Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/947,858, filed on Mar. 4, 2014; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to a material spreader for spreading materials from a container onto an open area, such as a field. Normally, materials such as manure or fertilizers are evenly spread over an entire surface of the field using a material spreader. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In related art, material spreaders such as a side discharge spreader, include a discharge device and a shroud to convey materials from a container of the side discharge spreader and out through a discharge opening. The discharge device may include a plurality of material conveying components that are rotatably secured to a drive shaft. During operation, the material conveying components may rotate about a central axis and swing downward into the material, peeling it off, pulverizing it, and slinging it underhand laterally out the discharge opening. As a result, an even and controlled spread pattern of the material may be achieved. 
     Over time, however, the plurality of material conveying components begin to wear due to use and a gap distance between an end of the material conveying components and the shroud begins to increase. As the gap distance increases, spread performance of the material conveying components decreases. In an attempt to address this issue, the shrouds in related art may include a single pivot to help bring the shroud closer to the material conveying components. However, the single pivot design causes some portions of the shroud to be closer to the material conveying components than other portions of the shroud. In operation, the varying gap distance causes the material conveying components to follow a path that is non-concentric with the shroud. The non-concentric gap distance results in a less than optimal spread performance and accelerates wear on components. Moreover, additional power is required to rotate the material conveying components to compensate for the larger gap distance between the plurality of material conveying components and the shroud. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a discharge device of a material spreader may be provided with a plurality of material conveying components and a corresponding adjustable shear ledge and adjustable shroud. The adjustable shroud may be pivotably mounted to the adjustable shear ledge and the adjustable shear ledge may in turn be attached to the material spreader so as to be movable along a first axis and a second axis to bring both the adjustable shear ledge and the adjustable shroud closer to the plurality of material conveying components. By providing the adjustable shear ledge, the gap distance between the top surfaces of the adjustable shear ledge and the adjustable shroud can be maintained substantially concentric with the swing of the material conveying components, enabling the discharge device to maintain a consistent spread pattern. Additionally, by maintaining a substantially concentric gap distance, both power consumption and wear of components is reduced. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a discharge device of a material spreader may be provided with a plurality of material conveying components mounted on a drive shaft that may be adjusted to move relative to a center of a material holding container. A mounting position of the drive shaft may be adjusted by at least one hydraulic system, which may provide a corresponding adjustment of a position of the plurality of conveying components. The at least one hydraulic system may be used with an adjustable shear ledge and/or an adjustable shroud, or may be used with a fixed position shear ledge and/or fixed position shroud. The drive shaft may be adjusted toward or away from the adjustable shear ledge and/or the adjustable shroud, or the fixed position shear ledge and/or the fixed position shroud. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The characteristics and advantages of exemplary embodiments are set out in more detail in the following description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1A  depicts a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a material spreader according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  depicts a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the material spreader of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1C  depicts a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the material spreader of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  depicts a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a discharge device with an adjustable shear ledge and an adjustable shroud. 
         FIG. 2B  depicts a close up view of the exemplary embodiment of the discharge device of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  depicts a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a discharge device with an adjustable shear ledge, an adjustable shroud, and a pivot bracket. 
         FIG. 3B  depicts another front elevation view of the exemplary embodiment of the discharge device of  FIG. 3A  without the pivot bracket. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a discharge device with material conveying components passing over a top surface of an adjustable shear ledge and a top surface of an adjustable shroud. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a discharge device. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a side exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a discharge device. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a bottom exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a discharge device. 
         FIG. 8  depicts another bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a discharge device. 
         FIG. 9A  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary hydraulic system for adjusting a position of an adjustable shear ledge and an adjustable shroud. 
         FIG. 9B  depicts another perspective view of the exemplary hydraulic system of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 10A  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary hydraulic system for adjusting a position of a drive shaft supporting a plurality of material conveying components. 
         FIG. 10B  depicts another perspective view of the exemplary hydraulic system of  FIG. 10A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Objects, advantages, and features of the exemplary adjustable shear ledge and shroud for a material spreader described herein will be apparent to one skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification, including the attached drawings. 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. It is noted that as used in the specification and the appending claims the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” can include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C , a material spreader  1  of the present disclosure may include a material holding container  10 , a hitch  20 , a power take-off  30 , a drive enclosure  40 , at least one auger (not shown), and a discharge device  50 . The container  10  of the material spreader  1  may include angled sidewalls  12  to allow materials stored in the container  10 , such as manure or fertilizer, to be conveyed downwards toward a bottom  14  of the container  10 . The discharge device  50  may be disposed on a side surface of one of the angled sidewalls  12 . Additionally, the at least one auger may be housed near the bottom  14  of the container  10 , along a portion of one of the angled sidewalls  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the discharge device  50  may include a discharge inlet  52 , a discharge outlet  54 , and a housing  56 . The discharge inlet  52  may include a discharge door  58  located between the discharge device  50  and the container  10 . The discharge door  58  may control the amount of material entering the discharge device  50  from the container  10  or may prevent any material from entering the discharge device  50 . 
     Using rotational power received from the power take-off device  30 , the drive enclosure  40  may then convert the power received from the power take-off  30  to an appropriate rotational speed in order to drive the at least one auger. During operation, the at least one auger may be rotatably actuated in order to convey materials located within the container  10  towards the discharge inlet  52 . The discharge device  50  may then convey the materials out of the housing  56  via the discharge outlet  54  laterally outward from the discharge device  50 , as will be described in further detail below. As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the discharge device  50  may include an adjustable shear ledge  60  and an adjustable shroud  70 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the discharge device  50  may include a drive shaft  80  and a plurality of material conveying components  82  which may be attached to the drive shaft  80 . The drive shaft  80  may be mounted to the housing  56  of the discharge device  50 , and the housing  56  may be attached to a side surface of one of the angled sidewalls  12 . Each of the plurality of material conveying components  82  may include a front face  84  and a bottom surface  86 . The drive enclosure  40  may convert power received from the power take-off  30  to an appropriate rotational speed in order to drive the drive shaft  80 . During operation, the drive shaft  80  may be rotatably actuated and the plurality of material conveying components  82  are correspondingly rotated about a center of the drive shaft  80  in a counter-clockwise manner (R), as shown in  FIG. 3A . In one embodiment, the center of the drive shaft  80  may be configured to move towards or away from the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  in order to adjust a gap distance between the plurality of material conveying components  82  and at least one of the adjustable shear ledge  60  and the adjustable shroud  70 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the adjustable shear ledge  60  of the discharge device  50  may include a shear top surface  62 . The adjustable shear ledge  60  may also include a shearing edge  64 . The adjustable shroud  70  of the discharge device  50  may be disposed adjacent to the adjustable shear ledge  60 . The adjustable shroud  70  may include a shroud top surface  72 . 
     When the plurality of material conveying components  82  are rotated, a portion of the materials located near the discharge inlet  52  may be scooped up by the front surface  84  of one of the plurality of material conveying components  82 . Subsequently, as the front surfaces  84  of the plurality of material conveying components  82  nears the adjustable shear ledge  60 , a portion of materials is separated and peeled from the remainder of the materials as other portions of the materials contact the shearing edge  64  located near the discharge inlet  52 . The portion of the materials may then be guided along the shear top surface  62 . After passing along the shear top surface  62  of the adjustable shear ledge  60 , the portion of the materials may then be guided along a shroud top surface  72  and then slung underhand laterally out the side of the discharge outlet  54 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the adjustable shear ledge  60  may include a plurality of reinforcing tabs  66 . The plurality of reinforcing tabs  66  may be disposed on an underside of the adjustable shear ledge  60 , opposite of the shear top surface  62 , in order to provide structural strength to the adjustable shear ledge  60 . Each of the plurality of reinforcing tabs  66  may also include a mounting hole  68  disposed on an end opposite of the shearing edge  64 . The adjustable shear ledge  60  may also include a plurality of mounting brackets  63  having mounting members  65  disposed thereon. The mounting members  65  may be in the form of a longitudinal slot or a longitudinal rail. The plurality of mounting brackets  63  may be provided on opposite lateral ends of the adjustable shear ledge  60 . The mounting members  65  of the mounting brackets  63  may be parallel with a rear surface  67  of the shearing edge  64 . In one embodiment, each of the plurality of mounting brackets  63  includes at least two mounting members  65 . In one embodiment, the shearing edge  64  moves along a plane that passes substantially through a center of the shaft  80 . 
