Patent Description:
Air boom spreaders are well known in the art for delivering liquid or solid products (e.g. fertilizers) to an environment (e.g. a field) around the spreader. Air boom spreaders typically comprise one or more boom arms that extend transversely to a direction of travel of the spreader in order to cover a large swath of ground in one pass. Product is delivered from a container by a product distribution system to spaced outlets on the boom arm for delivery to a field.

In many instances, the driving plan of the spreader and/or the layout of the field can cause misapplication of the product to an undesired area. In some cases, there is overlap in certain areas over which a boom arm passes, thereby causing redundant application of the product to those certain areas. In other cases, the spreader may pass close to a non-productive area causing misapplication of the product to the non-productive area. Such misapplications of product lead to greater expense due to product wastage and to uneven results across a field, for example growing results of a crop being fertilized by the spreader. The ability to selectively prevent product application by one or of the outlets, especially without needing to stop the spreader, would help mitigate the problem of misapplication of product to undesired areas. Following prior art is knowing in the field <CIT> and <CIT>.

There remains a need in the art for an air boom spreader having sectional control for selectively delivering product, in particular a solid agricultural product, to areas of a field.

According to the invention, there is provided an air boom spreader comprising: a frame; a boom arm extendible transversely to a direction of travel of the spreader; a container mounted on the frame for containing a solid product to be delivered to an environment around the spreader; a product distribution system in product communication with the container for receiving the product from the container; and, an air system in product communication with the distribution system for receiving the product from the distribution system, the air system comprising an air line mounted on the boom arm, the air line connecting the product distribution system to a product outlet situated on the boom arm to permit passage of the product from the product distribution system to the environment through the product outlet, and a fan assembly comprising at least a fan, the fan in fluid communication with the air line and operable to create air flow in the air line to transport the product from the product distribution system to the product outlet, wherein the product distribution system comprises at least one endless solid product metering assembly, the solid product metering assembly comprising: a first endless conveyor and a second endless conveyor for conveying the product from the container to the air system, the first and second endless conveyors substantially parallel to each other, the first conveyor driven independently of the second conveyor; and, a first shaft, a second shaft and a third shaft, the first shaft parallel to, separated from and driven independently of the second shaft, the second shaft parallel to and separated from the third shaft, the first shaft driving the first conveyor, the second shaft driving the third shaft to drive the second conveyor.

To drive the conveyors, motors, for example hydraulic, pneumatic or electric motors, or any other suitable drive means may be used. According to the invention, the metering assembly further comprises a first motor for driving the first shaft to drive the first conveyor and a second motor for driving the second shaft to drive the third shaft to drive the second conveyor, wherein first and second motors are situated at a same side of the metering assembly. In order for the second shaft to drive the third shaft, the second shaft may be connected to the third shaft by a drive linkage. Any suitable drive linkages may be used, for example drive belts, drive chains, toothed gears or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the metering assembly may comprise a geared linkage between the second shaft and the third shaft. In some embodiments, the geared linkage may comprise a first toothed gear mounted on the third shaft and a second toothed gear mounted on the second shaft, the first and second toothed gears connected by a drive chain.

When more than one metering assembly is present in the spreader, the metering assemblies are generally placed in close proximity, for example side-by-side. For this reason, there is not enough space between metering assemblies to accommodate the presence of a motor. It is an advantage of the present invention that a plurality of motors, the first and second motors, is situated at a same side of the metering assembly. As well, a plurality of drive linkages may be situated at a side of the metering assembly opposite the plurality of motors, for example the first and second toothed gears as well as the drive chain may be situated at the side of the metering assembly opposite the first and second motors. A drive linkage has a slimmer profile than a motor and occupies less space. Therefore, it is possible to include more than one metering assembly to selectively deliver product to different portions of distribution system for selective control of product delivery to the environment. This is not possible, or at least much more difficult, in configurations where the motors are on opposite sides of the metering assembly.

To assist with the configuration of a plurality of motors on the same side of the metering assembly, the metering assembly may comprise split drive rollers and, in some embodiment, split idler rollers. In some embodiments, the metering assembly may comprise a first drive roller for the first conveyor and a second drive roller for the second conveyor, the first drive roller mounted on the first shaft and the second drive roller mounted on the third shaft. In some embodiments the second shaft may be longitudinally separated from the third shaft. In some embodiments, the first shaft may be coaxial with the third shaft. In some embodiments, the metering assembly further comprises an idler roller mounted around the second shaft. In some embodiments, the metering assembly may comprise a first idler roller for the first conveyor and a second idler roller for the second conveyor, the first and second idler rollers mounted around the second shaft, the first and second idler rollers rotatable independently of each other.

