GB2154112A - A device for spreading particulate material - Google Patents

Abstract

A fertiliser spreader has a horizontal spinner plate 26 onto which the fertiliser grains are delivered from lateral outlets in a tube 30. The outlets are partially covered by a sleeve 40 which is vertically slidable to adjust the outlet size. When the device is inoperative the sleeve rests on the spinner and closes the outlets. When the drive motor starts the reaction is transmitted through a linkage to raise the sleeve to a height determined by a stop acting on the motor chassis and limiting the extent of reactive movement imparted to the linkage. The spinner has vanes 38, forwardly raked at their outer ends 39. A shield plate 12 screens one side from scattering of fertiliser, but distribution control is largely effected by the angular location and spread of the lateral outlets. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for spreading particulate material This invention relates to a device for spreading particulate material, for example seed, fertilizer, slug pellets and the like.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for spreading particulate material, comprising a generally horizontal spinner plate rotatable about a generally vertical axis, a drive motor for rotating the spinner plate, a delivery tube for the particulate material arranged with a lower end thereof adjacent the upper surface of the spinner plate and having a lateral outlet for discharging particulate material onto the spinner plate, an obturator movable to open and close said outlet, and means linking the obturator with the motor so that the obturator opens when the motor is switched on and closes when it is switched off.

In a preferred arrangement, the linking means is a mechanical linkage connecting the obturator with the motor chassis, the motor being mounted to the frame of the device so as to be pivotable to a limited extent about the motor axis, such that the reaction applied to the motor chassis by the operation of the motor produces rotation of the chassis causing the obturator to open. Preferably a variable stop is provided to adjust the extent of movement of the motor chassis, and thereby vary the extent to which the obturator opens. The obturator is preferably in the form of a sleeve around the delivery tube. The sleeve may be rotatable about the tube and have an edge which is shaped so as to uncoverthe discharge outlet as the sleeve rotates. Preferably, however, the sleeve is vertically movable on the tube.The upper surface of the spinner plate is preferably provided with a plurality of upstanding vanes arranged so as to engage the particulate material on the surface of the spinner plate and project it laterally therefrom as the spinner plate rotates. The vanes are preferably raked forwardly at an angle over their outer end portions. The discharge outlet in the delivery tube preferably takes the form of a plurality of openings, suitably two openings, circumferentially adjacent, and suitably downwardly tapering in their lower regions. The discharge outlet preferably covers about 120 to 130 of the circumference. The tube is preferably angularly adjustable about its axis so as to be able to adjust the precise positioning of the discharge outlet.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a perspective rear view of the device, Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the device from above, Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of the discharge outlets, Fig. 4 shows a perspective front view of the device, and Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the device from below.

Referring to the drawings: the device has a frame fabricated from sheet steel, and comprising a base housing 10, a front plate 12 upstanding therefrom and a top plate 14 extending rearwardly from the upper edge of the front plate 12, and reinforced by depending flanges 16. As can be seen from Figs. 4 and 5, the housing 10 is open at the front, and has a bottom plate 18 and a top wall 20, between which is mounted an electric motor 22 on pivotal bearings, of which only the lower one 24 in the plate 18 is visible, the motor chassis thereby being pivotable about the motor axis. The output shaft 21 of the motor extends rotatably through the top wall 20, and at its upper end carries a disc-shaped spinner plate 26.The top plate 14 is provided with an opening 28 coaxial with the motor axis, and a delivery tube 30 is mounted in a collar 32 on the underside of the top plate 14 so as to depend therefrom coaxially with the motor axis with the lower end of the tube (not visible) terminating just short of the upper surface of the spinner plate 26. The lower end of the tube 30 is closed by a transverse wall 34 (see Fig. 3), but the tube is provided with two circumferentially adjacent lateral openings A,B at its lower end, the shape of which can be seen in Fig. 3. Each opening is generally rectangular except for its lower end portion, which is downwardly tapering to an apex adjacent the transverse wall 34.Fig. 2 shows the relative positions and angular extent of the openings A,B, from which will be seen that their overall circumferential extent is in the region of 120 to 1300. A screw 36 in the collar 32 allows the tube 30 to be angularly adjusted, so that the precise angular positioning of the openings A,B in relation to the frame can be accurately set.

A plurality (in this case four) vanes 38 are upstanding from the top surface of the spinner disc 26. Each vane has an inner portion which extends generally radially, and a forwardly raked outer portion 39 covering the outer 30 to 40% of the vane.

The radially inner ends of the vanes terminate just short of a sleeve 40 which surrounds the tube 30 and is vertically slidable on the tube. The sleeve is pivotally connected to a yoke 42 carried at the end of a slotted arm 44. The arm 44 is, by virtue of its lengthwise slot, both pivotable and longitudinally slidable on a supporting stud 46 mounted on one of the flanges 16. At its other end, as shown in Fig. 4, the arm 44 extends freely through a slot 46 in the front wall 12, and is pivotally connected at 48 to the upper end of a connecting rod 50, whose lower end is pivotally connected at 52 to a radially projecting arm 54 carried by a framework 57 fast with the chassis of the motor 22.This has the effect that rotation of the motor chassis about the motor axis causes the arm 44 to pivot about the stud 46, thereby raising and lowering the sleeve 40 on the tube 30, and hence opening and closing the openings A,B.

The motor operates to rotate the spinner disc 26 in the direction indicated by the arrow X. This produces a reaction tending to rotate the motor chassis in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrows Y in Fig. 5. This produces a pivotal movement of the chassis in that direction when the motor is running, but this pivotal movement is limited buy a stop 56 which engages a part of the framework 57 at a point determined by the position of the stop. This position is adjustable by virtue of the fact that the stop is carried on a rod 58 which extends longitudinally adjustably through the housing 10. At one or both ends of the rod is provided with a series of circumferential ribs 60 which can just pass through the adjacent opening 62 in the side of the housing 10 when the rod is manipulated, using for example a knob 64 at one end of the rod.When the rod is released, however, the wall of the housing around the lower portion of the opening 62 will engage between two adjacent ribs 60 and axially locate the rod. The position of the stop 56 is indicated by means of a pointer 66 attached to the stop and movable over a scale 68 on the rear wall of the housing 10.

The top plate 14 of the device is provided with apertures 70 to enable it to be bolted to the lower end of a hopper 72 (the lower end of which is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1) for the particulate material. Thus, particulate material from the hopper can freely enter the tube 30, and will flow through the outlets A,B unless they are closed by the sleeve 40. When the motor is not running, the weight of the sleeve 40 keeps it in the lowered position, shown in Fig. 1, which closes the openings A,B.If necessary, spring assistance can be provided to bias the sleeve downwards. (twill be observed that the downward movement of the sleeve causes the pivoting of the motor chassis in the direction opposite to the arrows Yin Fig. 5). When the motor is started and running, the reaction on the motor chassis causes it to pivot until it engages the stop 56. This lifts the sleeve 40 to the extent permitted by the stop 56, and uncovers the openings A,B, accordingly. This allows the particulate material to flow from the tube 30 onto the top surface of the spinner 26, which is of course rotating, and the particulate material is thrown off by the centrifugal force, assisted by the vanes 38.The rate of discharge of the particulate material must be controlled by the setting of the stop 56, as indicated on the scale 68; the higher the sleeve is lifted, the more of the outlets A,B will be opened. The lower tapering ends of the outlets A,B enable a greater accuracy of flow rate to be obtained at small openings.

The flow of material in the tube 30 is assisted by means of an agitator 74 upstanding from the centre of the disc 26 and rotatable therewith. The agitator can take various forms, but in the form indicated it comprises a shaft coaxial with the tube and having a plurality of radial projections 76 to effect the agitation.

The angular setting of the openings A,B in relation to the frame depends on a number of design factors of the device, and in particular the spinner disc and its vanes. The positions shown in Fig. 2 are representative for the type of device shown, with the spinner rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow X, and will result in a minimum of the particulate material impinging on the front plate 12, and much the greater bulk of the material being distributed around the open rear and sides of the device.

Claims (14)

1. A device for spreading particulate material, comprising a generally horizontal spinner plate rotatable about a generally vertical axis, a drive motor for rotating the spinner plate, a delivery tube for the particulate material arranged with a lower end thereof adjacent the upper surface of the spinner plate and having a lateral outlet for discharging particulate material onto the spinner plate, an obturator movable to open and close said outlet, and means linking the obturator with the motor so that the obturator opens when the motor is switched on and closes when it is switched off.

2. A spreading device according to claim 1 wherein the linking means is a mechanical linkage connecting the obturator with the motor chassis, the motor being mounted to the frame of the device so as to be pivotable to a limited extent about the motor axis, such that the reaction applied to the motor chassis by the operation of the motor produces rotation of the chassis causing the obturator to open.

3. A spreading device according to claim 2 wherein a variable stop is provided to adjust the extent of movement of the motor chassis, and thereby vary the extent to which the obturator opens.

4. A spreading device according to any one of claims 1,2 and 3 wherein the obturator is in the form of a sleeve around the delivery tube.

5. A spreading device according to claim 4 wherein the sleeve is rotatable about the tube and has an edge which is shaped so as to uncover the discharge outlet as the sleeve rotates.

6. A spreading device according to claim 4 wherein the sleeve is vertically movable on the tube.

7. A spreading device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper surface of the spinner plate is provided with a plurality of upstanding vanes arranged so as to engage the particulate material on the surface of the spinner plate and project it laterally therefrom as the spinner plate rotates.

8. A spreading device according to claim 7 wherein the vanes are raked forwardly at an angle over their outer end portions.

9. A spreading device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the discharge outlet in the delivery tube takes the form of a plurality of openings circumferentially adjacent.

10. A spreading device according to claim 9 wherein the openings are downwardly tapering in their lower regions.

11. A spreading device according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein two discharge outlets are provided.

12. A spreading device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the discharge outlet covers 120 to 1300 of arc.

13. A spreading device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the delivery tube is anguiarly adjustable about its axis so as to be able to adjust the precise positioning of the discharge outlet.

14. A spreading device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.