Patent ID: 8562248

Claim:
An apparatus for introducing particulate into a conduit, comprising: a hopper having an inlet for receiving particulate to be dispensed and having an outlet; a conveying assembly for advancing particulate to the hopper inlet; a hydraulic pump; a blower for introducing air into said conduit to move particulate along said conduit; a first hydraulic motor selectively coupled to said hydraulic pump for driving said blower; and a second hydraulic motor selectively coupled to said hydraulic pump for driving said conveying assembly; a feeder assembly, separate from the blower, that is responsive to mechanical drive provided to said conveying assembly by said second hydraulic motor for introducing said particulate into said conduit, the feeder assembly being configured to prevent air from the blower from entering the hopper when particulate passes through the feeder assembly, wherein said conveying assembly comprises a paddle assembly arranged in a housing containing particulate and in communication with the hopper; said paddle assembly comprising first and second closed-loop sprocket chains arranged in spaced parallel fashion; a first pair of drive sprockets mounted upon a common shaft for rotating said drive sprocket chains responsive to rotary drive coupled to said common shaft by a gear assembly coupled between the common shaft and the second hydraulic motor; a second pair of rotatably mounted driven sprockets; said closed-loop drive chains each engaged by one of the pair of drive sprockets and one of the pair of driven sprockets; paddle members coupled at spaced intervals to said first and second sprocket chains for conveying particulate from said housing to said hopper inlet during rotation of said common shaft; and a third closed-loop sprocket chain for rotating a single, driven sprocket mounted on an input shaft of a rotary air-lock for driving said rotary air-lock during operation of said second hydraulic motor to feed particulate from said hopper into the conduit, whereby said second hydraulic motor imparts a driving force to said paddle assembly and said rotary air-lock.