Spinner for a particulate material spreader

Abstract

An apparatus for broadcasting particulate or granular material over a ground surface involves a variable speed spinner and a material conveyor. The spinner is positioned generally horizontally below a discharge end of a material conveyor. The spinner has a disk having a generally radially disposed fin fixed to an upper side of the disk and radiating outwardly from a center of the disk. The spinner is positioned to receive material from the material conveyor at a location about half way along a length of the fin. In a method broadcasting particulate or granular material over a ground surface, the spinner is preferably rotated at a speed of 900 to 1,000 rpm. The apparatus and method provide for distribution of material over greater distances and can do so without pulverizing the material, creating a uniform pattern of distribution over a 50% wider swath.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for broadcasting particulate or granular material over a ground surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a pair of variable-speed spinners and a material conveyor, the pair of variable-speed spinners being positioned below a discharge end of the material conveyor, wherein each of said pair of variable-speed spinners comprises a disk having a center that is below a horizontal plane defined by a periphery of the disk;   a plurality of adjustable interchangeable radially-disposed fins positioned on an upper side of each disk; and   an adjustable flow divider between the material conveyor and the pair of variable-speed spinners for directing and adjusting a flow of material from the material conveyor onto the pair of variable-speed spinners.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a position of the adjustable flow divider over the pair of variable-speed spinners is adjustable. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the position of the adjustable flow divider is adjustable to deposit material from the flow of material on each of the pair of variable-speed spinners at a location that is about 7 inches to about 9 inches radially from the center of the disk. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein material deposited on the pair of variable-speed spinners is caught by a portion of each of the plurality of fins traveling at a speed of 60 to 70 feet per second. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the material accelerates along a length of the fin to a distal end of the fin to achieve a velocity of 110 to 157 feet per second. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of fins has a top edge portion that is angled relative to a portion of the fin that is attached to the disk, at least a portion of each of the plurality of fins extending beyond a periphery of the disk. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of fins comprises a distal end that extends radially beyond a periphery of the disk and a proximal end that is approximately flush with a center shaft of the disk. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of fins is fixed in an upwardly projecting position that is generally perpendicular to a top surface of the disk. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for broadcasting particulate or granular material over a ground surface, the apparatus comprising:
 one or more variable-speed spinners configured to be positioned generally horizontally below a discharge end of a material conveyor, each of the one or more spinners comprising a disk having one or more generally radially-disposed fins fixed to an upper side of the disk, at least one of the one or more generally radially-disposed fins having an adjustable angle relative to a radius of the disk; and   an adjustable flow divider configured to be positioned between the material conveyor and the one or more variable-speed spinners for directing and adjusting a flow of material from the material conveyor onto the one or more variable-speed spinners.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the one or more fins comprises a distal end that extends radially beyond a periphery of the disk and a proximal end that is approximately flush with a center shaft of the disk. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the one or more fins is fixed in an upwardly projecting position that is generally perpendicular to a top surface of the disk. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the one or more fins has a top edge portion that is angled relative to a portion of the fin that is attached to the disk, at least a portion of the fin extending beyond a periphery of the disk. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the disk is concave. 
     
     
         14 . A method of broadcasting particulate or granular material over a ground surface, the method comprising:
 conveying a stream of particulate or granular material to a rotating variable-speed spinner, the variable-speed spinner comprising a dish-shaped disk having a generally radially-disposed fin on an upper side of the dish-shaped disk and radiating outwardly from a center of the dish-shaped disk;   adjusting a position of a flow divider in the stream of particulate or granular material to permit depositing of material on the rotating variable-speed spinner at a selected location and adjusting the flow divider to adjust flow rate of the material to the rotating variable-speed spinner;   depositing the material on the rotating variable-speed spinner at the selected location; and   accelerating the material along a length of the fin to a distal end of the fin to broadcast the material on a ground surface.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the selected location for depositing the material on the rotating variable-speed spinner is about 7 inches to about 9 inches radially from the center of the dish-shaped disk. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the rotating variable-speed spinner is rotated at a speed of 900 to 1,000 rpm. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the distal end of the fin extends radially beyond a periphery of the dish-shaped disk, and wherein the fin further comprises a proximal end that is approximately flush with a center shaft of the dish-shaped disk, and wherein the fin is fixed in an upwardly projecting position that is generally perpendicular to a top surface of the dish-shaped disk. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the fin has a top edge portion that is angled relative to a portion of the fin that is attached to the dish-shaped disk. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the fin has an adjustable angle relative to a radial of the dish-shaped disk. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the rotating variable-speed spinner is adjacent a second rotating variable-speed spinner having a second dish-shaped disk, and wherein each of the dish-shaped disk and the second dish-shaped disk comprises a plurality of generally radially-disposed fins fixed to its upper side and radiating outwardly from its center.