Fertilizer spreader
First Claim
1. Apparatus for entraining particulate material within a discharge air stream of an air blower, comprising:
- an adapter nozzle having a Venturi throat formed therein for passage of the discharge air stream;
a container for receiving a supply of the particulate material;
first means for coupling a portion of the discharge air stream to the interior of said container for agitating and fluidizing a localized region of the particulate material therein, said first means including a pressure tube extending into said container and a diffuser for separating said air stream portion into a plurality of relatively turbulent air flows directed generally toward said localized region of particulate material, said container having a vent formed therein at a position remote from said localized region to prevent significant pressurization of said container; and
second means for coupling said localized region to said Venturi throat for drawing of the fluidized particulate material from said container into said adapter nozzle for entrainment with the discharge air stream, said second means including a suction tube extending into said container and terminating with an open end disposed generally adjacent said localized region.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fertilizer spreader includes an attachment assembly for use with a portable hand-held air blower for entraining granular fertilizer or the like into the discharge air stream of the blower, whereby the fertilizer is broadcast by the air stream over a lawn or garden area. The attachment assembly comprises an adapter nozzle connected in-line with the discharge air stream of the blower and including a pressure port through which a portion of the discharge air stream is directed for passage through a pressure tube to a diffuser mounted within a portable vented fertilizer-receiving container near the bottom thereof. The diffuser turns the air stream upwardly within the container and divides the stream into a plurality of turbulent air flows for agitating and suspending particles in a localized region above the diffuser, with a substantial portion of the air stream escaping from the container through a vent at a position remote from the localized region. The fertilizer particles suspended within the localized region are drawn into a downwardly open suction tube which is connected back to the adapter nozzle at a Venturi throat therein to provide a vacuum source for drawing the fertilizer particles into the blower discharge air stream for entrainment therewith. A bleed hole in the suction tube is partially closed by an adjustment collar to select the magnitude of the vacuum acting upon the suspended fertilizer particles for controlling the flow rate of particles into the blower discharge air stream.
81 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for entraining particulate material within a discharge air stream of an air blower, comprising:
-
an adapter nozzle having a Venturi throat formed therein for passage of the discharge air stream; a container for receiving a supply of the particulate material; first means for coupling a portion of the discharge air stream to the interior of said container for agitating and fluidizing a localized region of the particulate material therein, said first means including a pressure tube extending into said container and a diffuser for separating said air stream portion into a plurality of relatively turbulent air flows directed generally toward said localized region of particulate material, said container having a vent formed therein at a position remote from said localized region to prevent significant pressurization of said container; and second means for coupling said localized region to said Venturi throat for drawing of the fluidized particulate material from said container into said adapter nozzle for entrainment with the discharge air stream, said second means including a suction tube extending into said container and terminating with an open end disposed generally adjacent said localized region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. Apparatus for entraining particulate material within a discharge air stream of an air blower comprising:
-
an adapter nozzle having a Venturi throat formed therein for passage of the discharge air stream; a container for receiving a supply of the particulate material; a pneumatic mixer assembly mounted generally within the bottom of said container and including a pressure tube having a diffuser at an open end thereof opening generally upwardly toward a localized region of the particulate material, said mixer assembly further including a suction tube having an open end positioned generally in spaced vertical alignment with said diffuser opening and opening generally downwardly toward said localized region, said container having a vent formed therein at a position remote from said localized region; means for diverting a portion of the discharge air stream from said adapter nozzle for passage into said pressure tube for direction upwardly through said diffuser to agitate and fluidize the particulate material within said localized region, said vent allowing a substantial portion of said diverted portion of the discharge air stream to escape the container; and means for coupling said suction tube to said Venturi throat of said adapter nozzle for applying a vacuum to said localized region to draw the fluidized particulate material into said adapter nozzle for entrainment with the discharge air stream.
-
-
15. A fertilizer spreader for entraining particulate material into a relatively high velocity air stream, comprising:
-
a portable blower including a housing having a discharge outlet formed therein and means within said housing for providing a relatively high velocity discharge air stream for passage through said discharge outlet; an adapter nozzle for in-line passage of the discharge air stream, said nozzle having a pressure port for diverting a portion of the discharge air stream from said nozzle, a Venturi throat downstream of said pressure port, and a vacuum port opening into said Venturi throat; a portable container for receiving a supply of the particulate material; a pneumatic mixer assembly mounted generally within the bottom of said container and including a pressure tube having a diffuser at an open end thereof opening generally upwardly toward a localized region of the particulate material, said mixer assembly further including a suction tube having an open end positioned generally in spaced vertical alignment with said diffuser and opening generally downwardly toward said localized region; a first conduit for coupling said pressure port to said pressure tube for direction of said portion of said air stream upwardly through said diffuser to agitate and fluidize the particulater material within said localized region, said container having a vent formed therein at a position remote from said localized region to allow escape of air within said container, thereby preventing significant pressurization of said container; a second conduit for coupling said vacuum port to said suction tube for applying a vacuum to said localized region to draw the fluidized particulate material into said adapter nozzle for entrainment with the discharge air stream; and means for adjustably controlling the flow of particulate material drawn from said container, said controlling means including an adjustment collar carried about said suction tube at a position outside said container and movable for selectively closing a bleed hole formed in said suction tube to vary the area of said bleed hole exposed to ambient air. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
Specification