Abstract:
A pneumatic particulate dispensing system having a hopper for storing particulate material, such as animal feed, fertilizers, pesticides and the like. The hopper is connected to a T-fitting which encloses a velocity tube. An air blowing unit is connected to the T-fitting and the velocity tube through an interchangeable adaptor allowing for a variety of air blowing units to be installed. An adjustable rotary valve extends into the interior of the hopper from the T-fitting allowing for a user to adjust the amount of particulate material to be dispensed adjacent the velocity tube. A discharge tube is connected to the T-fitting downstream of the velocity tube, wherein the discharge tube has a rotating elbow for allowing the user to adjust the dispensing direction. A variety of nozzles can be attached to the end of the discharge tube. A support frame having a hitch insert and cradles is used to support and transport the particulate dispensing system to remote locations.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a pneumatic particulate dispensing system for use in connection with the pneumatically dispensing of particulate material, such as fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and insecticides. The pneumatic particulate dispensing system has particular utility in connection with providing a portable device for pneumatically dispensing particulate material. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Pneumatic particulate dispensing systems are desirable for distributing particulate material, such as corn, protein, food, fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and insecticides through a singe portable device which can be easily mounted to a frame hitchably attachable to a vehicle. In current particulate dispensers, dispensing of particulate material is performed using complex and expensive devices using blower units, hoppers, and discharge tubes. Such devices use complex valve assemblies to adjust the flow of particulate material from the hopper to the passing airflow from the blower unit. Furthermore, these known particulate dispensers are not easily assembled or transported, which adds to the time required by the user to assemble, transport, use, and disassemble the dispensing device. Particulate dispenser users would quickly recognize that a system for quickly and easily dispensing particulate material in remote locations is very beneficial to the industry. 
   Additionally, other knows methods of hunters dispensing or filling feeders with particulate material is by packing feed sacks or buckets of feed up a ladder and then dumpling the feed from the sacks or buckets into the feeder. This method is inherently dangerous to the hunter, as well as strenuous and time consuming. 
   The use of hopper fed air powered granule dispensers is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,102 to Andersen issued on Oct. 20, 1992 discloses an air powered granular material sowing apparatus having a blower connected to  a tapered injector which forces air past a grain filled hopper. The air forces the grain towards a discharge tube. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,883 to Jahanning issued on Apr. 22, 1986 discloses a pneumatic conveyor having a pneumatic blower attached to a container featuring a hopper that dispenses grain into the airflow path via a bucket wheel. The grain from the bucket wheel is then discharged through an upright conveyor tube or a horizontal conveyor line. 
   Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,508 to Haines issued on Sep. 9, 1980 discloses a forage harvesting towing vehicle having a blower attached to discharge tube, wherein the forage harvesting vehicle is attachable to a vehicle hitch assembly. 
   Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,608 to Sanders discloses a pneumatic grain conveyor having a blower which forces air past a plurality of hoppers that dispenses material stored in the hopper into the airflow path from the blower. The material is dispensed from the hoppers through a control gate assembly located above a venturi. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,314,732 to Hagan discloses an insulation blowing apparatus whereby the insulation is drawn from a hopper by a fan and then blow into a conduit having a valve. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,495 to De Buhr et al. discloses a blower and discharge spout assembly having a blower connected to a fitting which is connected to an elevated discharge spout. 
   Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,714 to Montag discloses a particulate material conveyor having a hopper attached to a power auger which conveys the particulate material to a fan which forces the particulate material through a conduit allowing a user to fill a receptacle. 
   Additionally, further examples of known pneumatic material dispensers are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,240 to Thompson; JP 08215589 to Soichi et al.; and JP 2002068473 to Shigeru. While each of these systems may provide devices for dispensing material, they do not teach the use of a portable device for pneumatically dispensing  particulate material fed by a hopper through a rotatable gate valve connected to a T-fitting which encloses a velocity tube. 
   While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a pneumatic particulate dispensing system having an air blower connected to a velocity tube via an adapter, which allows for the use of a variety of different air blowers, wherein the velocity tube creates a vacuum that removes the particulate material from an above mounted hopper through an adjustable rotary valve. Furthermore, the above-described devices make no provisions for a rotary valve that is connected to a T-fitting which encloses the velocity tube, wherein the rotary valve extends into the hopper, and whereby the entire system is supported by cradles mounted to a support frame adapted to inserted into a vehicle trailer hitch. 
   Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved pneumatic particulate dispensing system that can be used for a portable device for pneumatically dispensing particulate material. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the pneumatic particulate dispensing system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of pneumatically dispensing particulate material through the use of a portable device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of hopper fed air powered granule dispensers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved pneumatic particulate dispensing system, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved pneumatic particulate dispensing system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a pneumatic particulate dispensing system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even  implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
   To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a particulate material container, such as a hopper, for storing particulate material therein. A fitting connected to the particulate material container, wherein the fitting is hollow and in fluid communication with the particulate material container. A conduit adapter is connected to the fitting and is adapted to connect a variety of air blowing units to the fitting, wherein the conduit adapter is in fluid communication with the fitting. A valve is connected to the fitting and the particulate material container for controlling the amount of particulate material that is transferred from the particulate material container to the fitting. A discharge tube is connected to the fitting. 
   The present invention is mounted on support frame having at least one cradle for supporting the air blower and the discharge tube. The frame support has a hitch member for supporting the frame from a vehicle hitch assembly. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
   The invention may also include a velocity tube for creating a vacuum below the hopper for pulling particulate material from the hopper into a discharge tube which can be articulated with respect to the velocity tube. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
   Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The  invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pneumatic particulate dispensing system that has all of the advantages of the prior art hopper fed air powered granule dispensers and none of the disadvantages. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pneumatic particulate dispensing system that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
   An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pneumatic particulate dispensing system that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such pneumatic particulate dispensing system economically available to the buying public. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new pneumatic particulate dispensing system that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
   Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic particulate dispensing system for dispensing particulate material through a portable pneumatic device. This allows a user with an easy and lightweight system for adjustably dispensing particulate material over a large surface or into an overhead receptacle. The system can be used by a single hunter, for example, for filling overhead animal feeders. The off the shelf components allows the pneumatic particulate dispensing system to be easily assembled and transported  to any desired located by mounting the system on a support frame which is adapted to be inserted into a standard vehicle hitch. 
   Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of dispensing particulate material using a portable pneumatic dispensing system. The user would adjust a rotary valve located in a hopper to the desired dispensing amount, and then fill the hopper with the particulate material that is to be dispensed. A pneumatic device would then be activated providing air flow below the rotary valve, thereby creating a vacuum for pulling the particulate material from the hopper into a discharge tube. The user would then attach a discharge nozzle to the discharge tube, wherein the discharge nozzle can be stationary or articulating. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.  

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the pneumatic particulate dispensing system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the pneumatic particulate dispensing system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the hopper of the pneumatic particulate dispensing system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the hopper, valve and T-fitting assembly of the pneumatic particulate dispensing system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the support frame of the pneumatic particulate dispensing system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the pneumatic particulate dispensing system of the present invention. 
   

   The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.  
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1–6 , a preferred embodiment of the pneumatic particulate dispensing system of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . 
   In  FIG. 1 , a new and improved pneumatic particulate dispensing system  10  of the present invention for pneumatically dispensing particulate material is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the pneumatic particulate dispensing system  10  has a hopper  12  mounted to a top oriented opening of a T-fitting  16  by a flanged adapter  14 . The T-fitting  16  is hollow, allowing for fluid to travel therethrough. The hopper  12  is adapted to receive and retain particulate material such as, but not limited to, corn, protein, food, fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and insecticides. The T-fitting  16  is connected to a reducer  22  and to a discharge tube  48 , thereby coupling the hopper  12 , the reducer  22 , and the discharge tube  48  in fluid communication with each other. The reducer  22  is connected to the T-fitting  16  by a connector tube  20 , which can have a smaller or larger diameter than the reducer and the T-fitting. The flanged adapter  14 , the convert coupler  22 , and the discharge tube  48  are hollow, allowing fluid to travel therethrough. 
