GB2172483A - Implement for spreading material - Google Patents

Abstract

In spreading apparatus, material is conveyed from a hopper (2) to a spreader (3) by a conveyor member (33), to be discharged by a driven spreader member (109). Material passes from the hopper (2) to the conveyor member (33) through a closeable opening. The conveyor member (33) is coupled to the drive train of the spreader member (109) so that the two are driven together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Implement for spreading material The invention relates to an implementforspreading material, more specifically for spreading granular and/or pulverulent material such as fertilizer, the implement including a carrier having at least one supporting wheel, a material hopper and a coupling mechanism to which a spreader arrangement is couplable, which comprises a discharge bin and at Ieastonespreadermemberforspreading material during operation ofthe implement.

It is an object of the invention to improve an implement ofthis type such that the material can be fed advantageously from the hopper to the discharge bin.

According to the invention, this can be accomplished in that a conveyor member is provided between the hopper and the discharge bin, with said conveyor member material being conveyable during operation ofthe implement from the hopper to the discharge bin, the conveyor member being adjacent to a discharge outlet of the hopper,which outlet is at least partly closable by a cover member provided near the discharge outlet, whilst the conveyor member is coupled to the drive meansforthe spreader members of the spreader, all this such that during operation the conveyor member and the spreader members are driven simultaneously.In this situation, during operation of the implement, the conveyor member will constantly move, so that the material conveyed therein will constantly be fed to the discharge bin. This causes an advantageous action ofthe conveyor member, it being possible to stop the transport of the material to the discharge bin by closing the discharge outletofthe hopper.

An advantageous construction is obtained when the conveyor member includes a worm conveyordisposed in a conveyor pipe, the lower end of the conveyor pipe being adjacent to the discharge outlet and the worm conveyor extending through the conveyor pipefrom the discharge outlet to the upper endofthe pipe, to which a dischargefunnell is fastened which ends over the discharge bin ofthe spreader,the conveyor member being coupled to transmission members disposed at the upper end of the conveyor pipe, which, via an intermediate shaft, are coupled to transmission members in the spreader member drive means.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the cover member is coupled to a hydraulic operating cyclinder which is coupled to a hydraulic system forthe implement via a first operable slide valve fastened to the implement. Thus, the cover member can be easily operated.

In a further embodiment, the coupling mechanism is fastened to the carrierframe capable of hinging and is coupled to an indicator mechanism which is responsive to the weight ofthe spreader arrangement, the indicator mechanism providing an indication of closing the hopper discharge outlet to a great or lesser extent. Thus, the discharge bin can advantageously be kept full, whereby the spread of the material by the spreader member for uniform distribution can be advantageously influenced.

The position ofthe spreader relative to the carrier can be advantageously influenced when an adjusting mechanism is arranged between the coupling mechanism and the frame ofthe carrier device, which is settable for optionally adjusting the coupling mechanism to one of at least two positions relative to the carrierframe for changing the spreader-to-ground distance.The position ofthe spreader with respect to the carriercanfurthermore be advantageously influenced when the coupling mechanism is a three-point connection with two lift arms and a top rod, at least the coupling of one of the lift arms to the spreaderframe being adjustable in height relative to this frame for laterally tilting the spreader with respect to the carrier, this coupling to the spreader including a hydraulic control member coupled to the hydraulic system of the machine via a third slide valve, the third slide valve being couplable to the system via the first slide valve when the operating arm of the first slide valve is in a neutral position.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of an advantageous embodiment of an implement according to the invention.

Figure lisa side view ofthe implement according to the invention, Figure 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a cover member and a conveyor member, taken on the line Il-Il in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cover member and the conveyor member, taken on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a side view ofthe cover member, taken on the line IV-IV in Figure 2, Figure 5 is a sectional viewthrough the gear box in the conveyor member drive, taken on the line V-V in Figure 1, Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe drive means forthe conveyor member and the spreader members, Figure 7 is a plan view of a portion ofthe spreader, taken on the line VII-VII in Figure 1, Figure 8 is a front view of a supportforthe spreader, taken in the direction of the arrow VIII in Figure 7, Figure9 isa rearviewofthe implement of Figure 1, on a reduced scale, the spreader being shown in an oblique position relative to the carrier, Figure 10 is a schematic view ofthe control mechanism forthe different component parts ofthe implement according to the invention.

The implement 1 shown in the Figures comprises a carrier 2 and a spreader arrangement 3. The carrier 2 has a frame 5 including two forwardly converging frame beams 6, one ofwhich is shown in Figure 1. The frame beams 6 are interconnected at their ends by a rear beam 7, whilst the front ends are coupled to a coupling piate8.A hitch hook9 is connectabletothe coupling plate 8, optionally in oneofa plurality of height-adjustable different positions.

