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 sweep system is presented for a grain bin. The sweep system includes 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. In one or more embodiments, a tail section of the sweep system is located as the outward end of the elongated body. In one or more arrangements, a track-driven drive system is positioned in the tail section. The track-driven drive system has a continuous track formed by a continuous chain and a plurality of paddles connected thereto. The track-driven drive system is configured to move the outward end of the elongated housing around the grain bin thereby facilitating emptying of grain from the grain bin by the sweep system.

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.

Provided is a dew condensation prevention device for a discharge chute. A tip end portion of the discharge chute has inverted truncated cone-shaped internal and external chutes, a space is provided between an outer surface of the internal chute and an inner surface of the external chute, and a first air discharge port that communicates with the space is provided between respective lower ends of the two chutes. A cylindrical portion having an air reservoir in the interior thereof is provided to surround an outer peripheral surface of the external chute, and by providing an opening between an inner peripheral edge of a lower surface of the cylindrical portion and the outer peripheral surface of the external chute, a second air discharge port that communicates with the air reservoir is provided. Air input pipes for introduction of dry air are connected to the external chute and the cylindrical portion, respectively.

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 friction driven beltless grain spreader system is presented that includes a spreader cone having a pulley and a grain deflector configured to disperse the flow of grain. A motor having a driven wheel and an idler wheel are pivotally connected to the spreader cone in operative engagement with the pulley such that the idler wheel is positioned between the driven wheel and the pulley. A tension member applies a force that pulls the driven wheel and intermediary wheel into the pulley. As the motor rotates the driven wheel rotates the idler wheel which rotates the pulley. When forces spike, such as when the motor is turned on or a heavy flow of grain hits the system, one or more of the driven wheel, intermediary wheel and/or pulley slip with respect to the other wheels thereby preventing breakage of the system.

An auger system for removing particulate material from an interior of s storage bin having a bin floor with a center and a periphery. The auger system may comprise an outflow auger for positioning from the center of the bin floor to the periphery of the bin floor to move the particulate material from the center to the periphery, an inflow auger for positioning from the periphery of the bin floor to the center of the bin floor to move the particulate material toward the center of the bin floor to feed particulate material to the outflow auger; and a movement assembly configured to move the inflow auger with respect to the outflow auger. The system may also include a lift assembly configured to lift the inflow auger upwardly with respect to the bin floor from a lowered operational position to a raised, clearing position.

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 metering feeder is provided with the following: an annular transport space formed by an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, and a bottom plate; a central rotating blade provided on a rotating shaft in the center of the bottom plate; an outer rotating ring connected to the tip of the central rotating blade; a plurality of outer rotating blades provided on the outer rotating ring so as to point inwards; and a rotating disc in which a powder/granular-material discharge groove is formed, the top surface of said rotating disc lying in the same plane as the top surface of the bottom plate. The outer rotating blades scrape the powder/granular material in the annular-transport space into the powder/granular-material discharge groove, which transports said powder/granular material outside the outer cylinder. This metering feeder is further provided with a vertically-movable scraper for supplying large amounts of the powder/granular material and a fixed small scraper for supplying small amounts thereof. Said scrapers block the flow of the powder/granular material in the powder/granular-material discharge groove in the rotating disc and guide same to a discharge opening. This configuration makes it possible to increase the precision with which the powder/granular material is supplied.

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.