Agitator for facilitating flow from hopper

Claim 2

An agitating device for facilitating flow of material from the opening of a container and comprising support boom means, conneCting means carried by the boom means for securing the device to the container, carriage means carried by the boom, prong means carried by the carriage means for extending into the container opening, reciprocating means engagable with the boom means for reciprocation of the carriage means and prong means to agitate the material during discharge thereof from the container, said reciprocating means comprising drive means secured to the boom means and connected with the carriage means for providing said reciprocation, and power means selectively engagable with the drive means for actuation thereof, and said drive means includes sprocket and chain means secured to the boom means, and lever means connected between the chain means and the carriage means for transmitting reciprocation to the carriage means upon actuation of the sprocket and chain means.

Claim 3

An agitating device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sprocket and chain means comprises a first drive sprocket and chain means driven by the power means, and a second sprocket and chain means connected with the first sprocket and chain means for actuation thereby.

Claim 4

An agitating device for facilitating flow of material from the opening of a container and comprising support boom means, connecting means carried by the boom means for securing the device to the container, carriage means carried by the boom, prong means carried by the carriage means for extending into the container opening, reciprocating means engagable with the boom means for reciprocation of the carriage means and prong means to agitate the material during discharge thereof from the container, said connecting means comprising a plurality of spaced block members slidably secured to the boom means, and means connected between the boom means and block members for moving the block members along the boom means in opposite directions for selective connection with and disconnection from the container.

Claim 5

An agitating device for facilitating flow of material from the opening of a container and comprising support boom means, connecting means carried by the boom means for securing the device to the container, carriage means carried by the boom, prong means carried by the carriage means for extending into the container opening, reciprocating means engagable with the boom means for reciprocation of the carriage means and prong means to agitate the material during discharge thereof from the container, said connecting means comprising a plurality of spaced block members slidably secured to the boom means, and means connected between the boom means and block members for moving the block members along the boom means in opposite directions for selective connection with and disconnection from the container.

Claim 6

An agitating device for facilitating flow of material from the opening of a container and comprising support boom means, connecting means carried by the boom means for securing the device to the container, carriage means carried by the boom, prong means carried by the carriage means for extending into the container opening, reciprocating means engagable with the boom means for reciprocation of the carriage means and prong means to agitate the material during discharge thereof from the container, said drive means comprising a first chain and sprocket means secured to the boom and driven by the power means, second chain and sprocket means secured to the boom and in driving engagement with the first chain and sprocket means for actuation thereby, a lever arm having one end pivotally secured to the chain of the second chain and sprocket means and the opposite end pivotally secured to the carriage means, said lever being reciprocated upon actuation of the second chain and sprocket means for transmitting reciprocal movement to the carriage means.

Claim 7

An agitating device for facilitating flow of material from the opening of a container and comprising support boom means, connecting means carried by the boom means for securing the device to the container, carriage means carried by the boom, prong means carried by the carriage means for extending into the container opening, reciprocating means engagable with the boom means for reciprocation of the carriage means and prong means to agitate the material during discharge thereof from the container, said drive means comprising a first chain and sprocket means secured to the boom and driven by the power means, second chain and sprocket means secured to the boom and in driving engagement with the first chain and sprocket means for actuation thereby, a lever arm having one end pivotally secured to the chain of the second chain and sprocket means and the opposite end pivotally secured to the carriage means, said lever being reciprocated upon actuation of the second chain and sprocket means for transmitting reciprocal movement to the carriage means.

Claim 8

An agitating device for facilitating flow of material from the opening of a container and comprising support boom means, connecting means carried by the boom means for securing the device to the container, carriage means carried by the boom, prong means carried by the carriage means for extending into the container opening, reciprocating means engagable with the boom means for reciprocation of the carriage means and prong means to agitate the material during discharge thereof from the container, said prong means comprising a plurality of spaced shaft members journalled on the carriage means, a prong member secured to each shaft member for pivotal movement simultaneously with the rotation of the respective shaft, means interconnecting the shaft members for simultaneous but opposite rotation therebetween, and means connected with at least one of the shaft members for transmitting rotation thereto for selectively moving the prong members to alternate folded and extended positions.

Claim 9

An agitating device for facilitating flow of material from the opening of a container and comprising support boom means, connecting means carried by the boom means for securing the device to the container, carriage means carried by the boom, prong means carried by the carriage means for extending into the container opening, reciprocating means engagable with the boom means for reciprocation of the carriage means and prong means to agitate the material during discharge thereof from the container, said prong means comprising a plurality of spaced shaft members journalled on the carriage means, a prong member secured to each shaft member for pivotal movement simultaneously with the rotation of the respective shaft, means interconnecting the shaft members for simultaneous but opposite rotation therebetween, and means connected with at least one of the shaft members for transmitting rotation thereto for selectively moving the prong members to alternate folded and extended positions.

Claim 10

An agitating device for facilitatiNg flow of material from the opening of a container and comprises an elongated support boom arm extending across the opening, spaced block members adjustably secured to the boom arm for connecting the device to the container, a carriage member slidably secured to the boom arm, prong means pivotally secured to the carriage member and movable to alternate folded and extended positions, said prong means extending into the container opening in the extended position thereof, and reciprocating means engagable with the boom arm means for reciprocation of the carriage member and prong means to agitate the material during discharge thereof from the container.

Claim 11

An agitating device for facilitatiNg flow of material from the opening of a container and comprises an elongated support boom arm extending across the opening, spaced block members adjustably secured to the boom arm for connecting the device to the container, a carriage member slidably secured to the boom arm, prong means pivotally secured to the carriage member and movable to alternate folded and extended positions, said prong means extending into the container opening in the extended position thereof, and reciprocating means engagable with the boom arm means for reciprocation of the carriage member and prong means to agitate the material during discharge thereof from the container.

Claim 12

An agitating device as set forth in claim 11 including adjustable means for said spaced block members comprising threaded rod means extending substantially parallel with and spaced from the boom arm, threaded means carried by the block members for receiving the threaded rod therethrough, means supporting said threaded rod means for rotation and precluding longitudinal movement of the rod, means for transmitting rotation to the threaded rod means whereby said block members are simultaneously moved along said boom arm in opposite directions for selective spacing therebetween to facilitate connection of the device with the container.