The carrier includes two road wheels 10, provided on a wheel axle 11 fitted to the rear beam 7. Near its end,theframe 5 has a supporting leg 12 which is movable in the upward direction and is optionally lockable in one of a plurality of positions. Asupport 13 supporting a hopper 14 is provided on each ofthe frame beams 6. Each ofthesupports 13 is formed, as is shown in the side view in Figure 1, from approximatelytwo triangular portions 15 and 1 The front sides of the triangular portions 15 extend perpendicularlyto the substantially horizontal beams 6 and are interconnected bya plate 17.The hopperl4hasa rearwall 18 which, seen in a side view, coincides with the rear edge 19 ofthe supports 13.The bottom wall 20 of the hopper 14isflush with the upper side ofthetriangular portions 15 ofthe supports 13.

The bottom side of the rearwall 18, which side is contiguous to the bottom wall 20, is provided with a discharge outlet 21 (Fig. 3). Near the discharge outlet 21 the rearwall 18 is provided with a stiffening plate 22, which is located around the circumference of the discharge outlet 21 and has a passage 23 which coincides with the outlet 21. The bottom side of the stiffening plate 22 extends underthe wall 20, and also underthe rearwall 18.A plurality of bolts 24are passed through the wall 18 and the stiffening plate 22, which bolts are connected to the wall 18. Also the stiffening plate 22 is fitted to the wall 18.

An intermediate section 26, which comprises two spaced apart rectangular supporting frames 27 and 28,which are interconnected by vertically extending guides 29 and 30, is disposed against the stiffening plate 22 (Fig. 2). Afastening edge 31 is fastened againstthatside ofthe intermediate section 26 facing awayfrom the hopper 14. The intermediate section 26 and the fastening edge 31 are connected by means of the bolts 24to the rearwall 18 and the plate 22 connected thereto. Thefastening edge is rigidly connected tothe lowerend 32 of a conveyorfunnel 36 of a conveyor member 33. By means of an intermediate channel 35 the fastening edge 31 is connected to the lower end 32 ofthe conveyorfunnel around an inlet aperture 34 ofthis lower end.

The intermediate section 26 has a cover member in theform of a slide 37 located between the guides 29 and 30 and movable in the upward direction along the discharge outlet 21 for shutting to a greater or lesser extentthisdischarge outletwith the contiguous passage 23. The slide 37 has folded edges 38 by means ofwhich the slide fits between the guides 29 and 30.

The slide 37 has stiffening ribs 39. Ribs 41 to which the lower end of a piston rod 44 is hingeably connected by means of a pin 42 is provided nearthe upper side of the slide 37. The piston rod 44 cooperates with a cylinder45 whose upper end is connected to a supporting beam 46 arranged between two supporting arms 47, which extend upwardly in the extension ofthe intermediate section 26. By means of their lower ends the supporting arms 47 are fastened to a carrier beam 48 which extends transversely along the rear wall 18 and is fitted thereto. The beam 48 intercon necks the upper ends of two struts 50 whose lower ends are fastened to the upper side ofthe rear beam 7.

Opposite the inlet aperture 34, the lowerend 32 has a cleaning aperture 50 with slide 51 The lower end 32 of a further upwardly extending upper portion 52 of the conveyorfunnel 36 is located in the upper end of the conveyorfunnel 36 and clamped therein by the clamping portion 53 of the lower end 32. In addition, the conveyorfunnel portion 52 is supported by a ring 53 fastened to the upper ends ofthe supporting arms 47. A conveyor member 56 constituted by a worm conveyor is disposed in the conveyorfu n nel 36. The upper end ofthe worm conveyor extends to into a dischargefunnel 57 provided atthe upper side ofthe conveyorfunnel 36.

The shaft 58 of the worm conveyor projects above the conveyorfunnel 36 and connects up with a gear box 59 provided at the top ofthefunnel 36. The gear box is furthermore supported by supporting arms fastened to the upper ends ofthe carrier arms 47. The shaft 58 has a chain wheel 60 which is coupled to a chain wheel 62 by means of a chain 61. The chain wheel 62 is provided on a shaft 63. The lower end of the shaft 63 projects from the bottom ofthe gear box 59 and is coupled via an intermediate shaft 64to a shaft 65 which is bearing-supported in a gear box 66.

The gear box 66 is fastened to a supporting plate 70 connected to a cross-beam 71. The cross-beam 71 is provided between two triangular carrier plates 72 fastened to the struts 50. By means of struts 73 and 74 a cross-beam 65 is fastened to theframe 5 nearthe rear,thecross-beam having lugs 76.

A linking mechanism 80 isfastened to the carrier plates 72. This mechanism 80 comprises two toggle levers 81 each provided hingeably around a hinge pin 82 to a carrier plate 72 and located remote from each other and transversely to the implement. Each toggle lever81 comprises a carrier arm 83 and a supporting arm 84. The supporting arms if the toggle levers 81 are interconnected by a coupling pipe 85, The carrier arms 83 are further supported by strut rods 86 from the centre ofthe pipe 85. The pipe 85 has a lug 87 which is coupled capable of hinging to a piston rod 88 accommodated in a bearing cylinder89. The bearing cylinder 89 is coupled capable of hinging to atumbler arm 90 which is fastened capable of pivoting around a shaft 91 to theframe 5. The end of the tumbler arm 90 is coupled to a pin 92 around which a pressure spring 93 is provided.The pin 93 is movable in a hole of a strip 94fastened to the frame 5, which is notfurthershown.

Approximately in the longitudinal centre plane of the implement a pipe 96 which is adjacent to the supporting plate 70 (Fig. 6) is passed through the hopper 14. A drive shaft 97 which also extends through the gear box 66 and hasa bevel gearwheei 98 cooperating with a bevel gearwheel 99, extends through the pipe 96. Atthe side remotefromthe pipe 96 the drive shaft 97 projects from the gear box 66 and constitutes a stub end 1 00. The pipe 96 is supported in the front plate 17, the drive shaft 97 extending to in front ofthe front plate 17 and having a coupling end 101 in that region.

The lugs 76 and the ends ofthe carrier arms 83 form in a similar manner asthe three-point lifting arrangement of a tractor, a three-point linking mechanism to which the spreader3 is linkable.

The spreader3 includes a frame 105 and a discharge bin 106. The discharge bin 106 has two discharge nozzlesl07andl08.Thelowerportion l02ofthe discharge funnel 57 has a distributor plate 103 which ends overthe two dischargeable nozzles 107 and 108.

The lower portion 102 is hingeable relative to the conveyorfunnel and is optionally lockable in one of a plurality of positions using a length-adjustable arm 104. A spreader member 109 and 110, respectively, is accommodated under each discharge nozzle 107 and 108, which member is rotatable around an upwardly extending rotary axis. The frame 105 has lugs 111 which are connected to the lugs 76 via a top rod 112. In addition, the frame 5 has lugs 113 by means of which the frame 5 can be fastened to the carrier arms 83, as shown in Fig. 1. The lugs 111 are located in the centre ofthespreader,whereasthelugs 113are provided on either side ofthe spreader 3.Near one side of the spreaderthelugs 113 are rigidIyconnectedtothe frame, whilstatthe side shown in Fig. 1,the lugs 113 are provided capable of hinging around a hinge pin 1 14 relative to the frame 105. The lugs 113can optionally be locked in one of a plurality of positions relative to the frame 105 by inserting a locking pin in one ofthe holes 115.An adjusting memberintheform of a hydraulic cylinder 117 is accommodated between the lugs 113 and a strip 116which is rigidly connected to the frame.

An intermediate shaft 119 is arranged between the stub 100 and the drive members 118, these latter components interconnecting the spreader members 109and110.

Supporting members in the form of a supporting bracket 120 and a rear support 121 are provided on the bottom of the frame 105. The supporting bracket 120as can be seen from Fig. is U-shaped with two supporting legs 122 located on either side of the frame 105. Near its upper side, the bracket has lugs 123 which, by means of bolts 124, are hingeably con nected to lugs 125 and 126. The lugs 125 and 126 are connected by clamping brackets 127 to the lower ends oftheframe beams l28oftheframe 105. The supporting leg 121 has a holder 130 and a detachable leg 131 which is locked in the bottom side ofthe holder 130 by means of a locking pin 132.The holder 130 has two lugs 133 located on both sides of a lower lug 134 providedattherearendoftheframe 105 and are connectedtothelug 134andan upperlug 135byapin 136. The pin 136 is passed through holes in the lugs 133-135. In addition,the holder 130 has a lug 137. In the position shown in Fig. 1 the bracket 120 and the supporting leg 121 are interconnected by a coupling formed buy a pipe 138 and a rod 139 movable therein.

The position of the rod 139 in the pipe 138 is locked by a pin 140. The rod 139 is capable of rotation around a pin 141 which is fastened to the leg 122 ofthe bracket 120. The lug 126 is somewhat longer than the lug 125 and in the extended portion has a hole 142 located equally farfrom the bolt 124 as is a hole 143 in the relevant lug 123.Therearsupportl2l includes a centre carrier 144.

The hydraulic cylinders 45,89 89 and in the machine are intercoupled and form a system which is linked via coupling tubes 148 and 149 to the connection points 150 and 151 of a hydraulic circuit of a vehicle 152 moving the machine, in this embodiment the tractor 152. The hydraulic system comprises a slide block 153 comprising three slides 154,155 and 156. The hydraulic lines ofthesystem are notfurther shown in the Figures 1-9, but Figure 10 shows a circuit diagram of the hydraulic linesystem, from which it will be apparent how the difference cylinders to be operated are connected to the slide and to each other.

The cylinder 45 is connected by means of lines 157 and 158 to the slide 154which has an adjusting arm 159.

