Gravity fed, chain conveyer for grain cart

Abstract

A two-wheeled grain cart adapted for pulling by a tractor includes a downwardly tapered lower hopper section with a discharge aperture and a hydraulically controlled, sliding access door. A conveyer having a first inlet end and a second discharge end is coupled to an outer side of the grain cart and is movable between a generally horizontal transport/storage position and an upright use position through the use of a hydraulic cylinder. When in the use position, the open inlet end of the conveyer is aligned with and disposed over the hopper discharge aperture for receiving grain under gravity feed and displacing the grain via a chain driven, paddle-type conveyer to its second discharge end for off-loading. A lower end of the conveyer is coupled via a sprocket drive arrangement to a shaft coupled to a tractor's power take-off (PTO) unit for driving the chain and paddle combination. A spring-loaded, jaw-type coupler engages as the conveyer is unfolded to the upright position to provide conveyor drive from the tractor's PTO unit. The conveyor's inlet end is wedged into tight-fitting engagement with the hopper adjacent the discharge aperture to prevent grain loss, while conveyor chain tension is maintained by hydraulic cylinders near its second discharge end. The conveyor is mounted to the grain cart via a hinge pin and includes a single elongated, rigid, unitary housing for grain transport and conveyor paddle return.