Broadcast spreading top dresser

Top dresser comprising, in combination:

• a hopper for containing top dressing material;
• a spinner assembly including at least one rotatable spinner, with each spinner including a hydraulic motor;
• means for dispensing top dressing material onto the rotatable spinner, with the dispensing means being driven by a hydraulic motor;
• a first control valve for dividing hydraulic fluid flow between a first path and a second path, with the first path including the hydraulic motor of each spinner, with the second path bypassing the hydraulic motor of each spinner, with the fluid flow to the first path being less than the total hydraulic fluid flow to the first valve;
• and a second control valve, with the second path including the second valve, with the second valve dividing the hydraulic fluid flow of the second path between a first subpath and a second subpath, with the first subpath including the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing means and with the second subpath bypassing the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing means, with the fluid flow to the first subpath being less than the total hydraulic fluid flow to the first valve, with the second control valve being in series downstream of the first control valve to insure that hydraulic fluid flow is available to the hydraulic motor of each spinner for rotating the spinner whenever hydraulic fluid flow is available to the hydraulic motor for driving the dispensing means for dispensing top dressing material onto the rotating spinner for being broadcast by the rotating spinner.

Top dresser comprising, in combination:

• a hopper for containing top dressing material, with the hopper including first and second, sloping closed sides, a bottom and a back, with the first and second closed sides extending outwardly at an obtuse angle outwardly relative to the bottom;
• sheeting in the form of an endless belt located at the bottom of the hopper so as to have top dressing material contained in the hopper gravitationally discharged on the sheeting, with the back of the hopper including means for metering the amount of material being dispensed from the hopper by the sheeting, with the outer surface of the sheeting being relatively smooth between the first and second sides of the hopper;
• means for advancing the sheeting relative to the hopper;
• and a spinner assembly including a carrier, at least one rotatable spinner rotatable mounted to the carrier, with the carrier being pivotally mounted relative to the hopper about a transversely extending carrier axis, and means for selectively positioning the carrier at a pivotal angle relative to the hopper, with material being dispensed by the sheeting onto the rotating spinner being broadcast by the rotating spinner.

Top dresser comprising, in combination:

• a hopper for containing top dressing material, with the hopper including first and second, sloping closed sides, a bottom and a back, with the first and second closed sides extending outwardly at an obtuse angle outwardly relative to the bottom;
• sheeting in the form of an endless belt located at the bottom of the hopper so as to have top dressing material contained in the hopper gravitationally discharged on the sheeting, with the back of the hopper including means for metering the amount of material being dispensed from the hopper by the sheeting, with the outer surface of the sheeting being relatively smooth between the first and second sides of the hopper;
• means for advancing the sheeting relative to the hopper;
• a spinner assembly including at least one rotatable spinner and mounted relative to the hopper so that material being dispensed by the sheeting is dispensed onto the rotating spinner for being broadcast by the rotating spinner;
• a frame including a cross beam having a rear face, a top face and a front face, with the hopper being mounted to the frame;
• and means for removably mounting the spinner assembly to the frame comprising, in combination:
• at least one clip secured to the spinner assembly including a front plate for abutting with the rear face of the cross beam, a top plate extending from the front plate for abutting with the top face of the cross beam, and a latching plate extending from the top plate for abutting with the front face of the cross beam, and means extending through the cross beam and the front plate for securing the slip to the cross beam.

Top dresser comprising, in combination:

• a frame for movable support, with the frame including a cross beam having a rear face, a top face, and a front face;
• a hopper for containing top dressing material and mounted on the frame;
• a spinner assembly including at least one rotatable spinner;
• means for removably mounting the spinner assembly to the frame comprising, in combination:
• at least one clip secured to the spinner assembly including a front plate for abutting with the rear face of the cross beam, a top plate extending from the front plate for abutting with the top face of the cross beam, and a latching plate extending from the top plate for abutting with the front face of the cross beam, and means extending through the cross beam and the front plate for securing the clip to the cross beam.