Spreader control

A mechanism for engaging and disengaging a drive shaft and unloader and distributor drives and for varying the speed of the unloader drive comprising:

• a support;
• shiftable coupling means for engaging and disengaging the drive shaft and the distributor drive;
• means for biasing the coupling means toward a normally engaged position;
• variable speed belt drive means including a first pulley having two halves shiftably mounted for axial displacement with respect to each other on the drive shaft for changing the effective diameter of the first pulley to increase or decrease the speed of the belt drive means as the displacement is respectively decreased or increased and for engaging and disengaging the unloader drive, an unloader drive pulley connected to the unloader drive, and belt trained between the pulley halves and the unloader drive pulley;
• a variable position shifter assembly rockably mounted on the support for operating the coupling means and varying the displacement of the pulley halves with respect to each other;
• a multiple position cam member mounted on the support for rocking the shifter assembly, the cam member having at least four positions to vary the shifter assembly position including a first position to increase the displacement of the pulley halves for disengagement of the unloader drive, a second position to decrease the displacement to engage the unloader drive, a third position to further decrease the displacement, and a fourth position to shift the coupling means against the bias to the disengaged position;
• and
• means for positioning the cam member.

In a material unloader including a box-like structure with a forwardly facing wall, an unloader conveyor and a distributor, and also including a drive shaft and conveyor and distributor drives, means for driving and controlling the operation of the conveyor and distributor comprising:

• controllably engageable and disengageable drive coupling means located forwardly of the wall and connected between the drive shaft and the distributor drive;
• controllably engageable and disengageable variable speed belt drive means adjacent the drive coupling means and connected between the drive shaft and the conveyor drive and adjustable to operate the conveyor drive over a range of speeds between a first speed and a second speed;
• means for simultaneously controlling the drive coupling means and belt drive means for establishing a plurality of operative conditions including a first operative condition wherein the first drive coupling means is engaged and the belt drive means is disengaged, a second operative condition wherein the first drive coupling means and the belt drive means are engaged and the belt drive means is adjusted to operate at the first speed, a third condition wherein the first drive coupling means and the belt drive means are engaged and the belt drive means is adjusted to operate at a speed between the first and the second speeds, and a fourth condition wherein the first drive coupling means is disengaged and the belt drive means is adjusted to operate at the second speed, the means for simultaneously controlling including a support shaft offset from the drive shaft, means for rotatably indexing the shaft, a cam mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith, an arm assembly controllably connected to the drive coupling means and the belt drive means, and a cam follower connected to the arm assembly for moving the latter in response to rotation of the cam.

In a material unloader having a box-like structure with forward and side walls, a drive shaft, an unloading conveyor, and a material distributor, means for selectively engaging and disengaging the drive shaft and the conveyor and distributor and for varying the speed of the conveyor within preselected range of speeds, comprising:

• controllably engageable and disengageable variable speed drive coupling means connected between the drive shaft and the unloading conveyor;
• engageable and disengageable clutch means for selectively connecting and disconnecting the drive shaft and the distributor;
• means for simultaneously controlling the drive coupling means and the clutch means for establishing a plurality of operative conditions including a first operative condition wherein the clutch means is engaged and the drive coupling means is disengaged, a second operative condition wherein the clutch means is engaged and the drive coupling means is engaged and operating the unloading conveyor at a first speed within the preselected range, a third operative condition wherein the clutch means is engaged and the drive coupling means is engaged and operating the unloading conveyor at a second speed within the preselected range, and a fourth operative condition wherein the clutch means is disengaged and the drive coupling means is engaged to operate the unloading conveyor at a preselected speed within the range, said means for simultaneously controlling including a control shaft supported for rotation near the forward wall, cam mounted on the control shaft for rotation therewith, cam follower means operably engaging the cam means, lever means operably associated with the clutch means and the drive coupling means, means connecting the lever means and the cam follower means, and indexing means for selectively rotating the control shaft, the indexing means comprising a ratchet connected for rotation with the shaft, a rockable pawl mounted for engagement with the rotation of the ratchet, and a hydraulic cylinder having one end anchored against movement and the other end operably connected to the pawl for rocking the latter upon extension and retraction of the cylinder.