Self-Loading Manure Spreader

Abstract

A self-loading manure spreader is claimed which possesses a scraper blade affixed to the front end of the spreader hopper so that as the front end is lowered the scraper blade scoops manure into the hopper as the spreader is pulled forward across a manure supply. The hopper floor is the carrying surface of a conveyor belt which is loaded as the scraper blade scoops up manure. The loading is further assisted by a continuously looping sweeper blade line which clears the top surface of the scraper blade by pushing or sweeping accumulated manure into the hopper. The manure is conveyed to the rear of the spreader where it is broken up by a clod breaker and then propelled into a deflector to increase the distribution width.

Claims

1. A self-loading spreader comprising: a. a mobile hopper having a proximal hopper end, a distal hopper end, at least one hopper side wall, and a means to lower and raise said proximal hopper end; b. a scraper blade affixed to said proximal hopper end, said scraper blade having a top scraper blade surface; c. a driven continuous loop conveyor system to transport the hopper contents from the proximal hopper end to the distal hopper end, wherein said continuous loop conveyor system possesses a conveyor belt which extends from immediately beneath said scraper blade to said distal hopper end; d. a driven sweeper blade line having a plurality of continuously looping sweeper blades which sweeps material from said top scraper blade surface onto said conveyor belt; e. a driven clod breaker arranged at said distal hopper end, said clod buster having at least one roller bar possessing a plurality of spikes; and f. a material deflector which changes the trajectory of material discharged from the distal hopper end to create a wider distribution pattern.

2. The spreader of claim 1, wherein said conveyor system, said sweeper blade line, and said clod breaker are powered by a releasable connection to a wheel affixed to said mobile hopper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0031] The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a rear-facing perspective view of an embodiment of the spreader described herein.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the spreader described herein which demonstrates the arrangement of the distally ascending conveyor system, sweeper blade line, clod buster, and scraper blade.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a top-plan view of an embodiment of the spreader described herein.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the proximal hopper end with affixed scraper blade and sweeper blade line of an embodiment of the spreader described herein.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the clod busters of an embodiment of the spreader described herein.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the spreader described herein used with a tractor.

[0038] FIG. 7 is a partial top-plan view of the distribution pattern behind an embodiment of the spreader described herein.

[0039] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the proximal hopper end and scraper blade engaged in scooping manure during a loading event.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] The present application is directed to a self-loading manure spreader 100. The spreader possesses a hopper 10 into which manure or other material is loaded for transport prior to spreading. For the sake of convenience, manure will be used with the understanding that other types of material may also be utilized. The hopper 10 possesses a hopper floor 20 and at least one lateral hopper wall 15 to retain manure deposited within the confines of the hopper 10. In a preferred embodiment, the hopper floor 20 is a continuous loop conveyor system 60 which utilizes a conveyor belt 70 to move manure from the proximal hopper end 12 to the distal hopper end 16.

[0041] In an embodiment, the conveyor belt 70 possesses cleats 75, e.g., raised ridges or other surface features. These cleats 75 act like small shelves or barriers that help to keep materials in place as they are transported by the looping conveyor belt 70. The size, shape, and spacing of the cleats can vary depending on the type of material being transported and the specific needs of the application. The conveyor belt carrying surface 73 receives and transports the manure loaded into the hopper 10 from the proximal hopper end 12 toward the distal hopper end 16. When the conveyor belt 70 loops around the distal conveyor end 67 at the distal hopper end 16, the carrying surface 73 is returned to the proximal hopper end 12 where it loops around the proximal conveyor end 63 beneath the scraper blade 30 to again function as the carrying surface 73.

[0042] The conveyor belt 70 loops continuously when actuated. In an embodiment, the conveyor belt 70 is driven by a conveyor drive chain 65 which can be engaged and disengaged on demand by coupling it to or decoupling it from a driven element 130, e.g. a spreader’s wheel 130 to name one exemplary embodiment. Additional types of driven elements include motors and tractor PTOs (“power take offs”). The speed of the conveyor belt 70 is regulated by controlling the speed of the driven element 130 which is optimally selected by the user to accomplish the specific task at hand.

[0043] The hopper 10 is loaded by lowering the proximal hopper end 12 to allow the scraper blade 30 to engage a manure supply over which the spreader 100 is pulled. The scraper blade 30 digs into the manure supply to scoop manure into the proximal hopper end 12 as the spreader 100 moves forward. A series of interconnected sweeper blades 45 on a continuous loop sweeper blade line 40 arranged at the proximal spreader end 115 provides assists in clearing the scraper blade 30 and moving the scooped manure distally into the hopper 10. The sweeper blades 45 are typically constructed with strong, durable materials, such as steel or reinforced plastic. As with the continuous loop conveyor system 60, the sweeper blade line 40 is continuously looped and is engaged and disengaged on demand by coupling it to or decoupling it from a driven element 130, e.g. a spreader’s wheel 130 to name one exemplary embodiment. The sweeper blades 45 descend as they travel to the proximal hopper end 12 where they scrape or sweep manure from the scraper blade 30 by proceeding distally toward the conveyor belt carrying surface 73 across the scraper blade top surface 33. The sweeper blades 45 ascend as the travel toward the distal hopper end 16 and further function to sweep deeper accumulations of manure towards the distal hopper end 16.

[0044] When the conveyor belt 60 is in operation, it ascends from the lowered proximal hopper end 12 towards the distal hopper end 16 to which it carries manure.

[0045] The distal spreader end 120 possesses a clod breaker 140 arranged at the distal hopper end 16 over the distal conveyor end 67 to break up clumps of manure to facilitate a more consistent distribution. A preferred embodiment of a clod breaker 140 consists of a series of rotating spikes or teeth that are mounted on at least one roller bar 144. The manure “clods” are broken up as the manure is propelled toward the distal spreader end 120. The conveyor belt 70 helps move the clods through the clod breaker 140 where it is propelled from the distal hopper end 12 to a series of deflectors which utilize the momentum of the manure pieces to scatter them in a pattern which is wider than the distal hopper end 16.

[0046] The conveyor belt 70 itself is flexible and typically made of a rubber or PVC material that is reinforced with fabric or steel cords for added strength and durability. The cleats 75 can be made of various materials, such as rubber or PVC, and are typically attached at regular intervals along the length of the conveyor belt 70.

[0047] As with the continuous loop conveyor system 60 and the sweeper blade line 40, the clod buster 140 is engaged and disengaged on demand by coupling it to or decoupling it from a driven element 130, e.g., a spreader’s wheel 130 to name one exemplary embodiment. In a further embodiment, the rotary speed of the clod buster 140 can be regulated and thus an optimized speed for the material being spread can be selected by the user. As examples, the clod buster 140 can also be driven by a motor or by a tractor PTO.

[0048] The embodiments described in this patent application are exemplary and not exclusive or limiting. It should be understood that one skilled in the art would be able to modify the disclosure in expected ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The various features and steps of the disclosed embodiments may be combined or altered in different ways to produce other embodiments that are within the scope of this invention. Therefore, the invention should be interpreted in light of the claims and the full scope of the disclosure, which should not be limited by the specific examples described herein.