Bedding distributor apparatus and method

• US 8,282,026 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Malicky
• Original Assignee: Michael Malicky
• Inventors: Malicky, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman, Darren W
• Application Number:
  US12/546,074
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 239/650, 239/664, 239/667, 239670-676, 239/681, 239/682, 239/687, 460/111
• US Class Current: 239/673
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/015 Floor coverings, e.g. bedding-down sheets ; Stable floors

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dispensing animal bedding material is provided for use in an industrial livestock production facility. Bedding material is delivered to the site in a primary dispensing vehicle, which is configured with a walking floor conveyor for allowing a smaller secondary dispensing vehicle to be loaded with the animal bedding material directly from the primary vehicle. The process includes distributing the animal bedding material evenly over the area to be treated directly from the rear of the secondary vehicle in one or more passes along the bedding area. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Claims

1. A vehicle for distributing animal bedding material in an indoor, industrial livestock production facility, said vehicle comprising:

a truck chassis having a hopper body thereon, said hopper body defining a volume by its length, width, and height having an inside surface and sloping sidewalls wherein said sloping sidewalk are formed at an angle relative to a horizontal plane of said truck chassis above an angle of repose of said animal bedding material such that when delivering the animal bedding material, said bedding material is completely dispensed from said hopper; and

a conveyor running the length of the bottom inside surface of the hopper body in contact with the animal bedding material, said conveyor extending beyond a rear edge of said truck chassis and defining a discharge point for discharging the animal bedding material; and

a dispensing mechanism in fluid communication with said conveyor and extending from said rear edge of the truck chassis;

wherein said dispensing mechanism comprises;

a pair of rotating distributor plates located at the discharge point of said conveyor;

a plurality of upwardly directed baffles formed on or attached to an upper surface of said distributor plates;

said distributor plates being rotatable at a relatively high rate of speed such that material accumulated on said plates between said baffles is discharged in a lateral outward direction;

a central directing baffle for directing outwardly flowing aggregate between said pair of distributor plates upon discharge; and

a diverter plate for operatively directing the entire discharge to one particular distributor plate or the other.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises a chain link conveyer;

wherein said conveyor is activated by at least one hydraulic motor supplied with high-pressure hydraulic fluid from a pump driven by a power-takeoff from the truck engine or from a separate power source.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an opening gate for controlling the rate of delivery of bedding material from said hopper.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said truck chassis comprises a basic truck frame for a truck having a total vehicle gross weight of between 16.000 to 33.000 pounds.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said angle of said sidewalls is between around approximately 48 degrees to around approximately 52 degrees.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said angle of said sidewalls is around approximately 50 degrees.