U.S. patent application number 12/492160 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-03 for spreader assembly with surface-clearing blower.
This patent application is currently assigned to MASTER MANUFACTURING LLC. Invention is credited to Cole Daniel Bailey, Mark Glenn Bailey.
Application Number | 20100133365 12/492160 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42221895 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100133365 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bailey; Mark Glenn ; et
al. |
June 3, 2010 |
SPREADER ASSEMBLY WITH SURFACE-CLEARING BLOWER
Abstract
A spreader assembly with surface-clearing blower includes a
rotary or broadcast spreader mounted on a frame for distribution
and deposition of granular material in an area proximate the
spreader assembly, a blower also mounted on the frame and with one
or more ducts or hoses for conveying forced air to a surface
proximate the spreader assembly to be cleared of deposited
material. Granular material may include seed, ice-melt compound or
salt, or fertilizer or other lawn or garden amendment or additive.
The frame is mounted on the powered drive unit of a walk-behind
mower to replace the mower deck.
Inventors: |
Bailey; Mark Glenn; (Lee's
Summit, MO) ; Bailey; Cole Daniel; (Lee's Summit,
MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ERICKSON, KERNELL, DERUSSEAU & KLEYPAS, LLC
800 W. 47TH STREET, SUITE 401
KANSAS CITY
MO
64112
US
|
Assignee: |
MASTER MANUFACTURING LLC
Lees Summit
MO
|
Family ID: |
42221895 |
Appl. No.: |
12/492160 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61119029 |
Dec 1, 2008 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/663 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01H 1/0809 20130101;
E01C 19/203 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
239/663 |
International
Class: |
E01C 19/20 20060101
E01C019/20 |
Claims
1. A spreader assembly comprising: a mobile support element, a
spreader attached to and conveyed by said support element, said
spreader including a means for depositing granular material upon a
surface proximate said support element, and means for directing a
stream of air to a portion of said surface to substantially clear
said surface of said deposited material.
2. The spreader assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for
directing a stream of air comprises a blower mounted upon said
mobile support element and a duct or hose attached to said blower
for receiving stream of air from said blower and conveying said
stream of air to said surface.
3. The spreader assembly of claim 1 wherein said spreader comprises
a rotary spreader having a rotary impeller powered by an electric
motor.
4. The spreader assembly of claim 1 wherein said blower is powered
by an internal combustion engine.
5. A spreader assembly comprising: a mobile base, a powered drive
unit for moving said base across a ground surface, said mobile base
projecting from said drive unit, a spreader mounted to said base,
and means for producing and directing a stream of air to a selected
portion of said ground surface proximate said base to substantially
clear said portion of debris.
6. The spreader assembly of claim 5 wherein said mobile base
comprises a generally rectangular, horizontally disposed frame.
7. The spreader assembly of claim 5 further comprising an engine
for powering said powered drive unit.
8. The spreader assembly of claim 5 wherein said spreader comprises
a hopper mounted to said mobile base and means for distributing
granular material from said hopper to a portion of said ground
surface proximate said base.
9. The spreader assembly of claim 5 wherein said spreader comprises
a rotary spreader.
10. The spreader assembly of claim 5 further comprising a blower
mounted upon said base, said blower comprising a rotating fan blade
and nozzle for receiving a stream of air produced by said
blade.
11. The spreader assembly of claim 10 further comprising means for
directing said stream of air downward toward said ground
surface.
12. The spreader assembly of claim 11 wherein said means for
directing comprises one or more lengths of hose or duct connected
to aid blower to receive said stream of air.
13. The spreader assembly of claim 12 further comprising means for
selectively opening or closing one or more of said hoses or
ducts.
14. The spreader assembly of claim 13 where said means for
selectively opening or closing comprises valves adapted to control
the flow of air through said hoses or ducts.
15. A spreader assembly for spreading seed, fertilizer or pesticide
granules, or other granular material upon a lawn, the assembly
comprising: a spreader for distributing granular upon a lawn, said
spreader mounted upon a rolling base, a blower mounted to said base
for directing a flow of air generally downward and outward from
said base, said flow having sufficient velocity and volume to
remove a substantial portion of said granules from a selected area
of said ground surface.
16. The spreader assembly of claim 15 further comprising a powered
drive unit attached to said base for driving said base across a
ground surface, said powered drive unit including driven wheels and
an engine for driving said wheels.
17. The spreader assembly of claim 15 further comprising an engine
for powering said blower and an electric motor for powering a
rotary impeller.
