Mobile spreader

• US 4,155,315 A
• Filed: 12/16/1977
• Issued: 05/22/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John B. Dobbins
• Original Assignee: John B. Dobbins
• Inventors: Dobbins, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Feyrer, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/861,207
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 222/559, 222/560, 222/561, 222/199, 222/200, 222/191, 222/236, 222/238, 222/233, 222/414, 222/613, 239/683, 239/676, 111/8, 111/9, 111/10, 111/11, 111/12, 111/13, 111/36, 111/37, 111/42, 111/75, 111/76, 111/81, 111/85, 111/87, 172/72, 172/90, 172/112, 172/158, 172/184, 172/193, 172/194, 172/537, 172/548, 172/555, 172/556, 172/558, 172/248, 172/448, 172/439, 172/148, 172/149, 172/150, 172/151, 280/408, 280/410
• US Class Current: 111/8
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/16 with means for pushing out the fertiliser, e.g. by a roller
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/085 Broadcast seeders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/901 Lawn or turf

Abstract

A mobile spreader of the type drawn by a tractor includes a hopper mounted on a roller. The roller is provided with a jarring strip which imparts a jolt to the hopper on each revolution of the roller. This jolting action prevents bridging of the material in the hopper, knocking the hung-up material down into the lower portion of the hopper where an agitator and an impellor further stir up the material. The cooperative effect of the jarring strip, the agitator and the impellor is to provide a steady supply of material, even when moist material is being distributed. The rate of application of the material is controlled by a slidable apertured plate disposed across an opening in the bottom of the hopper. The spreader may be selectively provided with a rake, a floater plate, and a spiker. The spiker may be attached in front of the roller to open the turf to receive the material, or behind the roller to work the applied material into the turf. In addition, the spiker aerates the turf. The spreader is provided with a set of reverse pickup points as well as the normal pickup points to permit the spreader to be drawn in a backward or forward orientation, respectively, by a tractor. This permits the spreader to be used for applying an unusually wide variety of treatments to the turf.

Claims

1. In a mobile spreader pulled by a tractor and controlled by an operator, having a rigid frame supported on at least one roller having a generally cylindrical ground-contacting surface having a hopper carried by said frame, said hopper having converging walls defining a cavity to receive material to be spread, and having a rectangular bottom outlet disposed in a generally horizontal plane and elongated in a direction generally transverse the direction of motion of the mobile spreader, the combination comprising:

(a) jarring means associated with the ground-contacting surface of the roller for rotation with it and including a jarring means ground-contacting surface located at a radial distance from the roller axis sufficiently different from that of the generally cylindrical surface of the roller as to impart a jolt to the hopper, as the jarring means ground-contacting surface contacts the ground, of sufficient force to prevent the formation of bridges of said material within the hopper when moist material is being spread;

(b) a rotatable impellor, said impellor comprising a first shaft extending through said hopper closely above and parallel to the elongated direction of said outlet, said impellor including a plurality of blades spaced from each other along the length of said first shaft, and extending radially outwardly from said first shaft, each of said blades being of such limited length as to avoid contact with any part of the hopper, said first shaft being connected to the roller for rotation by said roller; and

,

(c) a rotatable agitator comprising a second shaft extending through the hopper parallel to the first shaft and spaced a substantial distance thereabove, said second shaft being connected to said first shaft for rotation with said first shaft in the same direction, said second shaft having a plurality of elements spaced from each other along the length of said second shaft and extending perpendicularly to said second shaft, said elements being thinner and longer than the blades on the first shaft, and of such length and spacing as, when the agitator is rotated, to sweep between pairs of radiating blades of the first shaft, thereby to break up any build-up of material which may occur in the hopper or bridging of said material about the area of the hopper swept by the blades of the rotatable impellor, said jarring means cooperating with said rotatable agitator to shake the material to be spread into the region swept by the elements of said rotatable agitator.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said jarring means further comprises a jarring strip attached to the ground-contacting surface of the roller and extending in the axial direction of the roller.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said jarring means further comprises a sector of the ground-contacting surface of the roller and wherein said jarring means ground-contacting surface is located at a shorter radial distance from the roller axis than the ground-contacting surface of the roller.

