Material spreader utilizing vehicle power and having operational wireless control
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A01C-003/06
A01C-017/00
E01C-019/20
출원번호
US-0841721
(2010-07-22)
등록번호
US-9033265
(2015-05-19)
발명자
/ 주소
Truan, Charles
Truan, James
Scott, Joshua
Neilson, Greg B.
Neilson, Erwin B.
Mandrik, Paul
출원인 / 주소
Truan, Charles
대리인 / 주소
Dickinson Wright PLLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
17
초록▼
A material spreader assembly for the broadcast spreading of particulate material from the trailer hitch of a vehicle. A hopper for storing the particulate material is supported by a frame having a trailer hitch coupler for connection to the vehicle. A spreader including a spinner driven by an electr
A material spreader assembly for the broadcast spreading of particulate material from the trailer hitch of a vehicle. A hopper for storing the particulate material is supported by a frame having a trailer hitch coupler for connection to the vehicle. A spreader including a spinner driven by an electric motor receives and disperses the particulate material. A control circuit receives electric current from the vehicle via a plug interface and a wiring harness and controls the operation of the spreader. A remote communicates user commands to the control circuit. The control circuit includes a motor control processor that controls a motor power relay and a motor driver to gradually ramp up the current supplied to the spreader for start up the spreader while preventing a high transient current draw spike. Component feedback sensors enable the motor control processor to provide an emergency shut off feature and warning signals.
대표청구항▼
1. A material spreader assembly for broadcast spreading of particulate material from a vehicle having a trailer wiring connector supplying electrical current below a predetermined level and of a known polarity comprising; a frame,a hopper supported by said frame for storing particulate material,a sp
1. A material spreader assembly for broadcast spreading of particulate material from a vehicle having a trailer wiring connector supplying electrical current below a predetermined level and of a known polarity comprising; a frame,a hopper supported by said frame for storing particulate material,a spreader powered by electrical current including at least one rotating component for receiving and dispersing said particulate material from said hopper and an electric motor connected to said rotating component for rotationally driving said rotating component,a coupler connected to said frame and supporting said frame on the vehicle,a wiring harness presenting a plug interface configured to detachably engage a trailer wiring connector of a vehicle to receive electrical current therefrom,a remote having an ON selection and an OFF selection to generate and send an ON signal communicating said ON selection and an OFF signal communicating said OFF selection,a control circuit including a motor control processor providing start-up of said electric motor in response to said ON signal and generating a power ON command corresponding with said ON selection and generating at least one motor speed command and providing shut-off of said electric motor in response to said OFF signal and generating a power OFF command corresponding to said OFF selection,said control circuit further including a motor driver electrically connected to said electric motor to receive said at least one motor speed command and deliver to said electric motor an electrical current corresponding to said at least one motor speed command, andsaid control circuit further including a motor power relay electrically connected to and receiving electrical power from said wiring harness to relay electrical current from said wiring harness to said motor driver in response to said power ON command and disconnecting electrical current from said motor driver in response to said power OFF command and providing reverse polarity protection to said motor driver by disconnecting electrical current from said motor driver in response to receiving electrical current from said wiring harness having a polarity opposite the known polarity. 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including said remote having a radio frequency transmitter housed within said remote transmitting said ON signal and said OFF signal and said control circuit including a radio frequency receiver to receive said ON signal and said OFF signal transmitted by said radio frequency transmitter of said remote and send said ON signal and said OFF signal to said motor control processor. 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 further including an encoder housed within said remote adding a unique serial number to said ON signal and said OFF signal to generate a coded ON signal and a coded OFF signal and said control circuit including a decoder having a memory storing said unique serial number and a signal processor receiving said coded ON signal and said coded OFF signal and removing said unique serial number from said coded ON signal and said coded OFF signal to reproduce said ON signal and said OFF signal and send said ON signal and said OFF signal to said motor control processor. 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 further comprising said control circuit including a learn switch electrically connected to said decoder and having an ON position and an OFF position and said ON position directing said signal processor to initiate a learn mode to parse said unique serial number from said coded ON signal and said coded OFF signal and store said unique serial number in said memory of said decoder and said OFF position directing said signal processor to discontinue said learn mode. 