Spreader Loading Augers
One way to overcome the challenges of moving thick sand-laden manure is to use a McLanahan Spreader Loading Auger.
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Loading sand-laden manure into spreaders can be challenging without the proper equipment. Sand-laden manure is often too thick to pump with a centrifugal pump. If enough water is added to make it pumpable, abrasion becomes a concern for a centrifugal pump. One way to overcome the challenges of moving thick sand-laden manure is to use a McLanahan Spreader Loading Auger. These augers can move up to 1,000 gallons per minute of manure from reception pits to spreaders, are built from abrasion-resistant materials to minimize abrasive wear and can be driven with an electric motor, hydraulic motor or PTO.
Although McLanahan Spreader Loading Manure Augers are primarily used to move and lift sand-laden manure into manure spreaders, they have also been used to convey a variety of other materials, including dewatered manure solids.
How Spreader Loading Augers Work
The McLanahan Spreader Loading Manure Auger is a heavily built screw conveyor for moving abrasive sand-laden manure into spreaders. The lower end of the auger is attached to the bottom of the reception pit, which stores manure that has been pushed from the alleys, and the upper end is attached to a concrete wall or pedestal. The auger is then used to transport the manure from the reception pit into a spreader.
A screw conveyor is a fairly simple machine consisting of a screw shaft and a drive system. The screw shaft is manufactured from a length of pipe with flighting welded to the outside. The submerged lower end of the screw shaft is supported by a lower bearing protected by a double mechanical seal. The upper end of the screw shaft, also supported by a bearing, contains the drive system that turns the screw shaft. The rotational movement of the screw shaft transfers the material from the reception pit to the spreader. The rotational speed of the conveyor directly impacts the discharge rate of the material; increasing the rotational speed of the screw shaft increases the rate at which the material travels up the shaft.
A support housing contains the screw shaft, helping to hold in material and offering protection from the shaft. Abrasion-resistant liners in the support housing provide protection from wear.
Maintenance on a Spreader Loading Auger is minimal. It includes keeping the remote oil reservoir in the lower bearing full, greasing the upper bearing periodically and changing the oil in the reducer.
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Why McLanahan Spreader Loading Augers
McLanahan designed their Spreader Loading Augers specifically to handle sand-laden manure, which means the dairy producer can expect a long wear life and simplified maintenance.
McLanahan Spreader Loading Augers consist of a screw shaft manufactured from heavy wall pipe. Flanges welded on either end of the screw shaft provide a solid connection to the flanged gudgeon and lower bearing. The flighting on the screw shaft is made of thick, abrasion-resistent material that has been welded onto the pipe and can easily be replaced when needed. The screw shaft is supported by a submerged lower bearing on one end and a pillow block bearing on the upper end. The drive features a torque arm mount that allows the gearbox to float with the shaft, which reduces stress on the auger box. Abrasion-resistant liners protect the auger box from wear. These are bolted into place to facilitate easy replacement when necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spreader Loading Augers
Ask An ExpertThe first step is to determine where the auger will be located. It’s important to ensure that it will extend down to the floor of the pit, extend out of the pit and have clearance above the spreader. A McLanahan technician can assist during this step by working with you to provide layout drawings for your site. This general arrangement drawing shows the overall length and height of the machine.
This depends on the size of the tanker. Spreader Loading Augers are capable of moving 1,000 gallons of manure per minute. A typical tanker can hold between 3,500 and 5,000 gallons of manure, so it would take three and a half to five minutes to load a spreader.
If three-phase power is not available at the auger, it can be supplied with a PTO drive. This will require a dedicated tractor at the auger when loading out.
There aren’t too many other options for moving thick manure and sand. One of the simplest ways is to use a payloader or skidsteer to bucket it into a spreader. This is effective but time consuming.
Another way is to have a push-off ramp where the manure is immediately pushed into the spreader from the barns. This is convenient because it doesn’t involve handling the manure twice, but it requires that the manure be hauled on a daily basis.
A piston pump is capable of moving thick manure, but the flowrates are typically too low to be acceptable for loading a spreader.
These augers can move up to 1,000 gallons per minute of manure from reception pits to spreaders.
Features & Benefits
- Move sand and manure quickly and efficiently
- Purpose built for abrasive materials
- Heavy, abrasion-resistant flighting
- Double-sealed lower bearing
- Available with a PTO, electric or hydraulic drive
- Custom designs available