Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
TRAILER WITH MULTIPLE-BIN MATERIAL MIXER AND
SPREADER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to mobile trailers for
hauling, mixing and spreading granular materials. The invention also
relates to a trailer having multiple bins, for carrying material, and a
material
mixer and spreader. The invention further relates to a salt and sand
spreader.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Mobile trailers for hauling thereof including granular
material for spreading are well known. These trailer and spreader devices
are used for spreading salt and sand on roads in order to melt ice during
winter. Trucks for spreading sand and salt usually include a trailer frame
with a hopper or bin mounted thereon. The sand and salt mixture in the bin
is moved outwardly onto a spreader by way of a transport mechanism
such as a conveyor belt for example. The spreader can be positioned at
the rear of the front of the bin for spreading the granular mixture. Other
applications of such mobile trailers include spreading a granular mixture
on golf green.
[0003] An inconvenience of trailers with spreading devices for
granular mixtures was that the ratios granular materials of the mixture
could not be varied.
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[0004] Later art addressed this inconvenience. United States
Patent No. 5,273,211 issued to Pierce et al. teaches a mobile trailer
device for mixing and spreading sand and peat. The trailer includes a
frame having wheels for hauling thereof and a pair of side by side bins
mounted thereon for containing respective materials that are to be mixed
and spread therein. Horizontal conveyors are mounted beneath bottom
opening of each bin in order to convey material for mixing and spreading.
The bins have opening along their vertical front walls with plates to vary
the size of those openings. Material is conveyed out of the bins via these
opening. Collecting and mixing blades are positioned at the front or the
back of the trailer and a rotating spreader is mounted at the rear of the
trailer with an inclined conveyor therebetween. The user may modulate
the ratio of the materials which are to be mixed by varying the size of the
front vertical openings.
[0005] A drawback with the prior art is that the speed at which
each granular material of the granular mixture is conveyed out of the bin is
independently modulated. A drawback of prior art sand/salt spreaders is
that they do not provide for modulating the ratio of salt and sand during
operation.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide
an improved trailer with multiple bins and a material mixer and spreader.
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an
improved sand and salt spreader.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a mobile trailer for spreading a granular material mixture,
the trailer comprising: at least two containers for containing a respective
granular material, each container comprising a respective material-exit
opening; a movement-imparting assembly comprising a respective
movement-imparting device mounted to each container so as to move the
respective granular material contained therein through the respective
material exit-opening; and a material mixer and spreader assembly
positioned near each material-exit opening for receiving, mixing and
spreading the granular materials; wherein the movement-imparting
assembly selectively and independently modulates the speed of each
movement-imparting device thereby modulating the ratio of each granular
material received, mixed and spread by the material mixer and spreader
assembly.
[0009] In an embodiment, the mobile trailer further comprises a
controller linked to the movement-imparting assembly for so controlling the
movement-imparting assembly as to selectively and independently
modulate the speed of each movement-imparting device. In an
embodiment, the trailer is mounted to a vehicle for being hauled thereby,
the controller being linked to the vehicle for receiving vehicle speed data
therefrom. In an embodiment, the controller so controls the speed of the
movement-imparting assembly with respect to the speed of the vehicle so
as to maintain a constant material application rate.
[0010] In an embodiment, each said container comprises a bin.
In an embodiment, each of the containers is defined by a respective
compartment within a -bin.
[0011] In an embodiment, the trailer further comprises a frame
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comprising wheels mounted thereunder and a bin mounted thereon, the
bin comprising compartments, each compartment defining the container.
[0012] In an embodiment, the trailer is mountable to a vehicle
for being hauled thereby.
[0013] In an embodiment, each compartment comprises a rear
end and an opposite front end, the material-exit opening being defined at
the front end. In an embodiment, each compartment comprises a rear end
and an opposite front end, the material-exit opening being defined at said
rear end.
[0014] In an embodiment, the trailer further comprises a mobile
door about the material-exit opening for opening and closing thereof.
[0015] In an embodiment, each compartment leads to a mixer.
In an embodiment, the mixer leads to a material spreader.
[0016] In an embodiment, the movement-imparting device
comprises a conveyor. In an embodiment, the conveyor comprises a
conveyor belt mounted to actuating roilers.
