Bedding material spreader device

• US 5,957,394 A
• Filed: 12/16/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry H. Becker
• Original Assignee: Harry H. Becker
• Inventors: Becker, Harry H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bocanegra, Jorge
• Application Number:
  US08/991,774
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 239/288, 239/288.3, 239/671, 239/672, 239/673, 239/674, 239/675, 239/677, 239/680, 239/682, 239/689
• US Class Current: 239/673
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/015 Floor coverings, e.g. bedding-down sheets ; Stable floors
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/002 with mixing or shredding element rotating on horizontal axis

Abstract

A bedding material spreader device of the present invention includes a hopper for holding a material. The hopper is open at the top and includes a closed bottom. A screw-auger is rotatably positioned along the inside bottom of the hopper for conveying the material towards the left or the right discharge opening provided on the rear wall of the hopper. Left and right spinners for spreading the material, either from the left or right side of the hopper, are provided in corresponding recesses on the exterior rear wall of the hopper. The auger includes radially extending blades on the left and right ends thereof, which spin-out the material from inside the hopper towards the left or right discharge opening and into the corresponding spinner which feeds-out the material out of the hopper. A hydraulic mechanism, which selectively runs the hydraulic flow in opposite directions, allows either the left or the right spinner to rotate to thereby allow the material to be fed-out from either side of the device.

Claims

1. A bedding material spreader device for selectively discharging a material from one of the sides thereof, comprising:

a) hopper means for holding a material;

b) said hopper means being open at top and including a closed bottom;

c) said hopper means including front, rear, left and right sides;

d) auger means rotatably positioned along the bottom of said hopper means;

e) first material discharge means disposed about one of said left and right sides of said hopper means and second material discharge means disposed about the other of said left and right sides of said hopper means;

f) said first material discharge means including first spinner means and said second material discharge means including second spinner means;

g) said hopper means including first and second enclosure means extending between the left and right sides for accommodating said first and second spinner means, respectively;

h) said first and second enclosure means each comprising a shroud positioned in an external recess adjacent the rear side of said hopper means;

i) said shroud including means for forming a channel for discharging a material;

j) means for allowing scooping-up of a material operably connected to said hopper means; and

k) means for selectively rotating one of said first and second spinner means for thereby discharging a material from one of said left and right sides of said hopper means.

2. The bedding material spreader device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said first and second material discharge means each includes an opening adjacent said first and second spinner means, respectively.

3. The bedding material spreader device of claim 2, further comprising:

a) material kicking means coaxially mounted on said auger means adjacent said opening.

4. The bedding material spreader device of claim 3, wherein:

a) said material kicking means comprises a first set of radially extending blades.

5. The bedding material spreader device of claim 4, wherein:

a) said material kicking means comprises a second set of radially extending blades.

6. The bedding material spreader device of claim 5, wherein:

a) said second set of blades is mounted inwardly of said first set of blades.

7. The bedding material spreader device of claim 5, further comprising:

a) material loosening means; and

b) said second set of blades comprises said material loosening means.

8. The bedding material spreader device of claim 7, wherein:

a) said second set of blades comprises first and second blades generally oppositely mounted on said auger means.

9. The bedding material spreader device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said selective first and second spinner rotating means comprises a reversible hydraulic mechanism.

10. A bedding material spreader device for selectively discharging a material from one of the sides thereof, comprising:

a) a hopper for holding a material;

b) said hopper being open at top and including a closed bottom;

c) said hopper including front, rear, left and right sides;

d) an auger rotatably positioned along the bottom of said hopper for conveying the material;

e) first and second material discharge openings provided adjacent the rear side of said hopper and adjacent the bottom thereof;

f) a plurality of radially extending material kicking blades mounted on said auger adjacent each of said first and second material discharge openings;

g) first and second spinners for spreading the material positioned on the exterior of said hopper adjacent said first and second discharge openings, respectively;

h) said first spinner being positioned in a first shroud extending between the left and right sides of said hopper;

i) said second spinner being positioned in a second shroud extending between the left and right sides of said hopper;

j) each of said first and second shrouds being positioned in a corresponding external recess adjacent the rear side of said hopper;

k) each of said first and second shrouds including means for forming a channel for discharging a material;

l) means for allowing scooping-up of a material operably connected to said hopper; and

m) means for selectively rotating one of said first and second spinners for thereby discharging a material from one of said left and right sides of said hopper.

11. The bedding material spreader device of claim 10, wherein:

a) said first and second material discharge openings are provided on the left and right sides of said hopper.

12. The bedding material spreader device of claim 10, further comprising:

a) means for selectively rotating one of said first and second spinners comprising a reversible hydraulic mechanism.