Sweep augers-there must be a better way!

[phil the cat]

Hello all! Just wondered if anyone had a better idea than wedging a shovel behind the sweep auger when shovelling the last few inches of grain out of bins?

 

[Brisel]

I can't tell from your picture - how does your auger move itself around? Is there a wheel at the end? Mine has a shield on one side so the grain is carried into the centre by the screw. It has a gearbox on the outer end with a rubber wheel that moves it around the silo. I can get down to the last 2 inches of depth with the sweep auger.

I could do with more information on your problem.

 

[phil the cat]

Thanks for looking! Our sweep auger sounds a bit different, the gear box is above where the pivot is so sits in the centre of the bin. On the end of the auger is like a small metal cylinder that's the same diameter as the auger flights. Hope that makes sense

 

[pine_guy]

@MickMoor may be able to help.

 

[chaffcutter]

Had one like his years ago, rubbish. Get a fit young man with a size 12 shovel

 

[phil the cat]

Ahh right- wasn't sure if we were missing a trick or just the whole idea was a bit rubbish! thats good to know! As we're a bit lacking in fit young men at our place, would making a timber wedge to hold the auger in a fixed spot to replace the shovel work?

 

[chaffcutter]

Don't know, used to do the same with the shovel myself in the absence of anyone fitter !!

Just another reason for replacing the old bins with flat floor stores in our case when we had the chance. Always bugged me that the bins were useless when empty unlike a shed !

 

[Brisel]

So what's the problem? Does the auger climb the heap?

 

[TomO]

Is the wheel driven? Could you hold it back with some rope to the bolts on the bin?

 

[phil the cat]

Thanks for the replies, @TomO it's driven from the centre so think rope would tangle in the auger- swapping the end bit for a wheel with a centre bearing might be an idea to stop it moving.
@Brisel Yeah it climbs the heap and leaves a fair bit... I suppose having a smaller mounting bracket for it in the centre might be an idea to lower it for that last bit so it's flatter to the base of the bin
@chaffcutter yeah I completely agree, we use sheds for part of the storage but have to get the cows in there as soon as it's too wet to graze, would like to get some of the stock on stubble turnips/kale etc to try and relieve a bit of pressure and store the grain for a bit longer

 

[Bruce Almighty]

View attachment 259182 Hello all! Just wondered if anyone had a better idea than wedging a shovel behind the sweep auger when shovelling the last few inches of grain out of bins?

What you are doing is what we used to do for years, I don't miss it.

 

[Brisel]

The cheapest way to stop it climbing the heap would be to fit a rail above the end wheel to stop it going up. Otherwise you could cut the end off & fit a reducing gearbox with a smaller slower wheel.

 

[phil the cat]

Yeah, that sounds a good idea, especially if we had some cowling in it too like in the video. Cheers

 

[MickMoor]

Can't be sure without looking closely, but is there enough weight in the drive wheel/cylinder? The auger should stay close to the floor at all times, skidding a bit until it has shifted the grain.

 

[Condi]

I assumed that bins had conical bottoms so it all just fell out?

 

[phil the cat]

Sadly not in our case, flat vented floor for drying

 

[Brisel]

I assumed that bins had conical bottoms so it all just fell out?

No. Most bigger silos have flat floors. Sweep augers are a way of making the most of available height without steep cone bottoms. Flat concrete is easiest to build. I don't know of any truly self emptying bins.

 

[Exfarmer]

won't it self empty if you turn the fans on?

 

[Brisel]

If it was designed to, why fit the sweep auger?

 

[Condi]

No. Most bigger silos have flat floors. Sweep augers are a way of making the most of available height without steep cone bottoms. Flat concrete is easiest to build. I don't know of any truly self emptying bins.

The bins on a place I used to work at were built probably just after the second world war and they were self emptying. Double skinned brick construction with an incline on the bottom and conveyor under the hatch. Ive guess with the date, could be earlier.