Mounting assembly for supporting a hopper and a spreading mechanism on a vehicle
View Patent ↗The subject invention provides a mounting assembly ( 10 ) for supporting a hopper ( 16 ) and a spreading mechanism ( 12 ) on a vehicle ( 14 ) for carrying and spreading a material. A spreader frame ( 18 ) supports the hopper ( 16 ) and a bumper bracket ( 60 ) is mounted to a bumper of the vehicle ( 14 ) for attaching the spreader frame ( 18 ) to a bumper. The mounting assembly ( 10 ) further includes a hitch support ( 70 ) for supporting the spreader frame ( 18 ) on a hitch receiver ( 72 ) of the vehicle ( 14 ). A plate ( 76 ) interconnects the hitch support ( 70 ) to the spreader frame ( 18 ) for adjusting a height of the hitch support ( 70 ) relative to the spreader frame ( 18 ). A pair of vertical supports ( 62 ) extend vertically from the spreader frame ( 18 ) for attachment to the bed of the vehicle ( 14 ) at an upper end ( 86 ) thereof. A coupler ( 90 ) interconnects the vertical supports ( 62 ) and the bumper brackets ( 60 ) for allowing removal of the vertical supports ( 62 ) and spreader frame ( 18 ), while the bumper brackets ( 60 ) remain mounted to the vehicle ( 14 ).
1. A mounting assembly for supporting a hopper and a spreading mechanism on a vehicle for carrying and spreading a material, said mounting assembly comprising:
a spreader frame for supporting the hopper;
a pair of bumper brackets spaced from one another for attaching said spreader frame to a bumper of the vehicle; said spreader frame includes a rear member having a pair of support arms coupled thereto;
a hitch support adjustable in a vertical direction relative to said spreader frame for supporting said spreader frame on a hitch receiver of the vehicle;
a plate coupled to said hitch support and said spreader frame to allow vertical adjustment of said hitch support;
said plate defines continuous, elongated slots that allow said hitch support to be adjusted vertically relative to said spreader frame for accommodating different hitch receiver heights of various vehicles;
wherein said hitch support and said pair of bumper brackets are coupled to said spreader frame to support said spreader frame thereto.
2. A mounting assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a pair of vertical supports coupled to said spreader frame for attachment to a bed of the vehicle at an upper end thereof.
3. A mounting assembly as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a coupler interconnecting said vertical supports and said bumper bracket for removing said vertical supports while said bumper bracket remains mounted to the vehicle.
4. A mounting assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said coupler defines a hole and said bumper bracket further includes a post for extending through said hole to connect said vertical support to said bumper bracket.
5. A mounting assembly as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a locking device to lock said post after inserting through said hole and to prevent said vertical support from disengaging said bumper bracket.
6. A mounting assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said locking device is a pin.
7. A mounting assembly as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a fastening support coupling each of said vertical supports to the vehicle.
8. A mounting assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fastening support is further defined as a fastening bracket being one of U-shaped, L-shaped, and C-shaped for attaching to the vehicle.
9. A mounting assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a securing device for securing said hitch support to the hitch receiver.
10. A mounting assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising fasteners coupled to said support arms for extending through said elongated slots to allow precise vertical adjustment of said plate relative to said spreader frame.