GB2179532A

GB2179532A - Arrangement for spreading material

Info

Publication number: GB2179532A
Application number: GB08619332A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Der Lely Ary Van; Cornelis Johannes Gerardus Bom
Original assignee: C Van der Lely NV
Current assignee: C Van der Lely NV
Priority date: 1985-08-26
Filing date: 1986-08-07
Publication date: 1987-03-11
Also published as: FR2586337A1; NL8502337A; GB8619332D0; DE3628728A1

Abstract

An arrangement for spreading material, such as fertilizer or seeds comprises a spreading member 3, movable around an upwardly extending axis 8, disposed on a frame 1 having coupling members (16), 17 for coupling the arrangement to a tractor or a suchlike vehicle wherein a screening wall 35 is provided on the frame side having the coupling members. The screening wall extends upwardly from a point lower than to a point higher than the spreading member. The screen may be suspended detachably from hooks (21) 22 on the frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Arrangement for spreading material The invention relates to an arrangement for spreading material, more particularlygranularand/orpul- veruient material, such as fertilizer or seeds, comprising a spreading memberwhich is disposed on a frame and is movable around an upwardly extending axis, theframeincluding coupling members for coupling the arrangement to a tractor or a suchlike vehicle.

An object ofthe invention is to prevent in a simple manner material from being thrown to one side of the arrangement, more specifically in the direction of the tractor or a suchlike vehicle. According to the invention, this can be achieved by providing atthe frame side facing the tractor, a screening wall which in the upward direction extends from a point lowerthan, to a point higherthan the spreading member. Thus, the tractor is protected from material thrown by the spreading member.

An advantageous embodiment ofthe arrangement according to the invention is obtained when, measured in adirection perpendiculartothe normai direction of operative travel of the arrangement, the screening wall extends across a width which is larger than the diameter passed through during operation by those component parts which are most remote from the axis of the spreader member.An adequate protection from material flying upwardly in the vertical direction is providedwhen the screen wall extends upwardly to near a coupling member by means of which the arrangement is couplableto the upper lifting arm of a lifting arrangement ofthe tractor or a suchlike vehicle, whilst in the downward direction the screen wall extends to a point lower than the coupling members by means of which the arrangement is couplabletothe lifting arms of a lifting arrangement of the tractor or a suchlike vehicle.

A simple embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention is obtained when the screen wall is suspended detachably on hooks provided on the frame of the arrangement. Thus, the screen wall can be easily removedforgetting access to certain component parts of the arrangementfor, for example, maintenance purposes. In addition, this accomplishes thatthe screen wall can be provided in a simple way on existing arrangements for spreading material.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the screen wall is provided at its upper side with at least one supportwhich can be placed around a hook.

In a further embodiment the screen wall has two apertureswhich fit at least substantially around the connecting members oftheframe by means ofwhich the arrangement is couplable to the lifting arms of the lifting arrangement of the tractor. Thus, the screen wall is locked in asimple way against movement relativetotheframe.

Accordingtothe invention, in afurtherembodiment, the arrangement includes a screen wall having an aperture through which a control member of a doser mechanism of the arrangement is passed, the aperture being located near a supporting member, mounted in the frame, for supporting the control member,suchthatforcesexertedinadirection parallel to the screen wall are absorbed by the supported member and substantially no lateral forces are exercised on the sides ofthis aperture during operation. This is of particular advantagewhen the screen wall has a flexible wall portion of cloth material orsuchlike. Thus, the material, for example cloth, is not pushed aside th rough this aperture.

For a better understanding ofthe present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings showing an advantageous embodiment ofthe arrangement according to the invention.

Figure lisa side view of the embodiment according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front view, on a reduced scale, ofthe arrangement in the direction ofthearrowll in Figure 1; Figure3 shows, on an enlarged scale, a front view of a detail of the arrangement ofthe Figures 1 and 2, taken in the direction of the arrow Ill in Figure 1.

The arrangement comprises a frame 1 on which a hopper2 and a spreading member 3 are provided. The frame 1 includes two frame pillars 4 and 5, whose upper ends are interconnected by a connecting beam 6. In the horizontal position ofthe arrangementthe pillars 4and 5 are vertical and the beam 6 is horizontal.

