United States Patent [19]
`Meyer
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45]. Date of Patent:
`
`4,701,093
`Oct. 20, 1987
`
`[54] SWEEP AUGER APPARATUS
`[75] Inventor: Marvin G. Meyer, Sheffield, Iowa
`[73] Assignee: Sukup Manufacturing Company,
`Sheffield, Iowa
`[21] Appl. No.: 795,701
`[22] Filed:
`Oct. 31, 1985
`
`[63)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Continuation of Ser. No. 352,796, Feb. 26, 1982, aban
`doned.
`[51] Int. Cl." .............................................. B65G 65/46
`[52] U.S. Cl. ...................................... 414/312; 74/390;
`414/326
`[58] Field of Search ................................ 414/306–312,
`414/322–326, 301, 302, 304, 305,266, 145, 133,
`213, 390, 526; 74/390; 180/74
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1,293,123 2/1919 Konetsky .............................. 74/390
`1,312,618 8/1919 Davidson .............................. 74/390
`2,678,241 5/1954 Miller .............................. 414/322 X
`3,127,032 3/1964 Roberts .
`3,356,235 12/1967 Laidig .
`3,391,809 7/1968 Weaver et al. .
`3,486,643 12/1969 Smith .
`
`[56]
`
`3,647,094 3/1972 Jackson ............................... 41.4/312
`4,008,816 2/1977 Harrison ..
`.... 41.4/310
`4,033,466 7/1977 Easton ................................. 414/301
`4,063,654 12/1977 Shivvers .
`4,217,701 8/1980 Matthews ............................ 41.4/310
`4,248,538 2/1981 Sukup .................................. 366/261
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1133310 7/1962 Fed. Rep. of Germany ...... 414/306
`Primary Examiner—Frank E. Werner
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Neuman, Williams, Anderson
`& Olson
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A sweep auger apparatus is radially disposed within a
`circular bin for moving a free flowing granular material
`across the floor of the bin toward the center of the bin.
`A motor is connected to the radially inner end of the
`auger shaft to rotate the auger about its horizontal axis.
`A drive wheel assembly is connected to the radially
`outer end of the auger shaft for supporting the outer end
`of the auger shaft and for revolving the auger around
`the central vertical axis of the bin. The drive wheel
`assembly includes a speed reduction mechanism
`whereby the speed of rotation of the drive wheel is
`substantially less than the speed of rotation of the auger
`shaft.
`
`6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures
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`Sioux ‘Steel, Exhibit 2003, Prairie Land V. Siouxi Steel, IPR2016—O1873, Page 2
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`U.S. Patent Oct 20, 1987
`U. S. Patent Oct.-20,1987
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`sheet2 of2
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`4,701,093
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`L Sioux ‘Steel, Exhibit 2003, Prairie Land V. Sioux Steel, IPR2016—O1873, Page 3
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`1
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`SWEEP AUGER APPARATUS
`
`4,701,093
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`This application is a continuation of application Ser.
`No. 352,796 filed Feb. 26, l982 now abandoned.
`This invention relates to auger apparatus, and more
`particularly to sweep augers suitable for moving granu-
`lar material across the floor of a circular storage bin
`toward the center of the bin.
`
`Sweep augers have long been used to unload grain or
`other granular material from circular storage bins. In
`such apparatus, a radially disposed auger rotates about
`its own axis to drag the granular material to an unload-
`ing sump at the center of the bin. Simultaneously, the
`auger revolves around the central vertical axis of the
`bin to advance across the bin floor in a sweeping action.
`The auger shaft typically is rotated by power means
`connected to the radially inner end of the shaft. A drive
`wheel often is attached to the radially outer end of the
`auger shaft for rotation therewith to support the outer
`portion of the auger, as well as to assist in driving the
`auger in its sweeping motion. While such arrangements
`provide for ease of manufacturing, certain operating
`and other disadvantages are inherent in the equipment.