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control circuit includes a bypass switch having an ON position and an OFF position and being electrically connected to said motor control processor, said ON position directing said motor control processor to initiate a bypass mode to disregard said ON signal and said OFF signal and to initiate start-up of said electric motor with a final motor speed command corresponding to a maximum electrical current and said OFF position directing motor control processor to initiate said shut-off of said electric motor and to cease sending said at least one motor speed command and said power ON command until a new power-up sequence is performed. 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: at least one component feedback sensor generating at least one component feedback signal, andsaid motor control processor being responsive to said at least one component feedback signal and generating at least one motor feedback signal in response to said at least one component feedback signal. 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said control circuit includes; a motor driver electrically connected to said electric motor to receive said at least one motor speed command and deliver to said electric motor an electrical current corresponding to said at least one motor speed command,a motor power relay electrically connected to and receiving electrical power from said wiring harness to relay electrical current from said wiring harness to said motor driver in response to said power ON command and disconnecting electrical current from said motor driver in response to said power OFF command and providing reverse polarity protection to said motor driver by disconnecting electrical current from said motor driver in response to receiving electrical current from said wiring harness having a polarity opposite the known polarity,a motor driver sensor connected to said motor driver and sending a motor current signal and a motor voltage signal,a motor power monitor electrically connected to said motor power relay and said motor driver and sending a motor power signal, anda temperature sensor for measuring an electric circuitry temperature and sending a temperature signal. 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 further comprising; said control circuit including a radio frequency transmitter transmitting said motor feedback signal, andsaid remote including a radio frequency receiver receiving said motor feedback signal and having a display presenting a motor speed reading and an on/off power status and an overheat warning and an overload warning and a short circuit warning and a broken circuit warning in response to said motor feedback signal. 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 further comprising; said control circuit including a radio frequency transmitter transmitting said motor feedback signal, andsaid remote including a battery of a predetermined voltage providing electrical power and a battery monitor performing a voltage measurement of said battery and generating a low battery warning signal in response to said voltage measurement being below said predetermined voltage, andsaid remote including a radio frequency receiver receiving said motor feedback signal and having a display presenting a motor speed reading and an on/off power status and an overheat warning and an overload warning and a short circuit warning and a broken circuit warning and a low battery warning in response to said motor feedback signal and said low battery warning signal. 10. A material spreader assembly for broadcast spreading of particulate material from a vehicle having a trailer wiring connector supplying electrical current below a predetermined level and of a known polarity comprising; a frame,a hopper supported by said frame for storing particulate material,a spreader powered by electrical current for receiving and dispersing the particulate material from said hopper and creating a transient electrical current draw spike above the predetermined level in response to a start-up by sudden application of electrical current from the vehicle,a coupler connected to said frame and supporting said frame on the vehicle,a wiring harness presenting a plug interface configured to detachably engage a trailer wiring connector of a vehicle to receive electrical current therefrom,a control circuit electrically connected to said wiring harness and configured to deliver to said spreader at said start-up an initial electrical current level limited to a predetermined level and said control circuit further configured to gradually increase with time the electrical current to a final electrical current level above the predetermined level to avoid said transient electrical current draw spike and enable said start-up of said spreader using the electric current provided by the vehicle;at least one rotating component for receiving and dispersing said particulate material from said hopper and an electric motor connected to said rotating component for rotationally driving said rotating component and creating said transient electrical current draw spike above the predetermined level in response to said start-up by sudden application of electrical current from the vehicle;a remote having an ON selection and an OFF selection to generate and send an ON signal communicating said ON selection and an OFF signal communicating said OFF selection, andsaid control circuit including a motor control processor providing said start-up of said electric motor in response to said ON signal and generating a power ON command corresponding with said ON selection and generating an initial motor speed command corresponding to an initial electrical current level below the predetermined level and generating subsequent motor speed