EP1942230B1

EP1942230B1 - Spreader assembly for a bulk material spreader vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP1942230B1
Application number: EP07150486.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Enzo Giletta
Original assignee: Giletta SpA
Current assignee: Giletta SpA
Priority date: 2006-12-29
Filing date: 2007-12-28
Publication date: 2017-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 2027-12-28
Also published as: CA2617215A1; ITTO20060934A1; CA2617215C; EP1942230A1; DK1942230T3

Description

The present invention relates to a spreader assembly for a vehicle for spreading anti-icing and/or abrasive material in bulk, e.g. salt, chlorides in general, sand, or grit on a road surface.
A spreader vehicle normally comprises one or more hoppers containing the solid material in bulk; possibly tanks containing liquid material for mixing with the solid material; and one or more spreader assemblies, which are fed with solid material from the hopper, and spread it on the road surface.
As is known, anti-icing materials, such as salt, are spread on a road surface to prevent ice forming, and moving vehicles from losing grip; and abrasive materials, such as grit, are spread to ensure grip, even on icy road surfaces.
A spreader assembly normally comprises one or more feed conduits for drop-feeding salt from the hopper; and one or more rotating disks with blades, located downstream from the feed conduits to spread the salt. The salt, expelled by centrifugal force, covers a spread area that fans out from the spreader assembly in the opposite direction to the travelling direction of the vehicle.
For effective spreading, the spread area is conveniently controlled by the operator from the vehicle cab.
To improve the anti-icing effect, the solid material may be expelled moistened with liquid material.
To ensure effective, even anti-icing, it is important, when liquid material is used, to prevent the moist salt from forming into large lumps spread too far apart.
WO-A1-2005033417 describes a spreader assembly defining a salt-liquid mixing chamber, and comprising a first number of rotary blades to mix the liquid and salt, and a second number of blades which receive and spread the moist salt onto the road surface.
The mixing action of the blades, however, fails to solve the problem of lumps forming inside the mixing chamber. It is an object of the present invention to provide a spreader assembly for a bulk material spreader vehicle, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks.
EP-A-1634997 discloses a spreader assembly according to the preamble of claim 1.
According to the present invention, there is provided a spreader assembly as claimed in Claim 1.
A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a rear view of a spreader vehicle and a spreader assembly in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a view in perspective of the Figure 1 spreader assembly;
Figure 3 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of a portion of Figure 2 sectioned along vertical plane III-III in Figure 2.
Figures 1 and 2 show a spreader vehicle 1 for spreading bulk material, e.g. salt, and comprising a hopper 2; and a spreader assembly 3 fitted to vehicle 1 to spread salt onto a road surface.

Spreader assembly 3 comprises a feed conduit 4 with an inlet 5 positioned to receive the salt from hopper 2; a frame 6 connected rigidly to an end portion 7 of feed conduit 4, at the opposite axial end to inlet 5; and a bladed spreader disk 8 fitted to frame 6 and rotating about a substantially vertical axis A.
Spreader assembly 3 is preferably fitted to vehicle 1 by means of feed conduit 4, which is designed to withstand static and dynamic stress produced, for example, by the mass of frame 6 and spreader disk 8.
Spreader assembly 3 also comprises a casing 9 fitted in rotary manner to frame 6 in an intermediate axial position between end portion 7 and spreader disk 8; and a preferably hydraulic rotary motor 10 fitted to frame 6, on the opposite axial side of spreader disk 8 to end portion 7.
More specifically, frame 6 comprises a rail 11 to guide rotation of casing 9 about an axis preferably coincident with axis A.
Rotary motor 10 is fitted to spreader disk 8 in such a manner as to be protected against the incoming salt from feed conduit 4.
Rotary motor 10 is conveniently powered by conduits 12 fitted to frame 6 and connectable to the hydraulic circuit of vehicle 1, so the rotation speed of spreader disk 8 can be driver-controlled from the control panel inside the vehicle cab.
Figure 3 shows a more detailed view of frame 6, which comprises an arm 13 having an end portion 14 crosswise to axis A and underneath spreader disk 8; and a top bracket 15 over casing 9.
Arm 13 preferably also comprises a portion 16 parallel to axis A and connected rigidly to bracket 15. In a preferred embodiment, arm 13 has a hollow cross section to house at least part of the length of conduits 12 and protect them against the spread material and any debris thrown up off the road surface by vehicle 1 travelling at high speed.
Bracket 15 defines a surface substantially perpendicular to axis A, and is connected rigidly to end portion 7 of feed conduit 4 by two plates 17.
Plates 17 are also connected rigidly to rail 11, which is preferably annular and surrounds end portion 7 of feed conduit 4.
To cooperate with rail 11, casing 9 comprises a number of pins P (Figure 2) equally spaced angularly, and which slide tangentially inside a groove 18 defined by rail 11 and preferably concentric with axis A.
Casing 9 comprises a tubular portion 19, coaxial with axis A; and a cover portion 20 extending radially outwards from an end portion of tubular portion 19, and preferably larger in diameter than spreader disk 8.
Tubular portion 19 is large enough axially to define a cavity 21 closed at the bottom by spreader disk 8, and open towards feed conduit 4 to receive the salt.
Cover portion 20 defines, with spreader disk 8 and tubular portion 19, an annular volume 22, which communicates with cavity 21 through an opening 23 defined at least partly by tubular portion 19 and located downstream from feed conduit 4. Annular volume 22 is open radially to permit salt spreading by spreader disk 8.
In the embodiment shown, for example, the perimeter of opening 23 is closed by spreader disk 8.
Spreader disk 8 comprises a first number of fixed blades 24 inside cavity 21; and a second number of blades 25 integral with blades 24 and located radially outwards of tubular portion 19.
Spreader assembly 3 preferably also comprises a tank 26 for distributing known liquid solutions on the salt to enhance its anti-icing effect.
More specifically, tank 26 defines a storage volume 27 filled through an inlet 28 by a pipe connected to a circuit on vehicle 1; and an outlet 29 over opening 23. Tank 26 is preferably fixed with respect to casing 9, and is mounted inside annular volume 22.
Spreader assembly 3 also comprises an actuating device for rotating casing 9 and setting opening 23 to the desired angular position.
The actuating device preferably comprises a rotary motor 30 fitted to bracket 15; and a sector gear 31 fixed with respect to casing 9 and meshing with a pinion connected to rotary motor 30. Alternatively, the actuating device comprises a hydraulic or electric actuator.
Spreader assembly 3 preferably also comprises one or more angular position sensors, which determine the angular position of opening 23, and transmit a signal to an instrument in the driver's cab to enable the driver to control orientation of the salt spread area.
The angular position sensor is preferably a discrete type, and comprises a counter 32 with a movable rod 33, which cooperates with a number of angularly equally spaced projections fixed angularly with respect to casing 9. Alternatively, the sensor may comprise an encoder.
Spreader assembly 3 according to the present invention operates as follows.
As vehicle 1 travels along the road, the driver activates a known feed device to feed salt from hopper 2 to inlet 5 of feed conduit 4.
The salt flows into cavity 21, where it is expelled - evenly and always along the same trajectory, regardless of the type, quantity, and quality of the material being spread - through opening 23 into annular volume 22 by blades 24.
As it flows through opening 23, the salt is moistened with the solution from tank 26, which overflows from storage volume 27 to form a homogenous film.
The salt is therefore moistened after it leaves blades 24, and cannot flow back into cavity 21. Preferably, the salt is moistened, after it leaves blades 24, along a path through opening 23, so that the moist grains no longer come into contact with blades 24 and/or do not remain inside cavity 21.
Blades 25 then spread the salt onto the road surface.
To orient the spread area, e.g. to salt the overtaking lane when the vehicle is travelling along the main lane, the driver operates the mechanically or electrically controlled actuator 30 to move opening 23 or the whole assembly, and controls the position of opening 23 by means of the angular position sensor.
Blades 24 therefore substantially define an expulsion device for feeding the salt from cavity 21 through opening 23 into annular volume 22.
Moreover, opening 23 defines a specific flow section defining the cross section of salt flow onto blades 25, which are therefore supplied with salt flow of regular, constant cross section, by virtue of the forced expulsion performed by the blades on the inner disk. This characteristic provides for achieving a precisely shaped spread area, regardless of the type, condition, or quantity of the material being spread.
Blades 24 also provide for disposing of any salt accumulating inside cavity 21.
Spreader assembly 3 according to the present invention has the following advantages.
Moistening the salt along a clear path to blades 25, i.e. when the grains are already detached from blades 24, prevents the moist salt from remaining inside cavity 21 and being kneaded by blades 24.
Opening 23 defined by the rotary casing 9 provides for obtaining a precise, adjustable spread area.
Blades 24 provide for smooth expulsion of the salt from cavity 21, regardless of the type, condition, or quantity of salt involved.
Casing 9 being lightweight and easy to control, spreader assembly 3 is compact and lightweight, and can be connected to vehicle 1 by means of feed conduit 4.
Clearly, changes may be made to spreader assembly 3 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying Claims.
For example, outlet 29 may be located immediately upstream from opening 23, so as to moisten the salt as it is about to flow out of cavity 21 towards blades 25. In which case, the liquid and salt are mixed inside cavity 21, but not by blades 24. Moreover, the salt is directed towards opening 23 by centrifugal force, and cannot flow back into cavity 21.
Generally speaking, outlet 29 is so located that the salt is moistened as the individual grains flow through opening 23 along a clear trajectory produced substantially by centrifugal force, i.e. when the grains are already detached from blades 24. The salt is moistened along a path defined between the radial ends of blades 24 and blades 25 through opening 23, and the moist grains do not travel through the expulsion device.
For example, blades 24 may be radially smaller than tubular portion 19, and outlet 29 may be located adjacent to opening 23, in the gap between blades 24 and tubular portion 19.
Alternatively, outlet 29 may be located some distance from opening 23, and the liquid may be pressurized to strike the salt when the grains are already detached from blades 24 and directed towards opening 23.
Opening 23 may also be fixed with respect to frame 6.