18. The spreader assembly of claim 17 further comprising a belt
connecting a first pulley driven by said engine to a second pulley
attached to the fan blade of said blower, whereby rotative force
conveyed to said first pulley by said engine is further conveyed by
movement of said belt to said second pulley and then to said
blade.
19. The spreader assembly of claim 18 further comprising an
electronic clutch for selectively engaging and disengaging power
from said engine to said first pulley.
20. The spreader assembly of claim 18 further comprising a slack
clutch for selectively engaging and disengaging power from said
first pulley to said second pulley.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a motorized apparatus for
spreading granular material such as dry fertilizer and, in
particular, to a spreader assembly with forced air blower mounted
to the front of a walk behind motorized drive assembly.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Devices for evenly spreading granular materials, such as
de-icing compounds, seed, fertilizer, pesticide, or soil amendments
such gypsum, are known in the prior art and include broadcast
spreaders and drop spreaders. Drop spreaders generally drop
material straight down in a width equal to that of the spreader
hopper and are useful for covering areas than can be traversed in
straight lines, in which case they generate little waste.
Considerable care must be used, however, to avoid overlapping or
failing to adjoin application lanes. If lanes fail to adjoin, gaps
are created where material is not deposited. If lanes overlap,
twice the amount of material may be deposited as desired. In the
case of fertilizer or grass seed, such misapplication will become
evident and long term as the lawn develops over a season. Broadcast
spreaders, also referred to as rotary spreaders since the device
usually uses a rotating wheel, disc or other form of rotary
impeller to distribute material radially outward from the spreader,
avoid some of these problems since they are designed to provide
overlapping application of material, often in non-parallel
application lanes. The material in the broadcast spreader hopper
drops at a selected rate, governed typically by setting the size of
a hopper aperture, from the hopper onto the spinning rotary
impeller that then disperses the material over the desired surface,
such as a lawn. Overlapping application lanes assure complete
coverage to avoid missing any portions of the application surface.
The method of material distribution typically scatters material in
an arc of 360.degree. or less about the axis of the rotary impeller
and, therefore, often deposits material in undesired locations such
as sidewalks, driveways or parking lots adjacent to the application
surface.
[0005] After application of fertilizer to a lawn, for example, a
user must typically sweep adjacent paved areas to remove fertilizer
granules that otherwise would be walked upon and tracked into
buildings. Removal of fertilizer granules from sidewalks and other
pedestrian walkways in a commercial setting is particularly
important as the granules present an unkempt appearance, are
unpleasant for customers and visitors to walk upon, and in high
traffic areas can result in significant deposition of fertilizer
material upon carpeting and other interior floor surfaces, perhaps
scratching, staining or otherwise marring or damaging the surfaces.
In addition, state or local law may require that granules
containing pesticide be removed from paved surfaces. What is needed
in the art is a spreader that can provide an automated means of
clearing surfaces adjacent to an application surface of unwanted
deposited material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An embodiment of a spreader assembly may include a mobile
support element or base, a spreader attached to and conveyed by the
support element, and means for directing a stream of air to a
portion of the surface proximate the support element to
substantially clear the surface of granular material deposited on
the surface by the spreader.
[0007] More specifically, the spreader assembly may include a
mobile frame assembly comprising a typically rectangular,
horizontally disposed frame, a rotary or broadcast spreader mounted
to and above the frame, a means for producing a directed stream of
air flowing at relatively high velocity, such as a forced-air
blower, and one or more means for directing the stream of air
downward toward a surface to be cleared of granular material
deposited by the spreader, such as a hose or duct with a opening
located distal from the blower and located proximate the surface to
be cleared. The spreader assembly may include means for selectively
opening or closing one or more of such means for directing, such as
valves controlling the flow of air through hoses or ducts. Wheels
are attached to the frame to allow the spreader assembly to be
rolled along the ground and a source of power is provided to power
the blower.
[0008] The spreader assembly with surface-clearing blower may
further include a powered drive unit including an engine and driven
wheels. The powered drive unit is typically provided by removing
the mower deck from a walk-behind mower and replacing the mower
deck with the spreader frame assembly described above. In such
case, the frame is typically provided with two, freely rotating,
swiveling wheels attached to the front end of the frame. The back
end of the frame is bolted to the powered drive unit of the
walk-behind mower, which is typically provided with two,
transverse, engine-driven wheels. The spreader assembly is
therefore supported by two driven wheels at the rear of the
spreader assembly and two swiveling wheels at the front of the
spreader assembly.