In addition, the frame includes two horizontal frame portions7which extends rearwardlyfromthe pillars4 and 5 to which the hopper 2, at least partially, and the spreading member3 are connected. The spreading member 3 is rotatable around an axis of rotation 8 which extends upwardly and, in a side view as shown in Figure 1, is in parallel with the pillars4and 5. The spreading member3 is coupled to the transmission members in a transmission gear box 9, which transmission members include a stub axle 10 to which an intermediate shaft, not shown, can be connected for driving the spreading member 3. The spreading member has a disc-shaped centre portion to which spreader arms are connected.

The frame 1 includes lugs 15towhich the beam 6 is connected and which constitute a coupling member, whilst the frame pillars 4,5, respectively are provided with two lugs 16 and 17 constituting two coupling members. The lugs 16and 17 each have two holes located one above the other. The coupling holes in the lugs 16 and 17 are in each other's extension, it being possible to insert a coupling pin 18 into the lower or upper holes, respectively, of the lugs, as is illustrated in Figure 1 forthe lower holes in the lugs 17.

Disposed near the upper ends of the frame pillars 4 and 5 are connecting hooks 21 and 22 which are each inthe shape of an L, notfurthershown, and reformed from material in strip form. In a side view as shown in Figure 1, the L-shaped hook has a vertical leg and a horizontal leg.The hooks 21 and 22are-as is shown forthe hook 22 in F;gure 3bolted to a connecting bracket 23 by means of bolts 24. The bolts 24 clamp the horfzontal leg ofthe hook against the inner side of the bracket 23. By means of the bolts 24 and further bolts 25 a base plate 26 is bolted to thestrip 23, a latch 27 being provided on the strip. The latch 27 is fitted around a hook 28which is connected to a strip 29 fitted on the hopper 2. At its bottom side the strip 29 has a support 23 which bearsclampinglyontheupperside 31 ofthe strip 23 by means ofthe latch 26.

At the front side oftheframe 1 the arrangement includes a screening wall 35. The screening wall 35 comprises a flexible cloth portion 36 made of, for example, plastic-coated canvas or a different type of synthetic material in the form of cloth. The upper side of the plane36 is provided with a seam in which a support constituted by a rod 37 is disposed. In the centre, seen in Figure 2, the plane 36 is provided at its uppersidewith a recessed portion 38 which, in the mounted state ofthe screen wall 35, fits around the bottom sides of the lugs 15. The supporting rod 37 is folded around the recessed portion 38, so that the supporting rod is incapable of shifting intheseam in its longitudinal direction.At the uppersidethe plane 36 is provided with two recessed portions 39 and 40 whichfitaroundthe bottom sides ofthe hooks 21 and 22. The supporting rod 37 is straight nearthe recessed portions 39 and 40, such thatthese recessed portions extend below the rod 37 in situ ofthese recessed portions 39 and 40, the rod 37 constitutes supports or connecting members which can be disposed along the vertical length of the hooks 21,22, such that the screen wall 35 is suspended from the hooks 21 and 22. In addition, the plane 36 has two apertures41 and 42 which fit around the respective strips 16 and 17 on the frame pillars4and5, all this such as is shown in Figure 2.

In its centre the plane 36 has a further aperturefor a control member44foroperating, for example, a dosing mechanism 56 disposed between the hopper and the spreader member 3. In this embodiment the control mem ber 44 is a flexible mem ber and is constituted by a cord which, in the region of the aperture 43, is passed through a supporting eye 45 provided on an intermediate beam 46. The intermediate beam 46 extends in parallel with the upper beam 6 between the pillars 4 and 5.In its centre, coinciding with the longitudinal plane 47 ofthe arrangement, the screening wall 35 has a slot 48, extending across the height49. In Figure 2the screening wall 35 is shown arranged symmetrically relative to the centre plane, which, when mounted on the arrangement, coincides with the longitudinal plane 47. The screening wall has a width 50 and a height 51. The width 50 exceeds the diameter 57 ofthe spreading member 12. The screening wall 35 extends through a distance 52 below the bottom side ofthe spreading member 3.

The screening wall 35 extends downwardly such that it extends through a distance 53 to below the lugs 16 and 17. Inthe upward direction thescreening wall 35 extends to nearthe coupling strips 15. In a front view, the screening wall 35 is of a rectangularshapewith bevelled corners 54.

