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US 10,307,780 B2Granted
Video monitoring system for a spreader hopper
AssigneeMeyer Products, LLC
InventorLouis M. Orazem
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly may be used with a video monitoring system. The operator within a vehicle passenger compartment may manually view a display screen to see video images within the hopper to visually assess the amount of frozen precipitation treatment material within the hopper in real time.
Claims20
A frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system comprising:
- a spreader assembly comprising:
- A) a hopper that:
- (1) is designed to be supported to an associated vehicle;
- and, (2) is designed to hold a solid material that treats frozen precipitation;
- B) a spinner mechanism that:
- (1) is designed to be supported to the associated vehicle;
- (2) comprises a spinner plate;
- and, (3) is operable to rotate the spinner plate to spread the solid material onto an associated ground surface that requires treatment for frozen precipitation;
- and,
- C) an auger mechanism that:
- (1) is designed to be supported to the associated vehicle;
- (2) comprises an auger;
- and, (3) is operable to rotate the auger to transfer the solid material from the hopper to the spinner plate;
- and,
- an aftermarket video monitoring system comprising:
- A) a video camera that:
- (1) is supported to the hopper;
- (2) oriented and operable to provide video images of the solid material within the hopper;
- and, (3) provides indicia that, when used with the video images, indicates the amount of solid material within the hopper;
- B) a display screen that:
- (1) is designed to be viewed by an associated operator positioned within a passenger compartment of the associated vehicle;
- and, (2) displays the video images of the solid material within the hopper;
- and,
- C) a wireless transmitter that:
- (1) is supported to the associated vehicle;
- and, (2) wirelessly transmits the video images from the camera to the display screen.
23 more elements
A frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system comprising:
- a spreader assembly comprising:
- A) a hopper that:
- (1) is designed to be supported to an associated vehicle;
- and, (2) is designed to hold a material that treats frozen precipitation;
- and,
- B) a spreading mechanism that:
- (1) is designed to be supported to the associated vehicle;
- and, (2) is designed to be operable to spread the material within the hopper onto an associated ground surface that requires treatment for frozen precipitation;
- and,
- a video monitoring system comprising:
- A) a video camera that is oriented and operable to provide video images of the material within the hopper;
- B) a display screen that:
- (1) is designed to be viewed by an associated operator positioned within a passenger compartment of the associated vehicle;
- and, (2) displays the video images of the material within the hopper;
- and,
- C) a transmitter that:
- (1) is supported to the associated vehicle;
- and, (2) transmits the video images from the video camera to the display screen.
15 more elements
A method of operating a frozen precipitation treatment system comprising the steps of:
- 1. providing a spreader assembly comprising:
- A) a hopper that:
- (1) is supported to a vehicle;
- and, (2) is designed to hold a material that treats frozen precipitation;
- and,
- B) a spreading mechanism that:
- (1) is supported to the vehicle;
- and, (2) is designed to be operable to spread the material within the hopper onto a ground surface that requires treatment for frozen precipitation;
- 2. providing a video monitoring system comprising:
- A) a video camera that is oriented and operable to provide video images of the material within the hopper;
- B) a display screen that:
- (1) is designed to be viewed by an associated operator positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle;
- and, (2) displays the video images of the material within the hopper;
- and,
- C) a transmitter that:
- (1) is supported to the vehicle;
- and, (2) transmits the video images from the video camera to the display screen;
- 3. operating the spreader assembly and the video monitoring system;
- and,
- 4. manually viewing the display screen in real time to assess the amount of material within the hopper.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.