[0009] The blower is typically powered by a belt and pulley drive
system that includes an engine-powered pulley on the powered drive
unit. The engine-powered or driving pulley is typically the same
pulley previously used to power the belt-driven mower blade of the
disengaged mower deck. A belt runs between the powered driving
pulley and a driven pulley attached to the shaft of the blower fan.
Controls on the powered drive unit previously used to engage and
disengage power to the mower blade, such as via a slack belt
clutch, are now used to engage and disengage power to the blower.
The blower may therefore be selectively operated during a spreading
operation.
[0010] Because the mower deck is removed and replaced with the
lighter-weight frame that supports the spreader and blower, the
machine is much lighter overall and is easier to use on hillsides
because the reduced weight requires less force from the powered
drive unit engine to drive the driven wheels and requires less
operator force when manipulating the powered drive unit handle or
handles to make turns. In addition, the blower enables the operator
to remove deposited granules from selected portions of an
application surface without requiring additional equipment.
[0011] Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from
the following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example
an embodiment of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front, right perspective view of an embodiment
of spreader blower having three, selectable, flexible air
ducts.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a left, side view of an embodiment of a spreader
blower having a single air duct and showing a slack belt clutch
system.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a left, side view of an embodiment of a spreader
blower having a single air duct and having an electric clutch
mounted below the engine and above the driving pulley.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] As required, a detailed embodiment of the present invention
is disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure.
[0016] Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an embodiment
of the spreader assembly with surface-clearing blower of the
present invention indicated by the reference numeral 100. The
spreader assembly 100 includes a mobile support element or base
such as a metal frame 105. The metal frame 105 is typically
horizontally disposed and generally rectangular. The frame 105 has
a horizontally disposed longitudinal axis running from the front
110 of the frame 105 to the back 115 of the frame 105, and a
horizontally disposed transverse axis perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis. A rotary spreader 120, otherwise known as a
broadcast spreader, is mounted to and above the frame 105 by any
sufficiently operable means such as a metal post 125 attached to
and projecting upward from the frame 105. Metal brackets or flanges
130 may be used to attach the spreader 120 to the post 125. A
rotary spreader 120 of the type shown in the figures typically
includes a hopper 135 for storing granular material to be
distributed by the spreader 120. An aperture (not shown) at or near
the bottom of the hopper 135 allows the stored material to drop
under force of gravity to a rotary impeller 140. The rotary
impeller 140 rotates about a vertical axis and includes fins or
flanges 145 for flinging granular material radially outward from
the rotary impeller 140 as it rotates at sufficient speed. The
rotary impeller 140 may therefore distribute granular material from
the hopper 135 in an approximately 360.degree. radial arc about the
spreader 120 and upon a selected application surface such as a
lawn. Shields (not shown) placed proximate the impeller 140 may be
used to narrow the arc and, in particular, to prevent material from
being directed toward the operator. A sliding gate or other
apparatus (not shown) located at the bottom of the hopper 135 may
be provided to adjust the hopper aperture size for varying the
material feed rate from the hopper 135 to the rotary impeller 140.
The rotary impeller 140 is typically rotated under power provided
by an electric motor 165.
[0017] Since a rotary spreader 120 will typically distribute
material from the hopper 135 in relatively wide arc about the
spreader 120, the spreader assembly 100 of the present invention
provides a means for producing a directed stream of air flowing at
relatively high velocity, such as a forced-air blower 150, and one
or more means for directing the stream of air downward toward a
surface to be cleared of granular material deposited by the
spreader 120, such as a hose 155 or duct 160 with a distal opening
280 located proximate the surface to be cleared. The spreader
assembly 100 may include means for selectively opening or closing
one or more of the hoses 155 or ducts 160, such as valves 170
controlling the flow of air through hoses 155 or ducts 160.
[0018] The spreader assembly 100 with surface-clearing blower 150
may further include a powered drive unit 200 including an engine
205 and driven wheels 210 powered by the engine 205. The powered
drive unit 200 is typically provided by removing the mower deck
from a conventional walk-behind mower and replacing the mower deck
with the spreader frame 105 described above. In such case, the
frame 105 is typically provided with two, freely rotating,
swiveling, front wheels 175 attached to the front end 110 of the
frame 105. The back end 115 of the frame 105 is bolted or otherwise
attached to the powered drive unit 200, which is typically provided
with two, transverse, engine-driven wheels 210. The spreader
assembly 100 is therefore supported by two driven wheels 210 at the
rear of the spreader assembly 100 and two swiveling wheels 175 at
the front of the spreader assembly 100 that allow the spreader
assembly 100 to be rolled along the ground.
