Abstract: An adaptable material-spreading vehicle includes in combination a truck body frame, an engine mounted on the frame, a cab mounted in a forwardly positioned cab region, a removable hopper positioned behind the cab region, and a conveyor running from beneath the hopper directly through the cab region to a forwardly mounted material spreader with the hopper and conveyor being removably mounted to the truck frame, such that the material spreader vehicle can be converted to some other use. In one embodiment, the cab is provided with a central channel through the floor to accommodate the section of the conveyor passing through the cab region, with the cab being provided with sealable conveyor ports aligned fore and aft through which the cab-carrier conveyor section is passed.

Abstract: A spreader implement and drive gearbox therefor are provided that incorporate a single gearbox for driving both a distributor assembly for throwing manure and the like out of the spreader implement and for driving a transporting assembly for moving the manure or the like toward the distributor assembly. The single gearbox provides direct gear drive of one of the assemblies. The drive gearbox may include one or more biased clutch assemblies for clutching or varying the driving speed transmitted by the gearbox.

Abstract: A spreader 10, cooperating with a dump body 11 having a conventional tailgate 20, includes a conveyor 15 extending through an opening 12 in the lower region of tailgate 20 to rest on bottom 13 of body 11 and extend aft of tailgate 20. A hopper 30 underneath a rear end of conveyor 15 receives rearward flowing material that it guides downward to a spinner 50 arranged below hopper 30. The conveyor 15, hopper 30, and spinner 50 are all removable from tailgate 20 and dump body 11 so that the truck can be used conventionally as a dump truck. When used as a spreader 10 with tailgate 20 closed, conveyor 15 conveys material from body 11 aft through the opening in tailgate 20 to spinner 50 at the rear end of conveyor 15. By tilting dump body 11 with tailgate 20 closed, a partial load can be shifted aft against tailgate 20 where it overlies conveyor 15 and can then be conveyed to spinner 50 after dump body 11 is leveled.

Abstract: A compost spreader has a hopper mounted on a turntable so that the hopper may be rotated lengthwise to go through gates but crosswise when spreading the compost. The frame of the spreader telescopes so as to accommodate the length of the hopper when the hopper is turned lengthwise. After the spreader has gone through the gate and the hopper turned crosswise, then the frame is shortened or collapsed. The compost is distributed from the hopper by an endless belt at the bottom of the hopper.

Abstract: A spreader 10, cooperating with a dump body 11 having a conventional tailgate 20, includes a conveyor 15 extending through an opening 12 in the lower region of tailgate 20 to rest on bottom 13 of body 11 and extend aft of tailgate 20. A hopper 30 underneath a rear end of conveyor 15 receives rearward flowing material that it guides downward to a spinner 50 arranged below hopper 30. Telescoping pipes 51 and 52 adjust the height of spinner 50 below hopper 30 and pivot spinner 50 between a horizontal stowed position and a vertical operating position. Conveyor 15 is pivotally connected to tailgate 20 so that as tailgate 20 pivots open when body 11 dumps, conveyor 15 moves with pivoting tailgate 20, sliding rearwardly of body 11 and lifting a rear region of conveyor 15 clear of bottom 13 of body 11.

Abstract: An apparatus for spreading granular material, such as fertilizer, has a carriage (1) on which there is mounted a vertical conveyer (5, 6) which comprises a vertical cylindrical housing (5) and a conveyer screw (6) rotatably mounted therein. The screw (6) is rigidly connected at its lower end to an infeed cup (8) and directly connected to a driving mechanism (7) below the cup (8). The cylindrical housing (5) and the screw wing of the screw (6) extend downwardly into the cup (8), and the cylindrical housing has guide means (9) conducting the material inwardly towards the screw blade of the screw. The material is supplied from a supply container (1A) directly down into the cup (8). At its upper end, the screw (6) is non-rotatably connected to its spreader (12) to which the granular material is conveyed via a discharge opening (20) in the cylindrical housing and a distributor disk (21).

Abstract: A straw chopper and spreader assembly for receiving straw from a threshing machine, has a casing enclosing a pair of contra-rotatable flail assemblies. The flails are mounted in different horizontal planes and have blades which overlap so as to shear and chop the straw. At the rear of the casing is a rear outlet defined between a rear skirt and a bottom extension of the casing. The rear skirt is adjustable so as to enlarge or reduce the size of the rear outlet. In addition to discharge through the rear outlet, chopped straw is also discharged laterally through side chutes which have removable end portions so that discharge selectively may be outwardly and upwardly or outwardly and downwardly. Chaff spreading discs are mounted below the assembly and rotates horizontally.

Abstract: An adaptable material-spreading vehicle includes in combination a truck body frame, a rear-mounted engine on the frame above the rear wheels, a forward cab, a removable hopper positioned between the cab and the rear-mounted engine, and a conveyor running from beneath the hopper directly through the cab to a material spreader mounted forward of the cab in view of the operator, with the hopper and conveyor being removably mounted to the truck frame, such that the material spreader vehicle can be converted to some other use. In one embodiment, the cab is provided with a central channel through the floor to accommodate the section of the conveyor passing through the cab, with the cab being provided with sealable conveyor ports aligned fore and aft through which the cab-carried conveyor section is passed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for distributing powdered material uniformly in a generally vertical plane through an arc of about 180.degree., having particular utility for rock dusting underground coal mine tunnels. A pair of rotatable impeller means discharge entrained powdered material through a pair of housings each having oppositely disposed arcuate openings subtending an arc of about 120.degree.. Generally vertical panels on each side of the impellers guide the discharged material.

Abstract: Granular spreader apparatus for easy attachment to, and detachment from, a truck equipped with a hopper bed, including dual troughs that each house a continuous conveyor belt that overlies a slotted trough which permits granular material of dissimiliar size and weight, such as fertilizer, herbicide, limestone, and other agricultural particulates of dissimiliar size and weight, to be substantially uniformly distributed from the initial point of deposit at the inboard end of the conveyor belt to the outboard extremity of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A drive for an agricultural machine; such as a forage wagon or heavy duty spreader apron; the drive including a drive shaft of apron chains being powered by transmissions that are fully enclosed so as to not get clogged with mud or ice and the like, the transmission being powered from a power take-off of a tractor.

Abstract: Apparatus for spreading granular material such as salt, cinders and the like in which the conveyor is an assembly insertable into the hopper and the drive for the conveyor and spreader are mounted on the assembly. The conveyor assembly rests on the bottom wall of the hopper. The discharge of material starts at the rear wall of the hopper. The result is a reduction in the weight, height and length and a lowering of the center of gravity of the apparatus.

Abstract: For distributing feed to livestock, a vehicle frame is movable along the ground and upstanding therefrom is a bin into which the feed initially is received. An opening is defined in one wall of the bin. A conveyor effectively forms at least a portion of another wall of the bin and is movable to urge that feed outwardly from the bin through the opening. Upstanding from the frame is a carriage spaced outwardly of the bin from the opening and toward which the feed is urged by the conveyor. There is at least one and preferably are two lateral slots defined between the carriage and the bin and through which the feed is to be dispensed. A repetitively-reciprocating dispenser is mounted on the side of the carriage facing the opening for dispensing through the lateral slots incremental portions of the feed as urged toward the carriage by the conveyor. The specifics involve tining of a feed such as hay outwardly through the lateral slots as urged against tines by the conveyor.

Abstract: A distributor for a particulate material is mountable on a portable container having a rear discharge chute, and includes a hopper for receiving material from the discharge chute, and spreader means mounted below the hopper for spreading the material. The distributor further includes means for pivotally securing the hopper to the discharge chute, so that the hopper and spreader are movable as a unit between an operating position, in which the hopper and spreader depend from the discharge chute, and an elevated storage position, in which the hopper and spreader are located above the base of the container. A winch and cable assembly moves the hopper and spreader between the operating position and the storage position.

Abstract: An improved manure spreader having a rotary beater or distributor at the rear thereof, and having a false end gate for transporting the material to be spread to the rear of the spreader, the false end gate being in the form of a load pushing wall. The false end gate is driven by means of hydraulic cylinders having a stationary portion mounted on the frame of the spreader, with cables being carried by a stabilizer carriage mounted beneath the spreader bed. Two cable systems are provided, one for forward and one for rearward movement of the load pushing false end gate, thus making it possible to controllably move the load toward the rear of the bed, while also providing for rapid return of the load pushing false end gate to the forward end of the spreader.

Abstract: Compressed livestock feed such as hay in stack form is severed from the stack, dislodged and transferred to the side of the stack for feeding. A stack is loaded on the stack mover bed and advanced to a position partially underlying the feeding conveyor. The conveyor is then activated and lowered. Conveyor mounted blades sever the underlying stack portion from the stack and a conveyor mounted raking device dislodges the severed stack portion and transfers it to the side of the stack for discharging.

Abstract: Spreader for farmyard manure has a moving wall to push manure to a discharge rotor. The wall is moved by a hydraulic ram located at the side of the spreader. The ram is coupled to the wall by chains trained round pocket wheels or sprockets.

Abstract: A spreader for liquid or solid farmyard manure. The spreader comprises a manure container, an unloading rotor and a manure pusher. The rotor is spaced above the level of the bottom of the container and discharges over the rear wall of the container. The pusher keeps the rotor immersed in manure to the correct depth. In this way both solid and liquid manure can be spread. The rear wall of the container slopes up to the rotor to guide solid manure to the rotor.