GB1604851A

GB1604851A - Powder or granular materials spreaders

Info

Publication number: GB1604851A
Application number: GB27492/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Craven Tasker Andover Ltd
Current assignee: Craven Tasker Andover Ltd
Priority date: 1977-06-30
Filing date: 1977-06-30
Publication date: 1981-12-16
Also published as: NZ187723A; FR2395692A1; AU3757078A; NL7806846A; DE2828636A1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO POWDER OR GRANULAR MATERIAL SPREADERS (71) We, CRAVEN TASKER (ANDOVER) LIMITED, a Company registered under the laws of England, of Anna Valley, Andover, Hampshire SPll 7NF, England, 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 agricultural fertiliser spreaders. Chemical fertilisers are an essential requirement in modem inorganic agriculture. Chemical fertilisers may be applied in several forms but when in the form of fine free flowing granules it is found to be particularly convenient to apply them before and during sowing of plants and during their growth.

There are several methods of applying chemical granular fertilisers, but a particularly reliable and well approved manner is to feed measured quantities of the fertiliser onto a disc which is fitted with vanes and driven to rotate at high speed about a vertical axis so that the vanes catch the falling fertiliser grains and throw them outwards to fall over a large area, by centrifugal force so produced results in a very even distribution over the ground or a crop and permits a reasonable tolerance in application.

Until recently such granular fertilisers were only applied up to the early stages of crop growth but it has been found as a result of research that the fertilisers may be used more economically by applying them at regular intervals throughout the crop growth period, and that crop quality may be improved by the application of fertilisers right up to the final stages of the growth.

This particularly applies to cereal crops such as barley and wheat.

Difficulties have been experienced in the application of chemical fertilisers during the later Stages in crop growth because the wheeled vehicles such as tractors and trailed fertiliser spreaders of conventional design have tended to damage the crops with consequential loss of yield.

To minimise such damage a system called tramlining has been introduced when, during the drilling of the seeds, two single rows of seeds are omitted to correspond with the track of a specified agricultural tractor.

These two missed rows are known as tramlines and provide spaces in the crop though which the wheels of the tractor may subsequently pass without damaging the growing crop even up to the last stages of the crop growth.

As the crop grows it is desirable to raise the height of the fertiliser distributing device so that the device clears the top of the growing crop, but at the same time it is necessary to ensure that the device is no higher than necessary to clear the crop, because the accuracy of spread of fertiliser is affected more by prevailing winds as the device is lifted clear of the crop.

Existing spreaders have not proved convenient for such use. In those spreaders having their own ground wheels for trailing behind a tractor vehicle, attempts have been made to make the height of the whole spreader adjustable on the ground wheels.

In those spreaders which are mounted on a tractor vehicle, again the whole spreader has been raised or lowered on the vehicle.

In each case this has involved raising and lowering the considerable weight of the spreader including its hopper for fertiliser and its contents, with attendant inconvenience and an unfavourable balance of mass in the device in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spreader which is particularly suitable for "tramline" use and which alleviates these difficulties.

Accordingly the present invention provides a powder or granular material spreader adapted to be trailed behind a tractor vehicle, comprising a wheeled chassis arranged to be trailed over the ground, a hopper for material to be spread supported on the wheeled chassis, and a metering elevator arranged to elevate material from the hopper to a position vertically above a motor drivable spinning disc device for distributing the material, the metering elevator being arranged to feed material to the disc device in a quantity dependent upon the dis tance moved by the spreader across the ground, and the spinning disc device com prising an assembly of a feed nozzle and spinner disc and being mounted on the chassis or the hopper to be adjustable in a vertical direction to clear prevailing crop height above the ground.

Preferably said metering elevator comprises a recirculating chain fitted with spaced paddles arranged to sweep fertiliser up along a channel in the elevator, the chain being driven through a variable ratio transmission from the wheels of said chassis.

Preferably said transmission includes a clutch mechanism to disconnect the drive to said elevator when the spreader is driven backwards across the ground.

Preferably the chassis of the spreader is pivotally connected about a vertical axis to a towing frame arranged for rigid con nection to a tractor vehicle, the chassis hav ing two spaced land wheels and the vertical axis being disposed mid-way between the rear axle of the tractor vehicle and the spreader axle.

Preferably an extendable chute is provided extending vertically between the top of the elevator and the spinning disc device for feeding fertiliser from the elevator to the disc device.

The outlet of the extendable chute may be bifurcated to feed fertiliser to two points on the disc of the spinning disc device; or in cases where a very high rate of spreading is required onto two separate spinning disc devices. In a further arrangement, the outlet from the metering elevator may be bifur cated and two chutes provided for the same two purposes.

