Patent Publication Number: US-9902558-B2

Title: Hopper release system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of material handling hoppers and, more particularly, to a hopper release system for a material handling hopper. 
     Material hoppers are used to store and/or transport a wide range of materials in an installation. Hoppers may be employed to store and transport raw material, finished products and/or waste materials. In many cases, a hopper is loaded with material in one location and transported to another location for unloading. Typically, the hopper is carried by a forklift and pivoted, or rotated about, a base allowing the material to spill out to a desired area. Each hopper includes a manually operated release mechanism. After transporting to a desired position, an operator alights from the forklift to release the hopper to spill any material contained therein. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed is a hopper release system including a base member configured and disposed to selectively support a hopper, and a hopper release assembly mounted to the base member. The hopper release assembly includes a remote hopper release member configured and disposed to selectively disengage a hopper retaining member from the hopper. 
     Also disclosed is a hopper system including a hopper base having a hopper retaining assembly and a hopper supported upon the hopper base. The hopper includes a hopper retaining element selectively captured by the hopper retaining assembly. A hopper release system is configured and disposed to receive the hopper base. The hopper release system includes a base member and a remote hopper release member mounted to the base member. The remote hopper release assembly is configured and disposed to selectively disengage the hopper retaining assembly from the hopper retaining element. 
     Further disclosed is a method of discharging a hopper including positioning the hopper having a hopper retaining pin on a hopper base having a hopper retaining assembly, engaging a hopper retaining element of the hopper with the hopper retaining assembly, supporting the hopper base on a base member of a hopper release system, and selectively activating a remote hopper release member disengaging the hopper retaining assembly from the hopper retaining element allowing the hopper to pivot relative to the hopper release system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a hopper system including a hopper release system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  depicts the hopper system of  FIG. 1  with the hopper removed; 
         FIG. 3  depicts the hopper release system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a detailed view of a remote hopper release member and hopper retaining assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  depicts the remote hopper release member disengaging the hopper retaining assembly; 
         FIG. 6  depicts the hopper release system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, mounted to forks of a forklift; 
         FIG. 7  depicts the hopper release system of  FIG. 6  supporting a hopper on a hopper base; and 
         FIG. 8  depicts the hopper released from the hopper base. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. 
     A hopper system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, is indicated generally at  2 , in  FIGS. 1-3 . Hopper system  2  includes a hopper base  4  supporting a hopper  6 . Hopper base  4  includes a first support  10  and a second support  11  joined by a plurality of crossbars, one of which is indicated at  13 . Hopper base  4  also includes a hopper retaining assembly  16 , which, as will be detailed more fully below, enables hopper  6  to pivot about hopper base  4  releasing material stored therein. 
     Hopper retaining assembly  16  includes a hook element  24  that selectively engages a hopper retaining element  26  on hopper  6 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, hopper retaining element  26  takes the form of a pin  28  extending substantially perpendicularly from hopper  6 . However, it should be understood that hopper retaining element  26  may take on a variety of forms. Hook element  24  extends from a first end  30 , defining a hook  31  having a hook gap  34 , to a second, cantilevered end  38 . Hook element  24  also includes a first hook element release engagement member  40  arranged at second end  38  and a second hook element release engagement member  42  arranged at hook  31 . Hopper retaining assembly  16  also includes a hook element release  46  pivotally mounted to hook element  24 . Hook element release  46  extends from a first end  48  to a second end  49  through a pivot  50 . Second end  49  defines a handle  52 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, hopper system  2  further includes a hopper release system  70 , illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Hopper release system  70  includes a base member  72  supporting hopper release assembly  71  including a remote hopper release member  76 . In the exemplary aspect shown, remote hopper release member  76  includes a hook element release actuator  78  and a remote signal input member  80  arranged on either side of a central pivot  82 . Central pivot  82  also supports a return spring  83 . In accordance with an aspect of the exemplary embodiment, hook element release actuator  78  may take the form of a pin element  84  extending substantially perpendicularly from remote hopper release member  76 . Remote signal input member  80  takes the form of a cable  86 . Upon receipt of a remote activation signal through cable  86 , remote hopper release member  76  shifts pin element  84  from a first position, such as shown in  FIG. 3 , to a release position, such as shown in  FIG. 5 . More specifically, pin element  84  moves into contact with, and raises, second end  49  of hook element release  46  pivoting hook element  24  away from pin  28 . At this point, hopper  6  may rotate forward to expel any materials contained therein. 
     In further accordance with an exemplary aspect, hopper release system  70  includes a selectively adjustable remote signal input support  90  extending from base member  72 . Adjustable remote signal input support  90  includes a first pulley  92  and a second pulley  93  that receive cable  86 . Adjustable remote signal input support  90  may slide or shift to selectively position second pulley  93  a desired distance from base member  72 . Hopper release system  70  includes a first hopper support element  96  and a second hopper support element  97  that engage with hopper base  4 . Each hopper support element  96 ,  97  includes a corresponding end portion  99 ,  100  having a respective end stop member  103  and  104 . End stop members  103  and  104  may engage with one of crossbars  13  to prevent hopper base  4  from separating from hopper release system  70 . 
     In further accordance with an exemplary embodiment, hopper release system  70  includes a first fork pocket  107  and a second fork pocket  108  mounted to base member  72 . In this manner, a forklift  120 , such as shown in  FIG. 6 , may capture hopper release system  70  on forklift members or forks, such as indicated at  123 . At this point, hopper base  4  and hopper  6  may be positioned on hopper release system  70 , such as shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 8  depicts hopper  6  pivoting about hopper base  4  after a remote release signal was input to hopper release system  70 . 
     At this point, it should be understood that the hopper release system provides a universal release for a hopper. That is, users may purchase a single hopper release instead of the need for a remote release associated with each hopper. Further, the hopper release, in accordance with exemplary embodiments, provides a user with a single set up that may be used with a number of hoppers instead of the need to configure a remote release for each hopper. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.