Pneumatic distribution machine with multiple distribution bodies and distribution body for such a distribution machine

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pneumatic distribution machine for dispensing material, comprising at least one storage container supported by a frame with at least one discharge opening; at least one metering device downstream of the discharge opening of the storage container with a rotatably driven metering roller for metering the distributed material; at least one transfer chamber downstream of the metering device, which on the one hand is connected to at least one blower and on the other hand leads into a conveying line in order to pneumatically transfer the distributed material metered by the metering device to a distribution device, which are arranged at a lateral distance from the longitudinal axis of the distribution machine, wherein the distribution devices each have an impact body that can be mounted at the free end of a respective conveying line.

[0002] The invention further relates to a distribution element suitable for such a distribution machine, which has an impact body that can be mounted at the free end of a respective conveying line of the distribution machine.

[0003] Such pneumatic distribution machines are known in various configurations, particularly in the form of pneumatic fertilizer spreaders and / or seed drills for applying powdered or particulate materials such as fertilizer, seeds, and the like. They typically include a hopper for receiving the material, below which the metering device(s) is / are arranged. While metering devices often employ actuator-operated or manually actuated metering slides that interact with an outlet opening of the hopper, the metering device in the pneumatic distribution machines under consideration here generally features a rotatably driven metering roller, which may be designed as a rotary valve and / or cam wheel roller.The metering roller is mounted in a metering housing, which typically has an inlet on its upper side connected to an outlet opening of the storage container and an outlet on its underside (see . e.g. EP 2 786 649 B1).

[0004] Pneumatic distribution machines of this type can be designed in two main ways: firstly, as lightweight attachments that can be coupled to the three-point linkage of a tractor, or secondly, as heavy-duty machines mounted on an axle-supported trailer or self-propelled vehicle. They typically include outward-projecting booms that accommodate conveying lines terminating at varying distances from one another. A blower conveys the material to be distributed; its pressure line connects to an outlet on the metering unit's housing and terminates in a pressure distributor, to which the conveying lines are connected.Transfer chambers located between the pressure distributor and the delivery lines, which can expediently be equipped with injectors comprising a nozzle and a diffuser, serve to transfer the spreading material from the metering roller of the metering unit to the delivery lines, ensuring that each delivery line receives the desired quantity of spreading material. The spreading material is then pneumatically conveyed via the outwardly deflected delivery lines to their end, where it is transferred to the corresponding distribution units. The delivery lines typically terminate in a downward-pointing bend, or, viewed in the direction of travel of the spreading machine, a rearward-pointing bend, to which the respective distribution units are connected. These latter units are generally designed in the form of impact plates or...The system is designed with impact plates onto which the material being distributed, pneumatically transported in a respective conveying line, strikes and is then deposited on the ground in a fan-like pattern. The width of each spreading fan, extending perpendicular to the direction of travel of the pneumatic distribution machine and deposited on the ground by means of a respective distribution element, is referred to as the "distribution width" within the scope of this disclosure. It generally corresponds to approximately twice the lateral distance between the distribution elements. Due to the overlap of the individual spreading fans of the individual distribution elements transversely to the direction of travel of the pneumatic distribution machine, a uniform lateral distribution of the material being distributed is achieved across the entire working width.