In yet a further arrangement two separate metering elevators may be provided in the hopper to feed material to two points on a single disc or to two separate discs.

Preferably the elevator is removable from the spreader for cleaning and maintenance.

Preferably the track of the wheels of the spreader is adjustable.

Preferably the operation of the elevator is interlocked with the operation of the disc device to prevent the elevator operating when the disc is stationary.

In order to promote a fuller understanding of the above, and other aspects of the pre sent invention an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a fertiliser spreader from a rear/side view point, and Figure 2 shows the spreader of Figure 1 from a front/side view point.

The fertiliser spreader shown in the drawings embodying the invention comprises a chassis 10 carried on independent axles having respective wheels 11, to be trailed across the ground behind a tractor vehicle. The chassis 10 is provided at its forward end, with towing brackets 12 which are connected with a pivotal connection about a vertical axis 13 to a towing bracket 14 which is adapted for three point mounting on the tractor by means of mounting points 15.

The towing bracket 14 and the axis 13 are preferably so arranged, relative to a particular towing tractor, that the axis 13 falls mid-way between the rear axle of the tractor and the axle of the wheels 11, so that in use the wheels 11 faithfully follow the paths of the rear wheels of the tractor. In this way the wheels 11 will follow in the tramlines left during sowing for the tractor wheels. The towing brackets 12 and/or the bracket 14 may be made adjustable to achieve this geometry for various tractor vehicles. The chassis 10 carries a hopper 20 which is of conventional design per se and arranged with a top surface through which it can be loaded with granular fertiliser. A metering elevator 21 is positioned in the hopper towards the rear of the hopper to carry granular fertiliser from the bottom of the hopper to a point 22 is vertically above a spinning disc distributor device 23 which is of known design per se being mounted on the chassis 10 and driven by a hydraulic motor.

The elevator 21 comprises a continuous loop chain 24 which extends between a lower sprocket 25 positioned beneath the bottom of the hppper 20, and an upper sprocket 26 positioned at the point 22. The chain 24 is driven to circulate by a suitable transmission mechanism indicated generally at 27 from one of the wheels 11, so that the chain is driven as the spreader is trailed across the ground.

The transmission 27 includes a chain drive 28 from the one wheel 11 to a crossshaft 29, a chain drive 30 from the crossshaft 29 to a second cross-shaft 31, and a belt drive 32 from the second cross-shaft 31 to the chain sprocket 26. The sprockets of the chain drive 30 and the pulleys of the belt drive 32 may be changed to vary the overall drive ratio of the transmission from the wheel 11 to the chain sprocket 26, the chain and belt drives respectively being provided with suitably adjustable tensioning means 33 and 34 to enable the drives to accommodate large variations in sprocket and pulley sizes. At a suitable point in the transmission from the one wheel 11 to the sprocket 26, a one-way clutch mechanism is provided so that no drive is transmitted to the elevator when the spreader moves over the ground in reverse.

The chain 24 passes, at least in its upward moving part between the sprockets 25 and 26 through an enclosed passage 35, and the chain is fitted at spaced intervals over its entire length with paddles 36 which have a running clearance in the passage 35. The passage 35 is open to the bottom of the hopper 20 so as the chain is driven, the paddles 36 collect fertiliser falling into the passage and carry it up out of the hopper 20 up through the passage 35 to the point 22, in metered quantities which are dependent upon the size of the tubular passage and the spacing between the paddles along the chain.

The spinning disc device 23 which is preferably driven by means of hydraulic motor 37 supplied by way of pipes 38 with hydraulic fluid under pressure from the tractor vehicle, but which may be driven by any other suitable means: is mounted in this embodiment on the chassis 10 to be slidably adjustable in a vertical direction on a pillar 38 to a height to suit the existing crop conditions. The pillar 38 is provided with a series of spaced holes 39, and the spinning disc device is carried on a frame 40 including a removable pin 41 arranged to engage in a selected one of the holes 39. An extendable chute indicated at 42 in the form of a plastics material corrugated pipe, is provided between the elevator 21 and the spinning disc device 23 to collect fertiliser granules falling out of the elevator as the chain and paddles pass over the sprocket 26, and to convey them to a feed nozzle disposed above the disc of the drive 23, in a known manner per se.