     The adjustable shroud  70  may include a plurality of longitudinal ribs  74  and a plurality of lateral ribs  76  on a side opposite of the shroud top surface  72  in order to provide structural rigidity to the adjustable shroud  70 . One end of the longitudinal ribs  74  may include a through hole  78 . The adjustable shroud  70  may include a plurality of external mounting plates  71  disposed on each lateral end of the adjustable shroud  70 . A shroud mounting hole  73  may also be provided on each of the external mounting plates  71 . 
     In one embodiment, the adjustable shear ledge  60  and adjustable shroud  70  may be assembled adjacent to each other. The adjustable shear ledge  60  may be pivotably connected to the adjustable shroud  70 . A fastener or bearing (not shown) may be provided to couple the mounting hole  68  of the adjustable shear ledge  60  to the through hole  78  of the adjustable shroud  70 . In operation, the adjustable shroud  70  may pivot relative to the adjustable shear ledge  60 . In one embodiment, the fastener or bearing securing the adjustable shear ledge  60  to the adjustable shroud  70  may be designed to fail, when a predetermined load is applied to the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70 , in order to provide overload protection for the other components of the discharge device  50 . For example, overload protection may be required when an unusually large object attempts to pass through the discharge device  50  and would otherwise become stuck or cause damage to critical, expensive, or hard to replace components of the discharge device. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , the adjustable shear ledge  60  and the adjustable shroud  70  may be mounted to the bottom  14  of the container  10 . The adjustable shear ledge  60  may be a self-contained structure, or the adjustable shear ledge  60  may be integral with the container  10 . In one embodiment, outer mounting beams  16  may be positioned on opposite sides of the shaft  80  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The outer mounting beams  16  may be attached to inner mounting beams  18  positioned below the bottom  14  of the container  10 . A first outer mounting beam  16   a  may be disposed closer towards a front end of the material spreader  1 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the first outer mounting beam  16   a  may be formed to correspond to a portion of the drive enclosure  40  so as to fit around a side  40   a  and a bottom portion  40   b  of the drive enclosure  40 . A second outer mounting beam  16   b  may be disposed closer towards a rear end of the material spreader  1 . The outer mounting beams  16  may each include a shroud adjusting port  15 . The outer mounting beams  16  may each include at least one first shear adjustment port  17 , or at least one shear adjusting track (not shown). Each first shear adjustment port  17  may be attached by a bolt or other fastener to at least one of a plurality of second adjustment ports  19 , or one of a plurality of second shear adjusting tracks (not shown), formed in the inner mounting beams  18 . In one embodiment, the mounting members  65  may be provided on the mounting beams  16 ,  18 , and corresponding adjustment ports, or adjustment tracks, may be provided on the mounting brackets  63 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , each of the mounting brackets  63  of the adjustable shear ledge  60  may be attached to a respective inner mounting beam  18 , and a respective one of the first outer mounting beam  16   a  and the second outer mounting beam  16   b . By lining up the mounting members  65  with the first shear adjustment ports  17  and the second shear adjustment ports  19 , a bolt and/or another fastener system may be used to secure the adjustable shear ledge  60  to the mounting beams ( 16 ,  18 ). In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9A , the fastener system may include, on one side, at least one bolt  102  and at least one washer  104  secured to least one nut  106  on an opposite side of the a respective mounting beam ( 16   a ,  16   b , or  18 ) to lock the adjustable shear ledge  60  in a desired position. 
     In one embodiment, the at least one bolt  102  may be designed to fail, when a predetermined load is applied to the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70 , to provide overload protection for the other components of the discharge device  50 . In one embodiment, the at least one bolt  102 , the at least one washer  104 , and the at least one nut  106  may be forcibly slid along the slots or rails provided by the mounting members  65 , while being secured to one of the first shear adjustment ports  17  and/or one of the second shear adjustment ports  19 , when a predetermined load is applied to the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70 , to provide overload protection for the other components of the discharge device  50 . 
     In one embodiment, the adjustable shear ledge  60  may be provided with a guide system, and the mounting beams ( 16 ,  18 ) may be provided with a corresponding follower system to follow the guide system. In one embodiment, the adjustable shear ledge  60  may be provided with a follower system and the mounting beams ( 16 ,  18 ) may be provided with a guide system. The guide system and the follower system may enable the adjustable shear ledge  60  to be repositioned relative to the plurality of material conveying components  82  by way of repositioning the adjustable shear ledge  60  on the mounting beams ( 16   a ,  18 ). 
     In one embodiment, the guide system may be in the form of a track, groove, rail, etc., and the corresponding follower system may be in the form of a peg, wheel, ball joint, etc. For example, the peg of the follower system may follow along a track of the guide system. In one embodiment, fasteners may be used to set and hold a current location of the follower system relative to the guide system. In one embodiment, a set screw or a bolt and nut combination may be used to secure and lock the follower system at a particular location on the guide system to lock a position of the adjustable shear ledge  60  in place. 
     In one embodiment a shock absorption system may be disposed between the adjustable shear ledge  60  and the mounting beams ( 16 ,  18 ) in order to provide overload protection for the adjustable shear ledge  60 . In one embodiment, a shock absorption system may be interposed between the guide system and the follower system. The shock absorption system may include a spring-loaded mount or an elastomeric mount. In one embodiment, the shock absorption system may enable the adjustable shear ledge  60  to move relative to the mounting beams ( 16 ,  18 ) and away from the plurality of material conveying components  82 . 
     In one embodiment, the shock absorption system may provide overload protection by enabling large objects or obstructions to pass through the discharge device  50  by temporarily increasing an operating clearance between the plurality of material conveying components  82  and the adjustable shear ledge  60 , and/or between the plurality of material conveying components  82  and the adjustable shroud  70 . Once the large object or obstruction has passed, the shock absorption system may return the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  back to a normal or previously set location and operating clearance. The overload protection may thereby prevent damage to the discharge device and reduces operating down time. 
     In one embodiment, adjustments to the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  may be performed manually by an operator loosening/tightening bolts and/or fasteners and then shifting a current position of the adjustable shear ledge  60  to a new position. In one embodiment, adjustments to the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  may be implemented using a hydraulic system or a mechanical linkage. 
     In one embodiment, a shroud mounting port  15  may be formed in each of the outer mounting beams  16  as shown in  FIG. 8 . With the shroud mounting port  15 , respective mounting plates  71  may be attached to each of the outer mounting beams  16 . Specifically, by lining up each shroud mounting hole  73  with a portion of a respective shroud adjusting port  15 , a bolt and/or other fastener may be used to secure the adjustable shroud  70  to a respective outer mounting beam ( 16   a ,  16   b ). 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 8, 9A, and 9B , an opening of the shroud adjusting port  15  may be sized larger than an opening of the mounting hole  73 . In this configuration, the mounting hole  73  can be moved vertically and/or horizontally into an infinite number of positions, with respect to the shroud adjusting port  15 , while still remaining within a boundary of the opening of the shroud adjusting port  15 . A bolt and/or other fastener together with a washer or a movable installation plate may be used to secure the adjustable shroud  70  to the outer mounting beams  16 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9A , a bolt  91 , a washer  92 , an eccentric plate  93 , and a nut  94  may be provided to secure the external mounting plates  71  to the outer mounting beams  16 . The eccentric plate  93  may be provided to prevent the bolt  91  from passing through the opening of the adjusting port  15  while enabling the bolt  91  to be secured to the nut  94  in a plurality of positions. In one embodiment, a bracket  95  and a set screw adjustment  96  which may include an eyebolt, may be provided to assist in aligning the adjustable shroud  70 . By adjusting the location of where the adjustable shroud  70  is secured with respect to the outer mounting beams  16 , a gap distance between the shroud top surface  72  and the plurality of material conveying components  82  may be adjusted to achieve a desired gap distance and to promote concentricity. 
