Boom spreader with sectional control

Description

1 / 19 BOOM SPREADER WITH SECTIONAL CONTROL CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUESTS

[001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 494,223 filed April 4, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF TECHNIQUE

[002] This application relates to the field of agriculture, in particular, to an apparatus for applying solid agricultural product to a field. FUNDAMENTALS

[003] An air-powered lance spreader comprises a hopper for containing particulate material (for example, fertilizer, seed or other agricultural product), one or more transversely extending lances comprising a plurality of outlets for distributing the particulate material in a field, a metering device for conveying the particulate material from the hopper towards one or more lances, and an air system comprising a blower and air lines that receive the particulate material from the metering device; wherein the metering device may comprise one or more continuous belts (also called chains) for delivering the particulate material from the metering device to each of the Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 79 / 111 2 / 19 plurality of exits from one or more spears.

[004] In order to assist in the independent control of the quantity of particulate matter delivered at each outlet, the measuring system may comprise a plurality of independently controllable side-by-side continuous belts. However, because side-by-side continuous belts are often closely spaced transversely, it is often impossible to position drive motors between the belts. Other drive motor arrangements are necessary, resulting in greater complexity of the drive system. Some examples of such complex arrangements are described in documents WO 2019 / 157094, US 10,207,873, US 10,046,917 and similar documents.

[005] There is still a need for a simpler drive system to independently control a plurality of continuous belts side by side in a boom spreader for particulate matter. SUMMARY

[006] A lance spreader for spreading particulate matter in a field comprises: a hopper for containing the particulate matter, lances comprising a first lance and a second lance, wherein the first lance and the second lance are transversely extendable in opposite transverse directions not parallel to a direction of travel. Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 80 / 111 3 / 19 along a longitudinal geometric axis of the spreader and not perpendicular to the field, wherein the lances comprise a plurality of outlets that communicate the particulate material to the hopper so that the particulate material is distributed in the field;and a measuring device for transporting particulate matter from the hopper to the booms, wherein the measuring device divides the particulate matter into portions for delivery to a plurality of outlets, wherein the measuring device comprises a plurality of continuous belts that receive the particulate matter from the hopper and transport the particulate matter from the hopper longitudinally towards the booms, wherein the plurality of continuous belts comprise: a first set of side-by-side continuous belts and a second set of side-by-side continuous belts whereby the continuous belts of the first and second sets are substantially parallel and coplanar to each other, and each of the continuous belts is independently driveable;a first set of drive shafts and a second set of drive shafts, each drive shaft having mounted on it a drive roller to drive one of the continuous belts from among the respective first and second sets of continuous belts, wherein each drive shaft also has mounted on it a smooth non-drive roller that is in contact with one of; Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 81 / 111 4 / 19 the continuous belts that are not driven by the drive shaft on which the non-driving smooth roller is mounted; and a first set of drive motors and a second set of drive motors, wherein each drive motor is operationally connected to one of the drive shafts among the first and second sets of respective drive shafts, wherein the drive shafts of the first set of drive shafts are longitudinally separated along the continuous belts of the first set of continuous belts, and the drive motors of the first set of drive motors are connected to the drive shafts of the first set of drive shafts on the same side of the first set of continuous belts remote from the second set of continuous belts;and wherein the drive shafts of the second set of drive shafts are separated longitudinally along the continuous belts of the second set of continuous belts, and the drive motors of the second set of drive motors are connected to the drive shafts of the second set of drive shafts on the same side of the second set of continuous belts remote from the first set of continuous belts.

[007] The measuring device comprises continuous belts, drive shafts for driving the belts Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, page 82 / 111 5 / 19 continuous belts and drive motors to drive the drive shafts. Each of the drive shafts comprises a drive roller, which interacts with one of the continuous belts to drive the continuous belt, and a smooth non-drive roller, which is in contact with another belt among the continuous belts, but does not drive the other belt among the continuous belts. The drive roller may be, for example, a toothed wheel that engages with openings in the continuous belt or any other suitable drive roller.

