US3832615A

US3832615A - Electric grain gate control

Info

Publication number: US3832615A
Application number: US00429321A
Authority: US
Inventors: O Fitch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-02-04
Filing date: 1974-02-04
Publication date: 1974-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-27

Abstract

An improved method of operating the gates in grain elevators is disclosed herein. The control device includes, thru electric circuitry, a means of fully controlling and regulating the gate so that it may be stopped at any position between open and closed, with the additional feature of automatically closing the gate in the event of a power failure.

Description

[ Aug. 27, 1974 United States Patent [191 Fitch ELECTRIC GRAIN GATECONTROL 2,782,902 2/1957 Sloane......,... ...............318/475 ux [76] Inventor: Otis Fitch, PO. Box 171,Byers, 3283236 Legg Colo. 80103 Feb. 4, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 429,321

Primary Examiner-B. Dobeck [22] Filed:

ABSTRACT An improved method of operating the gates in grain elevators is disclosed herein. The control device ina means of fully controlso that it may be stopped g the gate in the eludes, thru electric circuitry,

ling and regulating the gate at any position between open and closed, with the additional feature of automatically closin event of a power failure.

[52] US. 318/481, 318/474 [51] Int. Cl. H01h 35/24 [58] Field of Search 318/481, 474, 476, 372

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Clains, 4 Drawing Figures 2,726,364 12/1955 Merritt................................318/475 Pmmem ucevw 3.882.615

SNEH REF 2 ELECTRIC GRAIN GATE CONTROL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention came into being as a result of l a recognized need for a better and more positive means of grain handling and transfer than that which is currently employed in grain elevators.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the foregoing, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a more positive method of controlling the opening and closing of the grain gate, and including the capability of stopping the power cycle at any time, which allows the positive locking of the gate at any chosen point along the vertical path of travel.

A further feature of the present invention is to equip the gate control with a power circuit which will automatically interrupt the current to the electric motor, closing the gate in the event of either a power failure, or of an overload due to jamming the gate on the grain leg.

Other features of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of the gate control, illustrating the respective components installed in the cabinet;

FIG. 2 is an orthographic side elevational view of the gate control;

FIG. 3 is an orthographic end view of the gate control; and

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic view of the control circuit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, the power necessary to actuate the lift mechanism is provided by a one-half horsepower electric motor 30 which, by mechanical connection thru a drive sprocket 18, a clutch assembly 17, and upper and lower sprocket assemblies 5 and 8; raises the gate lift arm 13 which is attached to the sprocket chain 21 by a gate clamp 12.

A mechanical linkage between the motor 30 and the clutch 17 is provided by the sprocket chain 19, while sprocket chain 20 connects the clutch assembly to the lower sprocket assembly 8.

A sequential description of the gate control mechanism is as follows:

When the handle of the master switch 1 is moved to the ON position, the electric circuit is energized, supplying power to the circuit breaker switch 11, the start switch 2, and the relay 3, which energizes the solenoid 22 which moves the brake mechanism to the ON position.

The brake mechanism which consists of the arm 24, the return spring 25, the bracket 26, the roller 27, the friction belt 28, and the pulley 29, remains engaged until the button on the start switch 2 is depressed, which releases the brake and starts the electric motor,

which, thru the sprocket and chain linkage, raises the gate lift arm 13 and the gate itself. As the gate reaches the fully open position, the cam follower 10 on the circuit breaker switch 11 engages the lobe on the cam wheel 9, breaking the circuit, stopping the drive motor and engaging the brake mechanism, thus locking the drive mechanism and holding the gate in the open position. The gate may be stopped at any point during the lifting sequence by releasing the button on the start switch 2.

The gate is closed by turning the master switch 1 to the OFF position, which releases the brake, cuts power to the motor, and allows the gate to descend to the closed position under tension of the compensating spring 15 and cable 16.

As in the opening cycle, the gate may be stopped at any point during the closing sequence by turning the master switch 1 to the ON position, thus re-engaging the brake mechanism thru the solenoid 22.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 also show the relative positioning of the supporting and attaching components in the cabinet 32, including the relay bracket 4, the upper sprocket anchor plate 31, the chain tension adjustment plate 6 with the adjusting bolts 7, the spring bracket 14, and the solenoid bracket23.

Referring now to the electrical schematic diagram of FIG. 4,-it is seen that main switch 1 is provided with

electrical contacts

41 and 42, manually operable push button start switch 2 is provided with a pair of normally closed stationary contacts 43 and 44 as well as a pair of normally open stationary contacts 45 and 46, the pairs of normally open and normally closed contacts adapted to be electrically interconnected by movable contact arm 47 which is operatively associated with an insulated member (not shown) which extends exteriorly of the switch and is adapted for manual engagement by an individuals finger for operation of the switch. The relay 3 is shown as having an electric coil 48 adapted to operate movable contact arm 49 into and out of contact with the pair of normally open stationary contacts 50 and 51. The solenoid 22 is shown as having a coil 52. The circuit breaker switch 1 l is shown as having a pair of normally closed stationary contacts 53 and 54 and a pair of normally open stationary contacts 55 and 56, such pairs of contacts being electrically interconnectable by a movable contact arm 57 which is operatively connected by a stem 58 to the cam follower 10 for operation by the cam follower between the normally closed and normally open position. Contacts 42 and 43 are connected by wire 60, with contact 45 being connected to wire 60 by wire 61, contact 44 is connected to one end of coil 48 by wire 62 with contact 50 being connected to wire 62 by a wire 63, the opposite end of the coil is connected by a wire 63 to a wire 64 which is connected to the opposite end 65 of the power source 66, contact 51 being connected to the first end of coil 52 by a wire 67 with the opposite end of the coil being connected to wire 64 by a wire 68. The contact 46 is connected by a wire 69 to a wire 70 to one end of the motor 30, the opposite end of the motor being connected by a wire 71 to contact 53, with contact 54 being connected by a wire 72 to wire 64. Contact 55 is connected to wire 69 by a wire 73, with contact 56 being connectedby a wire 74 to wire 67 intermediate contact 51 and the first end of solenoid coil 52. The main electrical switch 1 has contact 41 connected to an end 40 of the power source 66.

In operation, main switch 1 is closed thus interconnecting

contacts

41 and 42 effecting the energization of relay coil 48 moving contact arm 49 into engagement with contacts 50 and 51 thus energizing solenoid coil 52 and applying the brake to the motor. To energize the motor, movable arm 47 is depressed thus opening the circuit between contacts 43 and 44 to deenergize the relay coil and associated solenoid coil to release the brake from the motor, the manual push button effecting the electrical interconnection of contacts 45 and 46 to energize motor 30 in a manner to effect the raising of the gate lift arm and the operatively connected grain gate, such motor energization being interrupted when the grain gate reaches the maximum height as reported by the cam follower acting on the cam disc which effects the opening of the motor circuit by moving the circuit breaker switch 11 from the normally closed position interconnecting contacts 53 and 54, to the normally open position thus interconnecting contacts 55 and 56 with the effect being the deenergization of the motor 30 and the energization'of the solenoid 52 to apply the brake to the motor thus holding the grain gate in the open position. This open position is retained upon releasing the manual push button start switch 2 such that it returns to interconnecting contacts 43 and 44 as then relay 3 is energized in a manner to retain the solenoid coil 52 energized to retain the brake applied to the motor. To lower the grain gate, main switch 1 is opened thus de-energizing the control circuit thus permitting the compensating spring to act against sprocket chain 21 in a manner to move the sprocket chain in the opposite direction from when it is driven by the motor so as to lower the grain gate, such lowering of the gate returning the circuit breaker switch 11 to the normally closed position thus preparing the circuit for further operative energization. It is to be understood that it is possible to retain the grain gate in any desired position between the maximum open and fully closed position by merely energizing the main switch 1 when the desired position has been reached, this effecting the energization of the brake to retain the desired position of the grain gate.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact-arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed l. A grain gate control intended for the opening and closing of a grain gate such as employed in grain elevators and the like, comprising an electric motor adapted to be connected .to a suitable power source, a pair of vertically spaced apart and vertically disposed grain gate sprockets suitably mounted in a rotatable manner on a frame associated with the grain gate, a gear train driving mechanism consisting of interconnected sprockets and sprocket chains having one end drivingly connected to the motor with the opposite end drivingly connected to the bottom most one of the pair of gate sprockets such that operation of the motor will effect the simultaneous rotation of the grain gate sprocket, a

vertically extending endless looped sprocket chain extending between the bottom most and top most ones of the gate sprockets, a length of the sprocket chain having a clamping member fixedly attached thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom for vertical movement therewith along such length of chain between the bottom sprocket and the top sprocket, the projecting member having a clamp at the outermost projecting end thereof adapted to clampingly receive therein a vertically extending gate lift arm having the bottom portion thereof operatively associated with the grain gate such that movement of the arm in a vertically upward direction will effect the opening of the grain gate while movement of the arm in a vertically downward direction will effect the closing of the grain gate, a circular cam disposed adjacent the face of the bottom most gate sprocket on the same shaft therewith and connected to rotate simultaneously therewith, the circumference of the cam disc having a radially outwardly extending offset circumferal edge portion which extends outwardly from the center of the cam disc a greater distance than the remainder of the cam disc, a cam follower having one end adapted to constantly ride against the peripheral circumferal edge or the cam disc with the opposite end operatively associated with an electrical circuit breaker type switch such that the cam follower will act to open and close the circuit breaker switch depending upon whether the cam follower is engaging the lesser diameter or greater diameter portions of the cam disc, the circuit breaker switch being electrically connected with the circuit energizing the motor and operable in a manner that when the grain gate is in the maximum open position then the cam follower engages the protruding portion on the cam disc effecting the opening of the switch and the de-energization of the motor, brake means associated with the motor and operative upon opening of the circuit breaker switch to prevent further rotation of the motor, spring means operatively associated with the gate sprocket chain in a manner stretching and tensioning such spring means when the motor is energized to lift the grain gate, the spring means being effective to operate the gate sprocket chain in the gate closing direction upon the de-energization of the motor and the release of the motor brake means, and an electrical control circuit adapted for controlling all operations of the opening and closing of the grain gate.

2. The grain gate control as set forth in claim 1 wherein the brake means comprises a pully connected on the motor shaft extending outwardly of the motor opposite from the-end of the motor having the drive sprocket attached thereto, a flexible friction belt in the form of an endless loop having one end loosely engaged on the motor pulley with the opposite end fixedly attached to the grain gate support such that the pulley may loosely rotate within the interior surface of the end of the belt engaging the pulley, an arm extending parallel to the plane of the friction belt and spaced outwardly therefrom and having one end pivotally supported to the frame support with the opposite end having a roller joumaled therein and projecting normal thereto, the outermost end of the roller projecting between the legs of the friction belt with the roller being pivotal about its pivot in a manner to engage and disengage the roller from the friction belt, a spring connected between the pivotable arm and the frame structure adapted to urge the arm into an inoperative position permitting rotation of the motor in the normal manner, and an electrically operated solenoid having the armature thereof connected to the top end of the pivotable arm and adapted to move the arm in a direction opposed to the coil return spring in a manner to engage the roller with the friction belt in a manner to tighten the belt about the motor pulley to effectively brake the motor and retain the motor in the braked position as long as the solenoid is energized, deenergization of the solenoid permitting the coil spring to return the arm to the inoperative position permitting normal operation of the motor.

3. The grain gate control as set forth in claim 2 wherein the spring means associated with the gate sprocket chain for returning the gate to the closed position comprises a compensating spring having one end fixedly connected to the frame structure with the opposite end connected to one end of a pulley and cable system having the opposite end of such cable attached to the opposite length of travel of the sprocket chain in a manner stretching and tensioning the spring when the sprocket chain rotates in a direction to raise the grain gate, with the de-energization of the motor and brake means permitting the compensating spring to act through the pulley and cable system to effect the opposite rotation of the sprocket chain about the gate sprocket to effect the vertical downward movement of the gate arm to effect the closing of the graingate.

4. The grain gate control as set forth in claim 3 wherein the electrical circuit control means comprises an electrical source of energy, a main electric switch having one end connected to one end of the electrical source of energy, the opposite end of the main electrical switch being connected to a first normally closed contact of a push button type electrical switch having a second normally closed contact connected by suitable electrical wiring to one end of an electromagnetic relay coil, the opposite end of the electromagnetic relay coil being connected to the remaining'end of the source-of electrical energy, the relay coil having a pair of normally open contacts adapted to be closed upon energization of the relay coil, the brake solenoid being connected in electrical series relationship with one of to effect the applying of the brake to the motor, the

manually operable push button switch being provided with a pair of normally open contacts, the first of said normally open contacts being connected in parallel with the first of said normally closed push button contacts, the second of said normally open push button contacts being connected to one end of the motor, the opposite end of the motor being connected to a first normally closed contact of the electrical circuit breaker switch, the second normally closed contact of the circuit breaker switch being connected to the opposite end of the power source such that when the circuit is energized the depressing of the manually operated push button will effect the electrical energization of the motor while the circuit breaker switch is in the normally closed position, the circuit breaker switch having a pair of normally open contacts, the first of the normally open circuit breaker contacts being connected to the first end of the motor, the second of the normally open circuit breaker switch contacts being connected to the end of the solenoid connected to the normally open relay contact such that when the grain gate reaches the maximum open position the cam follower actuates the circuit breaker switch from the normally closed to the normally open position to effect the opening of the motor circuit to de-energize the motor while simultaneously effecting the closing of the normally open contact to effect the energization of the brake solenoid to apply the brake to the motor in a manner to retain the gate in the open position, the retention of this open position then being retained by the manually operated push button being released to return to the normally closed position which maintains the brake solenoid energized, the closing of the gate control effected by opening the main electrical switch to de-energi ze the complete control circuit at which time the compensating spring acting through the pulley and cable system will effect the closing of the grain gate.

Claims

1. A grain gate control intended for the opening and closing of a grain gate such as employed in grain elevators and the like, comprising an electric motor adapted to be connected to a suitable power source, a pair of vertically spaced apart and vertically disposed grain gate sprockets suitably mounted in a rotatable manner on a frame associated with the grain gate, a gear train driving mechanism consisting of interconnected sprockets and sprocket chains having one end drivingly connected to the motor with the opposite end drivingly connected to the bottom most one of the pair of gate sprockets such that operation of the motor will effect the simultaneous rotation of the grain gate sprocket, a vertically extending endless looped sprocket chain extending between the bottom most and top most ones of the gate sprockets, a length of the sprocket chain having a clamping member fixedly attached thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom for vertical movement therewith along such length of chain between the bottom sprocket and the top sprocket, the projecting member having a clamp at the outermost projecting end thereof adapted to clampingly receive therein a vertically extending gate lift arm having the bottom portion thereof operatively associated with the grain gate such that movement of the arm in a vertically upward direction will effect the opening of the grain gate while movement of the arm in a vertically downward direction will effect the closing of the grain gate, a circular cam disposed adjacent the face of the bottom most gate sprocket on the same shaft therewith and connected to rotate simultaneously therewith, the circumference of the cam disc having a radially outwardly extending offset circumferal edge portion which extends outwardly from the center of the cam disc a greater distance than the remainder of the cam disc, a cam follower having one end adapted to constantly ride against the peripheral circumferal edge or the cam disc with the opposite end operatively associated with an electrical circuit breaker type switch such that the cam follower will act to open and close the circuit breaker switch depending upon whether the cam follower is engaging the lesser diameter or greater diameter portions of the cam disc, the circuit breakeR switch being electrically connected with the circuit energizing the motor and operable in a manner that when the grain gate is in the maximum open position then the cam follower engages the protruding portion on the cam disc effecting the opening of the switch and the de-energization of the motor, brake means associated with the motor and operative upon opening of the circuit breaker switch to prevent further rotation of the motor, spring means operatively associated with the gate sprocket chain in a manner stretching and tensioning such spring means when the motor is energized to lift the grain gate, the spring means being effective to operate the gate sprocket chain in the gate closing direction upon the deenergization of the motor and the release of the motor brake means, and an electrical control circuit adapted for controlling all operations of the opening and closing of the grain gate.

2. The grain gate control as set forth in claim 1 wherein the brake means comprises a pully connected on the motor shaft extending outwardly of the motor opposite from the end of the motor having the drive sprocket attached thereto, a flexible friction belt in the form of an endless loop having one end loosely engaged on the motor pulley with the opposite end fixedly attached to the grain gate support such that the pulley may loosely rotate within the interior surface of the end of the belt engaging the pulley, an arm extending parallel to the plane of the friction belt and spaced outwardly therefrom and having one end pivotally supported to the frame support with the opposite end having a roller journaled therein and projecting normal thereto, the outermost end of the roller projecting between the legs of the friction belt with the roller being pivotal about its pivot in a manner to engage and disengage the roller from the friction belt, a spring connected between the pivotable arm and the frame structure adapted to urge the arm into an inoperative position permitting rotation of the motor in the normal manner, and an electrically operated solenoid having the armature thereof connected to the top end of the pivotable arm and adapted to move the arm in a direction opposed to the coil return spring in a manner to engage the roller with the friction belt in a manner to tighten the belt about the motor pulley to effectively brake the motor and retain the motor in the braked position as long as the solenoid is energized, de-energization of the solenoid permitting the coil spring to return the arm to the inoperative position permitting normal operation of the motor.

3. The grain gate control as set forth in claim 2 wherein the spring means associated with the gate sprocket chain for returning the gate to the closed position comprises a compensating spring having one end fixedly connected to the frame structure with the opposite end connected to one end of a pulley and cable system having the opposite end of such cable attached to the opposite length of travel of the sprocket chain in a manner stretching and tensioning the spring when the sprocket chain rotates in a direction to raise the grain gate, with the de-energization of the motor and brake means permitting the compensating spring to act through the pulley and cable system to effect the opposite rotation of the sprocket chain about the gate sprocket to effect the vertical downward movement of the gate arm to effect the closing of the grain gate.

4. The grain gate control as set forth in claim 3 wherein the electrical circuit control means comprises an electrical source of energy, a main electric switch having one end connected to one end of the electrical source of energy, the opposite end of the main electrical switch being connected to a first normally closed contact of a push button type electrical switch having a second normally closed contact connected by suitable electrical wiring to one end of an electromagnetic relay coil, the opposite end of the electromagnetic relay coil being connected to the remaining end of the sOurce of electrical energy, the relay coil having a pair of normally open contacts adapted to be closed upon energization of the relay coil, the brake solenoid being connected in electrical series relationship with one of the normally open relay contacts such that manually closing the main electrical switch will effect the energization of the relay coil to effect the closing of the relay contact to effect the energization of the brake solenoid to effect the applying of the brake to the motor, the manually operable push button switch being provided with a pair of normally open contacts, the first of said normally open contacts being connected in parallel with the first of said normally closed push button contacts, the second of said normally open push button contacts being connected to one end of the motor, the opposite end of the motor being connected to a first normally closed contact of the electrical circuit breaker switch, the second normally closed contact of the circuit breaker switch being connected to the opposite end of the power source such that when the circuit is energized the depressing of the manually operated push button will effect the electrical energization of the motor while the circuit breaker switch is in the normally closed position, the circuit breaker switch having a pair of normally open contacts, the first of the normally open circuit breaker contacts being connected to the first end of the motor, the second of the normally open circuit breaker switch contacts being connected to the end of the solenoid connected to the normally open relay contact such that when the grain gate reaches the maximum open position the cam follower actuates the circuit breaker switch from the normally closed to the normally open position to effect the opening of the motor circuit to de-energize the motor while simultaneously effecting the closing of the normally open contact to effect the energization of the brake solenoid to apply the brake to the motor in a manner to retain the gate in the open position, the retention of this open position then being retained by the manually operated push button being released to return to the normally closed position which maintains the brake solenoid energized, the closing of the gate control effected by opening the main electrical switch to de-energize the complete control circuit at which time the compensating spring acting through the pulley and cable system will effect the closing of the grain gate.