Written by John Swire
Ktwo, a well-known British manufacturer of innovative and lasting farm machinery, design their muck spreaders with twin floor chains to ensure an increased longevity, exceptional reliability, and a better spread of product along with many additional benefits over a single chain design.
The floor chains in muck spreaders convey the material towards the rotors and require a constant and even feed to ensure all the load is spread accurately. All leading manufactures now use heavy duty, mining conveyor chain systems which are far superior to the early light weight, flat link agricultural chain systems of the past.
Traditionally the market saw larger “trailer type” 2m wide muck spreaders designed using single floor chain systems, but when a large amount of material was tipped into them it did not support the floor well and it would bow and eventually stove in, impinging the conveyor system .The twin floor chain system naturally gives a more robust floor slat, but permits support to the centre of the spreader floor.
Ktwo muck spreaders have a flared body throughout which gives an increased volume capacity but also allows a stronger floor design. By starting to taper from the floor, the innovative design acts as a funnel to help move materials down to the chains increasing volume and allowing for easier emptying with less bridging. Even with the central gap between the two chain systems, the nature of the manure itself ensures complete emptying of the spreader.
‘’A single chain is a simple system that allows for easier slat bending and requires a bigger and more clumsy chain to achieve the required pulling capacity.’’ Explains Ashley Knibb, Ktwo Senior Design Engineer. “And suffers from inherently more chain wear on the gearbox drive side”, As observed over the years by Stewart Freeman Ktwo Service and Parts Manager.
‘’Spreading the load” across a twin system with four chains and two runs of slats, means it is not imposing such a big load onto the slats, a smaller more compact chain can be used and the floor is supported better.
With the exception of the Ktwo Bio which has more slats to give a very accurate rotor feed, Ktwo models have staggered chains to further help feed the rotors and ensure an even output and accurate coverage of the looser, lighter product, which is especially noticeable when spreading high value materials such as lime with the use of the slurry door to meter the load.
Ktwo muck spreaders include a sprocketed front roller with integral cleaning scrapers. This gives positive engagement with the chain ensuring the chains remain timed and aligned, with a consistent flow of material and preventing the chain derailing should a foreign object get into the drive roller, thus every slat bending if one should fail.
Another consideration is the difference between the use of a bearing or composite bush. Ktwo have always fitted high quality ball flange bearings which are self-aligning allowing accurate individual chain tension and high-pressure bearings which are much more resilient to wearing out. The composite bush produces resistance with its thin wall and its friction contact when under heavy load, unlike the ball flange bearing which eliminates this.
Robbie Polson, Ktwo Managing Director, says ‘’We have had great feedback from customers moving from a single slat spreader to our twin floor chain spreaders. Not only does it help spread the load better it allows for easy maintenance.’’
‘’A single slat system has a no tool change design. These are a loose fit and then wear and become covered in product and corrode. This system also eventually corrodes solid. We often have customers comment on our four chain design, on its ease to maintain because they can get their tools in and around it and it is simple to remove bolts and slats no matter how worn and embedded they get.’’
Ktwo continue to stay ahead of the curve with their innovative and high-quality machines that are designed to perform and built to last. The extensive Ktwo muck spreader range includes vertical and horizontal beaters all designed to give maximum output with consistent and accurate spreading.
Contact the Ktwo team today on +44 (0)1844 299290 or email [email protected]
For more information visit: www.ktwo.co.uk
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