Abstract: A horizontal mixer for mixing bulk material, such as agricultural material, is provided. The horizontal mixer includes a mixing container for accommodating bulk agricultural material to be mixed. The mixing container includes side walls connected at their bottom edges by a trough; a front wall spanning a front side of the container; a rear wall spanning a rear side of the container; and an exit door through which mixed agricultural material can exit. Further, one or more bottom augers situated longitudinally in the trough, wherein at least one of the one or more bottom augers is a ribbon auger; and one or more top augers situated longitudinally in the mixing container stacked above the one or more bottom ribbon augers. The trough has a shape to accommodate the one or more bottom ribbon augers.

Abstract: An inclinable mixer for mixing bulk material is provided herein. The inclined mixer comprises a mixing chamber which comprises a longitudinal trough defined by a first and second side wall oppositely opposed, the trough having a front end opposite a back end, a discharge opening positional substantially in the bottom of the chamber toward the back end, and a front wall spanning the front end of the trough. The mixer also comprises an auger situated longitudinally in the trough for mixing bulk material, and a driving device for rotating the auger when a driving force is applied, wherein the mixing chamber is inclined at least during mixing such that the back end is raised relative the front end.

Abstract: An agricultural spreader is disclosed. The spreader comprises a holding box for containing a spreadable load to be spread; and a beater section in communication with the holding device for outputting the spreadable load. The beater section comprises an upright beater having flighting depending therefrom including a spinner deck defining substantially a bottom flight thereof, the spinner deck comprising a plurality of paddles oriented for throwing the spreadable load during operation of the beater, a beater tray situated at the bottom of the upright beater with the upright beater mounted thereon and having a front side facing the holding box. The beater tray comprises a floor and a front wall rising therefrom for at least partially blocking the spreadable load from being thrown toward the holding box. The front wall comprises a soft/flexible section shaped to substantially correspond with a front portion of the footprint of the spinner deck.

Abstract: An inclinable mixer for mixing bulk material is provided herein. The inclined mixer comprises a mixing chamber which comprises a longitudinal trough defined by a first and second side wall oppositely opposed, the trough having a front end opposite a back end, a discharge opening positional substantially in the bottom of the chamber toward the back end, and a front wall spanning the front end of the trough. The mixer also comprises an auger situated longitudinally in the trough for mixing bulk material, and a driving device for rotating the auger when a driving force is applied, wherein the mixing chamber is inclined at least during mixing such that the back end is raised relative the front end.

Abstract: An auger is provided for cutting and mixing bulk fibrous feed placed into a mixing chamber of a mixer for eventual consumption by livestock. The auger comprises flighting have an outside edge defining the periphery of the auger. A knife is provided, connected to the periphery of the flighting in a continuous or substantially continuous manner along at least a major portion of the periphery of the flighting of the auger. The continuous or substantially continuous knife may include knife sections placed adjacent and substantially longitudinally to one another thereby providing a continuous or substantially continuous knife. The auger having the continuous or nearly continuous knife along the periphery provides a substantially clean cut of fibrous bulk material and a reduction in crushing and/or tearing of the fibrous material relative to an auger with a non-continuous knife or an auger with a serrated knife.

Abstract: A gearbox is provided having an integrated breather system. The output shaft of the gearbox has integrated therein a breather bore with a top port in the top end of the output shaft and a bottom end in the side of the output shaft. The top end is in communication with the atmosphere while the bottom end is in communication with the inner oil reservoir of the gearbox. By incorporating the breather directly into the output shaft, air locking is reduced or even prevented. Further, the distance between the maximum and minimum oil fill levels is increased thereby allowing for a reduction in accidental over or under filling of the gearbox. In addition, accidental spillage of oil into the environment is reduced as the top breather port exists on top of the gearbox and may optionally include a breather line extending further upward. The reduction in air locking allows for increased accuracy in oil filling as well as reduced maintenance on the gearbox.

Abstract: A gearbox is provided having an integrated breather system. The output shaft of the gearbox has integrated therein a breather bore with a top port in the top end of the output shaft and a bottom end in the side of the output shaft. The top end is in communication with the atmosphere while the bottom end is in communication with the inner oil reservoir of the gearbox. By incorporating the breather directly into the output shaft, air locking is reduced or even prevented. Further, the distance between the maximum and minimum oil fill levels is increased thereby allowing for a reduction in accidental over or under filling of the gearbox. In addition, accidental spillage of oil into the environment is reduced as the top breather port exists on top of the gearbox and may optionally include a breather line extending further upward. The reduction in air locking allows for increased accuracy in oil filling as well as reduced maintenance on the gearbox.

