GB1594744A

GB1594744A - Device for the delivery of fodder crop

Info

Publication number: GB1594744A
Application number: GB5135677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Wilmink Hermanus B W
Current assignee: Wilmink Hermanus B W
Priority date: 1976-12-16
Filing date: 1977-12-09
Publication date: 1981-08-05
Also published as: BR7708268A; DK559977A; NZ185990A; FR2373957A1; ES465016A1; YU298877A; AU3153177A; JPS5386331A; NL7705656A; SE7714257L; DE2755742A1

Description

(54) DEVICE FOR THE DELIVERY OF FODDER CROP (71) I, HERMANUS BERNARDUS WIL HELMS WILMINK, a subject of the Queen of the Netherlands, of 2 Het Linschot, Borner broek, the Netherlands, do hereby declare that the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state ment:- The invention relates to a device for the delivery of fodder crop from a stock.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which is capable of delivering any crop prepared to form fodder. In particular it is difficult to handle very long stalks, for example, of grass so that hitherto it has been common practice to cut such stalks. The invention, however, enables to handle long stalks, since such long-stalk crop is preferred by cattle.

The device according to the invention is characterized by a plurality of members rotatable about a shaft for picking crop portions from a stock and a blowing apparatus for producing an air stream which flows outwardly through the path followed by the rotatable members.

Each rotating member takes a portion of crop from the stock and owing to the rotational movement of the member the crop is accelerated by an outwardly directed force, which is enhanced by the air stream generated by the blower. As soon as the outwardly extending force overcomes the frictional force between the pick-up member and the crop, the crop will be disengaged from the pick-up member and will be thrown away with a given speed. Thus a portion of crop is obtained, whlch can be offered in an alry state" to the cattle. Owing to the outwardly directed air stream long stalks can be readily handled without sticking to the pick-up members.

It is advantageous to arrange guide means at a distance from the rotating members on the side remote from the shaft for directing and guiding the crop portions thrown out by the pick-up members.

In a simple embodiment the blowing member is formed by a group of blades arranged at the side of the plurality of members and being adapted to rotate about the shaft for producing air stream directed along said shaft, said air stream being bent over in a radial sense by a resistance disposed at a distance.

In an effective embodiment said resistance is formed by a second identical group of blades producing an opposite air stream.

In a further simple embodiment the blower apparatus may be formed by axially extending blades arranged around the shaft and producing an air stream directed radially to the outside. In a preferred embodiment a combination of radial and axial blades may be used.

A further embodiment is distinguished in that at least one conveyor is provided, which joins the outlet port of the guide means.

The invention will be described more fully with reference to some embodiments. In the drawing Fig. 1. shows a perspective elevation of the device in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2. is a side elevation of a first application.

Fig. 3. is a side elevation of a second application.

Fig. 4. is a side elevation of a dispenser device used on a mobile feeding wagon.

Fig. 5. is a side elevation of the device in a different form employed on a different type of mobile feeding wagon.

The delivery device according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises a shaft 1 at a distance from which there is arranged a plurality of pick-up members 2. The pick-up members are formed in this embodiment each by a radially extending tine and each row of tines is fastened to a carrier 3 extending axially with respect to the shaft 1. At both ends the carriers are fastened in a felly 4, which is secured by means of spokes 5 to the shaft.

According to one aspect of the invention the spokes 5 are constructed in the form of radially extending blades so that, when the tined pick-up members 2 rotate about the shaft 1, an inwardly directed air stream is produced in the direction of the arrow P1.

Although this is not shown, a closed partition may be arranged on the other side of the group of tine-shaped members 2 between the local fell 4 and the shaft 1. Therefore, the air has to take a course in a radial sense along the tine-shaped members 2 to the outside. However, it is advantageous to arrange a group of blades on the left side corresponding with the group of blades on the right-hand side rather than a closed partition, the arrangement being, however, such that also in this case an inwardly directed air stream is produced.

The two air streams have, therefore, to escape both in a radial sense. According to a further aspect of the invention a group of axial blades 6 is arranged between the shaft 1 and the tine-shaped plck-up members 2, said blades deviating from the radial direction to an extent such that also in this case an outwardly directed air stream is generated.

These blades in conjunction with the radial blades 5 can amplify the air stream produced so that the effectiveness of the air stream along the tine-shaped pick-up members 2 will be enhanced.

On the side of the tine-shaped pick-up members 2 remote from the shaft 1 guide means 7 are arranged, which are shown more in detail in Figs. 2 and 3.

