Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
MANURE SPREADER IMPROVEMENTS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a manure spreader implement of the type
for connecting to a towing vehicle in which the manure spreader implement has
a
compartment for containing manure, a conveyor for displacing manure in the
compartment towards a rear end of the implement, and a rotating beater
assembly at
the rear end of the implement for spreading the manure outwardly from the rear
end of
the implement. More particularly, the present invention relates to a manure
spreader
implement further comprising (i) support brackets for supporting the mounting
fasteners
of the beater teeth on the auger of the beater assembly in double shear, (ii)
auxiliary
paddles supported by removable fasteners on the auger of the beater assembly
between the auger flighting above and the lower paddles of the auger below,
and/or (iii)
floor slats on the conveyor which have end portions of reduced internal
dimension
formed by crimps that allow relative sliding between the floor slats and the
mounting
bars on the chain of the conveyor.
BACKGROUND
A typical manure spreader implement includes a frame supported for
towing in a forward working direction. A compartment for containing manure
includes a
conveyor operatively associated therewith for displacing the manure rearwardly
towards vertical beaters.
A typical vertical beater includes an auger flight with spikes or paddles
bolted thereon to increase the ability of the vertical beater to break up and
spread the
manure outwardly from the rear end of the implement. These spikes or paddles
are
typically attached to the auger flight using two bolts in single shear. In
some instances,
a backing support is welded to the auger flighting. The welded backing is
costly to
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manufacture and is known to deform and come loose due to wear and corrosion.
The
spike or paddle on the vertical beater manure spreaders are subject to wear
and impact
from hard or frozen material and other foreign objects in the media. The main
purpose
of the bolt-on spike or paddle is to break down larger pieces of material and
to
accelerate the smaller pieces for increased spread width and uniformity. The
spikes or
paddles and the area of the flighting near the outer mount bolts are subject
to high wear
rates from material flow. They are also subject to failure or deformation due
to impacts
of hard objects.
Typical manure spreader implements with vertical beaters configure the
vertical beater with a base plate and paddles on the bottom of each beater.
The upper
portion of the beater is constructed with multiple full rotations of auger
flight or flails.
Typically, the space between the top of the lower paddles and the bottom the
auger do
not have elements to move or throw material. This area allows the apron chain
to
overlap the lower portion of the beaters. In certain types or states of manure
the
effective distribution is poor with the middle third of the spread containing
more than
75% of the spread material, the outer 2/3 of the spread has low
concentrations. This
causes uneven crop or pasture development. The circular geometry of the
beaters
results in the areas where large amounts of material fall to the lower discs.
These areas
are the two-outer edge and the space in front and between the beaters. This
high feed
rate to the lower discs flood the lower paddles that results in heavy center
concentration. For improved spread quality, some manufacturers construct the
spreader with only lower spinning discs that consume high power at low
discharge
rates. Furthermore, the exposed portion of the beater main tube can easily be
damaged
by rocks and other solid objects.
Numerous manure spreader manufactures construct the conveyor by
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attaching a floor slat to a chain link using a similar method. This is
accomplished by
welding multiple pieces together creating a robust joint that allows sliding
motion
between the chain and slat in a direction that is perpendicular to the chain
and in a
plane parallel to the main floor as described in US patent no. 3,643,786 for
example.
To reduce chain slat bending a failure the cross section of the slat is
increased. The
larger cross section slat increases the manufacturing difficulties of creating
a joint that
allows movement of the chain relative to the slat while maintaining clearance
that
prevent the slat for separating for the chain during operation. The relative
motion is
required to allow for tolerance stack up better the chains/slat assembly,
tolerances of
the drive and driven sprockets shaft assemblies while allowing the slats to be
installed
and removed without removing the chain from the sprockets. The complex
structure to
create the joint involves considerable costly and time-consuming welding
operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a manure
spreader implement comprising:
a main frame supported on wheels that roll along the ground in a forward
working direction of the implement;
a compartment on the main frame for containing manure therein;
a conveyor assembly extending along a bottom side of the compartment
for feeding manure in the compartment rearwardly relative to the main frame
towards a
rear end of the main frame;
a beater assembly supported on the main frame at the rear end of the
main frame to receive manure from the conveyor, the beater assembly including
(i) an
upright shaft, (ii) a motor acting to drive rotation of the shaft about an
upright longitudinal
axis of the shaft relative to the main frame, (iii) auger flighting following
a helical path
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along an upper portion of the shaft, and (iv) a plurality of beater teeth
coupled to the
auger flighting using threaded fasteners at spaced positions relative to one
another
along the helical path such that each beater tooth projects outward radially
of the shaft
beyond a peripheral edge of the auger flighting; and
a support bracket supporting one of the beater teeth relative to the auger
flighting, the support bracket comprising:
a mounting portion releasable fastened to the auger flighting of the
beater assembly; and
a supporting portion protruding from the mounting portion in
engagement along a trailing side of said one beater tooth.
Using a formed plate mounted on the opposite side of the auger flighting
relative to the auger tooth adds additional support for the tooth. The tooth
can be
straight or formed and can be mounted on either side of the flighting to allow
for
additional clearance between the left and right vertical beaters. This formed
plate
places the mount bolts in double shear increasing the impact resistance of the
attachments and eliminates the need for a welded backing. This formed plate
also
protects the edge of the auger flight from material flow to reduce wear of the
auger
edge. The added material of the formed plate acts as a paddle to help
accelerate the
material for improved spreading.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a
manure spreader implement comprising:
a main frame supported on wheels that roll along the ground in a forward
working direction of the implement;
a compartment on the main frame for containing manure therein;
a conveyor assembly extending along a bottom side of the compartment
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for feeding manure in the compartment rearwardly relative to the main frame
towards a
rear end of the main frame; and
a beater assembly supported on the main frame at the rear end of the
main frame to receive manure from the conveyor assembly, the beater assembly
including (i) an upright shaft, (ii) a motor acting to drive rotation of the
shaft about an
upright longitudinal axis of the shaft relative to the main frame, (iii) auger
flighting
following a helical path along an upper portion of the shaft, (iv) a plurality
of beater teeth
mounted to the auger flighting at spaced positions relative to one another
along the
helical path such that each beater tooth projects outward radially of the
shaft beyond a
peripheral edge of the auger flighting, and (v) at least one lower paddle
extending
radially outwardly from the shaft at a bottom end of the shaft;
an intermediate paddle assembly comprising:
a mounting collar mounted about the upright shaft at a location
spaced axially between the auger flighting thereabove and the lower paddle
therebelow
so as to be readily removable from the upright shaft; and
at least one intermediate paddle extending outwardly from the
mounting collar radially of the upright shaft.
The use of bolt-on intermediate paddle elements between the top of lower
paddle assembly and bottom of the auger assembly both protects the
intermediate
portion of the main tube shaft of the vertical beater, while also contributing
to improved
spread of manure from the implement. The element tip diameter of the bolt on
components is less than the main beater outer element tip diameter. The
smaller
diameter of the bolt on elements prevent them from contacting the apron drive
chain
elements. Two halves are constructed to accept various types of elements.
