# US 10,307,780 B2 · Video monitoring system for a spreader hopper > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,780 B2 - Document ID: US10307780B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/617,233 - Filed: 2017-06-08 - Published: 2018-12-13 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-08 - Assignees: Meyer Products, LLC - Applicants: Meyer Products, LLC - Inventors: Louis M. Orazem - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307780B2 ## CPC - B05B 12/004: {comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm (B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00)} - B05B 13/005: {mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers} - B05B 15/25: using moving elements, e.g. rotating blades - E01H 10/007: {Mobile apparatus specially adapted for preparing or applying liquid or semi-liquid thawing material or spreading granular material on wintry roads} - H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source} - H04N 7/188: {Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position (signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253)} - E01C 2019/2055: {Details not otherwise provided for} - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - E01H: STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING {OR PREVENTING} FOG IN GENERAL {CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS}(cleaning in general B08B) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein: the video monitoring system is only operable to display the video images when it receives an electric signal indicating that the spreader assembly is “ON.” ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein: the hopper comprises at least one inner wall that: (1) contacts the solid material; and, (2) forms an acute angle with a generally horizontal plane; and, the video camera is oriented: (1) with a view looking down along the inner wall; and, (2) at an angle corresponding to the acute angle in order to align the indicia with respect to the wall and the solid material within the hopper. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein: the video camera is powered by the spreader assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein: the video camera is powered by the associated vehicle. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system of claim 6 wherein: the video monitoring system is only operable to display the video images when it receives an electric signal indicating that the spreader assembly is “ON.” ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system of claim 6 wherein: the display screen is part of an electronic controller used to control the spreader assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system of claim 6 wherein: the display screen is original equipment on the associated vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system of claim 6 wherein: the display screen is mountable within the passenger compartment of the associated vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system of claim 6 further comprising: indicia that, when used with the video images, indicates the amount of material within the hopper; and, wherein the indicia comprises visible markings positioned on an inner surface of the hopper. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system of claim 6 further comprising: indicia that, when used with the video images, indicates the amount of material within the hopper; and, wherein the indicia are provided by the video camera. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system of claim 6 wherein: the video camera is powered by the spreader assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly with a video monitoring system of claim 6 wherein: the video camera is powered by the associated vehicle. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of operating a frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 15 wherein step 3 comprises the step of: only operating the video monitoring system when the video monitoring system receives an electric signal indicating that the spreader assembly is “ON.” ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of operating a frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 15 wherein: step 1 comprises the step of: providing indicia in the form of markings positioned on an inner surface of the hopper; and step 4 comprises the step of: combining the video images with the indicia to assess the amount of material within the hopper. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of operating a frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 15 wherein: step 2 comprises the step of: providing the video camera with indicia; and step 4 comprises the step of: combining the video images with the indicia to assess the amount of material within the hopper. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of operating a frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 15 further comprising the step of: powering the video camera with the spreader assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of operating a frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 15 further comprising the step of: powering the video camera with the associated vehicle.