`Auger shafts typically rotate at several hundred revolu-
`tions per minute to achieve the desired unloading capac-
`ity. However, this results in a peripheral velocity of the
`support wheel which is far greater than the rate of
`advancement of the outer end of the auger and hence of 3
`the wheel. This results in excessive slippage of the
`wheel on the support floor. Hence, the drive wheel
`wears out quickly if its periphery is made of rubber or
`other relatively soft traction material, as is desirable to
`provide sufficient frictional engagement with the steel 35
`bin floor to accomplish the sweeping motion. On the
`other hand, if the drive wheel periphery were made of
`steel or other hard material, the wheel often would not
`provide adequate traction for satisfactorily advancing
`the auger into the granular material, and would wear 40
`the bin floor.
`In the past, the aforesaid disadvantages have been
`overcome or minimized only with more complex appa-
`ratus and at considerably greater expense. In one such
`instance (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,032) a separate drive 45
`shaft extends coaxially through the auger shaft and
`drives a sprocket at a rotational speed independent of
`the speed of the rotating auger, the sprocket engaging a
`circular perforated track to provide a positive drive
`during the sweeping action. In other instances, auxiliary
`motors have been provided to drive sprockets or gears
`which similarly engage circular tracks to effect a posi-
`tive drive for sweeping (see e.g., U.S. Pats. Nos.
`3,356,235; 3,391,809; and 3,489,643). In yet another
`instance (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,654), a sweep auger
`shaft rotatably carries a floor engaging wheel which
`rides on a smooth portion of a circular track and, in
`addition, speed reduction gearing is driven from the
`auger shaft to operate an eccentrically mounted drive
`ratchet which engages a toothed portion of the track to
`effect a positive drive during the sweeping action. All
`of these constructions are unnecessarily cumbersome
`and expensive.
`It is an object of this invention to provide improved
`support and drive arrangements for sweep augers.
`A further object of this invention is to provide an
`economical sweep auger apparatus which avoids the
`problems of the aforementioned apparatus.
`
`2
`Another object of the invention is to provide a sweep
`auger apparatus which enables the auger shaft to be
`rotated about its longitudinal axis at a speed sufficient to
`achieve the desired bin unloading capacity and at the
`same time to drive a drive wheel on the apparatus at
`such sufficiently lesser speed that the wheel engages the
`bin floor with greatly reduced slippage as the auger
`revolves around the central vertical axis of the bin in
`unloading material from the bin.
`A further object of the invention is to provide a
`sweep auger apparatus which may be effectively em-
`ployed to unload granular material from a circular stor-
`age bin without requiring a special circular track or the
`like around the periphery of the bin floor to effect a
`positive drive for the sweeping action.
`A still further object of this invention is to provide an
`economical sweep auger apparatus in which a single
`power source is employed both to rotate the auger
`about its longitudinal axis and to rotate the drive wheel
`which supports the radially outer end of the auger at a
`substantially lesser speed.
`Other objects of the invention will become apparent
`from the following detailed description including the
`drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view, partially broken
`away, illustrating one embodiment of a sweep auger
`apparatus radially disposed above the floor of a circular
`storage bin and employing the invention.
`FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view, partially in section, of
`the radially outer end of the apparatus of the invention
`shown in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is a sectional view, partially broken away,
`taken in the direction of the arrows 3—3 of FIG. 2.
`FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the drive wheel
`assembly of the apparatus of the invention, taken in the
`direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 3.
`FIG. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a
`portion of the drive wheel assembly shown in FIG. 4.
`FIG. 6 is a vertical axial view of another portion of
`the drive wheel assembly shown in FIG. 4.
`FIG. 7 is a longitudinal side view of the portion of the
`drive wheel assembly illustrated in FIG. 6.
`A sweep auger apparatus 10 embodying this inven-
`tion is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in assembled relation-
`ship with a circular grain storage bin 12 having a verti-
`cal generally cylindrical side wall 14 and a circular false
`bottom or floor 16, e.g., a bin as shown in Sukup U.S.
`Pat. No. 3,532,232, which is incorporated herein by
`reference. The apparatus 10 includes a radially extend-
`ing sweep auger 18, which is rotatably mounted within
`the bin 12 above the proximate to the floor 16, and a
`drive wheel assembly 22. A drive train for operating the
`auger apparatus 10 includes a drive unit housing 20 at
`the center of the bin with a drive coupling element, e.g.,
`a threaded shaft
`(not shown), engaging a female
`threaded coupling 21 secured to the end of the auger
`shaft for drive connection to the radially inner end of
`the auger 18. The auger 18 includes an axial drive shaft
`24 and helical flighting 25 suitably attached to the shaft.
`The drive wheel assembly 22 is disposed at the radially
`outer end of the auger for supporting the outer end of
`the auger on the floor 16 and for revolving the auger
`about the central vertical axis y-y of the bin 12.
`The housing 20 encloses power means which may
`include suitable gears and/or a motor (not shown) for
`rotating the auger shaft 24 and hence the auger 18 about
`their common longitudinal axis. Alternatively, the hous-
`ing 20 may enclose only suitable gearing engaging a
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`3
`vertical shaft 26 which extends below the bin floor 16
`and which is driven by a motor (not shown) located
`below the floor 16 or outside of the storage bin 12.
`In operation, as will be more fully described herein-
`below, when the auger 18 rotates about its longitudinal
`axis and the entire sweep auger apparatus 10 revolves
`over the bin floor 16 about the central vertical axis y-y
`thereof, granular material (not shown) stored in the bin
`is caused to be moved across the floor 16 toward and
`into a central sump opening 28 of the bin floor. The
`stored material typically is a free-flowing material such
`as grain, e.g., shelled corn. After the granular material
`falls through the central opening 28 it may then be
`transported exteriorly of the bin by an unloading con-
`veyor (not shown) beneath the floor 16.
`The illustrated sweep auger apparatus 10 is intended
`for use in removing the remaining material from a bin 12
`following primary gravity unloading of the bin first
`through the center sump 28 and then through dump
`openings 29. The latter openings are aligned over and
`communicate with the aforenoted subjacent unloading
`conveyor which extends radially outward of the bin
`from the center sump 28 beneath floor 16.
`Briefly, when bin 12 is loaded with free flowing mate-
`rial such as grain, the sweep auger apparatus 10 nor-
`mally is positioned over the openings 29, as illustrated in
`FIG. 1, and the outlet openings 28 and 29 are closed by
`movable closures (not shown). In unloading the bin 12,
`sump 28 is first opened and as much material is removed
`as will flow to that opening by gravity. This leaves a
`ring of the material covering the floor 16 to depths
`increasing in each radial direction from opening 28 to
`the bin wall 14,
`i.e., as defined by an inverted cone
`having a vertical axis coincident with bin axis y-y and its
`sides at the angle of repose of the material. The dumps
`29 then are opened and the material thereover is permit-
`ted to flow out therethrough by gravity to its angle of
`repose around those openings. This removes most of the
`material in one radial segment, above and around the
`sweep auger apparatus 10, thereby reducing the starting
`torque required to initiate operation of a relatively large
`auger 18 and permitting such operation. Thereupon, the
`power drive to the sweep auger 10 through the drive
`unit in housing 20 is engaged. The sweep auger ad-
`vances slowly around the bin, conveying the remaining
`material to the center sump, as described above, as it
`advances.
`
`When unloading free-flowing materials as described
`herein, the sweep auger apparatus 10 typically makes a
`single revolution, or single sweep around the bin to
`remove the ring of material which is outside the angles
`of repose of the material and which therefore did not
`freely slide into the openings 28 and 29 by gravity. Such
`a sweep revolution may take on the order of one hour,
`depending upon the quantity of material remaining for
`removal and the capacity of the auger.
`As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the drive wheel
`assembly 22 comprises a drive wheel 30, a support
`structure 31 for rotatably mounting that wheel at the
`outer end of the auger assembly, and a speed reduction
`drive 32 for coupling with the shaft 24 and driving the
`wheel 30 therefrom. The drive system 32 is independent
`of the support structure 31 and drives the wheel 30 at a
`reduced speed relative to the speed of rotation of the
`auger. The drive 32 includes a first shaft 33 and a
`sprocket 34 secured to the shaft 33 for rotation there-
`with to drive the wheel by engaging an annular mating
`sprocket chain 38 secured to the wheel, as described
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`further below. The support structure 31 includes a sec-
`ond shaft 36 spaced from and parallel to the shaft 33 for
`rotatably mounting the drive wheel 30.
