Bin sweep with drive slippage capability

摘要

An elongated sweep apparatus for moving particulate matter in a bin may include a sweep assembly movable over the floor of the bin and a sweep drive assembly to move the sweep assembly. The sweep assembly may comprise a particulate sweep structure to move particulate matter toward one end of the elongated sweep apparatus. The sweep drive assembly may comprise at least one wheel to contact the floor and a slippage interface structure connected to the at least one wheel to transfer rotation to the at least one wheel and permit a degree of slippage of the rotational motion transferred to the at least one wheel when resistance to rotation of the at least one wheel exceeds a threshold resistance level.

主权项

1. An elongated sweep apparatus for moving particulate matter in a bin comprising:
a sweep assembly movable over the floor of the bin, the sweep assembly comprising a housing generally extending between opposite ends of the sweep apparatus and a particulate sweep structure configured to move particulate matter toward one end of the elongated sweep apparatus, the particulate sweep structure including a plurality of interconnected paddles movable in a succession on a path along at least a portion of the sweep assembly between the opposite ends; a sweep drive assembly driven by movement of the particulate sweep structure and configured to move the sweep assembly, the sweep drive assembly comprising a pair of wheels to contact the bin floor, the drive assembly being connected to the particulate sweep structure in a manner such that movement of the plurality of interconnected paddles of the sweep structure operates the drive assembly to rotate the wheels; and a slippage interface structure connected to the wheels and the sweep structure and configured to permit a degree of slippage between movement of the interconnected paddles of the sweep structure and rotation of the wheels when resistance to rotation of the wheels exceeds a threshold resistance level; wherein rotational motion is transferred to each of the wheels by separate said slippage interface structures to permit different degrees of slippage by each of the wheels being driven by the particulate sweep structure.