GB2245134A - Apparatus for spreading material - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for spreading material, for example agriculture material such as muck, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a container (2) in which two rotatable rotors (8, 9) are mounted. The container (2) also has a piston (5) located inside which moves the material towards the rotors (8, 9) which are located at the front of the container (2). One of the rotors (8) is relatively slow moving and comprises four circumferentially distributed arms having blades and protruding sections mounted thereon. The other rotor (9) is located adjacent to a discharge aperture (10) in the container (2) and comprises four rotor arms (10) mounted on an axle (19). In operation, the slow-moving rotor (8) helps circulation of the muck within the container (2) and helps tear up any compacted portions of muck. The rotor (8) also helps direct muck towards the other rotor (9). <IMAGE>

Description

Apparatus for Spreading Material This invention relates to an apparatus for spreading material, for use particularly but not exclusively with agricultural material such as muck.

To date, the standard apparatus used in the spreading of material such as muck comprises a container having an auger positioned near the base of the container to direct the material towards one end of the container whereupon the material is ejected. The main problem with the use of such auger systems is that large stones may be incorporated unintentionally in the material in the container; said stones jamming and seriously damaging the auger blades, when in use.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for spreading material comprising a container for the material, a drive member disposed for translation within the container, and discharge means for discharging the material from the container, the drive member being arranged to move the material towards the discharge means.

Preferably, a movable means is provided to aid the movement of material towards the discharge means.

Preferably, the discharge means is located adjacent an aperture in the container through which the material is discharged by the discharge means.

Typically, the apparatus is movable and may be provided with wheels to facilitate movement.

Preferably, where the apparatus is in the form of a trailer provided with a pair of wheels, the aperture is located between the wheels and the towing device, which may be a tractor or other self-powered device.

By situating the aperture between the wheels and the towing device ensures that a proportion of the weight of the material is always positioned between the towing device and the wheels of the apparatus. This helps prevent the balance of the towing device/trailer being upset and the towing device possibly losing traction.

Preferably, the discharge means and the movable means are in the form of a first and a second member, respectively which are rotatably mounted. Typically, the first and second members are rotatably mounted rotors which may be mounted to rotate around substantially horizontal axes. Preferably, the horizontal axes are substantially parallel.

Preferably, the discharge means is mounted so as to move in a substantially vertical plane and the movable means is also mounted so as to move in a substantially vertical plane.

Preferably, the rotor of the first member comprises a number of rotor arms angularly offset from each other.

Typically, rotor arms adjacent to each other in a direction along the axis of rotation of the rotor are offset from each other at right angles and preferably, the next adjacent arm is at the same angular position on the rotor.

Preferably, the first rotor comprises four rotor arms and typically rotates at substantially 540 revolutions per minute. Typically, each rotor arm comprises two arm portions which extend in diametrically opposite directions from the axis of rotation of the rotor and typically, each arm portion has a replaceable tip.

Preferably, the second rotor comprises a number of arm portions which rotate in substantially the same plane and preferably, there are four arm portions circumferentially distributed. Typically, the arm portions are circumferentially distributed at substantially equal intervals. Typically, the arm portions extend radially from the axis of rotation of the second rotor.

Preferably, the arm portions have a number of protruding portions which may have replaceable tips and preferably, at least one of the arms has a protruding blade portion which extends radially along the arm portion and may have a saw tooth profile. Typically, each arm portion has a blade portion which extends radially along the arm and, where there are four arm portions, typically two of the blades extend from substantially the axis of rotation of the second rotor to the end of the respective arm portion. Preferably, the blades of the other two arms extend from the end of each arm portion, radially inwards and terminate short of the axis of rotation.Preferably, the arm portions having the blades which terminate short of the axis of rotation are adjacent each other and similarly the arm portions having the blades which extend from the axis of rotation to the end of the arm portion are adjacent each other.

Preferably, the second member rotates slower than the first member. Typically, the second member rotates at approximately an order of magnitude less than the first member and typically, this is at approximately 41 revolutions per minute where the first member rotates at approximately 540 revolutions per minute.

Preferably, the container has another aperture for loading material and this may typically be provided by the container being open at the top or being provided with a removable top cover.

Preferably, the interior of the container is of uniform cross-section along its length.

Preferably, the drive member comprises a movable plate of substantially the same cross-sectional area and shape as the interior of the container.

Preferably, the container further includes a piston which is attached to, and governs the movement of, the drive means and typically, the piston is pneumatically or hydraulically operated.

An example of apparatus for spreading material in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of muck spreader; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line AA in Fig. 1 and showing a first rotor and a second rotor; Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view through the second rotor shown in Fig. 2 along the line BB; and Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view through the second rotor shown in Fig. 2 along the line CC.

Fig. 1 shows a muck spreading trailer 1 comprising a container 2 mounted on a pair of wheels 3 (only one shown) and having a towing bracket 4.

