Granular spreader and product container

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for dispensing chemical material, and in particular, granular, agricultural material, from a moving device driven over terrain to be treated with the material. A metering system for dispersing the material includes on apertured metering disk positioned above a rotatable impeller. The apertured disk meters material from a product container, by gravity feed, onto the impeller below at a rate proportional to the linear speed at which the apparatus is driven to dispense material at a uniform density over the terrain. The metering disk is a component of a product container which is removably mounted to the device. The impeller rotates at a constant speed to disperse the deposited material at a uniform distance from the apparatus, and the position on which the material is deposited on the impeller is adjustable. A clutch permits the user to discontinue dispensing material from the device at the selection of the user, and automatically discontinues dispensing of material when the apparatus is driven in a reverse direction. Switches are provided for selectively adjusting the speed of rotation of the impeller, and the pattern at which material is propelled from the impeller. An override clutch permits the impeller to rotate after movement of the apparatus ceases, and a clutch housing is provided to reduce noise during operation of the apparatus.

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       21 . A product container for dispersing product from a dispersing apparatus, said product container comprising: 
 a housing and a product meter, said housing including means for retaining said product meter at least partially within said housing;    said product meter being removable from said housing;    wherein said means for retaining is adapted to retain said product meter at least partially within said housing such that said housing and said product meter are conjointly removable from said dispersing apparatus.    
   
   
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       23 . The product container as claimed in  claim 21 , 
 said housing defining a tapered section, said tapered section comprising said means for retaining said product meter in said housing;    wherein said tapered section of said housing defines a discharge outlet at the bottom of said tapered section, said tapered section of said housing being adapted to retain said product meter over said discharge outlet.    
   
   
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       27 . A product container for a dispersing apparatus including a hopper, said product container comprising: 
 an outer housing formed from a substantially rigid material; and    an inner receptacle for holding product to be dispersed from said dispersing apparatus movable along terrain to be treated by said product, said inner receptacle being formed from a substantially flexible material and mounted within said outer housing.    
   
   
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       57 . The product container as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the product container defines discharge means oriented in a downward direction when the product container is mounted to the dispersing apparatus for discharging the product from the product container by gravity feed, the product container having a closable opening defined therein for refiling the product container with the product to be dispersed from the product container without removing the product container from said dispersing apparatus.  
   
   
       58 . The container as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein said discharge means is defined on a top surface of the product container, and said closable opening is defined on an opposed base surface of the product container.  
   
   
       59 . The product container as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the product container defines discharge means oriented in a downward direction when the product container is mounted to the dispersing apparatus for discharging the product from the product container by gravity feed, the product container having a closable opening defined therein for refiling the product container with the product to be dispersed from the product container without removing the product container from said dispersing apparatus.  
   
   
       60 . The container as claimed in  claim 59 , wherein said discharge means is defined on a top surface of the product container, and said closable opening is defined on an opposed base surface of the product container.