US 2003/0155453 A1 · Broadcast spreading top dresser

Abstract

A broadcast spreading top dresser (10) includes a diverter (200) which can be positioned in an upper position for light applications and a lower position for heavy applications, with the diverter (200) extending through a slot (210) in an upper sheet (58) of the spinner assembly (40) and beyond and below the upper sheet (58) in the lower position. The leading edges (204) of the diverter (200) are spaced from the circular disks (154) of the spinners (54) intermediate the radial position that the material is dispensed unto the spinners (54) and the maximum rearward extent of the circular disks (154). The lower edges of the diverter (200) extend at differing distances into the thickness of the propelled top dressing material. The metering gate (72) is prevented from being inadvertently manually pivoted between first and second ranges of spacings from the conveyor (140) by a stop (180) having a spring based plunger (182), with the free end of the plunger (182) sliding on the face of the side plate (174) of the metering gate (72) in the second range while the plunger (182) abuts with an edge of the side plate (174) in the first range.

Claims25

Dependent claims

Top dresser for dispensing material to a surface comprising, in combination:

a hopper for containing top dressing material and movably supported relative to the surface;
at least a first spinner rotatable about a vertical axis in a rotation direction, with the spinner including a circular disk of a diameter and having a center corresponding to the vertical axis, with the circular disk being generally perpendicular to the vertical axis and including a top, with the spinner further including a plurality of fins on the top of the circular disk and in a radial orientation, with the spinner being movable along the surface in an operation direction generally perpendicular to the vertical axis and with the circular disk being generally parallel to the surface with top dressing material being dispensed from the hopper onto the top of the circular disk at an infeed radial position;
and a diverter located in the rotation direction past the infeed radial position, with the diverter having a forward end spaced from the circular disk and located intermediate the infeed radial position and the maximum rearward extent of the circular disk in the operation direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Broadcast spreading top dresser

Life of this patent

Broadcast spreading top dresser

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25