US 9,539,927 B2Granted

Seed cart

AssigneeMeridian Manufacturing Group

InventorsChristopher T. Fitzgerald, Kurt W. Olsen, Daniel L. Frederick

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A seed cart includes first and second mating frames. The hopper is mounted on the first frame for holding seed and has an outlet to discharge the seed. A conveyor is mounted on the second frame for movement between seed loading and unloading positions. A plurality of cylinders with extendible and retractable arms control the desired position of the conveyor. A plurality of load cells are mounted on the second frame and support the first frame. The weigh scales weigh the first frame, the hopper, and the seed in the hopper, without weighing the conveyor. Therefore, an accurate amount of seed can be dispensed from the hopper via the conveyor. Wheels and a hitch tongue can be detachably mounted on the second frame to convert the cart from a stationary unit to a mobile unit.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A seed cart for transporting seed to a field, comprising:

a first frame having opposite side and opposite ends to form a horizontal base;
a second frame beneath the first frame and having opposite sides and opposite ends;
a hopper integrally fixed to the first frame for receiving and holding seed, and having sloped walls converging to a seed outlet for discharge of seed by gravity flow from the hopper;
a conveyor mounted on the second frame for transporting and having an inlet beneath the hopper outlet to receive seed from the hopper;
weigh scales between the first frame and the second frame and supporting the first frame so as to weigh the hopper without weighing the conveyor;
and
a cylinder having a lower end pivotally connected to the second frame and a telescoping arm pivotally connected to the conveyor to control movement of the conveyor between loading and unloading positions relative to the hopper.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/588,735Filed 2 Jan 2015 · continuation
Priority: 7 Feb 2011
Published: US 2015/0117984 A130 Apr 2015
Granted: 10 Jan 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B60P 1/40
Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading: using screw conveyors thereon
A01C 7/208
Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed: chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers
A01C 15/003
Fertiliser distributors: bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm
B65D 88/54
Large containers: characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying

Family

Application61/439,960Us provisional application · filed 7 Feb 2011
Application13/367,421Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Feb 2012
US 2015/0117984 A1Pre-grant publication · published 30 Apr 2015
US 8,931,995 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2012/0201631 A1Published application
US 9,539,927 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.