Flail-type material spreader with load opener

Claim 1

A machine comprising a hollow generally cylindrical hopper having a top opening extending therealong, a flail shaft extending axially along the hopper and journaled at its ends thereon, a plurality of flexible chain flails secured to the flail shaft at locations spaced therearound and at locations spaced therealong, a material breaking and displacing device fixed to the flail shaft between adjacent flails thereof, said device comprising a disc axially circumposed on and fixed to the flail shaft, and vane means fixed on the opposite sides of the disc, said vane means comprising radial vanes, said vanes being angled relative to the plane of the disc in a direction away from the direction of rotation of the flail shaft, a single flail secured to one side of said disc adjacent the peripheral edge of the disc, said single flail comprising a rigid chain pivoted at its inner end to the disc, a hammer mounted for complete rotation on the outer end of said rigid chain, a second single flail secured in counterbalancing relation with respect to said first single flail to opposite side of said disc and adjacent the peripheral edge of said disc at a point on said disc diametrically opposed to said first-named single flail, said second single flail comprising a rigid chain pivoted at its inner end to said disc, and a hammer mounted for complete rotation on the outer end of said last-named rigid chain.