The cylinder89 is coupled via lines 162 and 163 and non-return valves 160 and 161 accommodated therein to the slide 155, which is provided with an adjusting arm 164. Connected to the cylinder 89 is a manometer 165 which includes a ring 166 which is adjustable relative to the manometer. By means of lines 167 and 168 the cylinder 117 is coupled to the slide 156 which includes an adjusting arm 169. In the supply line 148 to the slides 154-156 a pressure relief valve 170 is provided before the slides, whilst subsequentto these slides a pressure relief valve 171 is provided in the return line 149. The pressure relief valves 170 and 171 are coupled to the return and feed line, respectively via lines 172and 173 by-passing the slides 154-156.

When the implement is put into operation, it is linked to the tractor 150 our a similarsuch vehicle by means ofthe hitch hook 109, as is shown in Fig. 1. The shaft end 101 is then coupled by means of an intermediate shaft 174to the powertake-off shaft of the tractor, whilst the lines 148,149 are connected to the connecting points 150 and 151 ofthe hydraulic circuit ofthetractor.

The actual spreader3 is a spreader which is suitable for coupling, without the carrier arrangement 2, to the lifting system of a tractor or a similar such vehicle. To that end, the spreader can be coupled by means of the lugs 111 and a top rod 1 12 to the upper connecting point and the lugs 1 to the lift arms of the three-point lifting system of a tractor. In the machine shown in the drawing,the lugs 76 and the carrier arms 83 form, as it were, a three-point lifting system ofthe carrier arrangement, to which the spreader is coupled. The spreader3 can stand on the ground in the normal manner, bearing on the lower ends oftheframe beam 128 and the lower lug 134.The lift arms of a tractor can be adjusted to such a low heightthatthe liftarms are couplable to the lugs 113, so that the spreader can be lifted from the ground. In this embodimentthe carrier arms 83 are limited in their downward travel such that the spreader 3 is to be raised to a higher level to enable coupling to the carrier arms 83. Forthis purposethe bottom oftheframe 105 is provided with supporting members constituted by the supporting bracket 120 and the supporting leg 121. lnthedownwardly directed position, shown in Fig. 1, of these supporting members the spreader can bear on the ground via these supporting members.The supporting members are so high that the spreader, supported thereby, is at such a heightthatthe lugs 113 can be coupled to the carrierarms 83 and the lugs 111, by means ofthetop rod 1 2,to the lugs 76, as shown in Fig. 1. In this situation, the intermediate shaft 119 is arranged between the drive members 118 and the axle stub 100, When the spreader is coupled to the lift system, the bracket 120 can be hinged up around the bolts 124, such that it assumes the position shown in Figures 1 and 7 by means of a dotted line. The supporting leg 131 is removed from the bottom ofthe holder 130 by detaching the pin 132. The centre carrier 144 can then be positioned in the upper part of the holder 130 and locked therein by inserting the pin 132 in a hole 175 in the holder and in an associated hole in the centre carrier. The pin 140 is also removed, whereafter, when the bracket 120 hinges to the position illustrated by the dotted line, the rod 139 slides in the tube 138. The pin 140 can be passed through the holes 142 and 143 of the relevant lugs 123 and 126, sothatthe bracket is locked in the position illustrated by the dotted lines.

Then the coupling, formed by the tube 138 and the rod 139, between the bracket 120 andthe lug 137 is maintained, so that the holder 130 is locked against rotation around the pin 136. The spreader can be used without the bracket 120 and the supporting leg 121 by removing the bracket,forwhich purposethe bolts 124 can be loosened and the pin 136 can be drawn from the lugs 133-135.The bracket 120 and the leg 121 can be fastened to theframe 105 ofthe spreader 103, or removed therefrom, by linking the spreader directly to the lift system of a tractor and by raising the spreader togetherwith the lifting system ofthetractorfrom the ground, so thatthe bottom ofthe frame 105 is sufficiently free from the ground to enable attaching ofthesupporting members 120and 121 thereto, orto remove them therefrom.

The machine has for its objectto distribute material over a surface. To that end the spreader arrangement is moved overthe surface, forexample the land, whilst the spreading members 107 and 108 are caused to rotate around upwardly extending rotary axes. Driving the spreader members is effected mechanically from the power take-off shaft 18 via the intermediate shaft 174, the shaft 99, the intermediate shaft 119 and the drive 118. In this embodimentthe spreader3 is of such atypethatthetwo spreader members 109 and 110 rotate in mutually opposite directions, the facing sides ofthese spreader members moving in a direction parallel to the normal direction oftravel 176 ofthe arrangement during operation.The material to be spread is fed to the spreader members from the discharge bin 106, for which purpose a doser mechanism 177, notfurthershown in this embodiment, is provided between the discharge nozzles 107 and 108 ofthe discharge bin 106 and each ofthe spreader members. Each dosermechanism is such that it permits metering ofthe quantity of material fed per unit oftimefrom the discharge bin 1 06to the spreader members 109 and 110.The feeding ofthe material from the discharge bin to the spreader members and the spreader members' structure are such ,that each of the spreader members spreads the material during normal operation over a width extending substantially equallyfar on both sides ofthe longitudinal centre line ofthe machine.Then, the spreader member 109 spreads the material over a width which coincides with the width overwhich the spreader member 110 spreads the material. Thus, a very uniform distribution ofthe material spread overthe surface area to be spread is obtained.

