GB1592927A

GB1592927A - Machine for distributing granular materials

Info

Publication number: GB1592927A
Application number: GB1728378A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Priority date: 1977-04-30
Filing date: 1978-05-02
Publication date: 1981-07-15
Also published as: FR2388479B1; FR2388479A1; DE2719405B2; DE2719405A1

Description

(54) MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING GRANULAR MATERIALS (71) We, AMAZONEN - WERKE H.

DREYER GMBH & CO. KG, of Am Amazonenwerk, 4507 Hasbergen-Gaste, Federal Republic of Germany, a German Body Corporate, 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 state ment : - The invention relates to a machine for spreading granular material e.g. fertilizer.

The invention is more particularly concerned with a machine of the type which comprises a storage hopper, distributor means for spreading material discharged from the hopper and a frame which supports the hopper and distributor means. The machine is connectable to upper and draught links of a three point power lift of an agricultural tractor.

Such a machine is known from US-PS 2 901 257. In this known machine front vertical supports of the frame are provided in their middle zone with a plurality of holes arranged one above the other so that the draught links of the three-point power lift of a tractor may be coupled in a corresponding number of positions on the machine.

Thus, it is possible to change the ground clearance of the distributor means which are in the form of rotary distributor discs provided with casting shovels so that, on the one hand, different work widths can be adopted for the same kind of fertilizer and, on the other hand, the machine may be used for fertilizing already germinated seeds, i.e. for so-called late season fertilizing.

This machine has the drawback that the vertical support of the frame extends to a large extent below the spreading members and, owing to the large ground clearance of the holes in the frame for assembly, the stroke of the three-point power lift itself cannot be fully used in the lower position of the draught links because the frame of the machine when lowered touches the ground before the draught links reach their lower position on the tractor side. Thus, the use of the machine for late season fertilizing is limited to fields with small plant vegetation. Moreover, in order to fill the storage hopper of the machine considerable effort is required because the ground clearance of its upper edge is substantially large.

A further machine for spreading fertilizer is known from DT-PS 23 19 308. In this machine the frame does not extend very far below the distributor means are liftable supports are provided so that, on the one hand, the supply hopper is easy to fill and, on the other hand, the machine remains supported, which makes it possible to obtain simple assembly of the machine on the tractor by means of a rapid coupling engagement from below from the driver's seat of the tractor. This machine has the drawback that it cannot be used for so-called late season fertilizing.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine for spreading granular material in a convenient form.

According to the invention there is provided a machine for spreading granular material, comprising a storage hopper, distributor means for spreading material discharged from the hopper, a frame which supports the hopper and distributor means and which extends to a relatively small extent below the distributor means, and means for connecting the machine to upper and draught links of a three point power lift of an agricultural tractor in which the upper link is connected to the tractor at a position which is vertically spaced from the positions at which the draught links are connected to the tractor by a distance (b), wherein the connecting means includes coupling elements for connecting each draught link to the frame in any one of at least two vertically spaced poistions and wherein the lower of said at least two positions is below the frame and is vertically spaced from a position at which the upper link is connectible to the frame by a distance (a) which is greater than the distance (b).

It is thus possible for full use to be made, at least in the lower position of the draught links, of the entire stroke length of the threepoint power lift provided by the tractor for lifting and lowering the machine. Moreover, when the draught links are in their lower position it is also possible to lift the machine to such a height that high grown plants can be uniformly fertilized. The draught links can be lowered, even when connected in their lower position, to such an extent that the rear upper edge of the hopper is disposed at a relatively small distance from the ground. This provides easicr and more comfortable charging of the hopper which applies equally whether the fertilizer is contained in sacks or other containers, or is charged in loose form from the ground or from a loading slide of a transport vehicle.

In one embodiment, the connecting means may comprise two support members which are releasably connected to the frame and to the lower ends of which the draught links are respectively connectible by coupling elements for locating the draught links in said lower position relative to the frame. Thus, these supports can be easily removed for the use of the machine in the upper position of the draught links, e.g.

for normal fertilizing.

In another embodiment, the connecting means comprises two movable support members which can be supported relative to the frame in at least one operative position and one inoperative position and to which the draught links are respectively connectible when the support members are in the or each operative position for locating the draught links in said lower position relative to the frame. Thus, the supports do not need to be disconnected when the machine is set with the draught links in their upper position, since these need only be moved to their inoperative position.

Conveniently, the support members are arranged to be adjustable on the frame in various positions.

Conveniently, said support members are vertically movable in respective fixing components mounted on the frame. In this case, each fixing component may have adjacent its lower end a hole which is alignable with a hole in the ,respective support member intermediate the ends thereof for recciving a respective coupling element for connecting the respective draught link to the frame in an upper position.

Moreover, each fixing component adjacent its upper end may have an additional hole the diameter of which is equal to that of the hole adjacent its lower end. Thus, two further possibilities exist of coupling the draught links in their upper position, and thus the draught links may also be coupled to coupling elements inserted in the upper holes or to coupling elements arranged in the supports.

Each fixing component may have further vertically spaced apart holes which have a diameter equal to that of the hole adjacent the lower end. Thus, the coupling elements for the upper position and also for a lower position of the draught links can be arranged in different locations on the machine, so that it is possible to further adjust the height of the spreading members, both for normal fertilizing and late season fertilizing on the machine to be suitable for various stroke lengths of the three-point power lift on specific types of tractor.

Further holes in the fixing components may be aligned with holes in the support members when the lower ends of the support members are flush with the lower edge of the frame.

Vertically adjustable support legs may be mounted on the support members.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a distributing machine in accordance with the invention in a raised operative position with the draught links of a three point power lift arranged in a lower position relative to the machine.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine of Fig. 1 in a lowered loading position; Fig. 3 is a side view of the machine in a raised operative position with the draught links arranged in an upper position relative to the machine; Fig. 4 shows the machine of Fig. 3 in a lowered loading position; Fig. 5 shows, on enlarged scale, a crosssection taken along the line A-B of Figure 4, showing one arrangement connecting one of the draught links to the frame of the machine.

Fig. 6 shows, on enlarged scale, a side view of another arrangement connecting one of the draught links to the machine; Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken along C-D of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the arrangement shown in Figs. 6 and 7, but with the draught link connected in a lower position, and Fig. 9 is a cross-section taken along E-F of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, the machine shown therein has a frame 1. A supply hopper 2 is connected to the frame.

Spreading members 4 in the form of centrifugal disc-like distributors are mounted on the frame and are connected to a bevel gearing 3. At the front end, the frame 1 has extension bars 6 provided with coupling pins 5 for connecting the frame to an upper link 7 of a three-point power lift 10 of a tractor. The frame also has, at its front end, components 8 for connecting the frame to two draught links 9 of the three-point power lift 10.

Each component 8, only the right-hand side one of which is shown in Figures 1 to 5, comprises a plate 12 welded to the frame 1. A support arm 14 is pivotably connected to each plate 12 by means of a removable coupling pin 13. Moreover, each plate 12 is provided with three holes 15 so that the support arm 14 may be locked in a vertical, horizontal or intermediate position by means of pins 16. A coupling pin 17 is welded to the free end of each support arm 14 and has the same diameter as the coupling pins 13.

In the operating position for so-called late season fertilizing as shown in Figure 1, ea:h support arm 14 is connected to a respective plate 12 in a vertical position and the respective link 9 is hence disposed in a lower position relative to the frame, the outer end of the draught link being mounted on the respective coupling pin 17. Thus, the vertical distance a between the coupling pins S connecting the upper link 7 to the machine and the coupling pins 17 is approximately twice the vertical distance b between coupling pins 18 and 19 connecting the upper link 7 and the draught links 9 respectively, to the tractor.

During operation of the machine, fertilizer in the supply hopper is distributed by means of the spreading members 4 rotated via the bevel gearing 3 by the power take-off shaft (not shown) of the tractor in a conventional manner and is widely and regularly distributed over already grown plants 20. Thus, the machine is raised by the three-point power lift 10 so that the spreading members 4 have a clearance c above the top of the plants 20, at least approximately equal to the ground clearance for a normal fertilising operation.

Owing to the different vertical distances a and b the machine when lowered to a loading position shown in figure 2 is inclined rearwardly so as to provide an advantageously small vertical distance d between the rear part of the upper edge 21 of the supply hopper 2 and the ground 22, thus making it possible to load the hopper 2 easily.

In the raised operative position of the machine for so-called normal fertilizing as shown in Figure 3, the support arms 14 are arranged on the plates 12 in a horizontal position by means of the pins 16.

Moreover, the outer ends of the draught links 9 are mounted on respective coupling pins 13, as shown in Figure 5, so that the spreading members 4 are at a distance c from the ground. Furthermore, with this arrangement of the outer ends of the draught links 9, the vertical distance e between the coupling pin 13 and the coupling pins 5 for the upper link 7 is approximately equal to the vertical distance b between the coupling pins 18 and 19. Since the distances b and e are approximately equal, the upper edge 21 of the supply hopper 2, when the machine is lowered to the loading position shown in Figure 4, keeps approximately the same orientation as in the raised position.

