Grain bypass for storage bin and external augers
View Patent ↗A grain bypass can be retrofit to an out auger of a grain bin. This allows for the transfer of grain, such as corn, from the grain bin to a portable auger and/or truck or other type of transfer vehicle. The grain bypass can be configured to instead divert grain down a second bypass path so as to substantially cleanout the grain bypass housing. The grain bypass includes a slide that can be inserted into the grain bypass in two separate positions so that the slide can always be contained within the system, and thus remain with the system at all times.
1. A grain diverter comprising:
opposing side plates having (i) a trapezoidal shape; and (ii) at least one guide rod welded thereto;
a top plate connecting the opposing side plates;
an angled base plate connecting the opposing side plates, said angled base plate opposing the top plate;
a removable slide that can be inserted into a first position wherein the removable slide rests on the at least one guide rod and into a second position wherein the removable slide substantially overlaps with the angled base plate; and
a grain inlet for receiving grain at a first height and an opening for discharging grain at a second height, said second height being lower than the first height;
wherein when the removable slide is in the first position the grain is not allowed to pass through the grain inlet and when the removable slide is in the second position the grain is allowed to pass through the grain inlet so that the grain can be discharged by gravity through the opening.
2. The grain diverter of claim 1 further comprising a biased safety door that closes the opening when grain is not passing therethrough but opens when grain pushes against said door when the removable slide is in the second position.
3. The grain diverter of claim 2 wherein the diverter safety door comprises:
a body spanning a width from a left-side edge to a right-side edge,
a pipe located at a top edge of the body, and
a blunt edge opposite the pipe between said left- and right-side edges.
4. The grain diverter of claim 1 wherein the removable slide forms an acute angle with a horizontal axis parallel with the ground when the removable slide is in the second position.
5. The grain diverter of claim 3 wherein the acute angle is approximately thirty degrees.
6. The grain diverter of claim 1 wherein the at least one guide rod comprises two guide rods welded to each of the opposing side plates.
7. The grain diverter of claim 1 wherein a length of the removable slide is at least four times a length of the top plate.
8. The grain diverter of claim 1 wherein the rods each comprise cylindrical bodies, first and second ends, cotters, and a circumferential surface.
9. The grain diverter of claim 1 wherein the removable slide and the angled base plate comprise corresponding locking apertures.
10. The grain diverter of claim 9 further comprising a locking mechanism that extends the corresponding locking apertures.
11. A grain diverter system comprising:
a bypass housing comprising:
a receiving portion for receiving grain from an out auger of a grain bin;
a diverter portion comprising:
the grain diverter of claim 1 ;
a transport portion oppositely located from the diverter portion, and
a portable auger and/or transport vehicle fluidly connected to the transport portion for receiving the transport portion of the diverter portion.
12. The grain diverter system of claim 11 further comprising the out auger and the grain bin.
13. The grain diverter system of claim 11 wherein the transfer portion comprises a viewing window for viewing grain within the transfer portion and a cap for closing the viewing window during operation of the grain diverter system.
14. The grain diverter system of claim 11 further comprising ground support structures for stabilizing the grain bypass housing.