[0005] Such a pneumatic spreading machine is known, for example, from DE 10 2004 030 240 A1 in the form of a pneumatic fertilizer spreader. The known pneumatic spreading machine has a plurality of metering units, each comprising a rotary-driven metering roller. Several pressurized transfer chambers, pressurized by a blower, are connected to the outlet side of each metering housing. Multiple conveying lines extend from these transfer chambers in groups, each leading to a separate spreading unit. Section control is ensured by assigning each metering unit its own independently speed-controlled motor to drive its respective metering roller. This allows adjacent spreading units, supplied with material from the respective groups of conveying lines originating from a given metering unit, to be switched on or off in groups. Furthermore, by successively switching on or off the metering units, the application can be controlled in stages.The metering units are switched off in such a way that first the metering units connected to the outer distribution units are switched on, and only then the inner ones; or, conversely, that first the metering units connected to the inner distribution units are switched off, and only then the outer ones. This compensates for the different transport times required for the pneumatic transport of the material through the conveying lines of varying lengths, ensuring that the distribution process can begin uniformly at the beginning of the field and end uniformly at the end. Furthermore, by driving the metering rollers of the metering units at different rotational speeds, it is also possible to accommodate different field areas with varying material requirements across the entire working width, or to prevent over-supply that would otherwise occur on the inside of curves.To compensate for undersupply occurring on the outside of curves. In this way, a partial width control can be implemented by having the independently rotary-driven metering rollers of the metering units communicate with groups of distribution units. Further pneumatic distribution machines of this type can be found, for example, in EP 3 409 090 B1 and EP 3 629 694 B1.

[0006] Regarding the uniform distribution of the material being spread across the direction of travel of the spreading machine, it is crucial that, firstly, the spreading patterns produced by each spreading element are discharged in a mirror-symmetrical manner towards both transverse sides of that element, and secondly, that the mass distribution of the material being spread is as mirror-symmetrical as possible on both sides of each spreading element. In this context, the geometry of the end bends of each conveying line plays a role, as these bends serve to redirect the conveying line, which extends across the direction of travel along booms, towards each spreading element.While the deflectors on trailed, self-propelled spreading machines, which typically have height adjustment on the booms supporting the conveying lines transversely to the direction of travel, can usually be arranged approximately vertically to deflect the material being spread downwards by about 90° and feed it to a respective distribution unit, the lifting height for spreading machines mounted on a three-point linkage, such as a tractor, is often limited. Therefore, the deflection of the material being spread by means of the deflectors at the end of each conveying line can also be approximately horizontal, particularly towards the rear in the direction of travel. A terminal deflector of the conveying line, particularly suitable for the uniform feeding of the material to a respective distribution unit, is known, for example, from EP 0 277 288 B1.

[0007] On the other hand, with regard to a uniform distribution of the material being spread transversely to the direction of travel of the spreading machine, the geometry of the spreading elements proves to be particularly crucial. These elements are typically designed in the form of impact plates and are preferably adjustable and can be mounted on the free end of a bend located at the end of a conveying line. Examples of such impact plates that have proven successful in practice are known, for instance, from EP 3 409 090 B1 or EP 0 244 712 B1. In the latter case, the impact plates are provided with essentially wart-shaped protrusions that extend uniformly across the reflective surface of the impact plate and serve to ensure a more uniform, mirror-symmetrical transverse distribution, more or less independent of the impact velocity of the material particles.

[0008] DE 73 42 355 U describes a further impact element for pneumatic distribution machines, which has an impact plate supported by a column. This impact plate is essentially shaped like a funnel bent downwards by 90° from the free end of a respective conveying line, with its funnel-shaped widened end pointing towards the free end of the conveying line. At the opposite lower end of the funnel-shaped impact plate, it terminates in two impact surfaces arranged at a small angle to each other. The smooth surfaces of these surfaces have the shape of an inverted "V", and the legs of the V are angled outwards towards the horizontal at their free lower ends.

[0009] However, the distribution width of the distribution devices known so far, in the form of impact plates, is limited, which leads to

[0010] The consequence is that a relatively large number of distribution elements and therefore also of corresponding conveying lines, bends, etc. are required, which proves to be complex and expensive and, especially in the case of distribution machines with a large working width, is accompanied by a considerable increase in weight.

[0011] The invention is based on the objective of further developing a pneumatic distribution machine of the type mentioned above and a suitable distribution element in a simple and cost-effective manner in such a way that the distribution width of a respective distribution element can be increased while ensuring a uniform lateral distribution of the distributed material.

[0012] According to the invention, this problem is solved in a pneumatic distribution machine of the type mentioned at the outset by the fact that the impact body has a concave reflective surface section on each of two opposite sides, wherein the concave reflective surface sections of the impact body diverge both in opposite directions and from the free end of a respective conveying line and are connected to each other via a semi-ring reflective surface section arranged on an end face of the impact body.

