Patent US5465829A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5465829A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pallet with hopper and auguer and method for distributing particular material
Assignee: Sudenga Ind Inc
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Filing: 1995-02-15
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Granted: 1995-11-14
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Expires: 2015-02-15
Abstract
Abstract A pallet for use in transporting a container housing a particulate material, the container having a gate for releasing the particulate material from the container. The pallet includes a frame member for receiving the container, a hopper mounted to the frame member for receiving the particulate material from the container when the container gate is open, an conveyor having a feed end and a discharge end, the feed end of the conveyor being fixedly mounted to the hopper for transporting the particulate material from the hopper to the discharge end of the conveyor to fill a desired target with the particulate material, and a drive system for driving the conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry D. Kruse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:47
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01C; A01C15/00; A01C15/003; B; B65; B65D; B65D77/00; B65D77/04; B65D77/06; B65D77/061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A pallet for supporting a container containing a particulate material and for transporting the particulate material, the container having a gate thereon for releasing the particulate material from the container, the pallet comprising: a frame member for supporting the container; a first hopper mounted to the frame member and arranged with respect to the gate to receive the particulate material from the container when the gate is open; a conveyor having a feed end and a discharge end, the feed end of the conveyor being fixedly mounted to the hopper for transporting the particulate material from the hopper to the discharge end of the conveyor to fill a desired target with the particulate material; and drive means for driving the conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A pallet for supporting a container containing a particulate material and for transporting the particulate material, the container having a gate thereon for releasing the particulate material from the container, the pallet comprising: a frame member for supporting the container; a first hopper mounted to the frame member and arranged with respect to the gate to receive the particulate material from the container when the gate is open; a conveyor having a feed end and a discharge end, the feed end of the conveyor being fixedly mounted to the hopper for transporting the particulate material from the hopper to the discharge end of the conveyor to fill a desired target with the particulate material; and drive means for driving the conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein the conveyor is an auger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein the conveyer includes a semi-transparent spout to allow an operator to view particulate material in the spout as an indication that the desired target is filled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein the conveyer includes an accordion-shaped spout to permit manual adjustment of the spout relative to the target.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein the drive means includes a hydraulic motor and hydraulic hoses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pallet of claim 5, wherein the hydraulic motor is operatively connectable to a hydraulic system on an external power source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pallet of claim 6, wherein the external power source is a tractor adapted with a forklift.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein the first hopper is mounted to a center of the frame member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein the frame member includes a first rectangular frame section, a second rectangular frame section of approximately the same size and dimension as the first rectangular frame section and which is connected to and spaced apart from the first rectangular frame section by corner brackets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The pallet of claim 9, wherein the conveyer is inclined upward from the feed end to the discharge end from the center of the frame member such that the conveyer passes between the first and second rectangular frame members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pallet of claim 10, wherein the corner brackets extend past the first rectangular frame section to engage and retain the container on the frame member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein the conveyor is inclined upward from the feed end and is attached to a periphery of the frame member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein the first hopper is mounted to a periphery of the frame member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pallet claim 13, further conveying a second hopper mounted in a center of the frame member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein the conveyor is a belt conveyor.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of distributing particulate material stored in a container having a gate thereon for releasing the particulate material, the method comprising the steps of: providing a pallet having a frame member receiving the container, a first hopper mounted to the frame member for receiving the particulate material from the container when the container gate is open, a conveyer having a feed end and a discharge end, the feed end of the conveyer being fixedly mounted to the first hopper for transporting seed from the first hopper to the discharge end of the conveyer, and drive means for driving the conveyor; providing a lift apparatus; positioning the container on the pallet; positioning the pallet on the lift apparatus with the container on the pallet; opening the gate of the container such that the particulate material flows into the hopper; positioning the discharge spout of the conveyer over a desired target; and selectively engaging the drive means to start and stop transport of the particulate material through the conveyer to the desired target.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of distributing particulate material stored in a container having a gate thereon for releasing the particulate material, the method comprising the steps of: providing a pallet having a frame member receiving the container, a first hopper mounted to the frame member for receiving the particulate material from the container when the container gate is open, a conveyer having a feed end and a discharge end, the feed end of the conveyer being fixedly mounted to the first hopper for transporting seed from the first hopper to the discharge end of the conveyer, and drive means for driving the conveyor; providing a lift apparatus; positioning the container on the pallet; positioning the pallet on the lift apparatus with the container on the pallet; opening the gate of the container such that the particulate material flows into the hopper; positioning the discharge spout of the conveyer over a desired target; and selectively engaging the drive means to start and stop transport of the particulate material through the conveyer to the desired target.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 16, further comprises the step of connecting the drive means to an external power supply on the lift apparatus for driving the conveyer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the drive means includes a hydraulic motor and hydraulic hoses, wherein the forklift apparatus includes a hydraulic assembly, and wherein the method further comprises the step of connecting the hydraulic hoses of the drive means to the hydraulic assembly of the forklift apparatus.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the conveyer is an auger.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the conveyor is a belt conveyor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein the frame member includes an opening therein, the opening being operable with a fork lift apparatus for lifting and transporting the pallet and container thereon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pallet of claim 1, further comprising a lifting member for vertically raising and lowering the frame member and container thereon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the frame member includes a first rectangular frame section, a second rectangular frame section of approximately the same size and dimension as the first rectangular frame section and which is connected to and spaced apart from the first rectangular frame section.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the frame member includes an opening therein, the opening being operable with a fork lift apparatus for lifting an transporting the pallet and container thereon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-13 | 1999-05-15 | 1999-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-13 | 2003-05-15 | 2003-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-13 | 2007-05-15 | 2007-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |