WO2006125497A1

WO2006125497A1 - Machine for spreading granular and/or powdery materials, in particular fertilizers.

Info

Publication number: WO2006125497A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/003543
Authority: WO
Inventors: Silvano Barbieri
Original assignee: Agrex S.P.A.
Priority date: 2005-05-24
Filing date: 2006-04-18
Publication date: 2006-11-30
Also published as: ITPD20050152A1

Abstract

A machine for spreading granular and/or powdery materials, in particular fertilizers, is described, comprising a frame (2) for the support of a hopper (3) for containing the material to be spread and of a centrifugal spreader device (11) disposed below the hopper, the frame comprising at least a first and a second frame part (2a, 2b), extending in respective directions substantially perpendicular to each other, wherein the first and second frame part (2a, 2b) are structurally independent of each other and detachably fixed to each other.

Description

Machine for spreading granular and/or powdery materials, in particular fertilizers.

Technical field

The subject of the present invention is a machine for spreading granular and/or powdery materials, in particular fertilizers, according to the preamble of the main claim. Technological background

A machine having the above-mentioned characteristics is known from Italian Utility Model patent No. 215667. A machine for spreading granular materials is described therein in which the support frame of the hopper and of the underlying centrifugal spreader device has an approximately chair-like configuration, obtained with a tubular structure bent and shaped in such a way as to define two frame parts extending in respective planes substantially perpendicular to each other. Although such a configuration on the one hand imparts sufficient robustness and rigidity to the frame, on the other hand it involves overall dimensions which do not make it possible to benefit fully from the storage spaces and facilitate its handling.

There is in fact, as a rule, a need to store and subsequently transport such machines in various quantities and in a disassembled state. In this case the frames of known type are generally stacked one upon the other, for example with a typical trestle configuration in which the aforesaid frame parts are mutually leant one upon the other, while the remaining components of the machine are stored separately and grouped together in packages differing in the quantity and type of components contained therein. Disclosure of the invention

A principal aim of the invention is that of providing a machine for spreading granular materials in which the support frame can be stored and/or stacked with other frames in configurations which have the minimum bulk for storage.

Another aim is that of producing a machine which can be packaged, stored and handled singly or in several units, complete with all the items of which it is composed, optionally with the exception of the hopper, Another aim of the invention is that of perfecting a machine in which the support frame is constructionally simplified with consequent reduction in the costs of manufacture, and ease of production.

Yet another aim is that of obtaining a machine which allows improved practicality for storage and handling and also greater ease of assembly and disassembly for the final user.

These and other aims which will become clearer in the following description are achieved by the invention by means of a machine for spreading granular materials produced according to the appended claims. Brief description of the drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine produced according to the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the machine of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of a detail of the machine of the preceding figures,

Figure 4 is a view in section along the line IV-IV of Figure 3. Preferred embodiment of the invention

With initial reference to Figure 1, the reference 1 indicates as a whole a machine for spreading granular and/or powdery materials, in particular fertilizers, sand, salt and other materials, and produced according to the present invention. The machine 1 comprises a bearing frame 2 on which are mounted a hopper 3 for containing the product and a centrifugal spreader device 4 located below the hopper and intended for spreading the product during the use of the machine 1.

The frame 2 is provided with coupling elements 5a, 5b, 5c for the connection of same to a three-point attachment (not shown), conventional per se, of a tractor or of a trailer.

The hopper 3, of frustoconical or pyramidal configuration, is fixed to the frame 2 at the upper coupling member 5a and further by means of a pair of support arms 6, 7. Said arms are fixed at the respective opposed ends, for example by means of a bolted connection, respectively to the frame 2 and to diametrically opposed points 8a, 8b of the outside of the hopper 3. Between the points 8a, 8b there further extends diametrically, within the hopper 3, a bar-like stiffening member 10.

The reference 9 indicates a mixer mounted axially inside the hopper The spreader device 4 is mounted below the hopper 3 and comprises a spreader disc 11 driven in rotation about its own axis. The disc 11 is secured in rotation to an output shaft 12a of an angular transmission device 12 the opposed drive input shaft 12b of which is connected to the power take-off of a tractor or some other type of drive means (for example hydraulic or electrical).

The disc 11 is mounted in a position such as to be impinged upon by the product to be spread, fed by dropping from the hopper 3. In this way the product is spread on the ground by the effect of the centrifugal action induced by the rotation of the disc 11. Said disc is also provided with distributing blades 13 intended to guide the granules of product into the path of expulsion by the disc and in this way to guarantee greater precision and uniformity of spreading.

Between the bottom of the hopper 3 and the disc 11 is interposed a shutter device 14 with double gate 14a, 14b with opening adjustable via a lever arrangement 15, for regulating the amount of material fed from the hopper 3 to the spreader device 4.

The frame 2 further comprises a first and a second frame part, respectively indicated by 2a and 2b, extending transversely to one another in respective directions substantially perpendicular to one another.

According to a principal characteristic of the invention, the frame parts 2a, 2b are structurally independent of each other and are also detachably fixed to each other, as will appear more clearly from the continuation of the description. The first frame part 2a has a structure of metal section, for example made of steel, and is preferably obtained by bending a tubular member 16.

Alternatively, the frame part 2a may be obtained by drawing or by welding two or more portions of the metal section.

In said tubular member there are identified a first portion 16a extended at the opposed ends into respective portions 16b, 16c, each of which is in turn bent to form a respective end portion 16d, 16e.

Said portions 16d, 16e extend in respective directions of axial development parallel to one another and have respective free ends provided with foot formations for supporting the frame part 2a on the ground.

Fixed on each portion 16d, 16e by means of welding is a respective plate-like appendage 17a, 17b for the detachable fixing of the second frame part 2b to the first part.

It will be observed that the portions in the tubular member 16 are bent with respect to one another in such a way as to be substantially coplanar with one another, so that the overall dimension in the transverse direction is predominantly limited to the thickness of the tubular structure, with a substantially "flattened" configuration, except for the slightly protruding part of the coupling member 5a and of the support of the operating lever arrangement, indicated by 14c, of the shutter device

(Figure 4).

Each plate-like appendage 17a, 17b constitutes a fixing appendage for the second frame part 2b, which comprises a support extending substantially at right-angles from the first frame part 2a and produced in one or more mutually connected parts. Preferably, the support of the second frame part 2b is effected by the coupling, for example bolting, of two portions, each comprising a respective plate 18a, 18b having at one end an edge bent back for fixing, preferably bolting, to the corresponding fixing appendage 17a, 17b, and being bent back, at the opposite end, into a plate-like end portion arranged for the fixing, by screw means, of the transmission 12.

Between the aforesaid end portions a support foot 19 is also provided, made of channel section, the opposed webs 19a, 19b of which are fixed, by bolting, to the respective plates 18a, 18b (at the end portions of same), the connecting portion between the webs 19a, 19b constituting the ground support member of the foot 19.

Between each plate 18a, 18b and the corresponding appendage 17a,

17b, means for detachable fixing are provided, comprising respective pluralities of through holes 20, 21, capable of being superposed for connection, for example bolting, between the support of the frame part 2b and the frame part 2a.

It is to be understood that other types of detachable connection are possible between the frame parts 2a, 2b, although the one described represents a preferred choice. On each fixing appendage 17a, 17b, through holes 22 are further provided for the detachable fixing, for example by bolting, of a casing 23 having an edge 23a bent substantially at right-angles, arranged to serve as protection and further stiffening of the frame.

Between the portions 16b, 16c or between the portions 16d, 16e of the tubular member 16 a bar-like tie-rod, not shown, may furthermore be fixed for the purpose of increasing the overall rigidity of the frame part 2a, opposing in particular the flexion of the tubular member 16.

