US5024356A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods, systems, apparatus and rotor for applying granular material
Assignee: EIDP Inc
•
Filing: 1989-02-16
•
Granted: 1991-06-18
•
Expires: 2009-02-16
Abstract
Abstract Methods, systems, apparatus and a rotor are provided for metering, conveying and dispensing granular materials and/or liquids. The systems, apparatus and rotor can be used for metering, conveying and dispensing granular materials onto a plurality of zones and/or liquids onto a plurality of regions.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph F. Gerling
- 👤 Raymond A. Kaczmarczyk, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:56
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01H; E01H11/00; A; A01; A01C; A01C15/00; A01C15/04; A01C7/00; A01C7/08; A01C7/10; A01C7/102; A01C7/12; A01C7/123; A01C7/124; A01M; A01M9/00; A01M9/0007; A01M9/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A metering rotor for use in metering granular material comprising: a rotor having an axis of rotation and an outer circumferential surface having multiple discrete indentations arranged in the surface in circumferential rows with each of the rows offset with respect to adjacent rows such that any radial plane including the axis contains a substantially constant cross section of the indentations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
A metering rotor for use in metering granular material comprising: a rotor having an axis of rotation and an outer circumferential surface having multiple discrete indentations arranged in the surface in circumferential rows with each of the rows offset with respect to adjacent rows such that any radial plane including the axis contains a substantially constant cross section of the indentations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The rotor of claim 1, wherein each of the indentations has a volume in the range of about 35 to about 350 cubic millimeters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The rotor of claim 1, wherein the indentations are cylindrical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rotor of claim 3, wherein the indentations are cylindrical about axes that are parallel to the rotor axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rotor of claim 4, wherein each of the cylindrical indentations is configured to comprise less than half of a cylinder.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
188 words
An apparatus for metering granular material substantially without pulsing and attrition comprising: a rotor having an axis of rotation and an outer circumferential surface having indentations arranged in the surface in circumferential rows with each of the rows offset with respect to adjacent rows such that any radial plane including the axis contains a substantially constant cross section of the indentations; a housing for partially enclosing and supporting the rotor, the housing having a first and a second opening, each of the openings providing access to the rotor surface, the openings spaced from one another; a gate having a cylindrical surface positionable between the housing and the rotor to selectively control the size of the first housing opening; and a blocking mechanism positioned adjacent the rotor cylindrical surface to prevent excess material from entering the first housing opening, whereby when the material is fed by gravity to the first housing opening, the rotor is rotated with respect to the gate and the housing, and the gate is positioned to open the first housing opening, then the material is metered through the apparatus and out the second housing opening.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
188 words
An apparatus for metering granular material substantially without pulsing and attrition comprising: a rotor having an axis of rotation and an outer circumferential surface having indentations arranged in the surface in circumferential rows with each of the rows offset with respect to adjacent rows such that any radial plane including the axis contains a substantially constant cross section of the indentations; a housing for partially enclosing and supporting the rotor, the housing having a first and a second opening, each of the openings providing access to the rotor surface, the openings spaced from one another; a gate having a cylindrical surface positionable between the housing and the rotor to selectively control the size of the first housing opening; and a blocking mechanism positioned adjacent the rotor cylindrical surface to prevent excess material from entering the first housing opening, whereby when the material is fed by gravity to the first housing opening, the rotor is rotated with respect to the gate and the housing, and the gate is positioned to open the first housing opening, then the material is metered through the apparatus and out the second housing opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the indentations has a volume in the range of about 35 through about 350 cubic millimeters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the indentations are cylindrical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the indentations are cylindrical about axes that are parallel to the rotor axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the cylindrical indentations is configured to comprise less than half a cylinder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gate has a stepped edge configured such that when the gate is in a first fully opened position with respect to the housing, granular material can enter through the first housing opening into a first set of the circumferential rows of the indentations and when the gate is in a second partially closed position with respect to the housing, granular material can enter through the first housing opening into less than the first set of the circumferential rows of the indentations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB397543A
Cited
FR631134A
Cited
DE645093C
Cited
US2141512A
Cited
US3163333A
Cited
US3631825A
Cited
US3568937A
Cited
US3606965A
Cited
US3926377A
Cited
US4053088A
Cited
US4024822A
Cited
US4142685A
Cited
US4215824A
Cited
US4277205A
Cited
US4376601A
Cited
US4530462A
Cited
US4405089A
Cited
US4569486A
Cited
US4562968A
Cited
US4705433A
Cited
US4767062A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-06-17 | 1994-12-17 | 1995-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-17 | 1998-12-17 | 1999-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-17 | 2002-12-17 | 2003-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |