Patent Publication Number: US-8523086-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for stopping a spreader

Description:
This application claims priority to a provisional patent application filed Jun. 26, 2009, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STOPPING A SPREADER, having Ser. No. 61/220,716, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of Invention 
     This invention pertains to the art of spreader assemblies used to spread salt and/or sand onto road surfaces, and more specifically to methods and apparatuses for stopping a spreader assembly when the vehicle to which it is mounted slows down or changes direction. 
     B. Description of the Related Art 
     Salt and/or sand spreading is a common practice to maintain roads, parking spaces, and other ground surfaces during the winter months. It is known to use larger vehicles as well as smaller vehicles, such as pickup trucks, to perform this type of service. Numerous types of spreaders have been developed to be attached to conventional vehicles. Typically, the spreader is attached to the rear of the vehicle to spread particulate material, such as salt, sand, cinders, etc. onto the ground surface being traveled by the vehicle. One of the more common spreaders employs a hopper having a lower discharge opening through which the particulate material falls onto a rotating spinner plate. By rotating the spinner plate as material is being discharged onto the spinner plate, the particulate material is centrifugally propelled by the spinner plate in a wide pattern onto the ground surface. Typically, a spinner mechanism motor is mounted on the spreader to cause the spinner plate to rotate. Typical spreader attachment assemblies used in conjunction with pick-up trucks fasten the spreader to the truck&#39;s rear bumper or tailgate. 
     While many spreaders work well for their intended purpose, one problem known in the art concerns the circumstance when the vehicle to which the spreader is attached significantly slows down, stops, or changes direction—such as from a frontward direction to a rearward direction. One non-limiting example of this is when a vehicle that is spreading material onto a road surface comes to a traffic light or stop sign and thus must slow considerably and/or come to a full stop. In these circumstances it may be desirable to reduce or stop the material that is being spread onto the ground surface to prevent excessive material from being spread in too great of a concentration over a given ground surface area. 
     What is needed is a spreader assembly that permits the spreading operation to be reduced or stopped when the vehicle to which it is mounted slows, stops, or is placed into reverse. 
     II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for spreading particulate materials, comprises: an automotive vehicle; a hopper, adapted to hold particulate materials for distribution over a ground surface; a frame, operatively securing the hopper to the automotive vehicle; a spinner mechanism, the spinner mechanism operatively attached to the hopper and adapted to distribute hopper particulate materials over a ground surface; a spinner mechanism motor, operatively attached to the spinner mechanism, the spinner mechanism motor selectively providing rotational forces to the spinner mechanism; and a controller, operatively connected to the spinner mechanism motor, the controller being adapted to regulate operation of the spinner mechanism motor based on a condition signal received from one or more control signal generators chosen from the group consisting of: a vehicle brake light, a vehicle reverse light, or a vehicle gear shift. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, a system for spreading particulate materials, comprises: an automotive vehicle having a truck bed; a hopper, adapted to be securely received within the truck bed and hold particulate materials for distribution over a ground surface, the hopper having a conveyor belt adapted to be powered by a conveyer belt motor and transfer particulate materials contained within the hopper to a spinner mechanism; a spinner mechanism, the spinner mechanism operatively attached to the hopper and adapted to distribute hopper particulate materials over a ground surface; a motor, operatively attached to the spinner mechanism, the motor selectively providing rotational forces to the spinner mechanism; and a controller, operatively connected to the conveyor belt motor and the spinner mechanism motor, the controller being adapted to regulate operation of the conveyor belt motor and the spinner mechanism motor based on a condition signal received from one or more control signal generators chosen from the group consisting of: a vehicle brake light, a vehicle reverse light, or a vehicle gear shift. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a method for spreading particulate materials, comprises the steps of: (A) providing an automotive vehicle; a hopper, adapted to hold particulate materials for distribution over a ground surface; a frame, operatively securing the hopper to the automotive vehicle; a spinner mechanism, the spinner mechanism operatively attached to the hopper and adapted to distribute hopper particulate materials over a ground surface; a spinner mechanism motor, operatively attached to the spinner mechanism, the spinner mechanism motor selectively providing rotational forces to the spinner mechanism; and a controller, operatively connected to the spinner mechanism motor, the controller being adapted to regulate operation of the spinner mechanism motor based on a condition signal received from one or more control signal generators chosen from the group consisting of: a vehicle brake light, a vehicle reverse light, or a vehicle gear shift; (B) using the control signal generators to provide a condition signal in response to a change in vehicle condition; (C) transmitting the condition signal to the controller; (D) using the controller to process the condition signal to determine to what extent power to the spinner mechanism motor should be adjusted; and, (E) using the controller to adjust the power provided to the spinner mechanism motor to a level within the range of no power to full power; and, (F) repeating steps (a) through (e) according to a predetermined operational protocol to detect the presence of a condition signal. 
