IES85035Y1 - Apparatus for spreading material - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT Apparatus (1) for spreading material has a carriage arrangement (1) and a container (2) which has walls defining one area (3) for receiving material and another area (4) for spreading material through opening (5). Area (2) has a conveyor arrangement (15,17) for delivering the material to area (3) which has a substantially horizontal shredding rotor (6) mounted transverse to the opening (5). The shredding rotor (6) has a number of material spreading chains (7) suspended there from and transfers material onto material spreading paddles (32) mounted on turntables (34). The paddles (32) are retained by shear bolts (55) which shear when a foreign body obstructs the paddles (32). A guide (401) is provided about each turntable (34). Gate (181) moves in an arc to close area (3) from area (4). in ct 1005 am mimetic rr;s.=::';*:;2a /lOlC .3/00 W Y A3 urine: 3£E:i’i2?£ 2;. 22:31: 2:; “ ‘M m r ' 1 am !lo.°2.l.9.3,...... or” ilieot APPARATUS FOR SPREADING MATERIAL The present invention relates to apparatus for spreading material, in particular to Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for spreading material apparatus for spreading animal manure. comprising a carriage means and a container mounted on the carriage means, the container having wall means defining one area for receiving material and another area for spreading material and the wall means defining a material spreading opening, the material receiving area having means for delivering the material to the material spreading area and the material spreading area having a substantially horizontal shredding rotor mounted transverse the material spreading opening, the shredding rotor having a plurality of material spreading chains hanging therefrom. Preferably, the shredding rotor is mounted substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the material delivery means. Ideally, the carriage means comprises at least one pair of wheels on an axle and a drawbar mounted below the container. Ideally, the material delivery means is a movable floor of the material receiving area. Preferably, the movable floor is provided by a conveyor means. Ideally, the conveyor means comprises one or more endless conveyor belts and conveyor belt drive means. Preferably, the conveyor belt drive means is a motor. Ideally, the motor is operable electrically or hydraulically. Preferably, the or each endless conveyor belt has flights transverse to the direction of travel of the belt. Advantageously, the flights urge the material towards the material spreading area. E07053? Ideally, the conveyor means is reversible, thus allowing an operator to switch the direction of rotation of the conveyor means to agitate the material. Preferably, two conveyor belts are mounted side by side. Ideally, the material spreading area has a material spreading floor at a position vertically lower than the material delivery means of the material receiving area. Preferably, the material spreading floor has at least one material spreading paddle. Ideally, the paddle is coupled to a power take off (PTO) shaft of a towing vehicle. Preferably, the material spreading paddle is rotatably mounted on the material spreading floor. Preferably, a pair of material spreading paddles is rotatably mounted above the material spreading floor. Ideally, the or each material spreading paddle comprises a spreading rotor and at least one substantially horizontal paddle board coupled to and extending laterally from the spreading rotor above the floor. Preferably, the spreading rotor is substantially vertical and protrudes through the material spreading floor. Ideally, the spreading rotor is coupled to a rotor drive shaft via a rotor gear box. Preferably, the rotor drive shaft is coupled to a PTO drive shaft via a PTO gear box. ldeally, a pair of paddle boards is coupled to and extend laterally from the spreading rotor. Preferably, the paddle boards extend from diametrically opposed positions of the spreading rotor. Ideally, the material spreading floor has guide means extending along a portion of the circumference swept out by the free end of the or each rotating paddle board. iE(l7il53l Preferably, the guide means generally extends along the portion of the circumference proximal to the material spreading opening. Advantageously, this means that the portion of the circumference swept out by the free end of the or each rotating paddle board distal to the material spreading opening remains completely unobstructed. This configuration allows material/manure which is collected at or about the portion of the material spreading floor below and proximal to the material spreading opening to be swept around the floor between the paddle board and the guide means and flung out behind and laterally of the material spreading floor. Preferably, the guide means comprises an arcuate band of material extending substantially perpendicularly upwardly from the material spreading floor. Ideally, the length of the arcuate band of material can be adjusted. Advantageously, adjusting the length of the arcuate band of material is one of the ways in which the area of ground covered by material/manure behind and to the sides of the material spreading apparatus can be controlled/adjusted. Ideally, each material spreading rotor carrying a pair of diametrically opposed paddle boards has its own guide means. Preferably, where two material spreading rotors are provided spaced laterally apart on the material spreading floor, the guide means of each material spreading rotor comprises a first lateral arcuate band extending from the centre of the guide means to the outside of the material spreading floor and a second central arcuate band extending from the centre of the guide means to the centre of the material spreading floor. Preferably, the first lateral arcuate band is approximately the same height as the paddle board. Ideally, the height of the second central arcuate band of the guide means is less than the height of the paddle board. Advantageously, this allows the lighter material to be released at a different point along the central arcuate band as it can rise above the band as the paddle board sweeps around the material spreading floor. Additionally, the reduced height of central arcuate band prevents all of the heavier manure, such as hen manure from falling off centrally behind the material spreading floor as the angle of the central arcuate band can be adjusted relative to the material spreading floor by adding or removing pieces of band material. This means that the heavier material will be swept around the central arcuate band and flung off at the angle set by the machine operator to prevent a concentration of the heavy manure in a narrow band behind the material spreading floor. ideally, the or each paddle board is coupled to a turntable arrangement which is ' mounted on the spreading rotor. Preferably, the turntable arrangement has a circular base plate coplanar with the material spreading floor and being rotatably mounted therein. Ideally, the turntable arrangement has a cap member spaced vertically above the base plate and being centrally mounted on the spreading rotor with the paddle boards sandwiched between the base plate and the cap member. Preferably, the or each paddle board is pivotally coupled to the turntable arrangement and has a fixing means between the turntable arrangement and the paddle board to prevent pivotal movement of the paddle board relative to the turntable arrangement. Ideally, the fixing means is operable up to a predetermined torque level. Advantageously, when the torque acting on the pivotal coupling between any paddle board and the turntable arrangement exceeds the acceptable predetermined level, the fixing means is released and the paddle board is free to rotate relative to the turntable arrangement. Preferably, the fixing means is a shear bolt mounted between the paddle board and the turntable arrangement. This arrangement compensates for a piece of foreign material such as a length of timber, for example, being buried in the material and passing onto the material spreading floor unnoticed. As the paddle board sweeps across the material spreading floor there is a risk that the piece of foreign material will get trapped between the paddle board and some other fixed surface of the material spreading floor. Without a shear bolt mounted between the paddle board and the turntable arrangement the paddle board would shear off the turntable arrangement causing major structural damage to the paddle. With the fixing means built in, the only part to be replaced when something becomes lodged is the shear bolt as it will shear off before any torque is reached which would cause damage to the paddle board, the turntable arrangement or the pivotal coupling between the paddle board and the turntable arrangement. When the predetermined torque level is reached, the shear bolt shears and the paddle board is able to pivot relative to the turntable arrangement allowing the paddle board to move around the timber board or other obstacle in the material without damaging the paddle. Preferably, the substantially horizontal rotor has a drive means. ldeally, the horizontal rotor drive means comprises a drive sprocket, a driven sprocket coupled to one end of the rotor and an endless chain mounted on the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket. Preferably, the drive sprocket is coupled to a 90° three shaft gearbox. ldeally, a row of chain attachment means are spaced along the rotor in alignment. Preferably, a second row of chain attachment means are spaced along the rotor in alignment. Ideally, the second row of chain attachment means are angularly spaced around the circumference of the rotor from the first row of chain attachment means. ldeally, a plurality of rows of aligned spaced chain attachment means are angularly spaced around the circumference of the rotor relative to each other. Preferably, the aligned spaced chain attachment means of one row are staggered longitudinally along the rotor relative to the chain attachment means of the or each adjacent row. Ideally, the material spreading chains are rope chains. Preferably. the material spreading chains are manufactured from case hardened steel. Ideally, one end of the rope chain is coupled to a chain attachment means and the other end of the chain has an agitating means attached thereon. Preferably, the chain attachment means is a pair of mutually opposing protruding plates each having a through bore substantially in alignment with each other. Ideally, the agitating means comprises a steel buckle fastened onto a last loop of the rope chain. Preferably, the substantially horizontal rotor is mounted on