Abstract: A vertical mixer assembly for mixing a bulk material is disclosed. The vertical mixer assembly comprises a floor having an upper surface; at least one wall extending from the floor and having an interior surface and an upper edge; the floor and the at least one wall defining an open topped mixing chamber having a general tub-shape suitable for receiving the bulk material; at least one vertical auger positioned in the mixing chamber for mixing the bulk material, the auger having a flight suitable for mixing the bulk material upon operation of the auger; an opening in the mixing chamber for allowing egress of the bulk material, the opening having a wall portion and a floor portion; and a door assembly. The door assembly allows for more consistent unloading of the mixed bulk material and for quicker unloading of the mixed bulk material.

Abstract: A vertical mixer for mixing bulk material is disclosed. The vertical mixer includes an auger having an auger post and flighting including upper flighting and a lower flight. In one example, the auger comprises cutting knives positioned on an outside edge of the flighting for cutting bulk material during rotation of the auger. The auger also includes an angled knife connected to an outside edge of the flighting and oriented so that a blade of the angled knife is positioned at an angle suitable for allowing the angled knife to at least partially cut loosened bulk material that may be bridging in the mixing chamber thereby at least partially preventing or reducing bridging in the mixing chamber and allowing the bulk material to fall towards the floor of the mixing chamber and increasing the cutting action of the cutting knives.

Abstract: A vertical mixer having an improved auger for mixing bulk material is disclosed herein. The vertical mixer comprises a mixing chamber for receiving the bulk material. The mixing chamber being defined by a floor and a peripheral wall and includes a door for allowing exit of mixed bulk material. The vertical auger in the mixing chamber has an auger post and flighting including a bottom flight. The bottom flight has a front leading edge and an outside edge defining an outside footprint of the bottom flight. A slide plate is connected to the bottom flight for guiding bulk material at least inwards towards the auger post. The slide plate comprises a front corner; a bottom edge; and a top edge opposite the bottom edge. The bottom edge has a portion closer to the auger post than the front corner, and a portion extending inward on the bottom flight away from the outside edge of the bottom flight. The slide plate extends from the bottom flight at a shallow angle ? relative the floor of the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A vertical mixer assembly for mixing a bulk material having improved wear-resistant is disclosed. The vertical mixer comprises a floor having an upper surface; at least one wall extending from the floor and having an interior surface and an upper edge; wherein the floor and the at least one wall define an open topped mixing chamber having a general tub-shape suitable for receiving the bulk material. The mixing chamber comprising an outlet for egress of mixed bulk material. The vertical mixer further comprises at least one vertical auger positioned in the mixing chamber for mixing the bulk material, the auger having an exterior surface suitable for mixing the bulk material upon operation of the auger; and a non-metallic wear-resistant material coating or covering at least a portion of the mixing chamber. Also disclosed herein are methods of increasing the wear-resistance of a vertical mixer.

Abstract: A vertical mixer has a mixing chamber with a vertical auger rotatably mounted herein. The mixing chamber has a side wall and a floor. The side wall has an opening therein that is closable by a door. The door is constructed to be opened and closed by hydraulic cylinder connected in parallel to a linkage. The linkage includes two or more elongate members pivotally connected to one another, and the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally connected between the elongate members.

Abstract: A vertical mixer has a mixing chamber with a vertical auger rotatably mounted therein. The mixing chamber has a side wall and a floor. The side wall has an opening therein that includes part of the floor and is closable by a door. The door includes a segment that is part of the floor when the door is in a closed position. The auger is sized and shaped to partially extend through the opening when the door is open during part of each rotation.

Abstract: A vertical mixer has a set of wheels on each side of the mixer that is automatically adjustable for variation in the terrain where the mixer is used. Each set is rotatable about a pivot point. Preferably, weight bars provide the pivot point for each set of wheels. There is a further weight bar in the tongue of the mixer. The weight bars automatically determine the weight of materials within the mixer on an intermittent or continuous basis.