Dispensers

Abstract

Dispenser apparatus ( 33 ) for a roll of geotextile, which apparatus can be attached to a tractor's (conventional) three-point mounting, this apparatus comprising a long telescopic beam ( 34 ), or beam framework, having centrally thereof a three-point mounting ( 39 ) by which it can be attached behind a tractor ( 32 ) clear of the ground. The beam ( 34 ) has end plates ( 35 ) between which is a support rod ( 26 ) carrying a roll ( 27 ) of liner material. The present invention proposes that there be end beams ( 42 ) that can be moved in and out by a hydraulic ram ( 47, 48, 402 ) mounted between the main beam ( 41 ) and the end plates ( 43 ) to which the end beams ( 42 ) are secured, and that the bottom of each end plate (42) be provided with an inwardly-directed spigot ( 404, 405, 406 ) which can be directed into the hole through the liner roll ( 27 ) as the rams ( 47, 48, 402 ) draw back the end plates ( 42 ) to the correct spacing, and so provide the required roll support.

1 . A tractor-mountable dispenser for a roll of material such as a geosynthetic clay liner or a geotextile fabric, the dispenser comprising: 
 an elongate beam, or framework of beams, having roughly centrally thereof a three-point mounting by which the beam or framework can be attached to the tractor so as to extend laterally therebehind;    the beam carrying at either end a plate having inwardly-directed roll-mounting spigot means such that in use the roll of material may be borne thereon and between the end plates;    the beam being associated with positioning control means that can in operation be used to effect adjustment of the lateral angle of the lower linkages of the tractor's three-point mounting, and thus to move the roll to one side or the other to modify where, in use, the liner is laid; and    wherein each individual beam making up the length of the framework is telescopic, and driven by extension/retraction means by which the end plates can in operation be spaced apart sufficiently far that the spigot means can be inserted into the ends of the rolls, and the plates then retracted to position the spigot means within the roll so as to support the roll.    
     
     
         2 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  which is a box framework of beams wherein the end plates form two opposed (side) faces of the box and the top surface of the box is defined by a pair of spaced parallel beams suitably elongated to provide the length appropriate for the chosen roll.  
     
     
         3 . A dispenser as claimed in either of the preceding claims, wherein to make the length of the beam adjustable so that it can more easily and efficiently cater for the several different rolls, it—or each individual beam making up the length of the framework—is “telescopic”, and comprises a relatively long hollow, tubular main beam having slidably mounted therewithin at each end relatively short end beam portions that can be moved in or out of the main beam, and then fixed in place, so as to alter the overall length of the whole beam.  
     
     
         4 . A dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each telescopic beam-driving extension/retraction means is a hydraulically-operated (piston-in-cylinder) ram, and the ram body is mounted on the main beam while the ram rod extending from the piston in the body is mounted to the end plate to which the relevant end beam(s) is attached.  
     
     
         5 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each ram system uses a short throw ram, and can be moved bodily along the main beam, from one mounting point to another, so as to accommodate widely different roll widths.  
     
     
         6 . A dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each end-plate-borne spigot is effectively in two parts, an inner rod mounted to the end plate and carrying on bearings therearound an outer sleeve that fits into the hollow space within the roll.  
     
     
         7 . A dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the three-point mounting centrally of the beam in its length direction is within 30 cm (one foot) to either side of the actual centre.  
     
     
         8 . A dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning control means that can in operation be used to effect adjustment of the lateral angle of the lower linkages of the tractor's three-point mounting, and thus to move the roll to one side or the other to modify where, in use, the liner is laid, includes as a driver device a hydraulic ram taking the place of one of the movement-restriction chains usually employed with the three-point mounting's arms, which ram is associated with a control arrangement in the form of a conventional lever-operated hydraulic switch operatively connected to the ram and mounted at the rear and side of the beam.  
     
     
         9 . A dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding claims, which includes metering means whereby there may be determined what length of material has been dispensed from the roll, and thus how much is left.  
     
     
         10 . A dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding claims which is equipped to handle two or more rolls at once, each roll being similarly mounted between the end plates.  
     
     
         11 . A dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding claims, which includes mounted thereon just ahead of the roll being laid, a roller that will take out or level any indentations formed in the ground formation as the roll is dispensed.  
     
     
         12 . A dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding claims and substantially as described hereinbefore.