GB2128863A - A spreader - Google Patents

Abstract

The spreader comprises a hopper (2) supported on a frame (1). The frame (1) comprises carrying beams (11,12) which have horizontal central portions (13,16) and upwardly and rearwardly sloping end portions (14,15,17,18) which run up the sides of the hopper. There is also a central supporting beam (31) having a horizontal central portion (32), which is straddled by the hopper, and front and rear portions (33) which run up the front and rear of the hopper. The ends of the carrying beams (11,12) and the central supporting beam (31) are fixed to a peripheral beam (30) which runs around the top periphery of the hopper. The spreader has dosing members (71,72) which are connected to the frame independently of the hopper. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spreader This invention relates to a spreaderforgranular and/or powdery material, such as fertilizer, seeds or the like.

According to a first aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a spreaderfor granular and/or powdery material, comprising a frame and a hopper, the frame being provided atthe front, as viewed with respectto the normal intended direction of operative travel ofthe spreader, with two carrying beams which extendfromthefrontalong at least part ofthe side of the hopper, and which supportthe hopper at the sides.

With a spreader constructed in this way, a satisfac tory support ofthe hopper is obtained, and the frame canoe easily manufactured.

In a preferred embodiment, the central parts ofthe two carrying beams extend, when the spreader is upright, substantially horizontally, and end parts of the carrying beams are upwardly inclined away from the horizontal central parts to extend along the sides of the hopper. In this way a stable support of the hopper on the frame is satisfactorily ensured. The support of the hopper can be further enhanced by connecting the ends of the carrying beamsto a peripheral beam extending around at least part of the upper periphery of the hopper.

According to a second aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a spreader for granular and/or powdery material, comprising a frame and a hopper, theframe comprising a central supporting beam which extends, at a position substantially centrally across the width of the hopper, beneath the hopper and supports at leastthe rear of the hopper.

Such a construction is particularly suitable when the spreader has a great width, whereby the spreader may have two distribution members. The hopper is supported at different places across its width so that the hopper may be made from light-weight material.

The central supporting beam may be connected at thefrontand rearofthe hopperwith the peripheral beam.

According toa third aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a spreaderfor granular and/or powdery material, comprising a frame, a hopper and atieasttwo distribution members, a dosing mechansim being arranged between the distribution members and the hopper, for controlling the rate of feed of material from the hopper to the distribution members, the dosing mechanism comprising two dosing mem bers, each ofwhich communicates with a respective delivery part ofthe hopper and is rigidly secured to the frame independently of the hopper in a manner such thatthe hopper is removable from the frame indepen dentlyofthedosing members.

The central parts ofthe carrying beams may be connected with upwardly extending posts which interconnectthe two carrying beams. This provides a satisfactory construction for coupling the spreader with the lifting device of a tractor or similar vehicle.

The posts and a carrying beam may then be provided with fastening means by which the spreader can be attached to the lifting device of a tractor or similar vehicle.

According to a fourth aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a spreaderfor granular and/or powdery material, comprising a frame, a hopper and at least two distribution members, a dosing mechanism being arranged between the distribution members and the hopper, forcontrolling the rate of feed of material from the hopperto the distribution members, the dosing mechanism comprising two dosing members, each of which communicates with a respective delivery part ofthe hopper and is rigidly secured to the frame independently of the hopper in a manner such that the hopper is removable from the frame independently of the dosing members.

With such a construction, the dosing members can have a fixed position in the frame. This provides advantages in manufacture. The dosing members can be held securely in their relative positions by coupling the two dosing members with one another oy a tie beam which is rigidly secured to the frame. The distribution members can then be arranged so that they are supported at least mainly by the tie beam.

Thus the position ofthe distribution members with respect to the dosing members is satisfactorily ensured.

Fora better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example,to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa front view of a spreader; Figure 2 is a side view of the spreader of Figure 1, taken inthe direction ofthe arrow II in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the spreader, with the hopper omitted.

The spreader shown in the Figures is intended for dispensing granularand/orpowdery material such as fertilizer, seeds orthe like. The spreader comprises a frame 1, a hopper 2 and distribution members 3 and 4.

The distribution members 3 and 4 are disposed below outlet spouts 5 and 6 of the hopper.

The frame comprises two similar carrying beams 11 and 12. The beam 11 is ata higher level than the beam 12. The beam 11 has a central part 13, which is horizontal when the spreader is held upright. The carrying beam 11 has end parts 14and 15, which diverge upwardly and rearwardly from the central part 13 as will be appreciated from Figures 1 and 2. The carrying beam 12 has a central part 16 and end parts 17 and 18 like the corresponding parts ofthe beam 11.

The central parts 13 and 16 as well as the respective end parts 14, 15 and 17,18 are parallel to each other as will be appreciatedfrom the Figures. Whenthe spreader is upright, the end parts of the carrying beams 11 and 12 are inclined atan angle 19 of about 450tithe horizontal, as viewed from the side. As viewed from the front, the end parts of the carrying beams are inclined upwardly at angles 10 of about 45" to the longitudinal axes ofthe central parts 13 and 16.

The central parts 13 and l6ofthecarrying beams 11 and 12 are fastened to posts 20 and 21, which are vertical when the spreader is upright. The central part 13 is disposed at the top ends of the posts 20 and 21.

The central part 16 of the carrying beam 12 is situated behind the posts 20 and 21 with respect to the normal intended direction of travel ofthe spreader, indicated by an arrow 24. The central part 16 is connected by tags 22to the posts. Neartheir lower ends the posts 20 and 21 are interconnected by a connecting beam 23.

Thetopendsoftheend parts l4and 17andthetop ends ofthe end parts 15 and 18 are atthe same vertical level when the spreader is upright and are rigidly secured to lateral beams 26 and 27. The beams 26 and 27 are interconnected at the front of the spreader by a front beam 28 and at the rear by a rear beam 29. The beams 26to 29, constitute portions of a peripheral beam30,which may bean integral beam (asshown) or may be fabricated from several parts. The peripheral beam 30 is generally rectangular (Figure 3) with rounded corners. The peripheral beam 30 is made from the tubular member of circular cross-section.

The front and rear beams 28 and 29 are interconnected by a central supporting beam 31. This central supporting beam 31 has a central part 32 which is horizontal, when the spreader is upright, and at right angles to the beams 28 and 29. The beam 31 has end parts 33 and 34, which are upwardly divergent. These end parts 33 and 34 are inclined at angles 35 and 36 of about 45" to the longitudinal axis ofthe central part 32.

The lower end of the end part 33 is connected by coupling plates 37 and 38to the central part 13 of the carrying beam 11 The central part32 ofthe beam 31 is coupled by a strut 39 to the centre of the central part 16 ofthe beam 12. The strut 39 is parallel, as viewed from the side,to the end parts 17 and 18 of the beam 12, and the centrelines of the end parts 17 and 18 and of the strut 39 are in the same plane 40.

The frame 1 is provided with supporting beams 41 and 42, which are connected to the rear ofthe respective posts 20 and 21 neartheir lower ends. The supporting beams 42 and 43 are arranged in the form of a V and diverge towards the front from their interconnected rear ends. The connection between the front end of each support beam 41 and 42 and the respective post 20 and 21 is reinforced by corner plates 43. The rear ends of the beams 41 and 42 are provided with two coupling plates 44, disposed one above the other,for receiving further equipment. On the underside ofthe rear ends ofthe beams 41 and 42 there is a ground support 45. The posts 20 and 21 are provided at their lower ends with ground supports 46 and 47. The beams 41 and 42 are connected to the posts 20 and 21 at the same level as the connecting beam 23.Just above the beam 23 there are forwardly extending mounting plates 51 and 52 which are secured to the respective posts 20 and 21.

Theframe of the spreader is symmetrical about a vertical plane 53 containing the longitudinal centreline ofthe device. The plane 53 also contains the centrelines of the beams 31 and 39. The posts 20 and 21 are spaced apart by a centre-to-centre distance 54.

The parallel beams 26 and 27 are spaced apart by a centre-to-centre distance 55, which is approximately two and a halftimesthe distance 54. The distance 55 is about one and a half times the distance 56 between the centres of the beams 28 and 29.

The hopper 2 comprises a lower part 61, which constitutes the main portion ofthe hopper and has two outlet spouts 5 and 6. Above the lower part 61 there is a top piece 62. The lower part 61 has a collar-like, curved rim 63 atthetop. The size ofthe top of the lower part 61 is such that it fits inside the peripheral beam 30. The curved rim 63 then bears on the peripheral beam 30. The rim 63 is curved to match the top of the tubular peripheral beam 30. The top piece 62 has a collar-like, curved rim 64 which fits over the top ofthe rim 63 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The top ofthe lower part 61 ofthe hopper has a rectangular shape corresponding to that of the peripheral beam 30 and has rounded-off corners.The lower part 6f is downwardly convergent and the front, rear and outboard walls ofthe outlet spouts 5 and 6, as viewed from the side and the front, are coplanar with the walls ofthetop part of the lower part 61. The outlet spouts 5 and 6 furthermore have inboard walls 67 and 68 which are upwardly convergent and adjoin one another at a curve 69. The curve 69 preferably matches the top of the central part 32 ofthe tubular central supporting beam 31 as shown in Figure 1. The outlet spouts 5 and 6, which are, as stated above, quadrangular in horizontal cross section, have round lower ends 65 and 66. These lower ends are open atthe bottom and communicate with dosing members 70 and 71. These dosing members constitute dosing funnels having conical downwardly convergent walls.

The dosing members 70 and 71 are interconnected by a horizontal tie beam 72which is a rectangular- section hollow beam having a height73 and awidth 74. The width 74 is about three times the height 73. The tie beam 72 is coupled with the central part 16 of the carrying beam 12 by two parallel, horizontal supporting arms 75 and 76. The supporting arms are parallel to the plane 53 and are disposed one on each side of it.

The tie beam 72 is at the same level as the central part 16 of the carrying beam 12. Diametrically opposite the positions where the tie beam 72 is connected to the dosing members 70 and 71, the dosing members are connected to carrying arms 77 and 78 respectively.

These carrying arms 77 and 78 are upwardly inclined and extend parallel to the side walls ofthe hopper.

They are fastened to the lateral beams 26 and 27 ofthe peripheral beam 30. The dosing members are thus supported in fixed positions in the frame 1.

The dosing members 70 and 71 haveflatbottom plates 81 and 82. Each bottom plate has two outlet ports 83 and 84 respectively. Below the bottom plates 81 and 82 there are dosing slides 85 and 86 respectively. The slides 85 and 86 have arms 87 and 88, which are coupled by rods (not shown) with an adjusting mechanism (not shown) for adjusting the positions of the dosing slides relativetothebottom plates, and for holding them in selected positions. Each of the dosing slides 85 and 86 has ports 89 and 90 which can be brought into full or partial register with the ports 83 and 84.

The distribution members 3 and 4 are mounted on upwardly extending shafts 95 and 96, which are vertical when the spreader is upright. The shafts 95 and 96 are journalled in gear boxes 97 and 98, the gear wheel transmissions of which are not shown. The gear boxes 97 and 98 are connected by hollow beams 99 and 100 with a gear box 101. The transmissions in the gear boxes 97 and 98 are in engagement in a manner not shown with shafts journalled in the hollow beams 99 and 100. Atthefrontthegear box 101 has a projecting drive shaft 102. The hollow beams 99 and 100 togetherwith the gear boxes 97,98 and 101 constitute a support construction 103 forthe distribution members 3 and 4. This support construction 103 is connected by a beam 1 04to the tie beam 72.Although in this embodiment one beam 104 is shown, the support construction may as an alternative be connected to the tie beam 72 by, for example, two beams.

These beams may be arranged side by side at a short distancefromeach otherand extend upwardly between the distribution members 3 and 4.

The shafts 95 and 96 extend upwardly into the undersides ofthe dosing troughs 70 and 71. In these dosing troughs 70 and 71 they may be provided with agitators (not shown) for agitating the material in the hopper. The axes 105 and 106 of the shafts 95 and 96 coincide with those of the round bottom plates 81 and 82. The rotary axes 105 and 106 lie in a plane 107 which is at right angles to the plane 53. The plane 107 also contains the centrelines ofthetie beam 72 and the carrying arms 77 and 78. The ports 83 and 84 in the bottom plates 81 and 82 are disposed in front ofthe plane 107, when the spreader is attached to the rear of atractor,thespreaderthen being moved in the direction 24.

For use, the spreader is coupled with the lifting device of a tractor or a similar vehicle. The plates 51 and 52 and the coupling plates 37 constitute fastening means for attaching the device to thethree-point lift of a tractor or a similarvehicle. For most purposes the spreader is supported with the distribution members 3 and 4 horizontal, the spreaderthen being uprightwith the posts 20 and 21 vertical. In this position the top of the hopper is horizontal. The material to be spread is loaded into the hopper 2, from which it can befed through the outlet ports 83 and 84to the distribution members 3 and 4 during operation.The distribution members 3 and 4 are rotated during operation in the direction of the arrows 108 and 109, the distribution members 3 and 4thus rotating in opposite senses with their adjacent regions moving parallel to the direction 24. The ports 83 and 84 and the diameter 111 and the construction ofthe distribution members provided with spreading blades 110 are proportioned so that during spreading each of the distribution members 3 and 4 spreads the material overthe same sector. The distribution patterns are symmetrical about the vertical plane 53 and cover one another substantially entirely. With respect to the direction 24, the material is spread mainly to the rear. The spreader may, as an alternative, be attached to the front of a tractor, in which case the spreader is moved in a direction opposite the direction 24.The material is then spread to the front with respect to the actual direction of travel. The directions of rotation 108 and 109 remain the same and the proximal sides continue moving in a direction opposite the direction in which the material is mainly spread. The outlet ports 83 and 84 are disposed on the other side ofthe plane 107 from that towards which the material is ejected.

The construction described above provides a frame that provides advantages in manufacture and that can satisfactorily support a hopper in a releasable man ner. In this embodiment the hopper 2 comprises the parts 61 and 62, the part 62 fitting to the lower part 61.

The lower part and hence the part 62 are releasable from the frame by upwards movement. The lower ends 65 and 66 can be lifted out of the dosing members 70 and 71 withoutthe need forfurther means. The supporting rim 63 ofthe part 61 may be fastened to the hopper by quickly and easily releasable fastening means. For example, the rim 63 may be secured to the peripheral beam 30 by means of screw bolts. The screw bolts can be loosened in a simple manner. By means of these screw bolts or otherwise the rim 64 of the top part 62 can be fastened to the rim 63 and the beam 30.

The hopper or at least the lower part 61, can, with advantage, be made from a single sheet of metal, as a result of the way in which it is supported. The part 62 may also be made from a single sheet by pressing.

The parts 61 and 62 may also be made, with advantage, from synthetic resin. The support of the hopper provided by the peripheral beam 30 and the central supporting beam 31 is such that the hopper may have a light-weight structure. The hopper may, therefore, be made from relatively thin material. This provides advantages in the manufacture of the hopper.

The dosing members 70 and 71 are held satisfactorily stationary in the frame, sincetheyare fastened to it independently ofthe hopper. The support ofthe distribution members 3 and 4 by means of the carrying construction 103 with the tie beam 72 means that the distribution members 3 and 4are satisfactorily held in place with respect to the dosing members 70 and 71.