During operation, the arrangement is coupled to the three-point lifting arrangement of a tractor or a suchlike vehicle, the lugs 15 being coupled to the top rod andthe lugs 16and 17tothe lifting arms ofthe lifting arrangement. An intermediate shaft is disposed between the powertake-off shaft ofthe tractor and the stub axle 10. This intermediate shaft is passed through the slot 48. The control member 44, being a cord, ofthe dosing mechanism 56 is passed through the aperture 43andtheeye45.

The screening wall 35 is fitted in a simple mannerto the arrangement by placing the rod 37 near the recessed portions 39 and 40 overthe hooks 21 and 22, as is shown more specifically in the Figures 1 and 3.

The apertures41 and 42 fit around the lugs 16 and 17, the pins 18 preferably having been removed from the holes. The screening wall 35 then bearsagainstthe front sides ofthe frame pillars 4 and 5. The pins 18 havefortheirobjectto couple the lugs 16 and 17 to the lifting arms ofthe lifting arrangement.

During operation, the spreader member is caused to rotate around the axis of rotation 8. The material to be spread is carried along in the hopper. During opera tion,the material can be fed to the spreading member via the dosing mechanism 56 in optional quantities per unit of time. When the arrangement travels in the direction of arrow 58.the spreading member can distribute the material over a wide strip. Consequent ly,the arrangement isvery suitableforspreading granularand/or pulverulent material over the land, for example for spreading fertilizer or seeds. With the object of obtaining a proper spread, at least a portion ofthe guide member periphery is provided with a guide edge 55.

To prevent the material to be spread from being thrown to the front is an unwanted manner and, for example, from hitting the tractor, the screening wall 35 is fitted to the arrangement. This screening wall can befitted in a simple way to existing arrangements by bolting the hooks 21 and 22 to the strip 23, using the bolts 24. It is, however, alternatively possible to equip arrangements for spreading material already with the hooks 21 and 22 during manufacture. Alternatively, the hooks can be fitted in a different way nearthe upper ends oftheframe pillars 4 and 5 by,for example, welding them to the frame. Preferably, the screening wall 35 includes a flexible planar portion 36 of, for example, cloth-like material, such as synthetic resin material or plastic-coated canvas.The planar surface 36 is preferably of such a structure and is made of such a material that it iswear-resistantto the granular or pulverulent material which, during the spreading operation, may hit the rear side ofthis surface portion.

The construction shown of the screening wall is verysimple and,when the screening wall is no longer wanted, it can easily be detached from the arrangement and easily be mounted again for use. The screening wall can, for example, easily be removed or mountedforcleaningthearrangementorforother maintenance operations of the different component parts thereof. The width 50 ofthe screening area is such,that it protects the tractor or another suchlike vehicle material thrown in the forward direction by the spreading memberalong the guide edge 55. Fora proper shielding ofthetractororanothervehiclethe width 50 has a value which exceeds the diameter 57 of the spreader member3. The height51 extendsto near the upper beam 6 and the lugs 15. Advantageously, the screening wall extends downwards to below the lugs 16 and 17, the distance 53 being preferably approximately equal to the distance across which the pillars4and 5 extendto belowthe lugs 16 and 17. For providing protection to material which flies or is thrown in the forward direction, the screening wall 35 extends across a height 51 between a point higher and a point lowerthan the spreading member. Higher and lowerthan the spreading member here implies more specificallythatthewall extends between points higher and lowerthan the points in which the screening wall intersects the planes in which the component parts ofthe spreading member move during rotation.

The slot48 extends through a height 49 such thatthe intermediate shaft between the powertake-offshaft of the tractor and the stub axle 10 has sufficient possibilities to move in the vertical direction to be able to follow upward or downward movement of the arrangement relative to the soil by means ofthe lifting arrangement. The height 49 and the location ofthe slot 48 are such, that the intermediate shaft can extend appropriatelythrough the slot when the arrangement connected to the lifting arrangement bears on the soil by means of its lower side or is lifted through a larger heightabovethesoilforspreading material inthe desired pattern.

Supporting the cord 54 by the eye 45 prevents the cord from exercising such a pressure on the edges of the aperture 43 that the edges of the aperture should be capable of absorbing a considerable force. Asa result thereof, the cord can change its direction to a greater or lesser extent via the eye 45 without any disadvantages, such that it extends between the dosing mechanism 56andtheeye45 in a direction differentfrom the direction from the eye 45 towards the tractor, so that it can easily be operated by the tractor operator.