Since also in this case as with the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the machine can be lowered by the tractor 11 while taking advantage of the full stroke of the draught links 9 so that the frame 1 almost reaches the ground 22, it is easy to fill the supply hopper 2.

Figures 6 to 9 show alternative arrangements 23 by which the frame is connected to the draught links 9. These arrangements 23 each comprise a tubular fixing component 24 which is welded to the frame 1 and which adjustably locates a tubular support 25. The fixing component 24 in its lower and upper regions and the support 25 in an intermediate region have a respective hole 26 of the same diameter. Further similar holes 26' are formed both in the fixing component 24 and in the support 25.

The holes 26 and 26' in each of the component 24 and support 25 are spaced equidistantly from one another. As shown in particular in Figures 6 and 7, corresponding holes 26 and 26' can be brought to a position such that the lower end of the support 25 is at the same level as the lower edge 27 of the frame 1. An additional similar hole 26" in the support 25 is provided at a distance g from the lower end of the support 25, the distance g being slightly greater than half the perpendicular distance h between the upper and lower edges of each draught link 9. Accordingly it is possible to couple, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, each draught link at its lowest poistion to the respective support 25.

Finally, an upright support leg 28 is telescopically mounted in the tubular support 25, the support leg 28 having a plurality of vertically spaced holes 29 and being locatable at different positions with respect to the support 25 by means of a pin 30.

In the arrangement 23 shown in Figures 6 and 7, a coupling pin 31 is inserted through aligned holes 26' of the fixing component 24 and the support 25. This pin 31 has a collar 32 which abuts one side of the component 24 and is located in the holes 26' against axial movement by means of a cotter pin 33. Each draught link is mounted on a respective pin 31 and also fixed against axial movement by means of a cotter pin 33. In this position each draught link 9 occupies one of its upper positions relative to the machine and in this position the machine will be used for normal fertilizing as shown in Figure 3. Depending upon the ground clearance and the stroke length of the power lift 10 the pin 3.1 may also be arranged in other holes 26, 26' in the fixing component 24 and in the support 25. For this purposc, it is also possible to leave the machine on the supports 25 and to remove the upright support legs 28 from the supports 25.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the support 25 is connected to the fixing component 24 by pin 31 in such a position that its lower end is at the same height as the lower edge 27 of the frame. Thus, the upright support leg 28 is fully inserted into the support 25 because the pin 31 has such a ground clearance that each of the two draught links 9 may be coupled to the arrangement 23 without difficulty in the illustrated lower position of the machine even when these draught links cannot be lowered with their outer ends to ground level.

A coupling pin 31' is inserted in the lower hole 26" in the support 25 to couple the respective draft link 9 in a lower position, the pin 31' being identical to the pin 31. ln this way it is also possible to adjust the height of the machine with respect to the ground even for normal fertilizing as shown in Figure 3.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9 the support 25 is in its lower position relative to the fixing component 24 so that the hole 26 is aligned with the lower hole in the fixing component. The pin 31 is turned through 1800, is inserted into the hole 26 and serves only to locate the support relative to the fixing component 24.

Moreover, the pin 31' is inserted in the lower hole 26" in the support 25. In this lowest position of the support 25 the machine may be raised to an operative position for so-called late season fertilizing as shown in Figure 1, the draught link 9 being mounted on the pin 31'. Axial movement of the pin 31' iri the support 25 and of the draught link 9 on the pin 31' is prevented by cotter pins 33.

Furthermore, the upright support leg 28 is extended below the lower end of the support 25 and is retained in this position by the pin 30. Thus, it is possible to easily mount the draught link 9 on and remove it from the pin 31' for assembly and disassembly of the machine. Owing to the possibility of lowering the draught links 9 from the tractor, the upright support leg 28 may also be positioned in another extended position on the support 25. To alter the ground clearance of the machine in its operative position, it is possible to alter the pin 31' in the support 25 and to mount the support 25 in one of the other positions defined by the various holes 26 and 26'.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A machine for spreading granular material, comprising a storage hopper, distributor means for spreading material discharged from the hopper, a frame which supports the hopper and distributor means and which extends to a relatively small extent below the distributor means, and means for connecting the machine to upper and draught links of a three point power lift of an agricultural tractor in which the upper link is connected to the tractor at a position which is vertically spaced from tije positions at which the draught links are connected to the tractor by a distance (b), wherein the connecting means includes coupling elements for connecting each draught link to the frame in anyone of at least two vertically spaced positions and wherein the lower of said at least two positions is below the frame and is vertically spaced from a position at which the upper link is connectible to the frame by a distance (a) which is greater than the distance (b).