     One advantage of this invention according to one embodiment is that a spreader can be easily controlled based on the status of the vehicle brake light. 
     Another advantage of this invention according to another embodiment is that a spreader can be easily controlled based on the status of the vehicle reverse light. 
     Yet another advantage of this invention according to yet another embodiment is that a spreader can be easily controlled based on the status of the vehicle gear shift. 
     Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. 
    
    
     
       III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a back view of a spreader assembly according to one embodiment of this invention shown attached to the back portion of a vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of the spreader assembly of  FIG. 1  shown detached from the vehicle.  FIG. 2A  is a partial cross-sectional view of a spreader assembly having an auger component. 
         FIG. 3  is a magnified back view of a portion of the spreader assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing certain control embodiments of this invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing certain other control embodiments of this invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded back view of an insert hopper type spreader assembly using a conveyor belt transfer component. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing a hopper frame having a known hitch connector that secures the frame to a vehicle hitch. 
     
    
    
     IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same,  FIG. 1  shows a system for spreading particulate materials, according to one embodiment of this invention, having a spreader assembly  50  attached to the back end of an automotive vehicle  10 . While the vehicle  10  shown is commonly known as a pick-up truck it should be noted that this invention will work with any vehicle chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. The vehicle  10  may include a truck bed  11 , bumper  12 , tailgate  14  and hitch  13  illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Because the spreader assembly  50  shown in  FIG. 1  is attached to the back end of a pick-up truck having a tailgate  14 , it is commonly referred to as a tailgate spreader. However, it should be noted that this invention will work with any spreader assembly chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. Indeed, according to some embodiments of the invention, described below, an insert hopper configuration is utilized. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1-3  and  7 , the spreader assembly  50  may include a frame  52  that is attachable to the vehicle  10 , a hopper  54  supported to the frame  52  for use in holding a particulate material to be spread, and a spinner mechanism  56  supported to the frame  52  and operatively attached to the hopper  54  to spread the material held in the hopper  54  onto any appropriate ground surface  16  including roads, parking spaces, drive ways, sidewalks, and the like. The frame  52  may include a hopper support member  88  to assist in supporting the hopper  54 . In various embodiments, the frame  52  supports the hopper  54  and spreader assembly  50  to the vehicle tailgate  14  (using, for example, openings that receive connectors  53 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ), vehicle bumper  12  (using, for example, plate  55  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 2A  that rests on the bumper  12  as shown in  FIG. 1  ), or vehicle bumper hitch  13  (using, for example, hitch connector  57  shown schematically in  FIG. 7  ). The particulate material held in the hopper  54  which is to be spread onto the ground surface  16  can be any appropriate for winter weather use chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. Some non-limiting examples include salt, sand, and cinders. The hopper  54  can be of any design and formed of any material chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. In one specific embodiment, the hopper  54  is formed of polyethylene and the material held within the hopper  54  is salt. 