It will be noted that the frame 2, with the mutually connected parts

2a, 2b, assumes a typically chair-like configuration in which said frame parts extend substantially perpendicularly to each other and the part 2a has the function of support for the spreader device 4 and also for the transmission unit 12.

In the disassembled state of the machine 1, the first frame part 2a has a flattened configuration, as described above, of reduced overall transverse dimensions, which makes it possible to package, store and distribute the machine singly or in several units according to configurations which lend themselves to fulfilling the various requirements of the users and permit economy and simplicity for storage, transport and handling, but at the same time guaranteeing the maximum rigidity and robustness of the structure of the machine. During storage and transport, greater safety is further guaranteed for the operator in the handling stages.

The invention thus achieves the aims proposed, obtaining numerous advantages compared with the known solutions.

A first main advantage lies in the fact that the support frame of the machine according to the invention makes it possible to package the machine complete with all the items of which it is composed, with the exception of the hopper, singly or in several units, thus reducing the overall bulk and facilitating the handling thereof in the transport and distribution stage. In particular, it allows storage of the machine with less overall bulk compared with that obtainable with the frames of known design and of equal size mentioned in the introduction.

A second advantage lies in the fact that the configuration of the first frame part ensures adequate overall rigidity and structural continuity for the frame, at the same time obtaining constructional simplification. In fact, since the portions of the first frame part are bent and lie substantially in the same plane, more limited shrinkage and stretching tend to occur in the process of bending compared with the known frame configurations. Moreover, the flattened structure of the first frame part advantageously permits greater ease of trimming of the end portions, after the bending process.

The easier assembly and the lesser overall bulk, and also the constructional simplification, further involve a significant reduction in the costs of manufacture and also of storage, transport and distribution of such machines. Last but not least is the advantage of an improved practicality and also of a greater ease of assembly and disassembly of the machines according to the invention for the final user.

Claims

1. A machine for spreading granular and/or powdery materials, in particular fertilizers, comprising a frame (2) for the support of a hopper (3) for containing the material to be spread and of a centrifugal spreader device (11) arranged below the hopper, said frame (2) comprising at least a first (2a) and a second frame (2b) part extending in respective directions substantially perpendicular to one another, characterized in that said first and second frame part (2a, 2b) are structurally independent of each other and detachably fixed to each other.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said frame parts (2a, 2b) comprises a member (16) with a structure made of section.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the member (16), made of section, of said at least one frame part (2a) has portions (16a- 16e) arranged in a substantially coplanar configuration.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein said first frame part (2a) is obtained by bending or drawing of said member (16) made of section, or by welding of two or more portions of said member.

5. A machine according to one or more of claims 2 to 4, wherein said member (16) made of section has a tubular structure.

6. A machine according to one or more of claims 2 to 5, wherein said member (16), made of section, of the first frame part (2a) has opposed end portions (16d, 16e) extending parallel to one another.

7. A machine according to claim 6, wherein the first frame part (2a) comprises at least one fixing appendage (17a, 17b), means for detachable fixing being provided between said at least one appendage and the second frame part (2b).

8. A machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said second frame part (2b) comprises at least one support (18a, 18b) extending substantially at right-angles from the first frame part.

9. A machine according to claims 7 and 8, wherein said fixing means comprise respective pluralities of holes (20,21) on the at least one fixing appendage (17a, 17b) and on the support (18a, 18b), capable of being superposed for relative fixing of said first and second frame part (2a, 2b).

10. A machine according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein said support is produced by coupling two portions, each of which comprises a respective plate (18a, 18b) capable of being fixed to the corresponding appendage (17a, 17b) of said first frame part.

11. A machine according to claim 10, wherein said coupling is of a detachable type.

12. A machine according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein at least one tie-rod is provided, extending transversely between opposed portions of said member (16) made of section.