4. In a mobile spreader pulled by a tractor and controlled by an operator, having a rigid frame supported on at least one roller having a generally cylindrical ground-contacting surface having a hopper carried by said frame, said hopper having converging walls defining a cavity to receive material to be spread, and having a rectangular bottom outlet disposed in a generally horizontal plane and elongated in a direction generally transverse the direction of motion of the mobile spreader, the combination comprising:

(a) jarring means associated with the ground-contacting surface of the roller for rotation with it and including a jarring means ground-contacting surface located at a radial distance from the roller axis sufficiently different from that of the generally cylindrical surface of the roller as to impart a jolt to the hopper, as the jarring means ground-contacting surface contacts the ground, of sufficient force to prevent the formation of bridges of said material within the hopper when moist material is being spread;

(b) a rotatable impellor, said impellor comprising a first shaft extending through said hopper closely above and parallel to the elongated direction if said outlet, said impellor including a plurality of blades spaced from each other along the length of said first shaft, and extending radially outwardly from said first shaft, each of said blades being of such limited length as to avoid contact with any part of the hopper, said first shaft being connected to the roller for rotation by said roller;

(c) a rotatable agitator comprising a second shaft extending through the hopper parallel to the first shaft and spaced a substantial distance thereabove, said second shaft being connected to said first shaft for rotation with said first shaft in the same direction, said second shaft having a plurality of elements spaced from each other along the length of said second shaft and extending perpendicularly to said second shaft, said elements being thinner and longer than the blades on the first shaft, and of such length and spacing as, when the agitator is rotated, to sweep between pairs of radiating blades of the first shaft, thereby to break up any build-up of material which may occur in the hopper of bridging of said material about the area of the hopper swept by the blades of the rotatable impellor, said jarring means cooperating with said rotatable agitator to shake the material to be spread into the region swept by the elements of said rotatable agitator; and

,

(d) a spiker including a plurality of blades extending radially from a spiker axis and of such length that the tips of the blades terminate approximately on an imaginary cylindrical surface coaxial with the spiker axis, said spiker being mounted to the spreader rearward of the roller with said spiker axis substantially horizontal so that when the mobile spreader is drawn by the tractor the spiker will pass over a given area of turf after the material to be spread has been applied, aerating the turf and working the applied material into the turf during the same passage of the tractor in which the material is applied.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said spiker is mounted to the spreader with the spiker axis canted with respect to the axis of the roller.

6. In a mobile spreader pulled by a tractor and controlled by an operator, having a rigid frame supported on at least one roller having a generally cylindrical ground-contacting surface having a hopper carried by said frame, said hopper having converging walls defining a cavity to receive material to be spread, and having a rectangular bottom outlet disposed in a generally horizontal plane and elongated in a direction generally transverse the direction of motion of the mobile spreader, the combination comprising:

(a) jarring means associated with the ground-contacting surface of the roller for rotation with it and including a jarring means ground-contacting surface located at a radial distance from the roller axis sufficiently different from that of the generally cylindrical surface of the roller as to impart a jolt to the hopper, as the jarring means ground-contacting surface contacts the ground, of sufficient force to prevent the formation of bridges of said material within the hopper when moist material is being spread;

(b) a rotatable impellor, said impellor comprising a first shaft extending through said hopper closely above and parallel to the elongated direction of said outlet, said impellor including a plurality of blades spaced from each other along the length of said first shaft, and extending radially outwardly from said first shaft, each of said blades being of such limited length as to avoid contact with any part of the hopper, said first shaft being connected to the roller for rotation by said roller;

(c) a rotatable agitator comprising a second shaft extending through the hopper parallel to the first shaft and spaced a substantial distance thereabove, said second shaft being connected to said first shaft for rotation with said first shaft in the same direction, said second shaft having a plurality of elements spaced from each other along the length of said second shaft and extending perpendicularly to said second shaft, said elements being thinner and longer than the blades on the first shaft, and of such length and spacing as, when the agitator is rotated, to sweep between pairs of radiating blades of the first shaft, thereby to break up any build-up of material which may occur in the hopper or bridging of said material about the area of the hopper swept by the blades of the rotatable impellor, said jarring means cooperating with said rotatable agitator to shake the material to be spread into the region swept by the elements of said rotatable agitator;

