Segmented auger conveyor

Claim 2

Auger conveyor apparatus adapted to convey bulk material, said apparatus comprising reversible drive means, a plurality of axially aligned and connected segments which are adapted to be driven by said drive means, and coupling means between adjacent segments, said coupling means being adapted to transmit rotational motion from one said segment to a said adjacent segment, wherein said coupling means is further adapted to permit limited angular movement between said adjacent segments when the direction of drive rotation of said auger conveyor apparatus is reversed, wherein the total angular movement between a first said segment at one end of said apparatus and the last said segment at the opposite end of said apparatus is at least 360°, and wherein said connected segments are self-supporting.

Claim 3

Auger conveyor apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said segments are carried and supported on a central shaft.

Claim 4

Auger conveyor apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprise lugs carried by said segments, wherein said lugs on each said segment are adapted to engage said lugs on an adjacent said segment.

Claim 5

Auger conveyor apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said coupling means are internally disposed within said segments.

Claim 6

Auger conveyor apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each said segment includes an annular central hub.

Claim 7

Auger conveyor apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said coupling means are disposed within said central hub.

Claim 8

Auger conveyor apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said segments include conveyance means on the exterior surface capable of moving said bulk material along said segments.

Claim 9

Auger conveyor apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein said conveyance means comprises flighting.

Claim 10

Auger conveyor apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said flighting is helical.

Claim 11

Auger conveyor apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the length of each said segment is approximately equal to the pitch of said flighting.

Claim 12

Auger conveyor apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each said segment is in the range of about ten to twenty inches long.

Claim 13

Auger conveyor apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said central shaft comprises a cylindrical tube.

Claim 14

Auger conveyor apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises (a) a lug projecting axially beyond the edge of one said segment, and (b) at least one stop means carried by the adjacent segment, wherein one said segment is rotatable relative to said adjacent segment until said lug engages said stop means.

Claim 15

An unloading apparatus of the type adapted to unload bulk material from a generally cylindrical storage structure having a central opening in the floor thereof, wherein said apparatus includes (a) a sweep arm adapted to extend radially from said central opening to a point near the wall of said structure and being further adapted to loosen and transport said material from said storage structure to said opening, (b) conveyor means which is operatively associated with sweep arm and having a portion which is adapted to be disposed beneath said central opening and further adapted to convey said material from said opening to a point beyond the wall of said structure, and (c) drive means; wherein said drive means is reversible; wherein said sweep arm comprises auger conveyor apparatus which comprises a plurality of axially aligned and connected segments, wherein coupling means are adapted to transmit rotational motion from one said segment to an adjacent said segment, wherein said coupling means is further adapted to permit limited angular movement between adjacent said segments when the direction of drive rotation of said auger conveyor apparatus by said drive means is reversed, wherein the total angular movement between a first said segment at one end of said apparatus and the last said segment at the opposite end of said apparatus is at least 360°, and wherein said connected segments are self-supporting.

Claim 16

An unloading apparatus of the type adapted to unload bulk material from a generally cylindrical storage structure having a central opening in the floor thereof, wherein said apparatus includes (a) a sweep arm adapted to extend radially from said central opening to a point near the wall of said structure and being further adapted to loosen and transport said material from said storage structure to said opening, (b) conveyor means which is operatively associated with sweep arm and having a portion which is adapted to be disposed beneath said central opening and further adapted to convey said material from said opening to a point beyond the wall of said structure, and (c) drive means; wherein said drive means is reversible; wherein said sweep arm comprises auger conveyor apparatus which comprises a plurality of axially aligned and connected segments, wherein coupling means are adapted to transmit rotational motion from one said segment to an adjacent said segment, wherein said coupling means is further adapted to permit limited angular movement between adjacent said segments when the direction of drive rotation of said auger conveyor apparatus by said drive means is reversed, wherein the total angular movement between a first said segment at one end of said apparatus and the last said segment at the opposite end of said apparatus is at least 360°, and wherein said connected segments are self-supporting.

Claim 17

Unloading apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said segments are carried and supported on an elongated cylindrical shaft.

Claim 18

Unloading apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said coupling means comprises (a) a lug projecting axially beyond the edge of one said segment, and (b) at least one stop means carried by the adjacent segment, wherein one said segment is rotatable relative to said adjacent segment until said lug engages said stop means.

Claim 19

Unloading apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein the majority of said segments include flighting on their exterior surface, wherein said flighting is adapted to move said bulk material from one end of said segment to the other end thereof.

Claim 20

Unloading apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein said flighting is helical.

Claim 21

Unloading apparatus in accordance with claim 18, wherein the length of each said segment is approximately equal to the pitch of said flighting.

Claim 22

Unloading apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein each said segment is in the range of about ten to twenty inches long.

Claim 23

Unloading apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein each said segment includes an annular central hub.

Claim 24

Unloading apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said coupling means is disposed within said central hub.

Claim 25

Unloading apparatus in accordance with claim 17, further comprising a plurality of material dislodging teeth carried by said conveyor means and projecting outwardly therefrom, wherein each said tooth comprises a pointed end carried by the leading end of a shank inclined in the direction of travel of said tooth, wherein the trailing end of said shank is connected to support means carried by said conveyor, and wherein said support means has a curved leading surface.

Claim 26

Unloading apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein said curved leading surface has a radius of curvature of at least about 0.1 inch.

Claim 27

Auger conveyor apparatus adapted to convey bulk material, said apparatus comprising reversible drive means, a plurality of axially aligned segments which are adapted to be driven by said drive means, retention means adapted to hold said segments in end-to-end arrangement, coupling means between adjacent segments, said coupling means being adapted to transmit rotational motion from one said segment to a said adjacent segment, wherein said coupling means is further adapted to permit limited angular movement between said adjacent segments when the direction of drive rotation of said auger conveyor apparatus is reversed, and wherein the total angular movement between a first said segment at one end of said apparatus and the last said segment at the opposite end of said apparatus is at least 360°.

Claim 28

Auger conveyor apparatus adapted to convey bulk material, said apparatus comprising reversible drive means, a plurality of axially aligned segments which are adapted to be driven by said drive means, retention means adapted to hold said segments in end-to-end arrangement, coupling means between adjacent segments, said coupling means being adapted to transmit rotational motion from one said segment to a said adjacent segment, wherein said coupling means is further adapted to permit limited angular movement between said adjacent segments when the direction of drive rotation of said auger conveyor apparatus is reversed, and wherein the total angular movement between a first said segment at one end of said apparatus and the last said segment at the opposite end of said apparatus is at least 360°.