[0013] To solve this problem, the invention further provides that, in a distribution element suitable for such a distribution machine, its impact body has a concave reflective surface section on two opposite sides, wherein the concave reflective surface sections of the impact body diverge both in opposite directions and from the free end of a respective conveying line and are connected to each other via a semi-ring reflective surface section arranged on an end face of the impact body.

[0014] The inventive design of the distribution element, which is shaped like an impact body, enables, due to the two concave reflective surface sections arranged on two opposite sides of the impact body, which diverge both in opposite directions and from the free end of a respective conveying line, a division of the distributed material particles impacting the concave reflective surface sections of a respective impact body from a respective conveying line into two opposite directions, so that the distributed material particles are distributed very evenly in the two opposite directions of a respective impact body.The impactor can be mounted at the free end of a respective conveying line in such a way that its two concave reflective surface sections diverge essentially in opposite directions, perpendicular to the direction of travel of the spreading machine. This allows for a greater distribution width perpendicular to the direction of travel compared to conventional impact plates. Consequently, fewer impactors and fewer conveying lines are required for the entire working width of the spreading machine. The concave design of the reflective surface sections ensures a wider distribution of the material particles from each impactor. This design also guarantees a distribution quantity that decreases approximately uniformly towards the outside – i.e., a generally triangular or trapezoidal scattering pattern – so that, for example,Similar to the so-called "connection operation" of centrifugal spreaders, a uniform distribution across the entire working width is achieved by compensating for the outwardly decreasing distribution quantity of each impactor with the outwardly decreasing distribution quantity of the adjacent impactor, through partial overlap of their distribution widths. Depending on the shape of the scattering pattern produced by each impactor, the impactors can be arranged at a lateral distance from each other, corresponding, for example, to between approximately 90% and approximately 150% of the total distribution width of each impactor. The concave reflection sections of the impactor exhibit, in particular, a characteristic shape that extends essentially across their entire extent, i.e.,from its side closest to the free end of a respective conveying line to its side furthest from the free end of a respective conveying line, a concavity whose radius of curvature - as explained in more detail below - does not necessarily have to be constant.

[0015] According to the invention, the concave reflective surface sections of the impactor are connected to one another by a semi-ring reflective surface section arranged on one end face of the impactor. The semi-ring reflective surface section advantageously extends approximately 180° around the circumference of the impactor and thus connects the two concave reflective surface sections. It primarily serves to achieve a more homogeneous transverse distribution of the dispersed material particles in the central region of the impactor, where there is no or only a slight overlap of the scattering pattern with that of an adjacent impactor.A "superposition" of the scattering pattern generated on the one hand by the two concave reflective surface sections and on the other hand by the semi-ring reflective surface section thus leads to maximum homogeneity of the transverse distribution, in that each impact body generates an approximately triangular or trapezoidal scattering pattern, whereby the semi-ring reflective surface section generates a homogeneous distribution in the central area of ​​the distribution width of a respective impact body and the two concave reflective surface sections generate a distribution that decreases from this in a substantially uniform manner in the outer areas of the distribution width of a respective impact body, which, due to overlap with the outer area of ​​the distribution width of a neighboring impact body, ensures a highly homogeneous transverse distribution over the entire working width of the distribution machine.

[0016] The concave reflective surface sections of the impact body can preferably be arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner to each other in order to ensure a uniform distribution of the material particles impacting them in opposite directions transverse to the direction of travel of the distribution machine.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that a reflection bridge connecting the concave reflection surface sections of the impact body is arranged between the mutually facing ends of the concave reflection surface sections, which expediently has a substantially flat reflection surface - largely corresponding to a conventional impact plate - but which can also be slightly concave or convexly curved, i.e. with a significantly larger radius of curvature than that of the two concave reflection surface sections.With its essentially flat reflective surface, the reflection bridge prevents, on the one hand, a virtually complete division of the distributed material particles striking the two concave reflective surface sections of a respective impact body from a respective conveying line in two opposite directions, and in this way ensures a homogeneous lateral distribution, especially in the central area of ​​the distribution width of a respective impact body, but also a more homogeneous lateral distribution over the entire distribution width.The reflection bridge also serves to generate a "stagnation point" for the air flow exiting a respective conveying line, so that the distributed material particles transported with the air flow experience greater acceleration and, due to the accelerated air flow in this way and the pressure gradient occurring away from the conveying line, experience greater acceleration to both sides after they have hit the two concave reflection surface sections of the impact body at a higher speed.

[0018] The width of the reflection rib of the impactor should be (significantly) smaller than the cross-section of the free end of a respective conveying line, wherein the width of the reflection rib should be at most about 50%, in particular at most about 40%, preferably at most about 30%, such as about 5% to about 30%, most preferably about 10% to about 25%, of the cross-section of the free end of a respective conveying line.

[0019] The concave reflective surface sections of the impactor can preferably be arranged essentially parallel to each other at their opposing (inner) ends and diverge concavely outwards from there. In the case of a reflection bridge of the aforementioned type, the concave reflective surface sections can therefore be arranged essentially perpendicular to the reflection bridge at their opposing (inner) ends and diverge concavely outwards from the reflection bridge.

[0020] The concave curvature of the concave reflective surface sections of the impact body advantageously extends over an angle between about 30° and about 100°, in particular between about 45° and about 95°, preferably between about 60° and about 90°, in order to ensure a broad reflection of the dispersed material particles in opposite transverse directions of the impact body.

[0021] While the concave curvature of the concave reflective surface sections of the impact body can, in principle, have a substantially constant radius of curvature, in an advantageous embodiment it can be substantially parabolic, whereby the radius of curvature can increase in particular from the inside (i.e., from the sides of the two concave reflective surface sections facing each other) to the outside (i.e., to the sides of the two concave reflective surface sections facing away from each other), i.e., the concavity decreases from the inside to the outside.

[0022] The semi-annular reflection surface section of the impactor preferably transitions smoothly and differently into a respective concave reflection surface section; that is, the transition region between the semi-annular reflection surface section and the two concave reflection surface sections is essentially free of edges or steps. The same advantageously applies to the semi-annular reflection surface section itself.

[0023] The semi-ring surface reflection section of the impact body advantageously diverges from the free end of a respective conveying line in order to distribute practically all the distributed material particles, which have not hit the concave reflection surface sections and have been distributed from there to the side, in the central area of ​​the distribution width of the impact body.

[0024] With regard to a highly uniform distribution of the dispersed material particles in the central area of ​​the distribution width of the impact body, its semi-ring reflection surface section is furthermore preferably convexly curved at least in its frontal, central area, wherein the convex curvature may be less pronounced than the concave curvature of the two concave reflection surface sections, i.e. the convex radius of curvature of the semi-ring reflection surface section may be larger than the concave radius(s) of curvature of the concave reflection surface sections.

[0025] While the concave reflective surface sections and, if applicable, the semi-ring reflective surface section of the impactor can be fixed, for example, on a base plate, the impactor can furthermore, in particular, have a mounting plate to which the concave reflective surface sections and, if applicable, the reflective rib are fixed. As is known from the prior art, the latter is also provided with a fastening device to enable the impactor to be mounted, in the usual manner, in particular detachably, on the free end of a respective conveying line of the distribution machine.

[0026] The mounting plate of the impact body can advantageously be arranged at an angle of greater than approximately 90° and less than approximately 150° with respect to the base plate, so that the impact body in the mounted state is arranged at an overall oblique angle with respect to the outlet cross-section of a respective conveying line, as is also common with conventional impact plates according to the prior art.

[0027] According to an advantageous further development, it can also be provided that the concave reflective surface sections and / or the semi-ring reflective surface section of the impactor are provided with a plurality of wart-like, in particular substantially uniformly distributed, protrusions. These substantially wart-like protrusions can, for example, have an approximately elongated or oval or approximately teardrop-shaped form and, for example, be provided with different base areas and / or heights. They can, in principle, be designed substantially in accordance with EP 0 244 712 B1 cited above.

