US3727746A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible auger
Assignee: BANK OF HIGGINSVILLE
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Filing: 1970-10-22
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1990-10-22
Abstract
Abstract An auger for a conveyor comprising an elongated shaft capable of extending along a curvilinear axis, a flexible, rotatable tube telescoped over the shaft and an elongated helical vane of flexible material extending outwardly from the tube. In a typical embodiment, the auger is used with a housing closed along one side with an upright wall and a wall extending downwardly at an angle into relatively close proximity to the auger. The bottom and the other side of the housing comprise spaced apart, elongated rods which support the assembly and permit gravitation of trash from the conveyor. An elongated, rotatable hose above the auger serves to deflect conveyed items toward the closed side of the conveyor for proper transfer by the auger and a shield maintains the conveyed items in proper location with respect to the auger.
Inventors
- 👤 E Slusher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:02
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G33/00; B65G33/02; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0202; B65G2201/0211
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
In combination, an auger for operating along a curvilinear axis, said auger comprising: an elongated, relatively rigid member extendtending along an axis, a flexible tube telescoped over said member and rotatable relative to the latter, a conveyor flight carried by the tube and comprising an elongated, helical vane constructed of flexible material and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the tube in disposition for engaging articles to be conveyed, and means operably coupled with the tube for rotating the latter about said axis; an elongated housing extending along the auger and partially enclosing the latter, the auger being rotatable in the housing; an elongated, rotatable deflector extending along the auger in substantially spaced parallelism with the axis of the auger and spaced radially outwardly from the vane; and means operably coupled with the deflector for rotating the latter about its longitudinal axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
In combination, an auger for operating along a curvilinear axis, said auger comprising: an elongated, relatively rigid member extendtending along an axis, a flexible tube telescoped over said member and rotatable relative to the latter, a conveyor flight carried by the tube and comprising an elongated, helical vane constructed of flexible material and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the tube in disposition for engaging articles to be conveyed, and means operably coupled with the tube for rotating the latter about said axis; an elongated housing extending along the auger and partially enclosing the latter, the auger being rotatable in the housing; an elongated, rotatable deflector extending along the auger in substantially spaced parallelism with the axis of the auger and spaced radially outwardly from the vane; and means operably coupled with the deflector for rotating the latter about its longitudinal axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said deflector comprises an elongated, transversely circular flexible element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 2, wherein the element is a tubular hose.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 3, wherein is included a second shaft, and wherein said hose is telescoped over the second shaft for rotation about the axis of the latter, and means operably coupled with the hose for rotating the latter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 4, wherein said means for rotating the hose includes structure for operably coupling the hose to the auger for simultaneous rotation of the hose and the auger and in the same direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
149 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a pair of spaced apart end plates, a plurality of elongated, mutually spaced apart bars having ends secured to each plate respectively, said bars defining a bottom and one side of the housing, and a second side for the housing comprising an upright wall extending between the end plates and spaced outwardly from the auger, the lower edge of the upright wall terminating at a higher elevation than the bottom of the tube, and an inclined wall extending downwardly at an angle from said lower edge of the upright wall to beneath the auger, the spacing between the upright wall and the tube being sufficient to receive articles to be conveyed between convolutions of the vane and the spacing between the inclined wall and the tube being dimensioned to prevent gravitation of the articles while permitting gravitation of trash therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
127 words
A conveyor for operating along a curvilinear axis, said conveyor comprising: an elongated, relatively rigid member extending along said axis; a flexible tube telescoped over said member and rotatable relative to the latter; a conveyor flight carried by the tube and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the tube in disposition for engaging articles to be conveyed; means operably coupled with the tube for rotating the latter about said axis; and an elongated element extending along the conveyor, and a support carried by the conveyor and supporting the tube, said support including a ring extending around the tube, the latter being slidable within the ring, and an arm secured to the element and the ring respectively for maintaining the ring in spaced relationship with the element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
A conveyor for operating along a curvilinear axis, said conveyor comprising: an elongated, relatively rigid member extending along said axis; a flexible tube telescoped over said member and rotatable relative to the latter; a conveyor flight carried by the tube and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the tube in disposition for engaging articles to be conveyed; means operably coupled with the tube for rotating the latter about said axis; and an elongated element extending along the conveyor, and a support carried by the conveyor and supporting the tube, said support including a ring extending around the tube, the latter being slidable within the ring, and an arm secured to the element and the ring respectively for maintaining the ring in spaced relationship with the element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
The invention of claim 7, wherein said member comprises a pair of longitudinally aligned sections, there being a transversely circular elongated projection at the end of one of said sections, and wherein the proximal end of the other of said sections is provided with a socket in disposition complementally receiving the projection in telescoped relationship therein for rotation of the projection about its longitudinal axis within the socket, and means engaging the projection and said socket respectively for releasably securing the projection within the socket.
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) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |