Adjustable spinner for a particulate material spreader

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure An improved particulate material spreader includes an adjustable spinner apparatus which is incrementally adjustable forwardly and rearwardly to a plurality of operating positions relative to the discharge end of the material conveyor. The adjustment may be manual or automatic to adjust the drop point of the material onto the spinners, thereby accommodating varying application rates of the particulate material on a field, lawn, road, or other area. The spreader may be operatively connected to a microprocessor to receive data input and sensor feedback for variable rate technology.

What is Claimed is: 
     
         1. (Previously amended)A vehicle for spreading matter over an area, the vehicle comprising: 
       a chassis; 
       a material storage box, coupled to said chassis for holding matter; 
       an outlet from said material storage box, permitting said matter to exit said material storage box; 
       a spinning spreader adjustably coupled to said chassis, said spinning spreader for broadcasting said matter over an area; 
       said spinning spreader adjustably positioned to a plurality of spinner positions with respect to a fixed location on said chassis, such that said spinning spreader lies in a constant spinning spreader plane, irrespective of being positioned in a plurality of spinner positions; and 
       wherein said spinning spreader is supported by and translates on a longitudinal member which is coupled to said chassis at a point lower than said spinning spreader plane. 
     
     
         2. (Previously amended)A vehicle of  claim 1  wherein said longitudinal member does not move forward and backward with respect to the chassis when said spinning spreader translates. 
     
     
         3. (Previously amended)A vehicle for spreading matter over an area, the vehicle comprising: 
       a chassis; 
       a material storage box, coupled to said chassis for holding matter; 
       an outlet from said material storage box, permitting said matter to exit said material storage box; 
       a spinning spreader adjustably coupled to said chassis, said spinning spreader for broadcasting said matter over an area; 
       a path of matter between said outlet and said spinning spreader with a fixed diverter disposed therein; 
       said spinning spreader adjustably positioned to a plurality of spinner positions with respect to a fixed location on said chassis; 
       said path being free from obstruction by an adjustable diverter; and 
       a motor coupled to said spinning spreader and wherein said spinning spreader translates in a plane above a longitudinal member supporting said spinning spreader and said motor. 
     
     
         4. (Previously amended)A vehicle of  claim 3  wherein said longitudinal member is stationary with respect to said chassis when said spinning spreader is positioned in a plurality of spinner positions. 
     
     
         5. (Previously amended)A vehicle for spreading matter over an area, the vehicle comprising: 
       a chassis; 
       a material storage box, coupled to said chassis for holding matter; 
       an outlet from said material storage box, permitting said matter to exit said material storage box; 
       a spinning spreader adjustably coupled to said chassis through an adjustable coupling, said spinning spreader for broadcasting said matter over an area; 
       said spinning spreader adjustably positioned to a plurality of spinner positions with respect to a fixed location on said chassis; 
       said adjustable coupling being a non-pivotable coupling; and 
       wherein said non-pivotable coupling is a translational coupling which translates below said spinning spreader. 
     
     
         6. (Previously amended)A vehicle of  claim 5  wherein said translational coupling is coupled to said chassis by a rigid stationary vertical member extending from a fixed point on said chassis to a point below said spinning spreader. 
     
     
         7. (Original)A vehicle of  claim 6  further comprising a path of matter between said outlet and said spinning spreader with a fixed diverter disposed therein; and, 
       said path being free from obstruction by an adjustable diverter. 
     
     
         8. (Original)A vehicle of  claim 7  further comprising: 
       an actuator, coupled to said spinning spreader, said actuator for adjustably positioning said spinning spreader between said plurality of spinner positions; 
       said actuator being responsive to input electronic signals; 
       a global positioning system receiver, disposed on said vehicle, said global positioning system receiver for providing position signals representative of a location characteristic of said vehicle; and, 
       an electronic system processor, disposed on said vehicle, said electronic system processor for providing said input electronic signals in response to position signals from said global positioning system receiver. 
     
     
         9. (Original)A vehicle for spreading matter over an area, the vehicle comprising: 
       a chassis: 
       a material storage box, coupled to said chassis for holding matter; 
       an outlet from said material storage box, permitting said matter to exit said material storage box; 
       a spinning spreader adjustably coupled to said chassis, said spinning spreader for broadcasting said matter of an area; 
       said spinning spreader adjustably positioned to a plurality of spinner positions with respect to a fixed location on said chassis; 
       an actuator, coupled to said spinning spreader, said actuator for adjustably positioning said spinning spreader between said plurality of spinner positions; 
       said actuator being responsive to input electronic signals; 
       a global positioning system receiver, disposed on said vehicle, said global positioning system receiver for providing position signals representative of a location characteristic of said vehicle; and, 
       an electronic system processor, disposed on said vehicle, said electronic system processor for providing said input electronic signals in response to position signals from said global positioning system receiver. 
     
     
         10. (Original)A vehicle of  claim 9  further comprising a spinner position sensor which provides spinner position signals to said electronic system processor. 
     
     
         11. (Previously amended)A vehicle of  claim 10  further comprising a conveyor disposed in said material storage box and a rigid stationary substantially vertical member disposed at a fixed point on said chassis; a substantially horizontal rigid stationary member fixed to said rigid stationary substantially vertical member, such that said spinning spreader translates along said substantially horizontal rigid stationary member, as said spinning spreader is moved between said plurality of spinner positions. 
     
     
         12. (Original)A vehicle for spreading matter comprising: 
       means for storing matter; 
       means for creating a stream of matter; 
       means for spreading said matter; 
       means for translating, with respect to a fixed reference on said vehicle and among a plurality of coplanar positions, a location of said means for spreading; and 
       said means for translating disposed below said means for spreading. 
     
     
         13. (Previously amended)A method of spreading matter comprising the steps of: 
       providing a stream of matter; 
       maintaining a path for said stream in a manner such that said stream is not affected by an adjustable material diverter disposed in said path; and, 
       broadcasting said matter from a spinner adjustably disposed on a vehicle in a plurality of spinner positions with respect to a fixed location on said vehicle, where said fixed location is above said spinner and said fixed location is a location of a stationary vertical support which is coupled to a stationary horizontal support, upon which said spinner translates. 
     
     
         14. (Previously amended)A method of spreading matter comprising the steps of: 
       providing a store of matter on a vehicle; 
       providing a stream of matter; 
       broadcasting said matter from a first spinner adjustably disposed on a vehicle in a plurality of first spinner positions; 
       wherein a projection angle of said matter from each of said plurality of first spinner positions is at a single angle with respect to a reference plane which is horizontal with respect to said vehicle; and 
       wherein said first spinner translates on a fixed member disposed below a chassis connecting portion of a second member which rigidly couples said first member to a chassis of said vehicle. 
     
     
         15. (Original)A method of  claim 14  wherein said stream of matter is a stream of de-icing agent and said plurality of spinner positions result from a translation between support members where said translation occurs below said first spinner. 
     
     
         16. (Original)A method of  claim 15  wherein a signal from a GPS receiver is used to control positioning of said first spinner. 
     
     
         17. (Original)A method of  claim 16  where an electronically controlled hydraulic cylinder is used to actuate said first spinner. 
     
     
         18. (Original)A method of  claim 17  comprising broadcasting matter from a second spinner wherein said first spinner and said second spinner are counter-rotating. 
     
     
         19. (Original)A method of  claim 18  wherein said first spinner and said second spinner each has an inner plurality of holes therein and an outer plurality of holes therein. 
     
     
         20. (New)A vehicle for spreading a particulate material over an area, the vehicle comprising: 
       a chassis, having a support member oriented in a first direction; 
       a material container disposed on and supported by said chassis; 
       a spinner, disposed below said material container, said spinner configured to disperse particulate matter leaving said material container; 
       a spinner adjustment mechanism configured to move said spinner fore and aft with respect to first direction; and, 
       said spinner adjustment mechanism comprising a first meshing member and a second meshing member; wherein elevated portions of said first meshing member mate with recessed portions of said second meshing member, such that when said first meshing member is rotated, said second meshing member is forced into relative linear motion with respect to said first meshing member. 
     
     
         21. (New)A vehicle of  claim 20  wherein said spinner adjustment mechanism is a screw jack. 
     
     
         22. (New)A vehicle of  claim 21  wherein said first meshing member is a helical gear. 
     
     
         23. (New)A vehicle of  claim 20  wherein said second meshing member translates with said spinner. 
     
     
         24. (New)A method of adjusting a spinner on a vehicle comprising the steps of: 
       providing a material spreading spinner which is configured to be free to translate fore and aft; 
       rotating a first toothed member in a meshed configuration with a second toothed member so as to result in a linear movement of said second toothed member; and 
       causing said spinner to translate with said second toothed member, 
       whereby, an adjustment of a position of said material spreading spinner can be accomplished by rotating said first toothed member. 
     
     
         25. (New)A method of  claim 24  wherein said first toothed member is a helical gear. 
     
     
         26. (New)A method of  claim 25  wherein said first toothed member and said second toothed member are components of a screw jack. 
     
     
         27. (New)A method of  claim 24  wherein said step of rotating said first toothed member comprises rotating a crank.