Importance

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Abstract

Present conveyors such as portable grain augers are most commonly positioned, raised and lowered manually and are powered by a small air-cooled engine, electric motor or a tractor power take-off. The disclosed conveyor system utilizes a tractor for all modes of transport, positioning, raising and lowering, and powering the conveyor. The undercarriage configuration allows a tractor to be coupled beside and in parallel with the conveyor. The undercarriage moves as a unit with the tractor but is freestanding when uncoupled. The tractor power take-off is utilized to drive the conveyor through the use of any one of several drive systems and the tractor electrical and hydraulic systems may be used to power controls for raising and lowering the conveyor. In grain augers, in addition to the mechanical auger flighting used to move the grain, a pneumatic system may also be adapted to this unit. Its function is primarily the same as that of present drag or clean-up augers which are used to move grain toward the auger intake during clean-up operations. The pneumatic system features only a suction stage with the grain being taken in through a suction hose and deposited into a cyclone above the auger flighting. The blower or fan is mounted on the undercarriage behind the tractor and is powered by the tractor power take-off independently of the auger flighting.

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First Claim