Grain cart having a discharge conveyor and method of transferring grain with grain cart

Abstract

A grain cart has a wheel supported frame on which is mounted an open top container having inclined bottom walls and including a discharge auger conveyor having a lower section extending from a sump for the container adjacent a front left inclined corner portion of the container. The auger conveyor has an extended upper section supported by a hinge assembly having a pivot axis offset and askewed at an acute angle from the auger axis. The hinge assembly provides for pivoting the upper conveyor section between an inclined grain discharge position projecting upwardly, laterally outwardly and forwardly from the container and a stored position inclined downwardly at a substantial angle from the hinge assembly in front of the container. In the stored position, the grain discharge outlet is located lower than the top surfaces of the wheels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for transferring grain from a grain cart in a field to a trailer, the grain cart including a container for receiving a volume of grain and defined by a front wall portion and side wall portions extending from the front wall portion, a lower auger conveyor section, and an upper auger conveyor section, the method comprising:
 unfolding the upper auger conveyor section relative to the lower auger conveyor section from a retracted, stored position in which the upper auger conveyor section is located along the front wall portion of the container and extends substantially between the side wall portions to facilitate transporting the grain cart, to an upwardly inclined grain discharge position in which the upper and lower auger conveyor sections communicate with one another and in which the upper conveyor section extends upwardly, laterally outwardly, and forwardly relative to a junction between the front wall portion and one of the side wall portions, the unfolding including a pivotal movement of the upper auger conveyor section about an oblique pivot axis that is oriented oblique relative to longitudinal axes of the upper and lower auger conveyor sections and oriented oblique relative to planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the upper and lower auger conveyor sections,   transferring the volume of grain from the container through the upper and lower auger conveyor sections into the trailer, and   folding the upper conveyor section relative to the lower auger conveyor section by pivoting the upper conveyor section about the oblique pivot axis from the grain discharge position to the stored position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unfolding and folding steps further comprise:
 moving the upper auger conveyor section relative to the lower auger conveyor section about the oblique pivot axis with a power actuator connected to the upper auger conveyor section.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper auger conveyor section includes a first end located proximate the oblique pivot axis and a second end opposite the first end, and the unfolding step further comprises:
 moving the first end of the upper auger conveyor section into abutment with the lower auger conveyor section at the grain discharge position.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the container is supported by a frame including a set of wheels, and the folding step further comprises:
 moving the second end of the upper auger conveyor section below a top surface of the set of wheels at the stored position.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the lower auger conveyor section includes a terminal end located proximate to the oblique pivot axis and at or behind the front wall portion of the container, and the unfolding step further comprises:
 rotating the first end of the upper auger conveyor section around the junction between the front wall portion and the side wall portion of the container as the upper auger conveyor section pivots between the stored position and the grain discharge position.   
     
     
         6 . A grain cart for transferring grain from a combine in a field to a trailer, said cart comprising
 a container for receiving a volume of grain and having a lower interior portion, a front wall portion, a pair of side wall portions and first and second opposite, upper corner portions located proximate intersections of said front wall with said respective side wall portions,   a conveyor including a lower conveyor section that is upwardly and forwardly inclined and an upper conveyor section, said lower conveyor section having an inlet positioned proximate said lower interior portion of said container to receive grain from within said container and transport the grain to said upper conveyor section, said upper conveyor section supported by a hinge adjacent one of said upper corner portions, said hinge operative to allow a folding movement of said upper conveyor section relative to said lower conveyor section about a pivot axis and between an upwardly inclined grain discharge position and a retracted, stored position, wherein said upper conveyor section is coupled with said lower conveyor section in said upwardly inclined grain discharge position to receive grain from said lower conveyor section and said upper conveyor section extends upwardly, laterally outwardly, and forwardly relative to one of said upper corner portions in said upwardly inclined grain discharge position, and wherein in said retracted, stored position, said upper conveyor section is located along said front wall and oriented at a downward angle below a horizontal plane at said hinge such that said upper conveyor section extends from said hinge to an opposite side of said container from said hinge while remaining substantially between said side wall portions to facilitate transporting said grain cart,   a power actuator connected to move said upper conveyor section between said retracted, stored position and said upwardly inclined grain discharge position, and   said pivot axis being oriented oblique relative to longitudinal axes of said upper and lower conveyor sections and oriented oblique relative to planes perpendicular to said longitudinal axes of said upper and lower conveyor sections.   
     
     
         7 . The grain cart of  claim 6 , wherein said hinge includes a first hinge member coupled with said lower conveyor section, a second hinge member coupled with said upper conveyor section, and a hinge pin pivotally connecting said first hinge member to said second hinge member. 
     
     
         8 . The grain cart of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a frame supported by a set of wheels including first and second front wheels, said frame supporting said container.   
     
     
         9 . The grain cart of  claim 8 , wherein said upper conveyor section includes an outer discharge end and said outer discharge end is located below upper surfaces of said wheels when said upper conveyor section is in the retracted, stored position. 
     
