Method and apparatus for distributing soil amendments

• US 6,513,447 B1
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sandman of North Atlanta Incorporated (Sandman)
• Original Assignee: Sandman of North Atlanta Incorporated (Sandman)
• Inventors: Guzman, Richard, Wise, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US09/759,270
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 111/130, 111/11, 111/906, 111/4.5, 111/925, 239/661, 239/664, 239/672, 239/650, 239/652, 239/653, 222/56, 172/4.5
• US Class Current: 111/11
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/006 Hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/122 with moving floor parts
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/124 with adjustable shutters or slits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/90 Methods of planting seeds and miscellaneous compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/925 Tank and hopper trailers

Abstract

Method and apparatus for dispensing aggregates for lawn improvement. Aggregates are delivered to the site in a primary dispensing vehicle, which is configured to allow a smaller secondary dispensing vehicle to be loaded with the aggregate directly from the primary vehicle. The process includes aerating the soil, distributing a variety of soil amendments evenly over the area to be treated and then dragging a unique drag mat over the area to make a smooth contour and to even the distribution of the aggregate.

Claims

1. A vehicle for transporting and distributing granular material, said vehicle comprising:

a truck chassis having a hopper body thereon;

a conveyor running the length of the bottom inside surface of the hopper body in contact with the granular material, said conveyor extending beyond the rear of said truck chassis and defining a discharge point for discharging the granular material, said discharge point being elevated approximately four feet from the ground;

means for controlling the speed of said conveyor;

means for regulating the rate of discharge of the granular material from said hopper body to said conveyor; and

further control means connected to said means for controlling and said means for regulating for controlling the operation of both said means for controlling and said means for regulating.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said conveyer is driven by a hydraulic motor and the means for controlling the speed of said conveyer is by varying the speed of said hydraulic motor.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the means for regulating the rate of discharge of the granular material from said hopper body to said conveyor includes a vertically slideable gate in an opening at the rear end of said hopper body, said gate being slideable to regulate the size of said opening;

and

a hydraulic cylinder for sliding said gate.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cab having a hopper, said cab being dimensioned at said hopper to fit said hopper beneath said conveyor at said discharge point.