US3032219A - Material unloader - Google Patents

Material unloader Download PDF

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Publication number
US3032219A
US3032219A US742326A US74232658A US3032219A US 3032219 A US3032219 A US 3032219A US 742326 A US742326 A US 742326A US 74232658 A US74232658 A US 74232658A US 3032219 A US3032219 A US 3032219A
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transverse
container
panel
extending
floor
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US742326A
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Maurice J Martens
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Deere and Co
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Deere and Co
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
    • A01C3/00—Treating manure; Manuring
    • A01C3/06—Manure distributors, e.g. dung distributors
    • A01C3/066—Spreading by using worm or screw conveyors

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a material unloading implement and more particularly to a material unloading type of implement which is normally used to'unload material such as manure and which may be adapted for unloading of material such assilage, hay, or other type of feed. Still more particularly,'this invention may be considered as an improvement in a manure spreading type of implement so that by use of a simple type of attachment, the manure spreader may be converted to a silage or other type of material unloading implement.
  • a manure spreading type of implement and a silage unloading type of implement is'the use of an elongated material container having a floor conveyor therein which moves material rearwardly in one instance as a manure spreader to a. group of heaters and widespread which discharges and spreads the material evenly on the ground, and in the second case'to a transverse conveyor which will feed hay or silage to a feed box or other type of container normally used to receive the material either for storage or for feeding to livestock.
  • the heaters are also advantageous.- ly used so as to prevent clogging of the container and to feed the hay or silage evenly into the transverse conveyor. Therefore, common to both usages are the container, the floor conveyor, and the beaters.
  • the main difference in the unloading of materials is that in one case manure is fed directly to the widespread whereas in the second case the material is fed to the transverse conveyor.
  • FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a conventional type spreader.
  • FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the spreader being converted to a silage or similar type of unloader.
  • FIG. 3 is a front and side perspective of the implement as shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 is a rear perspective of the front portion of the material container.
  • FIG. 5 is a rear and side perspective of a portion of the container shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 6 is a side perspective of a portion of the container as it is being assembled or disassembled.
  • FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view looking forwardly into the beater portion of the unloader.
  • FIG. 8 is a front perspective view looking rearwardly into the rear section of the material unloader.
  • FIG. 9 is a side perspective view looking downwardly into the widespread and feeder portion of the material unloader.
  • FIG. 10 is a side perspective view looking into the lower part of the rear portion of the material unloader.
  • FIG. 11 ' is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-11 of FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 12 is an enlarged side view showing a joint of the container.
  • FIG. 13 is a front and side perspective view of the rear portion of the material container and the transverse conveyor with the latter being disengaged from the coritainer.
  • FIG. 14 is a perspective view looking down into the rear and side portion of the container and a portion of the transverse conveyor just prior to its being mounted in operative position.
  • FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view looking into the drive mechanism for the conveyor with parts being removed for clarity purposes.
  • FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 with the drive housing and other drive mechanism being shown.
  • FIG. 17 is a front and side perspective view of the drive mechanism and its relative position in regard to the conveyor and material container.
  • the spreader chosen for purposes of illustration here is of the two-wheel type normally drawn behind a tractor.
  • the spreader vehicle or machine comprises an elongated material containing body 10 having right and left hand upright side walls 11, 12, a horizontal floor 13 and a transverse upright front wall 14. The rear end of the body is left open to permit material discharge.
  • the front end of the body 10 is equipped with a forwardly extending draft tongue 20 having a clevis 21 by means of which the implement may be connected to and drawn by an agricultural tractor, as is conventional.
  • the side walls 11, 12 respectively have rearward portions 22, 23 that extend rearwardly of the terminal edge of the floor 13. These rearward extensions 22, 23 are utilized as supporting means for vertically spaced heaters 24 and a transverse widespread 25 which is spacedly rearward of the heaters 24.
  • the spreader or material unloader is loaded with manure or other material to be distributed and the load is advanced rearwardly in increments by feeding mechanism comprising a floor conveyor 30 made up of a pair of longitudinal running endless chains 31, 32 cross connected by a plurality of transverse longitudinally spaced slats 33.
  • This apron or conveyor 30 is advanced so that its upper run and the slats thereon move rearwardly over the upper surface of the floor 13, the lower run returning below the floor 13.
  • Other characteristics of the spreader are a transverse axle structure 35 on which is mounted transversely spaced right and left hand transport wheels 36, 37 respectively.
  • the side walls 11, 12 have upper rolled edges 40, 41 respectively which offer longitudinal rigidity to the side walls.
  • the bight'portion 45 of the arch 42 is disposed transversely across the container 10 and 'above the beater means 24.
  • the arch member 42 serves as transverse support for the manure box.
  • the manner of connection of the arch 42 to the upper edges of the side walls is generally shown and described in US. Patent No. 2,702,711 issued to W. F. H. Furcell.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 the general method of mounting a front wall extension 50 is shown.
  • a false front 51 provided at the forward end of the material container 10 and is inclined rearwardly and downwardly from the front wall 14 so as to provide a compartment for operating mechanism, not shown, between the front wall 14 and the inclined wall 51.
  • the front wall extension 50 includes therein a generally upright panel 52 flared rearwardly at opposite ends, as at 53, 54, to form corners on the extension.
  • the rearward extending portions 53, 54 are terminated by transversely extending flanges 55, 56 respectively.
  • Upper edges 57 of the panel 52 are rolled into a tube in a manner similar to that of the upper edges 41, 42 of the side walls so as to provide transverse rigidity to the front extension 50.
  • On the upper edge of opposite corners of the front wall extension 50 there are provided rigid corner elements 58, 59 of cast material.
  • the corners 58, 59 are provided with transversely extending reduced ends, which are telescoped into and are detachably connected to the upper rolled edge 57 of the front wall extension by means of pins 60, and are also provided with longitudinally or rearwardly projecting reduced portions 61, 62 which, as will later be explained, are received into similar upper rolled edge portions of side wall extensions.
  • the front panel 50 is initially mounted on the inclined front wall 51 by means of a metal strap 65, which overlies the lower edge of the central transverse panel 52 and extends downwardly as a lip over the panel 51 and is bolted at 66 to tighten thereto, as at 66 against panel 52.
  • a metal strap 65 which overlies the lower edge of the central transverse panel 52 and extends downwardly as a lip over the panel 51 and is bolted at 66 to tighten thereto, as at 66 against panel 52.
  • the strap 65 and its associated bolts are not the primary mounting means for the front panel 52, but serve only as the initial step in mounting the extensions on the manure spreader container.
  • the front panel extension 50 is further held rigidly on the container through its inter-connections with the other extensions.
  • rear side wall extensions 70, 71 Positioned above the rear portions 22, 23 of the side walls is a pair of rear side wall extensions 70, 71 respectively.
  • the rear side wall extensions 70, 71 have vertical forwardly facing flanges 72, 73. Adjacent to the flanges 72, 73 are hinge brackets 74, 75.
  • the rear side wall extensions 70, 71 have upper edges provided with reenforcing tubular members 76, 77 bolted, as at 78, 79, to the upper edges.
  • the sections 70, 71 extend upwardly above the level of the beater means and the bight portion 45 of arch 42.
  • the loWer edges of the extensions 70, 71 are flanged inwardly as at 80, 81 (FIG.
  • the side wall extensions 90, 91 are substantially identical, and-consequently description shall be limited to the left side wall extension 91.
  • the wall extension 91 includes therein an elongated panel 92 which has at opposite ends thereof angle iron members 93, 94, one leg of the angle iron members 93, 94 serving as flanges which normally lie adjacent to the flanges 56, 73 of the front panel 50 and rear side wall panel 71.
  • the angle iron members 93, 94 are also provided with outwardly extending hinge brackets 95, 96 which operate complementary to the hinge brackets 64, 75 respectively.
  • brackets 98 project downwardly from the lower edge of the panel 92 and operate as lower support for the side wall extension 91.
  • the specific nature of the connection is shown in FIG. 11. Specifically, the lower portion 92a of the panel 92 is flanged inwardly to fit. over the tubular upper edge 41 of the side wall 12.
  • bracket structure 100 Bolted to the outer face, as at 99 is bracket structure 100 which supports a longitudinally extending pivot pin 101 directly beneath the tubular edge 41.
  • the lower end of the bracket 98 is hook-shaped, as at 102, and normally fits behind the pin 101.
  • the hook end 102 and pin 101 operate on interlocking means effective to connect the extension when the extension is vertically disposed and to disconnect the extension when it is swung to a laterally disposed position.
  • a pipe extension 105 telescopingly or slidingly mounted in the tubular portion 97 of the panel 92.
  • a longitudinal slot 106 is provided to receive the shank portion of a lock bolt 107 which is fixedly connected to the pipe 105.
  • the pipe may be moved longitudinally of the tubular portions 97 and may either extend flush with the rear edge of the panel 92 or may extend rearwardly therefrom.
  • the front wall extension .50 is first mounted on the container 10 by means of the bolts 66.
  • the rear side wall extensions 70, 71 are then mounted on the rear portions 22, 23 of the side walls 11, 12 by means of the bolts 82, 83 and 84.
  • the hooked ends 102 of the brackets 98 are positioned behind the pivot pins 101 and the side walls 90, 91 are swung upwardly, as indicated in FIG. 6, to a substantially vertical position. In the latter position the hinge brackets 95, 96 will be in vertical alinement with the hinge brackets 64, 75 respectively and suitable hinge pins may be dropped through the alined brackets so as to lock the side wall extension 91 into its vertical position.
  • the pipe 105 is moved rearwardly internally of the tubular upper edge 77 of the rear side wall extension 71 and the lock bolt tightened down to lock the pipe 105 in the latter position.
  • the forward extension 50 Prior to inserting the pins in the alined hinge brackets 64, 95 the forward extension 50 may be held forwardly to permit the rearwardly or extending portions 61, 62 of the corner extensions 58, 59
  • transverse panel 110 Mounted on the arch 42 between the side Wall extensions 70, 71 and extending generally between the bight portion 45 of the arch and the upper beater section is transverse panel 110.
  • the panel 110 is supported on the bight portion 45 by means of hanger brackets 111, 112
  • a second pair of hanger brackets 113, 114 Extending forwardly from opposite edges of the panel 110 is a second pair of hanger brackets 113, 114 having their free ends formed into a hook which hook over the inclined leg portions 43, 44.
  • a pair of spring loaded latch members 115, 116 mounted on the rear surface of the panel 110 and on opposite end portions thereof are a pair of spring loaded latch members 115, 116 which have outwardly extending bolt portions 117, 118 respectively biased to an outer position normally rearward and against the rear of the leg portions 43, 44.
  • the latches 115, 116 obviously lock the panel 110 into position.
  • the bolts 117, 118 may be withdrawn to clear the leg portions 43, 44 and the panel 110 may easily be removed from the arch 42.
  • covering plate means comprising an upper transverse panel 120.
  • the panel 120 follows the contour of the upper tubular edges 76, 77 and is bolted as at 121, 122 to the tubular members 76, 77.
  • the covering means also includes a lower panel 125, hinged at 126 to the lower edge of the upper panel 120.
  • the panel 125 may be raised for either clearing material from the beaters or for general inspection of the beater area.
  • a series of bolt and nut combinations 127 are provided to hold the lower end of the panel 125 in its covering position. Viewing the rear end side panels 70, 71 and the covering panels 120 and 125, the entire group of panels and adjacent side wall extensions may be treated as hood means over the beaters 24.
  • a vertically disposed transverse panel 130 Positioned in the space between the widespread and the beaters 24 is a vertically disposed transverse panel 130.
  • the upper edge of the panel 130 is adjacent and proximate to the lower edge of the covering panel 125 and operates as a continuation of the hood means at the rear of the material unloader.
  • a transverse reenforcing beam 131 has vertical fore-and-aft flanges, as at 132, which fasten to the side walls 22, 23 for support of the panel 130.
  • the lower edge of the panel 120 is bolted as at 133 to the rear face of a transverse rail or guide 135.
  • the rail 135 extends across the underside of the side portions 22, 23 just rearwardly of the lower beater section of the beater means 24.
  • the rail 135 is provided with a forwardly extending transverse and laterally disposed flange 136 which is bolted at opposite ends, as at 137 to inwardly extending flanges of the rear side wall portions 22, 23.
  • the rail portion 138 is provided at the lower edge of the rail member 135 and is formed by a forwardly extending rigid flange having an upwardly extending lip at its forward end.
  • the bolts 133 also serve as support for a forwardly flaring covering panel 139, which flares forwardly from the forward face of the web portion of the rail 135 and operates as a cover for the lower rail portion 138.
  • a forward transverse rail or guide 145 Spaced forwardly from the rear transverse rail 135 is a forward transverse rail or guide 145 which is positioned adjacent and beneath the rear end of the floor conveyor 30.
  • the rail 145 is connected to lower flanges of the rear side walls 22, 23 by means of upwardy extending integral leg brackets 146, 147 which are flared forwardly, as at 148 to lie adjacent to the aforesaid lower flanges.
  • Bolts, as at 149 rigidly connect the rail 145 to the side walls 22, 23.
  • the transverse rail 145 is formed to provide a transverse opening through which the return or lower run of the chain conveyor -may move.
  • the lower edge of the rail member 145 has a rearwardly extending flange with an upwardly extending lip at its rear edge which forms the rail portion 150 on which the roller of a conveyor, later to be explained, may roll. Extending to the left and fixed to the forward face of the rail 145 is a stud 151 threaded at its-outer end. It should here be noted that all portions of the rails 135, 145 as well as the rear transverse panel 130 which divides the heaters 24 and widespread 25 are all detachably connected by bolts and may be easily removed from the original spreader or may be attached with similar case. Consequently, the rails and panels may be considered as an attachment to a conventional type spreader.
  • a transverse conveyor, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 160 is provided at the rear end of the material unloader and includes therein an inner upwardly opening trough portion 161 and an outer transverse elevator portion 162.
  • wheels or rollers 163, 164 At the extreme right end of the trough portion 161 are wheels or rollers 163, 164 which are spacedly fore-and-aft on opposite fore-and-aft extending wall portions 165, 166 of the transverse trough portion 161.
  • the rollers 163, 164 are spaced fore-and-aft and vertically on the order of the rails 145, and operate to roll along lower rail portions 150, 138 respectively.
  • the trough portion 161 is further characterized by having a floor panel 167 and a floor conveyor 168 which will move the material from right to left relative to the material unloader.
  • the trough portion 161 has a right end panel 169 for closing that end of the trough.
  • the floor conveyor 168 is of the chain type being mounted over sprockets supported on transverse shafts 170, 171.
  • the elevator or dis-charge portion 162 of the conveyor may be considered as a left-hand outer extension of the trough portion 161.
  • the portion 162 is pivotally connected for vertical movement with the forward portion 161 on the aforesaid shaft 171.
  • the portion 162' also includes therein a pair of front and rear wall panels 175, 176 and a floor panel 177 interconnecting the lower portions of the side panels and encloses from underneath the outer sections of the floor conveyor 168.
  • the outer or left hand end of the floor conveyor 168 is supported on sprockets rotated by a shaft 179.
  • Suitable shielding 180 covers a chain drive 181 which extends between the shaft 171 and shaft 179.
  • the sections 161, 162 of the transverse conveyor 60 are pivotally connected, as previously mentioned, at adjacent ends by means of the common shaft 171.
  • the outer section 162 may be adjusted vertically relative to the inner section 161 and maybe held between or in its up or down position, the up position being when the outer section 162 is substantially vertical and adjacent to the side walls of the material unloader and the down position being that in which it is substantially horizontal.
  • the sections 161, 162. are connected by means of links 190, 191 on the front and rear panels 175, 176 respectively. As may be seen in FIG. 17, the link is pivotally connected at its lower end to a bracket 192 which is rigid with and depends from the side panel 175 of the outer conveyer section 162.
  • the upper end of the link 190 is connected to the upper and outer end of a chain guide 195.
  • a bolt 193 extends through the link 190 and guide and operates to maintain tautness in the chain conveyor regardless of the position of the outer section 162.
  • An arcuate slot 194 is provided to permit a vertical adjustment of the outer section relative to the trough section 161.
  • a similar type of adjustable arrangement is provided on the rear panel 176 relative to the bracket member 191. However, details of claim guides are omitted since it is not regarded as a pertinent part of the present invention.
  • a pair of vertically disposed panels 200, 201 Depending from opposite lower edges of the rear portions 22, 23 of the side panels 11, 12 are a pair of vertically disposed panels 200, 201, both being connected to the portions 22, 23 by means of bolts as indicated at 202.
  • the right panel 200 is. positioned to complement the end panel 169 on the trough portion 161 of the conveyor and when the conveyor is in operative position to effectively close the right side of the material unloader from discharging.
  • the left panel 201' is of considerably heavier gauge and has mounted thereon a pair of guide lugs 203 which extend outwardly and to the left of the panel 201'.
  • the panel 201 is further provided with a threaded lug 204 which also extends outwardly and to the left of the panel.
  • An inverted U-shaped frame member 210-having depending leg portions 211, 212 welded or otherwise fixed to the side panels 165, 166 is disposed 7 adjacent the outer end of the trough portion 161.
  • the frame 210 has a vertically disposed bight or plate portion 213 having openings 214 which receive, as will later be explained, the guide lugs 203 on the plate portion 201.
  • the bight 213 also has an opening 215 for receiving the threaded lug portion 204.
  • Extending forwardly from the leg portion 211 is an ear bracket 216 which has an opening 217 for receiving the stud 151.
  • the conveyor 160 may be mounted on the rear of the manure spreader by inserting the rollers 163, 164 on the left end of the rails 135, 150.
  • the positioning of the rollers 163, 164 may easily be accomplished by balancing the conveyor 160 about its center point or juncture between the sections 161, 162 and by applying force to the hand rail 220 on the outer end of the outer section 162.
  • the conveyor 160 may then be raised to insert the rollers 163, 164 substantially as shown in FIG. 13.
  • rollers 163, 164 may then be moved to the right on their respective tracks 138, 150 so that the trough portion 161 extends under and opens upwardly to the inside of the box.
  • the end panel 169 will abut against the panel 200 on the right side of the spreader.
  • the plate portion 213 will be positioned adjacent to the plate panel 201 and as clearly shown in FIG. 17, the outwardly extending guide lugs 203 will fit into the openings 214 and the threaded lug 204 will fit through its complementary opening 215 in the plate portion 213.
  • the ear bracket 216 will fit over the stud 151.
  • a pair of hand locking nuts 221, 222 are provided for the studs 204, 151 respectively and serves to detachably fix the conveyor onto the material unloading box.
  • a universal type joint 230 is provided at the forward end of the implement and above the clevis member 21.
  • the joint 230 is adapted for connection to a tractor power take-off shaft and is also connected to a rearwardly extending and telescoping type of drive shaft covered by a safety shield 231.
  • a safety shield 231 At the rear end of the latter drive shaft there is a second universal joint, not shown, which drives a fore-and-aft extending drive shaft supported basically from the tongue member 20 by means of upwardly extending brackets 232, 233.
  • safety shielding 234 prevents viewing of this drive shaft.
  • a chain drive 235 located from the rear end of the latter drive shaft there is provided a chain drive 235, covered by its safety shielding 237, extending to the left side of the material unloader and driving an elongated fore-and-aft disposed shaft 236.
  • the shaft 236 is adjacent the side 12 of the manure spreader and extends from the forward portion of the spreader to the rear portion.
  • the shaft 236 is also covered throughout .its length by a' safety shield 238.
  • the shaft 236 extends into a gear transmission box 239 and drives a transverse drive shaft 240 on which the lower beater means 24 is mounted.
  • On the right end of the beater drive shaft 240 is mounted a sprocket 241.
  • the sprocket 241 drives the upper beaters by means of a chain drive 242 which effects rotation of an upper beater drive shaft 243.
  • a sprocket not shown, but located on a widespread drive shaft 245 which also receives its power from the lower beater drive shaft 240. Since the spreader has been converted to a forage unloading unit, as shown in FIG. 3, the sprocket and its associated chain for the widespread drive shaft 245 does not appear. However, when the conversion unit is removed and it is desired to operate the material unloader as a spreader, the sprocket and chain may be replaced on the shaft 245 and the spreader operates in a conventional manner.
  • a control lever 250 which operates through suitable linkages, not shown but contained within the hollow support 251 and behind the front wall panel 14, a push rod 252 controlling the drive for the floor conveyor.
  • the drive for the floor conveyor for present purposes is not important other than to recognize the basic feature that the floor conveyor operates to move material rearwardly to the beaters.
  • a full description of the manner of operation as Well as its associated control linkage and lever is shown and described in detail in US. Patent 2,804,308 and if more detail is desired such may be had by reference to that patent.
  • a detailed description of the operation and mechanism for controlling the spreader is shown and described in U.S. Patent 2,894,411.
  • Power from the shaft 236 also operates to drive the transverse conveyor 1611.
  • a coupling element 260 mounted on the rear end of the shaft 236 is a coupling element 260, the forward end of which has a sprocket 261 rigid therewith.
  • a hearing support 262 is provided at the rear of the coupler and journals a foreand-aft extending shaft 263 which extends through the gear transmission 239, a similar bearing 264 being provided rearwardly of the transmission.
  • Supported on the rear portion 23 of the side wall is a rigid housing structure 270 which has a vertically disposed structural plate portion 271 supporting a series of stub shafts 272, 273, and 274. The method of mounting the shafts on the plate portion 270 is shown in FIG. 17.
  • sprockets 278, 279, and 280 mounted thereon are permitted relatively free rotation.
  • Extending in a fore-and-aft direction is an integral end plate 275 of the housing structure 270 having a flange turned inwardly at its rear edge.
  • a vertically disposed closure plate 276 is bolted at 277, to the flange and i provided with means for supporting the rear end of the stubshafts 272-274.
  • Mounted ovre the sprockets 261, 278-280 is a chain 281.
  • the sprockets 278 and 280 serve as idler sprockets for providing a reverse drive in the chain for driving sprocket 279 which is fixed to its shaft 273.
  • Supported in depending relation from the enclosure portion 275 by bolts 285 is a bracket 282 which has an integral rearwardly extending stub shaft portion 283 supporting an idler sprocket 284.
  • a pinion sprocket 290 is mounted externally of the plate panel 276 and on the shaft 273.
  • a driven sprocket 291 is carried on the shaft 171 of the transverse conveyor 160.
  • a drive chain 293 is provided for the sprockets 284, 290, and 291, the idler sprocket 284 operating as a takeup sprocket for the drive.
  • the shaft 171 has a second sprocket 295 fixed thereto as part of the chain drive 181 which extends outwardly to the discharge end of the conveyor portion of the conveyor 162.
  • the shaft 179 operates as the drive shaft for the flight conveyor 168.
  • the entire drive mechanism for the rear transverse conveyor is supported basically on the housing structure 270 which in turn is detachably connected to the side of the manure spreader by means of bolts such as at 296. Therefore, by merely removing the bolts 296 and breaking a link of the chain 281, the entire drive may be removed from the material unloader or spreader.
  • the coupler 260 may obviously be replaced with a coupler not having the sprocket end 261 thereon.
  • a bracket 297 and other similar types of structure supporting the housing 270 is provided, but they may also be detached from the spreader by removing their connecting bolts.
  • the material unloader here described may be operated as a conventional manure spreader, as is shown in FIG. 1. However, when converting it to a forage unloader the following steps are taken.
  • the wall extensions are first added to the upper edges of the spreader box in a manner previously described.
  • the panels 130 and are positioned in the box with the associated hood so as to prevent material from being thrown rearwardly and indiscriminantly from the material unloader.
  • the rails 135, 145 are bolted to the rear end of the spreader so as to position the transverse conveyor adjacent the discharge end of the floor conveyor 30.
  • rollers 163, 164 are inserted on the rail portions 138, 150 and the trough portion 161 of the cross conveyor is then driven under the discharge end of the spreader somewhat in the manner of opening or closing a drawer.
  • the hand nuts are then mounted over the respective stud bolts 151, 204 so as to lock the cross conveyor in its operative position.
  • the housing structure 270 with all its associated sprockets and drive mechanism, if not already mounted on the side of the spreader box, is fixed to the side and the various sprocket drives are connected so as to drive the fioor conveyor 168 on the rear transverse conveyor.
  • a conventional type manure spreader may be converted to a forage unloader or conversely, the forage unloader may be converted into the spreader.
  • a material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, said rear end being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said container including a floor, oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upper longitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a relatively low forward portion and comparatively high rear portion, said rear portion extending rearwardly beyond the rear terminal edge of the floor, and a front wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closingthe front of the container; a transverse widespread supported at opposite ends by the respective rear portions of the side walls; transverse beater means spacedly forward of and adjacent the widespread and supported by the side walls; an arch member having depending legs mounted on the respective rear portions of the side walls and a transverse bight portion extending over the beater means; a floor conveyor for moving material rearwardly through the open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper structural edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed front wall
  • transverse and vertically disposed panel extending between and adapted for connection to opposed faces of the rear portions of the side walls and positioned between the widespread and the heaters and having a lower edge thereof spaced from and forming with the rear edge of the floor a transverse forming with the rear edge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slot through which material may be discharged;
  • a covering panel overlying the beater means and extending between the upper edges of the side wall extensions and having a rear portion connected to the aforesaid transverse panel and-a forward edge spaced from the forward end of the container; a plate member adapted for mounting on the arch extending from the under face of the covering panel and having a lower edge adjacent and proximate the beaters for blocking material from moving forwardly over the beater means; a pair of transverse rails; means mounting the rails on the container fore-and-aft respectively of the transverse slot; a tranverse conveyor including therein
  • a material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, said container including a floor, oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upper longitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a rear portion extending rearwardly beyond the rear terminal edge of the floor, and a front wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; transverse beater means supported at the rear end of the container by the side walls; transverse spreading mechanism supported by the rear portions of the side wall rearwardly of the beater means; a floor conveyor for moving material rearwardly through the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper structural edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed front wall extension having its lower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the front wall and an upper structural edge effective to give transversely rigidity to the extension; means rigidity but detachably connecting opposite ends of the front wall extension to the forward ends of the respective side wall extensions
  • a material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, said container including a floor, oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the fioor, each of the side walls having a rear portion extending rearwardly beyond the rear terminal edge of the floor, and a front wall extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; transverse beater means supported at the rear end of the container by the side walls; transverse spreading mechanism supported by the rear portion of the side Wall rearwardly of the beater means; conveyor means for moving material rearwardly through the container; hood means overlying the beater means and extending downwardly between the beater means and spreading mechanism, the hood means being detachably supported on the side wall rear portions and blocking material from being discharged by the beater means and having a rear terminal edge forming a rear discharge opening with the rear edge of the floor; a pair of transverse rails; means mounting the rails on the container spacedly foreand-aft and adjacent of the discharge opening; a transverse conveyor includingtherein
  • a material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, said rear end being open for the discharge of material therethrough,
  • said container including a floor and oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor, each of the side walls having a rear portion extending rearwardly beyond the rear terminal edge of the floor and a front wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; transverse beater means at the open end of the container supported by the side walls; a spreader mechanism supported on the side walls rearward of the beater means transverse and vertically disposed plate means extending between and adapted for connection to opposed faces of the rear portions of the side walls rearward of the beater means and forward of the spreader mechanism and having a lower terminal edge spaced from and forming'with the rear edge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slot through which material may be discharged; a pair of transverse rails; means mounting the rails adjacent the rear edge of the floor and lower edge of the panel respectively; a transverse conveyor including a transverse upwardly opening trough portion discharging outwardly at one end and formed of a pair of fore-and-aft spaced
  • a material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, one end being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said container including a floor and oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor, each of the side walls having a portion extending longitudinally beyond the adjacent terminal edge of the floor; transverse beater means at the open end of the container supported by the side walls; a spreader mechanism supported on the side walls rearward of the beater means transverse and vertically disposed plate means extending between and adapted for connection to opposed faces of the extending portions of the side walls and positioned between the beater means and spreader mechanism and having a lower terminal edge spaced from and forming with the adjacent edge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slot through which material may be discharged; transverse guide means; means mounting the guide means on the container adjacent the discharge slot; a transverse conveyor including a transverse upwardly opening trough portion discharging outwardly at one end and formed of a pair of fore-an-aft spaced upright transverse panels and an upright end
  • a material-distributing vehicle comprising: a mate rial container having front and rear ends, said rear end being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said body including a floor and oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having uper longitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a relatively low forward portion and a comparatively high 'rear portion, said rear portions extending rearwardly be- 12 yond the rear terminal edge of the fioor, and a front wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; a transverse widespread supported at opposite ends by the respective rear portions of the side walls; transverse beater means spacedly forward of the widespread and supported by the rear portions of the side walls; an arch member having depending legs mounted on the respective rear portions of the side walls and a transverse bight portion extending over the beater means; a floor conveyor for moving material rearwardly through the open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper structural
  • a material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, one of the ends being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said container including a floor and oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upper longitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a portion extending longitudinally beyond the edge of the floor, and an end wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; a transverse widespread supported at opposite ends by the respective extending portions of the side walls; transverse beater means spacedly inward of the widespread and supported by the side walls; an arch member having depending legs mounted on the respective side walls and a transverse bight portion extending over the beater means; a floor conveyor for moving material through the open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper structural edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed end wall extension having its lower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the end wall and an upper structural edge effective
  • a material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, one of the ends being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said container including a floor, and oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upper longitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a portion extending longitudinally beyond the edge of the floor, and an end wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; a transverse widespread supported at opposite ends by the respective extending portions of the side walls transverse beater means supported by the side walls adjacent to and forward of the widespread; an arch member having depending legs mounted on the respective side walls and a transverse bight portion extending over the beater means; a floor conveyor for moving material through the open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper structural edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed end wall extension having its lower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the end wall and an upper structural edge effective to give
  • a material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, one of the ends being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said container including a floor, oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upper longitudinal edges, and an end wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; a transverse widespread supported at opposite ends by the respective side walls adjacecnt the open end of the container transverse beater means supported by the side walls adjacent to and inwardly of the widespread; a floor conveyor for moving material through the open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper tubular edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed end wall extension having its lower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the end wall and an upper tubular edge effective to give transverse rigidity to the extension and having opposite ends adjacent to ends of the respective side wall extensions; rigid corner elements having transversely and longitudinally extending portions for telescoping with
  • a material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, one of the ends being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said container including a floor, oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upper longitudinal edges, and an end wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; a spreading device supported by the side walls at the open end of the container transverse beater means supported by the side walls inwardly of the spreading device; a floor conveyor for moving material through the open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adjacent the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper tubular edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed end wall extension having a lower edge adjacent the upper edge of the end wall and an upper tubular edge effective to give transverse rigidity to the extension and having opposite ends adjacent to ends of the respective side wall extensions; interlocking means between the upper edges of the walls and lower edges or" the extensions effective to connect the extensions and walls upon the extensions being disposed vertically and disconnect the same

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Description

May 1, 1962 Filed June 16, 1958 M. J. MARTENS MATERIAL UNLOADER 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. M.J.MARTENS ATTORNEYS May 1, 1962 M. .1. MARTENS MATERIAL UNLOADER 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1958 INVENTOR. M.JYMARTENS ATTORNEYS y 1962 M. .1. MARTENS 3,032,219
MATERIAL UNLOADER Filed June 16, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. M.J.MARTENS WWW ATTORNEYS y 1962 M. J. MARTENS 3,032,219
MATERIAL UNLOADER Filed June 16, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 45 l uo q) Ill ATTORNEYS y 1952 M. J. MARTENS 3,032,219
MATERIAL UNLOADER 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. M.J.MARTENS haw M ATTORNEYS y 1, 1962 M. J. MARTENS 3,032,219
MATERIAL UNLOADER Filed June 16, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.
M.J.MARTENS @WQ/M ATTORNE S 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 16, 1958 INVENTOR. M.J.MARTEN ATTORNEYS M. J. MARTENS MATERIAL UNLOADER May 1, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 16, 1958 INVENTOR. M.J.MARTENS ATTQRNEY S United States Patent 3,032,219 MATERIAL UNLOADER Maurice J. Martens, East Moline, Ill., assignor to l )eere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 16, 1958, Ser. No. 742,326 Claims. (Cl. 214-519) This invention relates to a material unloading implement and more particularly to a material unloading type of implement which is normally used to'unload material such as manure and which may be adapted for unloading of material such assilage, hay, or other type of feed. Still more particularly,'this invention may be considered as an improvement in a manure spreading type of implement so that by use of a simple type of attachment, the manure spreader may be converted to a silage or other type of material unloading implement.
Common to both a manure spreading type of implement and a silage unloading type of implement is'the use of an elongated material container having a floor conveyor therein which moves material rearwardly in one instance as a manure spreader to a. group of heaters and widespread which discharges and spreads the material evenly on the ground, and in the second case'to a transverse conveyor which will feed hay or silage to a feed box or other type of container normally used to receive the material either for storage or for feeding to livestock. In the second instance, the heaters are also advantageous.- ly used so as to prevent clogging of the container and to feed the hay or silage evenly into the transverse conveyor. Therefore, common to both usages are the container, the floor conveyor, and the beaters. The main difference in the unloading of materials is that in one case manure is fed directly to the widespread whereas in the second case the material is fed to the transverse conveyor.
It is the primary object of the present invention to incorporate in the use of a conventional type manure spreader a series of attachments which convert the spreader into a forage or silage unloader.
It is also an object of the present invention to enlarge the capacity of the conventional type spreader, when used as a forage unloader by extending the wall portions of the container by means of quick attachable and detachable extensions which are mounted on and are rigid with the walls of the container.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide with the conventional type spreader a simple method of mounting a cross conveyor on the rear of the spreader which will receive material being moved rearwardly by the floor conveyor.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide panel means on a conventional type spreader which will block material which would normally be fed into the widespread portion of the spreader and to further provide panel means which will overlie the beater portion of the spreader so that material will not be thrown from the material container by means of the heaters.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following description as shown in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a conventional type spreader.
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the spreader being converted to a silage or similar type of unloader.
FIG. 3 is a front and side perspective of the implement as shown in FIG. 2.
ice
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective of the front portion of the material container.
FIG. 5 is a rear and side perspective of a portion of the container shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a side perspective of a portion of the container as it is being assembled or disassembled.
FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view looking forwardly into the beater portion of the unloader.
FIG. 8 is a front perspective view looking rearwardly into the rear section of the material unloader.
FIG. 9 is a side perspective view looking downwardly into the widespread and feeder portion of the material unloader.
' FIG. 10 is a side perspective view looking into the lower part of the rear portion of the material unloader.
FIG. 11 'is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-11 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged side view showing a joint of the container.
FIG. 13 is a front and side perspective view of the rear portion of the material container and the transverse conveyor with the latter being disengaged from the coritainer.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view looking down into the rear and side portion of the container and a portion of the transverse conveyor just prior to its being mounted in operative position.
FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view looking into the drive mechanism for the conveyor with parts being removed for clarity purposes.
FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 with the drive housing and other drive mechanism being shown.
FIG. 17 is a front and side perspective view of the drive mechanism and its relative position in regard to the conveyor and material container.
The spreader chosen for purposes of illustration here is of the two-wheel type normally drawn behind a tractor. The spreader vehicle or machine comprises an elongated material containing body 10 having right and left hand upright side walls 11, 12, a horizontal floor 13 and a transverse upright front wall 14. The rear end of the body is left open to permit material discharge.
Here as elsewhere in the description, the expressions right hand and left hand are used with reference to the position of an observer standing behind the spreader and looking forward.
The front end of the body 10 is equipped with a forwardly extending draft tongue 20 having a clevis 21 by means of which the implement may be connected to and drawn by an agricultural tractor, as is conventional.
The side walls 11, 12 respectively have rearward portions 22, 23 that extend rearwardly of the terminal edge of the floor 13. These rearward extensions 22, 23 are utilized as supporting means for vertically spaced heaters 24 and a transverse widespread 25 which is spacedly rearward of the heaters 24.
The spreader or material unloader is loaded with manure or other material to be distributed and the load is advanced rearwardly in increments by feeding mechanism comprising a floor conveyor 30 made up of a pair of longitudinal running endless chains 31, 32 cross connected by a plurality of transverse longitudinally spaced slats 33. This apron or conveyor 30 is advanced so that its upper run and the slats thereon move rearwardly over the upper surface of the floor 13, the lower run returning below the floor 13. Other characteristics of the spreader are a transverse axle structure 35 on which is mounted transversely spaced right and left hand transport wheels 36, 37 respectively.
The side walls 11, 12 have upper rolled edges 40, 41 respectively which offer longitudinal rigidity to the side walls. Extending rearwardly and upwardly from the rear ends of the rolled edges 40, 41 is a transverse arch member 42 which has depending leg portions 43, 44 which serve as upper. edges of the rear portions 22, 23 of the side walls 11 and 12. The bight'portion 45 of the arch 42 is disposed transversely across the container 10 and 'above the beater means 24. Generally the arch member 42 serves as transverse support for the manure box. The manner of connection of the arch 42 to the upper edges of the side walls is generally shown and described in US. Patent No. 2,702,711 issued to W. F. H. Furcell.
Viewing FIGS. 3 and 4, the general method of mounting a front wall extension 50 is shown. There is a false front 51 provided at the forward end of the material container 10 and is inclined rearwardly and downwardly from the front wall 14 so as to provide a compartment for operating mechanism, not shown, between the front wall 14 and the inclined wall 51. As may be seen, the front wall extension 50 includes therein a generally upright panel 52 flared rearwardly at opposite ends, as at 53, 54, to form corners on the extension. The rearward extending portions 53, 54 are terminated by transversely extending flanges 55, 56 respectively. Upper edges 57 of the panel 52 are rolled into a tube in a manner similar to that of the upper edges 41, 42 of the side walls so as to provide transverse rigidity to the front extension 50. On the upper edge of opposite corners of the front wall extension 50, there are provided rigid corner elements 58, 59 of cast material. The corners 58, 59 are provided with transversely extending reduced ends, which are telescoped into and are detachably connected to the upper rolled edge 57 of the front wall extension by means of pins 60, and are also provided with longitudinally or rearwardly projecting reduced portions 61, 62 which, as will later be explained, are received into similar upper rolled edge portions of side wall extensions. Also provided as part of the front wall extension are vertically spaced hinge brackets 63, 64 which serve as portions of a hinge. As may be clearly seen in FIG. 4, the front panel 50 is initially mounted on the inclined front wall 51 by means of a metal strap 65, which overlies the lower edge of the central transverse panel 52 and extends downwardly as a lip over the panel 51 and is bolted at 66 to tighten thereto, as at 66 against panel 52. It should be recognized, that the strap 65 and its associated bolts are not the primary mounting means for the front panel 52, but serve only as the initial step in mounting the extensions on the manure spreader container. As will later become apparent, the front panel extension 50 is further held rigidly on the container through its inter-connections with the other extensions.
Positioned above the rear portions 22, 23 of the side walls is a pair of rear side wall extensions 70, 71 respectively. As may be seen from FIGS. 68, the rear side wall extensions 70, 71 have vertical forwardly facing flanges 72, 73. Adjacent to the flanges 72, 73 are hinge brackets 74, 75. The rear side wall extensions 70, 71 have upper edges provided with reenforcing tubular members 76, 77 bolted, as at 78, 79, to the upper edges. The sections 70, 71 extend upwardly above the level of the beater means and the bight portion 45 of arch 42. The loWer edges of the extensions 70, 71 are flanged inwardly as at 80, 81 (FIG. 7) to overlie the upper edges of the rear portions 22, 23 of the side walls 11, 12. Bolts 82. 83 rigidly secure the flanges 80, 81 to the rear portions 22, 23. Also provided for attaching the side wall extensions 70, 71 to the container 10 are bolts, as at 84 (FIG. which secure the extensions 70, 71 to the leg portions 43, 44 of the arch.42. Therefore, the arch 42 serves as transverse support between the rear side wall extensions 70, 71.
Extending between the rear side extensions 70, 71 and the front wall extension 50 is a pair of longitudinally extending sidewall extensions 90, 91. The side wall extensions 90, 91 are substantially identical, and-consequently description shall be limited to the left side wall extension 91. The wall extension 91 includes therein an elongated panel 92 which has at opposite ends thereof angle iron members 93, 94, one leg of the angle iron members 93, 94 serving as flanges which normally lie adjacent to the flanges 56, 73 of the front panel 50 and rear side wall panel 71. The angle iron members 93, 94 are also provided with outwardly extending hinge brackets 95, 96 which operate complementary to the hinge brackets 64, 75 respectively. The upper upper edge of the panel 92 is rolled into a tubular roll 97 and due to its shape is effective to provide longitudinal rigidity to the panel 92. Longitudinally spaced apart brackets 98 project downwardly from the lower edge of the panel 92 and operate as lower support for the side wall extension 91. The specific nature of the connection is shown in FIG. 11. Specifically, the lower portion 92a of the panel 92 is flanged inwardly to fit. over the tubular upper edge 41 of the side wall 12. Bolted to the outer face, as at 99 is bracket structure 100 which supports a longitudinally extending pivot pin 101 directly beneath the tubular edge 41. The lower end of the bracket 98 is hook-shaped, as at 102, and normally fits behind the pin 101. The hook end 102 and pin 101 operate on interlocking means effective to connect the extension when the extension is vertically disposed and to disconnect the extension when it is swung to a laterally disposed position.
At the upper rear end of the wall extension 91 is a pipe extension 105 telescopingly or slidingly mounted in the tubular portion 97 of the panel 92. A longitudinal slot 106 is provided to receive the shank portion of a lock bolt 107 which is fixedly connected to the pipe 105. Viewing FIG. 12, it becomes apparent that by loosening the bolt 107, the pipe may be moved longitudinally of the tubular portions 97 and may either extend flush with the rear edge of the panel 92 or may extend rearwardly therefrom.
In mounting the wall extensions on the container for the material unloader, the front wall extension .50 is first mounted on the container 10 by means of the bolts 66. The rear side wall extensions 70, 71 are then mounted on the rear portions 22, 23 of the side walls 11, 12 by means of the bolts 82, 83 and 84. The hooked ends 102 of the brackets 98 are positioned behind the pivot pins 101 and the side walls 90, 91 are swung upwardly, as indicated in FIG. 6, to a substantially vertical position. In the latter position the hinge brackets 95, 96 will be in vertical alinement with the hinge brackets 64, 75 respectively and suitable hinge pins may be dropped through the alined brackets so as to lock the side wall extension 91 into its vertical position. The pipe 105 is moved rearwardly internally of the tubular upper edge 77 of the rear side wall extension 71 and the lock bolt tightened down to lock the pipe 105 in the latter position. Prior to inserting the pins in the alined hinge brackets 64, 95 the forward extension 50 may be held forwardly to permit the rearwardly or extending portions 61, 62 of the corner extensions 58, 59
- to be inserted into the forward ends of the tubular upper edges of the side wall extensions 90, 91. After the hinge pins are inserted in the alined hinge brackets 64, the extension 62 will be held Within the tubular portion 97 and transverse rigidity will be afforded to the side wall extensions 90, 91 through the tubular upper edge 57 of the front wall extension 50. Viewing the extension structure as a whole, longitudinal rigidity is afforded by the upper tubular edges of the Wall extensions 70, 71. Transverse or cross rigidity is also afforded to the extension by means of the arch 42 as well as by means of the tubular upper edge of the front wall extension 50.
Mounted on the arch 42 between the side Wall extensions 70, 71 and extending generally between the bight portion 45 of the arch and the upper beater section is transverse panel 110. The panel 110 is supported on the bight portion 45 by means of hanger brackets 111, 112
which are fixed to the rear face of the panel 110 and have hook portions at their upper ends which hook over the bight portion 45. Extending forwardly from opposite edges of the panel 110 is a second pair of hanger brackets 113, 114 having their free ends formed into a hook which hook over the inclined leg portions 43, 44. Also, mounted on the rear surface of the panel 110 and on opposite end portions thereof are a pair of spring loaded latch members 115, 116 which have outwardly extending bolt portions 117, 118 respectively biased to an outer position normally rearward and against the rear of the leg portions 43, 44. The latches 115, 116 obviously lock the panel 110 into position. However, for purposes of removing the panel 110, the bolts 117, 118 may be withdrawn to clear the leg portions 43, 44 and the panel 110 may easily be removed from the arch 42.
On the rear of the material unloader is covering plate means comprising an upper transverse panel 120. The panel 120 follows the contour of the upper tubular edges 76, 77 and is bolted as at 121, 122 to the tubular members 76, 77. The covering means also includes a lower panel 125, hinged at 126 to the lower edge of the upper panel 120. The panel 125 may be raised for either clearing material from the beaters or for general inspection of the beater area. A series of bolt and nut combinations 127 are provided to hold the lower end of the panel 125 in its covering position. Viewing the rear end side panels 70, 71 and the covering panels 120 and 125, the entire group of panels and adjacent side wall extensions may be treated as hood means over the beaters 24.
