GB2117213A

GB2117213A - Spreader

Info

Publication number: GB2117213A
Application number: GB08208987A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Douglas Arthur Everitt; Eric Staniforth
Original assignee: Sisis Equipment; Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd
Current assignee: Sisis Equipment; Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd
Priority date: 1982-03-26
Filing date: 1982-03-26
Publication date: 1983-10-12

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for spreading particulate material has a frame (11) whereby it can be attached behind a tractor (not shown). A hopper (13) has a discharge base in the form of a conveyor arranged about rollers (15, 16). The weight of the apparatus (10) is carried by spiking means in the form of a shaft (17) carrying elements (19) having spikes (20) which as the apparatus travels form apertures (27) in the ground which apertures can receive seed etc. from the conveyor and help to bury it and conceal it from birds and the like. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for spreading particulate material This invention relates to apparatus for spreading particulate material over the ground.

The apparatus is particularly suitable for spreading seed on grassy ground or a prepared seed bed.

When an already grassy area is to be seeded, it is normal to spread seeds over the ground and then apply a top dressing, which may contain a fertilizer, with a view to covering the seeds to prevent them being eaten by birds and other animals. This is only effective to a limited degree and many seeds lie exposed and are easily seen and eaten by birds unless an excessive amount of top dressing is needed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which reduces loss of spread seed to birds without excessive use of top dressing and which can ensure seed deposition and grass growth uniformly in an already grassy area.

The invention provides apparatus for spreading particulate material comprising a hopper for containing the particulate material, dispensing means beneath the hopper for dispensing material therefrom at a controlled rate and, forwardly, considered in relation to the direction of travel of the apparatus, of the dispensing means rotary spiking means for forming an array of apertures in the ground during travel of the apparatus.

The spiking means preferably bears the weight of the apparatus and is caused to rotate by travel of the apparatus, drive to the dispensing means being taken from the spiking means.

The apparatus may include a frame whereby it can be attached to the rear of a tractor or other towing vehicle. The frame can be such that a portion of the weight of the towing vehicle urges the spiking means downwardly to encourage efficient operation thereof.

The dispensing means can be in the form of a conveyor belt forming a base to the hopper which can extend the full width of the apparatus.

The spiking means can comprise a shaft upon which are disposed a plurality of individual tinecarrying elements arranged side by side. Preferably the tines of each element are circumferentially offset relative to those of adjacent elements to avoid the provision of axial rows of tines which would cause a variable load to be applied to the towing vehicle.

The offsetting of the tines can be achievecl by the elements being identical and threaded onto a shaft in circumferentially displaced sequence.

Conveniently this is achieved by the shaft having a square cross-section and each element having a square hole and an odd number of tines, adjacent elements being offset by 900.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred apparatus of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

A preferred apparatus 10 of the invention is suitable for use in spreading particulate material over the ground and is particularly suitable for spreading grass seed over areas which are already grassed. The apparatus 10 comprises a frame including a yoke 11 and cross-member 12 to which s mounted a hopper 1 3 extending the full width of the machine. Side plates 14 are attached to the frame and mount bearings for shafts 1 5, 1 6 of a dispensing conveyor forming a base of the hopper 13 and for a shaft 1 7 of a spiking means 1 8. Shaft 1 7 is square in cross-section and has thereon a plurality of identical elements 1 9 each having a central square aperture and nine radially extending tines 20.Each element 1 9 has one side of its square aperture marked, for example by a raised boss. The elements 1 9 are mounted on shaft 1 7 by being threaded thereon and they are each offset from the preceding element by 900.

This eliminates lines of tines across the machine.

The shaft 1 7 carries a gear wheel 21 which meshes with a larger gear wheel 22 which is fast to a small diameter sprocket 23 which drives a sprocket 24 connected to shaft 1 6 by a chain 25 to drive the dispensing means. Thus the rate of dispensing is determined by the rate of rotation of shaft 17 which is determined by the rate at which the apparatus 10 is drawn over the ground. A clutch 26 enables this drive to be disconnected when dispensing is not required.

The whole apparatus 10 is drawn behind a tractor or similar vehicle (not shown) and the arrangement can be such that a part of the weight of the tractor acts to urge the apparatus downwardly to encourage efficient operation of the spiking means.

In operation, seed falls from the dispensing means and a proportion thereof enters holes 27 left by the spiking means. This seed can be covered up, by applying a top dressing or by rolling and thus protected against removal by birds.

