Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Container for non-fluid material – and scattering means – Rotating scatterer
Patent
1983-04-28
1985-12-31
Nase, Jeffrey V.
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Container for non-fluid material, and scattering means
Rotating scatterer
239676, A01C 1700
Patent
active
045615950
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for spreading granular or powdery material or both, such as fertilizer.
Such devices, referred to as "spreaders" in this description, generally comprise a hopper for the material to be spread and at least one distribution member. The hopper has at least an outlet port through which the material can pass from the hopper to the distribution member.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for spreading granular or powdery material or both comprising a hopper, for receiving the material to be spread, and a distribution member, the hopper having an outlet port through which the material can pass from the hopper to the distribution member, the outlet port being provided in a substantially part-spherical wall portion of the hopper.
In a spreader in accordance with the present invention, the space within the hopper near the outlet port is shaped so that the material can flow effectively towards the outlet port.
A simple embodiment is obtained when the part-spherical wall portion is annular and extends around 360.degree.. The flow of material towards the outlet port is promoted when, in a horizontal position of the spreader, the center of curvature of the part-spherical wall portion is at a higher level than the part-spherical wall portion itself. Thus the hopper is narrowed near the part-spherical wall portion in a manner such that the material will not stick in the lower part of the hopper.
It is advantageous when the part-spherical wall portion adjoins the hopper's floor which is movable about an axis. The junction between the part-spherical wall portion and the floor can thus have a smooth shape so that the material can flow smoothly towards and through the outlet port. The outflow of the material is particularly favorably affected when the floor rotates about the axis during operation of the spreader. The rotating floor portion thus acts upon the flow of material moving towards the outlet port. The construction of the spreader is simplified if the rotary axis of the floor coincides with the axis on which the part-spherical wall portion is centered. A satisfactory junction between the part-spherical wall portion with the floor is obtained when the part-spherical wall portion bears at least partly on a circumferential shoulder of the hopper floor.
In a preferred embodiment of the spreader, the lower edge of the outlet port is located substantially at the level of the hopper floor. Thus the cooperation between the rotating floor and the outlet port can be utilized to the optimum. In a construction in which the hopper has two outlet ports, the lower and upper edges of the outlet ports extend downwardly in opposite senses. Therefore, even in the case of an outflow of small amounts of material from the hopper to the distribution member the material can be effectively fed to the distribution member for uniform distribution across a broad strip of land during operation.
The passage of material through the outlet ports can be readily controlled by providing a dosing slide adjacent the part-spherical wall portion for closing each outlet port to a greater or lesser extent, the dosing slide having a part-spherical shape and abutting the part-spherical wall portion. The dosing slide can be readily moved with respect to the part-spherical wall portion irrespective of the position of the dosing slide relative to the wall portion.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for spreading granular or powdery material or both comprising a hopper having at least two outlet ports, near each one of which is arranged a dosing slide for closing the outlet ports optionally to a greater or lesser extent, the dosing slides being movable independently of each other by an adjusting mechanism comprising a control member, a coupling mechanism being provided which is operable selectively to connect and disconnect one or both dosing slides to and from the control member so that one of the slides can remain in
REFERENCES:
patent: 3204644 (1965-09-01), McDougall-Kaley
patent: 3420452 (1969-01-01), Vaughan
Bom Cornelis J. G.
van der Lely Ary
Albright Penrose Lucas
C. van der Lely N.V.
Edelbrock Daniel R.
Nase Jeffrey V.
LandOfFree
Device for spreading granular and/or powdery material does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for spreading granular and/or powdery material, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for spreading granular and/or powdery material will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1020314