US8136654B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 3.9 years remaining
Auger conveyer
Assignee: AG Growth Industries LP
•
Filing: 2010-10-08
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Granted: 2012-03-20
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Expires: 2030-10-08
Abstract
Abstract An auger conveyor is provided that includes a housing, at least one first mounting bracket, at least one second mounting bracket, an auger screw and one or more auger support assemblies. The first mounting bracket has a first landing and the second mounting bracket has a second landing. The first and second mounting brackets are attached to the housing at positions diametrically opposite one another. The auger screw has a rotational axis. The one or more auger support assemblies each have a lateral member connected to a bushing assembly. The auger screw is rotatably mounted relative to the bushing assembly. First and second ends of the lateral member each have a geometry adapted to slidably engage with the first landing and the second landing, respectively. The auger screw and the one or more auger support assemblies are adapted to be received within and removed from the housing as an assembled unit, by insertion/removal through the first end of the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian S. Moreland
- 👤 Bradley A. Miller
- 👤 Jamie R. Whitesel
- 👤 R. Duane Brim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:49
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G33/00; B65G33/24; B65G33/26; B65G33/30; B65G33/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
An auger conveyor, comprising: a housing having at least one end; a first mounting bracket comprising a pair of parallel rails that form a first landing and a second mounting bracket comprising a pair of parallel rails that form a second landing, wherein the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket are attached to the housing at locations so as to be positioned diametrically opposite one another; a first auger screw section attached to a first end of the coupling shaft; and a second auger screw section attached to a second end of the coupling shaft; an auger support assembly having a lateral member connected to a bushing assembly, wherein the lateral member has a first end and a second end, where the coupling shaft is rotatably mounted within the bushing assembly, and wherein the first end and second end of the lateral member have geometries that are adapted to slidably engage with the first landing of the first mounting bracket and the second landing of the second mounting bracket, respectively; wherein the auger support assembly and the coupling shaft are located within the housing, and the first end and second end of the lateral member are engaged with, but not affixed to, the first landing of the first mounting bracket and the second landing of the second mounting bracket, respectively, to support the coupling shaft within the housing and enable slidable insertion and removal of the auger support assembly, coupling shaft and first and second auger screw sections from the at least one end of the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
An auger conveyor, comprising: a housing having at least one end; a first mounting bracket comprising a pair of parallel rails that form a first landing and a second mounting bracket comprising a pair of parallel rails that form a second landing, wherein the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket are attached to the housing at locations so as to be positioned diametrically opposite one another; a first auger screw section attached to a first end of the coupling shaft; and a second auger screw section attached to a second end of the coupling shaft; an auger support assembly having a lateral member connected to a bushing assembly, wherein the lateral member has a first end and a second end, where the coupling shaft is rotatably mounted within the bushing assembly, and wherein the first end and second end of the lateral member have geometries that are adapted to slidably engage with the first landing of the first mounting bracket and the second landing of the second mounting bracket, respectively; wherein the auger support assembly and the coupling shaft are located within the housing, and the first end and second end of the lateral member are engaged with, but not affixed to, the first landing of the first mounting bracket and the second landing of the second mounting bracket, respectively, to support the coupling shaft within the housing and enable slidable insertion and removal of the auger support assembly, coupling shaft and first and second auger screw sections from the at least one end of the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The auger conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the housing has an asymmetrical cross-sectional geometry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The auger conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a first end and a second end, and wherein the housing has a “U-shaped” cross-sectional geometry extending longitudinally between the first end and the second end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The auger conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the first auger screw section is a drive auger screw section and the second auger screw section is a distal auger screw section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The auger conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the first and second mounting brackets each further include a plate, a forward tapered region, an aft tapered region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The auger conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the auger support assembly has a “T-shaped” geometry.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The auger conveyor of claim 1 , wherein auger support assembly further includes a rotatably mounted connecting member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
236 words
An auger conveyor, comprising: a housing having a first end and a second end; at least one first mounting bracket having a first landing, and at least one second mounting bracket having a second landing, wherein the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket are attached to the housing and are positioned diametrically opposite one another; an auger screw having a rotational axis; and one or more auger support assemblies, each having a lateral member connected to a bushing assembly, wherein the lateral member has a first end and a second end, wherein the auger screw is rotatably mounted within the bushing assembly, and wherein the first end and second end of the lateral member each have a geometry adapted to slidably engage with the first landing and the second landing, respectively; wherein the auger screw and the one or more auger support assemblies are adapted to be received within the housing as an assembled unit, by insertion through the first end of the housing, and upon full insertion into the housing, the first and second ends of each lateral member are engaged with, but not affixed to, one of the diametrically opposed first and second landings, respectively, to support the auger screw within the housing, and the auger screw and auger support assembly are further adapted to be slidably removed from the housing as an assembled unit through the first end of the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
236 words
An auger conveyor, comprising: a housing having a first end and a second end; at least one first mounting bracket having a first landing, and at least one second mounting bracket having a second landing, wherein the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket are attached to the housing and are positioned diametrically opposite one another; an auger screw having a rotational axis; and one or more auger support assemblies, each having a lateral member connected to a bushing assembly, wherein the lateral member has a first end and a second end, wherein the auger screw is rotatably mounted within the bushing assembly, and wherein the first end and second end of the lateral member each have a geometry adapted to slidably engage with the first landing and the second landing, respectively; wherein the auger screw and the one or more auger support assemblies are adapted to be received within the housing as an assembled unit, by insertion through the first end of the housing, and upon full insertion into the housing, the first and second ends of each lateral member are engaged with, but not affixed to, one of the diametrically opposed first and second landings, respectively, to support the auger screw within the housing, and the auger screw and auger support assembly are further adapted to be slidably removed from the housing as an assembled unit through the first end of the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The conveyor of claim 8 , wherein the first landing includes a pair of parallel rails, and the second landing includes a pair of parallel rails.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The conveyor of claim 9 , wherein the first and second mounting brackets each further include a plate, and each landing includes a forward tapered region and an aft tapered region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
The conveyor of claim 8 , wherein the one or more auger support assemblies further comprises a coupling shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the auger screw comprises a first auger screw section and a second auger screw section, wherein the first auger screw section is attached to a first end of the coupling shaft and a second auger screw section attached to a second end of the coupling shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The conveyor of claim 8 , wherein the housing further comprises a first side, a second side, a base and a top, and wherein the housing has a “U-shaped” cross-sectional geometry extending longitudinally between the first end and the second end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The conveyor of claim 12 , wherein each auger support assembly has a geometry that prevents the auger support assembly from rotating 360 degrees within the “U-shaped” geometry of the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The conveyor of claim 13 , wherein each auger support assembly has a “T-shaped” geometry.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2015-03-20 | 2015-09-19 | 2016-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2019-03-20 | 2019-09-19 | 2020-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2023-03-20 | 2023-09-19 | 2024-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |