US 4,382,568 A · Airplane spreader apparatus

Abstract

A spreader unit is provided for connection to a hopper carried in an airplane for spreading granular material at a controlled rate of flow. A moveable gate on the spreader is moveable between a closed position covering a discharging opening through which the granular material may flow and an open position defining a gap to allow a predetermined flow rate of granular material from the hopper. A new and improved adjustable control 70 is provided in the cockpit of the airplane adjacent the pilot for manipulation by the pilot to control the gate width to an accurate degree to provide the desired flow rate despite deflection or other binding or lost motion in the linkage or levers in the actuating means for the gate. The control is positioned on the spreader adjacent the gate and a spreader extends from the actuator into the cockpit. A turnable handle is positioned adjacent the pilot for adjusting the size of the gap and thereby the flow rate of the granular material from the hopper. The control means is preferably releasable with operation of an emergency handle, so that the gate may be swung to the open position along with an emergency gate to drop the contents of the hopper at time of danger to the pilot or the airplane.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A spreader unit for connection to a hopper carried in an airplane for spreading granular material at a controlled rate of flow;

said spreader unit being attached to the hopper and having a discharge opening, a movable gate on said spreader movable between a closed position covering said discharge opening and open position defining a gap through which granular material may flow;
actuator means extending from said gate to the cockpit of the airplane for manipulation by the pilot to shift said gate between open and closed positions;
adjustable control means located adjacent said gate for adjustable limiting the movement of said movable gate in the opening direction to control the size of gap and thereby the flow rate of granular material;
operating means for extending from said adjustable control means to the cockpit for operation by the pilot to set the size of the gap and thereby the flow rate, said adjustable control means comprising relatively movable parts having stop surfaces for abutment to limit the opening movement of said gate, said parts having a lost motion connection therebetween allowing the stop surfaces to separate as said gate is moved to the closed position by said operating means, said relatively movable parts comprising a telescoping rod and tube each having one of said stop surfaces thereon for abutment to limit the travel of said gate in the opening direction, one of said telescoping parts being threaded, a nut for receiving in threaded engagement said threaded part, said operating means including means extending to said cockpit to turn said threaded part in said nut to shift the same and its stop surface relative to the other stop surface.

1 more element

For use in a crop dusting plane having a hopper with an outlet leading to a spreader, a discharge gate closing the outlet and control means to be operated by the pilot from the plane cockpit for moving the discharge gate for selectively opening and closing the outlet;

the combination with said discharge gate of stop means disposed adjacent the discharge gate but spaced therefrom in the direction of gate movement in moving from the closed position to the opened position;
said stop means including a frame secured relative to the hopper and spreader and a movable member mounted within the frame and presenting a free board end adjacent the discharge gate;
metering control means located in the cockpit to be operated by the pilot therein, and linkage means connected between the movable member and the metering control means operable upon actuation of the latter to shift the former closer to or further from the discharge gate, whereby the adjusted movable member of the stop means is engaged by the discharge gate means to accurately limit the extent of the opening of the outlet, and emergency release control means being located in the cockpit to be operated by the pilot therein, and linkage means connecting this control means to the stop means to disengage the stop means upon actuation of the control means.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Airplane spreader apparatus

Life of this patent

Airplane spreader apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8