[008] In some embodiments, at least one of the non-driving smooth rollers is a fixed-mounted smooth roller. The continuous belt, in contact with the fixed-mounted smooth roller, slides on the fixed-mounted smooth roller when the continuous belt, in contact with the fixed-mounted smooth roller, is being driven at a speed different from the speed at which the fixed-mounted smooth roller is being driven. In some embodiments, at least one of the non-driving smooth rollers is a rotatable-mounted smooth roller on one of the drive shafts. In the present context, the continuous belt in contact with the rotatable-mounted smooth roller causes the rotatable-mounted smooth roller to rotate at a speed different from the drive shaft on which the rotatable smooth roller is mounted. One or more of the rollers Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, page 83 / 111 6 / 19 non-drive smooth rollers can be a fixedly mounted smooth roller, while one or more of the non-drive smooth rollers can be a rotatably mounted smooth roller. For rotatability mounting, the smooth roller can be mounted in a bearing or bushing on the drive shaft on which the smooth roller is mounted.

[009] Because non-drive smooth rollers allow a continuous belt to be driven by a drive shaft, different from the drive shaft on which the smooth roller is mounted without interfering with the operation of the different drive shaft, side-by-side continuous belts can be independently controlled by different drive shafts that are longitudinally separated and driven by their own drive motors, wherein the drive motors are mounted on the same side of the continuous belt assembly as the drive motors in the same assembly, the drive motors also being longitudinally separated. In this configuration, the drive system is simplified without the need for complicated gear or motor configurations.Thus, the use of one or more non-drive smooth rollers on the same drive shaft as a drive roller allows independent control of multiple continuous belts, while also allowing standard drive motor configuration on the same side of an assembly. Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, page 84 / 111 7 / 19 of continuous belts, thus allowing the continuous belts side by side to be very close to each other transversely.

[0010] In some embodiments, the continuous belts of the first set of continuous belts enclose the drive shafts of the first set of drive shafts. In some embodiments, the continuous belts have upper and lower belt segments, and the drive shaft, enclosed by the continuous belts of the first set of continuous belts, is located between the upper and lower belt segments of the continuous belts of the first set of continuous belts. Furthermore, at least one of the drive shafts of the first set of drive shafts may be situated beneath and in contact with the lower belt segments of the first set of continuous belts. Similarly, in some embodiments, the continuous belts of the second set of continuous belts enclose the drive shafts of the second set of drive shafts.Furthermore, the continuous belts of the second set of continuous belts have upper and lower belt segments, and the drive shaft, enclosed by the continuous belts of the second set of continuous belts, is located between the upper and lower belt segments of the continuous belts of the second set of continuous belts. Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, page 85 / 111 8 / 19 second set of continuous belts. In addition, at least one of the drive shafts of the second set of drive shafts may be located under and in contact with the lower belt segments of the second set of continuous belts.

[0011] Each set of side-by-side continuous belts may comprise two, three, four or more continuous belts and corresponding drive shafts and drive motors. In some embodiments, the first set of side-by-side continuous belts comprises two continuous belts, the second set of side-by-side continuous belts comprises two continuous belts, the first set of drive shafts comprises two drive shafts, the second set of drive shafts comprises two drive shafts, the first set of drive motors comprises two drive motors, the second set of drive motors comprises two drive motors, and each drive shaft has mounted on it a drive roller and a non-drive roller.

[0012] The lance spreader may further comprise an air system configured to deliver particulate matter from the measuring device to each of the plurality of lance outlets. The air system may comprise a plurality of air lines and a Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, page 86 / 111 9 / 19 blower configured to transport particulate matter from the measuring device to multiple outlets. The particulate matter can be any suitable solid material, for example, fertilizer, seed, other solid agricultural product, lime, or any combination thereof. The hopper may comprise multiple compartments containing different particulate matter.

