U.S. patent application number 12/563228 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-25 for hopper spreader.
Invention is credited to Matthew Hemann, William Hemann.
Application Number | 20100072308 12/563228 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42036636 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100072308 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hemann; William ; et
al. |
March 25, 2010 |
HOPPER SPREADER
Abstract
A hopper spreader for evenly distributing relatively dry,
flowable material about a hopper or other bulk container is
disclosed. The hopper spreader includes a support ring on which is
mounted a bearing aligned with the longitudinal access of the
support ring by a plurality of gussets. A motor rotates a shaft
aligned with the longitudinal access of the support ring and
received in the bearing. An impeller is rotated by the motor and
shaft and distributes outwardly the flowable material.
Inventors: |
Hemann; William; (Riceville,
IA) ; Hemann; Matthew; (Osage, IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVIS, BROWN, KOEHN, SHORS & ROBERTS, P.C.;THE DAVIS BROWN TOWER
215 10TH STREET SUITE 1300
DES MOINES
IA
50309
US
|
Family ID: |
42036636 |
Appl. No.: |
12/563228 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61098453 |
Sep 19, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
239/687 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 69/0458
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
239/687 |
International
Class: |
E01C 19/20 20060101
E01C019/20 |
Claims
1. A hopper spreader for distributing a material, comprising: (a) a
support ring; (b) a motor mounted on the support ring; (c) a shaft
rotated by the motor and aligned with the longitudinal access of
the support ring; and (d) an impeller mounted on the support shaft
for rotation adjacent to the support ring.
2. A hopper spreader as defined in claim 1, further comprising a
bearing for the shaft supported on a plurality of gussets extended
between the bearing and support ring.
3. A hopper spreader as defined in claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of veins of the impeller having a concave surface upon
which the material impacts.
4. A hopper spreader as defined in claim 3, wherein the veins are
canted at an angle relative to the shaft.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application
Ser. No. 61/098,453, filed Sep. 19, 2008, and incorporated herein
by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed generally to a hopper
spreader and, more specifically, to a spreader for evenly
distributing a relatively dry flowable material within a hopper or
other bulk container.
[0003] The handling of relatively dry, flowable materials, such as
grain, feedstuffs, sand, gravel, and the like, is a very common
practice. One such handling procedure is the transport of such
materials from one container to another. Typically, the materials
are transported by a conveyer or auger, the output of which
consists of a concentrated stream of the material. Because such
materials often have a significant angle of repose, a generally
conically shaped pile of the material results. However, the
containers for such materials usually have a fixed height across
one or more directions so that a conically shaped pile of the
material will not completely fill the container. There is a need,
accordingly, for a spreader to evenly distribute the material
throughout the storage container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention consists of a hopper spreader that is
positioned below the output of a transport conveyer or auger to
distribute the material flowing from the auger or conveyer evenly
about a bulk container. The hopper spreader includes an annular
support ring on which is mounted a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic
motor rotates a shaft which is aligned along the longitudinal axis
of the support ring and journaled inside a bearing housing. A
plurality of radial gussets support the bearing housing on the
support ring. Attached to the bottom end of the drive shaft is an
impeller that rotates below the support ring. Material from the
transport, conveyer or auger falls onto the rotating impeller which
then distributes it outwardly so as to more evenly fill a hopper or
other bulk container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0005] FIG. 1 is a photograph of a side view of a spreader hopper
of the present invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a photograph of a plan view of the hopper spreader
of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a photograph of a plan view of an impeller of the
hopper spreader.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a photograph a lower side view of the
impeller.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0009] Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, generally at 10, is a hopper
spread of the present invention. The hopper spreader includes a
support ring 12 on which is mounted a hydraulic motor 14. Extending
from the hydraulic motor 14 in a generally horizontal direction is
a first drive shaft 16. The first drive shaft 16 is received inside
a right angle gear box 18 which converts the rotation of the
horizontal drive shaft 16 into rotation of a vertical drive shaft
30. A bearing housing 20 is supported along the longitudinal axis
of the support ring 12 by a plurality of generally radically
extended gussets 22. The vertical drive shaft 30 is journaled
inside the bearing housing 20 with a lower end of the vertical
drive shaft 30 extending below the bearing housing 20. An impeller
24 is mounted on the lower end of the vertical drive shaft with the
result that the impeller is rotated by the hydraulic motor 14.
[0010] As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the impeller 24
includes a base plate 26 on which is mounted a plurality of vanes
28. In the preferred embodiment there are four vanes 28 which are
attached to the base plate 26 by weldments or the like. It is
preferred that the vanes 28 be canted away from vertical and that
the vanes 28 have a concave surface. The hopper spreader 10 of the
present invention is particularly suited for use with co-products
of the processes involved in converting corn into ethanol.
[0011] The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative
embodiments of the present inventions. The foregoing embodiments
and the methods described herein may vary based on the ability,
experience, and preference of those skilled in the art. Merely
listing the steps of the method in a certain order does not
constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method.
The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and
illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto,
except insofar as the claims are so limited. Those skilled in the
art that have the disclosure before them will be able to make
modifications and variations therein without departing from the
scope of the invention.
* * * * *