the wall means above one end of the material delivery means proximal to the material spreading floor. The overall length of the chains and the agitating means is less than the distance between the bottom dead centre of the rotor and the top of the material delivery means. In use, the agitating means swings freely above the top surface of the material delivery means. Preferably, the container is an open top container. Ideally, a gate is movably mounted on the wall means of the container. Preferably, the gate is movable between a closed position and an open position. Ideally, the gate divides the container into a partially enclosed material receiving compartment and a partially enclosed material spreading compartment in the closed position. Preferably, the gate seals the material receiving compartment off from the material spreading opening in the closed position. Advantageously, the closed position of the gate _ E070 3 allows a completely full container of material to be transported across roads and through built up areas without risk of the material spilling out of the material spreading opening. Ideally, the container comprises a substantially parallelepiped open top container having a towing end wall and two side walls. Preferably, the towing end wall has an access panel. Advantageously, the access panel allows an operator to access any material which has become jammed at or about the towing end. ideally, the upper portion of the side walls is angled outwardly. Preferably, the gate is movably mounted on the two opposing side walls proximal to the material spreading end of the container. Ideally, the gate is slidably mounted on a pair of tracks which are mounted on opposing locations of the side walls proximal to the material spreading end of the container. Preferably, the gate is in operable engagement with a gate drive means. Ideally, the gate drive means is operable hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically. Preferably, the gate is opened in an arcuate motion. Ideally, the gate drive means comprises a gate opening/closing arm having a first end pivotally mounted on a side wall of the container and a second end pivotally coupled to the top comer of the gate and a power operated ram pivotally coupled at one end to the side wall of the container and pivotally coupled at the other end between the ends of the gate opening/closing arm. Advantageously, when the ram is actuated, the gate opening/closing arm pivots about the side wall in an anti-clockwise direction causing the gate to move simultaneously upwards and forwards in an arcuate motion. Advantageously, this gate drive means results in the gate extending only a short distance i5o7@53t above the top of the container reducing the risk of the gate hitting overhead electrical cables. Preferably, the gate drive means is mounted on both sides of the container. Ideally, the canopy is coupled to the gate via a pair of lifting bars. Preferably, one of the lifting bars is pivotally coupled at one end to the gate and the other lifting bar is pivotally coupled at one end to the canopy and the lifting bars are pivotally coupled together about their other ends. Ideally, a canopy is movably mounted on the container proximal to the material spreading opening. Preferably, the canopy has a first position in which it covers the material spreading opening and a second position in which it is held away from the material spreading opening and is movable between these positions. Ideally, the canopy is releasably coupled to the gate. Preferably, movement of the gate between the closed position and the open position moves the canopy from its first position to its second position. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only one embodiment of apparatus for spreading material in accordance with the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is perspective view of an apparatus for spreading material; Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a paddle; Figure 3 is a partial rear elevation view of the apparatus for spreading material; Figure 4 is a top plan view of a material spreading floor and a pair of paddles; Figure 5 is a top plan view of a material spreading floor and a pair of paddles; Figure 6 is an end view of a paddle board; Figure 7 is a side elevation view of the paddle board of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a top plan view of a paddle board, pivotal coupling and fixing member; m5'7 0 5 31 Figure 9 is a top plan view of a cap member of a turntable arrangement; Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of a material spreading end of an apparatus for spreading material; Figure 11 is a second perspective view taken from the other side to the side shown in Figure 10 of a material spreading end of an apparatus for spreading material; Figure 12 is a partial perspective view taken from inside the container and looking toward the material spreading end of the container; Figure 13 is a partial front elevation view of the apparatus for spreading material; Figure 14 is a schematic layout of the power transmission system of the apparatus; Figure 15 is a perspective view of a container having a second embodiment of gate drive arrangement; Figure 16 is a second perspective view of a container having a second embodiment of gate drive arrangement; and Figure 17 is a partial perspective rear view of an apparatus for spreading material. Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, there is shown an apparatus for spreading material indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 having a carriage arrangement and a container 2 mounted on the carriage arrangement. The container 2 has walls for defining one area indicated generally by the reference numeral 3 for receiving material and another area indicated generally by the reference numeral 4 for spreading material. The walls defining a material spreading opening 5, see Figure 10 and the material receiving area 3 have an arrangement for delivering the material to the material spreading area 4. The material spreading area 4 has a substantially horizontal shredding rotor 6, see Figures 10 and 12 mounted transverse the material spreading opening 5 substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the material delivery arrangement. The shredding rotor 6 has a plurality of material spreading chains 7 E073 5 hanging there from, see Figures 10 and 12. The carriage arrangement comprises at least one pair of wheels 9 mounted on an axle 11 and a drawbar 14 mounted below the container 2. The container 2 is an open top container 2. The material delivery arrangement is provided by a movable floor on the material receiving area 3 and the movable floor is provided by a conveyor arrangement having a pair of endless conveyor belts 15 and a conveyor belt drive member 17, see Figures 10, 12 and 13. The conveyor belt drive member 17 is a motor, operable electrically or hydraulically. The endless conveyor belts 15 have flights 19 transverse the direction of travel of the conveyor belts 15. Advantageously, the flights 19 urge the material towards the material spreading area 4. The conveyor belts 15 are reversible. Advantageously, this allows an operator to switch the direction of rotation of the conveyor belts 15, either together or relative to one another to agitate the material. The two conveyor belts 15 are mounted side by side. The material spreading area 4 has a material spreading floor 31, see Figures 2 to 5 and 10 at a position vertically lower than the material delivery arrangement of the material receiving area 3. The material spreading floor 31 has a pair of material spreading paddles 32 and the paddles 32 are powered from a power take off (PTO) shaft of a towing vehicle, such as a tractor (not shown). The material spreading paddles 32 are rotatably mounted above the material spreading floor 31. The material spreading paddles 32 comprise a spreading rotor 33 and a pair of substantially horizontal paddle boards 34 coupled to and extending laterally from the spreading rotor 33 above the material spreading floor 31. The spreading rotor 33 is substantially vertical and protrudes through the material spreading floor 31. The spreading rotor 33 is coupled to a rotor drive shaft 36, see Figure 3 via a rotor gear box 37 and the rotor drive shaft 36 is coupled to a PTO drive shaft 38, see Figure 1 via a PTO gear box 39. The pair of paddle boards 34 is coupled to Wigorosst and extend laterally from the spreading rotor 33 from diametrically opposed positions of the spreading rotor 33, see especially Figures 4 and 5. The paddle boards 34 are coupled to a turntable arrangement 41 which is mounted on the spreading rotor 33. The turntable arrangement 41 has a base plate 42 coplanar with the material spreading floor 31 and rotatably mounted therein and a separate cap member 44 spaced vertically above the base plate 42 and centrally mounted via central bore 53, see Figure 9 on the spreading rotor 33 with the paddle boards 34 sandwiched between the base plate 42 and the cap member 44. The paddle boards 34 are pivotally coupled to the turntable arrangement 41 via a pivotal coupling member 48, see Figure 8. The turntable arrangement 41 has a fixing arrangement 46 comprising a flange 49 extending from the pivotal coupling member 48 and a shear bolt, see Figure 2. The shear bolt 55 passes through a cap member bore 50 defined in the cap member 44 and a flange bore 51 defined in the flange 49. The fixing arrangement 46 between the turntable arrangement 41 and the paddle board 34 prevents pivotal movement of the paddle board 34 relative to the turntable arrangement 41. The fixing arrangement 46 is operable up to a predetermined torque level. Advantageously, when the torque acting on the pivotal coupling member 48 between any paddle board 34 and the turntable arrangement 31 exceeds the acceptable predetermined level, the fixing arrangement 46 is released and the paddle board 34 is free to rotate relative to the turntable arrangement 41, see Figure 4. The fixing arrangement 46 breaks down as the shear bolt 55 mounted between the paddle board 34 and the turntable arrangement 41 shears under the predetermined torque. Advantageously, this arrangement compensates for a piece of timber or other foreign material 155, see Figure 2 for example being buried in the material and passing onto the material spreading floor 31 unnoticed. As the paddle board 34 sweeps across the material spreading floor 31 there is a risk that the timber or other foreign material 55 will $0705 get trapped between the paddle board 34 and some other fixed surface of the material spreading floor 31. Without a shear bolt 55 mounted between the paddle board 34 and the turntable arrangement 41 the paddle board 34 would shear off the turntable arrangement 41 causing major structural damage to the paddle 32. With the fixing arrangement 46 built in, the only part to be replaced when something becomes lodged is the shear bolt 55 as it will shear off before any torque is reached which would cause damage to the paddle board 34, the turntable arrangement 41 or the pivotal coupling member 48 or the rotor gearboxes 37. When the predetermined torque level is reached, the shear bolt 55 shears and the paddle board 34 is able to pivot relative to the turntable arrangement 41 allowing the paddle board 34 to move around the timber 55 or other obstacle in the material without damaging the paddle 32, see Figure 4. The shredding rotor 6 has a drive member indicated generally by the reference numeral 61, see Figure 11. The shredding rotor drive member 61 comprises a drive sprocket 62, a driven sprocket 63 coupled to one end of the substantially horizontal rotor 6 and an endless chain 64 mounted on the drive sprocket 62 and the driven sprocket 63. The drive sprocket 62 is coupled to a 90° three shaft gearbox 120 (see Figure 14). A row of chain attachment members 65, see Figure 12 are spaced along the rotor 6 in alignment. A second row of chain attachment members 65 are also spaced along the shredding rotor 6 in alignment and the second row of chain attachment members 65 are angularly spaced around the circumference of the shredding rotor 6 from the first row of chain attachment members 65. Four rows of aligned spaced chain attachment members 65 are angularly spaced around the circumference of the shredding rotor 6 relative to each other and the aligned spaced chain attachment members 65 of one row are staggered longitudinally along the rotor 6 relative to the chain attachment members 65 of each adjacent row. The material spreading chains 7 are rope chains manufactured from case hardened steel. One end of the rope chain 7 is coupled to a chain attachment member 65 and the other end of the chain 7 has an agitating member 67, see Figure 10 attached thereon. The chain attachment member is a pair of mutually opposing protruding plates 68 each having a through bore 69 substantially in alignment with each other. The agitating member 67 comprises a steel buckle fastened onto a last loop of the rope chain 7. The shredding rotor 6 is mounted on the wall above one end of the material delivery arrangement proximal to the material spreading floor 31. The overall length of the chains 7 and the agitating member 67 is less than the distance between the bottom dead centre of the shredding rotor 6 and the top of the conveyor belt 15. In use, the agitating member 67 swings freely above the top surface of the conveyor belt 15. A gate 81, see Figures 1 and 11 is movably mounted on the wall of the container 2. The gate 81 is movable between a closed position and an open position, see Figure 12. The gate 81 divides the container 2 into a partially enclosed material receiving compartment and a partially enclosed material spreading compartment in the closed position. The gate 81 seals the material receiving compartment off from the material spreading opening 5 in the closed position. Advantageously, the closed position of the gate 81 allows a completely full container 2 of material to be transported across roads and through built up areas without risk of the material spilling out of the material spreading opening 5. The container 2 is a substantially parallelepiped open top container having a towing end wall 86 and two side walls 87, see Figure 1. The towing end wall 86 has an access panel 89, see Figure 13 allowing an operator to access any material which has become jammed at or about the towing end. The upper portion 91, see Figures 1, 11 and 12 of each side wall 87 is angled outwardly. The gate 81 is movably mounted on the two opposing side walls 87 proximal to the material spreading end. The gate 81 is slidably EEG"/705 mounted on a pair of tracks 95, see Figure 11 which are mounted on opposing locations of the side walls 87 proximal to the material spreading end. The gate 81 is in operable engagement with a gate drive member which is operable hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically. A canopy 101, see Figures 1, 10 and 11 is movably mounted on the container 2 proximal to the material spreading opening 5 and the canopy 101 has a first position in which it covers the material spreading opening 5 see Figures 1 and 11 and a second position in which it is held away from the material spreading opening 5, see Figure 10 and is movable between these two positions. The canopy 101 is releasably coupled to the gate 81 via a chain 103, see Figure 11 such that movement of the gate 81 between the closed position and the open position moves the canopy 101 from its first position to its second position. Referring now to Figures 15 and 16, there is shown a gate 181 which is opened in an arcuate motion. The gate drive arrangement has a gate opening/closing arm 182 having a first end pivotally mounted on a side wall 187 of the container 2 and a second end pivotally coupled to the top corner of the gate 181. A power operated ram 184 is pivotally coupled at one end to the side wall 187 of the container 2 and pivotally coupled at the other end between the ends of the gate opening/closing arm 182. Advantageously, when the ram 184 is actuated, the gate opening/closing arm 182 pivots about the side wall 187 in an anti-clockwise direction causing the gate 181 to move simultaneously upwards and fonivards in an arcuate motion. Advantageously, this gate drive arrangement results in the gate 181 extending only a short distance above the top of the container 2 reducing the risk of the gate hitting overhead electrical cables. The gate drive arrangement is mounted on both sides of the container 2. The canopy 301 is coupled to the gate 181 via a pair of lifting bars 303, 304. One of the lifting bars 303 is pivotally coupled at one end to the gate 181 and the other lifting iEo705 bar 304 is pivotally coupled at one end to the canopy 301 and the lifting bars 303, 304 are pivotally coupled together about their other ends. Referring finally to Figure 17, the material spreading floor 31 has a guide arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 401 extending along a portion of the circumference swept out by the free end of the or each rotating paddle board 134. The guide arrangement generally extends along the portion of the circumference proximal to the material spreading opening 5. Advantageously, this means that the portion of the circumference swept out by the free end of the or each rotating paddle board 134 distal to the material spreading opening 5 remains completely unobstructed. This configuration allows material/manure which is collected at or about the portion of the material spreading floor 31 below and proximal to the material spreading opening 5 to be swept around the floor 31 between the paddle board 134 and the guide arrangement 401 and flung out behind and laterally of the material spreading floor 31. The guide arrangement 401 comprises an arcuate band 402 of material extending substantially perpendicularly upwardly from the material spreading floor 31. The length of the arcuate band 402 of material can be adjusted. Advantageously, adjusting the length of the arcuate band 402 of material is one of the ways in which the area of ground covered by material/manure behind and to the sides of the material spreading apparatus 1 can be controlled / adjusted. Each material spreading rotor 133 carrying a pair of diametrically opposed paddle boards 134 has its own guide arrangement 401. Where two material spreading rotors 133 are provided spaced laterally apart on the material spreading floor 31, the guide arrangement 401 of each material spreading rotor 133 comprises a first lateral arcuate band 403 extending from the centre of the guide arrangement 401 to the outside of the material spreading floor 31 and a second central arcuate band 404 extending from the centre of the guide arrangement 401 to the centre of the material spreading floor 31. In use, an operator connects to the apparatus for spreading material 1 using a tow hitch on a tractor or some similar towing vehicle. The apparatus 1 is transported to an area where the material is stored and the material is filled into the material receiving area 3 of the container 2 using a front loader or similar bucket carrying power operated machine. At this stage, the gate 81 is in the closed position and the conveyor belts 15 are switched off. The drive arrangement 61 for the shredding rotor 6 is also switched off and the material spreading paddles 32 are decoupled from the tractor PTO. An operator then transports the apparatus 1 full of material such as hen or cattle manure to afield where it is to be spread. When the operator reaches their destination, the material spreading paddles 32 are coupled to the tractor PTO by the operator manually connecting the PTO drive shaft 38 to the tractor PTO which drives the paddles 32 via the PTO gear box 39, the rotor drive shaft 36, the rotor gear box 37 and the spreading rotors 33. The operator activates the gate drive member which moves the gate 81 to an open position. The !E070h3l1- canopy 101 is only raised for maintenance and must be in the down position for shredding as it deflects the material from the shredding rotor 6 to the spreading rotors 42 to 44. The rotor drive arrangement 61 is powered up causing the material spreading rotor 6 to rotate and the material spreading rope chains 7 and the agitating members 67 to flail around the shredding rotor 6. At this stage, the tractor operator can finally power up the conveyor belts 15 moving the material carried on the belts 15 towards the flailing chains 7. The operator then puts the tractor in gear and moves the entire apparatus forward with the tractor to spread the material across the desired area of the field. The conveyor belt speed and direction can be varied as well as the speed of the shredding rotor 6. When the container 2 has been emptied as all of the material has been spread out of the material spreading opening 5, all of the moving components can be powered down, the gate 81 closed which lowers the canopy over the material spreading opening 5 and the apparatus 1 is transported back to the farmyard or industrial plant for reloading. The power transmission layout of the apparatus 1 is shown in Figure 14. The power to the apparatus is taken from the shaft of the tractor which pulls the apparatus and drives the rotor drive sprocket 62 and the rotor gearboxes 37. Variations and modification can be made without departing from the scope of the invention outlined above. MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON, Applicants’ Agents, Merrion Square, Dublin 2.

Description

APPARATUS FOR SPREADING MATERIAL The present invention relates to apparatus for spreading material, in particular to apparatus for spreading animal manure.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for spreading material comprising a carriage means and a container mounted on the carriage means, the container having wall means defining one area for receiving material and another area for spreading material and the wall means defining a material spreading opening, the material receiving area having means for delivering the material to the material spreading area and the material spreading area having a substantially horizontal shredding rotor mounted transverse the material spreading opening, the shredding rotor having a plurality of material spreading chains hanging there from.

Preferably, the shredding rotor is mounted substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the material delivery means.

Ideally, the carriage means comprises at least one pair of wheels on an axle and a drawbar mounted below the container.

Ideally, the material delivery means is a movable floor of the material receiving area.

Preferably, the movable floor is provided by a conveyor means.

Ideally, the conveyor means comprises one or more endless conveyor belts and conveyor belt drive means.

Preferably, the conveyor belt drive means is a motor. ldeally, the motor is operable electrically or hydraulically.

Preferably, the or each endless conveyor belt has flights transverse to the direction of travel of the belt. Advantageously, the flights urge the material towards the material spreading area.

Ideally, the conveyor means is reversible, thus allowing an operator to switch the direction of rotation of the conveyor means to agitate the material.

Preferably, two conveyor belts are mounted side by side.

Ideally, the material spreading area has a material spreading floor at a position vertically lower than the material delivery means of the material receiving area.

Preferably, the material spreading floor has at least one material spreading paddle.

Ideally, the paddle is coupled to a power take off (PTO) shaft of a towing vehicle.

Preferably, the material spreading paddle is rotatably mounted on the material spreading floor.

Preferably, a pair of material spreading paddles is rotatably mounted above the material spreading floor.

Ideally, the or each material spreading paddle comprises a spreading rotor and at least one substantially horizontal paddle board coupled to and extending laterally from the spreading rotor above the floor.

Preferably, the spreading rotor is substantially vertical and protrudes through the material spreading floor.

Ideally, the spreading rotor is coupled to a rotor drive shaft via a rotor gear box.

Preferably, the rotor drive shaft is coupled to a PTO drive shaft via a PTO gear box.

Ideally, a pair of paddle boards is coupled to and extend laterally from the spreading rotor.

Preferably, the paddle boards extend from diametrically opposed positions of the spreading rotor.

Ideally, the material spreading floor has guide means extending along a portion of the circumference swept out by the free end of the or each rotating paddle board.

Preferably, the guide means generally extends along the portion of the circumference proximal to the material spreading opening. Advantageously, this means that the portion of the circumference swept out by the free end of the or each rotating paddle board distal to the material spreading opening remains completely unobstructed.

This configuration allows material/manure which is collected at or about the portion of the material spreading floor below and proximal to the material spreading opening to be swept around the floor between the paddle board and the guide means and flung out behind and laterally of the material spreading floor.

Preferably, the guide means comprises an arcuate band of material extending substantially perpendicularly upwardly from the material spreading floor.

Ideally, the length of the arcuate band of material can be adjusted.

Advantageously, adjusting the length of the arcuate band of material is one of the ways in which the area of ground covered by material/manure behind and to the sides of the material spreading apparatus can be controlled/adjusted.

Ideally. each material spreading rotor carrying a pair of diametrically opposed paddle boards has its own guide means.

Preferably, where two material spreading rotors are provided spaced laterally apart on the material spreading floor, the guide means of each material spreading rotor comprises a first lateral arcuate band extending from the centre of the guide means to the outside of the material spreading floor and a second central arcuate band extending from the centre of the guide means to the centre of the material spreading floor.

Preferably, the first lateral arcuate band is approximately the same height as the paddle board.

Ideally, the height of the second central arcuate band of the guide means is less than the height of the paddle board. Advantageously, this allows the lighter material to be released at a different point along the central arcuate band as it can rise above the band as the paddle board sweeps around the material spreading floor. Additionally, the reduced height of central arcuate band prevents all of the heavier manure, such as hen manure from falling off centrally behind the material spreading floor as the angle of the central arcuate band can be adjusted relative to the material spreading floor by adding or removing pieces of band material. This means that the heavier material will be swept around the central arcuate band and flung off at the angle set by the machine operator to prevent a concentration of the heavy manure in a narrow band behind the material spreading floor. ldeally, the or each paddle board is coupled to a turntable arrangement which is mounted on the spreading rotor.

Preferably, the turntable arrangement has a circular base plate coplanar with the material spreading floor and being rotatably mounted therein.

Ideally, the turntable arrangement has a cap member spaced vertically above the base plate and being centrally mounted on the spreading rotor with the paddle boards sandwiched between the base plate and the cap member.

Preferably, the or each paddle board is pivotally coupled to the turntable arrangement and has a fixing means between the turntable arrangement and the paddle board to prevent pivotal movement of the paddle board relative to the turntable arrangement.

Ideally, the fixing means is operable up to a predetermined torque level.

Advantageously, when the torque acting on the pivotal coupling between any paddle board and the turntable arrangement exceeds the acceptable predetemwined level, the fixing means is released and the paddle board is free to rotate relative to the turntable arrangement.

Preferably, the fixing means is a shear bolt mounted between the paddle board and the turntable arrangement.

This arrangement compensates for a piece of foreign material such as a length of timber, for example, being buried in the material and passing onto the material spreading floor unnoticed. As the paddle board sweeps across the material spreading floor there is a risk that the piece of foreign material will get trapped between the paddle board and some other fixed surface of the material spreading floor. Without a shear bolt mounted between the paddle board and the turntable arrangement the paddle board would shear off the turntable arrangement causing major structural damage to the paddle. With the fixing means built in, the only part to be replaced when something becomes lodged is the shear bolt as it will shear off before any torque is reached which would cause damage to the paddle board, the turntable arrangement or the pivotal coupling between the paddle board and the turntable arrangement. When the predetermined torque level is reached, the shear bolt shears and the paddle board is able to pivot relative to the turntable arrangement allowing the paddle board to move around the timber board or other obstacle in the material without damaging the paddle.

Preferably, the substantially horizontal rotor has a drive means. ideally, the horizontal rotor drive means comprises a drive sprocket, a driven sprocket coupled to one end of the rotor and an endless chain mounted on the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket.

Preferably, the drive sprocket is coupled to a 90° three shaft gearbox.

Ideally, a row of chain attachment means are spaced along the rotor in alignment.

Preferably, a second row of chain attachment means are spaced along the rotor in alignment.

Ideally, the second row of chain attachment means are angularly spaced around the circumference of the rotor from the first row of chain attachment means.

Ideally, a plurality of rows of aligned spaced chain attachment means are angularly spaced around the circumference of the rotor relative to each other.

Preferably, the aligned spaced chain attachment means of one row are staggered longitudinally along the rotor relative to the chain attachment means of the or each adjacent row.

Ideally, the material spreading chains are rope chains.

Preferably, the material spreading chains are manufactured from case hardened steel.

Ideally, one end of the rope chain is coupled to a chain attachment means and the other end of the chain has an agitating means attached thereon.

Preferably, the chain attachment means is a pair of mutually opposing protruding plates each having a through bore substantially in alignment with each other.

Ideally, the agitating means comprises a steel buckle fastened onto a last loop of the rope chain.

Preferably, the substantially horizontal rotor is mounted on the wall means above one end of the material delivery means proximal to the material spreading floor.

The overall length of the chains and the agitating means is less than the distance between the bottom dead centre of the rotor and the top of the material delivery means. In use, the agitating means swings freely above the top surface of the material delivery means.

Preferably, the container is an open top container.

Ideally, a gate is movably mounted on the wall means of the container.

Preferably, the gate is movable between a closed position and an open position.

Ideally, the gate divides the container into a partially enclosed material receiving compartment and a partially enclosed material spreading compartment in the closed position.

Preferably, the gate seals the material receiving compartment off from the material spreading opening in the closed position. Advantageously, the closed position of the gate allows a completely full container of material to be transported across roads and through built up areas without risk of the material spilling out of the material spreading opening.

Ideally, the container comprises a substantially parallelepiped open top container having a towing end wall and two side walls.

Preferably, the towing end wall has an access panel. Advantageously, the access panel allows an operator to access any material which has become jammed at or about the towing end.

Ideally, the upper portion of the side walls is angled outwardly.

Preferably, the gate is movably mounted on the two opposing side walls proximal to the material spreading end of the container.

Ideally, the gate is slidably mounted on a pair of tracks which are mounted on opposing locations of the side walls proximal to the material spreading end of the container.

Preferably, the gate is in operable engagement with a gate drive means.

