التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
| العنوان: |
Methods and Apparatus for Applying Product |
| Document Number: |
20120298767 |
| تاريخ النشر: |
November 29, 2012 |
| Appl. No: |
13/295539 |
| Application Filed: |
November 14, 2011 |
| مستخلص: |
An apparatus applies product and includes a pivotal platform solely supported through bushings formed of compressible material. The ground speed can be locked by stepping on a step pivoting a composite block to engage with an engagement of the transmission proportioner arm. A gate is opened utilizing a control lever pivotally mounted to a pivotably mounted control block to either engage or avoid a tang of an adjustment guide. A drive belt system includes a variator having first and second sheaves having variable effective diameters when their pivot pin is moved by pivoting a lever. A spray tip sprays a fan style spray at a small acute angle to the application area. A flip shield is pivoted about an axis parallel to the movement direction and includes a linear straight portion parallel to the axis in a redirection position. |
| Inventors: |
Kline, David A. (Mahtomedi, MN, US); Hansen, Loren F. (Lincoln, NE, US); Brophy, Robert C. (Raymond, NE, US) |
| Claim: |
1. Support device for an operator operating a vehicular portion of an apparatus movably supported upon an area comprising, in combination: a platform including first and second sides extending from opposite ends of a support; first and second bushings pivotally mounting the first and second sides to the vehicular portion about an axis extending parallel to and spaced from the support; and at least a third bushing extending between and abutting the platform and the vehicular portion in an operable position and extending in a direction non parallel to and spaced from the axis, with the first, second, and third bushings each formed of compressible material, with the platform solely supported by the vehicular portion through the bushings. |
| Claim: |
2. The support device of claim 1 with the platform pivotally mounted between the operable position and a transport position, with the support in the operable position being generally horizontal and in the transport position being and spaced from the support in the operable position. |
| Claim: |
3. The support device of claim 2 with each of the first and second sides including a collar concentric to the axis, with the first and second bushing each received in the collar of one of the first and second sides, with a sleeve extending through each of the first and second bushings concentric to the collar and to the axis, with a pivot pin extending through the sleeve and secured to the vehicular portion. |
| Claim: |
4. The support device of claim 3 with the third bushing mounted to the platform, with the third bushing abutting the vehicular portion in the operable position and being in a non abutting relation with the vehicular portion in the transport position. |
| Claim: |
5. Ground speed lock for a proportioner arm of an apparatus comprising, in combination: a step pivotally mounted between an unlocked position and a locked position, with the step being biased from the locked position to the unlocked position; a composite block moveably related to the step; and an engagement connected to and moveable with the proportioner arm, with the composite block engaging with the engagement when the step is in the locked position preventing relative movement of the composite block and the engagement, with the composite block being in a non interfering relation with the engagement when the step is in the unlocked position permitting relative movement of the composite block and the engagement. |
| Claim: |
6. The ground speed lock of claim 5 further comprising, in combination: a step linkage pivotally connected to the step; a pivotally mounted cam, with the composite block moveable with the pivotally mounted cam, with the pivotally mounted cam pivotably connected to the step linkage; and a spring connected to the step linkage biasing the step, with the engagement being a serrated element. |
| Claim: |
7. The ground speed lock of claim 6 further comprising, in combination: at least one pivotal hand lever pivotal about a pivot axis from a neutral position to a movement position; a crank arm extending radially from the pivot axis; a lever linkage pivotably connected to the crank arm and to the proportioner arm, with the pivotal hand lever being biased from the movement position to the neutral position. |
| Claim: |
8-10. (canceled) |
| Claim: |