This may also provide advantages in the manufacture of the spreader.

The rate offeed of material to the distribution members can be controlled by blocking the outlet ports 83 and 84to a greater or lesser extent. Forthis purpose, the ports 89 and 90 in the dosing slides 85 and 86 can be caused to overlap the outlet ports 83 and 84to a greater or lesser extent. The dosing slides can be set in a manner not shown by means of an adjusting mechanism with which they are coupled and by which they can be held in a selected position.

The dosing slides can be turned about the shafts 95 and 96 and hence a bout the rotary axes 105 and 106.

The dosing members 70 and 71 and the dosing slides constitute dosing mechanisms which are arranged symmetrically about the plane 53.

The shape of the frame and the connection ofthe dosing members to it, in particular, enable the manufacture of the frame with the distribution mem bersto be readily carried out. The frame beams 11, 12, 30 and 31 are made from circular-section material. The posts 20 and 21 as well as the coupling beam 23 and the supporting beams 41 and 42 are made from rectangular-section tubes.

Of course, the beams may be made from other material. With the mode of support described,the hopper can be made from light-weight material which is not self-supporting. The support of the hopper is enhanced by the end parts 17 and 18 fastened to the middle ofthe beams 26 and 27.

Whilst various features of the spreaderthathave been described, and that are illustrated in the drawings, will besetforth in the following claims as inventive features, it is to be noted that the invention is not necessarily limited to these features and that it encompasses all of the features that have been described both individually and in various combinations.

Claims (32)

1. A spreaderfor granular and/or powdery material, comprising a frame and a hopper, the frame being provided at the front, as viewed with respect to the normal intended direction of operative travel of the spreader, with two carrying beams which extend from the front along at least part ofthe side of the hopper, and which supportthe hopperatthesides.

2. Aspreaderasclaimed in claim 1, in which, when the spreader is upright, the central parts ofthetwo carrying beams extend substantially horizontally and comprise end parts which slope upwardly along the sides ofthe hopper in the direction away from the respective central parts.

3. A spreader as claimed in claim 1 or2, in which the ends of the carrying beams are connected to a peripheral beam which extends around at least part of the upper periphery ofthe hopper.

4. A spreader as claimed in claim 3, in which the hopper is provided at the top with a protruding rim which fits overthetop of the peripheral beam.

5. A spreader as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, in which the two carrying beams are similarto and parallel to each other, one ofthe beams being disposed at a higher level than the other.

6. Aspreader as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which at a position substantially centrally across the width of the hopper, there is a central supporting beam which extends beneath at least part ofthe hopper and supports at least the rear of the hopper.

7. A spreader as claimed in claim 6 when appen dantto claim 5, in which the central supporting beam is connected by a strut to the central part ofthe lower carrying beam and is connected by coupling plates to the central part ofthe upper carrying beam.

8. Aspreaderforgranularand/or powder material, comprising aframe and a hopper,theframe comprising a central supporting beam which extends, at a position substantially centrally across the width of the hopper, beneath the hopper and supports at least the rearofthe hopper.

9. A spreader as claimed in any one of claims 6to 8, which the central supporting beam is connected, at thefrontand rearofthe hopper, with a peripheral beam which surrounds at least part ofthe upper periphery ofthe hopper.

10. A spreader as claimed in any one of claims 6to 9, in which the part ofthe central supporting beam which extends beneath the hopper is disposed between two outlet spouts of the hopper, below each of which is provided a distribution member,thesupport- ing beam being substantially in engagement with the adjoining parts of the outlet spouts.

11. A spreader as claimed in claim 3, or in anyone ofclaims4to7, 9 or 10when appendantto claim 3, in which the peripheral beam surrounding the upper periphery ofthe hopper istubular and is fastened to the upwardly extending end parts ofthe carrying beam.

12. A spreader for granular and/or powdery mate rial, comprising a frame and a hopper, the frame comprising a tubular member extending around at least part ofthe periphery of the hopper at or nearthe top ofthe hopper, thetubular member being supported bytwo upwardly extending carrying beams disposed one on each side ofthe hopper.

13. A spreader as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, in which the central parts ofthe carrying beams are connected to upwardly extending posts which interconnectthetwo carrying beams.

14. Aspreader as claimed in claim 13, in which the posts and one ofthe carrying beams are provided with fastening means by which the spreader can be coupled with the lifting device of a tractor or similar vehicle.

15. Aspreaderasclaimed in claim 13 or 14, in which the posts are interconnected neartheir lower ends by a connecting beam and are provided atthe region where they meetthe connecting beam with supporting beams which extend rearwardly away from the posts, as viewed with respect to the normal intended direction of operative travel of the spreader, the supporting beams being connected to each other.

16. Aspreader as claimed in claim 15, in which the supporting beams are arranged intheform of a V and are provided atthe rear with a ground support and a coupling memberfor attaching further equipment to the spreader.

17. A spreader as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the hopper is provided in its lower region with a dosing mechanism for controlling the rate offeed of material from the hopperto distribution members during operation, the dosing mechanism comprising dosing members located below outlet spouts ofthe hopper, the dosing members being rigidly secured to theframe independently ofthe hopper.

18. Aspreaderforgranular and/or powdery material, comprising a frame, a hopper and at least two distribution members, a dosing mechanism being arranged between the distribution members and the hopper, forcontrolling the rate of feed of material from the hopper to the distribution members, the dosing mechanism comprising two dosing members, each of which communicates with a respective delivery part of the hopperand is rigidly secured to the frame independently ofthe hopper in a manner such thatthehopperis removablefromtheframe independently ofthe dosing members.

19. Aspreaderasclaimed in claim 17 or 18, in which the two dosing members are coupled with one another by a tie beam which is rigidly secured to the frame.

20. Aspreader as claimed in claim 19, in which the distribution members are mounted so that they are supported at least mainly bythetie beam.

21. A spreader as claimed in claim 20, in which the two distribution members are mounted on asupport construction in which transmission membersfor driving the distribution members are arranged and which is connected to the tie beam.

22. Aspreader as claimed in claim 21, in which the transmission members comprise an input stub shaft for connection to a powertake-offshaftof a tractor or similarvehiclefordriving the distribution members from the powertake-off shaft.

23. Aspreaderasclaimed in any one of claims 17 to 22, in which the dosing members are connected to carrying arms which extend along opposite sides of the hopper and are connected to the peripheral beam.

24. Aspreaderasclaimed inanyoneof claims 17 to 23,in which the Iowerendsoftheoutletspouts of the hopper are open and fit in the dosing members which are in the form of funnels providing a floor of the hopper and provided with outlet ports.

25. A spreader as claimed in claim 24, in which the outlet ports are disposed in front of a plane containing the centre lines of the dosing members and the coinciding rotary axes ofthe distribution members, with respect to the normal intended direction of operative travel of the spreader.

26. Aspreaderas claimed in any one of claims 17 to 25, in which the distribution members are drivable in rotation in opposite senses with their adjacent regions moving in a direction opposite the spreading direction ofthe distribution members.

27. Aspreader as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 26, in which the disposition ofthe outlet ports and the construction ofthe distribution members are such that during operation the distribution members spread the material over substantiallythesame sector as each other.

28. A spreader as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, in which the hopper is supported releasably on the frame.

29. Aspreaderasclaimed in anyoneofthe preceding claims, in which an extension piece is releasably mounted on the top of the hopper.

30. A spreader as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the hopper is made by pressing from sheet metal.

31. A spreader as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29, in which the hopper is made from synthetic resin.

32. A spreader substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accom- panying drawings.