MATERIAL SPREADER ATTACHMENT FOR TRUCKS

• US 3,693,890 A
• Filed: 07/02/1970
• Issued: 09/26/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anthony J. Torrey
• Original Assignee: Anthony J. Torrey
• Inventors: Torrey, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grant, Edwin D.
• Application Number:
  US05/051,994
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 239/667,668,672,673,674,681,682,684,687,666 74/197
• US Class Current: 239/668
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 17/00 Fertilisers or seeders with centrifugal wheels

Abstract

Disclosed is a material spreader attachment for mounting on the bed of a conventional truck. Particulate material retained in a hopper is moved by a conveyor onto a rotating distributor disc and discharged therefrom by centrifugal force. The distribution disc is driven by a friction wheel in turn rotated by a constant speed engine also used to drive the material conveyor. Longitudinal adjustment of the friction wheel along its rotational axis alters the speed transmission ratio to the distribution disc and thereby controls the material discharge pattern. By utilizing an independent constant speed engine to drive both the conveyor and the adjustable friction wheel, a selective material discharge pattern can be maintained regardless of the speed at which the supporting vehicle moves.

Claims

1. Material spreading apparatus comprising:

a frame adapted for attachment to a supporting vehicle, a rotatable distribution disc means mounted on said frame, a friction wheel means rotatably mounted on said frame and operatively coupled to said distribution disc means so as to produce rotation thereof in response to rotation of said friction wheel means, said friction wheel means being adapted for longitudinal movement along its rotational axis, and wherein said longitudinal movement varies the rotational speed transmission ratio between said friction wheel means and said distribution disc means, a drive means coupled to said friction wheel means and adapted to produce rotation thereof;

a material feed means adapted to discharge material onto said distribution disc means, said material feed means comprising a hopper means mounted on said frame and adapted for mounting on a truck bed;

material feed coupling means operatively coupling said feed means to said drive means; and

adjustable regulator means for producing said longitudinal movement of said friction wheel means.

2. A material spreading apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said distribution disc means is laterally spaced from said hopper means on said frame means so as to extend beyond the rear edge of the truck bed, and said drive means produces rotation of said friction wheel means at a substantially constant speed.

3. A material spreading apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said hopper means comprises downwardly converging side walls substantially parallel to the lateral spacing between said distribution disc means and said hopper means, and said material feed means further comprises a conveyor means for conveying material from said hopper means onto said distribution disc means.

4. A material spreading apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor mechanism having a material feed portion disposed at the bottom of said hopper means and adapted for movement in a direction substantially parallel to said converging side walls.

5. A material spreading apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said friction wheel means is mounted on a drive shaft driven by said drive means, and is adapted for rotation with said shaft and for longitudinal movement thereon in response to said adjustable regulator means.

6. A material spreading apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said adjustable regulator means comprises a guide shaft parallel to said drive shaft, a guide bearing mounted on said guide shaft and movable axially thereon, connector means connecting said friction wheel means and said guide bearing, and actuating means for producing simultaneous axial movement of both said friction wheel means on said drive shaft and said guide bearing on said guide shaft.

7. A material spreading apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said friction wheel means and said distribution disc means are operatively coupled by a coupling means comprising a coupling disc connected for rotation with said distribution disc means by a coupling shaft, the peripheral edge of said friction wheel means engages a flat surface of said coupling disc so as to produce rotation thereof in response to rotation of said friction wheel means, and said longitudinal movement of said friction wheel means is directed radially of said coupling disc surface.

8. A material spreading apparatuS according to claim 7 wherein said coupling disc is disposed above said distribution disc means.

9. A material spreading apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said friction wheel means engages the top surface of said coupling disc.

10. A material spreading apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said material feed means discharges material onto said distribution disc means from a position below said coupling disc.

11. A material spreading apparatus according to claim 10 including shield means mounted adjacent said distribution disc and adapted to prevent centrifugal material discharge from said distribution disc in an upward direction.

12. A material spreading apparatus according to claim 11 including manually operated clutch means for deactivating said coupling means between said friction wheel means and said distribution disc means.