US3561681A — Spreader apparatus with auxiliary conveyor means

Claim 1

Independent Claim 204 words

In combination with a spreader for fertilizer or the like having a frame and a hopper thereon, first conveyor means for moving material longitudinally of the hopper and toward the rear end thereof, spreader means disposed at the rear of the hopper and adapted to receive material from the conveyor means, first disengageable drive means for driving the conveyor means to convey material from front to rear of the hopper, and second drive means connectable to a source of rotary power for driving the spreader means, the improvement comprising: second conveyor means mounted forward of the hopper and having a receiving end disposed generally below said first conveyor means and disposed for conveying material laterally of the hopper; said first conveyor means extending forward of the hopper to a position substantially above the receiving end of said second conveyor means; alternate drive means adapted to be connected to a source of rotative power and operable thereby to drive said first conveyor means in a reverse direction whereby it will convey material forwardly in the hopper for delivery to said second conveyor means; and means connecting said alternate drive means to said second conveyor means for driving it to convey material laterally of the hopper.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 204 words

In combination with a spreader for fertilizer or the like having a frame and a hopper thereon, first conveyor means for moving material longitudinally of the hopper and toward the rear end thereof, spreader means disposed at the rear of the hopper and adapted to receive material from the conveyor means, first disengageable drive means for driving the conveyor means to convey material from front to rear of the hopper, and second drive means connectable to a source of rotary power for driving the spreader means, the improvement comprising: second conveyor means mounted forward of the hopper and having a receiving end disposed generally below said first conveyor means and disposed for conveying material laterally of the hopper; said first conveyor means extending forward of the hopper to a position substantially above the receiving end of said second conveyor means; alternate drive means adapted to be connected to a source of rotative power and operable thereby to drive said first conveyor means in a reverse direction whereby it will convey material forwardly in the hopper for delivery to said second conveyor means; and means connecting said alternate drive means to said second conveyor means for driving it to convey material laterally of the hopper.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 63 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said second conveyor means is an auger conveyor having a fixed portion mounted on said frame with a receiving end disposed in a position substantially at the transverse center of the hopper and below the forward end of the first conveyor means and extending upwardly and laterally so as to form an acute angle with the horizontal.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 73 words

The combination of claim 2 wherein said auger conveyor includes a fixed portion mounted as aforesaid and extending substantially to the edge of the hopper, and includes a hinged portion movable through a vertical arc between an extended position in substantially continuous alignment with said fixed portion and a rest position wherein said movable portion extends back substantially across the front of the hopper and above the fixed portion of said auger conveyor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 110 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said alternate drive means includes gear box means having an input shaft, a first output shaft operably connected to said second conveyor means and a second output shaft carrying a drive pulley; a driven pulley operably connected to said first conveyor means forward of said hopper; means drivingly connecting said driving pulley and said driven pulley; and said gear box including gear means interconnecting said input shaft and said output shaft and arranged so that upon application of rotative power to said input shaft said first conveyor means is driven in a reverse direction to deliver material to the forward end of the hopper.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 85 words

The combination of claim 4 wherein said driven pulley is continuously connected with said first conveyor means and rotates upon movement of said conveyor means; and the means interconnecting said drIven pulley and said driving pulley includes clutch means operable between engaged and disengaged conditions whereby said driven pulley may be selectively operably disengaged from said driving pulley when the first drive means is operated to drive said first conveyor means in a direction to convey material from the front to rear of the hopper.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 127 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said second conveyor means includes a fixed portion mounted on said frame forward of the hopper and has a receiving end disposed in a position substantially at the transverse center of the hopper and below the forward end of the first conveyor means, said fixed portion extending upwardly and laterally therefrom to form an acute angle with the horizontal and extending to a position substantially in alignment with one edge of the hopper; and said second conveyor means further includes a movable portion pivotally mounted for movement between an extended position in substantially continuous alignment with said fixed portion and a rest position wherein said movable portion extends back substantially across the front of the hopper and above said fixed portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 212 words

A combination hauler and spreader apparatus for fertilizer or the like comprising: frame means; a material storage hopper means mounted on said frame means; spreader apparatus on said frame means at the rear of said hopper; reversible conveyor means extending longitudinally of said hopper means, generally at the bottom thereof and operable to convey material longitudinally with respect to said hopper means; first drive means operable to drive said longitudinal conveyor means in a direction to convey material from front to rear of said hopper means to said spreader apparatus; lateral conveyor means mounted on said frame means forward of said hopper means and having a receiving portion disposed in a position to receive material from said longitudinal conveyor means upon operation thereof in a direction to convey material from rear to front of said hopper means; alternate drive means including input means adapted to be connected to a source of rotative power and including first output means drivingly connected to said lateral conveyor means and second output means including selectively operable clutch means operably connected to said longitudinal conveyor means whereby application of rotative power to said alternate drive means effects driving of said longitudinal conveyor means in said direction whereby it conveys material from rear to front of said hopper.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 212 words

A combination hauler and spreader apparatus for fertilizer or the like comprising: frame means; a material storage hopper means mounted on said frame means; spreader apparatus on said frame means at the rear of said hopper; reversible conveyor means extending longitudinally of said hopper means, generally at the bottom thereof and operable to convey material longitudinally with respect to said hopper means; first drive means operable to drive said longitudinal conveyor means in a direction to convey material from front to rear of said hopper means to said spreader apparatus; lateral conveyor means mounted on said frame means forward of said hopper means and having a receiving portion disposed in a position to receive material from said longitudinal conveyor means upon operation thereof in a direction to convey material from rear to front of said hopper means; alternate drive means including input means adapted to be connected to a source of rotative power and including first output means drivingly connected to said lateral conveyor means and second output means including selectively operable clutch means operably connected to said longitudinal conveyor means whereby application of rotative power to said alternate drive means effects driving of said longitudinal conveyor means in said direction whereby it conveys material from rear to front of said hopper.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 102 words

The hauler-spreader apparatus in claim 7 wherein said lateral conveyor means is a segmented conveyor having a first portion mounted on said frame means and fixed with respect thereto and extending laterally and upwardly from a position generally at the transverse center of said hopper and extending substantially to one side thereof; and a second portion movable through a vertical arc with respect thereto between a first position in generally continuous extension of said fixed portion and a second position wherein said second portion extends back across the front of said hopper means substantially from said one side thereof to the other.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus in claim 8 including winch means mounted on said hopper means and including a cable and overcenter pulley means for moving said second portion of said lateral conveyor means between its first and second positions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 106 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said alternate drive means includes a gear box mounted on said frame means and having an input shaft extending forwardly and adapted for connection to said input shaft and extending laterally and upwardly, thereby forming an acute angle with the horizontal, for direct connection to said lateral conveyor means, and a second output shaft drivingly connected to said input shaft and extending outwardly from said gear box in a transverse direction on the opposite side thereof from said first output shaft, and belt and pulley means, including clutch means, operably connecting said second output shaft and said longitudinal conveyor means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-02-08	1974-08-10	1975-02-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-02-08	1978-08-10	1979-02-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-02-08	1982-08-10	1983-02-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Spreader apparatus with auxiliary conveyor means

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