US3920224A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Particulate material feeder
Assignee: Doskocil Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1973-09-14
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1993-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A hopper stores a quantity of dry, particulate material and is partially closed at the bottom by a guide plate having downwardly curved sides and a central circular orifice. The orifice extends into an agitator chamber having generally conical wall surfaces and a flat circular floor. The conical walls of the agitator chamber include a discharge opening which leads to a delivery chute. A more driven agitator blade having an upstanding feeder shaft extending into the hopper orifice is rotatably mounted above the floor of the agitator chamber. When the motor is energized rotation of the agitator blade, including the feeder shaft, causes material to flow from the hopper orifice into the path of the agitator blade. The rotating blade fluidizes the particulate material and centrifugally deflects it in a circular path about the chamber walls so that the material flows through the discharge opening down the delivery chute and into a receiving container. In another embodiment the feeder includes an agitator assembly comprising a molded hub and agitator rods extending angularly upwardly and outwardly from the hub. The feeder shaft extends upwardly and somewhat outwardly from the hub to an enlarged molded tip positioned in the lower portion of the hopper above the circular orifice.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur L Fassauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:10
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K5/00; A01K5/02; A01K5/0216; A01K5/0291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A particulate material feeder comprising: an upwardly and outwardly tapered conical wall defining an agitation chamber; outlet means formed through the conical wall and extending to a receptacle; an agitator assembly supported in the bottom of the agitation chamber for rotation about the axis of the conical wall and comprising agitator rods extending angularly upwardly and outwardly, said outlet means being located above said agitator rods such that the material flows upward and outward said outlet means means for rotating the agitator assembly in the agitation chamber at a predetermined rate and thereby forming a fluidized layer of particulate material on the conical wall which travels circumferentially around the conical wall for discharge through the outlet means into the receptacle; a hopper mounted above the agitation chamber for receiving a supply of particulate material; and means mounted between the hOpper and the agitation chamber for directing particulate material from the hopper into the agitation chamber at the same rate that particulate material is discharged from the agitation chamber through the outlet means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A particulate material feeder comprising: an upwardly and outwardly tapered conical wall defining an agitation chamber; outlet means formed through the conical wall and extending to a receptacle; an agitator assembly supported in the bottom of the agitation chamber for rotation about the axis of the conical wall and comprising agitator rods extending angularly upwardly and outwardly, said outlet means being located above said agitator rods such that the material flows upward and outward said outlet means means for rotating the agitator assembly in the agitation chamber at a predetermined rate and thereby forming a fluidized layer of particulate material on the conical wall which travels circumferentially around the conical wall for discharge through the outlet means into the receptacle; a hopper mounted above the agitation chamber for receiving a supply of particulate material; and means mounted between the hOpper and the agitation chamber for directing particulate material from the hopper into the agitation chamber at the same rate that particulate material is discharged from the agitation chamber through the outlet means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The particulate material feeder as set forth in claim 1 wherein said directing means includes: a guide plate having a reduced orifice therein for restricting the flow of particulate material from said hopper to said agitation chamber; and means extending upward from said agitation chamber into said orifice and adapted for movement within said orifice upon rotation of said agitator assembly for preventing bridging within said orifice and producing a flow of particulate material into said agitation chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The particulate material feeder as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means extending into said orifice includes an upwardly and somewhat outwardly extending feeder shaft mounted on the agitator assembly, said shaft being spaced apart from the axis of rotation of the agitator assembly and thereby following a circular path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The particulate material feeder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotating means includes an electric motor for agitating an output shaft and a molded hub mounted on the output shaft and supporting the agitator rods and the feeder shaft, wherein the molded hub is positioned below the horizontal plane of the lower edge of the discharge opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
182 words
A particulate material feeder comprising: an agitation chamber including a substantially flat floor, a cylindrical wall extending upwardly from the floor, and a conical wall tapering upwardly and outwardly from the cylindrical wall; means forming an outlet aperture in the conical wall of the agitation chamber; hopper means positioned above the agitation chamber for receiving a supply of particulate material; guide means defining the bottom of the hopper means and including an orifice for directing particulate material from the hopper means into the agitation chamber under the action of gravity; an agitator assembly mounted in the agitation chamber and comprising a molded hub and a pair of agitator rods extending upwardly and outwardly from the hub said hub and rods being positioned below the horizontal plane of the lower edge of said outlet aperture and means for rotating the agitator assembly in the bottom of the agitation chamber and thereby establishing a zone of fluidized particulate material traveling around the conical wall of the agitation chamber and flowing out of the agitation chamber through the discharge opening whenever it is aligned therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
182 words
A particulate material feeder comprising: an agitation chamber including a substantially flat floor, a cylindrical wall extending upwardly from the floor, and a conical wall tapering upwardly and outwardly from the cylindrical wall; means forming an outlet aperture in the conical wall of the agitation chamber; hopper means positioned above the agitation chamber for receiving a supply of particulate material; guide means defining the bottom of the hopper means and including an orifice for directing particulate material from the hopper means into the agitation chamber under the action of gravity; an agitator assembly mounted in the agitation chamber and comprising a molded hub and a pair of agitator rods extending upwardly and outwardly from the hub said hub and rods being positioned below the horizontal plane of the lower edge of said outlet aperture and means for rotating the agitator assembly in the bottom of the agitation chamber and thereby establishing a zone of fluidized particulate material traveling around the conical wall of the agitation chamber and flowing out of the agitation chamber through the discharge opening whenever it is aligned therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The particulate material feeder according to claim 5 wherein the rotating means further comprises: a motor supported beneath the agitation chamber; and an output shaft driven by the motor and extending through the floor of the agitation chamber; the molded hub of the agitator assembly being supported on the output shaft for rotation therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The particulate material feeder according to claim 6 wherein the discharge opening includes a lower edge positioned a predetermined distance above the floor of the agitation chamber, and wherein the agitator rods extend to distal ends positioned in a horizontal plane substantially aligned with the lower edge of the discharge opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The particulate material feeder according to claim 7 wherein the agitator assembly further includes a feeder shaft mounted on the molded hub and extending therefrom upwardly into the orifice of the guide plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The particulate material feeder according to claim 8 wherein the feeder shaft extends upwardly and somewhat outwardly from the molded hub to a molded tip positioned within the hopper means above the orifice of the guide plate and wherein the molded hub is supported on said output shaft for rotation therewith and said hub is positioned below the horizontal plane of the lower edge of the discharge opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |