GB2159683A - Improvements in or relating to particulate product spreading machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for spreading particulate products, e.g. fertiliser, has a hopper (31), a containment plate (32) and a pair of spreading discs (14, 15). The product in the hopper is mixed by stirring members and the feed through the containment plate to the discs is variable by varying the degree to which covering plates cover discharging orifices (40) in the plate 32. Adjustable vanes (16) are provided on the discs for adjusting the direction and width of the product distribution, and there are also means for adjusting the height of the machine relative to the ground. Mechanical and hydraulic control devices are provided which are actuated and controlled by a tractor unit to which the machine is attached. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to particular product spreading machines This invention relates to a machine which can spread particular products e.g. fertilisers and similar products onto crops, fields and the like.

Conventionally, machines of this type are dragged or operatively carried and functionally moved by a tractor unit, and are ofthe type which comprises essentially a pair of rotating discs positioned beneath a containment hopper, onto which discs the desired productfalls from a suitable proportionment device, the said product being thus spread.

This technical solution has various disadvantages, among which, chiefly, isthenecessityofhaving available assortment of discs of different dimensions according to the required product spreading width, with consequent idle times for replacement. Moreover, there arises also a deficiency of adjustment ofthe feeding onto the discs.

According to the invention, a fertilizer spreading machine comprises a particulate product spreading machine, comprising a pair of spreading discs, means for adjusting the direction and width ofthe spreading jet, and means for height adjustment relative to the ground to be cultivated, means for mixing the product within a containment hopper, by the action of stirring members, the productto be spread being introduced onto the discs by a control which adjusts the distributional dosage, mechanical and/or hydraulic control devices which, in use, are actuated by a dragging and supporting tractor unit, being arranged to control all of said means.

The present invention obviates the aforementioned disadvantages by the use of a single pair of discs directly incorporating the means for adjusting the flow ofthe spreading jet and by its ability of being adjusted or rotated in the direction of the width, as well as its ability of being adjusted or rotated in the direction of the height relativeto the cultivation, and, moreover, whose operational capability is not limited only to the use in fertilising activities, but may be employed also for carrying outvariousspraying operations and seeding, in which latter operation granules are subjected within the hopperto a useful mixing by suitable stirring means, all this being capable of being carried out by partly hydraulic and partly mechanical control devices actuated directly from the tractor, thus avoiding the necessityforthe driver to descend from the machine with the consequent delay.

Byway of example only, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of one embodiment of afertiliserspreaderconstructed according to the invention and fitted to a tractor; Figure 2 is a side view showing attachment means for attaching the spreader shown in Figure 1 to the tractor; Figure 3 is an inverted sectional view along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of a pair of spreading discs used in the spreader; Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a disc shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a front view of a proportionment device for proportioning the product to be spread; and Figures7 and 8 are plan viewssimilarto one another, but with respective constructional variants, of a mixing stirrer device.

Referring nowtotheabovementioned Figures, the fertiliser spreading machine according to the invention comprises a rugged and circumscribed metal framework 1, on whose rear and axial wall 2there are locked, by means of bolts 3 with the interposition of the assembly plate 2a, a series of angled flanges 4 which form the engagement with a tractor by taking advantage of its conventional articulated three-point coupling (see Figures4and 2).

The machine is connected to the tractor 5 in a position which does not functionally interfere with the agricultural ground and with the cultivations, due to the overturning movement in both orthogonal directions from 4to 4a of the said flanges which may also result in being radially or laterally staggered with respectto each other and also due to the presence of the holes 6 axially approached to or spaced from each other.

More specifically, the said flanges 4 are formed each by two tongues 7 and 8, spaced from each other in the lower portion and provided with through holes 9 for accomodating,forexample,thesaid boltofconnec- tion to the tractor 5, while in the upper portion they are joined by a welding 10 and 11 for locking to the place 2a and accordinglyto the framework 1,finally resulting in being enclosed by the cowling-shaped section iron 12,thewhole system being assembled by the bolt3 (see Figure 3).

