A sweep conveyor assembly is provided for use in a silo or granary (70) having a floor (71), a generally cylindrical wall (72) upstanding from the floor (71) and a discharge apparatus (1) for discharging material (74) from a centre of the floor (71) to an exterior location. The sweep conveyor assembly has a sweep conveyor (S) for transporting material (74) inside the silo (S) or granary towards the centre of the floor (71) where it can be discharged by the discharge apparatus (1), a holder (H), and a link mechanism (8) for connecting the sweep conveyor (S) to the holder (H), and in turn having a connection link (L) with a first end (83) and a second end (84). The first end (83) is connected to the holder (H) at a fixed pivot point and the sweep conveyor (S) is connected to the second end (84) of the connection link (L) at a movable pivot point. The connection link (L) rotates about the fixed pivot point, forming a first angle () between the connection link (L) and the holder (H), and the sweep conveyor (S) rotates about the movable pivot point, forming a second angle () between the sweep conveyor (S) and the connection link (L). The link mechanism (8) controls a ratio between the first angle () and the second angle (), with a magnitude of the first angle () and second angle () controlled by an angular position of the sweep conveyor (S).

A full floor sweep system having a skeletonized head section to facilitate removal of grain from a grain bin. The sweep system having an elongated body extending a length between an inward end and an outward end and having a leading side and a trailing side. The elongated body is connected to a pivot point at the center of the grain bin and is configured to rotate around the pivot point. An agitator is connected to the outward end of the elongated body and is configured to agitate grain as the elongated body rotates around the pivot point. The agitator includes an impeller that is connected to a shaft that extends through the elongated body. A scraper is positioned at the outward end of the elongated body and is configured to move grain into the path of the elongated body.

A sweep auger system having a driveshaft with auger flighting and a backboard extending a length from an inward end to an outward end. An input of a gearbox is connected to an outward end of the drive shaft and a sweep wheel having a plurality of notches, arms and feet is connected to an output of the gearbox. A drive shield is placed around a rearward side of the sweep wheel that forms a channel that is configured to capture grain agitated by the sweep wheel. A guide plate is connected to the gearbox and covers a portion of the gearbox. The guide plate angles from an upper outward edge downward and forward to a lower inward edge that is configured to urge the grain captured within the channel of the drive shield to move in front of the sweep auger system reducing grain left in the grain bin.

A gearbox below a grain bin floor can have a shift coupling movable between a drive position and a neutral position. A control rod can be axially movable between a corresponding drive position and a corresponding neutral position. A pair of biasing members can be operably positioned between the control rod and the shift coupling to bias the shift coupling in opposite directions. The opposite biasing forces of the biasing members can act against each other to bias the control rod into the neutral positioning recess to retain the external shift coupling and the control rod in the neutral position and the corresponding neutral position, respectively. The opposite biasing force of the biasing members can bias the control rod into the drive positioning recess to retain the external shift coupling and the control rod in the drive position and the corresponding drive position, respectively.

A sweep auger system having a driveshaft with auger flighting and a backboard extending a length from an inward end to an outward end. An input of a gearbox is connected to an outward end of the drive shaft and a sweep wheel having a plurality of notches, arms and feet is connected to an output of the gearbox. A drive shield is placed around a rearward side of the sweep wheel that forms a channel that is configured to capture grain agitated by the drive wheel. A guide plate is connected to the gearbox and covers a portion of the gearbox. The guide plate angles from an upper outward edge downward and forward to a lower inward edge that is configured to urge the grain captured within the channel of the drive shield to move in front of the sweep auger system reducing grain left in the grain bin.

An unloading system for use in a storage structure having a sidewall that contains granular stored material. A reclaiming portion is spaced from the sidewall and has a floor portion that extends from a discharge opening toward the sidewall. The floor portion of the reclaiming portion is supported above the floor of the storage structure. The reclaiming portion may move with respect to the sidewall and is isolated from movement with respect to the sidewall of the storage structure. Seals between the reclaiming portion and the sidewall prevent the stored material from bypassing the reclaiming portion so that any discharge of the stored material occurs through the discharge opening.

An unloading system for use in a storage structure having a sidewall that contains granular stored material. A reclaiming portion is spaced from the sidewall and has a floor portion that extends from a discharge opening toward the sidewall. The floor portion of the reclaiming portion is supported above the floor of the storage structure. The reclaiming portion may move with respect to the sidewall and is isolated from movement with respect to the sidewall of the storage structure. Seals between the reclaiming portion and the sidewall prevent the stored material from bypassing the reclaiming portion so that any discharge of the stored material occurs through the discharge opening.

A portable grain storage bin including a circular sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge, a conical cover coupled to and extending upwardly and radially inwardly from the top edge of the circular sidewall, to an opening and a partial floor extending radially inwardly from the bottom edge of the circular sidewall and terminating at a free edge. The circular sidewall, conical cover and partial floor are movable between a collapsed configuration when empty and a deployed configuration when filled.

The present invention relates to a sweep conveyor assembly for use in a silo or granary (70) having a floor (71) and a generally cylindrical wall (72) upstanding from the floor (71) and a discharge apparatus (1) for discharging material (74) from a centre of the floor (71) to an exterior location, the sweep conveyor (S) assembly comprising: a sweep conveyor (S) for transporting material (74) inside the silo (S) or granary towards the centre of the floor (71) where it can be discharged by the discharge apparatus (1), a holder (H), a link mechanism (8) for connecting the sweep conveyor (S) to the holder (H), said link mechanism (8) comprising a connection link (L) having a first end (83) and a second end (84), said first end (83) being configured to be connected to the holder (H) at a fixed pivot point and the sweep conveyor (S) being configured to be connected to the second end (84) of the connection link (L) at a movable pivot point, wherein the connection link (L) is arranged to rotate about the fixed pivot point, forming a first angle (+) between the connection link (L) and the holder (H) and wherein further the sweep conveyor (S) is arranged to rotate about the movable pivot point, forming a second angle () between the sweep conveyor (S) and the connection link (L), and wherein the link mechanism (8) is arranged to control a relation between the first angle () and the second angle (), and a magnitude of the first angle () and second angle () is controlled by an angular position of the sweep conveyor (S).

A modular storage bin sweep system utilizing paddles to sweep particulate matter across a floor may comprise a sweep assembly including at least two units connectable together. The assembly may comprise a plurality of interconnected paddles, a power unit configured to the paddles, a drive unit configured to move the sweep assembly with respect to a surface of the bin below the sweep assembly. In some embodiments, a traction enhancement structure may increase traction of the drive unit on the floor. In some embodiments, a pivot unit is configured to permit a degree of pivotability of the axes of the units with respect to each other, and may be combined with a drive unit. In some embodiments, the power unit includes a rotary electrical power transfer structure configured to transfer electrical power to the power unit when rotating in the bin.