`The drive wheel 30 rolls on the floor 16 of the bin and
`thus supports the radially outer end of the sweep auger
`apparatus 10. A circularly disposed sprocket chain 38
`(FIGS. 3 and 4) is fixedly secured to the inner periphery
`73 of the drive wheel 30 and effectively but very eco-
`nomically forms a large annular internal gear which is
`engaged by the sprocket 34. By reason of this construc-
`tion, when the drive wheel assembly 22 is operatively
`connected as a part of the sweep auger apparatus 10,
`rotation of shaft 33 causes rotation of the drive wheel 30
`
`in the same direction, but at a greatly reduced speed of
`rotation. The dimensions of the sprocket 34 and
`sprocket chain 38 are selected to obtain a desired angu-
`lar velocity of wheel 30 relative to the angular velocity
`of the auger 18 about the bin axis y-y. In one embodi-
`ment an approximately 5 to 1 speed reduction is used,
`e.g., when the drive shaft 24 and hence shaft 33 are
`caused to rotate at approximately 400 r.p.m. the drive
`wheel 30 rotates at approximately 80 r.p.m. The wheel
`30 will provide a steady advancing force to continu-
`ously press the auger 18 into the pile of remaining mate-
`rial, with slippage of the wheel accommodating the
`slow advance while assuring continued forcing of the
`auger into the material. However, the slippage is con-
`trolled and greatly reduced as compared, for example,
`to prior direct drive arrangements.
`Further details of the illustrated drive wheel assem-
`bly 22 and its manner of attachment to the auger appara-
`tus 10 are best described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3
`and 4. The radially inner end of shaft 33 is dimensioned
`to be snugly and coaxially recieved telescopically in the
`outer end of the auger shaft 24 and to be fixed thereto
`for rotation therewith by means of holes 40 (FIG. 2) and
`mating pins 41 therein. A pair of axially spaced-apart
`collars 42 are keyed to shaft 33. The support structure
`31 includes a bearing 44 disposed between these collars
`42 for rotation of the shaft 33 therein. As seen in FIG.
`6, a T-shaped brace 46 is secured at one end to the
`exterior of the bearing 44 and a vertically disposed
`backboard support 48 is secured to the other end of the
`brace 46. A vertical backboard 50 extends the full
`length of the auger 18 and is disposed proximate to its
`trailing edge. The backboard 50 is fixedly secured at its
`radially inner end to the housing 20 (FIG. 1) and at its
`radially outer end to the horizontal and vertical flanges
`56 and 58 respectively of the backboard support 48, as
`by bolts 52, 54.
`As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, a vertically disposed
`triangularly shaped bracing plate 60 also is secured to
`the brace 46 and the vertical flange 58 of the backboard
`support 48 to reinforce the rigid connection therebe-
`tween. The radially inner end 59 of shaft 36 of the drive
`wheel assembly 22 is fixedly secured, as by welding, to
`the bracing plate 60 (FIG. 7). A circular casing cover
`plate 62 for the wheel 30 is secured to shaft 36 in a
`vertical position, as by being welded thereto outwardly
`of the bracing plate 60. A central aperture through plate
`62 receives shaft 36. An additional brace 63 extends
`between and is welded to cover plate 62 and backboard
`support 48 to assist in maintaining cover plate 62 in a
`vertical position.
`'
`As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, drive wheel 30 in-
`cludes a circular plate 64 which has a central opening 65
`to receive the shaft 36. A bushing 66, adapted to rotat-
`ably engage shaft 36, is disposed within a surrounding
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`4,701,093
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`center post 68. The outer end of post 68 is welded to the
`circular backtplate 64 in axial alignment with opening
`65. A cylindrical casing ring 72 is concentrically posi-
`tioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of bushing
`66 and is secured to the radially inner surface 71 of plate
`64. The sprocket chain 38 is welded at spaced-apart
`intervals to the inner cylindrical surface 73 of the casing
`ring 72.
`I
`An annular clamp ring 74 (FIG. 4) is removably re-
`ceived around the outer cylindrical surface 75 of the
`casing ring 72 at a distance spaced-apart axially from
`the back plate 64 to accommodate therebetween a plu-
`rality of replaceable annular wheel tread segments 76
`which may be of rubber or other appropriate traction
`material. These wheel segments are— secured to the drive
`wheel 30 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced-
`apart screws 78 extending through and between the
`back plate 64 and clamp ring 74. The fully assembled
`wheel assembly 30 is rotatably secured on shaft 36 by a
`pair of nuts 80 which engage the threaded free end of
`the shaft.
`in operation, when the
`As hereinbefore indicated,
`auger shaft 24 is caused to be rotated about its longitudi-
`nal axis, the drive wheel 30 is caused to be rotated in the
`same direction, but at a substantially lesser speed as a
`result of the sprocket and sprocket chain connection
`between the auger shaft and drive wheel. This speed
`reduction enables the auger shaft 24 to be rotated at a
`speed sufficient to achieve the desired bin unloading
`capacity and at the same time permits the drive wheel
`30 to rotate at a sufficiently lesser speed to enable it to
`frictionally engage the bin floor and to avoid undue
`wear on the drive wheel or the floor.
`While the operation of the sweep auger apparatus 10
`is described above with the apparatus permanently in-
`stalled in the bin 12,
`it will be appreciated that the
`sweep auger may be removable. In that event,
`the
`sweep auger is removed before the bin is filled, as by
`uncoupling at connection 21 and‘dismounting the back-
`board 50 from housing 20. In the unloading operation,
`the removable sweep auger then would be installed in
`the bin after the primary gravity unloading through
`opening 28 or openings 28 and 29 is completed. It will
`be appreciated that at that stage of unloading, the center
`drive mechanism, e.g., 20, is exposed for the initial posi-
`tioning and connection of a sweep auger apparatus 10.
`Inclusion of a universal joint at the connector 21 or use
`of a pivotally mounted power source will accommodate
`angular misalignment, including initial positioning of
`the auger at an upward angle corresponding to the
`angle of repose of the material if there are no openings
`29. However, if openings 29 are included and used, then
`an effectively open channel is formed in the grain over
`the ‘dump ports 29 for substantially horizontal installa-
`tion of the removable auger unit.
`‘
`While particular embodiments of the invention have
`been described, it will be understood, of course, that the
`invention is not limited thereto since many modifica-
`tions may be made, and it is therefore contemplated to
`cover any such modifications as fall within the true
`spirit and scope of the invention.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. Apparatus for moving granular material radially of
`a circular storage bin along a floor of the bin toward the
`center of the bin‘ floor, said apparatus comprising: an
`elongate auger with a longitudinal axis to be disposed
`radially of such a bin above and proximate the floor
`thereof, said auger having a leading edge, a trailing
`
`6
`edge, one end disposed at the center of the bin and a
`distal end disposed radially outward of the center of the
`bin, said one end of said auger including means for
`connection to power means at the center of such a bin
`for rotating said auger about its longitudinal axis; a
`support and drive assembly located radially outward of
`the auger and mounted on the distal end of said auger;
`said support and drive assembly including a first shaft
`coaxially secured to said auger for rotation therewith, a
`second shaft disposed rearward of said first shaft, a
`drive wheel mounted on said second shaft for support-
`ing said distal end of said anger on such a floor and for
`advancing said auger around the central vertical axis of
`such a bin, and a speed reduction gear drive connected
`to said first shaft for rotating said drive wheel at a speed
`of rotation which is substantially less than the speed of
`rotation of said auger and for transmitting an advancing
`force from said auger to said drive wheel; said support
`and drive assembly providing the sole support for said
`distal end of said auger and being disposed entirely
`rearward of the leading edge of said auger so that the
`leading edge of the auger protrudes forwardly of the
`support and drive assembly for engaging the granular
`material ahead of the support and drive assembly.
