US3830383A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unloader
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-04
•
Granted: 1974-08-20
•
Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A bulk material unloader, such as a silo unloader, having a material gathering endless chain. The length of the material engaging portion of the chain can be changed, whereby the unloader is particularly suitable in unloading ensilage from trough-shaped horizontal silos.
Inventors
- 👤 C Robinson
- 👤 D Tinney
- 👤 R Skippon
- 👤 S Koopman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:47
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G65/00; B65G65/30; B65G65/34; B65G65/36; B65G65/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A bulk material unloader having a gathering chain adapted to train about a chain path, said chain path being of a constant length and including a gathering portion and a slack portion; said chain being further movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said gathering run To bring the chain into operative engagement with said material; said unloader including means for selectively changing the length of said gathering run, and means for changing the length of said slack portion simultaneously with the changing of the length of said gathering run, said chain path being substantially triangular; said direction of the movement bringing the chain into an operative engagement with said material being substantially horizontal, said gathering run also extending in a substantially horizontal direction; means for selectively changing the position of said gathering run in vertical direction; the unloader being further provided with sprocket wheels mounted for rotation at ends of an extensible carrier means; said carrier means being provided with a device for locking the carrier means in a predetermined extended stage thereby fixing the sprocket wheels at a predetermined distance from each other until subsequent release of said locking device; said means for selectively changing the position of said gathering run in vertical direction including locking means for locking said gathering run in a selected height; said carrier means being adapted to be spring urged to extend in length in order to increase the distance between said sprocket wheels and thereby to increase the length of said gathering run; wherein said carrier means comprises two tubular members adapted to telescope one into the other thereby forming a tubular assembly with a spring arranged inside said tubular assembly, said spring being adapted to urge the tubular assembly to increase in length.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A bulk material unloader having a gathering chain adapted to train about a chain path, said chain path being of a constant length and including a gathering portion and a slack portion; said chain being further movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said gathering run To bring the chain into operative engagement with said material; said unloader including means for selectively changing the length of said gathering run, and means for changing the length of said slack portion simultaneously with the changing of the length of said gathering run, said chain path being substantially triangular; said direction of the movement bringing the chain into an operative engagement with said material being substantially horizontal, said gathering run also extending in a substantially horizontal direction; means for selectively changing the position of said gathering run in vertical direction; the unloader being further provided with sprocket wheels mounted for rotation at ends of an extensible carrier means; said carrier means being provided with a device for locking the carrier means in a predetermined extended stage thereby fixing the sprocket wheels at a predetermined distance from each other until subsequent release of said locking device; said means for selectively changing the position of said gathering run in vertical direction including locking means for locking said gathering run in a selected height; said carrier means being adapted to be spring urged to extend in length in order to increase the distance between said sprocket wheels and thereby to increase the length of said gathering run; wherein said carrier means comprises two tubular members adapted to telescope one into the other thereby forming a tubular assembly with a spring arranged inside said tubular assembly, said spring being adapted to urge the tubular assembly to increase in length.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A silo unloader as claimed in claim 1, further provided with silo wall contacting means, arranged in proximity to said sprocket wheels and secured to the ends of said tubular assembly, each of said contacting means being adapted to rest against its adjacent silo wall and to maintain a distance between said wall and the chain passing over said sprocket wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A silo unloader as claimed in claim 2 wherein said silo wall contacting means are casters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A silo unloader as claimed in claim 2 further provided with a device for transporting silage from one end of said gathering run out from said silo.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A silo unloader as claimed in claim 4, wherein said device for transporting the silage includes a blower arranged at one end of a tubular duct, the opposite end of said duct terminating outside of said silo.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A silo unloader as claimed in claim 5 further provided with a disintegrator means arranged in proximity to said blower, whereby the silage can be disintegrated to facilitate its transport by said transporting device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A silo unloader as claimed in claim 5, wherein the duct is extensible, whereby its operative height can be selectively changed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A silo unloader as claimed in claim 5, wherein there are provided separate drive motors for at least one of said sprocket wheels and for said blower.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A silo unloader as claimed in claim 8, wherein said drive motors are hydraulic motors included in a hydraulic control circuit of said silo unloader.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A silo unloader as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of said carriage sprocket wheels, said blower and said carriage are each provided with a drive motor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
153 words
A silo unloader as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier means are connected to the lower ends of rods, the upper portions of said rods being swingably connected to said carriage for swingable movement, substantially in the direction along said silo, the upper portions of said rods being provided with releasable locking means for preventing said rods from moving upwardly from a predetermined upright position, the unloader being further provided with lifting means adapted to selectively change the vertical distance between said carriage and said carrier means, said lifting means comprising winding drums mounted for rotation in said carriage, said drums being provided with cables, said cable bEing wound on said drums, the lower ends of said cables being connected to said carrier means, said winding drums being provided with releasable locking means for preventing said drums from rotation, whereby the distance between said carrier and said carriage can be selectively fixed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
A silo unloader as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of said rods is provided with swing-sensing means operatively connected to drive means of said carriage to stop the advance of said carriage when said rod reaches a predetermined maximum angular deviation from a vertical position of said rod, whereby the movement of said carriage along said silo can be interrupted when the carrier means advance at a slower speed than that of said carriage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A silo unloader as claimed in claim 11, wherein said angular deviation is of the type wherein said rod slopes downwardly and backwardly with regard to the forward movement of said carriage, said forward movement being that of bringing the chain into said operative engagement with the silage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US978908A
Cited
US3528568A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-19 | 1978-02-18 | 1978-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-19 | 1982-02-18 | 1982-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-19 | 1986-02-18 | 1986-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |