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US 9,775,283 B2Granted
Metering apparatus
AssigneeClaussen Technology, LLC
InventorsSteven W. Claussen, Erik Julian Nelson, Matthew Rust
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A metering apparatus may be configured to control flow of material from a reservoir to control the amount of material applied, dispensed, and/or spread to a field while a vehicle traverses the field. The metering apparatus may include an auger portion located in an elevator channel to control the flow of material out of a reservoir opening of the reservoir.
Claims33
A metering apparatus for use with a reservoir holding material, the metering apparatus comprising:
- a housing portion comprising a lower region couplable to a reservoir and an upper region, wherein the housing portion defines:
- an elevator channel extending from one or more intake openings proximate the lower region to a discharge opening proximate the upper region, and
- a discharge chute configured to receive material from the discharge opening and to direct the material outside of the reservoir;
- an auger portion located within the elevator channel and configured to selectively move material from the one or more intake openings through the elevator channel to the discharge opening;
- and
- a motor apparatus operatively coupled to the auger portion and configured to rotate the auger portion to move material from the one or more intake openings through the elevator channel to the discharge opening to be discharged through the discharge chute,
- wherein the metering apparatus further comprises a restriction portion configured to inhibit flow of material from the elevator channel through the discharge opening to the discharge chute when the auger portion is stationary and to allow flow of material from the elevator channel through the discharge opening to the discharge chute when the auger portion is rotated to move material from the one or more intake openings to the discharge opening to be discharged through the discharge chute.
4 more elements
A material transfer system comprising:
- a reservoir defining an interior cavity configured to hold material and a reservoir opening extending into the interior cavity;
- and
- a metering apparatus at least partially positionable within the reservoir opening and configured to control the flow of material from the reservoir and comprising:
- a housing portion comprising a lower region couplable to the reservoir and an upper region, wherein the housing portion defines:
- an elevator channel extending from at least one intake opening proximate the lower region to a discharge opening proximate the upper region, and
- a discharge chute configured to receive material from the discharge opening and to direct the material outside of the interior cavity of the reservoir;
- an auger portion located within the elevator channel and configured to move material from the at least one intake opening through the elevator channel to the discharge opening;
- and
- a restriction portion configured to inhibit flow of material from the elevator channel through the discharge opening to the discharge chute when the auger portion is stationary and to allow flow of material from the elevator channel through the discharge opening to the discharge chute when the auger portion is rotated to move material from the at least one intake opening to the discharge opening to be discharged through the discharge chute.
6 more elements
A metering apparatus for use with a reservoir holding material, the metering apparatus comprising:
- a housing portion comprising a lower region couplable to a reservoir and an upper region, wherein the housing portion defines:
- an elevator channel extending from one or more intake openings proximate the lower region to a discharge opening proximate the upper region, and
- a discharge chute configured to receive material from the discharge opening and to direct the material outside of the reservoir;
- an auger portion located within the elevator channel and configured to selectively move material from the one or more intake openings through the elevator channel to the discharge opening;
- and
- a motor apparatus operatively coupled to the auger portion and configured to rotate the auger portion to move material from the one or more intake openings through the elevator channel to the discharge opening to be discharged through the discharge chute,
- wherein the metering apparatus further comprises a gate portion configured to selectively inhibit flow of material from the reservoir through the one or more intake openings into the elevator channel.
4 more elements
A metering apparatus for use with a reservoir holding material, the metering apparatus comprising:
- a housing portion comprising a lower region couplable to a reservoir and an upper region, wherein the housing portion defines:
- an elevator channel extending from one or more intake openings proximate the lower region to a discharge opening proximate the upper region, and
- a discharge chute configured to receive material from the discharge opening and to direct the material outside of the reservoir;
- an auger portion located within the elevator channel and configured to selectively move material from the one or more intake openings through the elevator channel to the discharge opening;
- and
- a motor apparatus operatively coupled to the auger portion and configured to rotate the auger portion to move material from the one or more intake openings through the elevator channel to the discharge opening to be discharged through the discharge chute,
- wherein the housing portion further comprises a funnel region configured to direct material form the reservoir into the one or more intake openings.
4 more elements
A material transfer system comprising:
- a reservoir defining an interior cavity configured to hold material and a reservoir opening extending into the interior cavity;
- and
- a metering apparatus at least partially positionable within the reservoir opening and configured to control the flow of material from the reservoir and comprising:
- a housing portion comprising a lower region couplable to the reservoir and an upper region, wherein the housing portion defines:
- an elevator channel extending from at least one intake opening proximate the lower region to a discharge opening proximate the upper region, and
- a discharge chute configured to receive material from the discharge opening and to direct the material outside of the interior cavity of the reservoir;
- an auger portion located within the elevator channel and configured to move material from the at least one intake opening through the elevator channel to the discharge opening;
- and
- a gate portion configured to selectively inhibit flow of material from the interior cavity of the reservoir through the at least one intake opening into the elevator channel.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.