GB1581929A - Distribution devices for granular material - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION DEVICES FOR GRANULAR MATERIAL (71) We UNI DRIVE TRACTORS LIMITED of Alpha Works, Station Road, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, a British Company do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to distribution devices for granular material.

In accordance with the general concept of the invention there is provided a distribution device for granular material comprising a vibratable distributor plate, a plurality of ducts arranged about the periphery of the plate and means for vibrating the plate, the plate being so formed and vibratable in such a manner that when granular material is allowed to fall onto the vibrating plate when located in a substantially horizontal position the material is evenly distributed between and conducted to said ducts.

Preferably, according to the invention there is provided a distribution device for granular material comprising a hopper for granular material having a perforated bottom plate, a vibratable distribution plate located outside said hopper and in a position with respect to said bottom plate to receive granular material falling under gravity from said hopper through the bottom plate while lying generally horizontally, and a plurality of ducts located about the periphery of the plate in positions to receive granular material passing from said plate when it is lying generally horizontally, said distribution plate being so shaped or otherwise formed that when it is vibrating granular material falling from the hopper under gravity onto said plate is evenly distributed between and is directed only into the ducts.

Said distributor plate may have a granular material receiving surface provided with a plurality of groove formations for defining a granular material movement path, said groove formations each terminating adjacent an associated duct and said vibrating means being able to create wave motions in said plate which travel in the longitudinal direction of the groove formations towards said ducts. Nevertheless, said distribution plate may have a substantially flat granular material receiving surface, said vibrating means being able to create standing wave forms in said plate whereby to simulate groove formations in said plate associated with said ducts, and said vibrating means further being able to create wave motions in said plate which travel in the longitudinal direction of the simulated groove formations towards said ducts.

The invention also includes an agricultural implement provided with a distribution device in accordance with the invention.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic elevation (partly in section) of a first embodiment of distribution device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1; and, Figure 3 is a schematic elevation of a second embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 a main frame 1 supports a hopper 2 for granular material located above the frame 1. The hopper 2 has a horizontally arranged bottom plate 3 which is of generally circular configuration and has a plurality of perforations 4 therein distributed about a circle concentric with the bottom plate. Agitator means 5 are located in the hopper and serve to.prevent agglo -meration of the granular material, e.g.

.fertiliser, about the bottom plate and to ensure that the material may fall freely through the perforations.

Located immediately below the perforated bottom plate 3 is a vibratable distributor plate 6 of circular configuration lying concentric with the bottom plate and generally parallel thereto. The distributor plate 6 has a conical upper protrusion 7 located centrally thereof. Vibration of the distributor plate 6 is obtained by a suitable device 8 located below the plate 6 and adapted for connection to a suitable power source. An output shaft 9 of the device 8 is connected to a central portion of the distributor plate 6. The distributor plate 6 is so formed and its vibration characteristics are such that when it is vibrating granular material falling from the hopper onto the material receiving surface of the plate 6 is divided into a plurality of evenly sized streams which extend radially outwardly from the centre of the plate towards the periphery thereof. A plurality of ducts 10 is located about the periphery of the distributor plate 6, one in association with each stream and the ducts have open ends located immediately adjacent and slightly below the edge of the plate 6 so as to receive material passing from the plate 6.

Examples of suitable forms of the distributor plate and vibrational characteristics have been given above.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 is an agricultural fertiliser distributor.

A main frame 20 supports a hopper 21 for fertiliser material located above the frame. The hopper has a horizontal bottom plate which is of generally circular configuration and has a plurality of perforations therein distributed about a circle concentric with the bottom plate. Agitator means are located in the hopper and serve to prevent agglomeration of the fertiliser about the bottom plate and to ensure that fertiliser material may fall freely to the perforations.

The bottom plate and agitator means are not illustrated in Figure 3 but are similar to those shown in Figure 1.

Located immediately below the perforated bottom plate is a vibratable distributor plate 22 of circular configuration lying concentric with the bottom plate and generally parallel thereto. The plate 22 has a conical upper protrusion 23 located centrally thereof.

Vibration of the distributor plate 22 is obtained by a suitable deyice (not shown) connected to the plate 22 and located below the plate 22 and adapted for connection to the power take off device of a tractor. The distributor plate 22,.as discussed above, is so formed and its vibration characteristics are such that granular material falling from the hopper onto the material receiving surface of th plate is divided into a plurality of evenly sized streams which extend radially outwardly from the centre of the plate towards the periphery thereof.

The frame 20 also supports an air fan 24 which supplies air under pressure to a plurality of pipes 25 which terminates in nozzles 26 located just radially outwardly of the distributor plate 22 in coincidence one with each of the streams of granular material which pass from the plate 22.

