Material Spreader Bucket for Loaders

Abstract

A loader bucket has material spreaders on opposing sides of the loader bucket to spread material from within the loader bucket received through discharge openings in the rear wall of the bucket from an auger located in the bottom of the bucket. Each material spreader includes a spinner formed with blades to spread the material received through the discharge openings. The material spreaders are positioned below the apex of the V-shaped bucket and operable within a path of distribution that includes an interior boundary member oriented with a forward end closer to the center of the bucket than the rearward end to provide a distribution forwardly and laterally of the bucket. A low baffle mounted at the bottom periphery of the spinner blades forces material upwardly into a fluffy pattern. A high baffle provides a second boundary limit for the distribution of material.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of distributing bedding material in a farm structure housing farm animals, comprising the steps of:
 providing a spreader apparatus formed as a loader bucket with spinners supported at lateral ends of the loader bucket to receive said bedding material from internally of said loader bucket for distribution externally of said loader bucket;   loading a supply of said bedding material into said loader bucket and transporting said bedding material to said farm structure where distribution is desired; and   feeding said bedding material onto said spinners while said spinners are rotated to distribute said bedding material along a distribution path that extends from directly forwardly of said loader bucket to directly laterally of said loader bucket.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of:
 placing a low baffle having a height less than a corresponding height of blades on said spinners circumferentially around each said spinner so that said spinners push a portion of said bedding material upwardly above said low baffle into a discharge path of said bedding material from said spinner blades above said low baffle to create a fluffy pattern of said bedding material. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of:
 defining said distribution path with a first boundary member that is located on an interior side of each respective said spinner, said first boundary member being oriented with a forward end closer to a centerline of said loader bucket than a rearward end of said first boundary member so that the first boundary member is not parallel with said centerline of said loader bucket, said first boundary member providing said distribution path for said bedding material that is forwardly and laterally inwardly from each respective said spinner. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of:
 further defining said distribution path with a high baffle that is positioned rearwardly of said low baffle and has a height dimension that is at least equal to a corresponding height dimension of said spinner blades, said high baffle is positioned outboard of each respective spinner to limit a laterally outward portion of said distribution path. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said loader bucket is formed in a V-shaped configuration with a lower apex, said method further comprising the step of:
 positioning said spinners below said apex to receive said bedding material from said openings above said spinners, and to permit said spinners to establish said distribution path forwardly and laterally of said loader bucket. 
 
     
     
         21 . A method of distributing material in a farm structure, comprising the steps of:
 providing a spreader apparatus formed as a loader bucket with spinners, including spinner blades, supported at lateral ends of the loader bucket to receive said bedding material from internally of said loader bucket for distribution externally of said loader bucket;   loading a supply of said bedding material into said loader bucket and transporting said bedding material to said farm structure where distribution is desired;   feeding said bedding material onto said spinner blades while said spinners are rotated to distribute said bedding material along a distribution path that extends from directly forwardly of said loader bucket to directly laterally of said loader bucket; and   defining said distribution path by a first boundary member that is located on an interior side of each respective said spinner, and by a high baffle having a height dimension that is at least equal to a corresponding height dimension of said spinner blades, said high baffle being positioned outboard of each respective spinner to limit a laterally outward portion of said distribution path, said first boundary member being oriented with a forward end closer to a centerline of said loader bucket than a rearward end of said first boundary member so that the first boundary member is not parallel with said centerline of said loader bucket, said first boundary member establishing said distribution path for said bedding material that is forwardly and laterally inwardly from each respective said spinner.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of:
 placing a low baffle having a height less than a corresponding height of spinner blades circumferentially around each said spinner so that said spinners push a portion of said bedding material upwardly above said low baffle into a discharge path of said bedding material from said spinner blades above said low baffle to create a fluffy pattern of said bedding material. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said high baffle is positioned rearwardly of said low baffle. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said loader bucket is formed in a V-shaped configuration with a lower apex, said method further comprising the step of:
 positioning said spinners below said apex to receive said bedding material from said openings above said spinners, and to permit said spinners to establish said distribution path forwardly and laterally of said loader bucket. 
 
     
     
         25 . A method of distributing material, comprising the steps of:
 providing a spreader apparatus formed as a loader bucket with spinners, including spinner blades, supported at lateral ends of the loader bucket to receive said bedding material from internally of said loader bucket for distribution externally of said loader bucket;   loading a supply of said bedding material into said loader bucket and transporting said bedding material to said farm structure where distribution is desired;   feeding said bedding material onto said spinner blades while said spinners are rotated to distribute said bedding material along a distribution path that extends from directly forwardly of said loader bucket to directly laterally of said loader bucket;   defining said distribution path by a first boundary member that is located on an interior side of each respective said spinner, and by a high baffle having a height dimension that is at least equal to a corresponding height dimension of said spinner blades, said high baffle being positioned outboard of each respective spinner to limit a laterally outward portion of said distribution path, said first boundary member being oriented with a forward end closer to a centerline of said loader bucket than a rearward end of said first boundary member so that the first boundary member is not parallel with said centerline of said loader bucket, said first boundary member establishing said distribution path for said bedding material that is forwardly and laterally inwardly from each respective said spinner; and   placing a low baffle having a height less than a corresponding height of spinner blades circumferentially around each said spinner so that said spinners push a portion of said bedding material upwardly above said low baffle into a discharge path of said bedding material from said spinner blades above said low baffle to create a fluffy pattern of said bedding material.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said high baffle is positioned rearwardly of said low baffle. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said loader bucket is formed in a V-shaped configuration with a lower apex, said method further comprising the step of:
 positioning said spinners below said apex to receive said bedding material from said openings above said spinners, and to permit said spinners to establish said distribution path forwardly and laterally of said loader bucket.