Patent US3776512A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3776512A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for stirring grain
Assignee: Specialized Products Inc
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Filing: 1971-06-03
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1991-06-03
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for stirring a mass of grain in a storage bin for aerating the grain to dry it and for blending the grain for controlling moisture variation in the grain throughout the mass from bottom to top, having a plurality of vertical augers rotatable on their axes for moving grain upward, these augers moving radially outward relative to the central vertical axis of the bin while making a sweep around the bin in one direction, and radially inward on a successive sweep around the bin in the opposite direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Kinnon R Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:10
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B9/00; F26B9/06; F26B9/08; F26B9/082; F26B9/085; B; B01; B01F; B01F27/00; B01F27/80; B01F27/95; B01F27/953; B02; B02B; B02B1/00; B02B1/02; B65; B65G; B65G69/00; B65G69/20; B01F27/05; B01F27/11; B01F27/114; B01F27/1143; B01F27/23; B01F27/232; B01F27/2322; B01F27/2324
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for stirring a mass of grain stored in a bin comprising a sweep member, means mounting said sweep member for rotation in a generally horizontal plane above the mass of grain in the bin about a central vertical axis, means for effecting sweeping movement of said member around said vertical axis first through a revolution in one direction and then through a revolution in the opposite direction, at least one auger carrier movable radially inwardly and outwardly on said sweep member, an auger extending downwardly from said auger carrier, means for rotating said auger on its axis, and means for moving said carrier radially inwardly on said sweep member on a revolution of said member in said one direction and radially outwardly on said member on a revolution of said member in the opposite direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for stirring a mass of grain stored in a bin comprising a sweep member, means mounting said sweep member for rotation in a generally horizontal plane above the mass of grain in the bin about a central vertical axis, means for effecting sweeping movement of said member around said vertical axis first through a revolution in one direction and then through a revolution in the opposite direction, at least one auger carrier movable radially inwardly and outwardly on said sweep member, an auger extending downwardly from said auger carrier, means for rotating said auger on its axis, and means for moving said carrier radially inwardly on said sweep member on a revolution of said member in said one direction and radially outwardly on said member on a revolution of said member in the opposite direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sweep member is rotatable on its own horizontal axis in one direction on a revolution thereof in said one direction about said vertical axis, and in the opposite direction on its own axis on a revolution thereof in said opposite direction about said vertical axis, and wherein said means for moving the auger carrier comprises means on the carrier in engagement with the sweep member for moving the carrier radially inward on rotation of the sweep member in one direction about its longitudinal axis and radially outward on rotation of the sweep member in the opposite direciton about its longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the sweep member is constituted by a shaft of circular cross section and said means in engagement therewith comprises roller means on the auger carrier skewed in relation to the shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having a plurality of auger carriers spaced along the length of the sweep member each movable radially inward and outward on said sweep member, with an auger extending down from each said auger carrier, means for rotating each auger on its axis, and means for moving each of said carriers radially inward on said sweep member on a revolution of said member in said one direction and radially outward on said member on a revolution of said member in the opposite direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said sweep member is rotatable on its own longitudinal axis in one direction on a revolution thereof in said one direction about said vertical axis, and in the opposite direction on its own axis on a revolution thereof in said opposite direction about said vertical axis, and wherein said means for moving each auger carrier comprises means on the carrier in engagement with the sweep member for moving the carrier radially inward on rotation of the sweep member in one direction about its longitudinal axis and radially outward on rotation of the sweep member in the opposite direction about its longitudinal axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the sweep member is constituted by a shaft of circular cross section and said means in engagement therewith comprises roller means on the auger carrier skewed in relation to the shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the shaft has collars thereon limiting the inward and outward movement of the auger carriers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 having a bearing for the inner end of the shaft and means for mounting said bearing for rotation about said central vertical axis above the mass of grain in the bin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said bin includes a roof and the means for mounting the bearing in a suspension suspending the bearing from the roof of the bin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for mounting the bearing is a center post in the bin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for effecting sweeping movement of said member around said vertical axis comprises a bearing for the outer end of the shaft on a carriage at the outer end of the shaft, wheels on said carriage rolling on a circular track around the bin, reversible drive means on said carriage adapted to rotate the shaft about its own axis and to roll the wheels on the track thereby rotating the shaft about the vertical axis of the bin, and means for reversing said drive means upon the completion of each revolution of the shaft about said vertical axis, whereby the direction of rotation of the shaft about said vertical axis and about its own axis is reversed upon completion of each revolution of the shaft about the vertical axis of the bin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the means for reversing said drive means comprises a toggle switch mounted on the carriage, an arm fastened to the bin wall slightly below the track, the arm extending inwardly from the bin wall, and a flexible extension fastened to the handle of the toggle switch, the toggle switch being adapted to reverse said drive means upon each actuation thereof, the flexible extension being adapted to contact said arm to actuate the toggle switch each time the carriage completes a revolution about the vertical axis of the bin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the means for effecting sweeping movement of said member about said vertical axis further comprising means for varying the arc through which said member sweeps.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the means for varying the arc through which said member sweeps comprises timing means adapted to reverse the direction of rotation of said drive means on the carriage at the end of a predetermined time interval, whereby the direction of rotation of said shaft about its own axis and about said vertical axis is reversed at the end of each timed sweep.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for stirring a mass of grain stored in a bin comprising a sweep member, means mounting said sweep member for rotation in a generally horizontal plane above the mass of grain in the bin about a central vertical axis, means for effecting sweeping movement of said member around said vertical axis first through a revolution in one direction and then through a revolution in the opposit direction, at least one auger carrier on said sweep member, an auger extending downwardly from said auger carrier, and means for rotating said auger on its axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for stirring a mass of grain stored in a bin comprising a sweep member, means mounting said sweep member for rotation in a generally horizontal plane above the mass of grain in the bin about a central vertical axis, means for effecting sweeping movement of said member around said vertical axis first through a revolution in one direction and then through a revolution in the opposit direction, at least one auger carrier on said sweep member, an auger extending downwardly from said auger carrier, and means for rotating said auger on its axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said bin includes a roof and wherein said mounting means for the sweep member includes means for suspending the sweep member at one end thereof constituting its inner end from the roof of the bin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said mounting means for the sweep member includes a center post in the bin for rotatably supporting the sweep member at one end thereof constituting its inner end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for effecting sweeping movement of said sweep member around said vertical axis comprises a carriage at one end of said sweep member constituting its outer end, wheels on said carriage rolling on a circular track around the bin, reversible drive means on said carriage adapted to roll the wheels on the track thereby rotating said sweep member about the vertical axis of the bin, and means for reversing said drive means upon the completion of each revolution of said sweep member about said vertical axis, whereby the direction of rotation of said sweep member about said vertical axis is reversed upon completion of each revolution of said sweep member about the vertical axis of the bin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein the means for reversing said drive means comprises a switch mounted on the carriage, and switch actuating means fixed with respect to the bin for engagement by the switch to actuate the switch each time the carriage completes a revolution about the vertical axis of the bin, the switch being adapted to reverse said drive means upon each actuation thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |