Grain storage tank covers
US6692352B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 17, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 24, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01D41/1226
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Rigid cover panels of the cover for grain storage tubes on combines, harvesting machine, are preferably fabricated of double-wall plastic to limit weight of the cover while providing desired strength and rigidity. The rigid cover panels can be pivoted about top edges of an underlying grain tank whereby the cover panels function as a height extension of the underlying tank, thus to increase the grain-carrying capacity of the tank. Flexible transition panels are preferably mounted to the rigid cover panels to bridge spaces between edge regions of the rigid cover panels when the rigid cover panels are raised to their upright, tank-extending orientations. A preferably single underlying actuator in the tank, in combination with mechanical linkages, can simultaneously raise all the rigid cover panels, all the flexible transition panels, and the discharge end of a clean grain elevator which discharges grain into the tank.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.