In order to promote easy cleaning and repair, the complete elevator assembly 21 is mounted so as to be removable from the hopper and chassis. The elevator may by adjustment of the drive ratio of the transmission to it, be arranged to feed fertiliser over a wide range of feed rates so that small quantities of concentrated fertiliser, or large quantities of comparatively low concentration fertiliser may be applied. In order to assist in the satisfactory feeding of larger quantities of fertiliser materials at a high rate to the disc of the device 23, the feed outlet nozzle to the spreader device 23, at the end of the chute 42 may be bifurcated, and arranged to feed the fertiliser through two apertures disposed at spaced points above the disc of the device. This assists in the feeding of fertiliser satisfactorily to the disc at the high flow rate while still maintaining accurate spread pattern.

The transmission between the wheels 11 and the chain of the elevator 21 is as mentioned arranged to provide variable ratio by which the distance moved by the chain of the elevator and thus the quantity of fertiliser elevated by it, is related to the rotation of the wheels 11 and thus the distance travelled over the ground by the spreader. By presetting the drive ratio the quantity of fertiliser distributed over a given area of field traversed by the spreader can be adjusted to meet the requirements of crop and fertiliser conditions.

The drive to the elevator is preferably interlocked by hydraulic means with the device 23, so that the elevator is only driven by the wheels 11 when the spinning disc of the device is operating, thus to avoid accumulation of fertiliser in the chute 42.

The track of the wheels 11 on the chassis is variable so that it can be adjusted to suit a particular tramline spacing corresponding to the track of the towing tractor.

Thus it can be seen that a fertiliser spreader is provided in which the spreading unit can be easily adjusted in height, while maintaining the centre of mass of the spreader at a constant low height, offering particular suitability for treatment of growing crops.

Some variations in the design, not shown in the drawings, are possible to meet particular requirements in a spreader, particularly when it is desired to handle very high rates of material distribution or to control the rate and distribution pattern with particular accuracy over a range of height adjustment.

Instead of a single spinning disc being provided, for high rates of distribution, two spinning discs may be provided each mounted on the device in a similar manner to the single disc discussed above, and fed by the bifurcated version of the extendable chute.

Instead of a single chute being provided the outlet at the top of the elevator may be divided or bifurcated into a plurality of outlets and a respective chute similar to that described above provided for each of that plurality of outlets to feed material either to respective points on a single disc; or to a respective disc, each of which is again mounted on the device in a similar manner to the single disc discussed above. It is anticipated that two such discs with respective chutes will meet most requirements, but more than two may be used to meet particular needs.

In a further arrangement, instead of the outlet of the metering conveyor being divided, two separate conveyers may be provided, each with a respective chute, feeding a respective spinning disc device.

In cases where particular accuracy in feed rate and pattern is needed, to compensate for the different characteristics which may be caused in feeding some materials by the variation in vertical drop of material from the metering elevator onto the spinning disc, it may be arranged that this drop is maintained constant over the range of height adjustment.

This may be achieved by making the outlet point from the metering elevator adjustable along the slant height of the elevator so that as the spinnning disc is raised, the outlet is also raised to maintain the drop constant. In such an arrangement the mounting of the spinning disc device may be such that during height adjustment, the fore and aft displacement to match that of the elevator outlet is achieved. One manner in which this can be done is to incline the support 38 to match the inclination of the elevator.

An alternative manner in which the drop from the elevator outlet to the spinning from the elevator outlet to the spinning disc may be maintained constant, is to mount the elevator pivotally at or adjacent its lower end in the hopper; so that, as the spinning disc is adjusted in height, the elevator may be pivoted to maintain the drop constant.

Again fore and aft compensation for the spinning disc may be provided.

While the above discussion has been in respect of a fertiliser spreader for agricultural use, it will be appreciated that the spreader of the invention can also be used for spreading other powdered or granular materials and in other than agricultural ap plications, for instance in spreading salt and sand mixture on public highways.

Attention is drawn to our co-pending divisional application No. 17407/80 (Serial No. 1604852).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A powder or granular material spreader adapted to be trailed behind a tractor vehicle, comprising a wheeled chassis arranged to be trailed over the ground, a hopper for material to be spread supported on the wheeled chassis, and a metering elevator arranged to elevate material from the hopper to a position vertically above a motor drivable spinning disc device for distributing the material, the metering elevator being arranged to feed material to the disc device in a quantity dependent upon the distance moved by the spreader across the ground, and the spinning disc device comprising an assembly of a feed nozzle and spinner disc and being mounted on the chassis or on the hopper to be adjustable in a vertical direction to clear prevailing crop height above the ground.

2. A spreader as claimed in Claim 1, in which the metering elevator comprises an endless chain fitted with paddles spaced along its length and arranged to sweep materials to be spread up along a channel formed in the elevator, the chain being driven through an adjustable ratio transmission from one of the wheels of the chassis.