Inside the container 2 a piston 5 is mounted which is powered by a drive 6 mounted externally on the container 2 and which moves the piston 5 by means of a piston rod 7 which may be telescopic.

A first rotor 9 is mounted in a discharge aperture 10 in the container 2 and rotates on an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container 2.

The rotor 9 comprises an axle 19 on which are mounted four rotor arms 10. Each rotor arm is offset by 90 from the adjacent rotor arms 10 and each rotor arm comprises two diametrically opposite arm portions with a replaceable tip 11 at the end of each arm portion.

Also mounted inside the container 2 is a second rotor 8 which is slow moving and which rotates in a horizontal axis which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container 2. Both the first rotor 9 and the second rotor 8 are powered by a drive system 12 and both the drive system 12 and the piston drive 6 are powered by a conventional power take-off from a tractor (not shown) which pulls the muck spreader 1.

The container 2 also has a hood 13 mounted at its front end and which covers the front portion of a top opening 14 in the container 2.

The second rotor 8 is shown in more detail in Figs. 2 to 4 where it can be seen that the rotor 8 comprises a central disc portion 15 from which four arm portions 16, 17, 18, 19 extend. The rotor 8 is mounted on an axle 20 and blades 21, 22 extend from the axle 20 to the ends of the arm portions 19, 18 respectively. The arm portions 16, 17 are also provided with blades 23, 24 respectively which extend from the ends of the arm portions 16, 17 towards the axle 20 but which terminate short of the axle 20.

In this particular example the rotor 8 is approximately six feet in diameter and the blades 23, 24 terminate approximately six inches short of the axle 20.

Typically, the blades 23, 24 are approximately six inches deep and the blades 21, 22 are approximately eight inches deep. The blade 21 also has a saw tooth profile on it, the teeth of the saw tooth profile being approximately one and a half inches deep.

The arm portions 16 to 19 also have a number of protruding sections 25 which each have a replaceable tip 26. Replaceable tips 26 are also mounted at the end of each arm portion 16-19.

Typically, in this example, the rotor 8 rotates at approximately 41 revolutions per minute and the rotor 9 rotates at approximately 540 revolutions per minute.

In use, muck which is to be spread is placed in the container 2, through the top opening 14 in the container and the muck spreader 1 is connected to a tractor (not shown) or other suitable pulling apparatus. In order to discharge the muck from the muck spreader 1 the piston 5, driven by the drive 6 and piston rod 7 pushes the muck in the container 2 towards the rotor 8, the rotor 9 and the discharge aperture 10.

The rotor 8 breaks up the muck in the container 2 and pushes the muck towards the discharge aperture 10 and the rotor 9 which discharges the muck from the container 2. The action of the rotor 8 helps prevent the muck compacting and blocking the discharge aperture and rotor 9 which would prevent the muck being discharged from the container 2. This is enhanced by the blades and protruding sections of the rotor 8. The off-centre positioning of the blades 21 to 24 also aid this as it helps the muck to circulate and be broken up and the jagged blade 21 helps tear up any compacted portions of the muck. The off-centre positioning of the blades 21 to 24 also enhances movement of the muck in the container 2 and dispersion of the muck. The hood 13 helps contain the muck in the vicinity of the rotor 8 within the container 2 and helps to push the muck back down towards the rotor 8.

In the example described above, the piston drive 6 is located outside the container 2. However, preferably, the piston drive 6 is mounted within the container 2 and this would help prevent the drive 6 becoming contaminated with muck or any other foreign matter.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (15)

1 Apparatus for spreading material comprising a container for the material, a drive member disposed for translation within the container, and discharge means for discharging the material from the container, the drive member being arranged to move the material towards the discharge means.

2 Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the container has an aperture adjacent to the discharge means, the discharge means discharging the material from the container through the aperture.

3 Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, and further comprising wheels to facilitate movement of the apparatus.

4 Apparatus according to Claim 3 when dependent on Claim 2, wherein the aperture is located in front of the wheels.

5 Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the discharge means comprises a first member which is mounted rotatably on the container.

6 Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the first member comprises a first rotor.

7 Apparatus according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the first member rotates in a substantially vertical plane.

8 Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims and further comprising a movable means which aids movement of the material towards the discharge means.

9 Apparatus according to any of Claims 8, wherein the movable means comprises a second member which is rotatably mounted on the container.

10 Apparatus according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the second member comprises a second rotor.

11 Apparatus according to any of Claims 9 or 10 when dependent on any of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the first member rotates at approximately an order of magnitude higher than the second rotor.

12 Apparatus according to any of Claims 9 to 12, wherein the second member comprises means to break up the material.

13 Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the means to break up the material comprises a number of portions on the second member which extend substantially parallel to the plane of rotation of the second member from a point which is not coincident with the axis of rotation of the second member.

14 Apparatus for spreading muck according to any of the preceding claims.

15 Apparatus for spreading material as hereinbefore defined with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.