TANGENTIAL INLET DEVICE FOR SOLIDS DISTRIBUTION TRAILER

Abstract

A device to distribute solids such as seeds, fertilizers, salts, or other granular materials through a machine for agricultural use or other similar uses, of the type that uses horizontal rotating plates or discs with spreader pallets, wherein access of the material to be distributed to the spreader pallets is tangential thereto, by use of a channeller downloaded in the central area of the disc. The device does not break the particles to be spread and, thereby, they maintain their original mass, which let us affirm that the working area is extended and the uniformity of the distribution is improved. Additionally, the tangential access of the material from the center of the rotating plate or disc, and with the same course of the pallets, gives an additional speed to the particles that allows to further increase the working area.

Claims

1. A tangential inlet device for solids distribution trailer, of the type used in a machine for agricultural use that distribute granular material comprising: one or more rotating plates or discs configured to spread the granular material homogeneously; at least one spreader pallet; a support that has an opening in its center through which the granular material enters to a channeller, that can be rotated through a manual and/or electrical actuating mechanism, and wherein an outlet is placed over a flat area, located in a center of the one or more rotating plate or disc assembled under the channeller.

2. The tangential inlet device for solids distribution trailer according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the outlet of the channeller and the spreader pallets is between 1 and 15 mm.

3. The tangential inlet device for solids distribution trailer according to claim 1, wherein the channeller is of a straight shape, a curved shape, a spoon shape and the outlet is at a height between 1 and 30 mm from the center of the rotating plate or disc.

4. The tangential inlet device for solids distribution trailer according to claim 1, wherein the channeller generates an additional speed to the material to be distributed, and in the same direction of the pallets.

5. The tangential inlet device for solids distribution trailer according to claim 1, wherein the channeller rotates over its vertical axis, either in manual form through a slide, in automatic form through an electric engine or through a hybrid of both mechanisms.

6. The tangential inlet device for solids distribution trailer according to claim 1, wherein the flat area in the center of the rotating plate or disc has a diameter of 20 to 150 mm.

7. The tangential inlet device for solids distribution trailer according to claim 1, wherein the rotating plate or disc has a flat shape or a concave shape.

8. The tangential inlet device for solids distribution trailer according to claim 1, wherein the access to the material to be distributed to the spreader pallets is tangential thereof.

9. The tangential inlet device for solids distribution trailer according to claim 1, wherein adjusting the dimensions of the different components forms a kit to replace the devices for distribution of granular materials used in different trademarks and models of machines of agricultural use or similar uses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a fertilizer or spreader machine of the type of gravity drop and belonging to the current state of the art.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a photograph of the machine of FIG. 1, belonging to the current state of the art, working in the field and submitted for illustrative purposes only.

[0031] FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are photographs of plates or discs belonging to the current state of the art and submitted for clarification purposes.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a view of the object of the invention.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the object of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a view of the object of the invention to which some components have been withdrawn.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a view of the object of the invention with another channeller shape.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a scheme that represents the movement of the particles in the object of the present invention when entering the plate and spreader pallets.

[0037] FIGS. 9a and 9b are two real photographs of the prototype of the object of the present invention assembled on a fertilizer machine and submitted for clarification purposes only.

[0038] FIGS. 10a and 10b are schemes that represent the channeller rotated on its vertical axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] The present invention refers to the manner in which the solid material to be distributed accesses to the spreader pallets arranged on the rotating discs or plates of a machine for agricultural use or other similar uses to prevent that it breaks due to the impact produced when it bumps into its own disc and mainly, into the propeller pallets.

[0040] Even though the main field of interest of the invention are the disc seeders and fertilizer agricultural machines, the invention can also be applicable for the distribution of solid materials in other types of applications, such as for example for machines that distribute salts in routes to melt ice, as the problems to be solved are similar.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a fertilizer or spreader agricultural machine of the type of gravity drop, as the hopper (1) with the material to be distributed is directly over the rotating discs or plates (2). This type of machines is dragged by a tractor but there are bigger ones that are self-propelled, that include conveyor belts inside them, scales, etc., but the material to be distributed always drops virtually in vertical manner over the discs, so that the object of the invention is perfectly applicable to any of these machines.

[0042] FIG. 2 is a photograph of the machine mentioned in the above figure, working in the field, and submitted for illustrative purposes only.

[0043] FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are photographs of the rotating plates or discs belonging to the current state of the art, and submitted for clarification purposes, as it is intended to show that in general they have in the center a convex part (A) that in fact makes that the dropping point of the material moves away from the center of the plate and, thereby, that it is bumped by the pallets at a higher tangential speed, as it increases as one moves away from the center of the disc. As a result of this, breakage and turbulence of the particles increases, that is what the object of this invention tries to avoid and that will be explained below.

