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US 8,523,086 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for stopping a spreader
AssigneeMeyer Products, LLC
InventorMarty Warchola
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is directed at devices and methods for regulating the operation of a spreader assembly's particulate material distribution in response to changing vehicle conditions.
Claims17
A system for spreading particulate materials, comprising:
- an automotive vehicle;
- a hopper, adapted to hold particulate materials for distribution over a ground surface;
- a frame, operatively securing the hopper to the automotive vehicle;
- a spinner mechanism, the spinner mechanism operatively attached to the hopper and adapted to distribute hopper particulate materials over a ground surface;
- a spinner mechanism motor, operatively attached to the spinner mechanism, the spinner mechanism motor selectively providing rotational forces to the spinner mechanism;
- and
- a controller, operatively connected to the spinner mechanism motor, the controller being adapted to regulate operation of the spinner mechanism motor based on a condition signal received from one or more control signal generators chosen from the group consisting of:
- a vehicle brake light, a vehicle reverse light, or a vehicle gear shift.
5 more elements
A system for spreading particulate materials, comprising:
- an automotive vehicle having a truck bed;
- a hopper, adapted to be securely received within the truck bed and hold particulate materials for distribution over a ground surface;
- the hopper having a conveyor belt adapted to be powered by a conveyer belt motor and transfer particulate materials contained within the hopper to a spinner mechanism;
- a spinner mechanism, the spinner mechanism operatively attached to the hopper and adapted to distribute hopper particulate materials over a ground surface;
- a spinner mechanism motor, operatively attached to the spinner mechanism, the spinner mechanism motor selectively providing rotational forces to the spinner mechanism;
- and,
- a controller, operatively connected to the conveyor belt motor and the spinner mechanism motor, the controller being adapted to regulate operation of the conveyor belt motor and the spinner mechanism motor based on a condition signal received from one or more control signal generators chosen from the group consisting of:
- a vehicle brake light, a vehicle reverse light, or a vehicle gear shift.
5 more elements
A method for spreading particulate materials, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an automotive vehicle;
- a hopper, adapted to hold particulate materials for distribution over a ground surface;
- a frame, operatively securing the hopper to the automotive vehicle;
- a spinner mechanism, the spinner mechanism operatively attached to the hopper and adapted to distribute hopper particulate materials over a ground surface;
- a spinner mechanism motor, operatively attached to the spinner mechanism, the spinner mechanism motor selectively providing rotational forces to the spinner mechanism;
- and
- a controller, operatively connected to the spinner mechanism motor, the controller being adapted to regulate operation of the spinner mechanism motor based on a condition signal received from one or more control signal generators chosen from the group consisting of:
- a vehicle brake light, a vehicle reverse light, or a vehicle gear shift;
- b) using the control signal generators to provide a condition signal in response to a change in vehicle condition;
- c) transmitting the condition signal to the controller;
- d) using the controller to process the condition signal to determine to what extent power to the spinner mechanism motor should be adjusted;
- and,
- e) using the controller to adjust the power provided to the spinner mechanism motor to a level within the range of no power to full power;
- and,
- f) repeating steps (a) through (e) according to a predetermined operational protocol to detect the presence of a condition signal.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.