By means of well-known mechanical control unit 13 with bevel gears rotating on thrust bearings driven by the conventional powertake-offshaft of the tractor 5, also at the base of the framework 1, there are mounted, and connected by common means with the intermediaryofthe hubs 13a,two spreading discs 14, 15 rotating in opposite directions "A" and "B", whose spreading flow is, in use, adjusted in its direction and width, bythe action ofthetwodiametricallyopposite vanes 16.

By a simple loosening of the engaging and pivoting bolt 17, without removal and without the use of special equipment, but by a simple swinging movement, these vanes attain thethree distinct positions indicated by reference numerals 18, 20, according to the reference holes 21 with the underlying slot 22, and according to said positions varies, as a function of the angular spacing existing between said vanes 16, the centrifugal force acting onto the product and accordingly the direction and the extent of width of the spreading jet, as well as the th rowing speed. Said adjustment may be usefully carried out individually or in a differentiate manner on each disc 14, 15 (see Figure4).

Each of said discs, made of a metallic material, is composed of two diametrically opposite sectors 23, The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

24, concave with the concavity turned upwards and disposed eccentrically and with an overturned extreme edge 25, the said discs engaging, with a strengthening function, a circular plate 26 by a simple weld 27,thewhole being locked to a hub 28 thorough a furtherweld 29 which is, in itsturn, provided with an orthogonal bore 30 serving to fixthe well-known motion memberofthe tractor 5 (see Figure 5).

Also fixed to the framework 1 is the hopper31 beneath which, with the interposition of the fertiliser dosage device indicated bythe reference numeral 32, the pair of discs 14, is disposed.

Said dosage device comprises a plane polygonal plate 33, on which there is provided a central opening 34 adjacent which holes 35 are disposed which serve to the passage of the means forfixing to the hopper 31 (see Figure 6).

Positioned bymeansofaflange 36 along the respective and opposite lateral edges ofthe plate 33 is a lever 37 with a control handle 38, alongside which there is fixed, also by means ofthe flange 36, further lever37b to which a plate 39 is coupled which partially or entirely covers a slot40.

Said adjustment is carried out manually and quickly priorto the spreading offertiliserortheseeding, by causing the lever37to slide, after disengagement of a tie rod 37a and the pivots translating within the arcuate slider 42, so as to establish, in an irremovable or fixed manner, the positioning ofthe said lever within the desired hole of a series of holes 43, and to form, with the consequent displacement of the plate 39 connected to the lever 37b, the desired product discharge orifice 44.

Forthe complete interruption and consequent stopping ofthe said distribution,the orifice 44 is closed as a result ofthe slot 40 being completely covered. This is obtained by displacing the lever with the plate 39 up to the end of travel, by overcoming the reaction a spring 45 engaged with a bracket 46. Between said bracket 46 and a further bracket 47 there is operatively engaged a hydraulic piston 48, whose engagement is accomplished by utilizing the oil under pressure ofthe plantofthe tractor 5, in orderto carry out automaticallythe closure of said slot 40.

This adjustment, performable even individually on each slot 40, allows differentiating the intensity ofthe lateral spreading, as well as, if necessary, the opening orthe closure on one side only.

The said hopper 31, configured substantially like an inverted truncated double pyramid, results in having a considerable capacity though is of limited height due to its considerable width, thus allowing an easy and quickfrontal filling both manually and by means of a dump trailer.

Moreover, said configuration usually does not give rise to any unbalance in the mobility of the tractor on the road.

The said hopper, entirely equipped with grates in orderto preventthe eventual introduction offoreign matter into the distributing elements, carries a mixing device formed hy a stirrer indicated by the reference numeral 50, which mayforexample be mounted inside the said hopper 31, namely in the lower portion thereof.

Said stirrer is formed bytwo rods positioned coaxially and in symmetrical opposition to one another, indicated by reference numerals 51 and 52, and moreoveraremovedata lowspeed bytheknown take-off shaft ofthe tractor 5 connected to the hub 57.

The rods are mounted on elastic bearings 53 which, in theirturn, are engaged by a weld 53b with the vertical partitions 53a or are locked by means of bolts 53c.