The metering assembly described herein advantageously permits independent operation of endless conveyors within the metering assembly and independent operation of the endless conveyors of adjacent metering assemblies while permitting the adjacent metering assemblies to be close enough together to feed solid product to different closely spaced protions of the product distribution system. The use of multiple individually controllable endless conveyors, each distributing product to fewer portions of the distribution system permits sectional control in an air boom spreader for selectively delivering product to areas of a field.

Further, the arrangement described herein for independently powering two endless conveyors in a single metering assembly can be extended to powering more than two endless conveyors in a single metering assembly. The addition of more motors longitudinally separated on the same side of the metering assembly together with more transversely oriented shafts, appropriate placement of drive and idler rollers on the shafts and appropriate placement of drive linkages between the shafts can permit the use of more than two endless conveyors in a single metering assembly, all the endless conveyors spaced closely enough together to ultimately permit the use of a single independently controlled endless conveyor to feed a single small portion (e.g. a single funnel) of the product distribution system thereby providing very fine sectional control of product delivery to the environment around the air boom spreader.

Further features will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description. It should be understood that each feature described herein may be utilized in any combination with any one or more of the other described features, and that each feature does not necessarily rely on the presence of another feature except where evident to one of skill in the art.

For clearer understanding, preferred embodiments will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

With reference to the Figures and particular reference to <FIG>, one embodiment of an air boom spreader <NUM> of the present invention comprises a frame <NUM>, a pair of boom arms 3a, 3b mounted on the frame <NUM> at a rear of the spreader <NUM>, each of boom arms 3a, 3b extendible transversely to a direction of travel of the spreader <NUM>, one boom arm 3a extendible to the left and the other boom arm 3b extendible to the right of the spreader <NUM>. While two boom arms are illustrated, the spreader may comprise <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or more boom arms if desired. The air boom spreader <NUM> also comprises a product container <NUM> mounted on the frame <NUM>, the container <NUM> comprising at least one hopper for containing a solid product (e.g. fertilizer, herbicide, seed and any other desired granular product) to be delivered to an environment (e.g. a field) around the spreader <NUM>. The container <NUM> may be covered by a cover <NUM> if desired, as illustrated in <FIG>. The container may comprise <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or more hoppers, if desired, which can be used to contain different kinds of product, if desired. Wheels (not shown) may be mounted on the frame <NUM> to facilitate movement of the spreader <NUM> on the ground. A hitch <NUM> may be mounted at a front of the frame <NUM> to permit hitching the spreader <NUM> to a prime mover, for example a tractor, a truck or the like. However, the air boom spreader may be self-propelled instead, if desired.

The air boom spreader <NUM> also comprises a product distribution system <NUM> in product communication with the container <NUM> for receiving the solid product from the container <NUM> and an air system <NUM> in product communication with the distribution system <NUM> for receiving the product from the distribution system <NUM> and delivering the product to the environment. The distribution system <NUM> comprises a left-side endless solid product metering assembly <NUM> and a right-side endless solid product metering assembly <NUM>. The product metering assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> extend longitudinally into the container <NUM> from left and right meter boxes 14a, 14b, respectively, mounted at a rear of the container <NUM>. The left-side endless solid product metering assembly <NUM> distributes product to the left meter box 14a for delivery to the left side of the spreader <NUM>, and right-side endless solid product metering assembly <NUM> distributes product to the right meter box 14b for delivery to the right side of the spreader <NUM>. The product metering assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> receive solid product from the container by gravity and deliver the product to respective meter boxes 14a, 14b. The meter boxes 14a, 14b each comprise a plurality of funnels (not shown) into which the solid product is distributed, preferably evenly, by the product metering assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> in a manner generally known in the art. The product metering assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> are operable independently of each other, which permits changing the relative speeds of the metering assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> and therefore the relative delivery rate of product to each side of the spreader <NUM>. Delivery of the product to one side of the spreader <NUM> may be achieved by turning off the appropriate metering assembly.

The product metering assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> are shown parallel and transversely separated in the same horizontal plane; however, the product metering assemblies may be vertically separated as upper and lower product metering assemblies. Further, while the product metering assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> are shown as being parallel, the product metering assemblies may instead form an angle with each other transporting product in non-parallel directions. Furthermore, while two product metering assemblies are shown, more than two product metering assemblies may be employed, if desired, for example, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or more product metering assemblies.

The air system <NUM> comprises a plurality of air lines 17a, 17b (only two labeled, one on each side of the spreader <NUM>) mounted on the boom arms 3a, 3b, respectively. The plurality of air lines connects the plurality of funnels of the meter boxes of the product distribution system <NUM> to a plurality product outlets 18a, 18b (only two labeled, one on each side of the spreader <NUM>) situated at regular intervals along the boom arms 3a, 3b to permit passage of the product from the product distribution system <NUM> to the environment through the plurality of product outlets. A fan assembly <NUM> comprising at least a fan is in fluid communication with the plurality of air lines and is operable to create air flow in the plurality of air lines to transport the product from the product distribution system <NUM> to the plurality of product outlets. The fan assembly <NUM> may further comprise a fan motor for operating the fan, or the fan may be operated by a motor remotely situated on the spreader <NUM>.

With particular reference to <FIG>, the left-side endless solid product metering assembly <NUM> will now be described. The right side endless solid product metering assembly <NUM> is constructed and operates in a similar manner.

The left-side solid product metering assembly <NUM> comprises a first endless conveyor <NUM> (e.g. a belt, sometimes called a chain) and a second endless conveyor <NUM> (e.g. a belt, sometimes called a chain) for conveying the product from the container <NUM> to the meter boxes 14a, 14b and thence to the air system <NUM>. The first and second endless conveyors <NUM>, <NUM> are substantially parallel to each other and may have substantially coplanar upper surfaces. The first conveyor <NUM> is driven independently of the second conveyor <NUM>. The metering assembly <NUM> further comprises a first motor <NUM> to drive the first conveyor <NUM> and a second motor <NUM> to drive the second conveyor <NUM>. The first and second motors <NUM>, <NUM> are not coaxial. The first and second motors <NUM>, <NUM> are longitudinally spaced apart at the same side of the metering assembly <NUM>. The first and second motors <NUM>, <NUM> are situated at a same side of the metering assembly <NUM> because there is insufficient space between the left-side solid product metering assembly <NUM> and the right-side solid product metering assembly <NUM> to accommodate the presence of a motor. How the two motors <NUM>, <NUM> can independently drive the two conveyors <NUM>, <NUM> despite the two motors <NUM>, <NUM> being on the same side of the metering assembly <NUM> next to the first endless conveyor <NUM> is described below.

The first motor <NUM> is directly attached to a first shaft <NUM> of a drive roller assembly <NUM>. The drive roller assembly <NUM> comprises a left sprocketed drive roller <NUM> seated around and drivingly engaged with the first shaft <NUM>. The left sprocketed drive roller <NUM> comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of sprockets <NUM> (only one labeled) that engage with engagement elements on an underside of the first endless conveyor <NUM> proximate a rear of the first conveyor <NUM>. The engagement elements may be, for example, apertures in or protrusions on the underside of the first endless conveyor <NUM>. Operation of the first motor <NUM> rotationally drives the first shaft <NUM>, which rotationally drives the left sprocketed drive roller <NUM>, which in turn rotationally drives the first endless conveyor <NUM>.

The second motor <NUM> is directly attached to a second shaft <NUM> extending transversely across a width of the left-side solid product metering assembly <NUM>, including across widths of both the first and second endless conveyors <NUM>, <NUM> at a rear of the solid product metering assembly <NUM>. The second shaft is parallel to, longitudinally separated from and driven independently of the first shaft <NUM>. A geared linkage <NUM> operatively connects the second shaft <NUM> to a third shaft <NUM>. The second shaft <NUM> is parallel to and longitudinally separated from the third shaft <NUM>. The third shaft <NUM> is part of the drive roller assembly <NUM> and is coaxial with the first shaft <NUM>. The drive roller assembly <NUM> comprises a right sprocketed drive roller <NUM> seated around and drivingly engaged with the third shaft <NUM>. The right sprocketed drive roller <NUM> comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of sprockets <NUM> (only one labeled) that engage with engagement elements on an underside of the second endless conveyor <NUM>. Operation of the second motor <NUM> rotationally drives the second shaft <NUM>, which rotationally drives the third shaft <NUM>, which rotationally drives the right sprocketed drive roller <NUM> of the drive roller assembly <NUM>, which in turn rotationally drives the second endless conveyor <NUM>. With specific reference to <FIG>, the drive roller assembly <NUM> comprises left and right bushings <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, that support free ends of the first shaft <NUM> and third shaft <NUM> within a shaft connector <NUM>. The first shaft <NUM> and third shaft <NUM> are able to freely and independently rotate within the shaft connector <NUM> by virtue of the bushings <NUM>, <NUM>. The roller <NUM> is drivingly engaged with the first shaft <NUM> at first engagement structure <NUM>, while the roller <NUM> is drivingly engaged with the third shaft <NUM> at second engagement structure <NUM>. A belt separator <NUM> attached to and extending vertically downward from the shaft connector <NUM> keeps the first and second endless conveyors <NUM>, <NUM> from interfering with each other during operation. The shaft connector <NUM> is seated inside the sprocketed drive rollers <NUM>, <NUM>.

