Patent US3584732A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3584732A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Over-center winch apparatus
Assignee: Letco Inc
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Filing: 1969-02-06
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Granted: 1971-06-15
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Expires: 1989-02-06
Abstract
Abstract A trailer-type spreader-hauler for fertilizer, feed, or other particular material and including a hopper or tank for containing the material and an auger conveyor mounted adjacent the front end of the unit. The conveyor includes a lower portion fixed with respect to the hopper and inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal and a movable portion which, in one position is in continuous alignment with the lower portion but is pivotable through a vertical or overcenter position to a retracted or rest position wherein it extends back across the front of the hopper and forms an acute angle with the lower portion. A cable has one end connected to the movable portion of the auger and the other end connected to a winch whereby it may be retracted or extended. Intermediate these two ends, the cable extends over a pulley apparatus which is disposed above and in vertical alignment with the pivot. The cable and pulley apparatus cooperate so that retraction of the cable when the movable portion of the conveyor is disposed on either side of the overcenter position will move it towards this position where it will move overcenter due to its momentum, with the cable remaining in cooperating engagement with the pulley apparatus, and then moves away from the center position due to gravity as the cable is extended.
Inventors
- 👤 Loren E Tyler
- 👤 James L Richardson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:40
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01F; A01F12/00; A01F12/46; B; B65; B65G; B65G65/00; B65G65/30; B65G65/34; B65G65/40; B65G65/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
Over-center apparatus comprising: support means; an elongated movable member; means pivotally mounting said movable member on said support means whereby said member is movable through a substantially vertical arc including positions on opposite sides of a vertical position; idler means mounted on said support means substantially in alignment with the vertical position of said member; flexible cable means connected to said member and extending to said idler means and having a portion extending beyond said idler means; and said cable means continuously extending around at least a part of said idler means and thereby continuously being in cooperating engagement with said idler means whereby application of a tension force to said cable means when said movable member is on either side of said vertical position moves said member toward the idler means and toward said vertical position where its momentum carries it over-center said cable remains in cooperating engagement with said idler means when said member passes over-center, and release of said cable means renders said member movable by gravity away from said vertical position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
Over-center apparatus comprising: support means; an elongated movable member; means pivotally mounting said movable member on said support means whereby said member is movable through a substantially vertical arc including positions on opposite sides of a vertical position; idler means mounted on said support means substantially in alignment with the vertical position of said member; flexible cable means connected to said member and extending to said idler means and having a portion extending beyond said idler means; and said cable means continuously extending around at least a part of said idler means and thereby continuously being in cooperating engagement with said idler means whereby application of a tension force to said cable means when said movable member is on either side of said vertical position moves said member toward the idler means and toward said vertical position where its momentum carries it over-center said cable remains in cooperating engagement with said idler means when said member passes over-center, and release of said cable means renders said member movable by gravity away from said vertical position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said idler means comprises a single roller means disposed outside of the arc traversed by the point of connection between the cable means and the movable member as said movable member moves through its vertical position; and said cable means passes over said roller and extends downwardly on each side thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said idler means comprises a pair of relatively closely spaced rollers each disposed in substantially the same plane and inside of the arc traversed by the point of connection between the cable means and the movable member; and said cAble means extends between said pair of rollers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: each of said rollers has an axis of rotation substantially in vertical alignment with the vertical position of the movable member and substantially parallel to the axis about which said member pivots.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including winch means fixed with respect to said support means and disposed below said idler means, said winch means being operably connected to the extending portion of said cable means and operable to selectively extend or retract said cable means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
198 words
Over-center apparatus comprising: support means including a fixed portion of a material conveying means disposed at an acute angle with the horizontal; a movable portion of said material conveying means; means pivotally connecting said movable portion to said fixed portion for movement from an extended position in alignment with said fixed portion, through a vertical over-center position, to a retracted position wherein said movable portion forms an angle of less than 180*with said fixed portion; idler means mounted on said support means substantially in alignment with the vertical position of said movable portion; flexible cable means connected to said movable portion and extending to said idler means and having a portion extending beyond said idler means; and said cable means being in cooperating engagement with said idler means whereby application of a tension force to said cable means when said movable portion is on either side of said vertical position moves said movable portion toward said vertical position where its momentum carries it over-center, said cable remains in cooperating engagement with said idler means when said movable portion passes over-center, and release of said cable means renders said movable portion movable by gravity away from said vertical position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
198 words
Over-center apparatus comprising: support means including a fixed portion of a material conveying means disposed at an acute angle with the horizontal; a movable portion of said material conveying means; means pivotally connecting said movable portion to said fixed portion for movement from an extended position in alignment with said fixed portion, through a vertical over-center position, to a retracted position wherein said movable portion forms an angle of less than 180*with said fixed portion; idler means mounted on said support means substantially in alignment with the vertical position of said movable portion; flexible cable means connected to said movable portion and extending to said idler means and having a portion extending beyond said idler means; and said cable means being in cooperating engagement with said idler means whereby application of a tension force to said cable means when said movable portion is on either side of said vertical position moves said movable portion toward said vertical position where its momentum carries it over-center, said cable remains in cooperating engagement with said idler means when said movable portion passes over-center, and release of said cable means renders said movable portion movable by gravity away from said vertical position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
