Abstract:
An improved particulate material spreader includes an adjustable spinner apparatus which is incrementally adjustable forwardly and rearwardly to a plurality of operating positions relative to the discharge end of the material conveyor. The adjustment may be manual or automatic to adjust the drop point of the material onto the spinners, thereby accommodating varying application rates of the particulate material on a field, lawn, road, or other area. The spreader may be operatively connected to a microprocessor to receive data input and sensor feedback for variable rate technology.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/248,368 filed on Jan. 14, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/574,600 filed on May 19, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,281. These prior applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Spinner spreaders for particulate material are well known in the art, both for agricultural application, lawn care, and road maintenance application. Typically, such spreaders are mounted onto a truck body, truck chassis, trailer, or slid into a truck&#39;s dump body. The spreader includes a material storage bin(s), a conveyor system(s) and rotating spinner(s). The conveyor transfers material from the storage bin(s) to the spinner(s). The spinner(s) broadcast the material across the field, lawn, or road. Usually a single spinner or a pair of laterally spaced spinners are provided, with a material divider plate positioned above the spinner(s) to direct the material from the discharge end of the conveyor(s) onto the spinner(s). A wide range of spinner diameters are in use with a general understanding that the amount of material to be spread and the size of the broadcast area are proportional to the diameter of the spinners. 
     Recently, a new technology has emerged known as variable rate technology. Unlike the past when it was desirable to apply a constant rate of material per acre or lane mile, variable rate technology advances the benefits of varying rates while moving across the field, lawn, or roadway. As it relates to agriculture, it is now desirable to apply different rates of a material in different grids of the same field in order to obtain optimum pH and/or fertility values over the entire field. As for roadways, it is now common practice, for example, to apply a varying rate of de-icing materials during the winter depending on the grade of the road; increasing rates on steep roads or at intersections while decreasing rates on less traveled or level roads. This new variable rate technology has challenged makers of broadcast spreaders to provide a spreader that can achieve optimum spread patterns while applying varying low and high rates of materials while the spreader is traveling at variable ground speeds (MPH) over the field, lawn or road. Variable ground speeds combined with variable application rates result in a variable amount of material (cubic feet per minute) passing across the spinner(s). As the rate of material changes, it is necessary to change the drop point onto the spinner(s) to achieve optimal spread patterns. 
     Furthermore, it is common to spread different density materials with the same spreader, which makes it necessary to change the drop point onto the spinner(s) to achieve optimal spread patterns when switching from high to low density material applications. 
     In conventional prior art spreaders, the drop area of the material from the conveyor(s) is fixed in relationship to the spinner(s). Minor adjustability of the drop area has been accommodated by adjusting the position of a material divider(s) such that the material is deflected by the divider(s) onto a different drop area on the spinner(s). However, such movement of the divider(s) relative to the spinner(s) does not provide uniform material flow through the divider(s) creating difficulty in achieving uniform spread patterns. Furthermore, the aperture of the divider(s) must be large enough to accommodate the highest rate of application lest it would hinder material flow onto the spinner(s). The divider aperture therefore creates a null zone where the divider setting or the divider movement has no consistent affect on the drop area of the material during a change from high to low rate applications. Also, the movement of the divider(s) is substantially limited due to the structure of the divider and/or conveyor and does not allow for the proper material placement on the spinner for achieving optimum spread patterns of both low and high rates of material. Therefore, the limitations of a conventional prior art spreader does not allow achieving optimal spread patterns when applying variable volume rates of material or different densities of material. 
     Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved particulate material spreader that achieves proper placement of both low and high volumetric and density based rates of material. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a particulate material spreader having spinner(s) which are incrementally adjustable, fore and aft, relative to the conveyor(s) discharge end and material divider(s). 
     A further objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved spreader for agricultural, lawn care, and road maintenance use with uniform material flow from the conveyor(s) discharge end through the material divider(s) and onto the adjustable spinner(s) of the spreader. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved particulate material spreader wherein the position of the spinner(s) is quickly and easily adjustable. 
     A further objective of the present invention is the provision of spinner(s) for particulate material spreader which can be manually adjusted to accommodate varying low and high application rates of material onto an area, such as a field, lawn or road. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved particulate material spreader to automatically adjust the spinner(s) position, fore and aft in relationship to the conveyor discharge end and material divider, based on the rate being applied while the spreader is moving over the field, lawn, or road at either fixed or variable ground speeds (MPH). 
     These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The adjustable spinner of the present invention is adapted for use with a spreader for broadcasting particulate material onto a field, lawn, road, or other area. The spinner includes a frame which is adapted to be adjustably mounted to the spreader beneath a conveyor discharge end and a material divider. Spinner disc(s) and blades are rotatably mounted on the spinner frame and adapted to receive material from the conveyor through the material divider and broadcast the material as the truck or trailer moves through the field, lawn, or along a road. The position of the spinner(s) relative to the conveyor discharge end and material divider is adjustable, either manually or automatically, with or without automatic position feedback, by any number of means such as mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic, so as to adjust the drop point of the material onto the spinner(s), and thereby accommodate varying application rates of the particulate material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an overview of a truck mounted material storage box, divider, and spinner spreader. 