[0013] Additional features will be described or will become apparent throughout the detailed description below. It should be understood that each feature described herein may be used in any combination with one or more of the other features described and that each feature does not necessarily depend on the presence of another feature, except when evident to a person skilled in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] For better understanding, the preferred configurations will be described in detail below by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 depicts a top view of an air-driven lance spreader.

[0016] Figure 2 depicts a top view of a rear section of the air-spreader boom of Figure 1.

[0017] Figure 3 depicts a bottom perspective view of a rear portion of continuous side belts Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, p. 87 / 111 10 / 19 next to the air lance spreader in Figure 1.

[0018] Figure 4 depicts a perspective view of an arrangement of drive motors, drive shafts and various rollers that operate the continuous belts in Figure 3.

[0019] Figure 5 depicts a top view of the solid belts in Figure 3.

[0020] Figure 6 depicts a left side view of the solid belts in Figure 3.

[0021] Figure 7 depicts a right side view of the solid belts in Figure 3.

[0022] Figure 8A depicts a perspective view of one of the drive shafts shown in Figure 4.

[0023] Figure 8B depicts a left side view of the drive shaft of Figure 8A.

[0024] Figure 8C depicts a right side view of the drive shaft of Figure 8A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Figure 1 depicts an air-powered boom spreader 1 for spreading particulate material (e.g., lime, a fertilizer, seed and / or other solid agricultural product) in a field or other location. The spreader 1 may be a self-propelled vehicle or a vehicle towed behind a driving unit (e.g., a tractor or similar). The spreader 1 comprises a hopper 2 for containing the material. Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 88 / 111 11 / 19 particulate and a pair of transversely extendable lances 3 situated at the rear of the spreader 1, including a first lance 3a and a second lance 3b. The lances 3 can be extended in opposite transverse directions not parallel to a path direction T along a longitudinal geometric axis of the spreader 1 and not perpendicular to the field. The lances 3 comprise a plurality of outlets 4 (only two are marked) through which the particulate material is spread in the field. The lances 3 can be curved inwards towards the hopper 2 and / or upwards in order to reduce the cross-sectional profile of the spreader for roadway driving between fields.

[0026] Figure 2 provides an enlarged view of the rear end of the spreader 1, wherein the hopper has been removed for clarity. The spreader 1 comprises a measuring device 10 comprising two sets of continuous belts 11, wherein a first set comprises a pair of side-by-side continuous belts 11a, 11b (see Figure 1) and a second set comprising a pair of side-by-side continuous belts 11c, 11d. The belts of the first set of continuous belts 11a, 11b are omitted in Figure 2 to illustrate the structures below the upper portions of the belts. The measuring device 10 also comprises door boxes 30 which have respective inlet openings 32 (only one marked for each box). Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 89 / 111 12 / 19 of doors) which allow particulate matter falling from the continuous belts 11 to enter the individual doors in the door boxes 30. The individual doors each communicate the particulate matter to the respective air lines 41 (only one marked for each door box) which, under the operation of a blower 35, deliver the particulate matter to the outlets 3 for spreading in the field. For clarity, the air lines from the blower 35 to the air lines 41 are not shown. The details of the operation of a boom spreader are generally known, for example, as disclosed in document no. WO 2018 / 170594 published on 27 September 2018, the contents of which are incorporated in full herein by reference.