Ideally, the gate drive means is operable hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically.

Preferably, the gate is opened in an arcuate motion.

Ideally, the gate drive means comprises a gate opening/closing arm having a first end pivotally mounted on a side wall of the container and a second end pivotally coupled to the top corner of the gate and a power operated ram pivotally coupled at one end to the side wall of the container and pivotally coupled at the other end between the ends of the gate opening/closing arm. Advantageously, when the ram is actuated, the gate opening/closing arm pivots about the side wall in an anti-clockwise direction causing the gate to move simultaneously upwards and forwards in an arcuate motion.

Advantageously, this gate drive means results in the gate extending only a short distance above the top of the container reducing the risk of the gate hitting overhead electrical cables.

Preferably, the gate drive means is mounted on both sides of the container.

Ideally. the canopy is coupled to the gate via a pair of lifting bars.

Preferably, one of the lifting bars is pivotally coupled at one end to the gate and the other lifting bar is pivotally coupled at one end to the canopy and the lifting bars are pivotally coupled together about their other ends.

Ideally, a canopy is movably mounted on the container proximal to the material spreading opening.

Preferably, the canopy has a first position in which it covers the material spreading opening and a second position in which it is held away from the material spreading opening and is movable between these positions.

Ideally, the canopy is releasably coupled to the gate.

Preferably, movement of the gate between the closed position and the open position moves the canopy from its first position to its second position.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only one embodiment of apparatus for spreading material in accordance with the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is perspective view of an apparatus for spreading material; Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a paddle; Figure 3 is a partial rear elevation view of the apparatus for spreading material; Figure 4 is a top plan view of a material spreading floor and a pair of paddles; Figure 5 is a top plan view of a material spreading floor and a pair of paddles; Figure 6 is an end view of a paddle board; Figure 7 is a side elevation view of the paddle board of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a top plan View of a paddle board, pivotal coupling and fixing member; Figure 9 is a top plan view of a cap member of a turntable arrangement; Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of a material spreading end of an apparatus for spreading material; Figure 11 is a second perspective view taken from the other side to the side shown in Figure 10 of a material spreading end of an apparatus for spreading material; Figure 12 is a partial perspective view taken from inside the container and looking toward the material spreading end of the container; Figure 13 is a partial front elevation view of the apparatus for spreading material; Figure 14 is a schematic layout of the power transmission system of the apparatus; Figure 15 is a perspective view of a container having a second embodiment of gate drive arrangement; Figure 16 is a second perspective view of a container having a second embodiment of gate drive arrangement; and Figure 17 is a partial perspective rear view of an apparatus for spreading material.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, there is shown an apparatus for spreading material indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 having a carriage arrangement and a container 2 mounted on the carriage arrangement. The container 2 has walls for defining one area indicated generally by the reference numeral 3 for receiving material and another area indicated generally by the reference numeral 4 for spreading material. The walls defining a material spreading opening 5, see Figure 10 and the material receiving area 3 have an arrangement for delivering the material to the material spreading area 4. The material spreading area 4 has a substantially horizontal shredding rotor 6, see Figures 10 and 12 mounted transverse the material spreading opening 5 substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the material delivery arrangement. The shredding rotor 6 has a plurality of material spreading chains 7 hanging there from. see Figures 10 and 12. The carriage arrangement comprises at least one pair of wheels 9 mounted on an axle 11 and a drawbar 14 mounted below the container 2. The container 2 is an open top container 2.

The material delivery arrangement is provided by a movable floor on the material receiving area 3 and the movable floor is provided by a conveyor arrangement having a pair of endless conveyor belts 15 and a conveyor belt drive member 17, see Figures 10, 12 and 13. The conveyor belt drive member 17 is a motor, operable electrically or hydraulically. The endless conveyor belts 15 have flights 19 transverse the direction of travel of the conveyor belts 15. Advantageously, the flights 19 urge the material towards the material spreading area 4. The conveyor belts 15 are reversible. Advantageously, this allows an operator to switch the direction of rotation of the conveyor belts 15, either together or relative to one another to agitate the material. The two conveyor belts 15 are mounted side by side.

The material spreading area 4 has a material spreading floor 31, see Figures 2 to and 10 at a position vertically lower than the material delivery arrangement of the material receiving area 3. The material spreading floor 31 has a pair of material spreading paddles 32 and the paddles 32 are powered from a power take off (PTO) shaft of a towing vehicle, such as a tractor (not shown). The material spreading paddles 32 are rotatably mounted above the material spreading floor 31. The material spreading paddles 32 comprise a spreading rotor 33 and a pair of substantially horizontal paddle boards 34 coupled to and extending laterally from the spreading rotor 33 above the material spreading floor 31. The spreading rotor 33 is substantially vertical and protrudes through the material spreading floor 31. The spreading rotor 33 is coupled to a rotor drive shaft 36, see Figure 3 via a rotor gear box 37 and the rotor drive shaft 36 is coupled to a PTO drive shaft 38, see Figure 1 via a PTO gear box 39. The pair of paddle boards 34 is coupled to and extend laterally from the spreading rotor 33 from diametrically opposed positions of the spreading rotor 33, see especially Figures 4 and 5.

The paddle boards 34 are coupled to a turntable arrangement 41 which is mounted on the spreading rotor 33. The turntable arrangement 41 has a base plate 42 coplanar with the material spreading floor 31 and rotatably mounted therein and a separate cap member 44 spaced vertically above the base plate 42 and centrally mounted via central bore 53, see Figure 9 on the spreading rotor 33 with the paddle boards 34 sandwiched between the base plate 42 and the cap member 44. The paddle boards 34 are pivotally coupled to the turntable arrangement 41 via a pivotal coupling member 48, see Figure 8. The turntable arrangement 41 has a fixing arrangement 46 comprising a flange 49 extending from the pivotal coupling member 48 and a shear bolt, see Figure 2.

The shear bolt 55 passes through a cap member bore 50 defined in the cap member 44 and a flange bore 51 defined in the flange 49. The fixing arrangement 46 between the turntable arrangement 41 and the paddle board 34 prevents pivotal movement of the paddle board 34 relative to the turntable arrangement 41.

The fixing arrangement 46 is operable up to a predetermined torque level.

Advantageously, when the torque acting on the pivotal coupling member 48 between any paddle board 34 and the turntable arrangement 31 exceeds the acceptable predetermined level, the fixing arrangement 46 is released and the paddle board 34 is free to rotate relative to the turntable arrangement 41, see Figure 4. The fixing arrangement 46 breaks down as the shear bolt 55 mounted between the paddle board 34 and the turntable arrangement 41 shears under the predetermined torque.