[0028] As already mentioned, the impact body according to the invention can in principle be mounted at the free end of a terminal bend of a respective conveying line, the curvature of which extends in particular substantially by 90°, be it for example downwards or be it in particular - viewed in the direction of travel of the distribution machine - to the rear, i.e. the bend extends approximately horizontally and to the rear against the direction of travel.

[0029] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings. These show: Fig. 1: a schematic front view of an embodiment of a pneumatic distribution machine; Fig. 2: a schematic, truncated view of a right boom of the distribution machine according to the Fig. 1, which carries a plurality of conveying lines, each leading into a distribution element; Fig. 3 a schematic side view of an embodiment of a distribution element according to the invention in the form of an impact body; Fig. 4 a schematic perspective view of the impact body according to the Fig. 3 ; Fig. 5 a schematic front view of the impact body according to the Figs. 3 and 4 ; Fig. 6 one of the Fig. 3 corresponding schematic side view of the impact body according to the Figs. 3 to 6 , after it has been mounted at the free end of a conveying line, in a first mounting position; Fig. 7 one of the Fig. 3 corresponding schematic side view of the impact body according to the Figs. 3 to 6 , after it has been mounted at the free end of a conveying line, in a second mounting position; and Fig. 8 by means of an impact body according to the Figs. 3 to 7 generated three-dimensional scattering pattern.

[0030] In the Fig. 1Figure 1 shows a highly schematic representation of a pneumatic distribution machine. The distribution machine could, for example, be a pneumatic fertilizer spreader used for distributing powdered or particulate material in the form of fertilizer. The distribution machine can be designed as an attachment that can be coupled to the three-point linkage of a tractor, or it can be a heavy-duty model mounted on an axle-supported trailer or self-propelled vehicle. It has a storage container 1 supported by a frame (not shown), the bottom surfaces 2 and side walls 4 of which converge towards each other and towards each discharge opening 3 in the lower area. A metering device 5 is assigned to each discharge opening 3 of the storage container 1. This device drives a controllable and / or adjustable rotary metering roller, e.g., a rotary roller.in the form of cam wheels, encompassed and, for example, supported by guide plates 6. Below the metering devices 5 are transfer chambers 7, each leading into a conveying line 8. The latter extend in the form of tube bundles 9 along cantilevers transverse to the direction of travel F of the distribution machine on both sides of its longitudinal axis (see also the . Fig. 2 ).

[0031] A blower 10 is arranged on the front of the storage container 1, the pressure-side outlets 11, 12 of which are each connected to a distribution box 13, 14. From there, the compressed air is distributed to the individual conveying lines 8. It flows through the transfer chambers 7, in which the material to be distributed is fed into the compressed air stream, accelerated, and pneumatically conveyed further down with reference to the Figs. 3 to 5The transfer is carried out to the distribution organs, which are explained in more detail below. The transfer chambers 7 can be equipped, in a manner known as such, with an injector in the form of a nozzle and a diffuser downstream of it (not shown). As in particular the Fig. 2 As can be seen, the conveying lines 8 terminate at varying distances from the longitudinal axis of the distribution machine in bends 15, which extend at an angle of approximately 90° and, in the present embodiment – ​​viewed in the direction of travel F of the distribution machine – point rearward, but can also point downwards (not shown). The bends 15 can be designed in particular according to EP 0 277 288 B1 cited above. Immediately downstream of the discharge opening of each conveying line 8 – or more precisely: of each bend 15 thereof – a distribution element is arranged, which is an impact body designated overall with reference numeral 16, which is located in the Fig. 2 merely symbolized by a rectangle and from which into the Figs. 3 to 5 an exemplary embodiment is shown, while the Figs. 6 and 7 show the same impact body 16 in different mounting positions on the bend 15 of the delivery line 8.

