Technical field:

The present invention relates to a feed-out device for sand, salt, etc., arranged on a vehicle.

Background art:

Sand, salt, etc. is generally fed out via a flap attached to the rear of the vehicle. The flap is vibrated in order to feed out the sand etc. from the vehicle platform. This is achieved by the flap being vibrated up and down and no arrangement for distributing feed-out of the sand to certain parts of the width of the vehicle is available on the market.

Description of the invention: The present invention aims at a solution of these and other associated problems, and is characterized in that below a feed-out flap sand, salt, etc. arranged on the vehicle, at least one motor for driving a shaft such as a through shaft is arranged wherein, on one side or on each side of the motor on the shaft, eccentrically placed, mutually adjustable weights are arranged which, upon rotation of the shaft, are arranged to cause vibration of the flap in order to feed out the sand, etc. Conventional feed-out across the entire width of the flap can thus be arranged or, by turning the weight to a different position, redistribution of the feed-out across the flap is enabled.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention feeding out of the sand is arranged to be controlled by shifting the positions of the weights in relation to each other by reversing the motor, thereby enabling feed-out of the sand to be directed to different parts of the flap and thus the road surface, or by manually shifting a weight in combination wi th reversing or by means of entirely manual shifting. Placing the weights at an angular difference of 180 degrees (or some other angle) causes a vibration movement at one side of the flap which is phase-displaced 180 degrees (or a different angle) in relation to the vibration movement at the other side of the flap. No sand, or very little, is then fed out at the middle of the flap. A different pattern can also be obtained by

shifting the weights to a different relative angle, e.g. 90 degrees. One or more motors may be used and a certain phase-displacement between them can be adjustable.

One great advantage of the invention is that it is unnecessary to descend from the vehicle for shifting since this can be performed from the driver's seat (at reversing).

Another advantage is the saving in sand.

Brief description of the drawings:

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a feed-out device for sand and Figures 2-8 show various alternative embodiments of the vibration means according to the invention. Side views of the vibration means are shown on each side of Figures 2, 3, 4 and 8.

Description of embodiments:

Figure 1 shows a truck (1) with a sand spreader (2) including a spring- clamped flap (3) for feeding out sand. The vibration device for the flap is described in more detail below.

Figure 2 shows this vibration device from behind and below this Figure, the transverse profile of the load of sand (4) to be fed out. The device is provided with at least one motor (5) driving a through shaft (6). The motor (5) is suitably reversible. On each side of the motor are eccentrically placed weights (7, 8), arranged on the shaft. These weights (7, 8) are in the present case placed identically in relation to the shaft (6), and sand, salt or the like (4), is fed out by means of vibration and has a profile as shown beneath Figure 2. The side views show the identical placing of the weights. As can be seen, the sand is distributed uniformly across the road surface.

With the aid of a dog-plate (10) and reversing the motor, one of these weights, in this case weight (8) (see Figure 3), is turned about the shaft

(6), in this case 180 degrees (a different angle may be set). In the

synchronous case (Figure 2) vibration occurs in conventional manner and in the case with 180 degrees displacement the vibration occurs in different directions on the different sides, around an equilibrium point (X). Substantially no sand is fed out from the central part of the flap (see the sand profile below Figure 3).

Figure 4 shows an angular displacement of 90 degrees between the two weights. This shift can also be brought about by the dog-plate (10) and reversing. In this case strong vibration occurs in the right-hand part and less vibration in the left-hand part and a feed-out profile as shown beneath Figure 4 is obtained. The vibration occurs about a new centre (Y). In this case heavier sanding is obtained on the left side of the vehicle and less on its right side. A new centre is created at reversing, having opposite action, i.e. stronger sanding on the vehicle's right side.

Figure 5 shows driving from a motor (5) arranged at the side. The angular relationship can be varied manually or in combination with reversing the motor, and the locking of the weights by means of a suitable coupling (9). Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the latter idea, but with a centrally placed motor (5).

Figure 7 shows driving with two motors, suitably with mutually adjustable phase-displacement.

Figure 8 shows a dog-plate (10) permanently secured on the shaft (6). The shape and direction of rotation of the dog-plate determines the position. The dog-plate (10) may include a finger wheel (11), for instance, lockable to the weight (8). The number of holes in this wheel determines the number of angular patterns. See at (12). Combinations of the above embodiments are also possible. The vibration device can be placed inside a feed-out bucket or the like.

The device described above can be varied in many ways within the scope of the following claims.