Aggregate material spreading mechanism

• US 6,345,931 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1999
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dexter Capece
• Original Assignee: Dexter Capece
• Inventors: Capece, Dexter
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Addie, Raymond W.
• Application Number:
  US09/397,774
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 404/90, 404/108, 404/110, 404/101
• US Class Current: 404/101
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/2025 Throwers with substantially horizontal axis, e.g. drums or brushes rotated to fling the material at the surface

Abstract

An applicator mechanism for applying a layer of aggregate material on a ground surface comprising an adjustable bracket for mounting the applicator mechanism to a carrying device, a hopper attached to the mounting bracket having a first opening for receiving a supply of aggregate materials said hopper having a second opening for dispensing the aggregate material onto the ground surface, a first shaft attached to the hopper and in communication with the second opening having projections for spreading the aggregate material onto the ground surface through the second opening, a mechanism for driving the first shaft, a second shaft having at least one structure for interacting with the projections in order to control the size or amount of aggregate material exiting the hopper through use of a spring force that adjusts the tension applied to the paddle by way of a handle used to rotate the second shaft, and a mechanism for holding the tension handle in one of several predetermined positions.

Claims

1. An applicator mechanism for applying a layer of aggregate material on a ground surface comprising:

a. a bracket for mounting the applicator mechanism to a carrying device;

b. a hopper attached to the mounting bracket having a first opening for receiving a supply of aggregate materials said hopper having a second opening for dispensing the aggregate material onto the ground surface;

c. a spreading shaft attached to the hopper and in communication with the second opening having projections attached to said spreading shaft for spreading the aggregate material onto the ground surface through the second opening; and

d. a paddle shaft having at least one member in contact with the projections so as to apply a varying force against said projections in order to control the size or amount of aggregate material exiting the hopper through use of a tensioning mechanism that adjusts the force applied to the projections by said at least one member.

2. The applicator mechanism of claim 1 wherein the hopper is upwardly opening.

3. The applicator mechanism of claim 1 wherein the second opening is an elongated slot formed in the bottom of the hopper which extends transversely to the intended movement of the hopper.

4. The applicator mechanism of claim 1 wherein the spreading shaft is attached to the hopper transversely to the intended movement of the hopper.

6. The applicator mechanism of claim 1 or 5 wherein the spreading shaft comprises:

a. a pipe;

b. attached projections;

c. bearings attached to a first end of the pipe and to a second end of the pipe; and

d. a chain sprocket attached radially to one end of the pipe.

7. The applicator mechanism of claim 1 or 5 wherein the paddle shaft comprises:

a. a pipe;

b. said at least one member comprising a plurality of rectangular strips attached to the pipe; and

c. said tensioning mechanism comprising one or more tension springs having a first end encircling the pipe and a second end in contact with the rectangular strips so as to vary the force applied by said rectangular strips against said projections by adjusting the amount of tension applied by said spring through said contact.

5. An applicator mechanism for applying a layer of aggregate material on a ground surface comprising:

a. a mounting bracket for attachment to a carrying means;

b. an upwardly opening hopper structure attached to the mounting bracket for receiving a supply of aggregate materials, the hopper structure having an elongated materials dispensing slot formed in the bottom thereof which extends transversely to the intended movement of the hopper;

c. a spreading shaft attached to the hopper structure, and parallel to the dispensing slot and having projections attached to said spreading shaft for controlling the uniformity of flow of aggregate materials through the dispensing slot;

d. a drive mechanism comprised of a motor, chain sprocket, and chain for driving the spreading shaft;

e. a paddle shaft having at least one member in contact with the projections so as to apply a varying force against said projections and having a tension handle attached to the paddle shaft for manipulating a force used to adjust the tension applied by a tensioning mechanism through the paddle shaft to the spreading shaft to control the rate, size, or volume of aggregate materials exiting the hopper structure; and

f. a means for holding the tension handle in one of several predetermined positions.