US1778115A - Compost-distributing machine - Google Patents

Description

' Oct. 14,1930. J. M GREGOR COMPOST DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 14,

1930. J. MacGREGOR 1,778,115

COMPOST DISTRIBUTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1924 Oct. 14, 1930. J. M sREGoR COMPOST DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 14, 1930 PATENT OFFICE Jenn MACGREGOB, on WHEATON, rumors oonrosr-msrnrnorme MACHINE Application filed December 20, 1924. Serial :No. 757,145.

v wThisinvention relates to equipment for the care ofgolf courses, and particularly for distributing compost upon the greens, though it'will be manifest that the machine provided by the invention is capable of other and moregeneral' use and l, of course, contemplate the inclusion,-within the scope of the invention, of all of the uses to which it maybe put; I a

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a machine adaptedto perform the work now ordinarily done by a number of attendants employed for the care of golf courses, thereby greatly reducing labor costs, aswell as more efficiently accomplishing the distribution of compost, or like material, upon the greens in the shortest possible fspace ofrtime.

' A highly important feature of the invention is the provision of a machine for spreading compost, orthe likewhich is constructed of the fewest possible number of parts, so that it maybe produced at a cost which will render it available and a great economy to every golf course, as well as for other purposes for which it is adapted. I

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description,

= 1.34 which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred'embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings,

' Figure 1 is a top planview of a compost .B. distributor in which my invention is embodied; r

Fig. 2 is a rearend elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a side elevation; Fig. dis a' sectional view, taken substan- 0' tially upon the section line4-4'in 5 and showing the ratchet construction by means of which the drum is rotated by the wheels of the'machine; Z a

Fig. 5 is avertical sectional view, taken substantiallyupon the section line 55 in 'Fig. 4:; a I

I Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the distribut- -ing drum; and y I Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through 5 1 said drum and through the wheels of the ma chine, taken substantially upon the section line 77 of Fig. 6. 1 1 I In said drawings, which illustrate the best manner in'whi'ch I have thus far contemplated applying the principles of'my inven- 5.? tion, the reference character '21 indicates the Wheels of the machine which, in the present instance, are two in number and are rotatably mounted on a cross shaft or axle 22. These wheels may be of any suitable type 0 and, as shown, are provided with pneumatic tires, of the type employed upon Ford automobiles. Rigidly mounted upon the shaft 22 is a drum 23,'which comprises an outer cylinder 24, of wire screen, end plates 25 and in .termediate' webs 26, said webs and plates being-preferably of cast material and the screen '24 being, of suitable mesh to properly scatter the compost, or other material, when the drum is rotated in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

" The end plates 25 are provided with hub parts 27'secured to the shaft 22 by means of set screws 28 and the intermediate web members26 are formed with hubs 29 secured to said shaftby means of screws 31 so that the drum structure is rigid and strong and mounted as a unit for rotation with the shaft For the purpose of filling the screen, I provide a hinged section, or door 32, which is hinged at 33 and adapted to be held in closed position by means of a rod 34 extending through cooperating eye-parts 35 provided re spectively upon'said door and upon the fixed 'rearwardly and secured by means of bolts 42 to the inner end of the bar 36, and the latter being secured to said straps 38 at 43 and extending diagonally to a point of attachment to said bar 36, as indicated at 4A.

A drawbar 45 is provided at the front of the machine and is similar to the push bar 36 handle is attached. A- chain 49 is securedat;

sired. I A brush 59 is suspended from the inwardly extending portionsof thestraps'; 38 by means in construction and means of attachment to the axle. Steel straps 47 extend forwardly from the axle 22 and are bent inwardly at 4-7, the inwardly extending portions 46 of said straps 47 being attached to said draw bar by means of bolts 46. Diagonal straps 50, similar to the straps 39, are provided for bracing the draw bar and a one-piece handle 48',-similar to the handle 37, is provided at the end of said bar. The handles 37. and 48 are S67 cured in place by means of a single bolt '50, extending through a two-part clamp and through the body of the bar to which the its opposite ends to the straps 38 and 47', respectively, as shown in Fig. 8, and is adapted to hold the draw and push bars in raised position, the draw bar being adapted to be turned back and to rest upon the push bar, in manner which will be readily understood, when its use is not required. i

For the purpose of rotating the drum 23, I employ ratchet devices, clearlyillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing an'dadapted to operatively connect the wheels 21 for rotation of said drum when the machine is moving in one direction only. Said device comprises a flanged disk 51, which'is rigidly. secured to the wheel by means of bolts 52 and is provided with ratchet teeth 53 on the interior of the flange 54 thereof, said teeth co;- operating with ratchet" members 55', which have ball ends 56 disposed in sockets 57 formed in the hub 27' and are provided with points 58 adapted to be disposed by gravity in position to engage said teeth 53 in the lower part of their course of travel. It will be apparent that when the disk 51 is rotated in clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 4:, which is, the direction of rotation when the machine is moving forward, said ratchet, will operate.

over the teeth 53 without efiect upon the drum,

so that the machine may be moved from place to place in inoperative condition, when deof rods 61, extending upwardly" from channelshaped brackets 61, positioned upon the top of the brush bar 62', the upperends of said rodsbeirig bentinwardl'y, as indicated at 68,

and adapted to engage in apertures 64 in meta1 strips 65 depending from the straps 38. A spring clip 66 is provided on the underside of the push bar 36 and is adapted to releaseablyengage the brush bar 62 when the latter is raised,'whereby the brush may be held in inoperative position when the machine is being moved from place to place and not in service. In order to provide sufficient pressure upon said brush to produce the desired action thereof, I provide weights 70 upon the top of the brush bar, which may be of any suitable size and material and may be secured to said bar by means of bolts 70'. Obviously,

said weights may be removed and others substituted if it is desired to vary the pressure upon the brush. I

For the purpose of facilitating the passageof the material through the screen 24, I provide a plate 68, which-is hinged at 69 above the p transverse portions of the straps 38 and is adapted to ride upwardly upon cam members 71,which are provided upon the drum, ex-

teriorly of the web members 26 and in suitable prises a minimum numberof parts capable of provision by standard processes, it being pointed out, in this connection, that'the end plates 25 and the webs 26,. as well as the ratchet disk 51, may be cast and the exterior of the drum is formed by a single continuous. screen member, bolted, or otherwise secured, to said end plates andwebs in simple and eflicient manner I have found, by experience, that wit-h the use of my machine, the number of attendants necessary to care for a golf course maybe very materially reduced, with consequent saving of expense and rapidity in performance of the work necessary in caring for the greens.

It is thought that the invention and many it will be apparent. that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of. the'parts, without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the

form hereinbefore describedbeing merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Iclaim: 5 V i l. A machine for distributing compost, or the like, comprising wheels, and a. distributing drum, comprising a cylinder having distributing openings therein, 'means' for supporting the same from said wheels and means for dislodging materialsticking to theinterior of said drum, said last mentioned means comprising lifting cams fastened upon the exterior of the drum, anda striker member adapted to be elevated by said c-ams'and dropped onto the surface of the drum periodically as the latter is revolved.

2. A machine for distributing compost or, the'like, comprising, wheels, means for directing the same, a distributing drum rotatable in a forwardly direction only and composed of a single continuous screen forming of its attendant advantages will beunderstood from. theforegoing'description, and

till

the periphery thereof, means upon which said screen is mounted, and a spreader brush mounted behind said drum, said brush being pivotally supported and having weights thereon to hold it in contact with the surface of the ground.

e 3. A machine for distributing compost and the like, comprising wheels, a distributing drum rotatable with said wheels and having a screen surface, said drum being adapted to contain material to be screened in a distribution, and a spreader brush mounted to follow said wheels and adapted to work the compost or the like into the'surface upon which it is deposited by said drum.

4. A machine for distributing compost i 1 and the like, comprising wheels, a distributing drum rotatable with said wheels, said drum having a screen surface adapted to screen and deposit contained material, a striker for periodically striking said drum, and a follower spreader'brush for spreading the material deposited from the drum into

Images