WO2002066743A2

WO2002066743A2 - Machine for dispensing and spreading cement and the like

Info

Publication number: WO2002066743A2
Application number: PCT/AU2002/000186
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Andrew Fraser; Bernard Gordon Ferri
Original assignee: Brian Andrew Fraser; Bernard Gordon Ferri
Priority date: 2001-02-23
Filing date: 2002-02-21
Publication date: 2002-08-29
Also published as: WO2002066743A3; AUPR331701A0

Abstract

A machine (10) for dispensing and spreading binder material such as cement comprises a vehicle in the form of a trailer, on which is mounted a hopper (15) for containing the cement. The hopper has a bottom outlet (16) under which is mounted a tray (17). The tray is suspended from the trailer frame by means of chains (18) and is adjustable to alter an angle of inclination of the tray towards the rear. A rotary vibrator (30) is attached to the underside of the tray and is driven by a motor (34) via a shaft (32) to vibrate the tray in an essentially fore and aft direction causing cement discharged from the hopper to move rearwardly in the tray and discharge across the width of the vehicle as the vehicle is driven along a road under repair.

Description

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING AND SPREADING CEMENT AND THE LIKE

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a machine for dispensing and spreading cement and similar powder-like material.

Background of the invention

In asphalt roadway repair work, for example, it is necessary to spread a layer of cement over the area to be repaired as part of an asphalt repair process. In the case of relatively smaller repair works, which may still involve tens of metres of roadway length, the cement is spread by hand. In other words workmen using shovels spread the cement over the affected area and this is a time consuming and labour intensive operation.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a machine for dispensing and spreading powder-like material substantially uniformly.

Summary of the invention The invention thus provides a machine for dispensing and spreading powder-like material, said machine comprising a vehicle supporting a hopper for containing said material, an outlet at the bottom of said hopper, a dispensing tray suspended on said vehicle below said outlet in a manner allowing limited movement and being adjustable to alter an angle of inclination of said tray relative to the horizontal, said tray extending to a rearward extremity of said vehicle for dispensing said material behind said vehicle as said vehicle moves forward, and means for vibrating said tray to cause said material to move along and off said tray.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood one particular embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a part side elevation view similar to Fig. 1 on a slightly enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a part rear view of the machine of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a part sectional side elevation of the machine showing the dispensing tray in a non-dispensing or stowage position; and

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4 but shows the tray in a dispensing position with rear flap opened.

Detailed description of the embodiments

The machine 10 according to this particular embodiment is in the form of a trailer having a single axle 11 and a pair of wheels 12. A frame 13 of the trailer incorporates a generally conventional trailer A-frame pull bar 14. The frame 13 rigidly supports a hopper 15 for containing cement and the hopper 15 has a outlet opening 16 which extends transversely across the trailer to provide an elongate relatively narrow bottom opening.

A tray 17 for dispensing and spreading the cement is suspended from the frame 13 below the outlet opening 16 of the hopper 15. The tray 17 is suspended towards the front thereof by means of chains 18 which depend from a frame around the opening 16 of the hopper. The chains 18 are at each side of the trailer and connect to a flange at each side of the tray, respectively. Further chains 19 extend from a pulley 20 and attach to opposite sides of the tray 17 towards the rear extremity thereof. By rotating pulley 20 by means of attached handle 21 the angle of inclination of tray 20 may be varied from a position wherein the rear extremity of the tray is above the level of the forward end of the tray, to a position where the rear end is lowered to provide a rearward inclination for dispensing and spreading the cement. The tray 17 has upstanding sides 22 to contain the material on the tray and prevent it from discharging in a sideways direction. Likewise a lip 23 across the front edge of the tray 17 prevents the cement material from discharging from the forward end of the tray. A flap 24 extends across the rearward end of tray 17 and pivots on a shaft 25 which extends between the respective sides 22 of the tray. The downwardly depending flap 24 is actuated by a lever 26 from a closed position where it prevents material from being dispensed off the rear of tray 17 to an open position as shown in Fig. 5 where the cement material may be dispensed. The lever 26 is held in its various positions by a chain 27 which extends rearwardly from a connection point at the bottom of hopper 15. The chain 27 locks into a groove at the end of lever 26 and the lever is operated by lifting the chain 27 away from the lever until a new position is established in which case a link of the chain is then locked into the end of the lever. The flap 24 is spring loaded to the closed position. In an alternative arrangement an electric solenoid (not shown) may be provided whereby the flap 24 is operated from within a towing vehicle to avoid the need for an operator to go to the rear of the trailer on regular occasions to open and close the flap.

A molded cover 28 extends over the tray 17 in order to prevent moisture from entering the tray. The cover 28 fits over the sides 22 and extends from the hopper 15 to the rear most extremity of the tray 17. The cover also extends across the width of the hopper at the front bottom edge and overlaps the lip 23 of the tray again to prevent the ingress of moisture and also to prevent the cement material from escaping between the hopper and the tray. The flexibility of cover 28 allows alteration of the angle of inclination of the tray relative to the hopper.

