The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 31, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1997
James R Truax, Crystal, MN (US);
James A Willmore, Eden Prarie, MN (US);
Benjamin M Smegal, Robbinsdale, MN (US);
Michael J Kaluza, Crystal, MN (US);
Truax Company, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A portable seed spreader for distribution of bulky and irregular size seeds over a local area. The spreader includes a U-shaped frame that carries a housing having a first seed bin and a second seed bin. A first transverse shaft is mounted to legs of the frame and extends through the first seed bin. The first shaft carries agitators for mixing and stirring the seeds in the first seed bin. Discharge slots are located in a bottom wall of the first seed bin. A second transverse shaft is mounted on the frame and extends beneath the bottom wall of the first seed bin. The second transverse shaft carries picker wheels that extend through the discharge slots into the first seed bin to pick seeds therefrom and draw them through the discharge slot. The shafts are connected so that rotation of one transverse shaft as by a hand crank, an electric motor or a wheeled mechanism, results in rotation of the other. A spreader plate is located beneath the discharge slots of the first seed bin and the discharge orifice of the second seed bin. The spreader plate is connected to a vertical shaft that is connected through a gearing arrangement to the second transverse shaft so that the spreader plate rotates upon rotation of the second transverse shaft. An adjustable closure mechanism totally or partially closes the discharge orifice to the second seed bin to regulate the discharge of seeds.