[0032] As from the Figs. 3 to 5 As can be seen, the impact body 16 has a concave reflective surface section 17 on each of its two opposite sides, wherein the concave reflective surface sections 17 are arranged mirror-symmetrically to each other and diverge both in opposite directions and from the free end of a respective conveying line 8 (cf. the Figs. 6 and 7), i.e., the concave reflective surface sections 17 extend concavely from each other on the one hand, and from a respective conveying line 8 on the other. The concave reflective sections 17 of the impact body 16 are thus practically over their entire extent, i.e., from their side near the free end of a respective conveying line 8 (in the Figs. 4 and 5 (above) to its side furthest from the free end of a respective conveying line (into the Figs. 4 and 5 (below), concavely curved. Between the - in the Figs. 4 and 5 At the upper, mutually facing ends of the concave reflective surface sections 17 of the impact body 16, there is a reflective bridge 18 connecting the two concave reflective surface sections 16, which has a more or less flat or planar reflective surface and whose width B is smaller than the cross-section of the free end of a respective conveying line 8 - or more precisely: its terminal bend 15 (see also the Figs. 6 and 7) -, where the width B of the reflection bridge 18 can be, for example, approximately 15% to approximately 20% of the cross-section of the terminal bend 15 of the conveying line 8. The concave reflection surface sections 17 of the impact body 16 extend at their mutually facing ends essentially parallel to each other and essentially perpendicular to the reflection bridge 18, diverging from the reflection bridge 18 on both sides due to their concave curvature. The concave curvature of the concave reflection surface sections 17 can, for example, extend over an angle α between approximately 60° and approximately 100° (see the Fig. 4 ), wherein they have a substantially constant radius of curvature or, in particular, a radius of curvature that increases outwards from the reflection bridge 18, resulting in a substantially parabolic shape of the concave reflection surface sections 17.

[0033] At one - in the Figs. 4 and 5At the front end face of the impact body 16, the two concave reflective surface sections 17 are connected to each other via a semi-annular reflective surface section 19 such that the semi-annular reflective surface section 19 transitions into each respective concave reflective surface section 17 without steps or edges, i.e., in a mathematical sense, continuously and differently. The semi-annular reflective surface section 19 of the impact body 16 diverges from the reflection bridge 18 or from the free end of a respective conveying line 8, with the semi-annular reflective surface section 19 of the impact body 16 being convexly curved at least in its central, front face region. The convex curvature of the semi-annular reflective surface section 19 extends primarily parallel to the concave curvature of the two concave reflective surface sections 17, i.e.,The height of the semi-ring reflection section 19 decreases from its central area towards its lateral edges (i.e. in the transverse direction, perpendicular to the direction of travel F of the distribution machine) to an increasing degree, resulting in a convex curvature, whereas the height of the two concave reflection surface sections 17 decreases from their end facing the reflection bridge 18 towards the lateral edges (i.e. in the transverse direction, perpendicular to the direction of travel F of the distribution machine) to a decreasing degree, resulting in a concave curvature.The total reflection surface of the impact body 16, formed from the two concave reflection surface sections 17, the planar reflection surface of the reflection bridge 18 and the semi-ring reflection surface section 19, thus resembles a shoe which, in the area of ​​the inner and outer instep, comprises the concave reflection surface sections 17 and, in the area of ​​the instep and the cap, the semi-ring reflection surface section 19, which is in particular convex, while the entry opening is formed by the planar reflection surface of the reflection bridge 18.

[0034] In the present embodiment, both the concave reflective surface sections 17 and the semi-annular reflective surface section 19 of the impact body 16 are equipped with a plurality of wart-like, substantially uniformly distributed protrusions 20, which have an approximately elongated or oval shape, but can also be, for example, approximately teardrop-shaped (not shown). The wart-like protrusions 20 can be provided with different base areas and / or heights and, in particular, correspond substantially to those of EP 0 244 712 B1 cited above.

