# US 9,775,283 B2 · Metering apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,775,283 B2 - Document ID: US9775283B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/862,115 - Filed: 2015-09-22 - Published: 2016-03-24 - Granted: 2017-10-03 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-22 - Assignees: Claussen Technology, LLC - Applicants: Claussen Technology, LLC - Inventors: Steven W. Claussen; Erik Julian Nelson; Matthew Rust - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9775283B2 ## CPC - A01C 15/006: {Hoppers} - A01C 7/16: Seeders with other distributing devices, e.g. brushes, discs, screws or slides - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the restriction portion is biased towards the discharge opening to inhibit flow of material from the elevator channel through the discharge opening to the discharge chute when the auger portion is stationary. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the restriction portion is conical extending from a point, wherein the point of the restriction portion is located within the discharge opening proximate the auger portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the metering apparatus further comprises a bracket portion couplable to the lower region of the housing portion, wherein the gate portion inhibits flow of material from the reservoir through the one or more intake openings into the elevator channel when the bracket portion is removed from the lower region of the housing portion, wherein the gate portion allows flow of material from the reservoir through the one or more intake openings into the elevator channel when the bracket portion is coupled to the lower region of the housing portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the gate portion is biased away from the upper region of the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing portion is configured to locate the discharge opening and the one or more intake openings inside the reservoir when the lower region of the housing portion is coupled to the reservoir. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor apparatus is configured to be located outside of the reservoir when the lower region of the housing portion is coupled to the reservoir. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor apparatus is configured to selectively control the rate of flow of material from the reservoir to be discharged through the discharge chute. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the metering apparatus further comprises computing apparatus operably coupled to the motor apparatus to control the rate of flow of material from the reservoir to be discharged through the discharge chute. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elevator channel and the auger portion are aligned along an axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing portion further comprises a funnel region configured to direct material form the reservoir into the one or more intake openings. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the metering apparatus further comprises 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the housing portion is configured to locate the discharge opening and the at least one intake opening inside the reservoir when the lower region of the housing portion is coupled to the reservoir. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the metering apparatus further comprises a motor apparatus operatively coupled to the auger portion and configured to rotate the auger portion to move material from the at least one intake opening through the elevator channel to the discharge opening to be discharged through the discharge chute. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the motor apparatus is configured to selectively control the rate of flow of material from the reservoir to be discharged through the discharge chute. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the metering apparatus further comprises computing apparatus operably coupled to the motor apparatus to control the rate of flow of material from the interior cavity of the reservoir to be discharged through the discharge chute. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, 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. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the housing portion is configured to locate the discharge opening and the one or more intake openings inside the reservoir when the lower region of the housing portion is coupled to the reservoir. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the motor apparatus is configured to be located outside of the reservoir when the lower region of the housing portion is coupled to the reservoir. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the motor apparatus is configured to selectively control the rate of flow of material from the reservoir to be discharged through the discharge chute. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the elevator channel and the auger portion are aligned along an axis. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the housing portion further comprises a funnel region configured to direct material form the reservoir into the one or more intake openings. ### Claim 26 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. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, 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. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, 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. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the housing portion is configured to locate the discharge opening and the one or more intake openings inside the reservoir when the lower region of the housing portion is coupled to the reservoir. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the motor apparatus is configured to be located outside of the reservoir when the lower region of the housing portion is coupled to the reservoir. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the motor apparatus is configured to selectively control the rate of flow of material from the reservoir to be discharged through the discharge chute. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the elevator channel and the auger portion are aligned along an axis. ### Claim 33 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.