Muck & Slurry
Spread the load better with twin floor chains Image of a Ktwo spreader from above showing the material moving along the four chains, clearing the whole load.
British manufacturer Ktwo designs its 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 company says. 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. 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 so it would bow and eventually stove in, impinging on the conveyor system. The twin floor chain system
naturally gives a more robust floor slat, but also 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, the company states. 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. ‘’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,’’ explained Ktwo senior design engineer Ashley Knibb. “Plus it suffers from inherently more chain wear on the gearbox drive side,” Ktwo service and parts manager Stewart Freeman further observed. 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. The company’s 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 from derailing should a foreign object get into the drive roller, thus every slat bending if one should fail. Ktwo managing director, Robbie Polson 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.’’ FG
106 www.farmersguide.co.uk December 2020
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