[0035] The impact body 16 further comprises a mounting plate 21 to which the narrow sides of the concave reflective surface sections 17 and the reflective bridge 18 are fixed. On their side facing away from the concave reflective sections 17, in the Figs. 3 to 6At its upper, free end, the mounting plate 21 is provided with a fastening device 22, which serves for the detachable fastening of the impact body 16 to the free end of a respective conveying line 8 – or more precisely: to a respective terminal bend 15 of a respective conveying line 8 – of the distribution machine. While the fastening device 16 can, in principle, be designed in any known manner, in this case it comprises, on the one hand, a central slot which can be inserted into a complementary guide and fastening projection 23 of a fastening element of the conveying line 8 or its bend 15 (see the Figs. 6 and 7), on the other hand, two, e.g. spring-loaded, clamping jaws, which serve for the simple and preferably tool-free, force-fit clamping of the impact body 16 to the fastening element of the conveying line 8 or its bend 15. The concave reflective surface sections 17 and the semi-ring reflective surface section 19 of the impact body 16 can furthermore be fixed to a base plate 24, which is arranged in particular at an angle β greater than approximately 90° and less than approximately 150°, in the present case, e.g., at an angle β of approximately 130°, with respect to the base plate 24 (see in particular the Fig. 3 ).

[0036] As can be seen from the Figs. 6 and 7The impact body 16 can be mounted by means of the fastening device 22 of its mounting plate 21 on the corresponding guide and fastening projections 23 at the free end of the terminal bend 15 of a respective conveying line 8, wherein the bend 15 of the conveying line 8 extends in this case at an angle of approximately 90° opposite to the direction of travel F of the distribution machine. In the case of the Fig. 6 In the situation depicted, the deflector 16 is mounted on an upper guide and fastening projection 23 of the elbow 15, which is arranged, for example, at an angle of approximately 30° to the horizontal. This proves particularly advantageous for normal or early fertilization, whereby the particles exiting the free end of the elbow 15 are reflected obliquely downwards to the rear (i.e., opposite to the direction of travel F) by means of the deflector 16. In the case of the Fig. 7In the depicted situation, the impact body 16 is mounted on a lower guide and fastening projection 23 of the elbow 15, which is, for example, arranged essentially horizontally, so that the impact body 16 is set at a shallower angle to the end cross-section of the elbow 15 than in the Fig. 6 This is the case. This proves particularly useful for late fertilization, in which the cultivated plants may already be well established, whereby the fluid from the free end of the bend 15 of the conveying line 8 is reflected obliquely upwards to the rear (i.e., against the direction of travel F) by means of the impact body 16.

[0037] For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned here that the impact body 16 is in, for example, a Fig. 6can be mounted accordingly on the elbow 15 of the conveying line 8, provided that the elbow 15 does not extend rearward in the direction of travel F, but for example downwards (not shown), as may be the case in particular with axle-supported or self-propelled spreading machines, whose booms carrying the impact bodies 16 can be raised to a sufficient height level in order to be positioned (significantly) above the cultivated plants even during late fertilization.

[0038] In the Fig. 8 Finally, a three-dimensional scattering pattern is reproduced, as achieved using the impactor 16 according to the above. Figs. 3 to 5 has been obtained if this is in accordance with the Fig. 6For the purpose of normal fertilization, the impactor 16 was mounted on the terminal bend 15 of a conveying line 8. For this purpose, the impactor 16 was supplied with material via the distribution line 8 and the bend 15, whereby the material particles reflected by the impactor 16 were collected in a number of collection trays in order to determine the distribution quantity per unit area within the entire distribution width V of the impactor.

[0039] One can recognize in the Fig. 8A central gray area (here: between approximately -0.5 m and approximately 0.5 m in the transverse direction x, i.e., perpendicular to the direction of travel F extending in the y-direction) with a largely uniform distribution quantity. From this central gray area outwards (again in the transverse direction x, i.e., perpendicular to the direction of travel F extending in the y-direction), a continuous decrease in the distribution quantity can be observed up to the outer limits of the distribution width V (here: between approximately -0.5 m and -1.5 m or between approximately 0.5 m and 1.5 m). Considering the distribution quantity in the transverse direction x, this results in a very wide, essentially triangular, two-dimensional scatter pattern with an approximately linear decrease in the distribution quantity towards the outer limits of the distribution width V.The lateral spacing of a plurality of impact bodies 16 along the arms of the spreading machine can therefore be chosen to be larger than with conventional impact plates in the prior art, whereby this spacing can, for example, be approximately the distribution width V of a respective impact body 16 in order to ensure a constant distribution over the entire working width of the spreading machine due to the overlap of the scattering patterns of neighboring impact bodies 16.