(d) two pairs of rigid brace support elements, one pair extending rearwardly and downwardly from each side of the frame and spaced from each other pair of said elements, each pair of brace elements consisting of one preponderantly horizontal element having a forward end pivotally attached to the frame and its after end being orificed, and a second preponderantly vertical element, the last said element being slotted from a point near its upper end downwardly for a predetermined distance, and orificed at its lower end, said second element being slidably attached to said frame by bolt means extending through said slotting, and the orificed ends of each of said two elements being brought together to place their orifices in register; and

(e) a ground processing element, said element extending between said two pairs of brace elements and having two opposite side edges, one of said edges being adapted to contact the ground surface to process the same, and a shaft member projecting from each end of said ground processing element coaxially with the other shaft to extend through the registering orifices in one said pair of rigid brace support elements, thereby to floatingly support said ground processing element behind the vehicle frame.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said ground processing element further comprises a spiker including a plurality of blades extending radially from a spiker axis and of such length that the tips of the blades terminate approximately on an imaginary cylindrical surface coaxial with the spiker axis, said spiker being mounted to the spreader in front of the roller with said spiker axis substantially horizontal so as to provide additional aeration of the turf when the mobile spreader is used for top dressing and so as to work the applied material deeper into the turf when the mobile spreader is used for overseeding so as to provide additional aeration of the turf when the mobile spreader is used for top dressing and so as to work the applied material deeper into the turf when the mobile spreader is used for overseeding.

8. The means as described in claim 6 wherein the ground processing element comprises a rake.

9. The means as described in claim 6 wherein the ground processing element comprises a floater plate.

10. The means as described in claim 6 wherein the axis of the shaft member projecting from each end of the ground processing element lies intermediate the two opposite side edges of said ground processing element, and a linkage of adjustable length is provided to extend between the slotted end of each preponderantly vertical rigid brace support element and the side edge of the ground processing element which is not adapted to contact ground surface.

11. The means as described in claim 10 wherein spring means are interposed between the adjustable linkage and the end of the rigid brace support element to which it is attached.

12. In a mobile spreader pulled by a tractor and controlled by an operator, having a rigid frame supported on at least one roller having a generally cylindrical ground-contacting surface having a hopper carried by said frame, said hopper having converging walls defining a cavity to receive material to be spread, and having a rectangular bottom outlet disposed in a generally horizontal plane and elongated in a direction generally transverse the direction of motion of the mobile spreader, the combination comprising:

(a) jarring means associated with the ground-contacting surface of the roller for rotation with it and including a jarring means ground-contacting surface located at a radial distance from the roller axis sufficiently different from that of the generally cylindrical surface of the roller as to impart a jolt to the hopper, as the jarring means ground-contacting surface contacts the ground, of sufficient force to prevent the formation of bridges of said material within the hopper when moist material is being spread;

(b) a rotatable impellor, said impellor comprising a first shaft extending through said hopper closely above and parallel to the elongated direction if said outlet, said impellor including a plurality of blades spaced from each other along the length of said first shaft, and extending radially outwardly from said first shaft, each of said blades being of such limited length as to avoid contact with any part of the hopper, said first shaft being connected to the roller for rotation by said roller; and

,

(c) a rotatable agitator comprising a second shaft extending through the hopper parallel to the first shaft and spaced a substantial distance thereabove, said second shaft being connected to said first shaft for rotation with said first shaft in the same direction, said second shaft having a plurality of elements spaced from each other along the length of said second shaft and extending perpendicularly to said second shaft, said elements being thinner and longer than the blades on the first shaft, and of such length and spacing as, when the agitator is rotated, to sweep between pairs of radiating blades of the first shaft, thereby to break up any build-up of material which may occur in the hopper or bridging of said material about the area of the hopper swept by the blades of the rotatable impellor, said jarring means cooperating with said rotatable agitator to shake the material to be spread into the region swept by the elements of said rotatable agitator;

(d) a spiker including a plurality of blades extending radially from a spiker axis and of such length that the tips of the blades terminate approximately on an imaginary cylindrical surface coaxial with the spiker axis, said spiker being mounted to the spreader rearward of the roller with said spiker axis substantially horizontal so that when the mobile spreader is drawn by the tractor the spiker will pass over a given area of turf after the material to be spread has been applied, aerating the turf and working the applied material into the turf during the same passage of the tractor in which the material is applied; and

