Performance Evaluation of a Pendulum Spreader
Wayne E. Coates · Applied Engineering in Agriculture · 1992
A pendulum spreader was evaluated in broadcast and banding modes. The effect of operating variables such as spout swing (swath width), feed gate opening, and hopper loading on spreader performance were investigated. Spreading performance in general was unacceptable compared to previously published results for pendulum spreaders. When set for broadcasting, two-thirds of the coefficients of variation of uniformity of distribution exceeded 20%, which is the maximum value considered acceptable for field application. Coefficients of variation increased as the hopper emptied and decreased as spout swing (swath width) decreased. When set for banding, heavier application rates were found for the left band than for the right. Band spacing was found not to change as the hopper emptied, but application rate increased dramatically.