[0027] Referring further to Figures 3 through 7, the measuring device 10 further comprises drive shafts 12 with drive rollers 15 mounted thereon, wherein the drive shaft 12a with drive roller 15a drives the continuous belt 11a, the drive shaft 12b with drive roller 15b drives the continuous belt 11b, the drive shaft 12c with drive roller 15c drives the continuous belt 11c and the drive shaft 12d with drive roller 15d drives the continuous belt 11d. The drive shafts 12 are operationally connected to specific drive motors 13 via assemblies Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 90 / 111 13 / 19 for motor 14, wherein the drive motor 13a mounted in the assembly for motor 14a drives the drive shaft 12a, the drive motor 13b mounted in the assembly for motor 14b drives the drive shaft 12b, the drive motor 13c mounted in the assembly for motor 14c drives the drive shaft 12c, and the drive motor 13d mounted in the assembly for motor 14d drives the drive shaft 12d. The drive rollers 15 each comprise at least one toothed wheel, for example, four toothed wheels, as shown in Figure 3, whose teeth engage with the rows of openings 18 (only one marked) in the continuous belts 11 to drive the continuous belts 11. The drive shafts 12 have mounted on them smooth non-drive rollers 17 which are transversely separated from the respective drive rollers 15 on the respective drive shafts 12.Thus, the drive shaft 12a has mounted on it the non-drive smooth roller 17a, the drive shaft 12b has mounted on it the non-drive smooth roller 17b, the drive shaft 12c has mounted on it the non-drive smooth roller 17c, and the drive shaft 12d has mounted on it the non-drive smooth roller 17d.

[0028] Continuous belts 11a and 11b of the first set of continuous belts are arranged side by side and very close to each other, i.e., the continuous belts Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pages 91 / 111 14 / 19 Belts 11a and 11b are parallel and coplanar to each other. Therefore, there is no space between belts 11a and 11b where a drive motor could be placed. Similarly, belts 11c and 11d of the second set of belts are arranged side-by-side and very close to each other; that is, belts 11c and 11d are parallel and coplanar to each other. Therefore, there is no space between belts 11c and 11d where a drive motor could be placed. Furthermore, the first set of belts 11a and 11b and the second set of belts 11c and 11d are also side-by-side, where the two sets are parallel and coplanar to each other, with insufficient space between the two sets to place the drive motors.

[0029] The standard and simplest way to configure the drive motor 13 and the drive shaft 12 for each continuous belt 11 is to mount the drive motor 13 at one end of the drive shaft 12 and to fix the drive roller 15 onto the drive shaft 12 so that the drive roller 15 engages with the continuous belt 11 in order to drive the continuous belt 11. Due to the impossibility of placing a drive motor between any of the belts, the drive motors need to be located on the outer sides of the belt assemblies or above or below the belt assemblies. In order to utilize Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 92 / 111 15 / 19 The standard configuration, without interfering with individual control over each continuous belt 11 and without using complicated gears and motor assemblies, the drive shafts 12 for each set of continuous belts 11 are long enough to pass transversely through the entire width of a set of continuous belts 11, and the drive shafts 12 are spaced longitudinally along the continuous belts 11 of the set. Furthermore, the non-drive smooth roller 17 on a particular drive shaft 12 is situated on the particular drive shaft 12 to engage with another continuous belt other than the continuous belt being driven by the particular drive shaft 12.Thus, the non-drive smooth roller 17a on the drive shaft 12a is situated to engage with the continuous belt 11b, the non-drive smooth roller 17b on the drive shaft 12b is situated to engage with the continuous belt 11a, the non-drive smooth roller 17c on the drive shaft 12c is situated to engage with the continuous belt 11d, and the non-drive smooth roller 17d on the drive shaft 12d is situated to engage with the continuous belt 11c. The drive motors 13 are mounted via the motor mounts 14 at the outer ends of the drive shafts 12 in the standard configuration, wherein the drive motors 13 for each set of continuous belts 11 are separate. Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 93 / 111 16 / 19 longitudinally from each other along the continuous belts 11 of the assembly. The drive motors 13a and 13b of the first set of continuous belts 11a and 11b, respectively, are situated transversely opposite the drive motors 13c and 13d of the second set of continuous belts 11c and 11d, respectively, and the drive motors 13a, 13b and 13c, 13d are situated on the outer sides of the respective sets of continuous belts 11a, 11b and 11c, 11d.

