one end thereof pivotally secured to said trolley means in vertically downwardly spaced relation to the rotary axis of said laterally spaced wheels for pivotal movements about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said wheels; d. a second pair of laterally spaced wheels carried by the opposite end of said stabilizer arm means for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said first pair of laterally spaced wheels and engageable with said support means; and e. means mounted on said trolley means for maintaining engagement of said first and second pairs of wheels with said support means during said orbital movements of said support means and said radial movements of said trolley means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The structure of claim 6 in which said depending leg is said auger support means and includes an upper leg portion and an angularly disposed lower leg portion, said upper leg portion being disposed along an axis which extends downwardly toward the wall of the container and said lower leg portion being disposed along an axis which extends downwardly and generally parallel to the wall of the container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
The structure of claim 7 in which said auger includes an upper auger portion and a lower auger portion, a universal pivot joint connecting adjacent ends of said upper and lower auger portions, said upper auger portion being journaled on said upper leg portion for rotation on an axis generally parallel to said axis of said upper leg portion and said lower auger portion being journaled on said lower leg portion for rotation on an axis generally parallel to said axis of said lower leg portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
The structure of claim 1 in which said support means includes: a. a bridge frame having a pair of laterally spaced rails which extend radially of the container and in which the means mounting said support means includes a and in track mounted on the upper end of the wall of the container; b. a carriage movable on said track and supporting the outer end of said bridge frame; and c. means including flexible suspension means for supporting the inner end of said bridge frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
186 words
The structure of claim 9 in which said trolley means includes: a. a depending leg; b. a first pair of laterally spaced wheels rotatably carrieD by the upper end of said depending leg and adapted to engage one each an upper surface of one of said rails to support said trolley means for said radial movements thereof toward and away from the wall of the container; c. stabilizer arm means having one end thereof pivotally secured to said depending leg for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said wheels and in vertically spaced relation to the rotary axis of said laterally spaced wheels; d. a second pair of laterally spaced wheels carried by the opposite end of said stabilizer arm means for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said first pair of laterally spaced wheels and one each engageable with said upper surface of one of said rails; and e. means mounted on said stabilizer arm means for maintaining said first and second pairs of wheels in engagement with said upper surface of said rails.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
145 words
The structure of claim 9 in which said means connected to move said trolley means radially toward and away from the wall of the container includes: a. a sheave mounted for rotation on said means for supporting the inner end of said bridge frame on the axis of orbital movement of said support means; b. a pair of rotatable sheaves supported by said support means; c. an endless flexible drive element entrained over said sheaves; d. a Pitman arm connected between said stabilizer arm and a fixed point on said flexible drive element; and e. means carried by said first-mentioned sheave and said means supporting the inner end of said bridge frame connected to immobilize rotation of said first-mentioned sheave relative to orbital movement of said support means whereby to cause radial movement of said trolley means during said orbital movement of said support means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The structure of claim 11 in further combination with latch means carried by said support means and engageable with said detachable means associated with said first-mentioned sheave whereby to cause concerted movement of said first-mentioned sheave and said support means and immobilize movement of said trolley means radially on said support means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure of claim 11 in further combination with an arcuate element fixedly carried by said stabilizer arm means to extend transversely of said bridge frame, said Pitman arm being slidingly connected to said arcuate element to permit lateral movement thereof along the arc of said arcuate element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure of claim 11 in which said Pitman arm is adjustable longitudinally thereof to limit movement of said trolley means toward the wall of the container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
The structure of claim 14 in further combination with stop means carried by said bridge frame and engageable by said trolley means upon longitudinal adjustment of said Pitman arm whereby to cause pivotal movement of said trolley means on the axis of said first-mentioned pair of laterally spaced wheels and movement of the lower end of said stirring auger toward the vertical wall of the container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
The structure of claim 11 in further combination with adjustable stop means carried by said support means and engageable with said trolley means during movement thereof along said bridge frame towards the vertical axis of the container, said engagement of said stop means by said trolley means causing pivotal movement of said trolley means about the axis of said first-mentioned laterally spaced wheels and movement of the lower end of said stirring auger to a position to intersect the vertical axis of the container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |