AU2021200195A1

AU2021200195A1 - Improved fertiliser spreader

Info

Publication number: AU2021200195A1
Application number: AU2021200195A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lance Brian HEALY
Original assignee: Healy Transp Ltd
Current assignee: Healy Transport Ltd
Priority date: 2020-09-04
Filing date: 2021-01-14
Publication date: 2022-03-24

Abstract

A fertiliser spreader which includes: a hopper arranged to contain a supply of powdered or granulated material for discharge through an outlet from the hopper; a pair of side by 5 side discs, each disc being mounted upon a spindle so as to be rotatable by the spindle; each spindle being mounted so as to be rotatable in use about the longitudinal axis of the spindle; each spindle being mounted so that the angle between the vertical and the longitudinal axis of the spindle is adjustable over the range 15°; a chute arranged between the hopper outlet and the pair of discs such that fertiliser leaving the hopper 10 outlet is distributed by said chute substantially equally between the discs; each disc being concave on the upper surface of the disc, the depth of the concavity being in the range zero - 30 millimetres; each disc being provided with a plurality of rigid cleats spaced around the upper surface of the disc; each cleat extending between a position adjacent the centre of the disc and a position adjacent the edge of the disc and providing 15 a channel extending from adjacent the centre of the disc to adjacent the edge of the disc. 7 1/4 11a 10 16 17 15 -12- -- 15 21 22 14 Fig.1

Description

1/4 11a

10 16 17

-12- -- 15

21 22 14

Fig.1

IMPROVED FERTILISER SPREADER

Technical Field The present invention relates to a fertiliser spreader i.e. a device for spreading fertiliser in the form of a powder or granules across land.

Background Art A number of different types of equipment for spreading fertiliser are known. The simplest type is equipment of the drill type, where fertiliser is supplied from a hopper mounted on a vehicle and travels down a number of spaced chutes on the vehicle as the vehicle moves across the area of land to be fertilised. This distributes the fertiliser evenly and accurately, but it does require the vehicle to move over the whole area of land over which fertiliser is to be spread; this is time-consuming and can also result in additional compaction of the ground. However, if seed is to be drilled into the ground as well as the fertiliser, then the drill type of fertiliser spreader is a good choice.

If only fertiliser is to be spread on the ground (i.e. no seed needs to be drilled at the same time) then it is possible to minimise the distance which the spreading vehicle has to travel by using a spreader of the spinner type. In the spinner type of spreader, fertiliser is dropped onto the surface of one or more spinning discs which fling the fertiliser over a comparatively wide area behind and on each side of the vehicle's track. It follows that the vehicle does not have to move over all of the ground to be fertilised, since the area fertilised is substantially wider than the vehicle's track.

One problem with spinner type spreaders is the difficulty of spreading the fertiliser evenly across the area, and a number of different designs of spinners have been proposed and produced with the object of optimising the area across which the fertiliser is spread, whilst keeping the spread even.

Disclosure of Invention An object of the present invention is to improve the spread pattern of the fertiliser, so that the area across which the fertiliser is spread is maximised, without any loss of uniformity of fertiliser distribution across the area.

The spreader of the present invention was developed specifically for spreading fertiliser and related products, and is therefore described in terms of spreading fertiliser. However, it will be appreciated that the spreader of the present invention could be used to spread any of a wide range of powdered or granulated products and as used herein, the term "fertiliser" includes any such powdered or granulated product.

The present invention provides a fertiliser spreader which includes:

• a hopper arranged to contain a supply of powdered or granulated material for discharge through an outlet from the hopper;

• a pair of side by side discs, each disc being mounted upon a spindle so as to be rotatable by the spindle;

• each spindle being mounted so as to be rotatable in use about the longitudinal axis of the spindle;

• each spindle being mounted so that the angle between the vertical and the longitudinal axis of the spindle is adjustable over the range 15°;

Sa chute arranged between the hopper outlet and the pair of discs such that fertiliser leaving the hopper outlet is distributed by said chute substantially equally between the discs;

• each disc being concave on the upper surface of the disc, the depth of the concavity being in the range zero - 30 millimetres;

• each disc being provided with a plurality of rigid cleats spaced around the upper surface of the disc;

• each cleat extending between a position adjacent the centre of the disc and a position adjacent the edge of the disc and providing a channel extending from adjacent the centre of the disc to adjacent the edge of the disc.

Brief Description of Drawings By way of example only, a preferred body mounted the invention is described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic rear view of a vehicle fitted with a fertiliser spreader in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the spreader of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the discs;

Figure 4 is a diagram showing the disc layout;

Figure 5 is a side view of a cleat; and

Figures 6 and 7 are end views of the inside edge and outside edge respectively of a cleat.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring to the drawings, a fertiliser spreader 10 in accordance with the present invention includes a hopper 11 which is arranged to deposit a regular stream of powdered or granulated fertiliser on the upper surface of a distribution chute 12, to fall equally on to aligned disks 13, 14.

Each disc 13, 14 is fitted with cleats 15 as described below. Each disc 13, 14 is supported upon a spindle 16, 17 which in use is rotated by any of a range of suitable means e.g. a hydraulic drive from the vehicle upon which the spreader is mounted.

In use, as the discs 13, 14 are rotated, the fertiliser deposited on the surface of the discs from the chute 12 is flung behind the spreader and out to each side of the spreader.

