Patent · US Expired

Drive mechanism for a bottom silo unloader

US4426187A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
2References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 27, 1982
Grant dateJan 17, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 27, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G65/466
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A drive mechanism for rotating the sweep arm of a bottom silo unloader. The silo, which contains a stored material, is mounted on a foundation and a trough is located in the foundation and extends from the center of the silo to the exterior. A sweep arm is mounted for rotation with respect to the center of the silo and acts to dislodge stored material and convey the dislodged material to the trough where a discharge conveyor mounted in the trough conveys the dislodged material to the exterior of the silo. The drive mechanism for rotating the sweep arm about the silo includes a drive shaft extending within the trough, and the inner end of the drive shaft carries a sprocket which is engageable with a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive pins mounted on a turntable that carries the inner end of the sweep arm. Rotation of the sprocket will correspondingly rotate the turntable and sweep arm about the center of the silo. The turntable is provided with a plurality of holes which are located between the drive pins so that the teeth of the drive sprocket will force the stored material lodged between the drive pins upwardly through the holes to thereby clean the area between the drive…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.