Claims

1. Pneumatic distribution machine for applying distribution material, comprising - at least one storage container (1) which is supported by a frame and has at least one outlet opening (3); - at least one metering element (5) which is arranged downstream of the outlet opening (3) of the storage container (1) and has a rotatably driven metering roller for metering the distribution material; - at least one transfer chamber (7) which is arranged downstream of the metering element (3) and is connected to at least one fan (10) on the one hand and opens into a respective conveying line (8) on the other hand, in order to pneumatically transfer the distribution material metered by the metering element (5) to a respective distribution element, which are arranged at a lateral distance from the longitudinal axis of the distribution machine, the distribution elements each having a deflection body (16) which can be mounted at the free end of a respective conveying line (8), characterized in that the deflection body (16) has a concave reflective surface portion (17) on each of two opposite sides thereof, the concave reflective surface portions (17) of the deflection body (16) diverging in opposite directions and also away from the free end of a respective conveying line (8), and being connected to each other by means of a half-ring reflective surface portion (19) arranged on an face side of the deflection body (16).

2. Distribution machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the concave reflective surface portions (17) of the deflection body (16) are arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner relative to each other.

3. Distribution machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a reflective rib (18) connecting the concave reflective surface portions (17) to one another is arranged between the mutually facing ends of the concave reflective surface portions (17) of the deflection body (16), the width of the reflective rib (18) of the deflection body (16) being in particular smaller than the cross-section of the free end of a relevant conveying line (8).

4. Distribution machine according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the concave reflective surface portions (17) of the deflection body (16) are arranged substantially parallel to each other at their mutually facing ends.

5. Distribution machine according to claim 1 or claim 4, characterized in that the concave curvature of the concave reflective surface portions (17) of the deflection body (16) extends over an angle between 30° and 100°, in particular between 45° and 95°, preferably between 60° and 90°.

6. Distribution machine according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the concave curvature of the concave reflective surface portions (17) of the deflection body (16) is substantially parabolic.

7. Distribution machine according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized inthat the half-ring surface reflective portion (19) of the deflection body (16) - transitions in a continuously differentiable manner into a respective concave reflective surface portion (17); and / or - diverges away from the free end of a respective conveying line (8); and / or - is convexly curved at least in its frontal central region.

8. Distribution machine according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the concave reflective surface portions (17) and, optionally, the half-ring reflective surface portion (19) of the deflection body (16) are fixed on a base plate (24).

9. Distribution machine according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the deflection body (16) has a mounting plate (21) on which the concave reflective surface portions (17) and, optionally, the reflective rib (18) are fixed.

10. Distribution machine according to claim 8 and claim 9, characterized in that the mounting plate (21) of the deflection body (16) is arranged at an angle of greater than 90° and less than 150° with respect to the base plate (24).

11. Distribution machine according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the concave reflective surface portions (17) and / or the half-ring reflective surface portion (19) of the deflection body (16) are provided with a plurality of nodular, in particular substantially uniformly distributed, elevations (20).

12. Distribution machine according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the deflection body (16) is mounted at the free end of a terminal bend (15) of a respective conveying line (8), the curvature of which terminal bend extends in particular substantially through 90°.

13. Distribution element suitable for a distribution machine according to the preamble of claim 1, the distribution element comprising a deflection body (16) which can be mounted at the free end of a relevant conveying line (8) of the distribution machine, characterized in that the deflection body (16) comprises the characterizing features of claim 1.

14. Distribution element according to claim 13, characterized by the features of at least one of claims 2 to 11.