The guide means shown comprise a stationary, curved guide plate 71 connected on either side with a downwardly extending, standing wall portion 72, which is provided on the rear side (Fig. 1) with two pivotable plates 73, which are hinged to the sidewalls 72.

The shaft 1 is journalled at both ends in an arm 8, which is pivotally journalled in the embodiment shown at its end remote from the shaft 1 in a stationary frame 9, one of the beams of which is shown on the left-hand side of Fig. 1. In the embodiment shown the shaft 1 is driven by a chain mechanism comprising a motor-driven shaft 10, on which a chain sprocket and a chain transmission cooperates with a chain sprocket on a shaft 11 at the pivotable joint of the arm 8. Between said shaft 11 and the shaft 1 is arranged a further chain transmission.

Fig. 2 shows the device of Fig. 1 used on a mobile wagon. The wagon comprises a frame 21 supported by a pair of wheels 22 and coupled with an agricultural tractor 23 or the like. In front of the wheels 22 the frame 21 is provided with a pick up apparatus 24 of any suitable structure, which serves to pick up the crop from the field, which is carried out in the embodiment shown by rotating rakes. The crop is fed through an opening into the frame 21 in the loading space 25 above the frame, which may have any appropriate construction. In the embodiment shown it is formed, for example, by a gauze raster. Beneath in the loading space above the frame 21 is arranged a conveying member 26, which conveys the crop picked up by the pick-up device 24 to the rear in the direction of the arrow P2. Thus the whole loading space 25 can be effectively filled with agricultural crop.

The device shown in Fig. 1 is arranged on the rear side of the loading space 25.

The operation of the device shown in Fig. 1 will now be explaned for this application. It is assumed that the loading space 25 is completely filled with, for example, grass. The loading wagon is driven towards the feeding ground of the cattle, for example, a stable, where the picked-up crop has to be delivered in doses. The driving motor is connected with the chain mechanism for driving the shaft 1. The tine-shaped pick-up members Z grip into the crop in the space 25, whilst simultaneously the blades produce an air stream in a radial sense to the outside. As soon as it is free of the space 25 the crop is thrown away by the guide means 7 and the previously adjusted partitions 23 in a first direction of the arrow P3 to the front of the stable boxes where the cattle is standing.

When a quantity of crop has been delivered, it may occur that the pick-up members 2 can no longer reach out to the crop in the space 25. The conveying member can then feed crop in the direction of the arrow P2 towards the pick-up members 2. This conveyance may be continuous, but also intermittent. In the case of intermittent action it is advantageous to cause the arm 8 to cooperate with a switch 26 fixed to a fixed post of the frame 21. A spring 27 arranged between said post and the arm 8 provides a bias tension in anti-clockwise direction. As soon as the pressure of the crop on the pick-up members 2 decreases, the pivotal arm 8 will tend to move to the left in Fig. 2 until the pivotal arm 8 reaches the switch 26 and actuates the same. Said switch may be connected either with a separate driving motor for the conveyor 26 or with a driving mechanism between the motor of the shaft 1 and the conveying member 26.

Fig. 3 shows a second example of an application. The device shown in Fig. 1 is arranged on a wagon driven by a tractor or by its own engine. The wagon comprises a loading platform 30, which is adapted to pivot up and down by means of a lifting mechanism formed by a plunger 31 about a shaft 32. In this embodiment the wagon serves as a feeding wagon for handling large bales of agricultural crop previously compressed strongly.

Since the bales B have a comparatively large weight, it is advantageous to set the platform 30 during loading in the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3 so that, for example, the bale B can be scooped from the ground by sliding the platform 30 beneath the bale.

After lifting it by means of the plunger 31 the platform gets into the position indicated by solid lines, in which the bale B arrives by its own weight at the tine-shaped pick-up members 2. When the motor 33 is started, the pick-up members 2 are rotated about the shaft 1 so that the compressed crop is scraped off the bale B and is conveyed in an airy state to the rear in the direction of the arrow P4.

At a given distance outside the rotating members 2 a stop member 40 is provided, which has at the most the same length as the set of sick-up members. The stop member formed by a pinion leaves free a "narrow" gap. The additional pinion and hence the height of the gap are adjustable. This additional pinion prevents the pick-up members from catching excessively large batches. It also prevents the bale from being lifted as a whole by the pick-up members. At the circumference the pinion is fairly smooth or hardly provided with protuberances. It has the same direction of rotation as the pick-up members and its circumferential speed is equal to or higher than that of the pick-up members. The guide cap is adapted to said additional pinion.