11. Apparatus for applying a product in granular form to areas comprising, in combination: a frame assembly moveably supported upon the areas to which product is to be applied; an engine mounted on the frame assembly, a hopper mounted upon the frame assembly; a spinner mounted upon the frame assembly and for receiving product from the hopper; and a belt drive system comprising: a drive pulley connected to the engine to be driven thereby; a spinner pulley connected to the spinner to be driven thereby; a variator including a first sheave having a variable effective diameter and including a second sheave having a variable effective diameter, with the first and second sheaves being rotatable about a pivot pin, with the pivot pin being moveable with the effective diameter of the first sheave increasing and with the effective diameter of the second sheave decreasing when the pivot pin is moved in a first direction and with the effective diameter of the first sheave decreasing and with the effective diameter of the second sheave increasing when the pivot pin is moved opposite to the first direction; a first belt connected between the drive pulley and the first sheave; a second belt connected between the spinner pulley and the second sheave; a control lever pivotally mounted relative to the frame assembly; and a flexible cable operationally connected to the control lever and the pivot pin and moving the pivot pin when pivoted. |
| Claim: |
12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising, in combination: a variator arm pivotably mounted relative to the frame assembly about an arm pivot axis spaced from and parallel to the pivot pin, with the flexible cable connected to the variator, with the arm pivot axis being intermediate the flexible cable and the pivot pin. |
| Claim: |
13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising, in combination: a first spring connected to the variator arm, with the arm pivot axis being intermediate the first spring and the flexible cable, with the flexible cable being operationally connected to the variator arm by a second spring. |
| Claim: |
14. Apparatus for applying a product in liquid form to areas comprising, in combination: a frame assembly moveably supported in a movement direction upon the areas to which product is to be applied; a supply tank carried by the frame assembly; a pump in fluid communication with the supply tank; and a spray tip carried by the frame assembly at a small acute angle to the area, with the spray tip being of a fan style creating a spray having an increasing width in the movement direction and parallel to the areas and with a height perpendicular to the areas which is an amount insignificant to the width when the spray engages the areas, with the pump being in fluid communication with the spray tip. |
| Claim: |
15. The apparatus of claim 14 with the spray tip carried by the frame assembly at the small acute angle in the range of 15 to 25 degrees. |
| Claim: |
16. Apparatus for applying a product in granular form comprising, in combination: a frame assembly moveably supported in a movement direction upon the areas to which product is to be applied; a hopper mounted upon the frame assembly; a spinner rotatably mounted on the frame assembly about a vertical axis and for receiving product from the hopper, with the spinner including an outer circumference; a primary shield extending concentrically to and spaced from the vertical axis for a portion of the outer circumference of the spinner; and a flip shield pivotably mounted relative to the frame assembly about a pivot axis parallel to the movement direction and generally perpendicular to the vertical axis, with the flip shield being pivotal between a redirection position and an inoperative position, with the flip shield not operatively interfering with product leaving the spinner in the inoperative position, with the flip shield including a linear straight portion extending parallel to the movement direction and the pivot axis and extending parallel to a tangent to the outer circumference of the spinner in the redirection position, with the flip shield abutting with and being coextensive with the primary shield in the redirection position. |
| Claim: |
17. The apparatus of claim 16 with the flip shield further including an arcuate portion coextensive with the linear straight portion, with the linear straight portion abutting with and being coextensive with the primary shield in the redirection position, with the linear straight portion being intermediate the arcuate portion and the primary shield. |
| Claim: |
18. The apparatus of claim 17 with the primary shield and the flip shield being mounted to the hopper. |
| Claim: |
19. Method for applying a product in liquid form to an area comprising: moving a frame assembly in a movement direction upon the area, with the frame assembly carrying a spray tip elevated above the area; and spraying liquid in a fan style pattern from the spray tip on the frame assembly moving in the movement direction onto the area at a small acute angle, of a width parallel to the area and perpendicular to the movement direction continuously increasing in the movement direction from the spray tip to the area and with a height perpendicular to the area of an amount insignificant to the width at the area. |
| Claim: |
20. The method of claim 19 wherein spraying the liquid comprises spraying the liquid in the fan style pattern at the small acute angle in the order of 15 to 25 degrees. |
| Claim: |
21. The method of claim 20 further comprising supplying the liquid to the spray tip at a pressure of 40 psi to be sprayed by the spray tip. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
239/1 |
| Current International Class: |
05; 16; 65; 62 |
| رقم الانضمام: |
edspap.20120298767 |
| قاعدة البيانات: |
USPTO Patent Applications |
