US4015734A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sweep auger for bottom silo unloaders
Assignee: LAIDIG SILO UNLOADERS Inc
•
Filing: 1975-08-14
•
Granted: 1977-04-05
•
Expires: 1995-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A bottom silo unloader is disclosed in which a tapered sweep auger has its inner end of largest diameter supported for rotation about a transverse vertical axis at the center of a silo so that it sweeps over the silo floor as it is also rotated on its longitudinal axis to feed material to a center-located hopper therebelow with which a discharge auger communicates. The outer smaller end of the sweep auger is spaced off the silo floor and unsupported other than through the driven inner end. In its specifically disclosed form the tapered shaft of the sweeper auger is composed of three equal length sections of constant diameter, the diameters of which are progressively increased from shaft section to shaft section in the direction of the supported inner end of the sweep auger. The helical flight about the shaft sections have a constant radial depth and related pitch so that the loading capacity of the sweep auger increases from a minimum on its unsupported outer shaft section to a maximum on its shaft section closest to the center of the silo.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan J. Laidig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:54
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G65/00; B65G65/30; B65G65/34; B65G65/40; B65G65/46; B65G65/466
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
In a bottom silo unloader having a sweep auger drivingly supported at its inner end for rotation about a transverse related vertical axis and for simultaneous rotation about its own axis, the improvement wherein the sweep auger comprises a series of helical flight bearing shaft sections of which the outermost shaft section has the smallest diameter and each succeeding shaft section in a direction inwardly therefrom has a larger diameter than the immediately preceding shaft section, and wherein the helical flights about each of the shaft sections all have the same radial depth, the loading capacity of the channels between the flights of each succeeding shaft section being larger than that to the preceding shaft section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a bottom silo unloader having a sweep auger drivingly supported at its inner end for rotation about a transverse related vertical axis and for simultaneous rotation about its own axis, the improvement wherein the sweep auger comprises a series of helical flight bearing shaft sections of which the outermost shaft section has the smallest diameter and each succeeding shaft section in a direction inwardly therefrom has a larger diameter than the immediately preceding shaft section, and wherein the helical flights about each of the shaft sections all have the same radial depth, the loading capacity of the channels between the flights of each succeeding shaft section being larger than that to the preceding shaft section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The improvement according to claim 1 wherein the pitch of the helical flight on the outermost shaft section is narrowest and the pitch of the helical flight on each succeeding shaft section is wider than the pitch of the helical flight on the immediately preceding shaft section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the depth and pitch of the helical flight on each shaft section is constant throughout the length of the respective shaft section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the pitch of the helical flight on each shaft section other than the outermost shaft section is constant throughout the length thereof, the pitch of the helical flight on the outermost shaft section being less at the outermost end of the sweep auger than inwardly thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improvement according to claim 1 wherein the radial depth of the channels between the helical flights on each shaft section is constant and the width thereof on each succeeding shaft section is greater than on the immediately preceding shaft section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement according to claim 1 wherein the shaft sections comprise separately formed telescopically connected cylindrical members each having a helical flight thereabout the radial height of which is constant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a bottom silo unloader having a sweep auger drivingly supported at its inner end for rotation about a transverse related vertical axis and for simultaneous rotation about its own axis, the improvement wherein the sweep auger comprises a series of helical flight bearing shaft sections of which the outermost shaft section has the smallest diameter and each succeeding section in the direction inwardly therefrom has a larger diameter than the immediately preceding shaft section, and wherein the depth and pitch of the helical flight on each shaft section other than the outermost shaft section is constant throughout the length thereof, the pitch of the helical flight on the outermost shaft section being less at the outermost end of the sweep auger than inwardly thereof, the loading capacity of the channels between the flights of each succeeding shaft section being larger than that of the preceding shaft section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a bottom silo unloader having a sweep auger drivingly supported at its inner end for rotation about a transverse related vertical axis and for simultaneous rotation about its own axis, the improvement wherein the sweep auger comprises a series of helical flight bearing shaft sections of which the outermost shaft section has the smallest diameter and each succeeding section in the direction inwardly therefrom has a larger diameter than the immediately preceding shaft section, and wherein the depth and pitch of the helical flight on each shaft section other than the outermost shaft section is constant throughout the length thereof, the pitch of the helical flight on the outermost shaft section being less at the outermost end of the sweep auger than inwardly thereof, the loading capacity of the channels between the flights of each succeeding shaft section being larger than that of the preceding shaft section.
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) | 1980-04-04 | 1980-10-04 | 1981-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-04 | 1984-10-04 | 1985-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-04 | 1988-10-04 | 1989-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |