A MACHINE FOR SPREADING GRANULAR MATERIALS, PARTICULARLY FERTILIZERS

Abstract: A machine for spreading granular materials is described and comprises a load-bearing frame (2), a hopper (3), supported by the frame, for holding the material to be spread, and a spreader (4), mounted on the frame below the hopper (3), for spreading the material supplied by falling from the hopper; the hopper comprises structurally independent walls (3a-d) fixed releasably to the frame (2).

Description: "A machine for spreading granular materials, particularly fertilizers". Technical field The present invention relates to a machine for spreading granular materials, particularly fertilizers, according to the preamble to the main Claim 1. The invention was devised for application to a machine for spreading fertilizer. However, it is not limited to a machine of this type but is equally applicable to machines for spreading salt, sand, rice, seeds and other mineral and chemical products. Backgrund ar Machines including the features indicated above are known in the specific field of fertilizer- and manure-spreading by the term "manure spreaders". They generally comprise a hopper for holding the bulk material and a centrifugal spreader disposed below the hopper and including one or more rotary spreader disks. The hopper and the spreader are normally mounted on a frame having elements for coupling to a tractor, typically a three-point coupling, or are intended to be towed on a trailer. The material to be spread is supplied by falling from the hopper onto each spreader disk and is spread by the centrifugal effect caused by rapid rotation of the disks. One of the problems encountered in these machines is connected with their general size which in turn causes, amongst other things, transportation and storage difficulties. In this connection, it is known to produce hoppers which can be taken off the frame but, particularly with large-capacity hoppers, this does not enable these structures to be transported easily. Disclosure of the Invention The technical problem upon which the invention is based is that of providing a machine for spreading granular materials, particularly fertilizers, which is designed structurally and functionally to prevent all of the problems complained of with reference to the prior art mentioned. This problem is solved, according to the invention, by a machine of the type indicated at the beginning, characterized in that the hopper comprises structurally independent walls fixed releasably to the frame . Brief description of drawings The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine for spreading fertilizers, formed in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the machine of Figure 1. Best mode of carrying out the invention In the drawings, a machine for spreading fertilizers and manure, formed in accordance with the present invention, is generally indicated 1. The machine 1 comprises a support frame 2 provided, in known manner, with an element (not shown) for coupling to a tractor, for example, a so-called "three-point coupling". The direction of forward movement of the machine on the ground is indicated by the arrow A in Figures 1 and 2. The frame 2 supports a hopper 3 for holding the fertilizer or other bulk granular material and a spreader, generally indicated 4, for spreading the fertilizer on the ground whilst the machine 1 is moving forwards. The spreader 4 is mounted below the hopper 3 and is of conventional type. It comprises a pair of spreader disks 5, 6 which are rotated in opposite directions. The positions of the disks 5, 6 are such that the fertilizer is supplied by falling from the hopper 3 onto the disks 5, 6 so as to be spread as a result of the centrifugal effect brought about by the rotation of the disks. Each disk 5, 6 also has a pair of spreader blades 7 for guiding the granules of fertilizer at least partially on the trajectory on which they are expelled by the corresponding disk 5, 6 so as to ensure greater precision and uniformity of scattering. The hopper 3 comprises four walls 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d jointly defining an upper opening 8 for the loading of the fertilizer and a lower outlet 9 through which the fertilizer is supplied to the spreader disks 5, 6. Grids 10 are mounted on the frame 2 between the outlet 9 of the hopper and the disks 5, 6. There is also provision for adjustment of the opening of the outlet 9 by means of closure plates 11, shown partially in the drawings and operated by a selector device for selecting a predetermined opening/closure of the outlet corresponding to a predetermined dosage of the fertilizer. The walls 3a-d are of similar structure, such as that shown in Figure 2, and are made of bent sheet metal of a suitable thickness. The walls 3a-d have respective channel-shaped bent free edges 12a-d adjacent the load opening 8 of the hopper and are inclined so as to converge towards the outlet 9, typically with a frusto-pyramidal shape. This shape advantageously enables manure and fertilizers in powder form also to be spread with hoppers of lesser height. There is also provision for the useful load space of the hopper 3 to be increased by means of side panels 13a-d arranged as extensions of the respective walls 3a-d. Each side panel 13a-d is flange-mounted on the corresponding wall 3a-d, on its respective edge 12a-d. In addition, pairs of adjacent side panels 13a-d are joined together by means of corresponding flanges at their longitudinally opposite ends. Each wall 3a-d has, at the lower edge of the hopper, a respective flange 14a-d for superimposition on a corresponding flange 16 formed on the frame 2, the flanges 14a-d having holes, drilled at regular intervals and all indicated 15, for screws 16a by means of which each wall 3a-d is connected releasably to the frame 2. According to a main feature of the invention, the walls 3a-d are structurally independent of one another and ©re connected to one another releasably in the manner explained below. The opposed walls 3a and 3c have flanges 17 with holes, drilled at regular intervals and all indicated 18, along opposed vertical sides, that is, the sides extending between the load opening 8 and the outlet 9. The opposed walls 3b and 3d have, on their corresponding vertical sides, respective lips 19, preferably produced by bending of the corresponding wall, and forming flange portions 20 which can be superimposed on the flanges 17 of the walls 3a, 3c. The flange portions 20 have holes 21 arranged at regular intervals so as to coincide with the holes 18 of the flanges 17 so that the pairs of adjacent walls 3a, 3b, 3b, 3c, 3c, 3d and 3d, 3a can be connected to one another by means of screws, all indicated 22, or similar fixing means. To facilitate the loading of the fertilizer in the hopper, according to a further characteristic of the invention, there is provision for the wall 3a opposite the wall 3c facing the tractor to have a recess 23 adjacent the load opening 8 and closable by an additional side panel 24 fixed releasably to the wall 3a. Preferably, the recess 23 is formed in the corresponding side panel 13a and the additional closure side panel 24 is constituted by a portion of the side panel 13a. Amongst the main advantages of the machine of the invention is the fact that £he walls of the hopper can be completely disassembled, thus reducing the size and bulk of the machine during transportation; moreover, the fixing system provided between the walls facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the hopper which can therefore also be carried out by the final user. In particular, when the machine is being transported, savings can be achieved owing to a size more than 50% smaller . than that of conventional machines . Similar advantages are achieved when the parts making up the machine are stored in a store. The invention also facilitates the equipping of a machine having the same frame with hoppers of different capacities or the conversion of an existing machine into corresponding models of larger or smaller capacity.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A machine for spreading granular materials, particularly fertilizers, comprising a load-bearing frame (2), a hopper (3) supported by the frame for holding the fertilizer, and a spreader (4), mounted on the frame (2) below the hopper (3), for spreading on the ground the fertilizer which is supplied by falling from the hopper, characterized in that the hopper (3) comprises structurally independent walls (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) fixed releasably to the frame (2) . 2. A machine according to Claim 1, in which pairs of adjacent walls (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) of the hopper (3) are connected to one another releasably. 3. A machine according to Claim 2, in which flanges (17, 20) are provided on the hopper (3) along adjoining sides of adjacent walls (3a-d), the walls being joined together in the region of the flanges, where they are connected to one another by fixing means (22) . 4. A machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the walls (3a-d) have, on the opposite longitudinal side to the free edge of the hopper (3), second flanges (14a-d) for superimposition on corresponding flanges (16) provided on the frame (2) in order to fix the hopper (3) to the frame. 5. A machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the hopper (3) comprises side panels (13a-d) arranged as extensions of the walls (3a-d), the side panels being structurally independent of one another and of the walls and being connected releasably to the walls. 6. A machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which at least one (3a) of the walls has, adjacent the free edge of the hopper (3) , a recess (23) and an additional side panel (24) associated releasably with the wall (3a) in order to close the recess (23) . 7. A machine according to Claims 5 and 6, in which the recess (23) is formed in one of the side panels (13a-d) and the additional side panel {24 ) is constituted by at least one portion of the side panel.

Inventors: BARBIERI SILVANO, BARBIERI, SILVANO
Applicants: AGREX S R L, BARBIERI SILVANO, AGREX S.R.L., BARBIERI, SILVANO
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65D88
IPC codes: A01C15, B65D88