Advantageously, this arrangement compensates for a piece of timber or other foreign material 155, see Figure 2 for example being buried in the material and passing onto the material spreading floor 31 unnoticed. As the paddle board 34 sweeps across the material spreading floor 31 there is a risk that the timber or other foreign material 55 will get trapped between the paddle board 34 and some other fixed surface of the material spreading floor 31. Without a shear bolt 55 mounted between the paddle board 34 and the turntable arrangement 41 the paddle board 34 would shear off the turntable arrangement 41 causing major structural damage to the paddle 32. With the fixing arrangement 46 built in, the only part to be replaced when something becomes lodged is the shear bolt 55 as it will shear off before any torque is reached which would cause damage to the paddle board 34, the turntable arrangement 41 or the pivotal coupling member 48 or the rotor gearboxes 37. When the predetermined torque level is reached, the shear bolt 55 shears and the paddle board 34 is able to pivot relative to the turntable arrangement 41 allowing the paddle board 34 to move around the timber 55 or other obstacle in the material without damaging the paddle 32, see Figure 4.

The shredding rotor 6 has a drive member indicated generally by the reference numeral 61, see Figure 11. The shredding rotor drive member 61 comprises a drive sprocket 62, a driven sprocket 63 coupled to one end of the substantially horizontal rotor 6 and an endless chain 64 mounted on the drive sprocket 62 and the driven sprocket 63.

The drive sprocket 62 is coupled to a 90° three shaft gearbox 120 (see Figure 14). A row of chain attachment members 65, see Figure 12 are spaced along the rotor 6 in alignment. A second row of chain attachment members 65 are also spaced along the shredding rotor 6 in alignment and the second row of chain attachment members 65 are angularly spaced around the circumference of the shredding rotor 6 from the first row of chain attachment members 65. Four rows of aligned spaced chain attachment members 65 are angularly spaced around the circumference of the shredding rotor 6 relative to each other and the aligned spaced chain attachment members 65 of one row are staggered longitudinally along the rotor 6 relative to the chain attachment members 65 of each adjacent row.

The material spreading chains 7 are rope chains manufactured from case hardened steel. One end of the rope chain 7 is coupled to a chain attachment member 65 and the other end of the chain 7 has an agitating member 67, see Figure 10 attached thereon. The chain attachment member is a pair of mutually opposing protruding plates 68 each having a through bore 69 substantially in alignment with each other. The agitating member 67 comprises a steel buckle fastened onto a last loop of the rope chain 7.

The shredding rotor 6 is mounted on the wall above one end of the material delivery arrangement proximal to the material spreading floor 31. The overall length of the chains 7 and the agitating member 67 is less than the distance between the bottom dead centre of the shredding rotor 6 and the top of the conveyor belt 15. In use, the agitating member 67 swings freely above the top surface of the conveyor belt 15.

A gate 81, see Figures 1 and 11 is movably mounted on the wall of the container 2. The gate 81 is movable between a closed position and an open position, see Figure 12.

The gate 81 divides the container 2 into a partially enclosed material receiving compartment and a partially enclosed material spreading compartment in the closed position. The gate 81 seals the material receiving compartment off from the material spreading opening 5 in the closed position. Advantageously, the closed position of the gate 81 allows a completely full container 2 of material to be transported across roads and through built up areas without risk of the material spilling out of the material spreading opening 5.

The container 2 is a substantially parallelepiped open top container having a towing end wall 86 and two side walls 87, see Figure 1. The towing end wall 86 has an access panel 89, see Figure 13 allowing an operator to access any material which has become jammed at or about the towing end. The upper portion 91, see Figures 1, 11 and 12 of each side wall 87 is angled outwardly. The gate 81 is movably mounted on the two opposing side walls 87 proximal to the material spreading end. The gate 81 is slidably mounted on a pair of tracks 95, see Figure 11 which are mounted on opposing locations of the side walls 87 proximal to the material spreading end. The gate 81 is in operable engagement with a gate drive member which is operable hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically.

A canopy 101, see Figures 1, 10 and 11 is movably mounted on the container 2 proximal to the material spreading opening 5 and the canopy 101 has a first position in which it covers the material spreading opening 5 see Figures 1 and 11 and a second position in which it is held away from the material spreading opening 5, see Figure 10 and is movable between these two positions. The canopy 101 is releasably coupled to the gate 81 via a chain 103, see Figure 11 such that movement of the gate 81 between the closed position and the open position moves the canopy 101 from its first position to its second position.

Referring now to Figures 15 and 16, there is shown a gate 181 which is opened in an arcuate motion. The gate drive arrangement has a gate opening/closing arm 182 having a first end pivotally mounted on a side wall 187 of the container 2 and a second end pivotally coupled to the top corner of the gate 181. A power operated ram 184 is pivotally coupled at one end to the side wall 187 of the container 2 and pivotally coupled at the other end between the ends of the gate opening/closing arm 182. Advantageously, when the ram 184 is actuated, the gate opening/closing arm 182 pivots about the side wall 187 in an anti-clockwise direction causing the gate 181 to move simultaneously upwards and fon/vards in an arcuate motion. Advantageously. this gate drive arrangement results in the gate 181 extending only a short distance above the top of the container 2 reducing the risk of the gate hitting overhead electrical cables. The gate drive arrangement is mounted on both sides of the container 2.

The canopy 301 is coupled to the gate 181 via a pair of lifting bars 303, 304. One of the lifting bars 303 is pivotally coupled at one end to the gate 181 and the other lifting bar 304 is pivotally coupled at one end to the canopy 301 and the lifting bars 303, 304 are pivotally coupled together about their other ends.

Referring finally to Figure 17, the material spreading floor 31 has a guide arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 401 extending along a portion of the circumference swept out by the free end of the or each rotating paddle board 134.

The guide arrangement generally extends along the portion of the circumference proximal to the material spreading opening 5. Advantageously, this means that the portion of the circumference swept out by the free end of the or each rotating paddle board 134 distal to the material spreading opening 5 remains completely unobstructed. This configuration allows material/manure which is collected at or about the portion of the material spreading floor 31 below and proximal to the material spreading opening 5 to be swept around the floor 31 between the paddle board 134 and the guide arrangement 401 and flung out behind and laterally of the material spreading floor 31.

The guide arrangement 401 comprises an arcuate band 402 of material extending substantially perpendicularly upwardly from the material spreading floor 31. The length of the arcuate band 402 of material can be adjusted. Advantageously, adjusting the length of the arcuate band 402 of material is one of the ways in which the area of ground covered by material/manure behind and to the sides of the material spreading apparatus 1 can be controlled I adjusted. Each material spreading rotor 133 carrying a pair of diametrically opposed paddle boards 134 has its own guide arrangement 401. Where two material spreading rotors 133 are provided spaced laterally apart on the material spreading floor 31, the guide arrangement 401 of each material spreading rotor 133 comprises a first lateral arcuate band 403 extending from the centre of the guide arrangement 401 to the outside of the material spreading floor 31 and a second central arcuate band 404 extending from the centre of the guide arrangement 401 to the centre of the material spreading floor 31.