The hopper 11 may be any of a range of known designs and basically consists of a large tank with a removable cover 11a. The hopper 11 is fitted to, or permanently mounted on, a vehicle. Bulk supplies of fertiliser in the form of powder or granules are poured into the tank, for distribution from an outlet adjacent the lower part of the tank. The hopper 11 may be fitted with agitators to stop the fertiliser clogging or bridging, and a conveyor 11b is arranged along the base of the hopper to feed fertiliser from the body of the hopper to the outlet at a predetermined rate. The rate of movement of the conveyor 11b controls the rate at which fertiliser is supplied to the outlet, and the rate of movement of the conveyor is controlled by the drive to the conveyor, which is powered independently or from the vehicle, in known manner.

The distribution chute 12 is mounted equidistantly between the spindles 16, 17, and provides a triangular outer surface with an apex 20 uppermost and adjacent surfaces 21, 22 sloping down towards the adjacent discs 13, 14, so that fertiliser falling on the distribution chute 12 from the hopper outlet is deposited equally on each of the discs.

The discs 13, 14 typically have a diameter of about 600 mm, and may be flat, but preferably are slightly concave. As shown in Figure 4, the height X between the outer edge of the disc and the centre of the disc preferably is in the range zero - 30 millimetres, most preferably 10 millimetres.

It has been found that a greater degree of concavity of the disc producers an inferior distribution pattern of the fertiliser in use:- a more concave disc tends to retain fertiliser on the disc rather than spinning it off. However, a completely flat disc tends to produce an uneven distribution pattern.

The distribution pattern of the fertiliser also is strongly affected by the number, size and shape of the cleats 15 which are equidistantly spaced around the upper surface of each of the discs 13, 14 and rigidly secured to the discs.

Each disc, 13, 14 has four equidistantly spaced cleats 15. The cleats are not arranged radially across the disc, but are at an angle of approximately 20 degrees to the disc radius. Each disc 13, 14 is formed with additional securing holes, so that the angle of each cleat can be varied if required.

As shown in figure 5, each cleat 15 is formed with a shorter lower plate 26 integrally formed with a first side section 27, a second side section 28, and a longer upper plate 29. The angle between the first side section 27 and the lower plate 26, and between the two sides sections 27, 28 varies along the length of each cleat, as does the width of the sides sections 27, 28. This produces a profile shape adjacent the centre of the disc as shown in figure 6, and a profile shape adjacent the outer rim of the disc as shown in figure 7. Typically, the length of the lower plate 26 is approximately 45 mm, the length of the upper plate 29 is approximately 80 mm, and the distance between the upper and lower plate (measure between their outer surfaces) is approximately 60 mm. The effect of the change in profile between the ends of the cleat is to provide a sloping channel 30 along the internal surface 31 of the cleat; the channel 30 tapers outwards from adjacent the centre of the disc to the outer edge of the disc, so that the width of the channel at the outer edge of the disc is approximately 3 times that adjacent the centre of the disc.

Each of the discs 13, 14 is rotated by the corresponding spindle 16, 17. As shown in figure 2, the outer casing of each spindles 16, 17 is mounted on a corresponding plate

32, which is rigidly supported on or adjacent the rear of the hopper 11. Each spindle is mounted to the corresponding plate 32 by a lower pivot .33 and an adjustable bracket 34, which provides a slot 35 so that the spindle casing and the corresponding spindle can be angled as illustrated by arrow A between a vertical position as shown in figure 2 and rearwardly inclined positions of up to 15° relative to the vertical.

Each spindle can be secured in the selected position by tightening a bolt 36 (or equivalent securing means) in the desired position in the slot 35.

In use, the spindles are rotated so as to turn the discs 13, 14 in opposite directions: viewed from the back of the spreader, discs 13 turns anticlockwise and disc 14 turns clockwise. With the spreader set up as described above, a standard fertiliser can be spread up to 30 meters wide with an acceptably even distribution pattern. If the product being spread is heavier (e.g. lime) then the expected spread of the product is about 19 metres.

Claims

1. A fertiliser spreader which includes: • a hopper arranged to contain a supply of powdered or granulated material for discharge through an outlet from the hopper; • a pair of side by side discs, each disc being mounted upon a spindle so as to be rotatable by the spindle; • each spindle being mounted so as to be rotatable in use about the longitudinal axis of the spindle; • each spindle being mounted so that the angle between the vertical and the longitudinal axis of the spindle is adjustable over the range 15°; • a chute arranged between the hopper outlet and the pair of discs such that fertiliser leaving the hopper outlet is distributed by said chute substantially equally between the discs; • each disc being concave on the upper surface of the disc, the depth of the concavity being in the range zero - 30 millimetres; • each disc being provided with a plurality of rigid cleats spaced around the upper surface of the disc; • each cleat extending between a position adjacent the centre of the disc and a position adjacent the edge of the disc and providing a channel extending from adjacent the centre of the disc to adjacent the edge of the disc.

2. The fertiliser spreader as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each disc is provided with four spaced cleats.

3. The fertiliser spreader as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each cleat is formed so as to provide a channel extending along the length of the cleat, with the width of the channel adjacent the edge of the disc substantially greater than the width of the channel adjacent the centre of the disc.

4. The fertiliser spreader as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the depth of concavity of each disc is 10 millimetres.