[0017] In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a mobile trailer for spreading a salt and sand
mixture, the trailer comprising: two containers, one container for containing
salt, the other container for containing sand , each container comprising a
respective material-exit opening; a movement-imparting assembly
comprising a respective movement-imparting device mounted to each
container so as to move the salt and sand respectively contained therein
through the respective material exit-opening; and a material mixer and
spreader assembly positioned near each material-exit opening for
receiving, mixing and spreading the salt and sand; wherein the movement-
imparting assembly selectively and independently modulates the speed of
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each movement-imparting device thereby modulating the ratio of the salt
and sand received, mixed and spread by the material mixer and spreader
assembly.
[0018] In accordance with another aspect of the present
invetnion, there is provided an apparatus for spreading a granular
material mixture, comprising: a vehicle; and a trailer coupled to the
vehicle, the trailer comprising: at least two containers for containing a
respective granular material, each container comprising a respective
material-exit opening; a movement-imparting assembly comprising a
respective movement-imparting device mounted to each container so as to
move the respective granular material contained therein through the
respective material exit-opening; and a material mixer and spreader
assembly positioned near each material-exit opening for receiving, mixing
and spreading the granular materials; wherein the movement-imparting
assembly selectively and independently modulates the speed of each
movement-imparting device thereby modulating the ratio of each granular
material received, mixed and spread by the material mixer and spreader
assembly.
[0019] Other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-
restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of
example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] In the appended drawings:
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[0021] Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the trailer with
multiple-bin material mixer and spreader in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention;
[0022] Figure 2 is a top plan view of the trailer of Figure 1;
[0023] Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 2 along lines 3 - 3;
[0024] Figure 4 is a partial view of the material dispensing
portion and spreader and mixer of the trailer of the invention;
[0025] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the spreader and mixer
of the trailer of the invention; and
[0026] Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the controller for
the material conveyers in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Figure 1 shows a trailer 10 in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention having a main frame 12 with a bin 14
mounted thereon. The frame 12 is mounted to a vehicle such as truck 16.
A material mixer/spreader 18 is also mounted on frame 12 at the front
portion 19 of bin 14. Of course, as the skilled artisan knows a material
mixer/spreader can be placed at the rear of the trailer as well.
[0028] Referring to Figures 1 and 3, trailer 10 includes four tires
20 on each lateral side 22 and 24. Truck 16 also includes tires 26 as well
a cockpit 28.
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[0029] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the bin 14 includes
two bin compartments 30 and 32 separated by central wall 34. Bin 14 is
also is shown to be partially covered by a grid 36 for illustrative purposes
but is fully covered when in operation by grid 36. Each bin compartment
30 and 32 includes lateral inner walls 38 and 40 respectively as well as
respective front and rear inner walls 42 and 44. Hence, bin 14 defines a
double bin structure. Each bin compartment 30 and 32 receives a
respective material 31 and 33 (see Figure 4) for being spread as will be
explained below. In another non-illustrated embodiment, bin 14 comprises
a plurality of bin-compartment for receiving a material therein. In the
illustrated embodiment, the bin compartments 30 and 32 are of
substantially equal size yet the central wall can be moved in order to
modify the size of either compartment.
[0030] A movement imparting assembly is mounted to each bin
compartments 30 and 32. In this way, each bin compartments 30 and 32
includes a respective movement imparting device such as a conveyer 46
and 48.
[0031] Conveyers 46 and 48 are conventional conveyer carpets
or belts driven by actuating rollers (not shown) as is known in the art.
Conveyers 46 and 48 are actuated so as to be conveyed from the rear 50
of bin 14 towards the front 19 of bin 14 as shown by arrow A.
[0032] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the front portion 19 of bin
14 includes a slidable door 54 mounted about an material-exit opening 56,
defined by front portion 19, so as to open and close this opening 56, by
the actuator 58 acting on slidable door 54 in order to move it from a closed
position to an open position as shown by arrow B. The bin compartments
and 32 are contiguous with canals 60 and 62 respectively. Door 54
functions to provide material to be conveyed onto canals 60 or 62 when
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opened or to stop material from flowing into these canals 60 or 62 when
closed. Canals 60 and 62 may be of a substantially similar width; of
course the skilled artisan will understand that the size of canals 60 and 62
may be modified. Canals 60 and 62 lead via opening 64 into a material
receiving compartment 66 that includes a lateral conveyer 68, which is
laterally conveyed as shown by arrow C. The lateral conveyor 68 includes
a belt 63 with a plurality pallets 65 for pushing materal and a chain 67
mounted to roller-actuatores. Material receiving compartment 66 leads
towards a second compartment 69 defined by back and front walls 70 and
72 respectively and side wall 74; compartment 68 is contiguous with a
chute 76 via an opened enclosure 78. The chute 76 leads toward a
spreader 80.