3. A spreader as claimed in Claim 2, in which the adjustable ratio transmission includes a clutch mechanism arranged to prevent the elevator being driven by the wheel when the spreader is driven backwards across the ground.

4. A spreader as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the chassis is provided with two spaced land wheels and pivotally connected to a towing frame, the pivotal axis being vertical and arranged to be approximately mid-way between the rear axle of the tractor vehicle and the axis of the two land wheels.

5. A spreader as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which an extendable chute is provided between the top of the metering elevator and the spinning disc device to feed material to be spread to the disc device.

6. A spreader as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the spinning disc device is slidably mounted on a generally vertical pillar, the pillar being formed with a series of spaced holes, and the spinning disc device having a removable pin associated therewith to engage with a selected one of the holes to retain the disc device in an adjusted vertical position.

7. A spreader as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, in which the chute is provided with a bifurcated outlet to feed material to two selected points on the disc device.

8. A spreader as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, in which two such spinning disc devices are provided, so mounted on the chassis or on the hopper; and the extendable chute is provided with a bifurcated outlet to feed material onto the two disc devices.

9. A spreader as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, in which two such chutes are provided to feed material to two selected points on the disc device.

10. A spreader as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, in which two or more such spinning disc devices are provided, so mounted on the chassis or on the hopper, and a respective such extendable chute is provided for each spinning disc device, the outlet from the metering conveyor being divided to feed material to each of the chutes.

11. A spreader as claimed in Claim 5 or 6 in which two or more such spinning disc devices are provided so mounted on the chassis or on the hopper, each with a respective matering conveyer so arranged to elevate material and each with a respective chute from the elevator to the spinning disc device.

12. A spreader as claimed in any preceding claim in which the metering elevator is removable as an assembly for cleaning.

13. A spreader as claimed in any pre

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. be caused in feeding some materials by the variation in vertical drop of material from the metering elevator onto the spinning disc, it may be arranged that this drop is maintained constant over the range of height adjustment. This may be achieved by making the outlet point from the metering elevator adjustable along the slant height of the elevator so that as the spinnning disc is raised, the outlet is also raised to maintain the drop constant. In such an arrangement the mounting of the spinning disc device may be such that during height adjustment, the fore and aft displacement to match that of the elevator outlet is achieved. One manner in which this can be done is to incline the support 38 to match the inclination of the elevator. An alternative manner in which the drop from the elevator outlet to the spinning from the elevator outlet to the spinning disc may be maintained constant, is to mount the elevator pivotally at or adjacent its lower end in the hopper; so that, as the spinning disc is adjusted in height, the elevator may be pivoted to maintain the drop constant. Again fore and aft compensation for the spinning disc may be provided. While the above discussion has been in respect of a fertiliser spreader for agricultural use, it will be appreciated that the spreader of the invention can also be used for spreading other powdered or granular materials and in other than agricultural ap plications, for instance in spreading salt and sand mixture on public highways. Attention is drawn to our co-pending divisional application No. 17407/80 (Serial No. 1604852). WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A powder or granular material spreader adapted to be trailed behind a tractor vehicle, comprising a wheeled chassis arranged to be trailed over the ground, a hopper for material to be spread supported on the wheeled chassis, and a metering elevator arranged to elevate material from the hopper to a position vertically above a motor drivable spinning disc device for distributing the material, the metering elevator being arranged to feed material to the disc device in a quantity dependent upon the distance moved by the spreader across the ground, and the spinning disc device comprising an assembly of a feed nozzle and spinner disc and being mounted on the chassis or on the hopper to be adjustable in a vertical direction to clear prevailing crop height above the ground.

13. A spreader as claimed in any pre

ceding Claim in which the outlet from the metering conveyer is adjustable in height to maintain the vertical drop between the outlet and the spinning disc device or devices constant for the various vertically adjusted positions of the device or devices.

14. A spreader as claimed in Claim 13, in which the outlet from each metering conveyer is adjustable along the run of the conveyer for such height adjustment.

15. A spreader as claimed in Claim 13, in which each metering conveyer is pivotally mounted for such height adjustment.

16. A spreader as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the track of the land wheels of the chassis is adjustable.

17. A spreader as claimed in any preceding claim in which the spinning disc device is drivable by means of an hydraulic motor.

18. A spreader as claimed in any preceding claim in which the operation of the elevator and the spinning disc device is interlocked to prevent operation of the elevator unless the disc device is running.

19. A powder or granular material spreader substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.