Thefeeding ofthe material from the discharge bin 106 must be as uniform as possible during operation.

The flow ofthe material through the dosermember dependsto some extent on the quantity of material in the discharge bin 106. twill therefore be advantageousto ensurethatduring operation the discharge bin 106 is always filled constantly to the same level, at leastto keep the level within predetermined fill degrees which are close to each other and at least considerablycloserto each otherthan the difference between an empty and a completely full discharge bin 106. Forthis purpose it is advantageous to feed material substantially constantly to the discharge bin, this feed being adapted to the quantity of material fed to the spreader members 109 and 110 via the doser members 177 per unit oftime.Tothat end, the implement is provided with the carrier arrangement 2 with hopper 14. From the hopper 14 material can now be fed substantially constantly during operation from the hopper 1 4to the discharge bin 106. Supplying the material to the discharge bin 1 from the hopper 14 is effected by the conveyor member 33. Forthat purpose, material is supplied via the discharge outlet 21 to the discharge funnel 32, the material being conveyed via the worm conveyor 56 to the discharge funnel 57 from which it drops into the discharge bin 106. The material is uniformly distributed overthe discharge nozzles 107 and 108 by the distributor plate 103.The position ofthefunnel section 102 can be adjusted more or less obliquely by setting the length ofthe arm 104, so thatthe distributor plate can drop the material in the centre of the bin 106, considered relative to the direction 176.

The conveyor member 56 is driven from the drive shaft 99 via the transmission members 98 and 99 in the gear box 66,the intermediate shaft 64 and the transmission members 60,61 and 62 in the gear box 59, which is coupled to the upper end 58 ofthe shaft of the worm conveyor member. The feed of material to the discharge bin must however be controlled in dependence on the discharge from the discharge bin to the spreader members. In this embodiment the conveyor member is driven ata constant speed so that the supplyvia the conveyormemberto the discharge bin is equal in each unit oftime. This quantity is at least equally large asthe maximum quantity which can be supplied in each unit of time from the discharge bin 106to the spreader members.If the quantity of material supplied via the conveyor member 56 exceeds the quantity of material supplied to the spreader members, then twill be necessaryto now and then cut-offthe supplyto keep the fill degree ofthe discharge bin as constant as possible. Therefore, feeding material to the discharge bin is started when a minimum desired fill degree of the discharge bin is reached,whilst on reaching a desired maximum fill degree the supplyto the discharge bin is stopped.

Thus,thefill degree can be keptwithin predetermined limits, which may optionally be closerto or farther away from each other, but preferably will not be too farfrom each other to ensure uniform discharge from the discharge bin 106 to the spreader members. When the minimum desired fill degree is reached, the cover member 37 is moved up so thatthe discharge outlet 21 is released and material canflowtotheconveyor memberand with the aid thereof be supplied to the discharge bin. When the fill degree has reached its maximum desired value, the slide37 is lowered to shut-offthe discharge outlet 21. Consequently, no material will be supplied anymore to the conveyor member and the conveyor memberwill feed the material still present in the funnel 36 to the discharge bin. Thereafterthe conveyor memberwill continueto rotate because of its constant coupling to the spreader member drive. Closing and opening the slide 37 can be controlled via the adjusting arm 159 ofthe slide valve 1 54 and the adjusting arm, atthe tractor, of the hydraulic circuit ofthe tractor. During operation the adjusting arm 159 is moved to a position in which the lines 157 and 158 are connected to the lines 148 and 149 via the slide 154. As a result thereof, liquid can be fed via the adjusting arm ofthe hydraulic circuit of the tractor optionally to one orto the other side ofthe cylinder45for moving the slide upwards ordown wardsforfillingthe discharge bin orstopping the discharge bin filling operation. The lower end ofthe funnel 36 is provided with a cleaning aperture 50 (Fig.

3) forwhich a slide 51 can be moved by means of a knob 55 provided for that purpose.

Thefill degree ofthe discharge bin 106 ofthe spreader3 is measured by measuring the weight of the spreader with the material present in the discharge bin 106. Via the toggle levers 81 this weight exercises a force on the piston arm 88 and consequently a pressure in the cylinder 89. The pressure in the cylinder 89 can be measured by means of the pressure gauge 165 provided atthe front of the front plate 17 of the frame 13 and which can be constantly checked by the tractor driver. When the pressure in the cylinder 89 has fallen to a value which corresponds to the desired minimum fill degree,the operator can apply such a pressure to the lines 148 and 149 using the adjusting handle ofthe hydraulic circuit ofthe tractor, that the slide 37 is moved up via the line 157.When the fill degree ofthe discharge bin 106 has risen again to the desired maximum fill degree, the pressure in the cylinder 89 will have increased, which is displayed on the pressure gauge. When the pressure has risen to a value corresponding to the desired maximum fill degree ofthe discharge bin then the drive can cause the slide to move down again by applying pressure to the line 158via the hydraulic circuit adjusting handle in the tractor. Thus the cylinder 89 constitutes together with the pressure meter 165 an indication mechanism forthe fill degree ofthe discharge bin.