[0019] The electric motor 165 receives power to drive the rotary
impeller 140 from the powered drive unit 200 electrical system
which may comprise a battery or engine-powered electrical
generator. As shown in FIG. 1, a switch 215 is typically mounted on
the powered drive unit console 220 or handle 225 for turning the
electric motor 165 on or off, causing the rotary impeller 140 to
rotate or cease rotating, respectively.
[0020] A lever 227, mounted on or near the console 220 or handle
225, is attached through linkages to the above-referenced gate so
that the operator may move the lever 227 to open or close the gate,
thereby providing a ready means for initiating or halting
distribution of the granular material by the spreader 120.
[0021] A source of power is provided to rotate the fan 250 of the
blower 150. This may comprise an electric motor or other means,
however, the blower 150 is typically powered by a belt and pulley
drive system that engages an engine-powered driving pulley 230 on
the powered drive unit 200 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The driving pulley
230 is typically the same pulley previously used to power the mower
blade of the disengaged mower deck and is provided with the powered
drive unit 200. A belt 235 runs between the powered pulley 230 and
a driven blower pulley 240 attached to the shaft of the blower fan
250. See FIG. 2 wherein the housing of the blower 150 is partially
broken away to show the fan 250 inside the blower 150. Controls,
such as a control lever 255, on the powered drive unit 200
previously used to engage and disengage power to the mower blade
are now used to engage and disengage power to the blower 150. The
blower 150 may therefore be selectively operated during a spreading
operation to initiate or halt airflow from the blower 150 as
desired.
[0022] Typical means for engaging or disengaging power to the
blower 150 include an electric clutch 260 (see FIG. 3) positioned
in the power train between the power drive unit engine 205 and the
driving pulley 230. The same controls on the power drive unit 200
provided for engaging or disengaging power to the previously
attached mower deck may be used to control the electric clutch
260.
[0023] Another means for engaging or disengaging power to the
blower 150 includes a tensioning or idler pulley 270 (see FIG. 2)
that may be moved relative to the belt 235 running between the
engine pulley 230 and blower pulley 240. The tensioning pulley 270
may be moved to a first position wherein tension is increased upon
the belt 235 thereby tightening the belt 235 upon the engine and
blower pulleys sufficiently to cause the belt 235 to grip both the
engine and blower pulleys so that rotation from the engine pulley
230 is transmitted from the rotating belt 235 to induce rotation in
the blower pulley 240. The tensioning pulley 270 may be moved to a
second position wherein tension is released upon the belt 235
thereby loosening the belt's frictional engagement with the engine
pulley 230 and blower pulley 240 so that one or both pulleys slip
relative to the belt 235 and rotation is not transmitted from the
engine pulley 230 to the blower pulley 240. The tensioning pulley
270 is typically selectively moved between the first position and
second position by moving the lever 255 engaged via linkages with
the tensioning pulley 270 and mounted near the handle 225 and/or
console 220 of the powered drive unit 200.
[0024] The blower 150 includes a casing or housing that houses the
fan 250 or impeller. A first opening (not shown) in the blower
housing allows air to enter the housing as the fan 250 is rotated.
A second opening (nozzle aperture 280) allows air to be expelled
from the blower 150 as the fan 250 is rotated. The second opening
280 is generally located at the terminal or distal end of an air
duct 160 or air hose 155. Therefore, as the fan 250 is rotated air
is expelled from the blower 150 through the nozzle aperture 280 and
replacement air is drawn into the blower 150 from the first opening
proximate the fan 250. The fan 250 and blower housing are typically
arranged to form what is generally known in the art as a squirrel
cage fan or blower.
[0025] In one embodiment of the spreader assembly 100, a duct 160
is attached to the blower 150 and extends generally transversely
outward to the lateral edge of the frame 105. The duct 160 is also
angled downward to direct a stream of air produced by the blower
150 at an area of the application surface selected to be cleared of
deposited granular material. As the spreader assembly 100 is rolled
past the selected surface, the nozzle aperture 280, passes over or
in close proximity to the selected area and the force of the stream
of air emitted from the nozzle aperture 280 blows the deposited
granular material off of the proximate selected area. For example,
after using the spreader assembly 100 to distribute and deposit
granular fertilizer upon a lawn, the spreader assembly 100 may be
passed near a sidewalk adjacent to the lawn so that the blower
cleans the sidewalk of deposited fertilizer granules.
