GB1588530A

GB1588530A - Herbage cutting machine

Info

Publication number: GB1588530A
Application number: GB3584177A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SMALLEY ENG Ltd RICHARD
Current assignee: SMALLEY ENG Ltd RICHARD
Priority date: 1978-05-22
Filing date: 1978-05-22
Publication date: 1981-04-23

Description

(54) HERBAGE CUTTING MACHINE (71) We, RICHARD SMALLEY (ENGINEER ING) LIMITED, a British Company of Osbournby, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 ODJ, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to machines for cutting herbage, and is particularly applicable to machines for the clearing of waterways, such as ditches, canals and the like.

Apparatus for clearing herbage from waterways is already known, and is described in U.K. Patent Specification 1023557.

It consists of a perforate receptacle for pivotal mounting to the end of the arm of a mechanical digger or the like machine, a motordriven cutter bar extending along the lower edge of the mouth of the receptacle so that as the machine is drawn over the bank or bottom of the waterway the herbage is cut by the cutter bar and retained in the receptacle. The principal disadvantage of this machine is that the cutter bar is frequently damaged by obstacles encountered in the waterway, and requires frequent repair, and frequent replacement of the movable cutting element, which involves very high running costs.

According to the present invention there is provided a herbage cutting machine comprising a receptacle for receiving the herbage and apertured to allow water to drain therefrom, the mouth of the receptacle having an elongate lower edge having a cutting mechanism provided thereon comprising at least two rotors, each rotor having a flail element secured at a peripheral point so that as the rotor rotates, the flail element severs the herbage, and a drive means for connecting the rotors to a drive motor.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood reference is made to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification in which: Figure 1 is a respective view of a machine according to the present invention.

Figures 2 to 7 inclusive are plan views of rotor constructions.

In figure 1 a machine for cutting herbage is indicated at 10 and comprises a frame member 18 supporting a lower portion 17 having an elongated cutting bar 16. A bow member 11 is provided into which herbage or other cut material is collected. Means are provided in the member 17 for draining water therefrom such as for example hole or slots. The assembly 10 is provided with a pair of upstanding ears 13 to which is connected an arm 12 which may be secured to a hydraulic self propelled member.

Means not illustrated are provided for obtaining angular movement of the assembly 10 relative to the arm 12 to adjust the cutting position of the member 10 as desired. A hydraulic motor 14 is provided, driving a shaft 15 connected to rotors 20 hereinafter described. The motor may be arranged to rotate the rotors either in the same direction or in opposite directions.

In figures 2 to 7 six different shapes are illustrated. In figure 2 a regular five sided member 20 is provided with flail elements 13 at each of the corners. Figure 3 illustrates a square member 21 and figure 4 an equilateral triangle 22 with three flail elements 30 attached to the corners. In figure 5 the rotor 23 is circular and has four flail elements 30. In figure 6 the element 24 is offered with two flail elements and in figure 7 it is a regular seven sided member with seven flail elements.

It will be appreciated that many other shapes and sizes of rotor elements may be provided to form a rotating member to which flail elements adapted to cut into herbage and the like may be secured.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A herbage cutting machine comprising a receptacle for receiving the herbage and apertured to allow water to drain therefrom, the mouth of the receptacle having an elongate lower edge having a cutting mechanism provided thereon, comprising at least two rotors, each rotor having a flail element

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (54) HERBAGE CUTTING MACHINE (71) We, RICHARD SMALLEY (ENGINEER ING) LIMITED, a British Company of Osbournby, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 ODJ, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to machines for cutting herbage, and is particularly applicable to machines for the clearing of waterways, such as ditches, canals and the like. Apparatus for clearing herbage from waterways is already known, and is described in U.K. Patent Specification 1023557. It consists of a perforate receptacle for pivotal mounting to the end of the arm of a mechanical digger or the like machine, a motordriven cutter bar extending along the lower edge of the mouth of the receptacle so that as the machine is drawn over the bank or bottom of the waterway the herbage is cut by the cutter bar and retained in the receptacle. The principal disadvantage of this machine is that the cutter bar is frequently damaged by obstacles encountered in the waterway, and requires frequent repair, and frequent replacement of the movable cutting element, which involves very high running costs. According to the present invention there is provided a herbage cutting machine comprising a receptacle for receiving the herbage and apertured to allow water to drain therefrom, the mouth of the receptacle having an elongate lower edge having a cutting mechanism provided thereon comprising at least two rotors, each rotor having a flail element secured at a peripheral point so that as the rotor rotates, the flail element severs the herbage, and a drive means for connecting the rotors to a drive motor. In order that the present invention may be more readily understood reference is made to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification in which: Figure 1 is a respective view of a machine according to the present invention. Figures 2 to 7 inclusive are plan views of rotor constructions. In figure 1 a machine for cutting herbage is indicated at 10 and comprises a frame member 18 supporting a lower portion 17 having an elongated cutting bar 16. A bow member 11 is provided into which herbage or other cut material is collected. Means are provided in the member 17 for draining water therefrom such as for example hole or slots. The assembly 10 is provided with a pair of upstanding ears 13 to which is connected an arm 12 which may be secured to a hydraulic self propelled member. Means not illustrated are provided for obtaining angular movement of the assembly 10 relative to the arm 12 to adjust the cutting position of the member 10 as desired. A hydraulic motor 14 is provided, driving a shaft 15 connected to rotors 20 hereinafter described. The motor may be arranged to rotate the rotors either in the same direction or in opposite directions. In figures 2 to 7 six different shapes are illustrated. In figure 2 a regular five sided member 20 is provided with flail elements 13 at each of the corners. Figure 3 illustrates a square member 21 and figure 4 an equilateral triangle 22 with three flail elements 30 attached to the corners. In figure 5 the rotor 23 is circular and has four flail elements 30. In figure 6 the element 24 is offered with two flail elements and in figure 7 it is a regular seven sided member with seven flail elements. It will be appreciated that many other shapes and sizes of rotor elements may be provided to form a rotating member to which flail elements adapted to cut into herbage and the like may be secured. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A herbage cutting machine comprising a receptacle for receiving the herbage and apertured to allow water to drain therefrom, the mouth of the receptacle having an elongate lower edge having a cutting mechanism provided thereon, comprising at least two rotors, each rotor having a flail element secured at a peripheral point so that as the rotor rotates, the flail element severs the herbage and drive means for connecting the rotors to a drive motor.

2. A herbage cutting machine according to Claim 1 in which the rotors are substan tially the same shape in plan view.

3. A herbage cutting machine according to Claim 1 having more than two rotors, each with a flail element attached thereto.

4. A herbage cutting machine according to any of the preceding claims, in which the rotors rotate in opposite directions.

5. A herbage cutting machine according to any of the preceding claims in which the rotors have more than one flail element attached to the periphery thereto.

6. A herbage cutting machine in which at least one of the rotors is substantially as illustrated in figure 2 of the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.

7. A herbage cutting machine in which at least one of the motors is substantially as illustrated in figure 3 of the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.

8. A herbage cutting machine in which at least one of the rotors is substantially as illustrated in figure 4 of the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.

9. A herbage cutting machine in which at least one of the rotors is substantially as illustrated in figure 5 of the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.

10. A herbage cutting machine in which at least one of the rotors is substantially as illustrated in figure 6 of the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.

11. A herbage cutting machine in which at least one of the rotors is substantially as illustrated in figure 7 of the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.