Patent GB-1210469-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to vehicles for transporting materials
IPC: B65D83/14
Filed: 1968-04-30
Abstract: 1,210,469. Manure spreaders. C. VAN DER LELY N.V. 30 April, 1968 [5 May, 1967; 12 June, 1967; 9 Nov., 1967], No. 20523/68. Heading A1D. [Also in Division F2] An agricultural vehicle, for handling liquid manure and the like, has a tank with an inlet port connectible by remote operation from the front of the vehicle to a feed pipe and/or a discharge pipe for spreading the manure, also remotely operated. The vehicle comprises a frame 1 supported on wheels 2, 3 and is drawn by draw-bar 4 connected, for example, to a tractor which also drives a pump 7 connected by pipe 6 to tank 5. An outlet port 8 connected to fan-spreader 9 is used for discharging the load on to a field. This is controlled by valve 10 controlled by means of rods 11, 11A from the tractor. The inlet port 12 is connected through flexible pipe 13 to a pipe 14 having a coupling sleeve 15 sliding axially on it. The collar 61 of the incoming pipe 60 is secured to socket 16 of pipe 14 by jaws 20 on the coupling. These jaws are pivoted at 19 and moved by levers 21, link 24 and lever 27 connected to a spring-returned hydraulic cylinder 31. The elevation and lateral position of the rigid pipe 14 is regulated by a support chain 53 connected by link-work 48, 50 to handle 41 near the tractor so that the vehicle may be reversed into coupling alignment. A valve 55 closing the inlet port 12 is controlled by a further cylinder 57. The incoming pipe 59, 60 is supported on an adjustable cradle 62 on a stand 58. On engagement, the traction on the link 24 first closes the jaws 20 on the collar 61 and then, as the sleeve 15 is drawn up the pipe 14, the joint is axially drawn into sealing engagement. The tank is then filled by suction of pump 7, and the valve 55 closed. Then the cylinder 33 is depressurized to release the coupling 15. For spreading, the pump 7 generates pressure in the tank 5. In a modification, Fig. 7, the coupling incorporates manually controlled valve 67 and a guiding or capturing basket 69 for the incoming pipe 59. In a further modification, Fig. 9, the same pipe provides both inlet and outlet. The coupling sleeve 81 is axially slidable as before, and carries claws 86 having arcuate jaws 86A for embracing the incoming pipe 60 or the seal 103 of the spreader head 102 which may be pivoted down about 100 into engagement with it. The mouth 104 of the spreader is controlled by a valve 105 controlled from the tractor by cable 112. In a yet further modification (Figs. 11-13, not shown), the coupling inlet is at the front of the tank on a swingable pipearm, the coupling operating vertically. The spreader is at the rear as before and both are controlled by separate valves. The input feed may be accelerated by using air-pressure in the storage pit. In a modified hydraulically operated coupling, Fig. 15, the gripping jaws 198, 199 are drawn by their mounting collar 195 in direction A axially of the pipe 192 so that they are drawn into a fixed ring 205 which forces them inwardly to grip the incoming pipe 217 (Fig. 16, not shown). An additional linkwork is described (Figs 17, 18, not shown). In further modified coupling, Fig. 19, axial movement of sleeve 258A causes rotation of ring 245 which lifts rotatable hooks 239, Fig. 20, to release the coupling. In Fig. 22, the coupling is made by an elastic annulus 260 which is forced by fluid pressure from 262 into contact with both pipe-ends. The principle may be applied to a crop-gathering and storing vehicle (Fig. 23, not shown).