Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Container for non-fluid material – and scattering means – With overload release or relief
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-31
2001-01-16
Kashnikow, Andres (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Container for non-fluid material, and scattering means
With overload release or relief
C239S650000, C239S667000, C239S668000, C239S671000, C239S675000, C239S681000, C239S684000, C239S687000, C222S228000, C222S231000, C222S236000, C414S526000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173917
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
It is well-known that a granular material spreader may be used to distribute fertilizer and other granular materials over grass-covered areas, such as golf courses, sporting fields and public parks. In spite of several advancements in this field, several mechanical problems remain.
A bin sweep, which moves the material in the upper portion of a storage cone downwardly, is a well-known improvement. Unfortunately, such bin sweeps are prone to failure, which can result in down time and repair expense. One of the most serious problems results when a rock, an over-sized granule or a fused mass of particles becomes lodged between the bin sweep and the inside surface of the cone. When the bin sweep is unable to advance, it may break.
Many of the materials distributed in this manner, such as fertilizer, seed, gravel, salt and lime also tend to be difficult to spread in an even and uniform manner. Areas of greater or lesser coverage tend to result, which can result in less than optimum growth performance by the grass.
The size of the golf courses and sporting fields which are tended encourages the development of granular spreaders which are able to distribute material over a wider range. Unfortunately, known spreaders tend to perform less uniformly the greater the range of the spreader. Therefore, where the granular material is widely thrown, it is also unevenly thrown.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for granular spreader that is adapted with a protective mechanism which prevents damage when the bin sweep becomes jammed. The granular spreader must distribute material in a very even and homogeneous manner, and must provide structures which result in the ability to distribute material over a wider range than is possible with existing granular material spreaders.
SUMMARY
The present invention is directed to an apparatus that satisfies the above needs. A novel granular material spreader is disclosed that prevents damage when the bin sweep is jammed, which is adapted to very even and homogeneous material distribution over a very wide area.
The granular material spreader is adapted for towing behind a yard tractor having a power take off unit, and provides some or all of the following structures.
(A) A frame supports the elements of the granular spreader. Wheels supported by the frame are preferably set behind the center of gravity, thereby increasing the trailer hitch weight.
(B) A cone, having the narrow end directed downwardly, is supported by the frame and is sized to contain a supply of granular material to be distributed. The upper end of the drive shaft is located at the narrow end of the cone.
(C) A bin sweep assembly is carried by the cone, and breaks up the granular material, sending it to the base of the cone. A bin sweep drive shaft is carried a short distance from the inside surface of the cone. A lower end of the bin sweep drive shaft is attached by a U-joint to a drive shaft at the base of the cone and the upper end is attached to a bin sweep drive wheel assembly.
(D) The bin sweep drive wheel is driven by a belt which is powered by rotation of the bin sweep drive shaft. The bin sweep drive wheel causes the bin sweep drive shaft to move around the interior surface of the cone.
(E) The coil of the drive spring is carried by a fixed pin attached to the helix or outer sleeve. The outer sleeve and helix rotate about the bin sweep drive shaft at the same rate of speed at which the bin sweep drive shaft rotates. Movement of the helix forces granular material toward the base of the cone.
(F) A drive spring is carried by a spindle supported by the helix or outer sleeve. A first end of the drive spring is attached to the outer sleeve or to the helix. A second end of the drive spring is pushed in a circular orbit about the bin sweep drive shaft by an arm extending from the U-joint, or alternatively, from the bin sweep drive shaft. This gives the drive shaft a soft start when the machine is turned on. The second end of the drive spring drives the helix in a circular orbit about the bin sweep drive shaft. Should the helix become stuck for any reason, the drive spring would flex sufficiently to allow the arm pushing the second end of the drive spring to pass, thereby preventing damage and resulting in a sound that would alert the operator.
(G) A valve or gate at the base of the cone may be regulated pneumatically, and delivers granular material into a housing which is carried beneath the cone and above a blade support plate.
(H) A housing, carried below the base of the cone, receives granular material which passes through the valve at the base of the cone. The housing is slotted to allow granular material to be ejected radially. The housing is carried by the frame in a fixed orientation. As a result, strategic location of the slots in the housing prevents granular material exhausted from the housing from hitting elements of the frame or tractor, and gives the spread of granular material its shape or form.
(I) Blades carried by the blade support plate, at the base of the housing, direct the downwardly-moving granular material in the radial direction toward the slots defined in the housing.
(J) Vanes on the outer portion of the vane support plate revolve in a circular pathway, throwing the granular material pushed from the housing by the blades.
It is therefore a primary advantage of the present invention to provide a novel granular material spreader having a two-stage material throwing structure, wherein blades mounted on a blade support plate push granular material from the housing, and vanes carried on an outer portion of a vane support plate throw granular material radially outward.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel granular material spreader which provides a housing which is slotted in a manner which prevents granular material being directed into the spreader frame or toward the tractor towing the spreader, and results in the shape of the spread of the granular material forming in an evenly distributed pattern substantially behind the granular material spreader.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel granular material spreader which provides a drive spring carried by the bin sweep rod, whereby the drive spring drives a helix which sweeps the sides of the cone. When the helix becomes jammed, the drive spring flexes to allow continued rotation of the bin sweep drive shaft while the helix is stuck, thereby preventing both from damage.
A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel granular material spreader which includes a frame supporting wheels set to the rear of the center of gravity of the spreader, thereby increasing the hitch weight of the spreader.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3339759 (1967-09-01), Wellons
patent: 4363428 (1982-12-01), Kruger
patent: 4991781 (1991-02-01), Barbieri
patent: 5340033 (1994-08-01), Whitell
Evans Robin O.
Kashnikow Andres
Thompson David S.
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