   A pneumatic generating device  30  is connecting to the converter adapter  22  through an adapter tube  26 , which is secured to the outlet of the pneumatic generating device  30  by an adjustable clamp  28 . The adapter tube  26  is hollow, allowing fluid to travel therethrough. The adapter tube  26  has a first end diameter sized to receive the outlet of the pneumatic generating device  30  and a second end diameter sized to receive a tapered end  24  of the reducer  22 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The pneumatic generating device  30  can be an air blower of the type powered by an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, or manually. A plurality of different sized adapter tubes  26  are provided so as a variety of air blowers can be used with the pneumatic particulate dispensing system  10 . The discharge tube  48  is connected to the T-fitting  16  opposite where the reducer  22  is connected. The discharge tube  48  has a slot  49  defined adjacent the end opposite of the T-fitting  16  connection end.  
   A large variety of connection systems can be used to connect the flanged adapter  14 , the reducer  22 , and the discharge tube  48  to the T-fitting  16 . These connection systems can be, but not limited to, threaded connections, adhesive connections, pressure fitted connections, and clamped connections. All of the connections provide a fluid tight seal. 
   A discharge elbow tube  50  has a first end  52 , a threaded bore  54  defined through the first end  52 , and a second end  58 . The first end  52  has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the discharge tube  48  end opposite the of the T-fitting  16  connection end. The first end  52  of the discharge elbow tube  50  is inserted into the discharge tube  48  until slot  49  is aligned with the threaded bore  54  of the first end  52  of the discharge elbow tube  50 . The discharge elbow tube  50  is able to rotate freely with respect to the discharge tube  48 . A threaded fastener  56  is inserted through slot  49  and driven into the threaded bore  54 , thereby providing a rotational range of motion of the discharge elbow tube  50  with respect to the discharge tube  48 . Alternately, the threaded fastener  56  can be a member extending out from the discharge elbow tube  50  adapted to be received by slot  49 . The threaded fastener  56  can be driven further into the threaded bore  54  until a sufficient clamping force is produced between the threaded fastener  56 , the discharge tube  48 , and the discharge elbow tube  50 , thereby locking the discharge elbow into a variety of angular positions with respect to the discharge tube  48 . 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a rotary valve  40  is inserted and retained in the flanged adapter  14  and the T-fitting  16 , and wherein the rotary valve extends into the interior of the hopper  12 . The rotary valve  40  has at least one notch  42  located on the end opposite the flanged adapter  14  and the T-fitting  16  connection end. A valve cap  44  is rotatably connected to the end of the rotary valve  40  defining the notches  42 . The valve cap  44  has at least one aperture  46 . The apertures  46  are positioned on the valve cap  44  so as to correspond to the notches  44  of the rotary valve  42 . The valve cap  44  is rotatably connected to the rotary valve  40  thereby allowing the cap to cover and close the notches  42  or to selectively align the apertures  46  with the notches allowing particulate material stored in the hopper  12  to be dispensed into the T-fitting  16 . The rotation of the valve cap  44  provides a  user with a means for adjustably controlling the amount of particulate material allowed to flow through the rotary valve  40 . 
   A velocity tube  18  is connected to the tapered end  24  of the reducer  22 . The velocity tube  18  can be connected to the tapered end  24  by a variety of connection systems such as, but not limited to, threaded connections, adhesive connections, pressure fitted connections, and clamped connections. All of the connections provide a fluid tight seal. The velocity tube  18  is hollow allowing for fluid to travel therethrough, and extends into the T-fitting  16  and terminates below the top oriented opening where the flanged adapter  14  and the rotary valve  40  is connected, as best illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As air from the pneumatic generating device  30  passes through the adapter tube  26  and the reducer  22 , it enters the velocity tube  18  where the velocity of the air is increased. The velocity of the air is increased by that the interior volume of the adapter tube  26  and the reducer  22  is larger than interior volume of the velocity tube  18 . The particulate material in the hopper  12  travels through the apertures  46  of the valve cap  44 , through the notches  42  of the rotary valve  40 , and then is deposited in the T-fitting  16  adjacent the terminating end of the velocity tube  18 . The air traveling out of the velocity tube  16  forces the particulate material through discharge tube  48  and the discharge elbow tube  50 . The top oriented opening of the T-fitting  16  may be angled or curved in configuration so as to discharge the particulate material in a direction corresponding to the flow of air exiting the velocity tube  18 . Since the velocity tube  18  has a fluid tight connection seal with the taper end  24  of the reducer  22 , there is no blowback force produced, thus producing a negative pressure in front of the velocity tube  18 . The negative pressure at the terminating end of the velocity tube  18  creates a vacuum which pulls the particulate material from the hopper  12  through the apertures  46  of the valve cap  44 , then through the notches  42  of the rotary valve  40  when the valve cap is rotated so as to align the apertures of the valve cap with the notches of the rotary valve. 
