Handle mounted control system for a broadcast spreader

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10499559-B2
Application number	US-201715591879-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2017
Priority date	Dec 15, 2016
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

A control apparatus for a broadcast spreader includes a gate adjustment dial mounted on, and generally coaxial with, a handle portion of a handle assembly of the spreader. Rotation of the gate adjustment dial in a first direction causes an increase in a current maximum discharge rate of the spreader and rotation of the gate adjustment dial in a second direction causes a decrease in the current maximum discharge rate of the spreader.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control apparatus for a broadcast spreader, the broadcast spreader including a base having a plurality of wheels mounted thereon, the control apparatus comprising:
a handle portion coupled to the base enabling a user to push the broadcast spreader, the handle portion having a handle axis passing longitudinally therethrough generally parallel to a surface upon which the wheels rest;
a connecting portion having a first end coupled with the base and a second end coupled with the handle portion, the handle portion being generally perpendicular to the connecting portion;
a gate adjustment dial mounted on, and having a rotational axis coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the handle portion, wherein rotation of the gate adjustment dial in a first direction causes an increase in a current maximum discharge rate of the spreader and rotation of the gate adjustment dial in a second direction causes a decrease in the current maximum discharge rate of the spreader.

2. The control apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a gate actuation lever, wherein operation of the gate actuation lever in a first direction causes an increase in a discharge rate of the spreader and operation of the gate actuation lever in a second direction causes a decrease in the discharge rate of the spreader.

3. The control apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the gate adjustment dial controls a maximum amount by which the gate actuation lever may increase the discharge rate of the spreader.

4. The control apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a cam, wherein rotation of the gate adjustment dial causes a rotation of the cam, and wherein further the cam controls a maximum amount by which the gate actuation lever may increase the discharge rate of the spreader.

5. The control apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:
a traveler coupled with the gate actuation lever, wherein operation of the gate actuation lever causes a linear movement of the traveler,
wherein the cam includes a cam surface, and
wherein operation of the gate actuation lever in the first direction causes the discharge rate of the spreader to increase until the traveler abuts the cam surface.

6. The control apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the cam has a cam axis about which the cam rotates and the cam surface has a varying radius relative to the cam axis, wherein further rotation of the gate adjustment dial in the first direction causes the radius to decrease at a point along the cam surface that is in line with a direction of travel of the traveler, and wherein further rotation of the gate adjustment dial in the second direction causes the radius to increase at the point along the cam surface that is in line with the direction of travel of the traveler.

7. The control apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a deflector adjustment lever, wherein operation of the deflector adjustment lever in a first direction causes a deflector of the spreader to rise, and operation of the deflector adjustment lever in a second direction causes the deflector to lower.

8. The control apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the deflector adjustment lever is positioned on a same side of the handle portion as the gate adjustment dial relative to an imaginary plane that bisects the handle portion across the axis.

9. A broadcast spreader comprising:
a base;
a plurality of wheels mounted on the base;
a handle assembly coupled to the base for enabling a user to push the broadcast spreader, the handle assembly having a connecting portion and a handle portion, the connecting portion having a first end coupled with the base and a second end coupled with the handle portion, the handle portion being generally perpendicular to the connecting portion and generally perpendicular to a surface upon which the wheels rest, the handle portion having a handle axis passing longitudinally through the center thereof; and
a gate adjustment dial having a rotational axis, the gate adjustment dial mounted on the handle portion with the handle axial generally coaxial with the rotational axis of the gate adjustment dial, wherein rotation of the gate adjustment dial in a first direction causes an increase in a current maximum discharge rate of the spreader and rotation of the gate adjustment dial in a second direction causes a decrease in the current maximum discharge rate of the spreader.

10. The broadcast spreader of claim 9 , wherein the broadcast spreader further includes a hopper having an aperture and a gate for covering and at least partially uncovering the aperture, and wherein rotation of the gate adjustment dial in the first direction causes an increase in a current maximum amount by which the gate may be opened relative to the aperture and rotation of the gate adjustment dial in the second direction causes a decrease in the current maximum amount by which the gate may be opened relative to the aperture.

11. The broadcast spreader of claim 9 further comprising:
a gate actuation lever, wherein operation of the gate actuation lever in a first direction causes an increase in a discharge rate of the spreader and operation of the gate actuation lever in a second direction causes a decrease in the discharge rate of the spreader.

12. The broadcast spreader of claim 11 , wherein the gate adjustment dial controls a maximum amount by which the gate actuation lever may increase the discharge rate of the spreader.

13. The broadcast spreader of claim 11 further comprising a cam, wherein rotation of the gate adjustment dial causes a corresponding rotation of the cam, and wherein further the cam controls a maximum amount by which the gate actuation lever may increase the discharge rate of the spreader.

14. The broadcast spreader of claim 13 further comprising:
a traveler coupled with the gate actuation lever, wherein operation of the gate actuation lever causes a linear movement of the traveler,
wherein the cam includes a cam surface, and
wherein operation of the gate actuation lever in the first direction causes the discharge rate of the spreader to increase until the traveler abuts the cam surface.

15. The broadcast spreader of claim 14 further comprising one or more linkages coupled between the traveler and the gate, the linkages adapted to translate motion of the traveler into motion of the gate.

16. The broadcast spreader of claim 14 , wherein the cam has a cam axis about which the cam rotates and the cam surface has a varying radius relative to the cam axis, wherein further rotation of the gate adjustment dial in the first direction causes the radius to decrease at a point along the cam surface that is in line with a direction of travel of the traveler, and wherein further rotation of the gate adjustment dial in the second direction causes the radius to increase at the point along the cam surface that is in line with the direction of travel of the traveler.

17. The broadcast spreader of claim 9 further comprising a deflector adjustment lever, wherein operation of the deflector adjustment lever in a first direction causes a deflector of the spreader to rise, and operation of the deflector adjustment lever in a second direction causes the deflector to lower.

18. The broadcast spreader of claim 17 , wherein the deflector adjustment lever is positioned on a same side of the handle portion as the gate adjustment dial relative to an imaginary plane that bisects the handle portion across the axis.

19. A broadcast spreader comprising:
a base;
a hopper supported by the base and having an aperture and a gate for covering and at least partially un

Assignees

• Home Depot Product Authority Llc

Inventors

• Stewart Craig
• Lovely Dominic
• Christopher Brent

Classifications

• A01C17/001

  Centrifugal throwing devices with a vertical axis · CPC title

• A01C15/02 Primary

  for hand use · CPC title

• A63C19/06

  Apparatus for setting-out or dividing courts · CPC title

• A01C17/008 Primary

  Devices controlling the quantity or the distribution pattern · CPC title

• E01C23/16

  Devices for marking-out, applying, or forming traffic or like markings on finished paving (E01C23/14 takes precedence; inserting or forming in not-yet hardened paving E01C23/02, in recesses formed in fully-set paving E01C23/09; marking-out playing courts or playgrounds A63C19/06; applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; road surface markings per se E01F9/50); Protecting fresh markings · CPC title