[0026] In another embodiment of the spreader assembly 100, a
manifold 285 is connected to the blower 150 for distributing air
flow from the blower 150 to several ducts or hoses 155 (see FIG.
1). If three hoses 155 are used, as shown in FIG. 1, they are
typically positioned so that a first hose 155a projects forward of
the spreader assembly frame 105, a second hose 155b projects
leftward of the frame 105 (as viewed from the front of the spreader
assembly 100), and a third hose 155c projects rightward of the
frame 105. The terminal end of each hose 155 may be referred to as
a nozzle. Each nozzle is positioned within approximately 12 inches
of the selected surface. Air flow may be selectively directed to
any or all of the three hoses 155 by manipulating valves 170 placed
along each hose 155. In FIG. 1, ball valves 170 are shown
positioned along each hose 155 so that valve actuators or levers
290 associated with each valve 170 project upward from the valve
170. Each lever 290 may be turned to move the valve 170 from an
open to a closed position or any selected intermediate position.
Alternatively, the valves 170 may be controlled electronically by
electromechanical devices known in the prior art such as
solenoids.
[0027] In one embodiment, the rotations per minute (RPM) of the
powered drive unit engine 205 is approximately 3300, the engine
pulley 230 is about 7'' in diameter, the blower pulley 240 is about
5'' in diameter, and the blower fan's 250 RPM are between
approximately 4,400 and 5,500, as determined by engine RMP and the
pulley diameter ratios. The blower fan 250 is approximately between
9 and 10'' in diameter and typically has between 40 and 60 blades.
This embodiment will provide sufficient air flow to move most
granular material typically applied by broadcast spreaders when the
nozzle or nozzles are positioned within about 10'' of the selected
surface.
[0028] The spreader assembly 100 may be used to spread granular
material, such as fertilizer, insecticide, or various soil
amendments, upon an application surface, such as a lawn, while
clearing nearby surfaces, such as sidewalks and driveways, of
deposited material according to the following steps. Note that
certain steps may be performed in an order varying from those given
here, as long as the objective of clearing selected surfaces is
accomplished.
[0029] First, the hopper 135 is partially filled with material to
be distributed by the spreader 120. Before adding the material to
the hopper 135, lever 227 should be moved as required to close the
hopper gate. Next, the engine 205 of the powered drive unit 200 is
started and power is provided to the driven wheels 210 to begin
forward motion of the spreader assembly 100 along a selected
application lane upon an application surface. As the spreader
assembly 100 moves forward, the operator typically walks behind the
powered unit 200, holding onto the handle(s) 225. The switch 215
controlling power to the spreader motor 165 is turned, pushed,
pulled or otherwise manipulated to an "on" position so that the
spreader motor 165 is energized and begins turning the rotary
impeller 140. The gate lever 227 is manipulated to open the gate so
that material may flow from the hopper 135, through the hopper
aperture and gate, and onto the rotary impeller 140.
[0030] While material is flung from the rotary impeller 140, some
material may land on surfaces adjoining the application surface. To
clear material from such surfaces, the blower 150 is engaged with
the engine 205 by manipulating the clutch lever 255. If an electric
clutch 260 is used, proper manipulation of the clutch lever 255 (or
electrical switch as may be provided) causes the electric clutch
260 to engage the driving pulley 230 with the engine 205. If a
slack clutch is used, proper manipulation of the lever 255 moves
the tensioning pulley 270 against the belt 235 to increase belt
tension against the driving and driven pulleys 230 and 240. In
either case, power from the engine 205 is thereby provided to the
blower fan 250. The operator may then position the spreader
assembly 100, and particularly the hose or duct nozzle apertures
280, proximate a surface to be cleared of deposited material. This
operation may occur while spreading material with the spreader 120
or afterwards, after the spreading operation is complete. If a
spreader assembly 100 with multiple hoses 155 is used, the hose
valves 170 may be set to open or closed positions as needed. For
example, to clear a surface to the right of the spreader assembly
100, hose 155b would be utilized and the associated valve 170
opened. To clear a surface to the left of the spreader assembly
100, hose 155c would be similarly used. To clear a surface directly
in the path of the spreader assembly 100, hose 155a would be
used.
[0031] In a further embodiment of the spreader assembly 100, the
blower 150 and duct 160 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are mounted upon the
frame 105 so that the blower 150 and associated duct 160 may be
swiveled about an axis typically coincident or parallel to the fan
axis to direct the duct nozzle any selected radial position.
[0032] It is to be understood that while certain forms of this
invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited
thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the
following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.
* * * * *