Adjustable spinner for a particulate material spreader

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure <italic>< / highlight> An improved particulate material spreader includes an adjustable spinner apparatus which is incrementally adjustable forwardly and rearwardly to a plurality of operating positions relative to the discharge end of the material conveyor. The adjustment may be manual or automatic to adjust the drop point of the material onto the spinners, thereby accommodating varying application rates of the particulate material on a field, lawn, road, or other area. The spreader may be operatively connected to a microprocessor to receive data input and sensor feedback for variable rate technology.

Description

Detailed Description of the InventionCross Reference to Related Applications[0001] This is a continuation application of an application entitled Adjustable Spinner For A Particulate Material Spreader, having application serial number 09 / 574,600, filed on May 19, 2000, and now issued as U.S. Patent No. 6,517,281 B1, on February 11, 2003, by Matthew W. Rissi, which application is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.Background of Invention[0002] Spinner spreaders for particulate material are well known in the art, both for agricultural application, lawn care, and road maintenance application. Typically, such spreaders are mounted onto a truck body, truck chassis, trailer, or slid into a truck's dump body. The spreader includes a material storage bin(s), a conveyor system(s) and rotating spinner(s). The conveyor transfers material from the storage bin(s) to the spinner(s). The spinner(s) broadcast the material across the field, lawn, or road. Usually a single spinner o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0013] The adjustable spinner of the present invention is adapted for use with a spreader for broadcasting particulate material onto a field, lawn, road, or other area. The spinner includes a frame which is adapted to be adjustably mounted to the spreader beneath a conveyor discharge end and a material divider. Spinner disc(s) and blades are rotatably mounted on the spinner frame and adapted to receive material from the conveyor through the material divider and broadcast the material as the truck or trailer moves through the field, lawn, or along a road. The position of the spinner(s) relative to the conveyor discharge end and material divider is adjustable, either manually or automatically, with or without automatic position feedback, by any number of means such as mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic, so as to adjust the drop point of the material onto the spinner(s), and thereby accommodate varying application rates of the particulate material.

Problems solved by technology

However, such movement of the divider(s) relative to the spinner(s) does not provide uniform material flow through the divider(s) creating difficulty in achieving uniform spread patterns.

Also, the movement of the divider(s) is substantially limited due to the structure of the divider and / or conveyor and does not allow for the proper material placement on the spinner for achieving optimum spread patterns of both low and high rates of material.

Therefore, the limitations of a conventional prior art spreader does not allow achieving optimal spread patterns when applying variable volume rates of material or different densities of material.

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