[0030] If there are more than two continuous belts in a continuous belt assembly, the drive shafts for that assembly can be extended and more non-drive smooth rollers can be added to each drive shaft to accommodate the extra belts. Furthermore, if desired, all drive motors can be mounted on the same side of the measuring device, separated longitudinally along the continuous belts, using drive shafts of sufficient length to cross all the continuous belts and mounting a sufficient number of non-drive smooth rollers on each drive shaft to engage all the continuous belts.

[0031] The non-driven smooth rollers 17 engage with the continuous belts 11 which are not driven by the same drive shafts 12 in which the smooth rollers of Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 94 / 111 17 / 19 non-drive 17 are mounted. As observed in Figures 8A to 8C, the non-drive smooth rollers 17 are rotatably mounted on the drive shafts 12 via bearings 19. The bearings 19 are rotatably mounted on the drive shafts 12 in such a way that the rotation of the drive shafts 12 does not cause the non-drive smooth rollers 17 to rotate, whereas the rotation of the non-drive smooth rollers 17, caused by the translational motion of the continuous belts 11 to which the non-drive smooth rollers 17 are engaged, will cause the bearings 19 to rotate on the drive shafts 12 without imparting any rotational motion to the drive shafts 12. In this way, the speed of the continuous belts 11 can be independently controlled to provide sectional control during the delivery of particulate material to the booms 3 and the boom 3 outlets 4.If the bearings 19 are not used, and the non-drive smooth rollers 17 are fixedly mounted on the drive shafts 12, the sliding between the non-drive smooth rollers 17 and the continuous belts 11 prevents the rotary motion of the non-drive smooth rollers 17 from affecting the drive control of the continuous belts 11 to which the non-drive rollers 17 are engaged. The sliding also prevents the translational motion of the continuous belts 11, to which the non-drive smooth rollers 17 are engaged. Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 95 / 111 18 / 19 affect the drive control of the continuous belts 11 that are driven by the drive shafts 12 on which the non-drive rollers 17 are mounted.

[0032] The shaft and roller arrangement also facilitates the tensioning of the continuous belts 11. As shown in Figure 3, Figure 6 and Figure 7, the continuous belts 11 can be wrapped around the rearmost drive shafts 12b and 12c and the lower belt segments of the continuous belts 11 that pass over the top of the frontmost drive shafts 12a and 12d, so that the rearmost drive shafts 12b and 12c are between the upper and lower belt segments of the continuous belts 11 while the frontmost drive shafts 12a and 12d are under the lower belt segments of the first set of continuous belts 11 and in contact with them. Adjusting the height of the frontmost drive shafts 12a and 12d relative to the rearmost drive shafts 12b and 12c adjusts the tension on the continuous belts 11.Without the presence of the smooth non-drive rollers 17 on the drive shafts 12, such tension would not be possible, or would at least be more difficult to achieve, in the context of side-by-side continuous belts 11.

[0033] The innovative features will become apparent to those skilled in the art after examining the present Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 96 / 111 19 / 19 description. However, it should be understood that the scope of the claims should not be limited by the modalities, as it should be interpreted in the broadest sense in accordance with the wording of the claims and the descriptive report as a whole. Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 97 / 111

