Convertible plural bin and conveyor material spreader

• US 20040026544A1
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Highway Equipment Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Highway Equipment Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, John, Brechon, Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 6,817,551 B2
• Time in patent office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/656
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/006 Hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/122 with moving floor parts
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/203 Centrifugal spreaders with substantially vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2019/2075 with longitudinal conveyor belt

Abstract

A convertible material spreader in which a single hopper bin with a conveyor is converted into a dual bin hopper with dual independent conveyors by nesting a secondary hopper and conveyor combination into the primary bin after removing an end gate.

Claims

1. A material spreader comprising:

a first means for containing comprising a first means for containing front wall, a first bottom portion and a first means for containing first side wall;

a second means for containing, said second means for containing having a second means for containing front wall, a second bottom portion, and a second means for containing first side wall;

means for moving material from said first means for containing;

means for moving material from said second means for containing, said means for moving material from said second means for containing, in combination with said second means for containing, are configured for moving material at variable rates, including a rate different from said means for moving material from said first means for containing;

wherein said second means for containing is, at least in part, disposed within an interior portion of said first means for containing;

wherein said first means for containing front wall is entirely separate and distinct from said second means for containing front wall, and said first means for containing side wall is entirely separate and distinct from at least a portion of said second means for containing first side wall;

wherein said second bottom portion is disposed above said first bottom portion, and at least a portion of said second means for containing is entirely removable from said first means for containing; and

,

means for spreading material which is moved by said means for moving material from said first means for containing and said means for moving material from said second means for containing.

2. A material spreader of claim 1 wherein said first means for containing and said second means for containing are hopper-type bins having a portion thereof with a substantially “

V”

-shaped cross-section.

3. A material spreader of claim 1 wherein said second means for containing is removable as a single unit from said first means for containing.

4. A material spreader of claim 1 wherein said first means for containing has a removable first end wall opposing said first means for containing front wall.

5. A material spreader of claim 1 wherein said means for moving material from said first means for containing is a first conveyor.

6. A material spreader of claim 5 wherein said means for moving material from said second means for containing is a second conveyor disposed above said first conveyor.

7. A material spreader of claim 6 wherein said second means for containing is removable as a single unit from said first means for containing.

8. A material spreader of claim 7 wherein first means for containing and said second means for containing each are hopper-type bins each having a portion thereof with a substantially “

V”

-shaped cross-section.

9. A material spreader of claim 8 wherein said first conveyor is centered below a lowest point of said substantially “

V”

-shaped cross-section of said first means for containing, and said first means for containing bottom portion is an opening extending along a longitudinal axis of said first means for containing.

10. A material spreader of claim 9 wherein said second conveyor is disposed above said first conveyor and is configured to carry material in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said first means for containing;

and further comprising a wheeled frame coupled to said first means for containing.

11. A material spreader of claim 2 wherein said means for moving material from said second means for containing is an auger.

12. A material spreader of claim 2 wherein said means for spreading is a pneumatic apparatus.

13. A method of spreading material comprising the steps of:

providing a first bin containing a first material;

providing a first conveyor below said first bin for moving said first material;

providing a removable end wall on said first bin;

operating said first conveyor and causing said first material to be dispersed;

removing said removable end wall;

inserting, into a portion of said first bin, a complete second bin configured for retaining a second material therein, and second conveyor coupled thereto for moving said second material;

operating said second conveyor; and

simultaneously operating said first conveyor and moving said first material and thereby simultaneously allowing delivery of both said first material and said second material.

14. A method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

providing a means for spreading;

changing a mixture characteristic of combined material being dispersed by said means for spreading, by changing relative speeds between said first conveyor and said second conveyor.

15. A method of claim 14 further comprising the step of changing said mixture characteristic as a function of a geographic location.

16. A method of claim 15 wherein said geographic location is determined by a latitude and longitude of said geographic location.

17. An apparatus comprising:

first means for containing a first material where said first material is loaded through an opening in a top section and dispensed through an opening in a bottom section to a first conveyor;

second means for containing a second material separate from said first material, such that said second means for containing is disposed substantially within said first means for containing;

said second means for containing coupled to a second means for moving said second material;

said second means for containing being configured to be removable from said first means for containing a first material; and

,

whereby said first conveyor and said second means for moving said second material cooperate to provide for an output mixture, with variable composition, via differences in relative output rates of said first conveyor and said second means for moving.