Said rods 51,52, by overcoming the load of springs 54, give rise to the movement of sounding members 55, according to the direction graphically indicated by the arrows 56 (see Figure 7).

In particular, these movements are generated bythe sliding ofthe end rollers 58 of angled arms 60 on a wheel 59 mounted eccentrically relative to their own hub 57.

In the constructive variant of the stirrer 50, the sounding members 55 are moved in the longitudinal direction. Indicated by 61, in which case the arms 60 of each roller 58 are not angled, but are disposed in axial contraposition, as shown graphically in Figure 8.

A further characteristic of the machine described hereinabove is that the vanes 16 ofthe spreading members are made of stainless steel and the dosage plate 33 is made on unattachable material, such as nylon.

Claims (16)

1. A particulate product spreading machine,com- prising a pair spreading discs, means for adjusting the direction and width of the spreading jet, and meansfor height adjustment relative to the ground to be cultivated, means for mixing the product within a containment hopper, by the action of stirring members, the product to be spread being introduced onto the discs by a control which adjusts the distributional dosage, mechanical and/or hydrauliccontrol devices which, in use, are actuated by a dragging and supporting tractor unit, being arranged to control all of said means.

2. Aparticularproductspreading machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the machine has a metallic frameworkwhich, in use, is coupled to known articulated coupling points on a tractor, by means of a plurality of flanges.

3. Aparticularproductspreading machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said flanges, suitably offset in a radial direction, may be inverted in the two orthogonal directions and adjusted in their axial position, the whole being adapted to a suitable variation in heightofthe machine relative to the agricultural ground.

4. A particular product spreading machine as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the adjustments of the spreading jet are obtained by means of a plurality of suitable angular positionings of two vanes mounted in substantially diametrical opposition on each of said two discs.

5. A particularproductspreading machine as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the said discs have two diametrically opposite sectors, said sectors being concave and having an eccentric concavity turned upwards and with an overturned extreme edge, and the said two sectors being coupled to a circular supporting plate.

6. A particularproductspreading machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the device serving to carry out the distributional dosage has a containment plate incorporating suitable orifices which allow the pas sage ofthe product.

7. A particular product spreading machine as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the variation ofthe opening of the product discharging orifices, in consequence oftheir being partially or completely covered by a suitable covering plate, give rise to the variation ofthe quantity of discharged product orto the complete interruption of the discharge itself.

8. A particular product spreading machine as claimed in any of Claims 1,6 or7, wherein said covering plate is coupled to a control lever whose operative displacement is obtained by means of pivots carring out a movement within an arcuate slide of the containment plate.

9. A particular product spreading machine as claimed in any of Claims 1 or6to 8, wherein a series of holes formed in the said containment plate lock the said control lever in a desired position.

10. A particular product spreading machine, as claimed in any of Claims 1 or6to 9, wherein said product dosage adjustment is performed by manually operating said control lever, and its complete interruption is obtained by means of an hydraulic piston control device, by overcoming in both cases the load exerted by elastic return means.

11. A particular product spreading machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein said hopper is larger in width relative to its depth.

12. A particular product spreading machine as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the said hopper there is accomodated a device which carries out mixing of the product, formed substantially by stirring members moved by means of end rollers rotating by contactwith a wheel disposed in a substantially vertical, eccentric position with respect to a speed reducer, as a consequence of the action of rods which transmit the movement from said speed reducer in direct drive with the shaft ofthe tractor.

13. A particular product spreading machine as claimed in any of Claims 1,12 or 13, where said sounding or stirring members are mounted on oscillating rods of resilient bearings coupled with the vertical walls of said hopper.

14. A particular product spreading machine as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the adjustment ofthetwo vanes ofthe discs is carried out manually in a simple and quick manner, by acting on simple fixing bolts.

15. A particular product spreading machine, as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 14, wherein both the amplitude of the slots ofthe dosage plate and the angular position ofthe vanes ofthe spreading members may be adjusted individually, thus obtaining a differentiation of the spreading action and also the possibility of carrying outthespreading on one working side only.

16. A particular product spreading machine, con- structed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 7 or Figures 1 to 6 and 8 ofthe accompanying drawings.