Broadcast spreading top dresser
First Claim
1. Top dresser comprising, in combination:
- a hopper for containing top dressing material;
a spinner assembly including at least one rotatable spinner rotatable by a hydraulic motor;
a dispensing conveyor advancing top dressing material in the hopper onto the rotatable spinner, with the dispensing conveyor being driven by a hydraulic motor;
a first control valve dividing hydraulic fluid flow between a first path and a second path, with the first path including the hydraulic motor of the spinner, with the second path bypassing the hydraulic motor of the spinner;
a second control valve, with the second path including the second valve, with the second valve dividing hydraulic fluid flow of the second path between a first subpath and a second subpath, with the first subpath including the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor and with the second subpath bypassing the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor, with the second control valve being in series downstream of the first control valve to insure that hydraulic fluid flow is available to the hydraulic motor of the spinner for rotating the spinner whenever hydraulic fluid flow is available to the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor for dispensing top dressing material onto the rotating spinner for being broadcast by the rotating spinner;
a third valve providing a bypass path of the hydraulic fluid flow around the second valve requiring that the third valve be closed prior to hydraulic fluid flow being available from the first valve to the second valve and the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor;
a fourth valve providing a bypass path of hydraulic fluid flow around the first valve requiring that the fourth valve be closed prior to hydraulic fluid flow being available to the first valve and the hydraulic motor of the spinner; and
an electrical switch movable between an off position and a first actuation position and movable between the first actuation position and a second actuation position, with the third and fourth valves being electrically actuated valves, with the fourth valve being electrically actuated in both the first and second actuating positions, with the third valve being electrically actuated only in the second actuating position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A top dresser (10) includes a spinner assembly (40) removably connected by clips (44) to a cross beam (20) of the frame (12) mounting a hopper (30). The first and second sides (36) of the hopper (30) slope downwardly and inwardly to a conveyor (140) formed by sheeting (70) in the form of an endless belt having a relatively smooth outer surface. The valve (84) for the hydraulic motor (164) of the conveyor (140) is in series downstream of the valve (78) for the hydraulic motors (56) for the spinners (54) of the spinner assembly (40). Thus, it is not possible to mistakenly run the conveyor (140) without the spinners (54) operating. Therefore, the top dresser (10) is able to spread extremely minimal amounts of material evenly and without clumping or bunching.
79 Citations
27 Claims
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1. Top dresser comprising, in combination:
- a hopper for containing top dressing material;
a spinner assembly including at least one rotatable spinner rotatable by a hydraulic motor;
a dispensing conveyor advancing top dressing material in the hopper onto the rotatable spinner, with the dispensing conveyor being driven by a hydraulic motor;
a first control valve dividing hydraulic fluid flow between a first path and a second path, with the first path including the hydraulic motor of the spinner, with the second path bypassing the hydraulic motor of the spinner;
a second control valve, with the second path including the second valve, with the second valve dividing hydraulic fluid flow of the second path between a first subpath and a second subpath, with the first subpath including the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor and with the second subpath bypassing the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor, with the second control valve being in series downstream of the first control valve to insure that hydraulic fluid flow is available to the hydraulic motor of the spinner for rotating the spinner whenever hydraulic fluid flow is available to the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor for dispensing top dressing material onto the rotating spinner for being broadcast by the rotating spinner;
a third valve providing a bypass path of the hydraulic fluid flow around the second valve requiring that the third valve be closed prior to hydraulic fluid flow being available from the first valve to the second valve and the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor;
a fourth valve providing a bypass path of hydraulic fluid flow around the first valve requiring that the fourth valve be closed prior to hydraulic fluid flow being available to the first valve and the hydraulic motor of the spinner; and
an electrical switch movable between an off position and a first actuation position and movable between the first actuation position and a second actuation position, with the third and fourth valves being electrically actuated valves, with the fourth valve being electrically actuated in both the first and second actuating positions, with the third valve being electrically actuated only in the second actuating position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- a hopper for containing top dressing material;