The main frame 20 also includes outward extensions 27 arranged perpendicularly to the direction of motion of the implement which support a plurality of ducts 28 which terminate at their outward points with respect to the hopper 21 at spaced apart locations along the extensions 27 above small broadcaster plates 29. The inward termination of each duct is in the form of an induction duct having a frusto conical duct portion having its larger diameter end ad adjacent said distributor plate and serving as the terminal portion of the duct and its smaller diameter end joined to a tubular duct portion of substantially constant cross section. The open end of each induction duct is located slightly above, and radially outwardly of the periphery of, the vibratable distributor plate 22 so as to receive a stream of air emerging from an associated nozzle 26 at high velocity.

In use of the implement described above and shown in Fig. 3, the agitator in the bottom of the hopper 21, the air fan 24 and the vibrating means for the vibratable distributor plate 22 are set in motion as the implement is moved across a field. The agitator ensures that the granular material contained in the hopper 21 can flow freely onto the distributor plate 22. The vibration of the distributor plate 22 causes the granular material to divide into a number of streams equal to the number of pipes 25 and ducts 28 and for each stream to move across the distributor plate radially outwardly thereof towards the associated duct. The air blowing from the nozzle 26 through the induction duct 30 into the duct 28 causes air to be drawn in from the area surrounding the induction duct 30. This area includes the edge of the distributor plate 22 from which a stream of granular material is coming.

Accordingly, the granular material is drawn into the ducts 30 and thus carried into the associated ducts 28. The granular material is carried by the air along the ducts 28 to the point at which the ducts terminate on the outer extensions 27 of the frame and then onto the broadcaster plates 29 for distribution onto the ground.

Thus the device according to the invention provides a means of equally distributing fertiliser granules or seeds (for example) into a given number of independent streams by using vibratory means. The seeds or granules may be fed into airstreams which can carry the seeds or granules to any given point in a substantial working width of an implement.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A distribution device for granular material comprising a vibratable distributor plate, a plurality of ducts arranged about the periphery of the plate and means for vibrating the plate, the plate being so formed and vibratable in such a manner that when granular material is allowed to fall onto the vibrating plate when located in a substantially horizontal position the material is evenly distributed between and conducted to said ducts.

2. A distribution device for granular material comprising a hopper for granular material having a perforated bottom plate, a vibratable distribution plate located outside said hopper and in a position with respect to said bottom plate to receive granular material falling under gravity from said hopper through the bottom plate while lying generally horizontally, and a plurality of ducts located about the periphery of the plate in positions to receive granular material passing from said plate when it is lying generally horizontally, said distribution plate being so shaped or otherwise formed that when it is vibrating granular material falling from the hopper under gravity onto said plate is evenly distributed between and is directed only into the ducts.

3. A distribution device according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which said ducts are induction ducts of a fluid flow system wherein fluid is supplied at high velocity into said ducts and entrains said granular material and draws it into said ducts.

4. A distribution device according to claim 3 wherein said induction ducts each comprise a frusto conical duct portion having its larger diameter end adjacent said distributor plate and serving as the terminal portion of the duct and its smaller diameter end joined to a tubular duct portion of substantially constant cross section.

5. A distribution device according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said fluid flow system further includes fluid nozzles directing fluid into said induction ducts.

6. A distribution device according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein said fluid is air.

7. A distribution device according to any preceding claim wherein said distributor plate has a granular material receiving surface provided with a plurality of groove formations for defining a granular material movement path, said groove formations each terminating adjacent an associated duct and said vibrating means being able to create wave motions in said plate which travel in the longitudinal direction of the groove formations towards said ducts.

8. A distribution device according to claim 7 wherein said distributor plate is circular and said groove formations extend radially of the plate and said vibrating means act on a central portion of the distributor plate.

9. A distribution device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said distributor plate has a substantially flat granular material receiving surface, said vibrating means being able to create standing wave forms in said plate whereby to simulate groove formations in said plate associated with said ducts, and said vibrating means further being able to create wave motions in said plate which travel in the longitudinal directions of the simulated groove formations towards said ducts.

10. A distribution device according to claim 9, wherein said distribution plate is circular.

11. An agricultural implement including a distribution device according to any pre

Claims (1)

1. ceding claim.

   12. An agricultural implement according to claim 11 wherein said ducts form part of conduits whose ends remote from said ducts are arranged in spaced apart positions generally along a line perpendicular to the motion of the implement.

   13. A distribution device as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or 3 of the accompanying drawings.

   14. An agricultural implement as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.