     The spinner mechanism  56  can be of any design chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the spinner mechanism  56  is operatively attached to a spinner mechanism motor  58  and a spinner plate  60  that is selectively rotatable by the spinner mechanism motor  58  to spread the material held in the hopper  54  onto the ground surface  16 . A baffle plate  62  may be used to prevent the material from being propelled toward the vehicle  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the spinner mechanism  56  can additionally include an auger  59  that is operatively connected with both the spinner mechanism motor  58  and the spinner plate  60 . The auger  59  resides in a substantially vertical position at least partially within the hopper  54 , and when rotated by forces provided by the spinner mechanism motor  58 , turns in a screw-like fashion, well known in the art, so as to transfer particulate materials residing in the hopper  54  to the spinner mechanism  56 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1-5 , schematic diagrams of embodiments of the spinner mechanism  56  are shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Both  FIGS. 4 and 5  show a controller  200  which may be of any type chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art and which may be used to operate the spinner mechanism  56  by virtue of its operative connection to the spinner mechanism motor  58 . The controller  200  also may be used for any number and type of controlling functions, including controlling functions beyond the control of the spreader assembly  50 , chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. The controller  200  may be fixed to an inside surface of the vehicle  10 , fixed to an outside surface of the vehicle  10 , or non-fixed to any surface and thus readily movable by the operator within and/or without the vehicle  10 . In one embodiment, shown, the controller  200  may require “hard wiring” to connect it to the spreader assembly  50  (specifically, the spinner mechanism motor  58 ) while in another embodiment the controller  200  may be wireless. In one embodiment, the controller  200  may be used to operate the spinner mechanism  56  by controlling the power provided to the spinner mechanism motor  58  (within the range of no power to full power) to thereby control the rotation, or speed of rotation, of the spinner plate  60 . The controller  200  may be electrically connected to a battery  205 , which is connected to ground  207 , to a control signal generator  201 , which provides a condition signal  202  to the controller  200 , and to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby control the operation of the spinner mechanism  56 . For the purposes of this invention, control signal generator  201  can consist of any device capable of generating a condition signal  202 ; but, with non-limiting reference, shall specifically include a vehicle brake light  206 , vehicle reverse light  206 , and/or vehicle gear shift  211 . As the operation and interconnection of these components, with further explanation on some components provided below, is well known to those of skill in the art, further explanation will not be provided here. However, some non-limiting examples of how some of these components may be interconnected are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,375 titled PLOWING DEVICE and U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,476 titled PLOW LIFT SYSTEM, both of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference. These references disclose methods and apparatuses for arranging components used to automatically lift a snowplow when the vehicle is placed into reverse but they do not anticipate or suggest any use with spreader systems. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 4-5 , in order to permit the spreading operation to be adjusted when a vehicle  10  condition is changed, the control signal generator  201  provides the condition signal  202  to the controller  200  which then makes the required adjustment to the spreader assembly  50 . The control signal generator  201  and the corresponding condition signal  202  may be of any type chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 4 , the condition signal  202  is generated based on the status of a light  206  that is associated with the vehicle  10 . In one specific embodiment, the condition signal  202  is the status of a vehicle brake light  206 . As the operation of a vehicle brake light is well known to those of skill in the art, further details will not be provided here. When the brake light  206  is activated (turned “on”; in other words that electric current is flowing through the brake light  206 ), this indicates that the vehicle operator has pressed the vehicle brake pedal (not shown); a change in vehicle condition that prompts the generation of a condition signal  202 . Upon receiving the condition signal  202 , the controller  200  can then stop or reduce power to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby stop or reduce rotation of the spinner plate  60  and thus stop or reduce the spreading of material onto the ground surface. Once the operator releases the brake pedal, the brake light  206  goes “off” (in other words, electric current stops flowing through the brake light  206 ) and the condition signal is terminated. In response to the absence of a condition signal  202 , the controller  200  can then return partial or full power to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby increase the rotation of the spinner plate  60  and thus begin or increase the spreading of material onto the ground surface. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 4 , in another specific embodiment, the condition signal  202  is generated based on the status of a vehicle reverse light  206 . As the operation of a vehicle reverse light is well known to those of skill in the art, further details will not be provided here. When the reverse light  206  is activated (turned “on”; in other words that electric current is flowing through the reverse light  206 ), this indicates that the vehicle operator has adjusted the vehicle transmission (not shown) into reverse; a change in vehicle condition that prompts the generation of a condition signal  202 . Upon receiving the condition signal  202 , the controller  200  can then stop or reduce power to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby stop or reduce rotation of the spinner plate  60  and thus stop or reduce the spreading of material onto the ground surface. Once the operator adjusts the vehicle transmission out of reverse, the reverse light  206  goes “off” (in other words, electric current stops flowing through the brake light  206 ), and the condition signal  202  is terminated. In response to the absence of a condition signal  202 , the controller  200  can then return partial or full power to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby increase the rotation of the spinner plate  60  and thus begin or increase the spreading of material onto the ground surface. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 5 , in another embodiment, the condition signal  202  is generated based on the status of a vehicle gear shift  211 . One or more electric switches  213 , for example, may be positioned near the gear shift  211  and thus be able to generate a condition signal  202  upon a change in vehicle condition, said condition signal being communicated to the controller  200  to sense the location or condition of the gear shift  211 . The switch(es)  213  may thus be able to sense when the gear shift  211  is in a “drive” condition (“D” as shown), a “reverse” condition (“R” as shown), a “park” condition (“P” as shown), etc. In this way the controller  200  can sense, for example, that the gear shift  211  is in the “drive” condition which indicates that the vehicle operator is driving the vehicle  10  in a normal forward manner. In response to the condition signal  202  generated by a change in vehicle condition to the drive position the controller  200  may permit power to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby provide rotation of the spinner plate  60  to provide the spreading of material onto the ground surface. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 5 , when the operator adjusts the gear shift  211  into a “reverse” condition, which indicates that the vehicle operator has adjusted the vehicle transmission into reverse, the switch(es)  213  generate a condition signal  202  that is communicated to the controller  200 , and as a result may stop or reduce power to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby stop or reduce rotation of the spinner plate  60  and thus stop or reduce the spreading of material onto the ground surface. Once the operator adjusts the vehicle transmission out of reverse and into drive, the switch  213  terminates its communication of the condition signal  202  to the controller  200 . In response to the termination of the control signal, the controller  200  can then return partial or full power to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby increase the rotation of the spinner plate  60  and thus begin or increase the spreading of material onto the ground surface. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 5 , when the operator adjusts the gear shift  211  into a “park” condition, which indicates that the vehicle operator has adjusted the vehicle transmission into a no motion or park condition, the switch(es)  213  generate a condition signal  202  that is communicated to the controller  200  and may result in a stop or reduction of power to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby stop or reduce rotation of the spinner plate  60  and thus stop or reduce the spreading of material onto the ground surface. Once the operator adjusts the vehicle transmission out of park and into drive, the condition signal  202  coming from the switch associated with the “park” condition is terminated. In the absence of the “park” condition signal  202 , the controller  200  may then receive a condition signal from the switch associated with a driving condition, and then return partial or full power to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby increase the rotation of the spinner plate  60  and thus begin or increase the spreading of material onto the ground surface. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in yet another embodiment, the controller  200  may also include a timer device  220  which may be used to adjust the timing of the operation of the spreader assembly  50 . In one embodiment, for example, the timer device  220  may be used to temporarily delay or suspend the operation of the spinner mechanism motor  58 . Thus, in one specific example, when the brake light  206  is activated, indicating that the vehicle operator has pressed the vehicle brake pedal, a condition signal  202  is generated and communicated to the controller  200 . The controller  200  can then stop or reduce power to the spinner mechanism motor  58 , for a period of time established by the timer device  220 , to thereby stop or reduce rotation of the spinner plate  60  and thus stop or reduce the spreading of material onto the ground surface. After the period of time to which the timer device  220  is set is accomplished, the controller  200  can then return partial or full power to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby increase the rotation of the spinner plate  60  and thus begin or increase the spreading of material onto the ground surface. Note that in this example the timer device  220  would restore operation of the spinner plate  60  even if the operator was still pressing the brake pedal and the brake light  206  remained “on.” 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in another specific example, the activation of the brake light  206 , indicating that the vehicle operator has pressed the vehicle brake pedal, generates a condition signal that is communicated to the controller  200 . The controller  200  can then stop or reduce power to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby stop or reduce rotation of the spinner plate  60  and thus stop or reduce the spreading of material onto the ground surface. Once the operator releases the brake pedal, the brake light  206  goes “off” (in other words, electric current stops flowing through the brake light  206 ), and the condition signal  202  is terminated. In the absence of a condition signal  202 , the controller  200  can then, after a delay determined by the timer device  220 , return partial or full power to the spinner mechanism motor  58  to thereby increase the rotation of the spinner plate  60  and thus begin or increase the spreading of material onto the ground surface. Note that in this example the timer device  220  would not restore operation of the spinner plate  60  as long as the operator was still pressing the brake pedal and the brake light  206  remained “on.” 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 4-5 , the timer device  220  can be of any type chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. In one embodiment, the timer device  220  is programmable so that the time adjustment can be varied by the manufacturer and/or by the operator. In another embodiment, the timer device  220  may be set differently for different uses (the duration that the timer device  220  suspends operation is dependent on which control signal generator provides the condition signal  202 ). The time delay for a condition signal generated by activation of the brake light, for example, may be 1.0 second, while the delay for a condition signal generated by activation of the reverse light may be 3.0 seconds. In yet another embodiment, multiple timer devices may be used. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a method for spreading particulate materials is provided. Said method utilizes the same spreader assembly  50  components, and their respective interactions with device components described above, to generate a condition signal in response to a change in vehicle condition that regulates the operation of particulate material distribution onto a ground surface. Said method can repeat the interactions, detailed above, according to any predetermined operational protocol that is chosen by a person of ordinary skill in the art, to detect the presence or absence of a condition signal  202  in a manner that permits the spreader assembly to regulate the distribution of particulate materials based on continuing changes in vehicle condition. 
     Thus far, the operation of the spreader assembly  50  has focused on controlling the operation of the spinner mechanism  56 ; but according to other embodiments of the invention, other spreader assembly components can also be controlled in addition to, or instead of, the spinner mechanism  56 . It is well known, for example, to provide spreader assemblies  50  that—instead of being attached to the vehicle tailgate—utilize hoppers  54  that are received by and reside within the vehicle&#39;s truck bed. These devices, known as “insert hopper” spreaders, utilize conveyor belts  62  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) or horizontal augers (not shown) to move material to be spread onto a ground surface from the insert hopper to the spinner mechanism  56 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , a conveyor belt motor  58   a  powers the conveyor belt  62  to transfer materials located in portions of the hopper located closer to the vehicle&#39;s passenger cabin to portions of the hopper that are closer to the vehicle&#39;s back bumper  12 , wherein the particulate materials are delivered to an attached spinner mechanism  56 —by any means known to a person of ordinary skill in the art—for distribution onto a ground surface  16 . In much the same fashion described above, according to this embodiment of the invention, the controller—which is operatively connected to both the conveyor belt motor  58   a  and the spinner mechanism motor  58 —regulates the operation of the conveyor belt motor  58   a  and the spinner mechanism motor  58  based on condition signals generated by the control signal generators  201 . It is here contemplated to use the controller  200  to receive a condition signal  202  from a control signal generator  201  to control the operation of the conveyor belt motor and/or auger motor and thus to control the spreading of material onto the ground surface. 
     Numerous embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.