Around the pressure gauge 165 a control disc 166 is provided having indicator points 178 and 179 (Fig. 10) indicating the respective desired minimum and maximum fill degrees ofthe discharge bin 106, so that these points 178 and 179 are an indication forthe tractor driver for opening and closing, respectively, the discharge outlet 21 by means ofthe slide 37.

The cylinder89 which forms an indication mechanism together with the rod 88, also constitutes an adjusting mechanism for rotating the toggle levers 81 around their hinge pins 82 by means ofthe rod 88, whereby the position ofthe spreader 3 over the field is controllable. Consequently, the cylinder 89 together with the rod 88 form an adjusting mechanism for the coupling mechanism 80 bearing the carrier arms 83.

So as to adjustthe height of the spreader 3 over the land, the rod 88 can be pushed to a greater or lesser extent from the cylinder by applying a liquid to either one side orthe other of the cylinder 89. To move the rod 88 to the desired position relative to the cylinder 89, the liquid can be fed to the desired side via the slide valve 155andthe lines 162 and 163.Asa result thereof, the arm 159 is moved to its neutral position, causing the slide 155 to be connected to the line 148, 149. Thereafter, depending on whether the adjusting arm 164 is moved to one orto the other side of its neutral position, liquid can be applied to either one or the other side of the cylinder 89.When the rod 88 is in the desired position relative to the cylinder 89 for adjusting the spreader 3 to the desired height above the land, the adjusting arm 164 will arrive in its neutral position afterthis adjusting arm has been released.

Thereafter the arm 159 can again be adjusted to the desired position for coupling the lines 157 and 158 to the lines 148 and 149 again. The pressure in the cylinder 89 depends to some degree on the position of thetoggle levers 81 around the hinge pin 82 and consequently the height of the spreader 103 above the land. As a result thereof, the desired minimum and maximum fill degrees of the discharge bin 106, at different positions ofthe spreader above the land, will result in different absolute values on the pressure gauge.Forthis purpose the control disc 166 is rotatable around the pressure gauge 165 and optional- ly lockable in one of a plurality of positions, so that the indicators 178 and 179 can be adjusted to those absolute values ofthe pressure gauge which corres pond tothe desired minimum and maximumfill degrees of the discharge bin 106 at a given height of the spreader 3. The adjusted position ofthe rod 88 relative to the cylinder 89 is ensured bythe presence of the non-return valves 160 and 161 in the lines 162 and 163.

Because ofthe fact that the toggle levers 81 are hingeable, the weight ofthe spreader 3, more specifically when the spreader is moved over uneven land, will produce impact loads in the toggle levers 81.

This will also affect the pressure in the cylinder and the pressure gauge. So asto dampthese impacts onthe pressure in the gauge 165 and the cylinder 89, the cylinder is connected to thetumbler arm 90. Pressure impacts on thetumbler arm are transferred to the spring 93 which thus damps said impact loads.

Consequently, the pointerofthe pressure gauge is stationary to an improved extent, which is advan tageous for checking the fill degree ofthe discharge bin 106.

During normal use, the spreader 103 is provided on the carrier 2 in such a way that the spreader is positioned, in the lateral direction, in parallel with a surface area to be spread. The spreader members 109 and 110 are then at equal heights above the land and usuallyin parallel with the land. Howeverthe arrangementmayalso betilted, as is shown in Fig. 9, in the lateral direction for spreading the material such that the material is spread at one side over a small distance than when the spreader were located in the lateral direction in parallel with the surface area to be spread. Tilting the spreader is predominantly used for spreading the edges of a surface area to be spread.

The spreader can be tilted to either one or the other side by rotating the lugs 113 around the hinge pins 114. Forthis adjustmentofthe lugs 1 13the hydraulic mechanism 117 is used, by means ofwhich the spreader can be raised or lowered, respectively, relative to the relevant lug 113. Applying pressure to one side ofthe cylinder 118 orto its othersidefor tilting the spreader can be effected via the slide valve 156 by operating the adjusting arm 169. To this end, the adjusting arm 159 is moved to its neutral position and the arm 164 is maintained in its neutral position, causing the lines 167,168 to be coupled to the lines 148,149 and liquid to be applied to one side ofthe cylinder 117 orto itsotherside.