A rotary vibrator 30 is attached to the underside of tray 17 by means of a bracket 31. The vibrator 30 is driven by a shaft 32 via a universal joint 33 from a motor 34. The motor 34 according to this embodiment is a small four stroke internal combustion engine. The motor 34 is mounted on the pull bar 14 of the trailer. Rotation of the vibrator 30 causes a vibration in the tray 17 essentially in a fore and aft direction. A remote control (not shown) may be provided to allow an operator on the towing vehicle to alter the speed of the motor 14 to cause greater or less vibration of the tray with a consequent change in the rate of dispersion of cement.

The above description describes the essential features of the machine 10 according to this embodiment except for a removable cover 35 on the hopper 15 and a flexible downwardly depending skirt 36 which extends across the flap 24 to assist in deflecting cement material in a downward direction as it is discharged from the rear of the tray 17 as will be described below. A tow ball 37 at the front of pull bar 14 allows the trailer to be connected to a motor vehicle such as a four wheel drive in order to transport and use the machine.

In use of the machine the hopper 15 is firstly filled with cement which compacts within the hopper and remains therein during transportation despite the fact that the outlet opening 16 of the hopper remains open. Since some materials such as a mixture of cement and fly-ash do not compact sufficiently to remain in the hopper, a modification of the above described embodiment involves the provision of three gates or doors (not shown) in the bottom of the hopper 15. The gates are closed during transportation and opened when material is to be dispensed. The gates are arranged across the width of the trailer and may be selectively opened in varying degrees to adjust the rate of flow. This is particularly advantageous in situations where road camber tilts the trailer to one side causing the material on tray 17 to move to one side of the tray as it moves towards the rear. By opening the gate on the high side to a greater degree than the gate on the low side some control over the situation is possible. As a further control of the situation ribs or channels (not shown) may be provided on the surface of tray 17 to extend in a fore and aft direction, that is, longitudinally, from adjacent the hopper to a position towards the rear of the hopper. The channels or ribs prevent sideways movement of the material.

When it is desired to dispense and spread the cement on a road surface, for example, the inclination of tray 17 is changed from an essentially horizontal position to a position wherein it inclines downwardly towards the rear. The flap 24 is moved to an open position and the motor 34 is started in order to operate the vibrator 30. It is then a matter of driving the towing vehicle along the area over which the cement is to be spread at a speed relevant to the rate of discharge of the cement. Vibration of the tray 17 causes the cement to move downwardly and rearwardly on the tray in a relatively even manner so that a wide dispersion of cement occurs behind the trailer. Since the outlet end of the tray is substantially the same width as the trailer a even spread of cement occurs as the trailer is towed along. The amount of cement discharged per unit area can be varied by altering the speed of the towing vehicle and/or the angle of inclination of the tray and this is a matter of judgement by the operator.

It should be evident that the machine according to the present invention provides a convenient and efficient apparatus for dispensing and spreading cement and like materials. Whilst a particular embodiment has been described in detail it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications to the described embodiment may be readily effected without departing from the scope of the invention. Whilst the covers 28 and 35 are formed of rubberised material in the described embodiment they could clearly be formed from sheet metal or other suitable materials, for example, provided sufficient flexibility is inherent in order to allow relative movement between the tray and the hopper. Whilst the machine is described as a trailer it could also be in the form of a vehicle having its own motive power. Other means besides chains could be used to suspend the tray 17 below the hopper 15 as it is only important that the suspension allows relative movement between the two.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

The foregoing describes embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A machine for dispensing and spreading powder-like material, characterised in that said machine comprises a vehicle supporting a hopper for containing said material, an outlet at the bottom of said hopper, a dispensing tray suspended on said vehicle below said outlet in a manner allowing limited movement and being adjustable to alter an angle of inclination of said tray relative to the horizontal, said tray extending to a rearward extremity of said vehicle for dispensing said material behind said vehicle as said vehicle moves forward, and means for vibrating said tray to cause said material to move along and off said tray.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1, characterised in that, said tray has upstanding sides to prevent said material discharging from the sides of said tray and said sides diverge in a rearward direction whereby said tray is wider at its rearward extremity.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2, characterised in that, said outlet extends across the width of a forward end of said tray.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3, characterised in that, said tray is suspended on chains in order to allow said limited movement.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4, characterised in that, a said chain is located towards the rear of said tray with one end attached to said tray and the other end wound on a pulley whereby rotation of the pulley by a handle causes adjustment to alter said angle of inclination of said tray.

6. A machine as defined in claim 5, characterised in that, a downwardly depending pivotal flap is arranged across the rear end of said tray in order to prevent dispensing of said material from said tray when said flap is in a closed position.

7. A machine as defined in claim 6, characterised in that, said flap pivots on a shaft that extends across the rear of said tray between opposite said sides of the tray.

8. A machine as defined in claim 7, characterised in that, a lever is provided on said flap for facilitating opening and closing of said flap, said lever being held in position by a chain connected to a frame of said vehicle and facilitating adjustment of the position of said flap.

9. A machine as defined in claim 8, characterised in that, said means for vibrating said tray comprises a rotary vibrator mounted on said tray and connected to a motor on said vehicle via a shaft having a universal joint to accommodate alteration of said angle of inclination.

10. A machine as defined in claim 9, characterised in that, said hopper and said tray each have a cover thereover to prevent moisture entering said material.

11. A machine as defined in claim 10, characterised in that said vehicle is a trailer and said material is cement powder.

12. A machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.