     In one embodiment, the bolt  91  may be designed to fail when a predetermined load is applied to provide overload protection for the other components of the discharge device  50 . In one embodiment, the bolt  91 , the washer  92 , the eccentric plate  93 , and the nut  94  may be forcibly repositioned with respect to the opening of the adjusting port  15 , while being secured to one of the shroud mounting holes  73 , when a predetermined load is applied to provide overload protection for the other components of the discharge device  50 . 
     In one embodiment, the external mounting plates  71  of the adjustable shroud  70  may be provided with a guide system, and the outer mounting beams  16  may be provided with a corresponding follower system to follow the guide system. The guide system may be in the form of a track, groove, rail, etc. In one embodiment, the external mounting plates  71  of the adjustable shroud  70  may be provided with a follower system, and the outer mounting beams  16  may be provided with a corresponding guide system to guide the follower system. The guide system and the follower system may enable the adjustable shroud  70  to be repositioned relative to the plurality of material conveying components  82  by way of repositioning the adjustable shroud  70  on the outer mounting beams  16 . 
     In one embodiment, the guide system may be in the form of a track, groove, rail, etc., and the corresponding follower system may be in the form of a peg, wheel, ball joint, etc. For example, the peg of the follower system may follow along a track of the guide system. In one embodiment, fasteners may be used to set and hold a current location of the follower system relative to the guide system. In one embodiment, fasteners may be used to set and hold a current location of the follower system with respect to the guide system. In one embodiment, a set screw or a bolt and nut combination may be used to secure the follower system at a particular location on the guide system to lock a position of the adjustable shear shroud  70  in place. 
     In one embodiment a shock absorption system may be disposed between the adjustable shroud  70  and the outer mounting beams  16  in order to provide overload protection for the adjustable shroud  70 . In one embodiment, a shock absorption system may be interposed between the guide system and the follower system. The shock absorption system may include a spring-loaded mount or an elastomeric mount. In one embodiment, the shock absorption system may enable the adjustable shroud  70  to move relative to the outer mounting beams and away from the plurality of material conveying components  82 . 
     In one embodiment, the shock absorption system may provide overload protection by enabling large objects or obstructions to pass through the discharge device  50  by temporarily increasing an operating clearance between the plurality of material conveying components  82  and the adjustable shear ledge  60 , and/or between the plurality of material conveying components  82  and the adjustable shroud  70 . Once the large object or obstruction has passed, the shock absorption system may return the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  back to a normal or previously set location and operating clearance. The overload protection may thereby prevent damage to the discharge device and reduces operating down time. 
     In one embodiment, both the adjustable shear ledge  60  and the adjustable shroud  70  may both be moved with respect to the mounting beams ( 16 ,  18 ) to achieve a desired gap distance and promote concentricity with the plurality of material conveying components  82 . Additionally, while the adjustable shear ledge  60  and adjustable shroud  70  are being moved, the adjustable shroud  70  may also be pivoted with respect to the adjustable shear ledge  60 , thus enabling the entire shroud top surface  72  to be brought closer towards the plurality of material conveying components  82  to promote concentricity. 
     In one embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , a hydraulic system  110  may be provided to adjust a position of the adjustable shear ledge  60  and the adjustable shroud  70 . The hydraulic system  110  may include a first hydraulic actuator  111  secured at a first end  112  to the bottom of the container  14  or to the housing  56  of the discharge device  50 . The hydraulic actuator  111  may be secured at a second end  113  to a bracket  114  of the adjustable shear ledge  60 . In one embodiment, the hydraulic actuator  111  may be installed parallel with or substantially parallel with the bottom of the container  14  to laterally adjust a position of the adjustable shear ledge  60 , or both the adjustable shear ledge  60  and the adjustable shroud  70 . In one embodiment, the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  may be repositioned laterally away from a center of the container  10  as the hydraulic actuator  111  is extended, or towards the center of the container  10  as the hydraulic actuator  111  is retracted. 
     The hydraulic system  110  may include a second hydraulic actuator  115  with a first end  116  secured to the bracket  114  of the adjustable shear ledge  60 . The second hydraulic actuator  115  may include a second end  117  secured to a bracket  119  of the adjustable shroud  70 . In one embodiment, the second hydraulic actuator  115  may extend at an angle, downward from the first hydraulic actuator  111 , in order to rotatably adjust the adjustable shroud  70  with respect to the adjustable shear ledge  60 . In one embodiment, the adjustable shroud  70  may be rotated upward towards the plurality of material conveying components  82  as the second hydraulic actuator  115  is extended, or rotated downward away from the plurality of material conveying components  82  as the second hydraulic actuator  115  is retracted. 
     In one embodiment, the first hydraulic actuator  111  and/or the second hydraulic actuator  115  may be adjusted to extend or retract on demand in response to a predetermined load applied to the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or adjustable shroud  70  to provide overload protection for the other components of the discharge device  50 . 
     In one embodiment, the adjustable shear ledge  60  may be provided with a guide system, and the mounting beams ( 16 ,  18 ) may be provided with a corresponding follower system to follow the guide system, or vice versa. The guide system and the follower system, together with the hydraulic system, may be used to adjust a position of the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  relative to the plurality of material conveying components  82  by way of repositioning the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  on the mounting beams ( 16 ,  18 ). The first hydraulic actuator  111  may be used to set and hold a position of the adjustable shear ledge  60  relative to the mounting beams ( 16 ,  18 ). 
     The guide system and the follower system, together with the hydraulic system  110 , may be used to adjust a position of the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  relative to the plurality of material conveying components  82  by way of repositioning the adjustable shroud  70  and/or the adjustable shear ledge  60  on the mounting beams ( 16 ,  18 ). The second hydraulic actuator  115  may be used to set and hold a position of the adjustable shroud  70  and/or the adjustable shear ledge  60  on the mounting beams ( 16 ,  18 ). 
     In one embodiment, a shock absorption system may be installed in series or in parallel with the first hydraulic actuator  111  and/or the second hydraulic actuator  115 . The shock absorption system may provide overload protection by enabling large objects or obstructions to pass through the discharge device  50  by temporarily increasing an operating clearance between the plurality of material conveying components  82  and the adjustable shear ledge  60 , and/or between the plurality of material conveying components  82  and the adjustable shroud  70 . Once the large object or obstruction has passed, the shock absorption system may return the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  back to a normal or previously set location and operating clearance. In one embodiment, the shock absorption system may be spring loaded device. 
     In one embodiment, the shock absorption system is actuated when a predetermined force is applied on the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70 . In one embodiment, when the shock absorption system is actuated, a distance between the first end  112  and the second end  113  of the first hydraulic actuator  111  may be extended or shortened as needed to allow the obstruction to pass. In one embodiment, when the shock absorption system is actuated, a distance between the first end  116  and the second end  117  of the second hydraulic actuator  115  may be extended or shortened as needed to allow the obstruction to pass. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , at least one hydraulic system  120  may be provided to adjust a mounting position of the drive shaft  80  with respect to the housing  56 . The at least one hydraulic system  120  may be used with one of the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70 , or may be used with a fixed position shear ledge and/or fixed position shroud. The drive shaft  80  may support the plurality of material conveying components  82  and the adjustment of the mounting position may correspondingly adjust a position of the plurality of material conveying components  82  with respect to an installed shear ledge and shroud to improve a swing path of the plurality of material conveying components  82 . In one embodiment, the hydraulic system  120  may be provided on either side of the housing  56  to support at least both ends of the drive shaft  80 . The hydraulic system  120  may include a support column  121  that is rotatable and secured to a pivot  122  which may be attached to the housing  56 . The hydraulic system  120  may include a collar mechanism  123  that may be slidably supported on the support column  121 . 
