Seed cart

• US 8,931,995 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2012
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing Group Incorporated (Trevluc Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Meridian Manufacturing Group Incorporated (Trevluc Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, Christopher T., Olsen, Kurt W., Frederick, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMS, GREGORY W
• Application Number:
  US13/367,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20120201631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 137/615, 177/103, 177/136, 177/139, 222/185.1, 280/417.1, 280/491.5, 414/21, 414/323, 414/326, 414/504, 414/523, 414/526, 414/332, 198317-318
• US Class Current: 414/21
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/003 Bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/208 Chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/40 using screw conveyors thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/54 characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying filling or emptying features for flexible large containers B65B69/0075; construction or shape of discharge section of hoppers B65D88/28; gates or closures B65D90/54; filling or emptying bunkers, hoppers, or like containers B65G65/30

Abstract

A seed cart includes first and second mating frames. The hopper is mounted on the first frame for holding seed and has an outlet to discharge the seed. A conveyor is mounted on the second frame for movement between seed loading and unloading positions. A plurality of cylinders with extendible and retractable arms control the desired position of the conveyor. A plurality of load cells are mounted on the second frame and support the first frame. The weigh scales weigh the first frame, the hopper, and the seed in the hopper, without weighing the conveyor. Therefore, an accurate amount of seed can be dispensed from the hopper via the conveyor. Wheels and a hitch tongue can be detachably mounted on the second frame to convert the cart from a stationary unit to a mobile unit.

Claims

1. A seed cart, comprising:

a first frame;

a second frame adjacent the first frame;

a hopper on the first frame for holding seed;

a conveyor pivotably mounted on the second frame for movement between a loading position to transport seed into the hopper and an unloading position to transport seed from the hopper; and

a cylinder having a lower end pivotally connected to the second frame and a telescoping arm pivotally connected to the conveyor to control movement of the conveyor between the loading and unloading positions relative to the hopper.

2. The seed cart of claim 1 further comprising

weigh scales between the first frame and the second frame and supporting the first frame so as to weigh the hopper without weighing the conveyor.

3. The seed cart of claim 2 further comprising at least one axle with wheels removably mounted to the second frame.

4. The seed cart of claim 3 further comprising a hitch tongue removably mounted to the second frame.

5. The seed cart of claim 1 wherein the hopper is free from internal seed mixing mechanisms.

6. The seed cart of claim 2 further comprising the weigh scale includes a load bar mounted at each corner of the second frame.

7. The seed cart of claim 1 further comprising

a wheeled axle selectively and detachably mounted to the first frame to allow the cart to be mobile when the axle is attached and stationary when the axle is detached;

a hitch tongue selectively and detachably mounted to the first frame for towing the cart when the tongue is attached;

the axle and the tongue being independently mounted to the first frame; and

the first frame, the axle and the tongue creating a trailer when mounted together.

8. The seed cart of claim 7 wherein the hopper has an open interior chamber without mixing apparatus.

9. The seed cart of claim 1 further comprising

scale between the frames to weigh only the first frame, the hopper and seed in the hopper.

10. The seed cart of claim 9 wherein the conveyor weight is isolated from the scale.

11. The seed cart of claim 9 further comprising at least one axle with a pair of wheels and a hitch tongue are removably mounted to the second frame so that the hopper is selectively stationary or mobile.

12. The seed cart of claim 9 wherein the first and second frames have complimentary perimeter shapes.

13. The seed cart of claim 9 wherein the scale includes a plurality of spaced apart load bars.

14. The seed cart of claim 9 wherein the seed in the hopper is not mechanically mixed.