GB2064283A

GB2064283A - A thrower spreader

Info

Publication number: GB2064283A
Application number: GB8039170A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Priority date: 1979-12-07
Filing date: 1980-12-05
Publication date: 1981-06-17
Also published as: GB2064283B; DE2949224C2; DE2949224A1

Abstract

A thrower spreader, in particular for distributing fertilisers, has a drivable spreading device which is provided with at least one thrower element (2) comprising one inner part (4) and one outer part (6). The outer part is angularly movable relative to the inner part in a vertical plane and is adjustably arranged in respect of its inclination on the inner part. The parts (4 and 6) are connected together with friction contact by means of at least one resilient element (8), so that the ejection angle of the projected fertiliser particles can be adjusted simply and reliably without the aid of tools. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A thrower spreader The invention relates to a thrower spreader and more particularly but not exclusively to a thrower spreader for distributing fertiliser.

A thrower spreader is known from Fed. Rep. of Germany published patent application No. 28 05 879, which spreader has a drivable spreading device which is provided with thrower elements each comprising an inner part and an outer part, wherein the outer parts are angularly movable relative to the inner parts in a vertical plane and adjustable in respect of their inclination.

In this thrower spreader the outer parts of the thrower elements are mounted for angular movement on always one metal pin located at the inner parts and are retainable in different positions within the adjustment range provided, by means of screw bolts extending through elongate holes and wing nuts located thereon.

It is of advantage in this case that owing to the adjustability of the inclination of the outer part of each thrower element the ejection angle of the particies of the material to be distributed which are projected by the thrower elements can be altered in such a manner that the working width ofthe spreader is variable dependently upon the prevailing employment conditions and fertiliser kinds, or are adjustable to a predetermined width measure, respectively.

On the other hand, however, it is of considerable disadvantage that for performing each adjustment of the ejection angle, the wing nuts must be released and thereafter tightened again. Apart from the effort related therewith, this kind of adjustment may be performed only with great difficulties when a long period of time has elapsed between individual adjustments. This is caused by the fact that the aggressive fertilisers attack the nuts and the screw bolts, so that the wing nuts which are then tightly secured must be released by force resulting,frequently, in damage to the screwthreads.

According to the invention there is provided a thrower spreader having a drivable spreading device which is provided with at least one thrower element comprising an inner part and an outer part, the outer part being angularly movable relative to the inner part in an in use vertical plane and adjustable in respect of its inclination, wherein the inner and outer parts are connected to each other with friction contact by means of at least one resilient element.

Thus, the outer part(s) need merely be gripped and swung to the desired position for the purpose of alteration of the ejection angle.

Preferably, the inner part(s) or the entire thrower element(s) is/are connected with friction contact to the spreading device for angular movement about an in use vertical axis. Thereby the additional advantage is obtained that also the lateral ejection angles of the fertiliser particles projected by the spreading device can be altered. Such a change is advantage ous when edge strips of a field are to be spread over without overspreading adjacent areas, or when the thrower spreader in shift line is to be employed on a slope having a steep inclination.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of a thrower spreader according to the invention, Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a spreading device of the thrower spreader shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1 of a thrower element of the thrower spreader shown in Figure 1, on an enlarged scale, Figure 4 shows a construction of the contact surface of the inner part of a thrower element, Figure 5 is a side view of another embodiment of a thrower spreader according to the invention, and Figure 6 is a side view of another connection with friction contact between the relatively angularly movable parts of the spreading device shown in Figure 5.

The thrower spreader illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is provided with a storage container 1 below which is arranged a spreading device comprising a thrower disc 2 which is driven in known manner by the takeoff shaft (not shown) of a tractor which in use conveys the spreader. The thrower disc 2 has attached thereto two thrower elements 3 which each have an inner part 4 and an outer part 6. The outer part 6 is connected to the inner part 4 for angular movement relative thereto by means of a pin 5. In similar manner each inner part 4 is attached to the thrower disc 2 for anuglar movement about a vertical axis. In this case the respective end positions of the pivot ranges of an outer part 6 in a vertical plane and an inner part 4 or an entire thrower element 3 in a horizontal plane are illustrated by broken lines.

Figure 3 illustrates a resilient friction connection 7 between the parts 4 and 6 of the thrower elements 3.

By means of a resilient element 8 which is in the form of a plate spring and which is mounted on the pin 5 outside the parts 4 and 6, the parts 4 and 6 are biassed to frictionally engage one another at the surface 9 and are axially retained on the pin 5 by means of a retaining member in the form of a seif-locking nut 10. By adjusting the nut 10 the surface pressure and thus the friction between the parts 4 and 6 is adjustable. In orderto reduce wear at the nut 10 in the course of numerous adjustments a washer 11 is inserted between the nut 10 and the resilient element 8.

The pin 5 is welded to the inner part 4 of the thrower element 3. A disc 12 which forms a unit with the part 4 is arranged on the pin between the inner part 4 and the outer part 6 of the thrower element 3.

