GB2336145A

GB2336145A - Spreading particulate materials

Info

Publication number: GB2336145A
Application number: GB9907755A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Garth Suffern
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-07
Filing date: 1999-04-06
Publication date: 1999-10-13
Also published as: GB9907755D0; GB9807333D0; IE990281A1

Abstract

A levelling apparatus 10 for spreading a quantity of particulate material on a surface. The apparatus comprises a frame 12 on which levelling means 24 are rotatably mounted. In use, the levelling apparatus is coupled to a wheeled vehicle 40 and pushed or pulled into engagement with a quantity of paniculate material A,B whereupon the levelling means are rotated in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the vehicle wheels to form a layer of particulate material between the levelling means and the surface. Preferably, a barrier 22 to passage of material is provided. The barrier can be part of the frame or a flap 24 which can be hinged or of brush-like form. Preferably the spreading means is a roller 24 with one or more continuous ridges 26, which can be helical. The apparatus is used for spreading animal litter e.g. in a barn or stall.

Description

2336145 APPARATUS FOR SPREADING A QUANTITY OF PARTICULATE MATERIAL The

present invention relates to an apparatus for spreading a quantity of particulate material. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus for spreading material, such as wood shavings or animal litter, to produce a substantially level and even layer of the material on the ground or floor of a barn, stall, yard or the like.

Conventionally, animal litter is spread from a pile by a labourer with a conventional hand rake. Alternatively, it is known to mount a rectangular plate to a vehicle, the lower edge of which is spaced-apart from the ground by a pre-determined distance, and to place a pile of animal litter between the vehicle and the plate. It is intended that, when the vehicle is driven forward by an operator, the plate allows only a layer of litter (of the thickness of the pre-determined distance) to pass beneath it. Such an apparatus suffers from the d4Lsadvantage that the animal litter frequently jams between the plate and the ground and prevents any further material from passing beneath the plate.

It is an object of the present invention to mitigate the problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for spreading a quantity of particulate material on a surface, the apparatus comprising levelling means; means for rotatably supporting the levelling means relative to the surface such that the levelling means is adjacent but spaced-apart from the surface; and means for rotating the levelling means wherein, upon movement of the apparatus into engagement with a quantity of particulate material, the levelling means is rotated so as to urge the particulate material away from the surface and a layer of particulate material is formed between the levelling means and the surface.

Preferably, at least one surface projection extends along substantially the entire length of the levelling means.

Preferably, the support means comprises barrier means and a pair of side members spaced-apart by the barrier means, the levelling means being rotatably mounted between the side members and associated with the barrier means so as to substantially prevent particulate material from passing between the barrier means and the levelling means during use.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view, in transverse section, of an apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus of Figure Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1 connected to a wheeled vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown, generally indicated at 10, an apparatus for spreading a quantity of particulate material according to the present invention. The apparatus 10 comprises support means in the form of a substantially 'I,-shaped frame 12 (when viewed from above, as in Figure 2) having side members in the form of first and second end plates 14, 16 joined by barrier means in the form of a central plate 18.

Levelling means in the form of a roller 24 are rotatably supported by the frame 12.

A hinder means, or flap means, in the form of a flap 20, formed from resilient, flexible material such as rubber, is fixed to a lower edge 22 of the central plate 18. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the rubber flap 20 is replaced by a substantially rigid flap which is pivotably mounted, or hinged, to the lower edge 22 of the central plate 18. Alternatively still, the flap means mav comprise a plurality of bristle members (not shown) so that the flap is brush-like in form. In a still further embodiment (not shown), the rubber flan 20 is omitted and the lower edge 22 of the central plate 18 is dimensioned so that there is but a small gap between the lower edge 22 and the roller 24. In each embodiment, the flap means serves to hinder movement of a quantity of the particulate material between the roller 24 and the flap means and thereby to direct movement of the particulate material between the roller 24 and the ground, or other surface.

The roller 24 is rotatably mounted between the firs-L and second end plates 14, 16. Means for rotating the levelling means in the form of a hydraulic motor (not is shown) is mounted to the end plate 14 and is operatively connected to the roller 24 in conventional manner for rotation thereof. The roller 24 is rotatable about its longitudinal axis which is located substantially in the plane of the central plate 18 (as seen in Figure 1). It will be appreciated that the longitudinal axis may, alternatively, be substantially parallel and spaced-apart from the plane defined by the central plate 18 (not shown). The frame 12 thus provides means for rotatably supporting the levelling means relative to the surface such that the levelling means is adjacent but spaced-apart from the surface.

The roller 24 has at least one surface irregularity, or projection, substantially along its length. The surface projection comprises at least one continuous ridge 26 formed on its outer surface, as seen most clearly in Figure 1. Preferably, there are a plurality of mutually spacedapart ridges 26 formed on the outer surface of the roller 24, as seen in Figures 1 and 3. In the present embodiment, each ridge 26 runs substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the roller 24 i.e. the axis of rotation of the roller 24. Alternatively, the or each ridge 26 may be formed in a helix around the roller 24 (not shown). It will be appreciated that the ridges 26 may take any shape provided that they extend substantially along the length, taken in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of rotation, of the roller 24, so that they do not run strictly perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The purpose of the ridges 26 is to break up the pile of particulate material in the form of loose animal litter W or 'B' as the roller 24 rotates. It will be noted that the or each surface irregularity need not necessarily be continuous across the width of the roller.

In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) there may be a plurality of rollers arranged end-to-end between the end plates of the frame.

Connecting arms 28, which are arranged and dimensioned for interlocking engagement with the three point linkage of a conventional tractor (not shown), are fixed to the III-shaped frame 12.

A respective runner 30, 31 is provided at a respective lower edge 32, 34 of the side plates 14, 16, the runners 30, 31 being adapted for sliding engagement with the ground.

is The roller 24 is fixed to the first and second end plates 14, 16 of the frame 12 adjacent the runners 30, 31. The arrangement is such that, in use, when the runners 30, 31 engage the ground, there is a desired, predetermined gap between the roller 24 (in particular the ridges 26) and the ground. In a preferred embodiment, the position of the roller 24 and/or of the runners 30, 31 is adjustable, by conventional means, so that this predetermined gap is also adjustable. It will be appreciated, that this predetermined gap determines the depth of the layer of material to be formed. Thus, for example, the pre-determined gap may be about 2cm or 4cm.

In use, the apparatus 10 is mounted on the back of a vehicle such as a tractor 40 via the connecting arms 28. In one mode of use, the apparatus 10 is lifted up by the tractor's three-point linkage system so that a pile of litter 'A' can be located between the apparatus 10 and the vehicle 40. The vehicle 40 then drives forward in a first direction 42 until the pile of litter 'A' engages the central iDlate 18 and the roller 24. It is important to note that the roller 24 is rotated in use in a second or opposite direction 44 to which the wheels of the tractor are rotating. Thus, the roller is rotated so as to urge the particulate material away from the surface. As the roller 24 rotates and the tractor moves forward in the first direction 42, a quantity of the particulate material passes between the roller 24 and the ground in a layer whose depth is determined by the distance between the ridges 26 and the ground i.e. a layer of particulate material is formed between the levelling means and the surface. The rubber flap 20 hinders or substantially prevents any of the material being fed over the top of roller 24, while the ridges 26 serve to break up the material and prevent it from jamming and/or coagulating In a second mode of operation, the apparatus 10 is mounted to the tractor 40 as before. In this case, is however, the tractor reverses to push the apparatus 10 into engagement with litter 'B'. In this mode of operation, the roller 24 is rotated to the opposite direction than it was during the first mode of operation but is nonetheless still rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of the tractor wheels.

In a third mode of-operation, the apparatus 10 mounted to the tractor 40 as before. A litter 'B' of particulate material is dumped on the floor to be covered. The driver of the tractor then reverses into the litter 'S' with the apparatus 10 on the ground, thereby pushing the litter 'B' to the back of the area to be covered. The driver then lifts the apparatus 10 using the tractor's hydraulic system and linkage system over the top of litter is B' and lowers the apparatus 10 beyond the litter, which is now in the position 'A, so that the wood shavings are now disposed between the apparatus 10 and the tractor 40. To spread the particulate material, the driver now drives the tractor forwards whilst rotating the roller in the reverse direction. As the tractor drives forward, part of the litter W passes beneath the central plate 18 between the end plates 14, 16. These three different modes of operation can be achieved because the apparatus 10 is largely symmetrical about the central plate 18.

In Figure 4, there is shown a guard member 33 arranged on the frame 12 to partially cover the roller 24. The guard member 33 serves to prevent quantities of the material to be spread from becoming jammed between the roller 24 and the frame 12 thereby impeding the operation of the apparatus 10. The guard member 33 is preferably pivotably mounted on the central plate 18 so that it can be effectively removed depending on the mode of operation of the apparatus 10. The guard member 33 is particularly suited for use in said third mode of operation.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for spreading a quantity of particulate material on a surface, the apparatus comprising levelling means; means for rotatably supporting the levelling means relative to the surface such that the levelling means is adjacent but spaced-apart from the surface; and means for rotating the levelling means wherein, upon movement of the apparatus into engagement with a quantity of particulate material, the levelling means is rotated so as to urge the particulate material away from the surface and a layer of particulate material is formed between the levelling means and the surface.

is

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein at least one surface projection extends along substantially the entire length of the levelling means.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the at least one surface projection comprises a continuous ridge ex::ending substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the levelling means.

4. An annaratus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the at least one surface projection is helically arranged with respect to the axis of rotation of the levelling means.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the levelling means comprises at least one roller, the or each surface projection being provided on the surface of the or each roller.

6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means comprises barrier means and a pair of side members spacedapart by the barrier means, the levelling means being rotatably mounted between the side members and associated with the barrier means so as to substantially prevent particulate material from passing between the barrier means and the levelling means during use.

is

7. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the side members and the barrier means together form a frame of substantially I-shaped cross section.

8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the rotational axis of the levelling means is located in substantially the same plane as the barrier means.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8, where-in flan means is coupled to the barrier means and is dimensioned to substantially fill the gap between the barrier means and the levelling means.

10. A levelling apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the flap means is formed from resilient, flexible material.

11. A levelling apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, wherein the flap means comprises a plurality of bristle members.

12. A levelling apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 11, wherein the flap means is hinged to the barrier means.

13. A levelling apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 12, wherein each side member is provided with a resnective runner member for sliding engagement witCh the surface.

14. A levelling apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein each runner member is adjustably mounted on the respective side member for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular with the axis of rotation of the levelling means.

15. A levelling apparatus as claim in any preced-Jnaclaim, wherein the apparatus further includes means for coupling the apparatus to a wheeled vehicle, the arrangement being such that, in use, the levelling means rotates in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the vehicle's wheels.

16. A levelling apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.