# US 2022/0264792 A1 · High output precision spinner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0264792 A1 - Document ID: US20220264792A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/668,737 - Filed: 2022-02-10 - Published: 2022-08-25 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-17 - Assignees: Highway Equipment Company - Applicants: Highway Equipment Company - Inventors: Benjamin Dwayne BOELTER; Don S. SAMUELSON; Tyler James Schlusemann; Nathan Andrew Marks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220264792A1 ## CPC - A01C 17/008: {Devices controlling the quantity or the distribution pattern} - A01C 15/006: {Hoppers} - A01C 17/001: {Centrifugal throwing devices with a vertical axis} - A01C 19/02: by a motor - A01C 21/005: {Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern} - A01C 15/122: {with moving floor parts} - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) ## Abstract Method for a centrifugal spreader to precisely spread particulate material across an entire field with increased application rate, swath width and driving speed by utilizing a tiered disk spinner arrangement fed by a conveyor and guided by a material divider and an adjustable chute moveable in rotation around the spinner disk to achieve a desired symmetrical or asymmetrical spread pattern. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A centrifugal spreader comprising: a storage container having a discharge end; a conveyor to transport particulate material from said storage container to a material divider; said material divider mounted below said discharge end, positioned to receive material therein and having a plurality of divider outlet orifices; a first flow directing member; a second flow directing member; each of said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member being mounted below one of said plurality of divider outlet orifices, positioned to receive material therein and having a flow directing outlet orifice; a spinner mounted below said flow directing outlet orifice, and positioned to receive material therein; said spinner having a plurality of separated centrifugal disks; wherein the plurality of separated centrifugal disks include a bottom centrifugal disk and a middle centrifugal disk, each of said bottom centrifugal disk and said middle centrifugal disk includes a plurality of throwing vanes; wherein the plurality of separated centrifugal disks includes a top centrifugal disk along with said middle centrifugal disk and each of said top centrifugal disk and said middle centrifugal disk includes a central void configured for permitting passage therethrough of said particulate material from said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member to the middle centrifugal disk and bottom centrifugal disk; said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member having a plurality of internal walls; wherein said plurality of internal walls are formed so that a flow of said particulate material evenly distributes across region of said flow directing outlet orifices starting at the center and filling in away from center as flow increases; said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member are configured to move independently; said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member are moveably connected to a plurality of actuators; and wherein said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member are configured to selectively direct said particulate material around said spinner to said middle centrifugal disk and said bottom centrifugal disk. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The centrifugal spreader of claim 1 wherein cross section of said flow directing outlet orifice forms an inner material opening and a separate and distinct outer material opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The centrifugal spreader of claim 2 wherein said inner material opening and outer material opening are rotatable about rotation axis which coincides with the center of said spinner are driven by an electric actuator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The centrifugal spreader of claim 1 wherein said spinner further comprise a barrier configured to direct deflected grains of said particulate material to said throwing vanes. ### Claim 5 A centrifugal spreader comprising: a storage container for storing material, the storage container having a discharge end; means for conveying material from said discharge end to a material divider; said material divider being mounted below said discharge end, and further positioned to receive material therein; said material divider having a plurality of divider outlet orifices; a first flow directing member; and a second flow directing member; said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member being mounted below one of said plurality of divider outlet orifices, and positioned to receive material therein; said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member each having a flow directing outlet orifice; a spinner positioned below a flow directing outlet orifice; and each of said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member is configured for independently adjusting flow of material around said spinner in a variable manner. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The centrifugal spreader according to claim 5 wherein said spinner is configured with a plurality of separated centrifugal disks. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The centrifugal spreader according to claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of separated centrifugal disks includes a first centrifugal disk with a central void therein for permitting passage therethrough of material to be distributed from said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member to a middle centrifugal disk and bottom centrifugal disk. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The centrifugal spreader according to claim 5 wherein said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member is internally movable within said spinners and is driven by a force transmission device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The centrifugal spreader according to claim 8 wherein the force transmission device is responsive to processor input and sensor feedback. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The centrifugal spreader according to claim 9 wherein a spread pattern is controlled by a control system based on an application rate according to a prescription map and field boundaries. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The centrifugal spreader according to claim 10 wherein the control system adjusts the spread pattern based on contactless detection of particulate material distributed on a disk spreader. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The centrifugal spreader according to claim 11 wherein a contactless detection of particulate material distributed is evaluated by the control system in which a distribution parameter of one of: a heading, an airspeed, a deployed material distribution shape and density of deployed material distribution shape can be determined; and said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member is rotatable about rotation axis which coincides with a center of said spinner. ### Claim 13 A method for precisely spreading particulate material across a field with increased application rate, swath width and driving speed comprising the steps of: providing a conveyor; providing a spinner; providing a first flow directing member; providing a second flow directing member; providing a material divider; and distributing said particulate material in a non-static asymmetrical pattern for one of: a last pass; a field boundary condition; an angled headland; an irregular field profile; and a narrowed swath across said field; distributing said particulate material in a non-static symmetrical pattern across said field utilizing a back-and-forth pattern; and conveying said particulate material onto said spinners utilizing said conveyor, said first flow directing member, said second flow directing member, and said material divider. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein said conveyor increases a throughput characteristic of said particulate material conveyed onto said spinner by increasing an acceleration of said particulate material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein said spinner comprises: a plurality of separated centrifugal disks; a central void through a top centrifugal disk of said plurality of separated centrifugal disks and a lower centrifugal disk for permitting passage of said particulate material; a plurality of throwing vanes with a larger effective outer circular path than said plurality of separated centrifugal disks; and a drive configured to adjust rotational speed of said plurality of separated centrifugal disks to increase acceleration of said particulate material exiting said plurality of throwing vanes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein said material divider is configured to direct flow of said particulate material evenly to said lower centrifugal disk and a bottom centrifugal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member are configured to direct flow of said particulate material from said material divider onto said lower centrifugal disk and a bottom centrifugal of said spinner. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member is independently configured to variably direct flow of said particulate material around said spinner. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein said step of distributing material in a non-static asymmetric pattern includes a spreader setting being set to boundary spreading towards a field boundary. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein said boundary spreading setting comprises of: reducing rotational speed of said spinner; reducing flow of said particulate material; and adjusting position of said first flow directing member and said second flow directing member.