191 words
Material conveying means comprising: support means; a fixed material conveying portion mounted on said support means and having a remote end; a movable material conveying portion having first and second ends; means mounting said movable portion for pivotal movement about the remote end of said fixed portion between a plurality of positions on opposite sides of a vertical over-center position; idler means mounted on said support means in spaced, substantially vertical alignment with the pivot for said movable portion; winch means; flexible cable means having one end attached to said movable portion and a second end operably connected to said winch means whereby said winch means is operable to extend or retract said cable means; and a portion of said cable means intermediate said two ends cooperatively engaging said idler means whereby retraction of said cable means when said movable portion is on either side of said vertical position moves said member toward said vertical position, said cable means continues in cooperative engagement with said idler means when said movable portion moves over-center, and extension of said cable means renders said movable portion movable away from said center position by gravity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
191 words
Material conveying means comprising: support means; a fixed material conveying portion mounted on said support means and having a remote end; a movable material conveying portion having first and second ends; means mounting said movable portion for pivotal movement about the remote end of said fixed portion between a plurality of positions on opposite sides of a vertical over-center position; idler means mounted on said support means in spaced, substantially vertical alignment with the pivot for said movable portion; winch means; flexible cable means having one end attached to said movable portion and a second end operably connected to said winch means whereby said winch means is operable to extend or retract said cable means; and a portion of said cable means intermediate said two ends cooperatively engaging said idler means whereby retraction of said cable means when said movable portion is on either side of said vertical position moves said member toward said vertical position, said cable means continues in cooperative engagement with said idler means when said movable portion moves over-center, and extension of said cable means renders said movable portion movable away from said center position by gravity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
127 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: said support means includes hopper means for containing a quantity of particulate material; said fixed conveying portion is mounted adjacent said hopper means at an acute angle with the horizontal, has a lower end adapted to receive material from said hopper and said remote end thereof extends substantially to one side of said hopper means; said movable portion is pivotable between an extended position on one side of the over-center position and a retracted position on the other side thereof; and said movable portion is disposed in substantially continuous alignment with said fixed portion and extends beyond said hopper means when in its extended position; and said movable portion extends back substantially across said hopper means when in its retracted position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: said support means comprises a bulk hauler apparatus including a hopper Means for containing particulate material; and said conveying means comprises an auger conveyor with a first portion fixed with respect to said hopper at an angle above the horizontal and adapted to receive material therefrom, and a movable portion for receiving material from said fixed portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: said idler means comprises a single roller means mounted on said hopper means and disposed outside of the arc traversed by the point of connection between the cable means and the movable portion of said conveyor means as said movable portion moves through its vertical position; and said cable means passes over said roller and extends downwardly on each side thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: said idler means comprises a pair of relatively closely spaced rollers mounted on said hopper means and each disposed in substantially the same plane and inside of the arc traversed by the point of connection between the cable means and the movable portion of said conveyor means; and said cable means extends between said pair of rollers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of said rollers has an axis of rotation substantially in vertical alignment with the vertical position of the movable portion of said conveyor means and substantially parallel to the axis about which said movable portion pivots.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
220 words
Over-center apparatus for a material conveying means comprising: support means; a fixed material conveying portion mounted on said support means and having a remote end; a movable material conveying portion; means pivotally mounting said movable portion for pivotal movement about the remote end of said fixed portion between a plurality of positions on opposite sides of a vertical over-center position, said plurality of positions including a retracted position on one side of said over-center position and an extended position, in substantial alignment with said fixed portion, on the other side of said over-center position; means mounted on said support means and providing a fixed pivot means substantially in alignment with the over-center position of said movable portion and spaced from the pivotal mounting thereof, and means connected to said movable portion and extending to said fixed pivot means, the last named means being extendable and retractable from said fixed pivot means and being movable in an arc about said fixed pivot means, said last named means being operable to apply a force to said movable portion when it is on either side of said over-center position to move said movable portion toward said over-center position where its momentum carries it over-center and is further operable to control movement of said movable portion in either direction away from said over-center position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
220 words
Over-center apparatus for a material conveying means comprising: support means; a fixed material conveying portion mounted on said support means and having a remote end; a movable material conveying portion; means pivotally mounting said movable portion for pivotal movement about the remote end of said fixed portion between a plurality of positions on opposite sides of a vertical over-center position, said plurality of positions including a retracted position on one side of said over-center position and an extended position, in substantial alignment with said fixed portion, on the other side of said over-center position; means mounted on said support means and providing a fixed pivot means substantially in alignment with the over-center position of said movable portion and spaced from the pivotal mounting thereof, and means connected to said movable portion and extending to said fixed pivot means, the last named means being extendable and retractable from said fixed pivot means and being movable in an arc about said fixed pivot means, said last named means being operable to apply a force to said movable portion when it is on either side of said over-center position to move said movable portion toward said over-center position where its momentum carries it over-center and is further operable to control movement of said movable portion in either direction away from said over-center position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein: said fixed pivot means includes an idler means spaced above the pivot of said movable means; and said means connected to said movable means includes a flexible cable extending over said idler means and connected to said movable means at a position thereon spaced from the pivot of said movable means.
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) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |