Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
In apparatus for unloading material such as chips or the like from the bottom of a silo having a bottom outlet orifice, comprising a conveyer screw, an annular frame surrounding the outlet orifice in the bottom of the silo and having said screw mounted thereon, said frame being arranged for rotation about the central axis of the silo for allowing swinging of said screw along the bottom of the silo, a motor mounted stationarily independently of said rotary frame for rotating said screw about its longitudinal axis for conveying material to said outlet orifice, a drive shaft extending along said central axis for effecting power transmission between stationary motor and the rotary screw, a hydraulic device provided at the outer end of said screw and cooperating with the inner circumference of the silo, a stationary source of hydraulic motive fluid outside the silo, said source communicating with said hydraulic device, the improvement comprising: an outlet funnel carried by said rotary frame and located beneath the inner end of said screw and offset from its central axis, a stationary container through which said shaft extends centrally and down to which said rotary outlet funnel is leading, the walls of said container having an increasing distance from the central axis to a substantially tangential lateral outlet, and said shaft having a central bore through which said source of hydraulic fluid communicates with said hydraulic device for supplying motive fluid to the latter for driving the screw along the bottom of the silo.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
In apparatus for unloading material such as chips or the like from the bottom of a silo having a bottom outlet orifice, comprising a conveyer screw, an annular frame surrounding the outlet orifice in the bottom of the silo and having said screw mounted thereon, said frame being arranged for rotation about the central axis of the silo for allowing swinging of said screw along the bottom of the silo, a motor mounted stationarily independently of said rotary frame for rotating said screw about its longitudinal axis for conveying material to said outlet orifice, a drive shaft extending along said central axis for effecting power transmission between stationary motor and the rotary screw, a hydraulic device provided at the outer end of said screw and cooperating with the inner circumference of the silo, a stationary source of hydraulic motive fluid outside the silo, said source communicating with said hydraulic device, the improvement comprising: an outlet funnel carried by said rotary frame and located beneath the inner end of said screw and offset from its central axis, a stationary container through which said shaft extends centrally and down to which said rotary outlet funnel is leading, the walls of said container having an increasing distance from the central axis to a substantially tangential lateral outlet, and said shaft having a central bore through which said source of hydraulic fluid communicates with said hydraulic device for supplying motive fluid to the latter for driving the screw along the bottom of the silo.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the part of the drive shaft which extend through the container further comprises a paddle means secured thereto, said paddle means upon rotation moving the material received in the container to the outlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a second shaft which is mounted on the frame parallel to said drive shaft on the opposite side of said funnel, and which drivingly engages the end of said screw in power transmitting engagement with said drive shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said conduit for passing hydraulic motive fluid through said drive shaft leaves the upper end of said shaft and the central axis to connect with the inner end of said screw and communicate with the swinging device through the interior of the screw.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the stationary source of pressure fluid comprises a first hydraulic cylinder, and that said hydraulic device comprises a second hydraulic cylinder which is operated by hydraulic liquid from said first cylinder and cooperates with abutment faces facing in the tangential direction and being arranged along the inner circumference of the silo, said second hydraulic cylinder thereby providing the desired swinging motion of the screw around the central axis of the silo.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the abutment faces, which preferably are arranged at the edge of an inwardly facing flange on the wall of the silo, are circumferentially spaced a distance which is somewhat shorter than the stroke of the second cylinder, and are interconnected via cam faces which together with the abutment faces form a saw-toothed circumferential face, and that said sEcond cylinder is spring baised towards said circumferential face.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the device comprises a catch which is spring baised towards said circumferential face, and which, when bearing against one of the abutment faces, prevents return swinging of the screw when the second cylinder is shortened to engage another face.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the chamber in the second hydraulic cylinder which when expanded effects an extension of said cylinder, communicates with a hydraulic conduit from the stationary first cylinder, whereas the second chamber in the second cylinder communicates with a pressure storage chamber which effects a shortening of said second cylinder when the pressure in the stationary cylinder is relieved.