With specific reference to <FIG>, the geared linkage <NUM> that operatively connects the second shaft <NUM> to the third shaft <NUM> comprises a first toothed gear <NUM> mounted on the third shaft <NUM> and a second toothed gear <NUM> mounted on the second shaft. The first and second toothed gears <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, are connected by a drive chain <NUM>. The first and second toothed gears <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, are situated at a side of the metering assembly <NUM> opposite the first and second motors <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. Because the geared linkage <NUM> has a much slimmer profile than the first and second motors <NUM>, <NUM>, it is possible to mount the geared linkage <NUM> in the narrow space between the left-side and right-side product metering assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> (see <FIG>).

With specific reference to <FIG>, the second shaft <NUM> is mounted within a first floating idler roller <NUM> and a second floating idler roller <NUM>. The second shaft <NUM> is seated in bushings <NUM> within the idler rollers <NUM>, <NUM> so that the second shaft <NUM> is able to freely rotate within the idler rollers <NUM>, <NUM> without driving the idler rollers <NUM>, <NUM>, and so that the idler rollers <NUM>, <NUM> may rotate independently of each other in response to operation of respective first and second endless conveyors <NUM>, <NUM>. A belt separator <NUM> between the idler rollers <NUM>, <NUM> helps prevent the first and second endless conveyors <NUM>, <NUM> from interfering with each other during operation. In this manner, the second motor <NUM> can drive the second shaft <NUM> to drive the third shaft <NUM> to drive the second endless conveyor <NUM> without interference from the first endless conveyor <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, the second shaft <NUM> along with first and second idler rollers <NUM>, <NUM> are situated at the rear end of the metering assembly <NUM> where the first and second endless conveyors <NUM>, <NUM> loop around the first and second idler rollers <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively.

At the front end of the metering assembly <NUM>, the metering assembly <NUM> comprises a tensioner roller assembly <NUM> around which the first and second endless conveyors <NUM>, <NUM> loop, as shown in <FIG>. The tensioner roller assembly <NUM> comprises a transversely oriented tensioner shaft <NUM> around a first portion of which a first sprocketed tensioner roller <NUM> is fixedly mounted and around a second portion of which a second sprocketed tensioner roller <NUM> is rotatably mounted. The first sprocketed tensioner roller <NUM> rotates with the tensioner shaft <NUM>, while the second sprocketed tensioner roller <NUM> freely rotates around the tensioner shaft <NUM>. While the first tensioner roller is shown fixedly mounted, the second tensioner roller could be fixedly mounted instead. In some embodiments, neither of the tensioner rollers may be fixedly mounted on the tensioner shaft. Proximate ends of the tensioner shaft <NUM>, the tensioner shaft <NUM> is rotatably seated in take-up bearings <NUM>, which are mounted to a mounting plate <NUM>, which is mounted to an inside of a front wall of the container <NUM>. Each of the take-up bearings <NUM> comprises a threaded bolt and nut arrangement <NUM>, which can be operated to tension the endless conveyors <NUM>, <NUM>. The tensioner roller assembly <NUM> further comprises belt separators <NUM> mounted on the tensioner shaft <NUM> and lock collars <NUM> proximate each end of the tensioner shaft <NUM> to hold the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> and belt separators <NUM> in place on the tensioner shaft <NUM>.

All rollers may be provided with oil ports <NUM> (only some shown and labeled) to permit lubricating the various shafts, and the oil ports may be plugged with plugs <NUM> (only some shown and labeled) to prevent oil leaks.

In some embodiments, the third shaft need not be coaxial with the second shaft, but may instead be longitudinally separated from both the first shaft and the second shaft. All three of the shafts may extend the entire width of the product metering assembly, in which case idler rollers may be mounted around appropriate sections of the first and third shafts. In addition or alternatively, intermediate support structures between the first and second endless conveyors may be used to support ends of the first and/or third shafts.

Further, in embodiments where the first endless conveyor is vertically separated from the second endless conveyor, the first and second shafts are vertically separated, and the second and third shafts are vertically separated, without the need for the second shaft to be longitudinally separated from the first and third shafts. With vertically separated endless conveyors, a fourth shaft is required and idler rollers may be mounted on the second and fourth shafts. With vertically separated endless conveyors, another tensioner roller assembly is required at the front of the metering assembly, one for each endless conveyor.

The metering assembly described herein advantageously permits independent operation of endless conveyors within the metering assembly and independent operation of the endless conveyors of adjacent metering assemblies while permitting the adjacent metering assemblies to be close enough together to feed solid product to different closely spaced funnels in the meter boxes of the product distribution system. The use of multiple individually controllable endless conveyors, each distributing product to fewer funnels permits sectional control in an air boom spreader for selectively delivering product to areas of a field.

Further, the arrangement described herein for independently powering two endless conveyors in a single metering assembly can be extended to powering more than two endless conveyors in a single metering assembly. The addition of more motors longitudinally separated on the same side of the metering assembly together with more transversely oriented shafts, appropriate placement of drive and idler rollers on the shafts and appropriate placement of geared linkages between the shafts can permit the use of more than two endless conveyors in a single metering assembly, all the endless conveyors spaced closely enough together to ultimately permit the use of a single independently controlled endless conveyor to feed a single funnel of the product distribution system. A one-to-one correspondence of endless conveyor to funnel provides for very fine sectional control of product delivery to the environment around the air boom spreader.

Claim 1:
An air boom spreader (<NUM>) comprising:
a frame (<NUM>);
a boom arm (3a) extendible transversely to a direction of travel of the spreader (<NUM>);
a container (<NUM>) mounted on the frame (<NUM>) for containing a solid product to be delivered to an environment around the spreader (<NUM>);
a product distribution system (<NUM>) in product communication with the container (<NUM>) for receiving the product from the container (<NUM>); and,
an air system (<NUM>) in product communication with the distribution system (<NUM>) for receiving the product from the distribution system (<NUM>), the air system (<NUM>) comprising an air line (17a) mounted on the boom arm (3a), the air line (17a) connecting the product distribution system (<NUM>) to a product outlet (18a) situated on the boom arm (3a) to permit passage of the product from the product distribution system (<NUM>) to the environment through the product outlet (18a), and a fan assembly (<NUM>) comprising at least a fan, the fan in fluid communication with the air line (17a) and operable to create air flow in the air line (17a) to transport the product from the product distribution system (<NUM>) to the product outlet (18a), wherein the product distribution system (<NUM>) comprises at least one endless solid product metering assembly (<NUM>), the solid product metering assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a first endless conveyor (<NUM>) and a second endless conveyor (<NUM>) for conveying the product from the container (<NUM>) to the air system (<NUM>), the first and second endless conveyors (<NUM>, <NUM>) substantially parallel to each other, the first conveyor (<NUM>) driven independently of the second conveyor (<NUM>); and,
a first shaft (<NUM>), a second shaft (<NUM>) and a third shaft (<NUM>), the first shaft (<NUM>) parallel to, separated from and driven independently of the second shaft (<NUM>), the second shaft (<NUM>) parallel to and separated from the third shaft (<NUM>), the first shaft (<NUM>) driving the first conveyor (<NUM>), the second shaft (<NUM>) driving the third shaft (<NUM>) to drive the second conveyor (<NUM>), and
wherein the metering assembly (<NUM>) further comprises a first motor (<NUM>) for driving the first shaft (<NUM>) to drive the first conveyor (<NUM>) and a second motor (<NUM>) for driving the second shaft (<NUM>) to drive the third shaft (<NUM>) to drive the second conveyor (<NUM>), wherein first and second motors (<NUM>, <NUM>) are situated at a same side of the metering assembly (<NUM>).