Support structure for vacuum duct

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG.
1 illustrates the duct support arm 1 mounted to a grain vacuum 2 and supporting a vacuum duct 3.
The vacuum duct has a proximate end 4 and a distal end 6, the proximate end communicating with the grain vacuum 2 and the distal end terminating in a vacuum head 8 forming the grain intake end.
A shoulder harness (not shown) mounted to the distal end permits an operator to manipulate the vacuum head.
The duct support 1 comprises a linear array of individual truss panels 10 formed from welded heavy gauge steel.
In the example illustrated, the support comprises six panels 10(a)-(f).
It will be understood that depending on the required length of the support, a greater or lesser number of panels may be employed.
The vacuum duct 3 is releasably suspended from the support by means of slings 12 depending from the support.
The slings 12 may be detached from the support by releasable attachment means, not shown, in order to permit the vacuum duct 3 to be removed for transport or storage.
The slings 12 are releasably engageable to the support by any convenient releasable attachment means of any convenient type known in the art.
When the vacuum duct has been removed, the support 10 may be folded into its storage and transport position as will be described below.
The hinged connections between the panels 10 and between the support and base member 16 provides the support with lateral flexibility, to permit sweeping and serpentine mobility of the vacuum duct.
Turning to FIGS.
2 to 4, the proximate end of the support is hinged to a base member 16, which in turn is mounted to the vacuum device 2.
The base member 16 includes a rectangular pillar 18, to which the support 1 is hinged.
The individual panels 10(a) to (f) are hinged together by means of upper and lower hinges 20 that link adjacent panels together at the upper and lower faces respectively of the panels, with the proximate panel 10(f) being hinged to the pillar 18.
The hinges 20 permit pivotal rotation of adjacent panels in a generally horizontal plane only, within the limits permitted by contact between adjacent panels as they are folded together