[0044] FIG. 4, is a view of the object of the invention, formed by a rotating plate or disc (2) wherein the spreader pallets (3) and (4) and a support (5) assembled on the plate or disc (2) can be observed, and that includes an electric engine (6) and the channeller (7), through which the material enters from the hopper. It can be noted that it has a curved shape, so that the material does not enter vertically to the disc, but following the shape of the channeller. Likewise, the electric engine (6) shall be in charge of rotating, in the horizontal plane, the position of the channeller (7) in one direction or the other, and this way varying the position of the access or dropping point of the material to be distributed, but always around the center of the plate or disc (2), in the case of implementation of an automatic control.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the object of the invention, wherein it can be observed that the channeller (7) is centered with the axis of the plate or disc (2), entering the material to be distributed through the window (8). A slide B with a set of letters from A to R engraved over the support (5) can also be observed, which allows the manual adjustment to rotate in the horizontal plane the position of the channeller (7) in one direction or the other, and this way vary the position of the access or dropping point of the material to be distributed, but always around the center of the plate or disc (2). For example, in the case of this figure, the position is show with letter J.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a new view of the object of the invention, similar to FIG. 4, but in this case some components have been withdrawn to better appreciate the shape of the channeller (7), which is fundamental for the invention, and that allows that the material enters tangentially to the plate or disc (2) and to the propeller pallets (3) and (4). It is also important to highlight that the download of the channeller (7) takes place practically in the center of the plate or disc (2) and in a flat area (C) thereof, of 20 to 150 mm of diameter, for plates or discs of the “concave” type, such as the one shown in this figure. This characteristic is an important advantage as regards the typical discs viewed in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c, as explained in FIG. 8 below. Additionally, it can be observed that the shape of the channeller is curved, even if it can be any shape, the important point is that it allows that the access of the material to the disc (2) and spreader pallets (3) and (4) takes place softer than in the machines belonging to the current state of the art.

[0047] FIG. 7 is an example of what has been mentioned in above figure. In this case, the channeller (7) is straight and not curved, but the function is the same as mentioned above.

[0048] FIG. 8 is a scheme that allows viewing, even out-of-scale since the spherical particles (9) of the fertilizer are much more smaller than the ones shown in the figure, how they behave when tangentially entering the disc (2) and, therefore, to the pallets (3) and (4), which results fundamental to understand the importance of the object of the invention to solve the problems posed. To start with, the spheres (9) do not fall vertically over the disc (2), but through the channeller (7) that, as already mentioned, “delivers” them in a softer manner that in the known systems, in a flat area (C) of the center of the disc, where the tangential speed thereof is practically zero and further with a certain radial speed that is precisely generated by the own shape of the channeller (7).

[0049] Furthermore, the height from which the particles fall from the channeller to the plate or disc (2) is reduced, included within 1 and 30 mm and therefore no rebounds against the rotating disc or plate (2) take place. Additionally, it is important to highlight that the distance between the channeller and the pallets is also reduced, included within a range of 1 to 15 mm, which allows that the spherical particles (9) access immediately and tangentially to the pallet (4), flowing without resistance as stated by the arrows (D), and following the direction of the pallet (4), and further with the additional “plus” of speed that is generated by the shape of the channeller (7), which eases that the material can reach a greater distance for the same rotation speed of the disc.

[0050] Additionally, as the particles (9) enter to the pallets (3) and (4) in a point wherein the speed is practically zero, they do not receive a bump as it happens in the machines included in the current state of the art, and therefore they will not break as they do not bump to the extent they do in the current machines. The figure also eases understanding that with the use of the channeller (7), the spreader pallets (3) and (4) have a better control over the distribution, as they “do no bump in the air”.

[0051] Everything explained herein makes it possible to understand that the object of the invention prevents the generation of turbulence as there are no rebounds and the particles enter directly to the pallets that are a few millimeters away from the access or dropping point of the material, with the same direction thereof.

[0052] FIGS. 9a and 9b are two real photographs taken from different positions of the object of the invention already assembled in a machine and submitted for clarification purposes of the following two figures. In both photographs the plate or disc (2), the spreader pallets (3) and (4), the channeller (7) and the electric engine (6) can be observed. It can also be observed that together with the following two figures, they allow viewing the channeller (7) rotating over its vertical axis to modify the access or dropping point of the particles, but always within the flat area (C) and very close to the center of the plate or disc (2).

[0053] FIGS. 10a and 10b represent the object of the invention assembled on a machine, wherein it can be observed that the channeller (7) is rotated in two different angular positions regarding the spreader pallets (3) and (4). Said rotation is carried out manually or through the engine (6) as explained in FIGS. 4 and 5. For example, in FIG. 10a, the red arrow (E) states that it rotates in anticlockwise direction while in FIG. 10b it rotates clockwise. That is to say, the access or dropping point of the material to be distributed is always within the flat area (C) of the center of the plate, but being able to rotate the channeller (7) in one direction or the other, allows better monitoring of the manner of distribution of the product as the pallets usually have a different length to achieve a broader or reduced projection of the particles.

[0054] In brief, and according to what has been explained through the different figures, it can be understood that the object of the invention introduces important improvements in comparison with the devises included in the current state of the art regarding the distribution of solids, either seeds, fertilizers, salts or any other granular material, since the possibility of breakage of the particles of the products is reduced as the material tangentially enters the spreader pallets, achieving a broader scope and working area for a disc of equal size and rotation speed, virtually eliminates turbulences and offers a better control over the manner and uniformity of the distribution, resulting in an increase of the application efficiency and an economical benefit for the user.

[0055] Additionally, it is worth mentioning that all herein explained for concave plates or discs and with two spreader pallets is also perfectly applicable for completely flat plates or discs, and for discs with one, two or more spreader pallets, since it depends on the material to be distributed and on the application, but the functionality to be protected is always the same.

[0056] At the same time, the application of the principles of the invention and a first preferred embodiment thereof have been disclosed and described in detail in this document, but it is herein stated that it is possible to implement other alternative embodiments without departing from said principles, for instance, using one channeller with any other form apart from the already mentioned ones, but that eases the tangential access of the particles to the spreader pallets.

[0057] Finally, considering that in the Argentine market there exist around 100 different models of centrifugal fertilizers, most of them with double disc, and that they have a participation of the range of 70% of the total market of fertilizers, the object of the present invention may be arranged with different disc sizes to be commercialized as a kit, in order to replace the spreader discs of any existing machine in the local, and inclusive international, market.