These can
be paddles or spikes. The main structure of the bolt on elements cover the
exposed
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main beater tube. The bolt on elements grab and project material rearward to
about 90
degrees to the direction of spreader travel. These elements reduce the amount
of
material to the lower paddle assembly preventing them from becoming flooded
with
material. The bolt on element main structure also add protection to the
exposed portion
of the beater main tube significantly reducing damage from hard objects.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a
manure spreader implement comprising:
a main frame supported on wheels that roll along the ground in a forward
working direction of the implement;
a compartment on the main frame for containing manure therein;
a conveyor assembly extending along a bottom side of the compartment
for feeding manure in the compartment rearwardly relative to the main frame
towards a
rear end of the main frame, the conveyor assembly including (i) a pair of
drive chains
each forming a respective endless loop, (ii) a plurality of sprockets
supported rotatably
on the main frame in meshing engagement with the drive chains to support the
endless
loops at laterally opposing sides of the conveyor assembly, (iii) a plurality
of floor slats
each extending between opposing ends supported on the drive chains
respectively
such that an upper run of the floor slats is movable rearwardly along a bottom
side of
the compartment as the drive chains are rotated, and (iv) a pair of mounting
bars
associated with each floor slat in which the mounting bars are fixed onto the
drive chains
respectively to extend inwardly in a lateral direction towards one another so
as to be
slidably received within the opposing ends of the associated floor slat;
a beater assembly supported on the main frame at the rear end of the
main frame to receive manure from the conveyor assembly and spread the manure
.. outwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of the main frame;
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each floor slat comprising an elongate tubular body having a pair of end
portions at the opposing ends of the floor slat and a central portion between
the
opposing ends of the floor slat such that the central portion occupies a
majority of a
length of the floor slat between the opposing ends of the floor slat;
the central portion of each floor slat having a prescribed internal
circumference therein which is greater than an outer circumference of the
associated
mounting bars;
each end portion of each floor slat having a crimp formed therein such
that (i) an internal dimension of the end portion is reduced relative to a
corresponding
internal dimension of the central portion and (ii) movement of the floor slat
relative to
the mounting bar received therein is limited to a sliding movement in said
lateral
direction.
Using a crimp formed at the end of each slat to reduce the clearance
between the slat and bar stock welded to the chain link eliminates the need
for the
intermediate pieces and eliminates welding to the slat. Using a formed slat
eliminates
the intermediate pieces of the slip joint and eliminates significant weld
time. The width
of the bar stock welded to the chain link will increase. This formed slat
reduces the
number of pieces and weld time, reducing production cost and weight.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the manure spreader implement;
Figure 2 is another perspective view of the manure spreader implement;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the spreader assembly at the rear end
of the implement comprised of two vertical beaters;
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Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of one of the vertical
beaters according to figure 3;
Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section through both bolts of one of the beater
teeth;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the intermediate paddle
assemblies shown separated from the respective vertical beater;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the intermediate paddle assembly according
to figure 6;
Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the intermediate paddle assembly
.. according to figure 6;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the conveyor assembly shown separated
from the implement;
Figure 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of the conveyor assembly
according to figure 9; and
Figure 11 is a perspective view of one end of one floor slat showing one
of the mounting bars received therein.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a manure
spreader implement generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The implement
10 is
intended for use with a towing vehicle, for example an agricultural tractor so
that when
connected to the towing vehicle, the implement and the tractor move together
for rolling
movement over a ground surface in a forward working direction.
The implement 10 includes a main frame having two side rails 12
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extending in a longitudinal direction of the implement from a front end to a
rear end of
the implement. A plurality of crossbars 14 extend in a lateral direction
between the two
side rails at the bottom of the main frame. A hitch arm 16 is connected to the
crossbars
14 and extends forwardly beyond the front end of the side rails to support a
hitch
connector at the forward end thereof for forming the towing connection to the
towing
vehicle.
The main frame is supported on a set of wheels 18 including two wheels
at opposing ends of a walking beam 20 supported at each of the laterally
opposed sides
of the main frame. Each walking beam is pivotally supported on the main frame
at a
central location between the respective wheels thereon for pivotal movement
about a
common walking beam axis of the main frame which is oriented perpendicularly
to the
forward working direction.
A compartment 22 is supported on the main frame for containing manure
therein. The compartment generally includes a floor panel 24 spanning between
the
side rails 12 of the main frame along most of the length of the main frame
between the
front and rear ends thereof. Two side walls 26 extend upwardly from the two
side rails
at the laterally opposing sides of the compartment. A front wall 28 is joined
between the
front ends of the two side walls 26. The top end of the compartment remains
open for
loading material therein. A beater assembly 30 occupies a rear end of the
compartment
for spreading material outwardly from the rear end of the implement frame in
operation.
A conveyor assembly 32 is supported along the bottom of the
compartment for conveying the material within the compartment rearwardly
towards the
beater assembly. The conveyor assembly includes an upper run extending
longitudinally over the bottom of the compartment above the floor 24 between
the front
.. and rear ends thereof. A lower run of the conveyor assembly is received
below the floor
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24. Slot is defined between the bottom end of the front wall and the floor of
the
compartment for receiving the conveyor therethrough between the upper and
lower
runs.
The conveyor assembly is supported on the main frame by a front axle 34
at the front end of the compartment and a rear axle 36 at the rear end of the
compartment.
The rear axle 36 is located at the rear end of the compartment rearwardly
of the rear edge of the floor so as to lie near a plane of the floor panel.
Two rear
sprockets 38 are mounted at opposing ends of the rear axle at opposing sides
of the
implement for rotation together with the rear axle. A bearing housing supports
opposing
ends of the rear axle rotatably at a fixed location on the main frame.
The front axle 34 is similarly located to be spaced forwardly of the front
edge of the floor so as to be near a plane of the floor panel. Two front
sprockets 40 are
mounted at opposing ends of the front axle at opposing sides of the implement
for
rotation together with the front axle. A bearing housing rotatably supports
each of the
opposing ends of the front axle relative to the main frame. Each bearing
housing 42 is
supported so as to be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the implement
relative to
a mounting flange 44 fixed on the main frame using threaded mounts extending
in the
longitudinal direction. Adjusting the position of the front bearing housings
42 relative to
the main frame serves to adjust the longitudinal distance between the front
and rear
sprockets for in turn adjusting the tension in the conveyor.
The conveyor assembly further includes two drive chains 46 supported at
laterally opposing sides of the conveyor. Each drive chain 46 forms an endless
loop of
a plurality of links connected in series which extend about a respective one
of the front
sprockets 40 and a respective one of the rear sprockets 38 at one side of the
implement
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frame. The links of the chain are adapted to mesh with the sprockets on the
front and
rear axles. By driving rotation of one of the axles, the entire conveyor
assembly is
collectively driven to rotate such that the upper run above the floor of the
compartment
is displaced rearwardly towards the beater assembly 30 at the rear while the
lower run
of the conveyor is displaced forwardly below the floor.
A hydraulic orbit motor 48 is mounted on the frame having a rotary output
which is coupled by a gearbox 50 to one end of the rear axle for driving
rotation of the
rear axle in the working direction.
The conveyor assembly further includes a plurality of floor slats 52
connected between the two drive chains at longitudinally spaced apart
positions relative
to the main frame of the implement so that the floor slats are evenly spaced
apart along
the bottom side of the compartment in parallel relationship to one another for
movement
together with the drive chains rearwardly over the floor along the upper run
of the
conveyor.
Each floor slats 52 is supported by two mounting bars 54 which are fixed
at respective outer ends onto respective ones of the links of the two drive
chains
respectively, for example by welding. Each mounting bar extends laterally
inwardly
partway towards the opposing mounting bar along a common axis defined in the
longitudinal direction of the floor flat. Each mounting bar is generally flat
and rectangular
in shape to be elongate in the lateral direction of the implement which
corresponds to
the longitudinal direction of the respective floor slat. The rectangular cross-
section of
the mounting bar is arranged to be wider in the forward working direction of
the
implement than the corresponding height of the mounting bar when the mounting
bar
is located at an intermediate location along the upper or lower runs of the
conveyor.
Each floor slat is formed from a single hollow tubular member which
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defines a unitary body which is continuous and seamless between opposing open
ends
of the floor slats. The single tube member is crimped at each of the opposing
ends to
define a crimp 56 at each end of the floor slat corresponding to an end
portion 58 of the
floor slat. An un-deformed portion of the tube member between the two end
portions
corresponds to a central portion 59 spanning most of the overall length of the
floor slat.
The central portion 59 is continuous in profile, corresponding to the original
rectangular
cross-sectional dimensions of the tube member. More particularly the central
portion is
defined by two side walls 60 parallel and spaced apart from one another, an
upper
surface 62 spanning between the two side walls at the top side of the floor
slat when
the floor slat is located along the upper run, and a lower surface 64 spanning
between
the two side walls at the bottom side of the floor slats when the floor slats
is located
along the upper run.
The interior width of the central portion of each slat, that is the width
between the two side walls in the longitudinal direction of the implement is
approximately equal to the corresponding external width of the mounting bar 54
received therein. The interior height of the central portion of each slat,
that is the height
between the interior of the upper surface wall and the interior of the lower
surface wall,
is several times greater than the corresponding height of the respective
mounting bar
54 received therein at a location along the upper run of the conveyor.
At each end portion, the crimp 56 is formed at the lower surface wall
corresponding to the bottom side of the floor slat when the floor slat is
located along
the upper run of the conveyor. The crimp thus corresponds to an upward and
inward
fold in the end portion of the floor slat when located along the upper run.
The folded
edge formed by the crimped is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the
slat
corresponding to the lateral direction of the implement. The top side of each
end portion
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and the two side walls of each end portion at the location of the upper run of
the
conveyor are flush with and in a common plane with the corresponding upper
surface
wall 62 and the side walls 60 of the central portion of the same floor slat.
Accordingly,
the internal width between the side walls at each end portion corresponds
approximately to the exterior width of the central portion and the mounting
bar received
within the floor slat. More importantly, the interior height at each end
portion of the floor
slat which is defined between the inner folded edge at the crimp 56 and the
interior of
the upper surface wall corresponds approximately to the exterior height of the
mounting
bar at the location of the upper run of the conveyor. In this manner, when the
mounting
bars 54 extend inwardly into opposing open ends of the respective floor slat
52
movement between the floor slat and the two mounting bars 54 is restricted to
and
limited to only sliding movement of the floor slats relative to the mounting
bars in the
longitudinal direction of the slat and the mounting bars.
The beater assembly 30 at the rear end of the main frame includes a
beater frame comprised of two side members 66 which are supported in an
upright
orientation parallel and spaced apart from one another at laterally opposing
sides of the
main frame. An upper crossbar 68 is joined between the two side members at a
location
spaced above the open top of the compartment, and a lower crossbar 70 is
joined
between the bottom end of the side members at a location which is rearward and
outward from the rear end of the conveyor. The beater frame supports two
vertical
beaters 72 in which each vertical beater comprises an upright shaft 74
spanning
between the upper and lower crossbars. The two upright shafts 74 are parallel
and
laterally spaced apart from one another for rotation about respective upright
axes which
extend upwardly at a slight forward lean while remaining more vertically
oriented than
horizontal. Each upright shaft comprises a rigid tube supported by suitable
bearings for
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relative rotation on the upper crossbar 68.
Each upright shaft 74 is operatively connected to a beater gearbox 76
which is supported below the lower crossbar 70. More particularly, the beater
gearbox
has an output at a top side connected to the bottom end of the upright shaft
to drive
rotation of the upright shaft and an input at an inner side facing the other
beater
gearbox. A rigid connecting member is mounted to span laterally between the
housing
of each beater gearbox and the bottom end of the adjacent side member 66.
Similarly,
a rigid connecting member is mounted to span laterally between the housing of
each
beater gearbox and a housing of a center gearbox 80 between the two beater
gearboxes 76 to form a continuous rigid structure connected between the bottom
ends
of the two side members 66.