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9. Top dresser comprising, in combination:
- a hopper for containing top dressing material;
a spinner assembly including at least one rotatable spinner rotatable by a hydraulic motor;
a dispensing conveyor advancing top dressing material in the hopper onto the rotatable spinner, with the dispensing conveyor being driven by a hydraulic motor;
a first path including the hydraulic motor of the spinner;
a second path;
a first control valve dividing hydraulic fluid flow between the first path and the second path;
a second control valve, with the second path including the second valve, with the second valve dividing the hydraulic fluid flow of the second path between a first subpath and a second subpath, with the first subpath including the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor and with the second subpath bypassing the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor, with the second control valve being in series downstream of the first control valve to insure that hydraulic fluid flow is available to the hydraulic motor of the spinner for rotating the spinner whenever hydraulic fluid flow is available to the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor for dispensing top dressing material onto the rotating spinner for being broadcast by the rotating spinner;
a third valve providing a bypass path of the hydraulic fluid flow around the second valve requiring that the third valve be closed prior to hydraulic fluid flow being available from the first valve to the second valve and the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor;
a fourth valve providing a bypass path of hydraulic fluid flow around the first valve requiring that the fourth valve be closed prior to hydraulic fluid flow being available to the first valve and the hydraulic motor of the spinner; and
a switch movable between an off position and a first actuation position and movable between the first actuation position and a second actuation position, with the fourth valve being actuated in both the first and second actuating positions, with the third valve being actuated only in the second actuating position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- a hopper for containing top dressing material;
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15. Top dresser comprising, in combination:
- a hopper for containing top dressing material;
a spinner assembly including at least one rotatable spinner rotated by a hydraulic motor;
a dispensing conveyor advancing top dressing material from the hopper onto the rotatable spinner, with the dispensing conveyor being driven by a hydraulic motor; and
a switch movable between an off position and a first actuation position and movable between the first position and a second actuation position, with the first actuation position supplying hydraulic fluid flow to the hydraulic motor of the spinner and bypassing hydraulic fluid flow to the hydraulic motor of the dispensing conveyor, with the second actuation position supplying hydraulic fluid flow to the hydraulic motors of both the spinner and the dispensing conveyor, with the switch insuring that hydraulic fluid flow is available to the hydraulic motor of the spinner for rotating the spinner whenever hydraulic fluid flow is available to the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor for dispensing top dressing material onto the rotating spinner for being broadcast by the rotating spinner. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- a hopper for containing top dressing material;
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25. Top dresser comprising, in combination:
- a hopper for containing top dressing material;
a spinner assembly including at least one rotatable spinner rotatable by a hydraulic motor;
a dispensing conveyor advancing top dressing material in the hopper onto the rotatable spinner, with the dispensing conveyor being driving by a hydraulic motor;
a first control valve dividing hydraulic fluid flow between a first path and a second path, with the first path including the hydraulic motor of the spinner, with the second path bypassing the hydraulic motor of the spinner;
a second control valve, with the second control valve dividing hydraulic fluid flow between a third path and a fourth path, with the third path including the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor and with the fourth path bypassing the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor, with the second control valve receiving hydraulic flow of the second path of the first control valve;
a third valve providing a bypass path of the hydraulic fluid flow around the second valve requiring that the third valve be closed prior to hydraulic fluid flow being available from the first valve to the second valve and the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing conveyor;
a fourth valve providing a bypass path of hydraulic fluid flow around the first valve requiring that the fourth valve be closed prior to hydraulic fluid flow being available to the first valve and the hydraulic motor of the spinner; and
a switch movable between an off position and a first actuation position and movable between the first actuation position and a second actuation position, with the fourth valve being actuated in both the first and second actuating positions, with the third valve being actuated only in the second actuating position. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
- a hopper for containing top dressing material;
Specification