     In one embodiment, a first hydraulic actuator  124  may be provided to adjust an axial position of the collar mechanism  123  along a length of the support column  121 . A bearing support member  130  may be attached to the collar mechanism  123  to secure the drive shaft  80  to the housing  56 . The first hydraulic actuator  124  may be attached at a first end  125  to the pivot  122  and at a second end  126  to the collar mechanism  123 . In one embodiment, the drive shaft  80  may be adjusted towards the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  as the first hydraulic actuator  124  is extended, or adjusted away from the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  as the first hydraulic actuator  124  is retracted. 
     In one embodiment, the collar mechanism  123  may include a plurality of circular rings sized to receive the support column  121  along their respective inner circumference. A beam member may be provided to connect the plurality of circular rings to one another. The circular rings may include mounts for attaching the bearing support member  130  thereto. 
     In one embodiment, a second hydraulic actuator  127  may be provided to adjust an angle A of the support column  121  with respect to the pivot  122 . The second hydraulic actuator  127  may be attached at a first end  128  to an end of the support column  121 , opposite from the pivot  122 . The second hydraulic actuator  127  may be attached to a second end  129  that is secured to a side of the housing  56  or the container  10 . In one embodiment, the drive shaft  80  may be swung laterally away from a center of the container  10  as the second hydraulic actuator  127  is extended, or swung toward a center of the container  10  as the second hydraulic actuator  127  is retracted. 
     In one embodiment, the first hydraulic actuator  124  and/or the second hydraulic actuator  127  may be adjusted to extend or retract on demand in response to a predetermined load applied to the adjustable shear ledge  60 , adjustable shroud  70 , and/or the plurality of material conveying components  82  to provide overload protection for the other components of the discharge device  50 . 
     In one embodiment, a shock absorption system may be installed in series or in parallel with the first hydraulic actuator  124  and/or the second hydraulic actuator  127  to provide overload protection by enabling large objects or obstructions to pass through the discharge device  50  by temporarily adjusting a position of the drive shaft  80 . Once the large object or obstruction has passed, the shock absorption system may return the drive shaft  80  back to a normal or previously set position. In one embodiment, the shock absorption system may be a spring loaded device. In one embodiment, the shock absorption system is actuated when a predetermined lateral force is applied to the drive shaft  80 . 
     In one embodiment, adjustments may be made by an operator based on visual inspection of the discharge device  50 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , a sensor  90  to measure a gap distance and/or to measure torque of the material conveying components  82  may be provided to give a reading of the measurement to the operator, whereby the operator can adjust the gap distance between the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  with the plurality of material conveying components  82  to a desired gap distance. 
     In one embodiment, the sensor  90  may be provided to measure a gap distance between the plurality of material conveying components  82  and the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  to determine whether the gap distance is in an appropriate operating range, and to automatically adjust the gap distance using the hydraulic system  120   [LJW1] . In one embodiment, a sensor measuring a torque of the material conveying components  82  may be provided to detect whether the discharge device  50  is in an appropriate operating range and to automatically adjust the gap distance between the adjustable shear ledge  60  and/or the adjustable shroud  70  with the plurality of material conveying components  82  using the hydraulic system  120 . 
     In one embodiment, each of the mounting members  65  is a longitudinal opening (e.g. slot) that extends towards the shear top surface  62 . In this configuration, the adjustable shear ledge  60  may be positioned or repositioned along a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, both the vertical axis and the horizontal axis being perpendicular to an axis of the drive shaft  80 . By positioning or repositioning the adjustable shear ledge  60 , a gap distance between the shear top surface  62  and the plurality of material conveying components  82  may be adjusted to achieve a desired gap distance and to promote concentricity. In one embodiment, the gap distance may be between 0.05 and 0.25 inches. In another embodiment, the gap distance may be between 0.10 and 0.15 inches. 
     It is understood that the adjustable shear ledge and shroud of the present disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but embraces much modified forms thereof that are within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: 1