In accordance with a further improvement provided by the present invention a conveyor is arranged at the outlet port 173 of the guide means 7.

The conveyor shown in Fig. 4 is virtually formed by a prolongation of the rolling floor 106 extending beneath the delivery device up to the outlet port 173 of the guide means.

The rear edge of the prolonged rolling floor is, moreover, joined by a transverse conveyor, the direction of conveyance of which is parallel to the rotary shaft of the gripping members and transverse of the conveying direction of the rolling floor.

The rolling floor 108 may have any suitable form and in the embodiment it is shown in the form of an endless conveyor covering the whole width of the guide means 107. This conveyor is preferably drivable in two directions so that the crop getting from the guide means 107 through the outlet port 173 to the upper run of the conveyor 103 can be delivered in one direction or in the opposite direction. Therefore, the crop can be deposited on the left-hand side as well as on the right hand side of the moving wagon.

The advantage of such a set of conveyors after the outlet port 173 is that the whole quantity of crop of the storing space will be completely delivered. Even short-stalked crop not gripped by the dispenser is effectively conducted by the rolling floor 106 towards the transverse conveyor 108.

In order to improve the grip of the catching members on the stock of crop in the space 105 there is proposed to use a pushing member 109, which can be releasably fastened to the conveyor 106. On the pressure side the pushing member preferably has the shape curved in accordance with the path of the catching members 111. The pushing member may be formed by a closed sheet or a network of any suitable material.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 5 differs from the embodiment described above in that a feeding wagon is concerned here, which is suitable for handling compressed bales of fodder. In this case the fodder is not shed loosely into a space, but compressed to a bale of given dimensions deposited on a loading platform 130. The loading platform 130 is adapted to swing up and down around a shaft 13 by means of a lifting mechanism formed by a plunger 131. The wagon is furthermore equipped with a device corresponding with the dispenser device of Fig. 4, the same reference numerals designating corresponding parts.

The difference from the dispenser device described above resides in that in this embodiment the conveyor joining the outlet port is formed by the transverse conveyor 108, which operates in the same manner as the conveyor 108 of Fig. 4.

Within the scope of the invention other embodiments and fields of application are possible.

The device may be used not only as a mobile loading wagon as described but also stationary device filled, for example, from a wagon and loosening the material and distributing the same on a conveyor belt or throwing the same in a blower for filling a silo or the like or for carrying the material to the cattle.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A device for delivering fodder crop from a stock including a plurality of members rotatable about a shaft for picking crop portions from the stock and a blowing apparatus for producing an air stream which flows Out- wardly through the path followed by the rotatable members.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 characterized in that the rotatable pick-up members are constructed in the form of outwardly extending tines.

3. A device as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 characterized in that at a distance from the rotatable members on the side remote from the shaft guide means are provided for directing and guiding the picked-up crop portions.

4. A device as claimed in Claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the blowing apparatus is formed by a group of blades disposed at the side of the plurality of members and adapted to rotate about the shaft for producing an air stream along said shaft, said air stream being bent over in a radial sense by a resistance disposed at a distance.

5. A device as claimed in Claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said resistance is formed by a second group of blades producing an air stream in the opposite sense.