18. An apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

means for dispersing said output mixture;

said first means for containing is a first hopper having a portion thereof with a substantially “

V”

-shaped cross-section, the first hopper further being configured to receive a removable rear end wall;

said second means for containing is a second hopper, where said second hopper is sized and configured to be nested within said first hopper at a rear end of said first hopper when said second means for moving is coupled to said second hopper and said removable rear end wall is absent; and

,

wherein said second means for moving said second material and said second means for containing are removable from said first means for containing as a single unit.

19. An apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

means for operating said first conveyor and said second means for moving so as to permit independently variable output rates; and

,

wherein said second means for moving is an auger.

20. A material spreader comprising:

a frame having a plurality of wheels thereon;

a first hopper bin coupled to said frame, said first hopper bin being substantially “

V”

-shaped and having an open top configured to receive material being loaded into said first hopper bin;

said first hopper bin having a substantially planar front end and a pair of side walls having a differential separation therebetween;

said first hopper bin having a structure therein configured for receiving a removable rear end wall which is opposing said substantially planar front end;

a first conveyor, disposed beneath said first hopper bin, said first conveyor sized and configured to transport material exiting from a first bottom portion of said first hopper bin, said first conveyor transporting material along a longitudinal axis of said first hopper bin, in a direction orthogonal to and away from said substantially planar front end;

a second hopper bin disposed, at least in part, within said first hopper bin, said second hopper bin being substantially “

V”

-shaped and having an open top configured to receive material being loaded into said second hopper bin;

a second conveyor, disposed beneath said second hopper bin, said second conveyor sized and configured to transport material exiting from a second bottom portion of said second hopper bin, said second conveyor transporting material along a longitudinal axis of said first hopper bin, in a direction orthogonal to and away from said substantially planar front end;

said second hopper bin and said second conveyor being configured so as to be removable, as a single combined unit, from said first hopper bin;

means for driving said first conveyor and said second conveyor at independently variable rates;

means for controlling a volumetric characteristic of material being transported by said second conveyor on a per-rotation basis of said second conveyor; and

,

spinning means for dispersing material carried by said first conveyor and said second conveyor.

21. A multi-bin container comprising:

a mobile wheeled frame;

a first means for containing a first material having a first conveyor, said first means for containing coupled to said mobile wheeled frame;

a second means for containing a second material having a second conveyor;

said second means for containing being positioned and configured to be transported by said mobile wheeled frame; and

,

said first conveyor and said second conveyor being configured so as to first mix said first material and said second material after said first material has departed from said first conveyor and after said second material has departed from said second conveyor.

22. A multi-bin container of claim 21 further comprising:

a means for spreading material, said means for spreading coupled to said mobile wheeled frame.

23. A multi-bin container of claim 22 wherein said means for spreading material comprises a plurality of spinners.

24. A multi-bin container of claim 23 wherein each of said plurality of spinners is positioned and configured to spread both said first material and said second material.

25. A multi-bin container of claim 24 wherein said first conveyor and said second conveyor are configured to be independently operated at differing material delivery rates in response to a position determination made by a GPS receiver.

26. A system for applying material to a surface of a roadway comprising:

a truck;

a first bin, on said truck, and a first means for moving a first material from said first bin;

a second bin, on said truck, and a second means for moving a second material from said second bin;

means for determining a position of said truck;

a database containing information relating to a type of preferred material to be applied to a roadway at a predetermined location;

means for spreading material on said roadway; and

wherein an application rate of material spread by said means for spreading is controlled in response to a comparison of said position of said truck to said database.

27. A system of claim 26 wherein said database includes information relating to a preferred de-icing material to be applied to a predetermined location of a bridge.

28. A system of claim 27 wherein said first bin contains road salt and said second bin contains Calcium Magnesium Acetate.

29. A system of claim 26 wherein said application rate of material is further responsive to an attitude characteristic of said truck.

30. A system of claim 27 wherein said means for determining a position of said truck is a global positioning system receiver.

31. A system of claim 30 wherein said second bin and said second means for moving a second material are coupled into a combination which is removable, as a single unit, from a nested position within said first bin.

32. A system of claim 31 wherein:

said first means for moving is not configured to simultaneously carry said first material which has been moved from said first bin and said second material which has been moved from said second bin; and

said second means for moving is not configured to simultaneously carry said first material which has been moved from said first bin and said second material which has been moved from said second bin.

33. A system of claim 32 wherein said first means for moving and said second means for moving are conveyors disposed in a vertically stacked configuration.

34. A system of claim 33 wherein said first means for moving is below said second means for moving and said first means for moving does not extend longitudinally beyond an end point of said second means for moving.