Material Storage and Spreading System
AssigneeApply Right, LLC
InventorsNathan Benjamin Kohn, Gregory Paul Stout
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A granular material spreading system is provided. The granular material spreading system includes a spreading machine, a spreading frame, and a tote. The tote is configured to receive a granular, spreadable material and includes an opening allowing the granular material to exit the tote. The tote includes a spring-biased door blocking the opening. The door is opened by the spreading frame during spreading. When the spreading frame is coupled to the spreading machine, the tote is rotatable by the spreading machine between a storage position in which the opening in the tote is facing horizontally toward the spreading machine and a spreading position in which the opening in the tote is facing the ground surface.
Claims20
A granular material spreading system comprising:
- a tote comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- walls;
- a cavity enclosed by the walls;
- and
- an opening extending through one of the walls of the housing and connecting to the cavity;
- a door rotatably coupled to the housing such that the door is moveable between a closed position in which the door blocks the opening and an open position in which the opening is unblocked by the door;
- and
- a biasing component coupled to the door biasing the door toward the closed position;
- and
- a spreading frame configured to engage with and support the tote, the spreading frame comprising:
- a body;
- an upper support arm coupled to and extending outward from the body;
- a lower support arm coupled to and extending outward from the body, the lower support arm is spaced a distance from the upper support arm such that a gap is defined between the upper support arm and the lower support arm;
- and
- a finger coupled to and extending outward from the body, the finger positioned between the upper support arm and the lower support arm;
- wherein, when the spreading frame is disengaged from the tote, the biasing component provides a closing force on the door such that the door is moved toward the closed position blocking the opening;
- and
- wherein, when the spreading frame is engaged with the tote, the tote is positioned in the gap between the upper support arm and the lower support arm, and the finger presses against the door of the tote, providing a force on the door such that the door is rotated away from the opening to the open position such that the opening is unblocked by the door.
A spreading frame configured to be engaged with a spreading vehicle and a tote carrying a granular, spreadable material comprising:
- a body including a forward-facing surface;
- an upper support arm coupled to and extending outward from the body;
- a lower support arm coupled to and extending outward from the body;
- a finger coupled to and extending outward from the forward-facing surface of the body, the finger positioned between the upper support arm and the lower support arm;
- and
- an auger coupled to the body and extending outward from the body in a generally parallel orientation to the finger, the auger positioned between the upper support arm and the lower support arm.
A storage tote for a granular, spreadable material comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- walls including a side wall;
- a cavity enclosed by the walls;
- and
- an opening extending through the side wall and connecting to the cavity;
- a door rotatably coupled to the housing;
- and
- a biasing component having a first end coupled to the housing and a second end coupled to the door;
- wherein the door is rotatable between a first position in which the door is positioned along the side wall of the housing such that the opening is covered, and a second position in which the door is positioned away from the side wall of the housing such that the opening is uncovered.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.