commands gradually changing with time to correspond with gradually increasing levels of electrical current and generating a final motor speed command corresponding to an electrical current level above the predetermined level and providing shut-off of said electric motor in response to said OFF signal and generating a power OFF command corresponding to said OFF selection; anda motor driver electrically connected to said electric motor to receive each of said motor speed commands and deliver to said electric motor an electrical current corresponding to each of said motor speed commands, anda motor power relay electrically connected to and receiving electrical power from said wiring harness to relay electrical current from said wiring harness to said motor driver in response to said power ON command and disconnecting electrical current from said motor driver in response to said power OFF command and for providing reverse polarity protection to said motor driver by disconnecting electrical current from said motor driver in response to receiving electrical current from said wiring harness having a polarity opposite the known polarity. 11. A material spreader assembly for broadcast spreading of particulate material from a vehicle having a trailer wiring connector supplying electrical current below a predetermined level and of a known polarity comprising: a frame,a hopper supported by said frame for storing particulate material,a spreader powered by electrical current for receiving and dispersing the particulate material from said hopper and creating a transient electrical current draw spike above the predetermined level in response to a start-up by sudden application of electrical current from the vehicle,a coupler connected to said frame and supporting said frame on the vehicle,a wiring harness presenting a plug interface configured to detachably engage a trailer wiring connector of the a vehicle to receive electrical current therefrom,a control circuit electrically connected to said wiring harness and configured to deliver to said spreader at said start-up an initial electrical current level limited to a predetermined level and said control circuit further configured to gradually increase with time the electrical current to a final electrical current level above the predetermined level to avoid said transient electrical current draw spike and enable said start-up of said spreader using the electric current provided by the vehicle;a remote having an ON selection and an OFF selection to generate and send an ON signal communicating said ON selection and an OFF signal communicating said OFF selection; andat least one rotating component for receiving and dispersing said particulate material from said hopper and an electric motor connected to said rotating component for rotationally driving said rotating component and creating said transient electrical current draw spike above the predetermined level in response to said start-up by sudden application of electrical current from the vehicle;said control circuit including a motor control processor providing said start-up of said electric motor in response to said ON signal and generating a power ON command corresponding with said ON selection and generating an initial motor speed command corresponding to an initial electrical current level below the predetermined level and generating subsequent motor speed commands gradually changing with time to correspond with gradually increasing levels of electrical current and generating a final motor speed command corresponding to an electrical current level above the predetermined level and providing shut-off of said electric motor in response to said OFF signal and generating a power OFF command corresponding to said OFF selection,at least one component feedback sensor generating at least one component feedback signal having a predetermined fault limit,said motor control processor being responsive to said at least one component feedback signal to provide an emergency shut-off feature by generating said power OFF command in response to detecting said predetermined fault limit in said at least one component feedback signal. 12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said control circuit includes; a motor driver electrically connected to said electric motor to receive each of said motor speed commands and deliver to said electric motor an electrical current corresponding to each of said motor speed commands,a motor power relay electrically connected to and receiving electrical power from said wiring harness to relay electrical current from said wiring harness to said motor driver in response to said power ON command and disconnecting electrical current from said motor driver in response to said power OFF command and providing reverse polarity protection to said motor driver by disconnecting electrical current from said motor driver in response to receiving electrical current from said wiring harness having a polarity opposite the known polarity,a motor driver sensor electrically connected to said motor driver sending a motor voltage signal and a motor current signal,a motor power monitor electrically connected to said motor power relay and said motor driver sending a motor power signal, anda temperature sensor measuring an electric circuitry temperature and sending a temperature signal. 13. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 further including said remote having a radio frequency transmitter housed within said remote transmitting said ON signal and said OFF signal and said control circuit including a radio frequency receiver receiving said ON signal and said OFF signal transmitted by said radio frequency transmitter of said remote and sending said ON signal and said OFF signal to said motor control processor. 