Positioned in the space between the widespread and the beaters 24 is a vertically disposed transverse panel 130. The upper edge of the panel 130 is adjacent and proximate to the lower edge of the covering panel 125 and operates as a continuation of the hood means at the rear of the material unloader. A transverse reenforcing beam 131 has vertical fore-and-aft flanges, as at 132, which fasten to the side walls 22, 23 for support of the panel 130. The lower edge of the panel 120 is bolted as at 133 to the rear face of a transverse rail or guide 135. The rail 135 extends across the underside of the side portions 22, 23 just rearwardly of the lower beater section of the beater means 24. The rail 135 is provided with a forwardly extending transverse and laterally disposed flange 136 which is bolted at opposite ends, as at 137 to inwardly extending flanges of the rear side wall portions 22, 23. The rail portion 138 is provided at the lower edge of the rail member 135 and is formed by a forwardly extending rigid flange having an upwardly extending lip at its forward end. The bolts 133 also serve as support for a forwardly flaring covering panel 139, which flares forwardly from the forward face of the web portion of the rail 135 and operates as a cover for the lower rail portion 138.
Spaced forwardly from the rear transverse rail 135 is a forward transverse rail or guide 145 which is positioned adjacent and beneath the rear end of the floor conveyor 30. The rail 145 is connected to lower flanges of the rear side walls 22, 23 by means of upwardy extending integral leg brackets 146, 147 which are flared forwardly, as at 148 to lie adjacent to the aforesaid lower flanges. Bolts, as at 149 rigidly connect the rail 145 to the side walls 22, 23. The transverse rail 145 is formed to provide a transverse opening through which the return or lower run of the chain conveyor -may move.
The lower edge of the rail member 145 has a rearwardly extending flange with an upwardly extending lip at its rear edge which forms the rail portion 150 on which the roller of a conveyor, later to be explained, may roll. Extending to the left and fixed to the forward face of the rail 145 is a stud 151 threaded at its-outer end. It should here be noted that all portions of the rails 135, 145 as well as the rear transverse panel 130 which divides the heaters 24 and widespread 25 are all detachably connected by bolts and may be easily removed from the original spreader or may be attached with similar case. Consequently, the rails and panels may be considered as an attachment to a conventional type spreader.
A transverse conveyor, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 160 is provided at the rear end of the material unloader and includes therein an inner upwardly opening trough portion 161 and an outer transverse elevator portion 162. At the extreme right end of the trough portion 161 are wheels or rollers 163, 164 which are spacedly fore-and-aft on opposite fore-and-aft extending wall portions 165, 166 of the transverse trough portion 161. As may be seen in several of the drawings, the rollers 163, 164 are spaced fore-and-aft and vertically on the order of the rails 145, and operate to roll along lower rail portions 150, 138 respectively. The trough portion 161 is further characterized by having a floor panel 167 and a floor conveyor 168 which will move the material from right to left relative to the material unloader. The trough portion 161 has a right end panel 169 for closing that end of the trough. The floor conveyor 168 is of the chain type being mounted over sprockets supported on transverse shafts 170, 171.
The elevator or dis-charge portion 162 of the conveyor may be considered as a left-hand outer extension of the trough portion 161. The portion 162 is pivotally connected for vertical movement with the forward portion 161 on the aforesaid shaft 171. The portion 162' also includes therein a pair of front and rear wall panels 175, 176 and a floor panel 177 interconnecting the lower portions of the side panels and encloses from underneath the outer sections of the floor conveyor 168. The outer or left hand end of the floor conveyor 168 is supported on sprockets rotated by a shaft 179. Suitable shielding 180 covers a chain drive 181 which extends between the shaft 171 and shaft 179.
The sections 161, 162 of the transverse conveyor 60 are pivotally connected, as previously mentioned, at adjacent ends by means of the common shaft 171. The outer section 162 may be adjusted vertically relative to the inner section 161 and maybe held between or in its up or down position, the up position being when the outer section 162 is substantially vertical and adjacent to the side walls of the material unloader and the down position being that in which it is substantially horizontal. The sections 161, 162. are connected by means of links 190, 191 on the front and rear panels 175, 176 respectively. As may be seen in FIG. 17, the link is pivotally connected at its lower end to a bracket 192 which is rigid with and depends from the side panel 175 of the outer conveyer section 162. The upper end of the link 190 is connected to the upper and outer end of a chain guide 195. A bolt 193 extends through the link 190 and guide and operates to maintain tautness in the chain conveyor regardless of the position of the outer section 162. An arcuate slot 194 is provided to permit a vertical adjustment of the outer section relative to the trough section 161. A similar type of adjustable arrangement is provided on the rear panel 176 relative to the bracket member 191. However, details of claim guides are omitted since it is not regarded as a pertinent part of the present invention.
Depending from opposite lower edges of the rear portions 22, 23 of the side panels 11, 12 are a pair of vertically disposed panels 200, 201, both being connected to the portions 22, 23 by means of bolts as indicated at 202. The right panel 200 is. positioned to complement the end panel 169 on the trough portion 161 of the conveyor and when the conveyor is in operative position to effectively close the right side of the material unloader from discharging. The left panel 201' is of considerably heavier gauge and has mounted thereon a pair of guide lugs 203 which extend outwardly and to the left of the panel 201'. The panel 201 is further provided with a threaded lug 204 which also extends outwardly and to the left of the panel. An inverted U-shaped frame member 210-having depending leg portions 211, 212 welded or otherwise fixed to the side panels 165, 166 is disposed 7 adjacent the outer end of the trough portion 161. The frame 210 has a vertically disposed bight or plate portion 213 having openings 214 which receive, as will later be explained, the guide lugs 203 on the plate portion 201. The bight 213 also has an opening 215 for receiving the threaded lug portion 204. Extending forwardly from the leg portion 211 is an ear bracket 216 which has an opening 217 for receiving the stud 151.
Viewing FIGS. 10, 13, 14, and 17, it becomes apparent that the conveyor 160 may be mounted on the rear of the manure spreader by inserting the rollers 163, 164 on the left end of the rails 135, 150. The positioning of the rollers 163, 164 may easily be accomplished by balancing the conveyor 160 about its center point or juncture between the sections 161, 162 and by applying force to the hand rail 220 on the outer end of the outer section 162. The conveyor 160 may then be raised to insert the rollers 163, 164 substantially as shown in FIG. 13. Again by applying force on the rail 220 so as to balance itself upon the rollers 163, 164 the rollers may then be moved to the right on their respective tracks 138, 150 so that the trough portion 161 extends under and opens upwardly to the inside of the box. The end panel 169, as previously mentioned, will abut against the panel 200 on the right side of the spreader. Also, the plate portion 213 will be positioned adjacent to the plate panel 201 and as clearly shown in FIG. 17, the outwardly extending guide lugs 203 will fit into the openings 214 and the threaded lug 204 will fit through its complementary opening 215 in the plate portion 213. The ear bracket 216 will fit over the stud 151. A pair of hand locking nuts 221, 222 are provided for the studs 204, 151 respectively and serves to detachably fix the conveyor onto the material unloading box.
Provision for operating the transverse conveyor mechanism is made by a drive receiving power from the power take-off shaft of a tractor. A universal type joint 230 is provided at the forward end of the implement and above the clevis member 21. The joint 230 is adapted for connection to a tractor power take-off shaft and is also connected to a rearwardly extending and telescoping type of drive shaft covered by a safety shield 231. At the rear end of the latter drive shaft there is a second universal joint, not shown, which drives a fore-and-aft extending drive shaft supported basically from the tongue member 20 by means of upwardly extending brackets 232, 233. Again, safety shielding 234 prevents viewing of this drive shaft. From the rear end of the latter drive shaft there is provided a chain drive 235, covered by its safety shielding 237, extending to the left side of the material unloader and driving an elongated fore-and-aft disposed shaft 236. The shaft 236 is adjacent the side 12 of the manure spreader and extends from the forward portion of the spreader to the rear portion. The shaft 236 is also covered throughout .its length by a' safety shield 238. The shaft 236 extends into a gear transmission box 239 and drives a transverse drive shaft 240 on which the lower beater means 24 is mounted. On the right end of the beater drive shaft 240 is mounted a sprocket 241. The sprocket 241 drives the upper beaters by means of a chain drive 242 which effects rotation of an upper beater drive shaft 243. There is normally provided a sprocket, not shown, but located on a widespread drive shaft 245 which also receives its power from the lower beater drive shaft 240. Since the spreader has been converted to a forage unloading unit, as shown in FIG. 3, the sprocket and its associated chain for the widespread drive shaft 245 does not appear. However, when the conversion unit is removed and it is desired to operate the material unloader as a spreader, the sprocket and chain may be replaced on the shaft 245 and the spreader operates in a conventional manner.
Again viewing FIG. 3, there is provided at the forward end of the spreader a control lever 250 which operates through suitable linkages, not shown but contained within the hollow support 251 and behind the front wall panel 14, a push rod 252 controlling the drive for the floor conveyor. The drive for the floor conveyor for present purposes is not important other than to recognize the basic feature that the floor conveyor operates to move material rearwardly to the beaters. However, a full description of the manner of operation as Well as its associated control linkage and lever is shown and described in detail in US. Patent 2,804,308 and if more detail is desired such may be had by reference to that patent. A detailed description of the operation and mechanism for controlling the spreader is shown and described in U.S. Patent 2,894,411.
Power from the shaft 236 also operates to drive the transverse conveyor 1611. Referring particularly to FIGS. 13-17, mounted on the rear end of the shaft 236 is a coupling element 260, the forward end of which has a sprocket 261 rigid therewith. A hearing support 262 is provided at the rear of the coupler and journals a foreand-aft extending shaft 263 which extends through the gear transmission 239, a similar bearing 264 being provided rearwardly of the transmission. Supported on the rear portion 23 of the side wall is a rigid housing structure 270 which has a vertically disposed structural plate portion 271 supporting a series of stub shafts 272, 273, and 274. The method of mounting the shafts on the plate portion 270 is shown in FIG. 17. However, it should be recognized that the exact type of mounting used is of no importance for purposes of this invention other than to recognize that sprockets 278, 279, and 280 mounted thereon are permitted relatively free rotation. Extending in a fore-and-aft direction is an integral end plate 275 of the housing structure 270 having a flange turned inwardly at its rear edge. A vertically disposed closure plate 276 is bolted at 277, to the flange and i provided with means for supporting the rear end of the stubshafts 272-274. Mounted ovre the sprockets 261, 278-280 is a chain 281. The sprockets 278 and 280 serve as idler sprockets for providing a reverse drive in the chain for driving sprocket 279 which is fixed to its shaft 273. Supported in depending relation from the enclosure portion 275 by bolts 285 is a bracket 282 which has an integral rearwardly extending stub shaft portion 283 supporting an idler sprocket 284. A pinion sprocket 290 is mounted externally of the plate panel 276 and on the shaft 273. A driven sprocket 291 is carried on the shaft 171 of the transverse conveyor 160. A drive chain 293 is provided for the sprockets 284, 290, and 291, the idler sprocket 284 operating as a takeup sprocket for the drive.
The shaft 171 has a second sprocket 295 fixed thereto as part of the chain drive 181 which extends outwardly to the discharge end of the conveyor portion of the conveyor 162. The shaft 179 operates as the drive shaft for the flight conveyor 168.
It should be recognized that the entire drive mechanism for the rear transverse conveyor is supported basically on the housing structure 270 which in turn is detachably connected to the side of the manure spreader by means of bolts such as at 296. Therefore, by merely removing the bolts 296 and breaking a link of the chain 281, the entire drive may be removed from the material unloader or spreader. Also, the coupler 260 may obviously be replaced with a coupler not having the sprocket end 261 thereon. A bracket 297 and other similar types of structure supporting the housing 270 is provided, but they may also be detached from the spreader by removing their connecting bolts.
The material unloader here described may be operated as a conventional manure spreader, as is shown in FIG. 1. However, when converting it to a forage unloader the following steps are taken. The wall extensions are first added to the upper edges of the spreader box in a manner previously described. The panels 130 and are positioned in the box with the associated hood so as to prevent material from being thrown rearwardly and indiscriminantly from the material unloader. The rails 135, 145 are bolted to the rear end of the spreader so as to position the transverse conveyor adjacent the discharge end of the floor conveyor 30. The rollers 163, 164 are inserted on the rail portions 138, 150 and the trough portion 161 of the cross conveyor is then driven under the discharge end of the spreader somewhat in the manner of opening or closing a drawer. The hand nuts are then mounted over the respective stud bolts 151, 204 so as to lock the cross conveyor in its operative position. At this time the housing structure 270 with all its associated sprockets and drive mechanism, if not already mounted on the side of the spreader box, is fixed to the side and the various sprocket drives are connected so as to drive the fioor conveyor 168 on the rear transverse conveyor. Thus, in a few momentsa conventional type manure spreader may be converted to a forage unloader or conversely, the forage unloader may be converted into the spreader.
While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should be recognized that other forms and variations may occur to those skilled in the art without their departing basically from the broad general principles disclosed herein. Therefore it should be understood that the present description and disclosure was given for the purposes of clearly and concisely illustrating the principles of the invention and there is no intention to so limit or narrow the invention beyond the broad general scope as set forth in the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, said rear end being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said container including a floor, oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upper longitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a relatively low forward portion and comparatively high rear portion, said rear portion extending rearwardly beyond the rear terminal edge of the floor, anda front wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closingthe front of the container; a transverse widespread supported at opposite ends by the respective rear portions of the side walls; transverse beater means spacedly forward of and adjacent the widespread and supported by the side walls; an arch member having depending legs mounted on the respective rear portions of the side walls and a transverse bight portion extending over the beater means; a floor conveyor for moving material rearwardly through the open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper structural edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed front wall extension having its lower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the front wall and an upper structural edge effective to give transverse rigidity to the extension; means rigidly but detachably connecting opposite ends of the front wall extension to the forward ends of the respective side wall extensions; means rigidly but detachably connecting the side wall extensions to opposite depending legs of the arch member,
said front wall, extension and said arch thereby affording transverse support for the side wall extensions; a transverse and vertically disposed panel extending between and adapted for connection to opposed faces of the rear portions of the side walls and positioned between the widespread and the heaters and having a lower edge thereof spaced from and forming with the rear edge of the floor a transverse forming with the rear edge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slot through which material may be discharged; a covering panel overlying the beater means and extending between the upper edges of the side wall extensions and having a rear portion connected to the aforesaid transverse panel and-a forward edge spaced from the forward end of the container; a plate member adapted for mounting on the arch extending from the under face of the covering panel and having a lower edge adjacent and proximate the beaters for blocking material from moving forwardly over the beater means; a pair of transverse rails; means mounting the rails on the container fore-and-aft respectively of the transverse slot; a tranverse conveyor including therein a transverse upwardly opening trough portion and a discharge portion; and roller means on the trough portion engageable with the rails and operative to permit transverse movement of the trough portion into and out of material-receiving position relative to the discharge slot.
' 2. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, said container including a floor, oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upper longitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a rear portion extending rearwardly beyond the rear terminal edge of the floor, and a front wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; transverse beater means supported at the rear end of the container by the side walls; transverse spreading mechanism supported by the rear portions of the side wall rearwardly of the beater means; a floor conveyor for moving material rearwardly through the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper structural edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed front wall extension having its lower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the front wall and an upper structural edge effective to give transversely rigidity to the extension; means rigidity but detachably connecting opposite ends of the front wall extension to the forward ends of the respective side wall extensions, said front wall extension thereby affording transverse support for the side wall extensions; hood means overlying the beater means and extending downwardly between the beater means and spreading mechanism, the hood means being detachably supported on the side wall rear portions and blocking material from being discharged by the beater means and having a rear terminal edge forming a rear discharge opening with the rear edge of the floor; a pair of transverse rails; means mounting the rails on the container fore-and-aft respectively of the discharge opening; a transverse conveyor including therein a transverse upwardly opening trough portion and an outer discharge portion; and roller means on the trough portion engageable with the rails and operative to permit transverse movement of the trough portion into and out of material-receiving position relative to the discharge opening.
3. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, said container including a floor, oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the fioor, each of the side walls having a rear portion extending rearwardly beyond the rear terminal edge of the floor, and a front wall extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; transverse beater means supported at the rear end of the container by the side walls; transverse spreading mechanism supported by the rear portion of the side Wall rearwardly of the beater means; conveyor means for moving material rearwardly through the container; hood means overlying the beater means and extending downwardly between the beater means and spreading mechanism, the hood means being detachably supported on the side wall rear portions and blocking material from being discharged by the beater means and having a rear terminal edge forming a rear discharge opening with the rear edge of the floor; a pair of transverse rails; means mounting the rails on the container spacedly foreand-aft and adjacent of the discharge opening; a transverse conveyor includingtherein a transverse upwardly 11 opening trough portion and an outer discharge portion; and roller means on the trough engageable with the rails and operative to permit transverse movement of the trough portion into and out of material-receiving position relative to the discharge opening.
4. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, said rear end being open for the discharge of material therethrough,
said container including a floor and oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor, each of the side walls having a rear portion extending rearwardly beyond the rear terminal edge of the floor and a front wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; transverse beater means at the open end of the container supported by the side walls; a spreader mechanism supported on the side walls rearward of the beater means transverse and vertically disposed plate means extending between and adapted for connection to opposed faces of the rear portions of the side walls rearward of the beater means and forward of the spreader mechanism and having a lower terminal edge spaced from and forming'with the rear edge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slot through which material may be discharged; a pair of transverse rails; means mounting the rails adjacent the rear edge of the floor and lower edge of the panel respectively; a transverse conveyor including a transverse upwardly opening trough portion discharging outwardly at one end and formed of a pair of fore-and-aft spaced upright transverse panels and an upright end panel at the opposite end; and roller means on the trough portion engageable with the rails operative to permit transverse movement of the trough portion into or out of materialreceiving position relative to the discharge slot whereby the upright end panel and transverse panels are effective to close said discharge slot except for the discharge opening of the trough.
5. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, one end being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said container including a floor and oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor, each of the side walls having a portion extending longitudinally beyond the adjacent terminal edge of the floor; transverse beater means at the open end of the container supported by the side walls; a spreader mechanism supported on the side walls rearward of the beater means transverse and vertically disposed plate means extending between and adapted for connection to opposed faces of the extending portions of the side walls and positioned between the beater means and spreader mechanism and having a lower terminal edge spaced from and forming with the adjacent edge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slot through which material may be discharged; transverse guide means; means mounting the guide means on the container adjacent the discharge slot; a transverse conveyor including a transverse upwardly opening trough portion discharging outwardly at one end and formed of a pair of fore-an-aft spaced upright transverse panels and an upright end panel at the opposite end; and means on the trough portion engageable with the guide means operative to permit transverse movement of the trough portion into or out of material-receiving position relative to the discharge slot whereby the upright end panel and transverse panels are effective to close said discharge slot except for the discharge opening of the trough.
6. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a mate rial container having front and rear ends, said rear end being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said body including a floor and oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having uper longitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a relatively low forward portion and a comparatively high 'rear portion, said rear portions extending rearwardly be- 12 yond the rear terminal edge of the fioor, and a front wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; a transverse widespread supported at opposite ends by the respective rear portions of the side walls; transverse beater means spacedly forward of the widespread and supported by the rear portions of the side walls; an arch member having depending legs mounted on the respective rear portions of the side walls and a transverse bight portion extending over the beater means; a floor conveyor for moving material rearwardly through the open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper structural edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed front wall extension having its lower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the front wall and an upper structural edge effective to give transverse rigidity to the extension; means rigidly but detachably connecting opposite ends of the front wall extension to the forward end of the respective side wall extensions; means rigidly connecting the side wall extensions to opposite depending legs of the arch member, said front wall extension and said arch thereby aflording transverse support for the side wall extensions; a trans verse and vertically disposed panel extending between and adapted for connection to opposed faces of the rear portions of the side walls and positioned between the widespread and the beater means and having a lower edge thereof spaced from and forming with the rear edge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slots through which material may be discharged; a covering panel overlying the heaters and extending between the upper edges of the side wall extensions and having a rear portion connected to the aforesaid transverse panel and a forward edge spaced from the forward end of the container and forming with the aforesaid transverse panel and side wall extensions a hood overlying the beater means; a plate member adapted for mounting on the arch extending from the under face of the covering panel and having a lower edge adjacent and proximate the beater means for blocking material from moving forwardly by the beater means; a transverse conveyor including therein a transverse upwardly opening trough portion and a discharge portion; and means mounting the trough portion on the container eifective to permit transverse movement of the trough portion into or out of material-receiving position relative to the. discharge slot.
7. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, one of the ends being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said container including a floor and oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upper longitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a portion extending longitudinally beyond the edge of the floor, and an end wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; a transverse widespread supported at opposite ends by the respective extending portions of the side walls; transverse beater means spacedly inward of the widespread and supported by the side walls; an arch member having depending legs mounted on the respective side walls and a transverse bight portion extending over the beater means; a floor conveyor for moving material through the open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper structural edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed end wall extension having its lower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the end wall and an upper structural edge effective to give transverse rigidity to the extension; means rigidly but detachably connecting connecting the side wall extensions to opposite depending legs of the arch member, said end wall extension and said arch thereby affording transverse support for the side wall extensions; a transverse and vertically disposed panel extending between and adapted for connection to opposed faces of the extending portions of the side walls and positioned between the widespread and the beater means and having a lower edge thereof spaced from and forming with the aforesaid edge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slot through which material may be discharged; a covering panel overlying the beaters and extending between the upper edges of the side wall extensions and having a portion connected to the aforesaid transverse panel and a forward edge spaced from the end wall of the container and forming with the aforesaid transverse panel and side wall extensions a hood overlying the beater means; a plate member adapted for mounting on the arch extending from the under face of the covering panel and having a lower edge adjacent and proximate the beater means for blocking material from moving over the beater means; a transverse conveyor including therein a transverse upwardly opening trough portion and a discharge portion; and means mounting the trough portion on the container effective to permit transverse movement of the trough portion into or out of material-receiving position relative to the discharge slot.
8. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, one of the ends being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said container including a floor, and oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upper longitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a portion extending longitudinally beyond the edge of the floor, and an end wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; a transverse widespread supported at opposite ends by the respective extending portions of the side walls transverse beater means supported by the side walls adjacent to and forward of the widespread; an arch member having depending legs mounted on the respective side walls and a transverse bight portion extending over the beater means; a floor conveyor for moving material through the open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper structural edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed end wall extension having its lower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the end wall and an upper structural edge effective to give transverse rigidity to the extension; means rigidly but detachably connecting opposite ends of the end wall extension to the forward ends of the respective side wall extensions; means rigidly connecting the side wall extensions to opposite depending legs of the arch member, said end wall extension and said arch thereby affording transverse support for the side wall extensions; a transverse and vertically disposed panel extending between and adapted for connection to opposed faces of the extending portions and positioned between the beater means and widespread and having a lower edge thereof spaced from and forming with the aforesaid edge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slot through which material may be discharged; a covering panel overlying the heaters and extending between the upper edges of the side Wall extensions and having a portion connected to the aforesaid transverse panel and a forward edge spaced from the end wall of the container and forming with the aforesaid transverse panel and side wall extensions a hood overlying the beater means; a transverse conveyor including therein a transverse upwardly opening trough portion; and means detachably mounting the trough portion on the container in a material-receiving position relative to the discharge slot.
9. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, one of the ends being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said container including a floor, oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upper longitudinal edges, and an end wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; a transverse widespread supported at opposite ends by the respective side walls adjacecnt the open end of the container transverse beater means supported by the side walls adjacent to and inwardly of the widespread; a floor conveyor for moving material through the open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper tubular edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed end wall extension having its lower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the end wall and an upper tubular edge effective to give transverse rigidity to the extension and having opposite ends adjacent to ends of the respective side wall extensions; rigid corner elements having transversely and longitudinally extending portions for telescoping with the ends of the tubular upper edges of the end wall extension and side wall extensions respectively; means detachably connecting the corner elements to the end and side wall extensions, said end wall extension and said side wall extensions thereby afiording transverse and longitudinal support for one another; hood means at the open end of the container detachably connected to the container between the widespread and beater means and having a portion thereof overlying the beater means for preventing discharge by the beater means and further having a lower transverse terminal edge spaced from the edge of the floor at the open end of the container to form therewith a discharge opening; a transverse conveyor including therein a transverse upwardly opening trough portion; and means detachably mounting the trough portion on the container in a material-receiving position relative to the discharge opening.
10. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material container having front and rear ends, one of the ends being open for the discharge of material therethrough, said container including a floor, oppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upper longitudinal edges, and an end wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; a spreading device supported by the side walls at the open end of the container transverse beater means supported by the side walls inwardly of the spreading device; a floor conveyor for moving material through the open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edges adjacent the respective upper edges of the side walls and having upper tubular edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed end wall extension having a lower edge adjacent the upper edge of the end wall and an upper tubular edge effective to give transverse rigidity to the extension and having opposite ends adjacent to ends of the respective side wall extensions; interlocking means between the upper edges of the walls and lower edges or" the extensions effective to connect the extensions and walls upon the extensions being disposed vertically and disconnect the same upon the extensions being moved to laterally disposed positions; rigid corner elements having transversely and longitudinally extending portions for telescoping with the ends of the tubular upper edges of the end wall extension and side wall extensions respectively; means detachably connecting the corner elements to the end and side wall extensions, said end wall extension and said side wall extensions thereby affording transverse and longitudinal support for one another; hood means at the open end of the container detachably connected to the container between the spreading device and beater means and overlying the beater means for preventing discharge by the beater means and having a lower transverse terminal edge spaced from the edge of the floor at the open end of the container to form therewith a discharge opening; a transverse conveyor including therein a transverse upwardly opening trough portion; and means detachably mounting the trough portion on the container in a material-receiving position relative to the discharge opening.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dudley Aug. 25, 1914 Wikert Sept. 17, 1935 Mengel Aug. 14, 1951 Overman Sept. 2, 1952 Templeton Sept. 22, 1953 Wolfe Apr. 20, 1954 Purcell Feb. 22, 1955
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US20110220748A1 (en) * 2010-03-10 2011-09-15 Duratech Industries International, Inc. Convertible discharge system for bale shredder
US20150102146A1 (en) * 2013-10-11 2015-04-16 Highline Manufacturing Ltd. Bale processor with fan and side discharges
US11510697B2 (en) 2019-09-11 2022-11-29 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. Tools and systems for implanting and/or retrieving a leadless cardiac pacing device with helix fixation

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US20150102146A1 (en) * 2013-10-11 2015-04-16 Highline Manufacturing Ltd. Bale processor with fan and side discharges
US9949443B2 (en) * 2013-10-11 2018-04-24 Highline Manufacturing Ltd. Bale processor with fan and side discharges
US11510697B2 (en) 2019-09-11 2022-11-29 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. Tools and systems for implanting and/or retrieving a leadless cardiac pacing device with helix fixation

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