Claims

A spreader assembly (3) for a vehicle for spreading bulk material, the spreader assembly defining a cavity (21) for receiving the bulk material; a rotary disk (8) rotating about an axis (A) and supporting a number of first blades (25) for spreading said bulk material from said cavity (21); expulsion means for directing the bulk material from said cavity (21) to said number of first blades (25), said expulsion means comprising a number of second blades (24) connected rigidly to said rotary disk; and feed means (26) for supplying a liquid, wherein said cavity (21) is defined at least partly by a member (9) having an opening (23) and rotating about said axis (A), said opening being interposed radially between said number of first blades (25) and said number of second blades (24); being characterized in that said feed means (26) have an outlet (29) so located as to moisten said bulk material with said liquid as said bulk material flows through said opening (23), when said bulk material is already detached from said number of second blades (24), the bulk material leaving said cavity (21) along a clear path produced by the action of said expulsion means.
A spreader assembly as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said clear path is defined between said expulsion means and said number of first blades (25), and does not cross or contact said expulsion means.
A spreader assembly as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said outlet (29) is adjacent to said opening (23).
A spreader assembly as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that said outlet (29) is located downstream from said opening (23).
A spreader assembly as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said feed means (26) comprise a tank connected to said outlet (29).
A spreader assembly as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that said tank (26) is fixed with respect to said member (9).
A spreader assembly as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized by comprising actuating means (10) for operating said rotary disk (8) and located on the opposite axial side of said rotary disk (8) to a feed conduit (4).
A spreader assembly as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized by comprising a rotary motor (30) for rotating said member (9).
A spreader assembly as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims when depending on claim 7, characterized in that said rotary disk (8) is fitted to said feed conduit (4) by means of a frame (6).
A spreader assembly as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized by comprising a sensor (32) for determining the angular position of said opening (23).
A method of moistening bulk material by means of a spreader assembly as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, and comprising a step of moistening said bulk material with a liquid; wherein said moistening step is performed as said bulk material flows through said opening (23), when said bulk material is already detached from said number of second blades (24), the bulk material being directed along the clear path produced by the action of said expulsion means.