     
         10 . The grain cart of  claim 9 , wherein said outer discharge end of said upper conveyor section is located adjacent a vertical reference plane contacting one of said side wall portions of said container when said upper conveyor section is in the retracted, stored position. 
     
     
         11 . A grain cart comprising:
 a container configured to hold a quantity of grain, said container having front, rear and laterally opposed side walls;   a folding grain conveyor assembly having upper and lower conveyor portions connected by a joint assembly, said lower conveyor portion having a lower conveyor housing with first and second ends, said upper conveyor portion having an upper conveyor housing with first and second ends;   the first end of said lower conveyor housing having an intake proximate a bottom of said container to receive grain and said second end of said lower conveyor housing being disposed adjacent to a forward upper corner of said container where said front wall intersects one of said laterally opposed side walls;   the first end of said upper conveyor housing is disposed adjacent said second end of said lower conveyor housing and said second end of said upper conveyor housing has a discharge opening to discharge grain from said container;   said joint assembly includes a pivot axis about which the upper conveyor portion is pivotable relative to said lower conveyor portion between a grain discharge position in which said first end of the upper conveyor portion abuts said second end of said lower conveyor portion and in which said upper conveyor portion extends upwardly, laterally outwardly, and forwardly relative to said forward upper corner to permit grain to be discharged from said container and a stored position in which said upper conveyor portion extends downwardly from said second end of said lower conveyor portion diagonally across said front wall of said container while remaining substantially between said laterally opposed side walls of said container to facilitate transporting said grain cart; and   said pivot axis being oriented oblique relative to longitudinal axes of said upper and lower conveyor portions and oriented oblique relative to planes perpendicular to said longitudinal axes of said upper and lower conveyor portions.   
     
     
         12 . The grain cart of  claim 11  wherein said joint assembly comprises a hinge including a first hinge member coupled with said lower conveyor portion, a second hinge member coupled with said upper conveyor portion, and a hinge pin pivotally connecting said first hinge member to said second hinge member. 
     
     
         13 . The grain cart of  claim 11  further including a power actuator connected to move said upper conveyor portion between said grain discharge position and said stored position. 
     
     
         14 . The grain cart of  claim 11  further including a wheeled frame upon which said container is mounted. 
     
     
         15 . The grain cart of  claim 11  wherein the discharge opening is located adjacent to a vertical reference plane contacting one of the lateral side walls when said upper conveyor portion is in the stored position. 
     
     
         16 . The grain cart of  claim 11  wherein said upper conveyor portion extends downwardly forward of said front wall at an angle greater than thirty-five degrees relative to a horizontal reference plane in the stored position. 
     
     
         17 . The grain cart of  claim 11  wherein said second end of said lower conveyor housing is located at or behind said front wall of said container adjacent said forward upper corner, such that rotation of said upper conveyor portion about said pivot axis moves said upper conveyor portion around said forward upper corner during movement from the grain discharge position and the storage position, thereby moving said first end of said upper conveyor housing from one said of said forward upper corner to another side of said forward upper corner. 
     
     
         18 . A grain cart comprising:
 a wheeled frame;   a container mounted on said frame having a bottom and front, rear and laterally opposed side walls;   a lower auger assembly having an inlet located proximate said container bottom to receive grain from said container, said lower auger assembly extending upwardly at an inclined angle from proximate said container bottom and terminating near a forward upper corner formed by the intersection of said front and one of said side walls;   an upper auger assembly pivotally connected to said lower auger assembly proximate said forward upper corner and including a grain discharge end, said upper auger assembly being pivotable relative to said lower auger assembly on a pivot axis between a grain discharge position wherein said upper auger assembly portion extends upwardly, forwardly, and laterally outward with respect to said forward upper corner and a stored position wherein said upper auger assembly is disposed diagonally downwardly along said front wall of said container with said discharge end being disposed substantially between said laterally opposed side walls to facilitate transporting said grain cart; and   said pivot axis being oriented oblique relative to longitudinal axes of said lower and said upper auger assemblies and oriented oblique relative to planes perpendicular to said longitudinal axes of said upper and lower auger assemblies.   
     
     
         19 . The grain cart of  claim 18  wherein said upper auger assembly is disposed at an angle greater than twenty-five degrees relative to a horizontal reference plane in the stored position. 
     
     
         20 . The grain cart of  claim 18  wherein said upper auger assembly is disposed at an angle greater than thirty-five degrees relative to a horizontal reference plane in the stored position. 
     
     
         21 . The grain cart of  claim 18  wherein a terminal end of said lower auger assembly is located at or behind said front wall of said container adjacent said forward upper corner, such that rotation of said upper auger assembly portion about said pivot axis moves said upper auger assembly portion around said forward upper corner during movement from the grain discharge position and the storage position, thereby moving said first end of said upper auger housing from one said of said forward upper corner to another side of said forward upper corner.