# US 10,306,826 B2 · Spinner for a particulate material spreader > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,306,826 B2 - Document ID: US10306826B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/505,663 - Filed: 2015-08-22 - Published: 2017-09-28 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-22 - Assignees: Salford Bbi Inc. - Applicants: Salford Bbi Inc. - Inventors: Steve Owenby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10306826B2 ## CPC - A01C 17/001: {Centrifugal throwing devices with a vertical axis} - E01C 19/201: {with driven loosening, discharging or spreading parts, e.g. power-driven, drive derived from road-wheels (E01C19/205 takes precedence)} - A01C 17/005: {Driving mechanisms for the throwing devices} - A01C 17/006: {Regulating or dosing devices} - E01C 19/202: {solely rotating, e.g. discharging and spreading drums} - E01C 19/203: {Centrifugal spreaders with substantially vertical axis} - E01C 2019/2075: {with longitudinal conveyor belt} - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) - E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H) ## Abstract An apparatus for broadcasting particulate or granular material over a ground surface involves a variable speed spinner and a material conveyor. The spinner is positioned generally horizontally below a discharge end of a material conveyor. The spinner has a disk having a generally radially disposed fin fixed to an upper side of the disk and radiating outwardly from a center of the disk. The spinner is positioned to receive material from the material conveyor at a location about half way along a length of the fin. In a method broadcasting particulate or granular material over a ground surface, the spinner is preferably rotated at a speed of 900-1000 rpm. The apparatus and method provide for distribution of material over greater distances and can do so without pulverizing the material, creating a uniform pattern of distribution over a 50% wider swath. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for broadcasting particulate or granular material over a ground surface, the apparatus comprising: a pair of variable-speed spinners and a material conveyor, the pair of variable-speed spinners being positioned below a discharge end of the material conveyor, wherein each of said pair of variable-speed spinners comprises a dish-shaped disk having a center that is below a horizontal plane defined by a periphery of the dish-shaped disk, a plurality of interchangeable radially-disposed fins positioned on an upper side of each dish-shaped disk and radiating outwardly from a center of the dish-shaped disk with an adjustable angle relative to a radial of the dish-shaped disk, each of the fins having a top edge portion that is angled relative to a portion of the fin that is attached to the dish-shaped disk, at least a portion of the fin extending beyond a periphery of the dish-shaped disk; and an adjustable flow divider between the material conveyor and the spinner for directing and adjusting a flow of the material from the material conveyor onto the pair of variable-speed spinners, wherein each of the pair of variable-speed spinners is able to spin at a variable rotational speed and is positioned to receive material from the flow divider at a selected location about half way along a length of the fins such that the material is caught by portions of the fins traveling at a speed of about 60 to 70 feet per second and is accelerated to a velocity of about 110 to 157 feet per second at an end of the fins' radial length. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the fins comprises a distal end that extends radially beyond a periphery of the dish-shaped disk. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the fins comprises a proximal end that is approximately flush with a center shaft of the dish-shaped disk. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the fins is fixed in an upwardly projecting position that is generally perpendicular to a top surface of the dish-shaped disk. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selected location for depositing the material on each of the pair of rotating variable-speed spinners is about 7 inches to about 9 inches radially from the center of the dish-shaped disk. ### Claim 6 An apparatus for broadcasting particulate or granular material over a ground surface, the apparatus comprising: one or more variable-speed spinners configured to be positioned generally horizontally below a discharge end of a material conveyor, wherein each of the one or more spinners comprises a dish-shaped disk having a diameter of about 24 inches to about 36 inches and having one or more generally radially-disposed fins fixed to an upper side of the dish-shaped disk and radiating outwardly from a center of the dish-shaped disk, wherein at least one of said one or more generally radially-disposed fins has an adjustable angle relative to a radial of the dish-shaped disk; and an adjustable flow divider configured to be positioned between the material conveyor and the one or more variable-speed spinners for directing and adjusting a flow of the material from the material conveyor onto the one or more variable-speed spinners at a selected location that is about 7 inches to about 9 inches radially from the center of the dish-shaped disk. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the one or more fins comprises a distal end that extends radially beyond a periphery of the dish-shaped disk. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the one or more fins comprises a proximal end that is approximately flush with a center shaft of the dish-shaped disk. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the one or more fins has a length of about 7 inches to about 17 inches. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the one or more fins is fixed in an upwardly projecting position that is generally perpendicular to a top surface of the dish-shaped disk. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a variably controllable motor for controlling a rate of rotation of the one or more variable-speed spinners. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the one or more variable-speed spinners comprises two variable-speed spinners disposed adjacent to each other and configured to be positioned below the discharge end of the material conveyor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the material deposited on the spinners at the selected location is caught by a portion of the fins traveling at a speed of 60 to 70 feet per second. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the material accelerates along a length of the fin to a distal end of the fin to achieve a velocity of 110 to 157 feet per second. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a length of the fin is from about 14 inches to about 18 inches. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the one or more fins has a top edge portion that is angled relative to a portion of the fin that is attached to the dish-shaped disk. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the one or more fins has an adjustable angle relative to a radial of the dish-shaped disk. ### Claim 18 A method of broadcasting particulate or granular material over a ground surface, the method comprising: conveying a material to a rotating variable-speed spinner via an adjustable flow divider, the variable-speed spinner comprising a dish-shaped disk having a generally radially-disposed fin on an upper side of the dish-shaped disk and radiating outwardly from a center of the dish-shaped disk, wherein the adjustable flow divider is configured to direct and adjust a flow of the material from a material conveyor onto the rotating variable-speed spinner, and wherein the generally radially-disposed fin has an adjustable angle relative to a radial of the dish-shaped disk; depositing the material on the rotating variable-speed spinner at a selected location that is about half way along a length of the fin, wherein the material deposited on the rotating variable-speed spinner at the selected location is caught by a portion of the fin traveling at a speed of 60 to 70 feet per second; and accelerating the material along the length of the fin to a distal end of the fin to achieve a velocity of 110 to 157 feet per second. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the selected location for depositing the material on the rotating variable-speed spinner is about 7 inches to about 9 inches radially from the center of the dish-shaped disk. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the rotating variable-speed spinner is rotated at a speed of 900-1000 rpm. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the distal end of the fin extends radially beyond a periphery of the dish-shaped disk, and wherein the fin further comprises a proximal end that is approximately flush with a center shaft of the dish-shaped disk, and wherein the fin is fixed in an upwardly projecting position that is generally perpendicular to a top surface of the dish-shaped disk. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the length of the fin is from about 14 inches to about 18 inches. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the rotating variable-speed spinner is adjacent a second rotating variable-speed spinner having a second dish-shaped disk, and wherein each of the dish-shaped disk and the second dish-shaped disk comprises a plurality of generally radially-disposed fins fixed to its upper side and radiating outwardly from its center. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the fin has a top edge portion that is angled relative to a portion of the fin that is attached to the dish-shaped disk.