Spreader shield

Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – With solid means as guard or protector – Bumper or guard protects distributor

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C239S288000, C239S650000, C239S661000, C239S663000, C239S666000, C239S681000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06793154

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the art of spreading particulate materials and, more particularly, to an improved spreader shield for such materials.
The spreader shield of the present invention is for use with a spreader which is mountable on a motor vehicle to spread particulate material such as salt, cinders, calcium carbonate, or the like, onto a ground surface such as a roadway. The general configuration and operation of spreaders that the invention is particularly directed to is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,581 to Hetrick, which is incorporated herein by reference. Generally, the vehicle used in association with the spreader includes a rear bumper upon which a spreader can be mounted, as shown in the patent to Hetrick.
In the past, particulate material from vehicle mounted spreaders was dropped onto the top of a rotating spinner element, resulting in the broadcasting of the particulate material rearwardly and laterally of the spreader as intended. However, particulate material dropped onto the rotating element also was directed forwardly and upwardly from the rotating element, and the lateral broadcasting was uncontrolled. These broadcasting patterns are undesirable, potentially resulting in a waste of particulate material, damage to the vehicle and/or components of the spreader, undesired broadcast patterns for the particulate material onto a ground surface, inefficient use of the spreader, and uneconomical consumption of the particulate material. In particular, forward distribution is undesired in that the particulate material is wasted and can damage the rear of the vehicle. In addition, upward distribution is undesired in that the particulate material is deflected off the hopper resulting in a less effective pattern of distribution and potential damage to the hopper. Also, upward distribution of particulate material creates a hazard when trailing or passing motorists are subjected to the particulate material being directed at their automobiles and windshields, potentially damaging both and adversely affecting the motorist's visibility and operation of the vehicle.
Hetrick discloses a moveable baffle with a cylindrical shield. The baffle includes a flat top surface which is fixedly attached to a valve plate with three bolts and wing nuts which are radially inside the shield. In order to adjust the direction of the baffle, each wing nut requires loosening and the baffle subsequently rotated within the defined circumferentially spaced slots. The particulate material that is projected upward results in entrapment between the baffle and the fixed valve plate. In addition, the particulate material is directed toward and against the heads of the bolts. Generally, the particulate material is of a corrosive and abrasive nature, which results in problems with the bolt and wing nut assemblies. As mentioned above, all three of the wing nuts must be loosened in order to rotate the baffle. Loosening of the three wing nuts is cumbersome, particularly considering that the middle wing nut is behind the valve member which limits access thereto. The baffle disclosed in Hetrick is coaxial and concentric with the hopper outlet. The baffle disclosed in Hetrick, including the plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, along with the concentric nature of the baffle, limits the variability of the respective broadcast patterns of the particulate material.
The following patents are incorporated herein by reference as background information: U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,228 to Zwart; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,321 to Bianco. These patents relate to human-propelled broadcast spreaders for yard chemicals and wherein the spreader shield is fixedly attached to the hopper or frame of the spreader. One example of a spreader shield of the prior art which attempts to control an undesirable broadcast spreader pattern in a human-propelled broadcast spreader is shown in the patent to Zwart and generally comprises a fixedly attached safety shield to prevent rearward travel of particulate material in order to protect the user against particulate blow-back. The shield is fixedly attached to the tubular frame at the rear of the spreader and, once attached, the shield remains in a fixed position to deflect particulate material from impinging upon the operator. The shield in Zwart is not associated with controlling the desired pattern or spread of the material being discharged. In the patent to Bianco, a shield is secured to the hopper of the spreader and comprises inclined plates for deflecting particulate material as it is scattered by the spreader to prevent material from being scattered outside a selected zone of application. Bianco's shield, however, does not allow adjustment of the shield to control the direction or pattern of discharge of the material. Consequently, there remains a need for a spreader shield to be used with a spreader mountable on a motor vehicle which overcomes the aforementioned problems and limitations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved spreader shield which overcomes the above referred-to difficulties and others with regard to such shields heretofore available. The present invention has fewer component parts, is less cumbersome to operate, is more functional, and is easier to use than prior art devices. More particularly in this respect, a spreader shield in accordance with the invention has improved controllability with respect to directing the particulate material discharged from a rotating spreader element onto a desired area of the underlying ground surface. The spreader shield also reduces the amount of particulate material that is directed toward undesired locations around the spreader relative to shields heretofore available. The present invention is comprised of a pivotable shield that is structured and adjustable such as to enable improved selective directing of the particulate material relative to a street or the like. The adjustment of the particulate material discharge of the spreader shield occurs due to an eccentric configuration of the shield relative to the axis of rotation of the spreader element. Due to the rotational movement of the eccentric shield about the axis of the spreader element, the spreader shield can be moved so as to adjust the resultant broadcast pattern of the particulate material to any one of a number of different patterns. Combining the rotational movement of the shield with the particular configuration of the spreader shield allows specific and concentrated particulate material discharge patterns. These patterns can be directed in the desired direction such that the discharge patterns are generally to the right of the vehicle, directly behind the vehicle, or generally to the left of the vehicle. The spreader shield facilitates changing broadcast spreader patterns by its ability to rotate about the discharge axis of the hopper.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the spreader shield has a peripheral wall which is eccentric with respect to the discharge axis of the hopper, which enhances the adjustment characteristics of the discharge of the particulate material and also allows additional variations to the particulate discharge spreader patterns. The eccentricity between the shield and the discharge axis of the hopper enables asymmetrical distribution of particulate material about the discharge axis. The asymmetrical distribution provides improved broadcast patterns and control thereof relative to the vehicle.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a spreader shield has a top wall which is inclined and positioned over the spreader element, thus minimizing, if not eliminating, upward distribution of particulate material. The configuration of the spreader shield improves directional control of both lateral and downward broadcasting of the particulate material from the spreader element onto the ground surface. In part in this respect, a spreader shield in accordance with the invention is mounted in an improved manner that allows the shield to be easily adjusted and

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