In this embodiment the width 50 is approximately equal to 1.5 times the spacing between the lugs 16,17 but less than twice this spacing. The spacing 50 is approximately 1.5 times larger than the diameter 57 of the spreader member3, which inthis embodiment is approximately 80 cms. Preferably, the spacing 50 is approximately of such a value that it covers for a large part our almost completely, the spacing between the rea r wheels of the tractor or a suchlike vehicle.

The invention is not limited to the features described, but also encompasses all ofthefeatures shown in the drawings.

Claims

1. An arrangement for spreading material, more particularly granular and/or pulverulent material which is disposed on a frame and is movable around an upwardly extending axis, the frame including coupling members for coupling the arrangementto a tractor or a suchlike vehicle, characterized in that a screening wall, which in the direction of height extends from a point lower than to a point higher than the spreader member, is provided at the frame side facing thetractor.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in a direction perpendicular to the normal direction of operative travel ofthe arrangement, the screening wall extends across a width which is larger than the diameterthrough which during operation the component parts which are most remote from the axis of the spreading member move.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the screening wall extends across a width which is at least approximately equaltoor largerthan one and a half times the diameter ofthe spreading member.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that in the vertical direction the screening wall extends to near a coupling member by means of which the arrangement is couplable to the upper lifting arm of a lifting arrange ment of the tractor or a suchlike vehicle.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that in the downward direction the screening wall extends to a point located lowerthan the coupling members by means of which the arrangement is couplabletothe lifting arms of a lifting arrangement ofthetractoror a suchlike vehicle.

6. An arrangement as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the screening wall is suspended detachably to hooks provided on the frame ofthe arrangement.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the hooks are fitted to the frame in the rngionofthecoupiing memberbymeansofwhichthe arrangement is couplabletothe upper lifting arm of a lifting arrangement of a tractor or a suchlike vehicle.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the hooks are in the form of L-shaped strips and are connected to a bracket which isfittedtotheframe and on which clamping devices are fitted for clamping the hopperto the frame.

9. An arrangement as claimed in any one ofthe claims 6to 8, characterized in that atthe uppersidethe screening wall is provided with at least one support which can be arranged around a hook.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the support is constituted by a supporting rod which extends across at least substantally the overall width ofthe screening wall and is located in a seam provided at the upper side of a wall portion ofthe screening wall.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that near a recessed portion in the upperside of the screening wall the rod is bent such around this recessthatthe rod is locked against movement in the seam in its longitudinal direction relative to the wall.

12. An arrangementas claimed in any one of the claims 9,10 or 11, characterized in that nearthe supportthe screening wall is provided with a recessed portion which can be placed around the hook-shaped portion.

13. An arrangement as claimed in anyone ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the screening wall has two apertures which fit at least substantially around the connecting members ofthe frame by means of which the arrangement is coupiable to the lifting arms of the lifting arrangement ofthe tractor.

14. An arrangement as claimed in anyone ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the screening wall has an aperture for allowing a control member of a dozing mechanism ofthearrangementto pass,the aperture being located near a supporting member fitted in the frame for supporting the control member, in such a mannerthatforces exerted in a direction in parallel with the screening wall are absorbed by the supporting member and during operation substantially no lateral forces are exerted on the sides of the aperture.

15. An arrangement as claimed in claim 14, characterized in thatthe control member is a flexible control member, such as, for example, a cord.

16. An arrangement as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screening wall is provided with a slot allowing an intermediate shaft between the drive members in the frame and the powertake-offshaft of a tractor or a suchlike vehicle to pass this slot extending in the vertical direction such thatthe intermediate shaft can followthe different height positions ofthe arrangement above the ground by lifting the lifting arrangement to a greateror lesser extent.

17. An arrangement as claimed in that in a front view the screening wall is of a symmetrical structure relative to the longitudinal plane ofthe arrangement, the aperture and the slot being located at least near this longitudinal plane.

18. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screening wall has a ftexible wall portion made of a cloth-like material.

19. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized inthatthescreening wall bears againstvertical frame portions of theframe.

20. An arrangement substantially as described hereinbefore and as shown in the drawings.