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises two support members which are releasably connected to the frame and to the lower ends of which the draught links are respectively connectible by coupling elements for locating the draught links in said lower position relative to the frame.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises two movable support members which can be supported relative to the frame in at least one operative position and one inoperative position and to which the draught links are respectively connectible when the support members are in the or each operative position for locating the draught links in said lower position relative to the frame.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the support members are arranged to be adjustable on the frame in various positions.

5. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said support members are vertically movable in respective fixing components mounted on the frame.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein each fixing component has adjacent its lower end a hole which is alignable with a hole in the respective support member intermediate the ends thereof for receiving a respective coupling element for connecting the respective draught link to the frame in an upper position.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein each fixing component adjacent its upper end has an additional hole the diameter of which is equal to that of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. machine will be used for normal fertilizing as shown in Figure 3. Depending upon the ground clearance and the stroke length of the power lift 10 the pin 3.1 may also be arranged in other holes 26, 26' in the fixing component 24 and in the support 25. For this purposc, it is also possible to leave the machine on the supports 25 and to remove the upright support legs 28 from the supports 25. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the support 25 is connected to the fixing component 24 by pin 31 in such a position that its lower end is at the same height as the lower edge 27 of the frame. Thus, the upright support leg 28 is fully inserted into the support 25 because the pin 31 has such a ground clearance that each of the two draught links 9 may be coupled to the arrangement 23 without difficulty in the illustrated lower position of the machine even when these draught links cannot be lowered with their outer ends to ground level. A coupling pin 31' is inserted in the lower hole 26" in the support 25 to couple the respective draft link 9 in a lower position, the pin 31' being identical to the pin 31. ln this way it is also possible to adjust the height of the machine with respect to the ground even for normal fertilizing as shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figures 8 and 9 the support 25 is in its lower position relative to the fixing component 24 so that the hole 26 is aligned with the lower hole in the fixing component. The pin 31 is turned through 1800, is inserted into the hole 26 and serves only to locate the support relative to the fixing component 24. Moreover, the pin 31' is inserted in the lower hole 26" in the support 25. In this lowest position of the support 25 the machine may be raised to an operative position for so-called late season fertilizing as shown in Figure 1, the draught link 9 being mounted on the pin 31'. Axial movement of the pin 31' iri the support 25 and of the draught link 9 on the pin 31' is prevented by cotter pins 33. Furthermore, the upright support leg 28 is extended below the lower end of the support 25 and is retained in this position by the pin 30. Thus, it is possible to easily mount the draught link 9 on and remove it from the pin 31' for assembly and disassembly of the machine. Owing to the possibility of lowering the draught links 9 from the tractor, the upright support leg 28 may also be positioned in another extended position on the support 25. To alter the ground clearance of the machine in its operative position, it is possible to alter the pin 31' in the support 25 and to mount the support 25 in one of the other positions defined by the various holes 26 and 26'. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A machine for spreading granular material, comprising a storage hopper, distributor means for spreading material discharged from the hopper, a frame which supports the hopper and distributor means and which extends to a relatively small extent below the distributor means, and means for connecting the machine to upper and draught links of a three point power lift of an agricultural tractor in which the upper link is connected to the tractor at a position which is vertically spaced from tije positions at which the draught links are connected to the tractor by a distance (b), wherein the connecting means includes coupling elements for connecting each draught link to the frame in anyone of at least two vertically spaced positions and wherein the lower of said at least two positions is below the frame and is vertically spaced from a position at which the upper link is connectible to the frame by a distance (a) which is greater than the distance (b).

hole adjacent its lower end.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein each fixing component has further vertically spaced apart holes which have a diameter equal to that of the hole adjacent the lower end.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein further holes having the same diameter as the holes in the fixing components are provided in the support members, the holes in the support members being equidistantly spaced from one another by the same distance as the holes equidistantly spaced in the fixing components.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein holes in the fixing components are aligned with holes in the support members when the lower ends of the support members are flush with the lower edge of the frame.

11. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein vertically adjustable support legs are mounted on the support members.

12. A machine substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.