The first lateral arcuate band 403 is approximately the same height as the paddle board 134. The height of the second central arcuate band 404 of the guide arrangement 401 is less than the height of the paddle board 134. Advantageously, this allows the lighter material to be released at a different point along the central arcuate band 404 as it can rise above the band 404 as the paddle board 134 sweeps around the material spreading floor 31. Additionally, the reduced height of central arcuate band 404 prevents all of the heavier manure, such as hen manure from falling off centrally behind the material spreading floor 31 as the angle of the central arcuate band 404 can be adjusted relative to the material spreading floor 31 by adding or removing pieces of band material 404. This means that the heavier material will be swept around the central arcuate band 404 and flung off at the angle set by the machine operator to prevent a concentration of the heavy manure in a narrow band behind the material spreading floor 31 of the material spreading apparatus 1.

In use, an operator connects to the apparatus for spreading material 1 using a tow hitch on a tractor or some similar towing vehicle. The apparatus 1 is transported to an area where the material is stored and the material is filled into the material receiving area 3 of the container 2 using a front loader or similar bucket carrying power operated machine. At this stage, the gate 81 is in the closed position and the conveyor belts 15 are switched off. The drive arrangement 61 for the shredding rotor 6 is also switched off and the material spreading paddles 32 are decoupled from the tractor PTO. An operator then transports the apparatus 1 full of material such as hen or cattle manure to a field where it is to be spread. When the operator reaches their destination, the material spreading paddles 32 are coupled to the tractor PTO by the operator manually connecting the PTO drive shaft 38 to the tractor PTO which drives the paddles 32 via the PTO gear box 39, the rotor drive shaft 36, the rotor gear box 37 and the spreading rotors 33. The operator activates the gate drive member which moves the gate 81 to an open position. The canopy 101 is only raised for maintenance and must be in the down position for shredding as it deflects the material from the shredding rotor 6 to the spreading rotors 42 to 44. The rotor drive arrangement 61 is powered up causing the material spreading rotor 6 to rotate and the material spreading rope chains 7 and the agitating members 67 to flail around the shredding rotor 6. At this stage, the tractor operator can finally power up the conveyor belts 15 moving the material carried on the belts 15 towards the flailing chains 7. The operator then puts the tractor in gear and moves the entire apparatus forward with the tractor to spread the material across the desired area of the field. The conveyor belt speed and direction can be varied as well as the speed of the shredding rotor 6. When the container 2 has been emptied as all of the material has been spread out of the material spreading opening 5, all of the moving components can be powered down, the gate 81 closed which lowers the canopy over the material spreading opening 5 and the apparatus 1 is transported back to the farmyard or industrial plant for reloading.

The power transmission layout of the apparatus 1 is shown in Figure 14. The power to the apparatus is taken from the shaft of the tractor which pulls the apparatus and drives the rotor drive sprocket 62 and the rotor gearboxes 37.

Variations and modification can be made without departing from the scope of the invention outlined above.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for spreading material comprising a carriage means and a container mounted on the carriage means, the container having wall means defining one area for receiving material and another area for spreading material and the wall means defining a material spreading opening, the material receiving area having means for delivering the material to the material spreading area and the material spreading area having a substantially horizontal shredding rotor mounted transverse to the material spreading opening, the shredding rotor having a plurality of material spreading chains suspended therefrom, the material spreading area has a material spreading floor at a position vertically lower than the material delivery means of the material receiving area and has at least one material spreading paddle, the paddle being coupled to a power take off (PTO) shaft of a towing vehicle and the material spreading floor has guide means extending along a portion of the circumference swept out by the free end of the or each rotating paddle board.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the guide means generally extends along the portion of the circumference proximal to the material spreading opening, such that the portion of the circumference swept out by the free end of the or each rotating paddle board distal to the material spreading opening remains completely unobstructed, whereby this configuration allows material which is collected at or about the portion of the material spreading floor below and proximal to the material spreading opening to be swept around the floor between the paddle board and the guide means and flung out behind and laterally of the material spreading floor, the guide means comprises an arcuate band of material extending substantially perpendicularly upwardly from the material spreading floor, the arcuate band of material of material being adjustable, whereby adjusting the length of the arcuate band of material can control or adjust the area of ground covered by material/manure behind and to the sides of the material spreading apparatus, each material spreading rotor carrying a pair of diametrically opposed paddle boards has its own guide means, two material spreading rotors are provided spaced laterally apart on the material spreading floor, the guide means of each material spreading rotor comprising a first lateral arcuate band extending from the centre of the guide means to the outside of the material spreading floor and a second central arcuate band extends from the centre of the guide means to the centre of the material spreading floor, the first lateral arcuate band is approximately the same height as the paddle board, and optionally the height of the second central arcuate band of the guide means is less than the height of the paddle board, thereby allowing the lighter material to be released at a different point along the central arcuate band as it can rise above the band as the paddle board sweeps around the material spreading floor.

3. An apparatus for spreading material comprising a carriage means and a container mounted on the carriage means, the container having wall means defining one area for receiving material and another area for spreading material and the wall means defining a material spreading opening, the material receiving area having means for delivering the material to the material spreading area and the material spreading area having a substantially horizontal shredding rotor mounted transverse to the material spreading opening, the shredding rotor having a plurality of material spreading chains suspended there from, the container is an open top container and a gate is movably mounted on the wall means of the container between a closed position and an open position and divides the container into a partially enclosed material receiving compartment and a partially enclosed material spreading compartment in the closed position and the gate is in operable engagement with a gate drive means which is operable hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically and wherein the gate is openable in an arcuate motion.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, in which the gate drive means comprises a gate opening/closing arm having a first end pivotally mounted on a side wall of the container and a second end pivotally coupled to the top corner of the gate and a power operated ram pivotally coupled at one end to the side wall of the container and pivotally coupled at the other end between the ends of the gate opening/closing arm, whereby, when the ram is actuated, the gate opening/closing arm pivots about the side wall causing the gate to move simultaneously upwards and ton/vards in an arcuate motion and this motion results in the gate extending only a short distance above the top of the container reducing the risk of the gate hitting overhead electrical cables, the gate drive means is mounted on both sides of the container, a canopy is coupled to the gate via a pair of lifting bars, one of the lifting bars is pivotally coupled at one end to the gate and the other lifting bar is pivotally coupled at one end to the canopy and the lifting bars are pivotally coupled together about their other ends, the canopy is movably mounted on the container proximal to the material spreading opening, the canopy has a first position in which it covers the material spreading opening and a second position in which it is held away from the material spreading opening and is movable between these positions, the canopy is releasably coupled to the gate, and optionally in which movement of the gate between the closed position and the open position moves the canopy from its first position to its second position. 21

5. An apparatus for spreading material substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in