For the purpose of adjusting the outer part 6 of each thrower element 3 it is merely necessary in this constructional form to overcome the friction between the part 6 and disc 12.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the surface 9 between the part 4 (or disc 12) and the part 6 may be provided with detent elements 13 in the form of a spur gear or Hirth gear. This configuration of the contact surface 9 provides a more powerful retention. This may be of advantage for particularly difficult conditions, for example extremeiy large spreading quantities. How ever, these detent elements 13 need not be located on the entire surface 9. Also such detent elements 13 may be present between the inner part 4 and the thrower disc 2.

Figure 5 illustrates a thrower spreader constructed in the form of an oscillatory spreader having a stor age container 14 and a drivable thrower element 15 which comprises an inner part 16 and an outer part 18. The outer part 18 is pivotal relative to the inner part 16 in a vertical plane about pin 5 by means of a resilient friction connection 17. This friction connection 17 is in the form of a plate 19 which is attached to the inner part 16 and a lever 20 which slides thereon for adjustment of the ejection angle a and which is attached to the outer part 18. For the purpose of intensifying the effect of the friction connection 17 detent elements are provided which comprise depressions 21 pressed into the plate 19 and a projection 22 attached to the lever 20.In this case full lines illustrate the lower extreme position and broken lines the upper extreme position 18' of the adjustment range characterised by the angle a of the outer part 18.

At the plate 19thefriction connection 23 illustrated in Figure 6 comprises detent elements 24, 25 and 26 which are of V-shaped construction in cross-section and which follow one behind the other. In this case the detent elements 24 are provided for adjusting the outer parts 18 for normal fertilising and the detent elements 26 for retaining the outer parts for late fertilising. The difference between these detent elements resides in the fact that a deeper depression 27 is located between the detent element 24 while the height is the same as that of the detent elements 25, whereas the detent elements 26 project above the detent elements 25. Obviously, the detent elements 26 may be substituted for the detent elements 24, or vice versa.

A stub 28 of V-shaped construction is welded to the lower end of the lever 20 for engaging the detent elements 24, 25, 26. This stub is pressed against the detent elements 24, 25, 26 by means of the lever 20 and by means of a resilient element which is constructed in the form of a rubber buffer 29 and is mounted on the pin 5 outside the lever 20. Forthe purpose of axially retaining the rubber buffer 29 on the pin 5, a self-locking nut 30 is provided as retaining member and is fitted with a cover 31 which covers the free end of the pin 5.

The use as the resilient element of a rubber buffer 29 or even a spring of rubber or a synthetic resin provides the advantage of being insensitive to agressive fertilisers. The rubber buffer must be preferred for the reason that at the same time it protects the pin 5 sufficiently against contamination. The cover 31 provides complete screening of the pin 5, so that not only a change of the bias tension of this resilient element 29 becomes possible at any time, but also easy dismantling thereof is ensured.

Instead of the screw-threaded pin a smooth pin may be used, and in this case the retaining member for the resilient element may be a clamping sleeve of the type known for pin-on brooches of all kinds.

Finally it is to be appreciated that the separately illustrated friction connections are not limited to the particular embodiments of the thrower spreaders in conjunction with which they are described but, for example, the friction connections shown in Figures 5 and 6 may be employed with the embodiment of the thrower spreader illustrated in Figure 1.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A thrower spreader having a drivable spreading device which is provided with at least one thrower element comprising an inner part and an outer part, the outer part being angularly movable relative to the inner part in an in use vertical plane and adjustable in respect of its inclination, wherein the inner and outer parts are connected to each other with friction contact by means of at least one resilient element.

2. Athrower spreader as daimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient element is mounted on a pin about which the inner and outer parts are relatively angularly movable.

3. A thrower spreader as claimed in claim 2, wherein the resilient element is located outside the inner and outer parts on the pin.

4. Athrowerspreader as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the resilient element comprises at least of one plate spring.

5. A thrower spreader as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the resilient element comprises at least one rubber buffer.

6. A thrower spreader as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein detent elements are provided on the parts of the thrower elements within their adjustment range (a) relatively to each other.

7. A thrower spreader as claimed in claim 6, wherein the outer part(s) of the thrower element(s) is/are retainable relative to the inner part(s) by means of detent elements at least in a position provided for normal fertilising and in a position provided for late fertilising.

8. Athrower spreader as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the detent elements comprise depressions and at least one projection receivable in the depressions.

9. A thrower spreader as claimed in any of the claims 6 to 8, wherein the detent elements are of V-shaped construction in cross-section.

10. Athrower spreader as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, and 6 to 9 when dependent on claim 2, wherein a retaining member is provided on the pin for locating the resilient element.

11. A thrower spreader as claimed in claim 10, wherein the retaining member surrounds on all sides the free end of the pin.

12. A thrower spreader as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner part(s) or the entire thrower ele ment(s) is/are connected with friction contact to the spreading device for angular movement about an in use vertical axis.

13. A thrower spreader substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.