1. Apparatus for spreading particulate material comprising a hopper for containing the particulate material, dispensing means beneath the hopper for dispensing material therefrom at a controlled rate and, forwardiy, considered in relation to the direction of travel of the apparatus, of the dispensing means rotary spiking means for forming an array of apertures in the ground during travel of the apparatus.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spiking means is arranged to bear the weight of the apparatus and is caused to rotate by travel of the apparatus, drive to the dispensing means being taken from the spiking means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 and including a frame whereby it can be attached to the rear of a tractor or other towing vehicle.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the frame is such that a portion of the weight of a towing vehicle urges the spiking means downwardly to encourage efficient operation

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Apparatus for spreading particulate material This invention relates to apparatus for spreading particulate material over the ground. The apparatus is particularly suitable for spreading seed on grassy ground or a prepared seed bed. When an already grassy area is to be seeded, it is normal to spread seeds over the ground and then apply a top dressing, which may contain a fertilizer, with a view to covering the seeds to prevent them being eaten by birds and other animals. This is only effective to a limited degree and many seeds lie exposed and are easily seen and eaten by birds unless an excessive amount of top dressing is needed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which reduces loss of spread seed to birds without excessive use of top dressing and which can ensure seed deposition and grass growth uniformly in an already grassy area. The invention provides apparatus for spreading particulate material comprising a hopper for containing the particulate material, dispensing means beneath the hopper for dispensing material therefrom at a controlled rate and, forwardly, considered in relation to the direction of travel of the apparatus, of the dispensing means rotary spiking means for forming an array of apertures in the ground during travel of the apparatus. The spiking means preferably bears the weight of the apparatus and is caused to rotate by travel of the apparatus, drive to the dispensing means being taken from the spiking means. The apparatus may include a frame whereby it can be attached to the rear of a tractor or other towing vehicle. The frame can be such that a portion of the weight of the towing vehicle urges the spiking means downwardly to encourage efficient operation thereof. The dispensing means can be in the form of a conveyor belt forming a base to the hopper which can extend the full width of the apparatus. The spiking means can comprise a shaft upon which are disposed a plurality of individual tinecarrying elements arranged side by side. Preferably the tines of each element are circumferentially offset relative to those of adjacent elements to avoid the provision of axial rows of tines which would cause a variable load to be applied to the towing vehicle. The offsetting of the tines can be achievecl by the elements being identical and threaded onto a shaft in circumferentially displaced sequence. Conveniently this is achieved by the shaft having a square cross-section and each element having a square hole and an odd number of tines, adjacent elements being offset by 900. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred apparatus of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1. A preferred apparatus 10 of the invention is suitable for use in spreading particulate material over the ground and is particularly suitable for spreading grass seed over areas which are already grassed. The apparatus 10 comprises a frame including a yoke 11 and cross-member 12 to which s mounted a hopper 1 3 extending the full width of the machine. Side plates 14 are attached to the frame and mount bearings for shafts 1 5, 1 6 of a dispensing conveyor forming a base of the hopper 13 and for a shaft 1 7 of a spiking means 1 8. Shaft 1 7 is square in cross-section and has thereon a plurality of identical elements 1 9 each having a central square aperture and nine radially extending tines 20.Each element 1 9 has one side of its square aperture marked, for example by a raised boss. The elements 1 9 are mounted on shaft 1 7 by being threaded thereon and they are each offset from the preceding element by 900. This eliminates lines of tines across the machine. The shaft 1 7 carries a gear wheel 21 which meshes with a larger gear wheel 22 which is fast to a small diameter sprocket 23 which drives a sprocket 24 connected to shaft 1 6 by a chain 25 to drive the dispensing means. Thus the rate of dispensing is determined by the rate of rotation of shaft 17 which is determined by the rate at which the apparatus 10 is drawn over the ground. A clutch 26 enables this drive to be disconnected when dispensing is not required. The whole apparatus 10 is drawn behind a tractor or similar vehicle (not shown) and the arrangement can be such that a part of the weight of the tractor acts to urge the apparatus downwardly to encourage efficient operation of the spiking means. In operation, seed falls from the dispensing means and a proportion thereof enters holes 27 left by the spiking means. This seed can be covered up, by applying a top dressing or by rolling and thus protected against removal by birds. CLAIMS

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the frame is such that a portion of the weight of a towing vehicle urges the spiking means downwardly to encourage efficient operation thereof.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the dispensing means is in the form of a conveyor belt forming a base to the hopper.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hopper and belt extend the full width of the apparatus.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the spiking means comprises a shaft upon which are disposed a plurality of individual tinecarrying elements arranged side by side.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tines of each element are circumferentially offset relative to those of adjacent elements to avoid the provision of axial rows of tines which would cause a variable load to be applied to the towing vehicle.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the offsetting of the tines is achieved by the elements being identical and threaded onto a shaft in circumferentially displaced sequence.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein this is achieved by the shaft having a square crosssection and each element having a square hole and an odd number of tines, adjacent elements being offset by 900.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim and attached behind a wheeled tractor, a rear part of the tractor being raised to lift rear wheels thereof clear of the ground to cause a portion of the weight of the tractor to be supported by the apparatus.

1 2. Apparatus for spreading particulate material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.