A power takeoff driveshaft 78 is supported below the main frame to extend
longitudinally between (i) a connector at the forward end of the hitch arm for
connection
to a power takeoff (PTO) of the towing vehicle and (ii) the centre gearbox 80
at the rear
end of the main frame between the two beater gearboxes 76. In this manner, a
rotation
output by the towing vehicle drives the rotation of the driveshaft 78 to input
a rotation to
the centre gearbox 80. The center gearbox 80 has two laterally opposed outputs
which
split the driving rotation to the inputs of the two beater gearboxes 76 which
drive the
two upright shafts.
Each upright shaft includes an upper portion spanning most of the overall
length of the shaft between the upper run of the conveyor and the top end of
the shaft.
An auger fighting 82 is supported helically about the upper portion of each
upright shaft
such that the flighting is located above the conveyor. The upright shafts are
driven to
rotate such that the peripheral edge of the auger fighting is displaced
rearwardly at the
centre between the two upright shafts. The upper shafts are thus supported for
counter
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rotation relative to one another.
A plurality of beater teeth 84 are mounted on the auger flighting at evenly
spaced apart positions along the helical path of the auger flighting. Each
beater tooth
84 is a rigid bar fastened by radially spaced apart bolts 85 extending through
the rigid
bar and the auger flighting such that each beater tooth extends generally
radially
outward from the upright shaft outwardly beyond the peripheral edge of the
auger
flighting.
A support bracket 86 is associated with each beater tooth 84 to provide
additional support for the tooth relative to the auger flighting. The bracket
includes a
mounting portion 88 formed by a first rectangular plate that is fastened to
the auger
flighting using the same bolts 85 that fasten the associated beater tooth to
the flighting.
Each bracket also includes a supporting portion 90 comprising a second
rectangular
plate joined seamlessly and integrally as a unitary body with the mounting
portion 88 at
the outer end of the mounting portion so as to be generally L shaped with the
mounting
portion that is oriented perpendicularly to the supporting portion.
The first plate defining the mounting portion 88 is mounted flat against the
surface of the auger flighting directly opposite from the associated tooth 84
in the axial
direction of the bolts 85. The bolt holes in the first plate receive the two
bolts
therethrough. The width of the plate forming the mounting portion in the
circumferential
direction about the upright shaft is wider than the corresponding beater tooth
84. The
plate forming the mounting portion 88 has a length in a radial direction which
spans the
length of the portion of the tooth 84 which overlaps the auger flighting.
The second plate defining the supporting portion 90 is mounted at the
outer end of the mounting portion 88 so as to extend across the peripheral
edge of the
auger flighting in abutment with the peripheral edge so as to be perpendicular
to the
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radial direction of the beater tooth. An opening 92 in the second plate
forming the
supporting portion is suitably sized to receive the beater tooth extending
radially
therethrough. The second plate is aligned relative to the beater tooth such
that the
perimeter edge about the opening 92 is in snug engagement with the trailing
side of the
.. beater tooth to provide support against impacts to the tooth.
As described herein, the support bracket 86 can be quickly mounted in
place using the same bolts 85 used to fasten the associated beater tooth 84 to
the
auger flighting, but the support bracket considerably strengthens the
attachment of the
tooth to the auger flighting. More particularly, when the beater tooth is
impacted during
use, the force of the impact is partly taken up by the direct connection of
the tooth to
the auger flighting along a first shear plane of the two bolts 85, however
part of the force
is also redistributed through the engagement of the support bracket with the
trailing side
of the beater tooth towards the mounting portion of the support bracket 86
corresponding to a second shear plane across the bolts that is spaced along
the bolts
from the first shear plane. The double shear mounting arrangement of the bolt
considerably strengthens the attachment of the beater teeth to the auger
flighting
without adding any complexity to the mounting arrangement of the beater teeth.
