A grain auger is a device used in agriculture to transport grain. It was invented by Peter Pakosh and quickly became the standard for modern machines. Grain augers are portable and can be up to 60 feet long. Guards are recommended to prevent contamination and annual maintenance is necessary. Hydraulic grain augers are now available.
A grain auger is a device used in agriculture to transport grain. It consists of a solid shaft contained within a large tube, with flyers surrounding it. The flight is a flat steel spiral, which is held in the center of the shaft. As the spiral turns counterclockwise, the grain is pulled up and pushed into the shaft. The grain is then deposited into a hopper, which uses gravity to deposit the grain into storage bins, grain trucks or wagons.
The grain auger was invented by Peter Pakosh, co-founder of the Versatile Tractor Company and innovator in the field of agricultural machinery. The first prototype was created in 1945, but was ridiculed by his colleagues and other machine designers. Pakosh continued his work and in 1953 began selling grain drills by the thousands. It quickly became the standard for all modern machines.
Grain augers are portable machines, which make them easy to transport thanks to the wheels fixed to the bottom. They are used by farmers on small and large farms. They can be up to 60 feet (18 meters) long and must be moved to their lowest position before moving. If the grain auger is lifted during transport, it could snag on electrical lines and cause an electric shock.
Guards are placed on the suction end of some grain augers to prevent unwanted material from being pulled into the shaft. Machines that do not use these guards run the risk of contaminating the grain or bringing in foreign material. Most local agricultural departments recommend the use of guards to prevent these problems. The guards are typically triangular in shape and cover the intake, allowing only small grains to pass through.
Generally, a grain auger is only used for a short time of the year, when the grain is ripe and ready for transport or storage. The National Agriculture Safety Database in the United States recommends annual pre-season grain auger maintenance. This maintenance includes a safety inspection to ensure that all parts are in working order, lubricating the machine with oil according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, if necessary, and a test start-up and shutdown.
Hydraulic grain augers have recently become available to consumers. These augers incorporate hydraulic power and contain their own diesel power plant and self-contained hydraulic system. They are advertised as easier to use, carry and clean. The first hydraulic grain auger was created by Bergen Industries, an agricultural equipment manufacturer, in Saskatchewan, Canada.
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