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US 9,266,662 B1Granted
Bulk fiber dispenser
AssigneeVM Fiber Feeders, Inc.
InventorDarrell Knepp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispenser for even or patterned distribution of fibrous or other additive into a base material, such as concrete. The dispenser includes a rotating hopper that contains the fiber, such that the fiber rotates with the hopper along a vertical line of axis. The dispenser further includes a rake along the base of the hopper, where the rake captures the fiber from the bottom of the hopper and filters or directs the fiber into an exit chute for the delivery system. The rake includes an array of flat and curved flanges that facilitate guidance of the fiber to the exit chute. The hopper can be positioned on one or more load cells that monitor the amount of fiber being dispensed by weight, in order to increase or decrease rotation of the hopper and rake, thus controlling amount of fiber distributed.
Claims18
A dispenser for even or patterned distribution of an additive into a base material, comprising:
- a hopper having an impermeable outer wall and a substantially hollow interior for receiving said additive, said hopper having an open bottom with a predetermined diameter;
- a base having a shape similar to the shape of said open bottom of said hopper and being concentric with said open bottom of said hopper,
- said hopper having a bottom edge that is rotatably received by said base such that said hopper can securely rotate about a vertical line of axis;
- a window with predetermined dimensions formed within said base;
- an elongate, rotating rake positioned and secured within said window, said rake having a plurality of flanges that selectively filter said additive and guide said additive through said window,
- said plurality of flanges including planar flanges positioned nearest a midpoint of said elongate rake;
- said plurality of flanges further including curved flanges positioned nearest each end of said elongate rake;
- said curved flanges being angled to urge said additive toward said planar flanges and to urge said additive downwardly through said window of said base, said planar flanges urging said additive downwardly through said window of said base;
- a support frame positioned under said base for supporting said base and said hopper;
- a delivery system positioned at least partially in underlying relation to said window, said delivery system receiving said additive as said additive exits downwardly through said window;
- and
- a power source coupled to a motor for powering said motor.
9 more elements
A dispenser for even or patterned distribution of an additive into a base material, comprising:
- a hopper having an impermeable outer wall and a substantially hollow interior for receiving said additive, said hopper having an open bottom with a predetermined diameter;
- a base having a shape similar to the shape of said open bottom of said hopper and being concentric with said open bottom of said hopper,
- said hopper having a bottom edge that is rotatably received by said base such that said hopper can securely rotate about a vertical line of axis;
- a window with predetermined dimensions formed within said base for the flow of said additive out of said hopper;
- an elongate rake positioned and secured within said window, said rake having an array of flat and curved flanges that guide said additive through said window,
- said flat flanges positioned nearest a midpoint of said elongate rake, said curved flanges positioned nearest each end of said elongate rake, said curved flanges being angled to urge said additive toward said flat flanges and to urge said additive downwardly through said window of said base, said flat flanges urging said additive downwardly through said window of said base;
- a support frame positioned under said base for supporting said base and said hopper;
- a delivery system positioned at least partially in underlying relation to said window, said delivery system receiving said additive as said additive exits downwardly through said window;
- a power source coupled to a motor for powering said motor;
- and
- a load cell coupled to said base for measuring the weight of said additive as said additive exits said hopper into said delivery system, said load cell providing feedback to a controller to control rotation of said hopper, rotation of said rake, or both to increase or decrease output of said additive through said window.
8 more elements
A dispenser for even or patterned distribution of a fibrous material into cement or asphalt, comprising:
- a hopper having an impermeable outer wall and a substantially hollow interior for receiving said fibrous material, said hopper having an open bottom with a predetermined diameter;
- a base having a shape similar to the shape of said open bottom of said hopper and being concentric with said open bottom of said hopper,
- a base ring disposed along the periphery of said base;
- said hopper having a bottom edge that is rotatably received by said base such that said hopper can securely rotate about a vertical line of axis, said base ring having a top edge that is higher than said bottom edge of said hopper when said base receives said hopper;
- a plurality of rollers positioned along an inner periphery of said base ring, said plurality of rollers including a vertical roller and a horizontal roller that further secure said hopper during rotation of said hopper, said vertical roller rotating about its horizontal line of axis, said horizontal roller rotating about its vertical line of axis;
- a pulley and belt system coupled to and in communication with said hopper and a motor to facilitate the rotation of said hopper;
- a window with predetermined dimensions formed within said base;
- an elongate rake positioned and secured within said window, said rake having a plurality of flanges that guide said fibrous material through said window, said plurality of flanges including planar flanges positioned nearest a midpoint of said elongate rake, said plurality of flanges further including curved flanges positioned nearest each end of said elongate rake, said planar and curved flanges being integrated with one another, said curved flanges being angled to urge said fibrous material toward said planar flanges and to urge said fibrous material downwardly through said window of said base, said planar flanges urging said fibrous material downwardly through said window of said base,
- a support frame positioned under said base for supporting said base and said hopper;
- a delivery system positioned at least partially in underlying relation to said window, said delivery system including an exit chute that receives said fibrous material as said fibrous material exits downwardly through said window;
- a power source coupled to said motor for powering said motor;
- a load cell coupled to said base for measuring the weight of said additive remaining in said hopper as said additive exits said hopper into said delivery system, said load cell providing feedback to a control panel to control rotation of said hopper and rotation of said rake to increase or decrease output of said additive through said window.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.