US 12,005,410 B2
Agitation assemblies for a spreader
Matthew Schlueter, Kingsford, MI (US)
Assigned to THE TORO COMPANY, Bloomington, MN (US)
Filed by THE TORO COMPANY, Bloomington, MN (US)
Filed on May 15, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/875,807.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/849,690, filed on May 17, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0360878 A1, Nov. 19, 2020
Int. Cl. B01F 11/00 (2006.01); B01F 7/08 (2006.01); B01F 15/00 (2006.01); B01F 15/02 (2006.01); B01F 27/72 (2022.01); B01F 31/00 (2022.01); B01F 35/00 (2022.01); B01F 35/31 (2022.01); B01F 35/32 (2022.01); B01F 35/71 (2022.01)
CPC B01F 31/70 (2022.01) [B01F 27/72 (2022.01); B01F 35/31 (2022.01); B01F 35/3202 (2022.01); B01F 35/55 (2022.01); B01F 35/71731 (2022.01); B01F 35/71775 (2022.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An agitation assembly for a spreader, the agitation assembly comprising:
a hopper including walls defining an interior;
an auger extending within a portion of the hopper along a longitudinal axis and being rotatable about the longitudinal axis, the auger having a flight to drive a spreadable material;
an agitation plate disposed adjacent to the auger within the hopper;
a crank configured to operably couple to the auger to be rotated therewith about a longitudinal axis of the auger, the crank having a distal end extending longitudinally away from an end of the auger;
a drive pin of the crank disposed at the distal end thereof, the drive pin having a radially offset position with respect to the longitudinal axis;
a housing defining an interior and an opening, at least the distal end of the crank received within the interior of the housing; and
a connecting linkage having a first end configured to couple the drive pin of the crank and a second end configured to couple to the agitation plate to oscillate the agitation plate while the auger rotates, the connecting linkage configured to extend through the opening defined in the housing and axially oscillate with respect thereto;
wherein the hopper further includes a trough defining an interior; and further comprising an offset wall extending across a portion of the interior, the offset wall having an interior edge vertically offset from an interior edge of an opposite wall of the hopper; and wherein the agitation plate is movably coupled to the offset wall and has a distal edge aligned over the trough;
wherein the agitation plate has a pivot connection with the offset wall; and the connecting linkage comprises:
an arm; and
a bracket coupled to the agitation plate and having a pivot connection with the arm on an opposite side of the agitation plate from the offset wall, such that rotation of the drive pin causes the agitation plate to pivotably oscillate through the connecting linkage.