6. A device as claimed in Claims 1 to 3 or

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. solid lines, in which the bale B arrives by its own weight at the tine-shaped pick-up members 2. When the motor 33 is started, the pick-up members 2 are rotated about the shaft 1 so that the compressed crop is scraped off the bale B and is conveyed in an airy state to the rear in the direction of the arrow P4. At a given distance outside the rotating members 2 a stop member 40 is provided, which has at the most the same length as the set of sick-up members. The stop member formed by a pinion leaves free a "narrow" gap. The additional pinion and hence the height of the gap are adjustable. This additional pinion prevents the pick-up members from catching excessively large batches. It also prevents the bale from being lifted as a whole by the pick-up members. At the circumference the pinion is fairly smooth or hardly provided with protuberances. It has the same direction of rotation as the pick-up members and its circumferential speed is equal to or higher than that of the pick-up members. The guide cap is adapted to said additional pinion. In accordance with a further improvement provided by the present invention a conveyor is arranged at the outlet port 173 of the guide means 7. The conveyor shown in Fig. 4 is virtually formed by a prolongation of the rolling floor 106 extending beneath the delivery device up to the outlet port 173 of the guide means. The rear edge of the prolonged rolling floor is, moreover, joined by a transverse conveyor, the direction of conveyance of which is parallel to the rotary shaft of the gripping members and transverse of the conveying direction of the rolling floor. The rolling floor 108 may have any suitable form and in the embodiment it is shown in the form of an endless conveyor covering the whole width of the guide means 107. This conveyor is preferably drivable in two directions so that the crop getting from the guide means 107 through the outlet port 173 to the upper run of the conveyor 103 can be delivered in one direction or in the opposite direction. Therefore, the crop can be deposited on the left-hand side as well as on the right hand side of the moving wagon. The advantage of such a set of conveyors after the outlet port 173 is that the whole quantity of crop of the storing space will be completely delivered. Even short-stalked crop not gripped by the dispenser is effectively conducted by the rolling floor 106 towards the transverse conveyor 108. In order to improve the grip of the catching members on the stock of crop in the space 105 there is proposed to use a pushing member 109, which can be releasably fastened to the conveyor 106. On the pressure side the pushing member preferably has the shape curved in accordance with the path of the catching members 111. The pushing member may be formed by a closed sheet or a network of any suitable material. The embodiment shown in Fig. 5 differs from the embodiment described above in that a feeding wagon is concerned here, which is suitable for handling compressed bales of fodder. In this case the fodder is not shed loosely into a space, but compressed to a bale of given dimensions deposited on a loading platform 130. The loading platform 130 is adapted to swing up and down around a shaft 13 by means of a lifting mechanism formed by a plunger 131. The wagon is furthermore equipped with a device corresponding with the dispenser device of Fig. 4, the same reference numerals designating corresponding parts. The difference from the dispenser device described above resides in that in this embodiment the conveyor joining the outlet port is formed by the transverse conveyor 108, which operates in the same manner as the conveyor 108 of Fig. 4. Within the scope of the invention other embodiments and fields of application are possible. The device may be used not only as a mobile loading wagon as described but also stationary device filled, for example, from a wagon and loosening the material and distributing the same on a conveyor belt or throwing the same in a blower for filling a silo or the like or for carrying the material to the cattle. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A device for delivering fodder crop from a stock including a plurality of members rotatable about a shaft for picking crop portions from the stock and a blowing apparatus for producing an air stream which flows Out- wardly through the path followed by the rotatable members.

6. A device as claimed in Claims 1 to 3 or

4 to 5 characterized in that the blowing apparatus is formed by axially extending blades arranged around the shaft and producing an outwardly directed air stream.

7. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding Claims characterized in that a stop member is arranged at a given distance outside the pick-up members.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 7 characterized in that the stop member is formed by a pinion rotating in the same sense as the pick-up members.

9. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding Claims characterized by a conveyor for feeding the crop towards the rotating pick-up members.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 9 characterized in that the shaft is movably mounted with respect to the feeding conveyor and spring means bias the shaft towards the conveyor.

11. A device as claimed in Claims 8 and 9 characterized in that the action of the feeding conveyor is controlled by the movement of the shaft towards said conveyor.

12. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims and produced with means for guiding the picked-up crop portions, characterized by at least one conveyor joining the outlet port of the guide means.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12 arranged near the outlet port of a storing space having a rolling floor characterized in that the rolling floor is prolonged beneath the rotatable members up to the outlet port of the guide means.

14. A device as claimed in claim 12 of 13 characterized by a transverse conveyor, the direction of conveyance of which is parallel to the rotary shaft of the rotatable members.

15. A device as claimed in claim 12 to 14 characterized in that the or each conveyor is formed by an endless belt.

16. A device as claimed in claim 12 to 15 characterized in that the or each conveyor covers at least the whole width of the device.

17. A device as claimed in claims 12 to 16 characterized in that the transverse conveyor can be driven in two directions operative in relatively opposite senses.

18. A device as claimed in claim 13 and the further claims characterized in that the rolling floor is provided with a releasable pushing member.

19. A device as claimed in claim 18 characterized in that on the pressure side the pushing member has a shape curved in accordance with the path of the rotatable members.

20. A mobile loading wagon comprising means for picking up crop from the field characterized by a device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims.

21. A feeding wagon for picking up a bale of compressed agricultural crop characterized by a device as claimed in claims 1 to 19.

22. A device as claimed in claim 21 characterized in that a carrier receiving the bale can be set in a sloping position so that the bale is urged by gravity against the pickup members.

23. A device as claimed in claim 21 and 22 characterized in that the carrier of the wagon receiving the bale is adapted to tilt about a spindle extending parallel to the shaft.

24. A device substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.