   A rigid discharge extension tube  60  or a flexible discharge extension tube  62  is removably connected the second end  58  of the discharge elbow tube  50 . The discharge tubes  60  and  62  have a diameter larger than the diameter of the second end  58  of the discharge  elbow tube  50 . A nozzle  64  is removably connected to the free end of the discharge extension tubes  60  and  62 , and is able to rotate with respect the discharge tubes  60  and  62 . The discharge tubes  60  and  62 , and the nozzle  64  are hollow, allowing fluid to travel therethrough. The nozzle  64  can be of any desired configuration, such as an angled nozzle, a flattened nozzle, a spreader nozzle, or the like. The discharge extension tubes  60  and  62  allow the user to remotely dispense the particulate material from the hopper  12  to, for example, an overhead animal feeder, a silo, a trough, or onto the ground. 
   The pneumatic generating device  30 , reducer  22 , T-fitting  16 , hopper  16 , discharge tube  48 , discharge elbow tube  50 , and discharge extension tubes  60  and  62  are supported on a support frame  70 . The support frame  70 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 5 , has generally rectangular configuration with a hitch insert  72  extending outward from the support frame  70 . The hitch insert  72  can extend outward from the support frame  70  along the same axis of the support frame, or can be offset from the support frame axis, thus elevating the support frame off the ground. At least one cross member  74  is positioned between two side sections of the support frame  70  and located within the interior of the support frame. A support cross member  76  is position between side sections of the support frame  70  parallel the cross member  76  and attached above the support frame. The support cross member  76  is adapted to support the pneumatic generating device  30 . At least one cradle  80  is attached to the support frame  70  or the cross member  72  which is adapted to support the reducer  22 , the T-fitting  16 , the discharge tube  48 , or the discharge elbow tube  50 . A U-bolt  82  secures the reducer  22 , the T-fitting  16 , the discharge tube  48 , or the discharge elbow tube  50  to the cradle  80 . The U-bolt  82  has threaded shafts which extend through bores located in the cradle  80  and are secured by nuts.  FIG. 6  best illustrates the assembled pneumatic particulate dispensing system  10  mounted on the support frame  70 . The support frame  70  can be inserted into retained in a vehicle hitch so as to provide the user with an easy means for transporting the pneumatic particulate dispensing system  10  to remote locations. 
   The pneumatic particulate dispensing system  10  is designed as a lightweight system for hunters to fill feeders with corn, protein, or the like. It is designed so that a single user  could fill the feeders at remote locations. The hitch insert  72  can be adapter to fit any standard vehicle receiver hitch. The pneumatic particulate dispensing system  10  once attached to a vehicle through its hitch assembly, can dispense a variety of particulate material onto any surface travelable by the vehicle, such as dispensing salt onto to roadways, or dispensing seeds onto the farm lands. 
   In use, it can now be understood that a user would assemble the pneumatic particulate dispensing system onto the support frame and connect the pneumatic particulate dispensing system to the hitch assembly of a vehicle. The user would then rotate the valve cap to correspond to the amount of particulate material the user wishes to be dispensed into the airflow. The user would then fill the hopper with the desired particulate material. The proper discharge extension tube is then attached to the second end of the discharge elbow tube and the proper nozzle is chosen which corresponds to the labor that is to be performed. The pneumatic generating device would then be activated and the user would position the discharge elbow tube and the discharge extension tube to its proper operating position. 
   An example of such a use would be the filling of animal feeders by hunters. The hunter would assemble the pneumatic particulate dispensing system onto the support frame and connect the pneumatic particulate dispensing system to the hitch assembly of a vehicle. The hunter would adjust the valve cap and fill the hopper with the desired animal feed. The hunter would drive vehicle out to the location of the animal feeder and position the pneumatic particulate dispensing system near the animal feeder. The hunter would then activate the pneumatic generating device and position the discharge elbow tube and the discharge extension tube so as to allow the animal feed to dispense out the nozzle and into the animal feeder. 
   While a preferred embodiment of the pneumatic particulate dispensing system has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner  of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.