Granted Patent B2

US 12,643,745 · App. 19/422,714 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Inventors: Kevin Lauze (Topsham, ME); Richard Hamm (Drummondville, CA)

B65G47/19B65G47/5195B65G2207/30B65G2812/02029

Abstract

Claims (33)

1 . A modular spreader device kit comprising:

a plurality of panels configured to form a hopper when assembled, the plurality of panels including a first end wall, a second end wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall;

a conveyor assembly configured to convey deliverable material from the hopper;

a chute assembly including an upper chute assembly and a lower chute assembly, and located horizontally outside the perimeter of the hopper, the chute assembly configured to receive the deliverable material from the conveyor assembly;

a spinner assembly disposed within the chute assembly and configured to disperse the deliverable material in a radial pattern; and

wherein the plurality of panels, conveyor assembly, and chute assembly are configured to be packaged in a single container for shipment and assembled using conventional fasteners.

2 . The modular spreader device kit of claim 1 , wherein the first end wall includes an upper end wall and a lower end wall.

3 . The modular spreader device kit of claim 1 , wherein the second end wall includes a door configured to allow materials to exit the hopper and enter the chute assembly.

4 . The modular spreader device kit of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of mounting supports configured to attach the plurality of panels to the conveyor assembly.

5 . The modular spreader device kit of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of cross-brace panels extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall.

6 . The modular spreader device kit of claim 5 , further comprising a material diverter configured to direct materials onto the conveyor assembly, the material diverter attached to the cross-brace panels by a support post.

7 . The modular spreader device kit of claim 1 , wherein the spinner assembly comprises:

a spinner sleeve;

a spinner shaft mount connected to the spinner sleeve; and

a spinner plate connected to the spinner shaft mount and configured to spin about the spinner shaft mount.

8 . The modular spreader device kit of claim 1 , wherein the lower chute assembly includes four sidewalls with upper portions adapted to connect to the upper chute assembly and lower portions connected by flip pins to pivotable flap panels.

9 . The modular spreader device kit of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor assembly is shipped in a ready-to-use configuration and configured to be connected to a host unit power system.

10 . The modular spreader device kit of claim 9 , wherein the host unit power system comprises a hydraulic system.

11 . A method of assembling a modular spreader device comprising:

assembling a chute assembly by connecting a spinner sleeve to a spinner mount shaft, mounting the spinner mount shaft to a bearing inside a lower chute assembly, installing a spinner disc to the spinner mount shaft, and attaching the lower chute assembly to an upper chute assembly;

attaching mounting supports onto a conveyor assembly;

attaching a first sidewall to the conveyor assembly;

attaching a second end wall to the first sidewall;

attaching a second sidewall to the conveyor assembly;

attaching a first end wall top portion to the sidewalls;

attaching a first end wall bottom portion to the sidewalls;

attaching cross braces to side panels;

attaching a material diverter on the cross braces; and

attaching the chute assembly onto the conveyor assembly.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein assembling the chute assembly is performed before assembling other components of the modular spreader device.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the spinner sleeve, spinner mount shaft, and spinner disc are connected using threaded fasteners.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising connecting the conveyor assembly to a host vehicle power system after assembly.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the modular spreader device components are unpacked from a single container before assembly.

Continuity (3)

References Cited (11)