[0033] The spreader 80 includes a rotating shaft 82 for spinning
blades 84; the shaft 82 is mounted to an actuator 86 for axial rotation
thereof.
[0034] Turning now to Figure 6 there is shown a controller 88
that is mounted within truck cockpit 28. The controller 88 includes an
interface 90 as well as a control switchboard 92. The switchboard 92
includes an on/off toggle switch 94 as well as a first start/stop switch 96
for
starting or stopping conveyer 38 and a second start/stop toggle switch 98
for starting and stopping conveyer 40. Speed switches 100 and 102
control the speed of conveyers 46 and 48 respectively. Speed knob 104
controls the speed of the spreader 80. The switchboard 88 also includes a
blast switch 106. Interface 90 includes a screen 108 that is separated in
left and right screen portions 110 and 112 so as to image data concerning
conveyers 38 and 40 respectively. More specifically, the data is shown
relates to the amount by weight of material distributed per distance by
conveyers 38 and 40 (application rate).
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[0035] In operation, each bin compartment 30 and 42 is first
filled with a respective material 31 and 33 such as salt and sand for
example. The driver of truck 16 actuates controller 88 by pressing on
switch 94 and adjusts the speed of each conveyer 46 and 48 at a desired
ratio via switches 100 and 102. The screen 108 will show the driver the
speed of each conveyer 46 and 48 and the ground distribution rate of
distribution by weight per distance of each material. As the truck 16 and
trailer 10 moves the conveyers 46 and 48 are in movement; when the
truck 16 is idle, the controller 88 receives this data and stops the
conveyers 46 and 48 as welf. The driver can actuate the conveyors 38
and 40 as well as spreader 80 via the blast switch 106 when the truck is
idle.
[0036] During operation of conveyers 46 and 48 the respective
materials 31 and 33 are conveyed out of the bin compartments 30 and 32
through the opening of door 54 into respective canals 60 and 62, the
material will therefore be brought forward and dropped through opening 64
into container 66 where the two materials are mixed. Hence, the
respective speed of each conveyer 46 and 48 will determine the ratio of
each respective material 31 and 33. This ratio can be adjusted by
adjusting the speed of conveyers 46 and 48 via switches 100 and 102 as
mentioned above. This mixed material 35 (see Figure 4) falls onto the
conveyer 68 which move the material 35 into compartment 69 and to
chute 76 through open enclosure 78.
[0037] The mixed material 35 is then drop onto blades 84 of the
spreader 80. The driver can then adjust the speed of the spreader 80 via
switch 94 in order to spread the mixed material at a desired distance.
[0038] Turning to Figure 1 and 5, a curved guard member 114
is positioned adjacently to spreader 80 so as to avoid spreading material
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onto any part of the trailer 10 or truck 16 and for the mixed material to be
oriented toward a desired direction.
[0039] It should be noted that a variety of controllers known in
the art can be used in order to control the speed of the material conveyors
of the invention as well as using various interface devices for imaging data
related to the amount of material being conveyed and ultimately to the
ratio of materials in a given material mixture for spreading. In one
embodiment the Dickey-JohnTM controller for ground material application
is used in the context of the present invention. In an embodiment, the
application rate of material is calibrated by synchronizing the speed of the
vehicle with the speed of the conveyors in order for application rate to stay
constant. Hence, as the vehicle moves faster the conveyors will slow down
and vice versa. Each conveyor can be calibrated at a separate speed.
Various speed detection systems known in the art and commonly used for
material spreaders can be used within the context of the present invention.
[0040] Various material conveyors can also be contemplated
within the scope of the present invention as well as spreaders known in
the art.
[0041] The present invention also provides an apparatus and a
method for ascertaining the environmental needs and spreading a material
mixture onto a surface depending on those environmental needs. As the
skilled artisan will easily appreciate. The ratio of salt and sand will depend
on, the surface that is to be covered, the temperature, the ice and other
known considerations.
[0042] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the
accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The invention is
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capable of other embodiments and of being practised in various ways. It
is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein
is for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, although the
present invention has been described hereinabove by way of
embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit,
scope and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended
claims.