,

(e) first means for selectively attaching the mobile spreader to the tractor in a forward orientation in which the roller passes over a given area of turf before the spiker passes over said given area so that after the material to be spread has been applied the material is worked into the turf and the turf is aerated by said spiker, and second means for selectively attaching the mobile spreader to the tractor in a backward orientation in which said spiker passes over a given area of turf before the roller passes over said given area so that the turf is spread and loosened by said spiker before the material to be spread is applied, whereby in the forward orientation the material applied is worked into the turf by the spiker at the rear and in the backward orientation the turf is opened up to receive the material to be spread before the material is applied, and the turf is rolled after the material has been applied.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said spiker is mounted to the spreader with the spiker axis canted with respect to the axis of the roller.

14. In a mobile spreader pulled by a tractor and controlled by an operator, having a rigid frame supported on at least one roller having a generally cylindrical ground-contacting surface having a hopper carried by said frame, said hopper having converging walls defining a cavity to receive material to be spread, and having a rectangular bottom outlet disposed in a generally horizontal plane and elongated in a direction generally transverse the direction of motion of the mobile spreader, the combination comprising:

(a) jarring means associated with the ground-contacting surface of the roller for rotation with it and including a jarring means ground-contacting surface located at a radial distance from the roller axis sufficiently different from that of the generally cylindrical surface of the roller as to impart a jolt to the hopper, as the jarring means ground-contacting surface contacts the ground, of sufficient force to prevent the formation of bridges of said material within the hopper when moist material is being spread;

(b) a rotatable impellor, said impellor comprising a first shaft extending through said hopper closely above and parallel to the elongated direction of said outlet, said impellor including a plurality of blades spaced from each other along the length of said first shaft, and extending radially outwardly from said first shaft, each of said blades being of such limited length as to avoid contact with any part of the hopper, said first shaft being connected to the roller for rotation by said roller;

(c) a rotatable agitator comprising a second shaft extending through the hopper parallel to the first shaft and spaced a substantial distance thereabove, said second shaft being connected to said first shaft for rotation with said first shaft in the same direction, said second shaft having a plurality of elements spaced from each other along the length of said second shaft and extending perpendicularly to said second shaft, said elements being thinner and longer than the blades on the first shaft, and of such length and spacing as, when the agitator is rotated, to sweep between pairs of radiating blades of the first shaft, thereby to break up any build-up of material which may occur in the hopper or bridging of said material about the area of the hopper swept by the blades of the rotatable impellor, said jarring means cooperating with said rotatable agitator to shake the material to be spread into the region swept by the elements of said rotatable agitator;

(d) a spiker including a plurality of blades extending radially from a spiker axis and of such length that the tips of the blades terminate approximately on an imaginary cylindrical surface coaxial with the spiker axis, said spiker being mounted to the spreader rearward of the roller with said spiker axis substantially horizontal so that when the mobile spreader is drawn by the tractor the spiker will pass over a given area of turf after the material to be spread has been applied, aerating the turf and working the applied material into the turf during the same passage of the tractor in which the material is applied; and

,

(e) first means for selectively attaching the mobile spreader to the tractor in a forward orientation in which the roller passes over a given area of turf before the spiker passes over said given area so that after the material to be spread has been applied the material is worked into the turf and the turf is aerated by said spiker, and second means for selectively attaching the mobile spreader to the tractor in a backward orientation in which said spiker passes over a given area of turf before the roller passes over said given area so that the turf is spread and loosened by said spiker before the material to be spread is applied, whereby in the forward orientation the material applied is worked into the turf by the spiker at the rear and in the backward orientation the turf is opened up to receive the material to be spread before the material is applied, and the turf is rolled after the material has been applied; and

,

(f) a second spiker including a plurality of blades extending radially from a spiker axis and of such length that the tips of the blades terminate approximately on an imaginary cylindrical surface coaxial with the spiker axis, said spiker being mounted to the spreader in front of the roller with said sapiker axis substantially horizontal so as to provide additional aeration and opening up of the turf when the mobile spreader is used in the forward orientation, and so as to work the applied material deeper into the turf when the mobile spreader is used in the backward orientation.