Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A drive for an auger conveyor, said auger conveyor comprising a conveyor conduit and a centerless auger disposed within said conduit, said auger having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of flights spaced apart from one another at generally equal intervals along said longitudinal axis, said drive comprising a drive member in driving engagement with said auger for driving said auger in axial direction relative to said drive and relative to said conveyor conduit, said drive member being rotatably driven about an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis of said auger, and a power drive for rotating said drive member about said axis such that rotation of said drive member effects axial movement of said auger relative to said conveyor conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A drive for an auger conveyor, said auger conveyor comprising a conveyor conduit and a centerless auger disposed within said conduit, said auger having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of flights spaced apart from one another at generally equal intervals along said longitudinal axis, said drive comprising a drive member in driving engagement with said auger for driving said auger in axial direction relative to said drive and relative to said conveyor conduit, said drive member being rotatably driven about an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis of said auger, and a power drive for rotating said drive member about said axis such that rotation of said drive member effects axial movement of said auger relative to said conveyor conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A drive as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor conduit and said auger are arranged in an endless loop, and wherein said drive member engages said auger and axially propels said auger within said conduit around said endless loop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A drive as set forth in claim 2 further comprising means for holding said auger in fixed axial position within said conduit, but permitting rotation of said auger relative to said conduit, with said drive screw rotating said auger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A drive as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive member is a drive screw having at least one helical flight in driving engagement with at least one of said flights of said auger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A drive as set forth in claim 4 wherein the flights of said drive screw are in face-to-face engagement with the corresponding flights of said auger.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A drive as set forth in claim 1 wherein said auger has a plurality of helical flights disposed at substantially equal intervals from one another along the length of said auger, and wherein said drive member is a drive screw having at least one helical flight in driving engagement with at least one of said flights of said auger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A drive as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive screw is disposed relative to said auger such that the axis of said drive screw is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said auger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A drive as set forth in claim 5 wherein said drive screw has a plurality of helical flights spaced longitudinally from one another along the length of the drive screw at substantially the same axial spacing or pitch as the auger and wherein said flights of said drive screw are in driving engagement with said auger so as drive said auger in axial direction relative to said conduit.