         FIG. 2A  is a prior art cross section view of the discharge area, divider, and spinner with divider in a forward position. 
         FIG. 2B  is a prior art cross section view of the discharge area, divider, and spinner with divider in a rearward position. 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross section view of the discharge area, fixed position divider, and adjustable spinner(s) in a forward position. 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross section view of the discharge area, fixed position divider, and adjustable spinner(s) in a rearward position. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a dual spinner configuration. 
         FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C are perspective views of a dual spinner configuration with one spinner, spinner motor, and divider removed. 
         FIG. 6A  is a top view of spinners in a rearward position. 
         FIG. 6B  is a top view of spinners in a forward position. 
         FIG. 7A  is a logic schematic of an automatic control for variable ground speed. 
         FIG. 7B  is a logic schematic of an automatic control for variable rate applications driven by a positioning system such as GPS. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view of a truck for spreading particulate material generally designated  2 . The truck  2  includes a material storage bin  4  with sloping side walls and a belt conveyor  6  for transporting material to the discharge opening  8 . Mounted at the rear of the material storage bin  4  at the discharge end of the conveyor is a material divider  10 . Mounted below the material divider  10  is the spinner spreader apparatus generally designated  12 . 
     The spinner spreader  12  of  FIG. 1  consists of spinners  14  mounted to motors  16  positioned to accept materials falling from the conveyor end  18  and through material divider  10 . 
     The above described structure is conventional and does not constitute a part of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  is a somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal section view of conventional prior art showing a spinner  20  fixed in relative position to the conveyor end  18  and a moveable material divider  22  in a full forward position with a quantity of material falling through the divider aperture without influence from the divider front surface  24  or rear surface  26 . It is obvious that the divider would need to move significantly rearward before affecting where this quantity of material is dropped onto the fixed position spinner  20 . At the same time, a larger quantity of material flowing from conveyor end  18  may strike the rear surface  26  of the divider. There is no consistent relationship between the drop area  27  on the spinner, the material flow and divider setting. 
       FIG. 2B  is a somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal section view of conventional prior art similar to  FIG. 2A , but showing a moveable material divider  22  in a rearward position with material falling through the divider aperture with influence from the divider front surface  24 . It is obvious that the divider front surface  24  would affect the shape of the column of material as the divider  22  is moved fore and aft. The drop area  27  on the fixed spinner  20  changes accordingly with the shape of the material column. 
       FIG. 3A  is a somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal section view of the present invention showing material falling from the conveyor end  18  onto the front surface  28  of a fixed divider  30 , off a fixed drop edge  32 , through the front part of the divider aperture, and at a drop point  27  on a moveable spinner  34  shown in a forward position. Divider  30  is not required for the present invention to operate as intended. With divider  30  removed, the conveyor end  18  will serve the same function as the fixed drop edge of a divider. 
       FIG. 3B  is a somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal section view of the present invention showing material falling from the conveyor end  18  onto the front surface  28  of a fixed divider  30 , off a fixed drop edge  32 , through the front part of the divided aperture, and at a drop point  27  on a moveable spinner  34  shown in a rearward position. It is obvious that the material is falling in the same column shape as shown in  FIG. 3A  but landing at a drop point  27  further forward on the spinner. Because the material strikes the divider  30  consistently, the material arrives at the moveable spinner  34  consistently and will thus have a spread pattern consistent and repeatable with the location of moveable spinner  34  in relation to divider surface  28  and the fixed drop edge  32 . 
     The present invention of the improved spreader generally designated  36  is shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 4  in a dual spinner configuration. Material from storage bin  4  is conveyed through discharge opening  8  by conveyor  6  until the material falls from conveyor end  18  onto the front surface of fixed divider  30 . The fixed divider  30  is mounted to the storage box  4  in a position fixed relative to the end of conveyor  18 . The material further falls through the divider aperture along the same front edge, or drop edge  32 , of divider  30  and onto the moveable spinners  34 . It is the fixed drop edge  32  of the divider  30  that results in a consistent drop point  27  of material onto the moveable spinners  34 . The spinners are rotated by motors  16  from below. The spinners rotate in opposite directions. The spinners and motors are moveable fore and aft relative to the fixed divider  30 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are upper and lower perspective views of the present invention in a dual spinner configuration spreader generally designated  36  with one spinner  34 , spinner motor  16 , and the fixed divider  30  of  FIG. 4  removed. The spinners and motors are mounted to a subframe  38 . In this configuration, the subframe  38  with mounted motors and spinners, is moveable fore and aft along longitudinal shaft  40  secured to main supporting frame  42 . Further, the subframe  38  rests on longitudinal members  44  of the main supporting frame  42 . The main supporting frame  42  is mounted to the storage bin  4  and is fixed in position relative to the conveyor end  18  and divider drop edge. In this configuration, fore and aft movement of the subframe  38  and the associated motors and spinners is accomplished through means of a screw jack  46  or, for example, hydraulic cylinder  47  as shown in  FIG. 5C , placed between the main supporting frame  42  and subframe  38 . In manually operated form, the operator of the spreader can adjust the position of the spinners relative to the conveyor end and divider drop edge by extending or collapsing the screw jack  46  by means of a rotatable handle  48 . Location of the spinners relative to the drop edge is indicated by scale  50  and pointer  51 . 
