Bin Sweep Cart Has “Dead Man’s Switch”

2016 - Volume #40, Issue #6, Page #29

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Adding a Safer Bin Sweep cart to an older bin sweep auger makes it easier to control and safer. Stan Berg designed the cart during employment in the grain elevator business. It solved problems he had with sweep augers in bins with center sumps.
  The augers can get buried by collapsing grain. In addition, rubber drive wheels can cause the sweep auger to lurch forward unexpectedly.
  “Most newer bin sweeps, especially for larger bins, are reversible and controlled from the outside,” says Berg. “Older sweeps in smaller bins more commonly found on farms can be dangerous. While it is safest to stay out of a bin, at some point you have to get in to clean out the bottom.”
  The Safer Bin Sweep cart lets the operator reverse the sweep manually and control forward movement. The long reach on the cart keeps the operator the legally required 7-ft. distance from a sweep and gives him control of the sweep. The dead man’s switch makes sure it stops if there is a problem.
  Looking a bit like an over-built appliance mover or handcart, Berg’s all-steel cart is welded for strength and durability. He used cold rolled steel, notable for its strength. It also is powder coated to protect it from corrosion.
  “The cart is lightweight, but once hooked to a sweep, it can leverage a pretty heavy sweep up and back from fallen grain,” says Berg. “I’ve used it on bin sweeps in 40-ft. diameter bins.”
  While it can be used without his electronic control panel, it is the panel that offers the operator complete control. For safety’s sake and for legally having one person in a bin with a sweep, Berg recommends the electronic control package. It consists of a transmitter and dead man’s switch on the cart with a matching receiver at the bin sweep’s power source.
  “If an operator gets into trouble or needs to step back quickly, taking his hand off the dead man’s switch stops the auger,” says Berg.
  The cart is designed with a simple ball hitch connection between it and an angled plate common to the back of older sweeps. A ball on 2-in. steel tubing bolts to one of 8 sets of holes on the cart end, depending on sweep height. A plate that bolts to the back of the sweep is mounted to a standard (socket) ball hitch. The design allows one cart to service multiple bins.
  “It is quick to bolt and unbolt and can be carried in one arm between bins,” says Berg. “The ball hitch makes the cart multi-purpose. My son uses his to move trailers around, as well as sweeps.”
  The Safer Bin Sweep cart with the electronics package is priced at $450, and the cart alone is $275. He suggests calling for current prices and shipping information.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Safer Bin Sweep, 2621 440th St., Clarkfield, Minn. 56223 (ph 320 315-1076).

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Bin Sweep Cart Has “Dead Man’s Switch” GRAIN HANDLING Accessories Adding a Safer Bin Sweep cart to an older bin sweep auger makes it easier to control and safer Stan Berg designed the cart during employment in the grain elevator business It solved problems he had with sweep augers in bins with center sumps The augers can get buried by collapsing grain In addition rubber drive wheels can cause the sweep auger to lurch forward unexpectedly “Most newer bin sweeps especially for larger bins are reversible and controlled from the outside ” says Berg “Older sweeps in smaller bins more commonly found on farms can be dangerous While it is safest to stay out of a bin at some point you have to get in to clean out the bottom ” The Safer Bin Sweep cart lets the operator reverse the sweep manually and control forward movement The long reach on the cart keeps the operator the legally required 7-ft distance from a sweep and gives him control of the sweep The dead man’s switch makes sure it stops if there is a problem Looking a bit like an over-built appliance mover or handcart Berg’s all-steel cart is welded for strength and durability He used cold rolled steel notable for its strength It also is powder coated to protect it from corrosion “The cart is lightweight but once hooked to a sweep it can leverage a pretty heavy sweep up and back from fallen grain ” says Berg “I’ve used it on bin sweeps in 40-ft diameter bins ” While it can be used without his electronic control panel it is the panel that offers the operator complete control For safety’s sake and for legally having one person in a bin with a sweep Berg recommends the electronic control package It consists of a transmitter and dead man’s switch on the cart with a matching receiver at the bin sweep’s power source “If an operator gets into trouble or needs to step back quickly taking his hand off the dead man’s switch stops the auger ” says Berg The cart is designed with a simple ball hitch connection between it and an angled plate common to the back of older sweeps A ball on 2-in steel tubing bolts to one of 8 sets of holes on the cart end depending on sweep height A plate that bolts to the back of the sweep is mounted to a standard socket ball hitch The design allows one cart to service multiple bins “It is quick to bolt and unbolt and can be carried in one arm between bins ” says Berg “The ball hitch makes the cart multi-purpose My son uses his to move trailers around as well as sweeps ” The Safer Bin Sweep cart with the electronics package is priced at $450 and the cart alone is $275 He suggests calling for current prices and shipping information Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Safer Bin Sweep 2621 440th St Clarkfield Minn 56223 ph 320 315-1076

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