14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 further including an encoder housed within said remote adding a unique serial number to said ON signal and said OFF signal to generate a coded ON signal and a coded OFF signal and said control circuit including a decoder having a memory storing said unique serial number and a signal processor receiving said coded ON signal and said coded OFF signal and removing said unique serial number from said coded ON signal and said coded OFF signal to reproduce said ON signal and said OFF signal and send said ON signal and said OFF signal to said motor control logic circuit. 15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 further comprising said control circuit including a learn switch having an ON position and an OFF position and electrically connected to said decoder, said ON position directing said signal processor to initiate a learn mode to parse said unique serial number from said coded ON signal and said coded OFF signal and store said unique serial number in said memory of said decoder and said OFF position directing said signal processor to discontinue said learn mode. 16. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said control circuit includes a bypass switch electrically connected to said motor control processor having an ON position and an OFF position, said ON position directing said motor control processor to initiate a bypass mode in response to said start-up of said electric motor and said bypass mode directing said motor control processor to disregard said ON signal and said OFF signal and to initiate said start-up of said electric motor with said final motor speed command corresponding to a maximum electrical current and said OFF position directing said motor control processor to initiate said shut-off of said electric motor and to cease sending any of said motor speed commands and said power ON command until a new power-up sequence is performed. 17. A material spreader assembly for broadcast spreading of particulate material from a vehicle having a trailer wiring connector supplying electrical current below a predetermined level and of a known polarity comprising: a frame,a hopper supported by said frame for storing particulate material,a spreader powered by electrical current for receiving and dispersing the particulate material from said hopper and creating a transient electrical current draw spike above the predetermined level in response to a start-up by sudden application of electrical current from the vehicle,a coupler connected to said frame and supporting said frame on the vehicle,a wiring harness presenting a plug interface configured to detachably engage a trailer wiring connector of a vehicle to receive electrical current therefrom,a control circuit electrically connected to said wiring harness and configured to deliver to said spreader at said start-up an initial electrical current level limited to a predetermined level and said control circuit further configured to gradually increase with time the electrical current to a final electrical current level above the predetermined level to avoid said transient electrical current draw spike and enable said start-up of said spreader using the electric current provided by the vehicle;a remote having an ON selection and an OFF selection to generate and send an ON signal communicating said ON selection and an OFF signal communicating said OFF selection; andsaid control circuit including a motor control processor providing said start-up of said electric motor in response to said ON signal and generating a power ON command corresponding with said ON selection and generating an initial motor speed command corresponding to an initial electrical current level below the predetermined level and generating subsequent motor speed commands gradually changing with time to correspond with gradually increasing levels of electrical current and generating a final motor speed command corresponding to an electrical current level above the predetermined level and providing shut-off of said electric motor in response to said OFF signal and generating a power OFF command corresponding to said OFF selection.at least one component feedback sensor for generating at least one component feedback signal,at least one rotating component for receiving and dispersing said particulate material from said hopper and an electric motor connected to said rotating component for rotationally driving said rotating component and creating said transient electrical current draw spike above the predetermined level in response to said start-up by sudden application of electrical current from the vehicle,said motor control processor being responsive to said at least one component feedback signal to generate at least one motor feedback signal in response to said at least one component feedback signal. 18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 further comprising said control circuit including a power conditioning circuit electrically connected to said wiring harness receiving from said wiring harness electrical current having a fluctuating voltage and carrying an electronic noise signal and said power conditioning circuit having an electronic filter removing said electronic noise signal and a voltage regulator transforming said fluctuating voltage to a steady state voltage to provide conditioned electrical current to said control circuit. 19. An assembly as set forth in claim 18 further including said power conditioning circuit having at least one blocking diode providing reverse polarity protection to said control circuit. 20. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 further comprising: said control circuit including a radio frequency transmitter transmitting said motor feedback signal, andsaid remote including a radio frequency receiver receiving said motor feedback signal and having a display presenting a motor speed reading and an on/off power status and an overheat warning and an overload warning and a short circuit warning and a broken circuit warning in response to said motor feedback signal. 21. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 further comprising: said control circuit including a radio frequency transmitter transmitting said motor feedback signal, andsaid remote including a battery of a predetermined voltage providing electrical power and a battery monitor performing a voltage measurement of said battery and generating a low battery warning signal in response to said voltage measurement being below said predetermined voltage, andsaid remote including a radio frequency receiver receiving said motor feedback signal and having a display presenting a motor speed reading and an on/off power status and an overheat warning and an overload warning and a short circuit warning and a broken circuit warning and a low battery warning in response to said motor feedback signal and said low battery warning signal. 22. A material spreader assembly for broadcast spreading of particulate material from a vehicle having a trailer wiring connector supplying electrical current below a predetermined level and of a known polarity comprising: a frame,a hopper supported by said frame for storing particulate material,a spreader powered by electrical current for receiving and dispersing the particulate material from said hopper and creating a transient electrical current draw spike above the predetermined level in response to a start-up by sudden application of electrical current from the vehicle,a coupler connected to said frame and supporting said frame on the vehicle,a wiring harness presenting a plug interface configured to detachably engage a trailer wiring connector of a vehicle to receive electrical current therefrom,a control circuit electrically connected to said wiring harness and configured to deliver to said spreader at said start-up an initial electrical current level limited to a predetermined level and said control circuit further configured to gradually increase with time the electrical current to a final electrical current level above the predetermined level to avoid said transient electrical current draw spike and enable said start-up of said spreader using the electric current provided by the vehicle;at least one rotating component for receiving and dispersing said particulate material from said hopper and an electric motor connected to said rotating component for rotationally driving said rotating component and creating said transient electrical current draw spike above the predetermined level in response to said start-up by sudden application of electrical current from the vehicle;a remote having an ON selection and an OFF selection to generate and send an ON signal communicating said ON selection and an OFF signal communicating said OFF selection, andsaid control circuit including a motor control processor providing said start-up of said electric motor in response to said ON signal and generating a power ON command corresponding with said ON selection and generating an initial motor speed command corresponding to an initial electrical current level below the predetermined level and generating subsequent motor speed commands gradually changing with time to correspond with gradually increasing levels of electrical current and generating a final motor speed command corresponding to an electrical current level above the predetermined level and providing shut-off of said electric motor in response to said OFF signal and generating a power OFF command corresponding to said OFF selection,at least one component feedback sensor for generating at least one component feedback signal, andsaid motor control processor being responsive to said at least one component feedback signal to generate at least one motor feedback signal in response to said at least one component feedback signal,wherein said control circuit includes: a motor driver electrically connected to said electric motor to receive each of said motor speed commands and deliver to said electric motor an electrical current corresponding to each of said motor speed commands,a motor power relay electrically connected to and receiving electrical power from said wiring harness to relay electrical current from said wiring harness to said motor driver in response to said power ON command and disconnecting electrical current from said motor driver in response to said power OFF command and providing reverse polarity protection to said motor driver by disconnecting electrical current from said motor driver in response to receiving electrical current from said wiring harness having a polarity opposite the known polarity,a motor driver sensor connected to said motor driver sending a motor current signal and a motor voltage signal,a motor power monitor electrically connected to said motor power relay and said motor driver sending a motor power signal, anda temperature sensor measuring an electric circuitry temperature and sending a temperature signal.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (17)
Dreyer Heinz (Gaste DT), Attaching device for mounting of a broadcast fertilizer spreader on a tractor.
Brady, Shaun Michael, Computer database system and method for collecting and reporting real estate property and loan performance information over a computer driven network.
Jost Allen (San Diego CA) Nelson Jennifer (San Diego CA) Gopinathan Krishna (San Diego CA) Smith Craig (Seattle WA), Real estate appraisal using predictive modeling.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.