Fig. 9 shows the spreader in a position with a downward tiltto the right, seen in the normal direction oftravel 176 ofthe implement. The spreader may alternatively be tilted to the other side, which however is notfurthershown here. Ifthe desired tilt has been accomplished, the adjusting arm 169 can again be moved to its neutral position. The arm 159 is then adjustable again to the desired position so as to enable the slide 137 to be operated again from the tractor. After the implement has been used in the tilted position it can again be moved to the desired horizontal position by operations inverse to the above-described operations.

The two pressure reliefvalves 170 and 172 are provided to limitthe desired maximum operating pressure ofthe cylinders 45,89 and 117, which limit value can be set via the pressure reliefvalves. A pressure relief valve is provided on both one side and the other side of the slide system 154, 155 arranged in a block 153, so as to ensure that the slides 154-156 can be operated irrespective of whetherthe line 148 orthe line 149 is connected to the supply line 150 ofthe hydraulic circuit ofthe tractor, and the other way round to the discharge line 151. The different adjusting arms 159,164 and 169 mustthen be operated in the reverse mode so as to be capable of applying pressure to the given ends ofthe relevant cylinders.

When the implement is not coupled to the tractor, its frontmay bearonthe extended supporting leg 12 in the position when it is not coupled to the tractor.

The position of the spreader 3 behind the shaft 11 and the position ofthe hopper 14 before this shaft 11 has been chosen such that irrespective ofthe fill degree ofthe hopper and/orthe discharge bin 106, the whole assembly is as stable as possible around the shaft 11 and more specifically a desired minimum pressure ofthe coupling 9 to the coupling with the tractor 152 is ensured. So asto obtain an adequate pressure ofthe coupling 9 on the tractor hitch point in the case of maximum differences in balance around the shaft 11,for example when the hopper 14 is completely em pty and the discharge bin 106 is completelyfull, a weight 178 is provided on the front ends oftheframe beamS, the weight having in this embodiment a weight of approximately300 kgs.

A large quantity of material can be carried bythe implement according to the invention, the hopper 14 being completelyfull andthe discharge bin 106 being filled to a greater or lesser extent, for spreading large surface areas and or large quantities per unit of surface, withoutthe need forfrequentfilling ofthe machine. Frequentfilling may be time-consuming and disadvantageousfora uniform spread over the surface, as then a spreading run must be stopped halfway and it is afterwards difficult to find the correct position again for restarting the spreading operation.

Because ofthe constant drive ofthe worm conveyor, the latter will -when no material need be conveyed from the storage bin 1 4to the discharge bin 106-be completely empty during operation. Consequently, no material can stick in the conveyorfunnel around the worm conveyor. Th is mig ht more specifi- cally be the case when material must be conveyed from the hopper 1 4to the discharge bin with intervals of a greater or lesserduration, andthe machine is moved over uneven land, for example a ploughed field, so that the arrangement is subjectto shocks and vibrations. Then itis importantforthe supply of material to the discharge bin 106 to be effected with intervals of a greater or lesser duration, when the dosing mechanisms 177 are adjusted such that only comparatively small quantities of material are fed to the spreader members 109 and 110 per unit oftime, because, for example, only a small quantity of material must be spread per unit of surface overthe surface area.

The invention is not limited to the features described in the foregoing and it encompasses all ofthe features shown in the drawings and apparentfrom the drawings.

Claims (23)

1. An implementforspreading material, more specificallyforspreading granularand/orpulverulent material such as fertilizer, the implement including a carrier having at least one supporting wheel, a material hopperandacoupling mechanismtowhich latter spreader arrangement is couplable, which comprises a discharge bin and at least one spreader memberforspreading material during operation of the implement, characterized in that a conveyor member is provided between the hopper and the discharge bin, with said conveyor member material being conveyable during operation of the implement from the hopperto the discharge bin, the conveyor member being adjacent to a discharge outlet of the hopper, which outlet is at least partly closable by a cover member provided near the discharge outlet, whilst the conveyor member is coupled to the drive means for the spreader member ofthe spreader, all this such that during operation the conveyor member and the spreader member are driven simultaneously.

2. Implement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in thatthe conveyor member includes a worm conveyor disposed in a conveyor pipe, the lower end of the conveyor pipe being adjacent to the discharge outlet and the worm conveyor extending through the conveyor pipe from the discharge outlet to the upper end ofthe pipe, to which a discharge funnel is fastened which ends overthe discharge bin ofthe spreader, the conveyor member being coupled to transmission members disposed at the upper end of the conveyor pipe, which, via an intermediate shaft, are coupled to transmission members in the spreader member drive means.

3. An implement as claimed in claim 1 or2, characterized in thatthe spreader member drive means include a drive shaft which extends from the front ofthe carrier device to the rear thereof and whose rear end is located in a gear box comprising transmission members and is coupled from thereto the conveyor member and the spreader member.

4. An implement as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the cover member is connected to a hydraulic system for closing the discharge outlet to a greater or lesser extent.