     When using laterally spaced spinners having opposite rotation, the operator can adjust for higher or lower application rates by moving the spinners  34  forward or rearward with respect to the fixed drop edge  32  of the fixed divider  30 . 
       FIG. 6A  is a top view of the spinners of the present invention depicting a low application rate with a small column of material, represented by hatched sections  52 , which has passed over the front surface of the divider, off the drop edge  32  and onto the spinners  34 . The spinners  34  are retracted forwardly such that the small column of material  54  has a drop point near the spinners centerline. Furthermore, as the rate of material is reduced, the material would be introduced later in respect to the spinner&#39;s rotation. For any spinner rotation, as the rate of material is reduced, the column of material  52  and the associated drop point, would move in the same direction as the spinner rotation. 
       FIG. 6B  is a top view of the present invention showing a higher application rate, which has a larger column of material, represented by hatched sections  54 . The spinners  34  are moved rearwardly such that the added volume of material is introduced earlier in respect to the spinner&#39;s rotation. The center of the drop point moves in a direction opposite the spinner rotation. For any spinner rotation, as the rate of material is increased, the column of material  54  and the associated drop point, would move in the direction opposite the spinner rotation. 
     The spinners  34  can be adjusted to any position between full extension and full retracted positions to accommodate various application rates of materials. Spinner location is also adjustable to accommodate varying material densities. The accurate adjustability of the spinners allow for a more accurate deposit of material onto the spinners, and thus more accurate application of the material onto the field, lawn, or road. 
     In an automatically adjustable form, the screw jack  46  of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is replaced with any number of actuating means, such as mechanical electrical actuators, pneumatic cylinders, or hydraulic cylinders, with a positive feed back to control spinner location from the operator&#39;s driving position or other remote location. The operator can immediately adjust the spinner position for accurate broadcast of material based on an application rate. 
       FIG. 7A  is a logic flow chart of a general type of control for the remote adjustment just described. Spreader main system processor  60  controls conveyor motor  62 , spinner motor  64 , and spinner position actuator  66  by constantly monitoring conveyor speed sensor  68 , spinner rotation speed sensor  70 , spinner position actuator sensor  72  and vehicle ground speed sensor  74  to meet the rate requirements  76  manually input by the operator to meet predetermined material application rates. When a new rate requirement  76  is input, the main system processor  60  adjusts one or more of the conveyor motor speed  62 , spinner speed  64 , and spinner position actuator  66  until feedback from conveyor speed sensor  68 , spinner speed sensor  70 , and spinner position actuator sensor  66  meet programmed requirements for the new rate for any given vehicle speed from sensor  74 . Specifically, it is the ability to change the drop point onto the spinners that allow for optimum spread patterns. 
     In a further automatically adjustable form, the screw jack  46  is replaced with any number of actuating means, such as mechanical electrical actuators, pneumatic cylinders, or hydraulic cylinders, with a positive feed back to control spinner location and thereby adjusting automatically for variable rate technology application of the particulate material. In this case, the spinner location is changed as the spreader is moving about the field, lawn or along the roadway for accurate broadcast of material based on predetermined application rates and position knowledge gained from a location positioning system such as a common Global Positioning System (GPS). 
       FIG. 7B  is a logic flow chart of a general type of control for variable rate technology. With variable rate technology, the spreader main system processor  60  controls conveyor motor  62 , spinner motor  64 , and spinner position actuator  66  by constantly monitoring conveyor speed sensor  68 , spinner rotation speed sensor  70 , spinner position actuator sensor  72  and vehicle ground speed sensor  74 , and a positioning system such as a common Global Positioning System  78 . The addition of the positioning system and a set of predetermined variable application rate needs for a field grid or roadway gives the spreader the information necessary to apply different rates of material at variable ground speeds. However, it is the ability to consistently change the effective material drop point on the spinners that allows a spreader to achieve the optimal spread patterns needed for the variable ground speeds and high to low application rates. Therefore, as the spreader is moving about the field, lawn or along the roadway, the main system processor  60  constantly monitors and adjusts the spinner position for best results with regard to application rates based on the positioning system&#39;s location information and vehicle ground speed.