GB575348A - Improvements in apparatus for distributing over and depositing on the land lime, fertilizers or other powdered materials - Google Patents

Abstract

575,348. Manure &c. distributors. PEACOCK, A. G. March 1, 1944, Nos. 3826 and 11784. [Class 6 (i)] A machine for distributing seeds or powdered materials such as lime or fertilizers over the ground comprises in combination a hopper 3, a plurality of ejecting ducts 5 which receive the material through feed ducts 4 and deliver it to a downwardly inclined spreading plate 6 constituting a delivery shoot, fan, blower or like means 8 for setting up air streams in the ducts 5, means for driving the fan or like means, and means such as flaps 20, 21, for regulating the supply of, or for cutting off the supply of, material to the ducts 4. In the construction shown a blower 8 is provided for each duct 5, the blowers being mounted on a common shaft 9 driven from axle 2 of the road wheels 1. Driven also from the axle is a shaft 37 near the base of the hopper, the shaft being fitted with three rows of inclined blades 38 having sharp leading edges whereby they not only agitate the material but cut into any compacted material. The flaps 20, 21 of the various ducts 4 are mounted on a pair of shafts extending across the machine, the shafts being geared together so that all the flaps move in unison. The shafts are constantly urged by a spring to move the flaps to the fully open positions, and the positions of the flaps are regulated by a handle 32, Fig. 2, which is movable over a notched quadrant and which forms an abutment for an arm mounted on one of the shafts. The plate 6 extends across the machine and is provided with a hinged cover 7 and may be provided opposite each duct 5 with one or more wedge shaped members to assist in the even distribution of the material over the ground. A frame 44 carried by the shoot is fitted with a curtain 43 forming a windscreen when the machine is travelling over ground not to be treated the drive from one of the wheels 1 to the axle 2 is cut out by means of a clutch 34 thereby cutting off the drive for the blowers, and the lever 35 for actuating the clutch is suitably connected to an arm on the shaft of one set of flaps to bring all the flaps into the closed position. According to the first Provisional Specification the means for agitating and for feeding the material are combined in the form of an apertured slide reciprocally mounted in the bottom of the hopper and fitted with upstanding fingers for agitating the material. The slide in one extreme position closes the outlet ducts and can be set so that in the other extreme position it partly or fully opens the ducts. According to the second Provisional Specification the feed from the hoppers is regulated by sliding shutters actuated by rack and pinion mechanism.