The upright shaft of each vertical beater further includes a lower portion
adjacent the bottom end of the shaft between the bottom of the conveyor and
the bottom
end of the shaft in elevation. The lower portion of the shaft includes four
lower paddles
94 supported thereon which extend radially outward from the shaft at evenly
spaced
apart positions in the circumferential direction. Each paddle extends
outwardly to a
radius which is approximately equal to the radius of the outer end of each
beater tooth
relative to the axis of the upright shaft. The radius distance between the
outer end of
each lower paddle and the axis of the upright shaft is slightly greater than
half of the
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distance between the axes of the two upright shafts such that the lower
paddles
between the two vertical beaters are situated to be misaligned with one
another to mesh
as the two shafts are counter rotated relative to one another in operation.
Each upright shaft further includes an intermediate shaft portion spanning
approximately the height of the conveyor between the lower portion of the
shaft below
the conveyor and the upper portion of the shaft above the conveyor. The
intermediate
portion of the shaft supports two intermediate paddle assemblies 96 at axially
spaced
positions therealong.
Each intermediate paddle assembly 96 comprises a mounting collar
formed by two arcuate sections 98 which each extend 1800 through part of the
circumference about the upright shaft. When the two arcuate sections 98 are
joined by
circumferential clamping about the upright shaft, the arcuate sections
collectively form
the mounting collar extending about the full circumference of the shaft.
Each arcuate sections 98 includes a mounting flange 100 formed at one
end thereof to extend radially outward in a common plane with the axis of
rotation of
the shaft. Each mounting collar further includes an intermediate paddle 102
extending
radially outward from the opposing end of the arcuate section relative to the
respective
mounting flange such that the intermediate paddle lies substantially in a
common plane
with the mounting flange at a location which is diametrically opposite from
the mounting
flange of the same arcuate section.
When joining the two arcuate sections, a pair of axially spaced bolts
extend through cooperating apertures in each mounting flange for alignment
with
cooperating apertures in the intermediate paddle of the other arcuate section
by parallel
abutment of each mounting flange against the intermediate paddle of the other
arcuate
section. Tightening the bolts causes the two arcuate sections to be
circumferentially
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clamped about the upright shaft to fix the paddle assembly relative to the
shaft while
remaining readily releasable by releasing the threaded bolts. Along each
upright shaft,
the two intermediate paddles of one paddle assembly 96 are offset 900 from the
two
intermediate paddles of the other paddle assembly 96 such that each upright
shaft
supports four intermediate paddles thereon at evenly spaced intervals in the
circumferential direction about the shaft.
Additional support is provided to each intermediate paddle by a support
plate 104 which is fixed by welding to the trailing side of the paddle. The
support plate
is centrally located in the axial direction of the shaft relative to the
intermediate paddle
102 and is oriented to lie substantially perpendicularly to the axis of
rotation as well as
the plane of the intermediate paddle. The support plate 104 extends generally
radially
outward from an inner and fixed to the respective arcuate section of the
mounting collar
to span most of the length of the paddle in the radial direction. By being
fixed to both
the arcuate section of the mounting collar and the trailing side of the
intermediate
paddle, the support plate 104 acts as a gusset to resist deflection of the
intermediate
paddle relative to the mounting collar.
The radial dimension from the outer edge of the intermediate paddle to
the axis of rotation for each intermediate paddle is less than radial
dimension from the
axis to the outer edge of the beater teeth and less than the radial dimension
to the outer
edge of the lower paddles. More particularly the radial distance to the outer
edge of
each intermediate paddle is less than half the distance between the axes of
rotation of
the two upright shafts. By further ensuring that the radial distance to the
outer edge of
each intermediate paddle is less than the distance between the axes of the
upright
shafts and the slats at the rear end of the conveyor, there is no resulting
interference
between the lower paddles and the conveyor.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-19
19
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above
described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it
is
intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted
as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-19