`2. Apparatus for moving free-flowing granular mate-
`rial radially of a circular storage bin along a floor of the
`bin toward the center of the bin floor, said apparatus
`comprising: an elongate sweep auger with a longitudi-
`nal axis and including an auger shaft, said auger extend-
`ing radially of the bin above the proximate the floor
`thereof, said auger having a leading side, a trailing side,
`an inner end, and an outer end; power means connected
`to the inner end of said auger shaft for rotating said
`auger about its longitudinal axis; a housing structure for
`said power means; a support and drive assembly located
`radially outward of the auger and mounted on the out-
`ward end of said auger as the sole support for said outer
`end of said auger on said floor and for advancing said
`auger around the central vertical axis of said bin; a
`backboard having an inner and outer end and an upright
`rear wall adjacent the trailing side of said anger, the
`inner end of said backboard being secured to said hous-
`ing structure and the outer end of said backboard being
`supported by said support and drive assembly; said
`support and drive assembly including a first shaft coaxi-
`ally secured to said auger shaft for rotation therewith, a
`second shaft disposed rearward of said first shaft, a
`drive wheel mounted on said second shaft for support-
`ing the outer end of said auger on said floor and for
`advancing said auger around the central vertical axis of
`said bin and a speed reduction gear drive connected to
`said first shaft for rotating said drive wheel at a speed of
`rotation which is substantially less than the speed of
`rotation of said auger and for transmitting an advancing
`force from said auger to said drive wheel, said gear
`drive including a first gear carried on said first shaft for
`rotation therewith, a second gear connected to said
`drive wheel for rotation therewith and to said first gear,
`whereby rotation of said first shaft causes rotation of
`said drive wheel, said support and drive assembly being
`disposed entirely rearward of the leading edge of said
`auger so that the leading edge of the auger protrudes
`forwardly of the support and drive assembly for engag-
`ing the granular material ahead of the support and drive
`assembly.
`3. A support and drive assembly for providing the
`sole support for the radially outer end of an elongate
`sweep auger on a floor of a circular storage bin and for
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`4,701,093
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`8
`and a second gear means secured to said drive wheel
`and engaging said first gear means whereby rotation of
`said first shaft causes rotation of said drive wheel.
`
`7
`advancing said auger around the bin, said auger having
`a leading edge and a trailing edge and including an
`auger shaft with a longitudinal axis, an inner end dis-
`posed at the center of said floor and connected to power
`means for rotating said auger shaft about its longitudinal
`axis, and said outer end being disposed radially outward
`of the center of the floor, said assembly comprising: a
`first shaft adapted to be coaxially secured to said auger
`shaft for rotation therewith about said longitudinal axis,
`a bearing on said first shaft in which said first shaft
`rotates about said longitudinal axis, a bracket member
`fixedly secured to said bearing, a second shaft parallel to
`said first shaft and disposed to be spaced from said first
`shaft toward the trailing edge of said auger, one end of
`said second shaft being fixedly secured to said bracket
`member, a drive wheel rotatably mounted on said sec-
`ond shaft, and speed reduction means for driving said
`drive wheel in response to rotation of said first shaft and
`at a speed of rotation of said drive wheel substantially
`less than the speed of rotation of said auger shaft, said
`first shaft, second shaft, bearing, bracket member, and
`drive wheel being disposed entirely rearward of the
`leading edge of said auger so that the leading edge of
`the auger protrudes forwardly of the support and drive
`assembly for engaging the granular material ahead of
`the support and drive assembly.
`4. A support and drive assembly according to claim 3
`wherein said reduction means comprises: a first gear
`means carried on said first shaft for rotation therewith,
`
`5. A support and drive assembly as in claim 4 wherein
`said first gear means is a sprocket and said second gear
`means is a circular sprocket chain.
`6. Apparatus for moving granular material radially of
`a circular storage bin along a floor of the bin toward the
`center of the bin floor, said apparatus comprising: an
`elongate auger with a longitudinal axis to be disposed
`radially of such a bin above and proximate the floor
`thereof, said auger having a leading edge, a trailing
`edge, one end disposed at the center of said bin and an
`opposite distal end disposed radially outward of the
`center of the bin, said one end of said auger including
`means for connection to power means at the center of
`said bin for rotating said auger about its longitudinal
`axis, a support and drive wheel located proximate to the
`distal end of said auger for supporting said distal end of
`said auger on said floor and for advancing said auger
`around the central vertical axis of said bin, and a speed
`reduction means disposed within said wheel and con-
`nected to said auger and said drive wheel for rotating
`said drive wheel at a speed of rotation which is substan-
`tially less than the speed of rotation of said auger, said
`drive wheel providing the sole support for said distal
`end of said auger and being disposed rearward of said
`leading edge of said auger.
`it
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Sioux Steel, Exhibit 2003, Prairie Land v. Sioux Steel, lPR20l6—Ol873, Page 7
`
`