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.

A grain bin sweep apparatus includes a plurality of elongated grain impellers positioned adjacent a floor of a bin and having an inner ends rotatably supported at a central area of the bin and having an outer ends connected to an endless drive chain mounted in a guide track extending about an outer periphery of the bin and a drive motor engaged with the chain and operable to cause the chain to angularly sweep the impellers about the bin floor to thereby move the grain toward a grain exit of the bin.

In one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus comprising an auger section having an auger and a drive unit containing a motor for driving the auger. A collector ring housing containing a collector ring is positioned between the auger section and the drive unit. In another aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus for attachment to a floor grate. The apparatus includes a pivot stand attached to a top surface of the floor grate, the pivot stand defining a vertical pivot axis. A collector ring has a first stationary portion and a second rotatable portion, with the stationary portion attached to the pivot stand. A housing surrounds the collector ring, and the housing and second rotatable portion of the collector ring rotate together about the pivot axis.

In one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus comprising an auger section having an auger and a drive unit containing a motor for driving the auger. A collector ring housing containing a collector ring is positioned between the auger section and the drive unit. In another aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus for attachment to a floor grate. The apparatus includes a pivot stand attached to a top surface of the floor grate, the pivot stand defining a vertical pivot axis. A collector ring has a first stationary portion and a second rotatable portion, with the stationary portion attached to the pivot stand. A housing surrounds the collector ring, and the housing and second rotatable portion of the collector ring rotate together about the pivot axis.

A control system for controlling a shared variable frequency drive for operating more than one mechanical systems of a grain bin. The control system includes at least one processor circuit that is configured to operate the shared VFD in both a first mode, wherein operating in the first mode results in operating a fan assembly of the grain bin, and a second mode, wherein operating in the second mode results in operating an unload sweep assembly within the grain bin.

A sweep auger system having a driveshaft with auger fighting 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.

A grain bin unload conveyor trough can have a wall profile including a lowermost curved wall portion. Lower portions of a pair of side walls can be spaced laterally from each other at a first interior lateral width, and upper portions of the side walls can be spaced laterally from each other at a second interior lateral width that is greater than the first interior lateral width. A shelf portion of each side wall can extend laterally outwardly from the lower to the upper portion of the side walls. An auger hanger can extend laterally across the conveyor trough and can be supported on the shelf portions of the side walls. The auger hanger can extend down to hold an auger shaft of a grain bin unload conveyor auger in the conveyor trough centrally within the first interior lateral width between the lower portions of the side walls.

A control system for controlling a shared variable frequency drive for operating more than one mechanical systems of a grain bin. The control system includes at least one processor circuit that is configured to operate the shared VFD in both a first mode, wherein operating in the first mode results in operating a fan assembly of the grain bin, and a second mode, wherein operating in the second mode results in operating an unload sweep assembly within the grain bin.

A method of positioning a grain bin unload conveyor auger within a grain bin unload conveyor trough includes positioning an auger hanger on a pair of hanger support shelves at an open exterior end of the grain bin unload conveyor trough to support the grain bin unload conveyor auger away from adjacent interior surfaces of the grain bin unload conveyor trough, and pushing the grain bin unload conveyor auger through the open exterior end of the grain bin unload conveyor trough to cause the auger hanger to continuously support the grain bin unload conveyor auger away from the interior surfaces of the grain bin unload conveyor trough as the auger hanger moves longitudinally along the pair of hanger support shelves from the open exterior end to a final operational position of the auger hanger between the open exterior end and an interior end of the grain bin unload conveyor trough.

The invention relates to a grain sweep (1) for use on a floor comprising at least a first drive means (2), an elongated frame (3) comprising a rotatably arranged inner end (4) and an outer end (5), a drive wheel (6) adapted to rotate the elongated frame (3) around said inner end (4), and a grain moving means (7) adapted to move grain. The grain sweep (1) further comprises at least one resilient member (8) arranged at either said inner (4) or outer end (5) of said elongated frame (3), wherein the resilient member (8) allows the elongated frame (3) to move from said upper position towards a lower position when pressure is applied upon the elongated frame (3), and wherein the resilient member (8) allows the elongated frame (3) to move back towards said upper position when the pressure is removed.