5. An implement as claimed in claim 4, characte rized in thatthe cover member is coupled to a hydraulic operating cylinder coupled to a hydraulic system for the implement via a first operable slide valve fastened to the implement.

6. An implement as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling mechanism is fastened to the carrier frame capable of hinging and is coupled to an indicator mechanism responsive to the weight ofthe spreader arrangement, the indicator mechanism providing an indication of the hopper discharge outlet being closed to a greater or lesser extent.

7. An implement as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the indicator mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder keeping the coupling mechanism in the balance opposing rotation around the rotary axis underthe influence ofthe spreader arrangement weight, the hydraulic cylinder being connected to a pressure gauge provided atthefrontofthe implement in such a manner as to permit observation bythe driverofthe implement.

8. An implement as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the pressure gauge has an adjustable indicator disc provided around the graduated scale which is optionally adjustable to one of at least two positions relative to the graduated scale ofthe pressure gauge.

9. An implement as claimed in anyone ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that disposed between the coupling mechanism and the carrier frame an adjusting mechanism is provided which is adjustable for optionally adjusting the coupling mechanism to one of at leasttwo positions relative to the carrierframefor changing the spreader-to-ground distance.

10. An implementasclaimed in claim 7 or8, characterized in that the adjusting mechanism is constituted by the hydraulic cylinder of the indicator mechanism, the cylinder being coupled to a second operable slide valve for moving a piston rod relative to the cylinder for rotating the coupling mechanism with respect to the carrierframe.

11. An implement as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the second slide valve is connected to the hydraulic system ofthe implement via the first valve, the second slide valve being operable when the adjusting arm ofthe first slide valve is in its neutral position.

12. An implement as claimed in claim 9,10 or 11, characterized in that the mechanism for adjusting the coupling mechanism is connected to a tumbler arm provided on the frame ofthe carrier, which is movable againstthe pressure of a spring for absorbing the impact load inthecoupling mechanism underthe infiuence ofthe spreader.

13. An implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling mechanism constitutes a three-point connection for the spreader having two lift arms and a top rod, at least the coupling of one ofthe lift arms to the spreader frame being adjustable in height relative to this frame for tilting the spreader in the lateral direction with respect to the carrier, this coupling to the spreader including a hydraulic control member coupled to the hydraulic system ofthe implement via a third slide valve, the third slide valve being couplableto the system via the first slide valve when the operating arm ofthe first slide valve is in a neutral position.

14. An implementasclaimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the spreader includes at least two spreader members which are drivable in mutually opposite directions by the drive means, the spreader members spreading the material at least approximately mirror-symmetrically relative to the longitudinal centre line of the spreader and over at least su bsta ntial ly coincid ing spread sections.

15. An implement as claimed in any one of the claims 5-14, characterized in that a pressure relief valve is provided in the hydraulic system on both sides of at least one slide valve in the supply line and in the discharge line ofthe system,which are connectableto the hydraulic circuit of a tractor or such like vehicle to which the implement is linkable, the memberfor closing the first slide valve being operable from the tractor.

16. An implement as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling mechanism is provided nearthe rear of the carrier, the hopper being located before the wheel axle of the carrier and the spreader being located behind the wheel axle, whilst the carrierframe front end is provided with a weight adjacent to a carrier member fitted at the carrierframefront end, by means ofwhich the implement is linkable to a vehicle, such as, for example, a tractor.

17. An implement as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in thatthe coupling mechanism is fastened to a strut beam provided on a rear beam ofthe carrier frame and extending from thereto a carrier beam atthe rearofthe hopper, the wheel axle being fastened to the rear beam.

18. An implement as claimed in any one ofthe claims 2-17, characterized in that the dischargefunnel is adjustable with respect to the conveyorfunnel and is optionally lockable in one of at leasttwo positions.

19. An implement as claimed in any one of the claims 2-18, characterized in that the discharge bin has two discharge nozzles and the discharge funnel has a distributor plate provided near its mouth, by means of which the material flowing from the discharge funnel is uniformly distributed overthetwo discharge nozzles.

20. An implementasclaimed inanyoneofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom of the spreader comprises supporting members which are movable to a downwardly extending position and by which the spreader can be supported in its raised position above the ground for coupling to the lever linking system, the supporting members being removable from the downwardly extending positions.

21. An implement as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that the supporting members include a hingeable supporting bracket provided on the spread erframe front end, which via a longitudinally adjustable coupling rod is coupled to a rear support which is detachably accommodated in a holder attached to the rear side of the spreader frame and is removable therefrom and positionable on the holder upper side forthe operative position of the spreader with the implement.

22. A method of connecting the spreaderto the linking system ofthecarrier,thespreaderbeing lifted in the lifting arms of a tractor or a such like vehicle and the supporting members being arranged in a downwardly directed position to the bottom ofthe spreader frame, whereafterthe spreader can be supported by these supporting members in its elevated position from the ground and can be coupled in this position to the coupling mechanism of the carrier.

23. An implement substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.