Claims

1 / 6 CLAIMS 1. A lance spreader for spreading particulate matter in a field, the spreader characterized in that it comprises: a hopper for containing the particulate matter; lances comprising a first lance and a second lance, wherein the first lance and the second lance are transversely extendable in opposite transverse directions not parallel to a direction of travel along a longitudinal geometric axis of the spreader and not perpendicular to the field, wherein the lances comprise a plurality of outlets that communicate particulate matter to the hopper so that the particulate matter is distributed in the field; and a measuring device for transporting the particulate matter from the hopper to the lances, wherein the measuring device divides the particulate matter into portions for delivery to the plurality of outlets,The measuring device comprises a plurality of continuous belts that receive particulate material from the hopper and transport the particulate material from the hopper longitudinally towards the booms, wherein the plurality of continuous belts comprises: a first set of continuous belts side by side and a second set of continuous belts side by side by means of which the continuous belts of the first and second sets are substantially parallel and coplanar with respect to each other, and each of the continuous belts is independently driveable; a first set of drive shafts and a second set of drive shafts, wherein each drive shaft has mounted on it a drive roller for driving one of the continuous belts of the respective first and second sets of continuous belts,wherein each drive shaft also has mounted within it a non-driving smooth roller that is in contact with one of the continuous belts that is not driven by the drive shaft on which the non-driving smooth roller is mounted; and a first set of drive motors and a second set of drive motors, wherein each drive motor is operationally connected to one of the drive shafts of the first and second respective sets of drive shafts, wherein the drive shafts of the first set of drive shafts are longitudinally separated along the continuous belts of the first set of continuous belts and the drive motors of the first set of drive motors are connected to the drive shafts of the first set of drive shafts on the same side of the first set of continuous belts. Petition 870250089295, dated 01 / 10 / 2025.pg. 99 / 111 3 / 6 remote in relation to the second set of continuous belts, and in which the drive shafts of the second set of drive shafts are separated longitudinally along the continuous belts of the second set of continuous belts, and the drive motors of the second set of drive motors are connected to the drive shafts of the second set of drive shafts on the same side of the second set of continuous belts remote in relation to the first set of continuous belts.

2. A boom spreader, according to claim 1, characterized in that the continuous belts of the first set of continuous belts wrap around the drive shafts of the first set of drive shafts.

3. A boom spreader according to claim 2, characterized in that the continuous belts have upper and lower belt segments, the drive shaft, enclosed by the continuous belts of the first set of continuous belts, is located between the upper and lower belt segments of the continuous belts of the first set of continuous belts, and at least one other of the drive shafts of the first set of drive shafts is situated beneath the lower belt segments of the first set of continuous belts and is in contact with them. Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 100 / 111 4 / 6 4. A boom spreader, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the continuous belts of the second set of continuous belts enclose one of the drive shafts of the second set of drive shafts; wherein the continuous belts have upper and lower belt segments; and the drive shaft, enclosed by the continuous belts of the second set of continuous belts, is between the upper and lower belt segments of the continuous belts of the second set of continuous belts, and at least one of the drive shafts of the second set of drive shafts is situated beneath the lower belt segments of the second set of continuous belts and is in contact with them.

5. Boom spreader, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first set of side-by-side continuous belts comprises two continuous belts, the second set of side-by-side continuous belts comprises two continuous belts, the first set of drive shafts comprises two drive shafts, the second set of drive shafts comprises two drive shafts, the first set of drive motors comprises two drive motors, the second set of drive motors comprises two drive motors, and each drive shaft has mounted on it a drive roller and a non-drive roller.

6. A boom spreader, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one of the non-driving smooth rollers is a fixed-mounted smooth roller whereby the continuous belt in contact with the fixed-mounted smooth roller slides on the fixed-mounted smooth roller when the continuous belt in contact with the fixed-mounted smooth roller is being driven at a speed other than the speed at which the fixed-mounted smooth roller is being driven.

7. A boom spreader, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one of the non-driving smooth rollers is a smooth roller rotatably mounted on one of the drive shafts, whereby the continuous belt in contact with the rotatably mounted smooth roller causes the rotatably mounted smooth roller to rotate at a speed different from the speed of the drive shaft on which the rotatably mounted smooth roller is mounted.

8. Lance spreader, according to claim 7, characterized in that the smooth roller is mounted in a bearing or bushing on the drive shaft on which the smooth roller is mounted. Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 102 / 111 6 / 6 9. Lance spreader, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises an air system configured to dispense the particulate matter from the measuring device to each of the plurality of lance outlets.

10. Spreader, according to claim 9, characterized in that the air system comprises a plurality of air lines and a blower configured to transport the particulate matter from the measuring device to the plurality of outlets.

11. Spreader, according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the particulate material comprises a fertilizer. Petition 870250089295, dated 10 / 01 / 2025, pp. 103 / 111

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