WO1991000003A1

WO1991000003A1 - Mobile hose-winding apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1991000003A1
Application number: PCT/GB1990/001015
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Mitchell
Original assignee: David Mitchell
Priority date: 1989-06-30
Filing date: 1990-07-02
Publication date: 1991-01-10
Also published as: GB2233311A; GB2251425A; GB9202015D0; AU5942790A; GB8915052D0; GB2251425B

Abstract

There is disclosed a mobile hose-winding apparatus (1) including an axle member (3), a drive means (9, 10) operative to drive the axle (3), at least one landengaging wheel (2) mounted about its axis on the axle (3) and being engageable, by first engagement means (12, 25, 28, 30), on the axle (3) to rotate therewith, and a hose reel (11) mounted about its axis on the axle (3) and being engageable, by second engagement means (12, 25, 26, 28), on the axle (3) to rotate therewith.

Description

MOBILE HOSE-WINDING APPARATUS

This invention relates to a mobile hose-winding apparatus, in particular to an apparatus for laying, and winding up, lay-flat hose of the type which is used for distributing slurry or dirty water over a field. On many farms in the United Kingdom there is a need to apply slurry during Spring, essentially to dispose of that slurry. However, such slurry is usually high in nutrients, particularly nitrogen containing compounds and it is undesirable for these nutrients to escape into water courses and, thereby, into the river system because of the adverse effect this has on the quality of the rivers.

Moreover, the land conditions in Spring do not allow conventional winders (which may weigh up to four tonnes) to operate satisfactorily because the land is too wet and boggy; conventional winders are, in fact, designed to work in drought conditions when it is desired to spray water over land for irrigation purposes. It is also undesirable to have a bulky, heavy winding apparatus as this damages the growing crop. A growing crop is important when slurry is being spread as it absorbs nutrients from the slurry being applied and prevents escape of those nutrients into adjacent water courses.

According to the present invention, there is provided a mobile hose-winding apparatus including an axle member, a drive means operative to drive the axle, at least one land-engaging wheel mounted about its axis on the axle and being engageable, by first engagement means, on the axle to rotate therewith, and a hose reel mounted about its axis on the axle and being engageable, by second engagement means, on the axle to rotate therewith. The apparatus in accordance with the present invention preferably has two land-engaging wheels, each having separate engagement means whereby each may be made fast with the axle so that rotation of the axle drives the apparatus through the wheels.

The hose-winding apparatus in accordance with the present invention may include several hose reels, each of which is provided with a second engagement means whereby each reel may independently be engaged on the axle to rotate therewith.

The first and second engagement means, for engaging the or each land wheel and the hose reel may be combined, or linked, such that engagement of the land wheel or wheels causes disengagement of the hose reel or.reels. This arrangement permits either the land wheel(s) or the hose reel(s) to be engaged, but not both simultaneously. However, it is to be appreciated that the land wheel(s) and hose reel(s) could both be engaged simultaneously to advantage in exceptional ground conditions.

The drive means preferably includes a first drive wheel engageable with a second drive wheel secured to the axle. The first drive wheel may be provided with a rubber tyre which contacts the second drive wheel and may be driven by a belt drive from a motor, for example a petrol or diesel motor. The means whereby the first drive wheel is engageable with the second drive wheel may comprise a pivoted rod assembly which, in operation, is capable of moving the first drive wheel into engagement, or out of engagement, as desired, with the second drive wheel. Alternatively, the drive means may include a belt drive for transmitting drive from a first drive wheel to a second drive wheel secured to the axle. The belt drive may comprise first and second drive belts, the first drive belt extending between the first drive wheel and a first intermediate drive wheel and the second drive belt extending between a second intermediate drive wheel and the second drive wheel which is secured to the axle, said second intermediate drive wheel being linked to said first intermediate drive wheel to rotate therewith. Preferably, the rod assembly is actuated by a control lever movable between first and second positions in which the drive is respectively engaged and disengaged. It is preferred that, in the engaged, or first, position, the control lever must be held manually; on release, the lever returns to the default or disengaged position.

At the other end of the apparatus to the axle there may be provided a single front, or jockey, wheel although it is not essential that there is only a single wheel at this end of the apparatus.

The framework or chassis of the device may be of a tubular arrangement, for lightness of weight. Moreover, the apparatus may be adapted to be towed by a vehicle, for example, a tractor. However, one of the advantages of the present invention is that it can be moved manually, using the small motor to power the land engaging wheels on the axle and steering being achieved manually, at the front of the device.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention, with its drive means disengaged;

Figure 2 shows a similar apparatus to that of Figure 1 with the drive means engaged;

Figure 3 shows the axle assembly of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a detailed view of the drive assembly, with the drive in an engaged position; Figure 5 is a detailed view of the drive assembly with the drive in a disengaged position;

Figure 6 is a detailed view of the drive control lever of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a detailed view of the drive mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 8a, 8b and 8c show one arrangement whereby the land wheels and hose reel are engaged on the axle of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1; Figure 9a and 9b show an alternative arrangement to that illustrated in Figure 1;

Figures 10a and 10b show respective side elevations showing the primary and secondary drive arrangements of another apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figures 10a and 10b; and

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the clutch unit employed in the apparatus shown in Figures 10a and 10b. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a mobile hose-winding apparatus 1 is shown. The apparatus comprises a chassis which connects a set of rear land-engaging wheels 2 (comprising wheels 2a and 2b) on an axle 3 with a front jockey wheel 4. The chassis may be a tubular framework for lightness of weight and may be fabricated by welding, or otherwise. In particular, the chassis includes a member 5 extending from the rear axle 3 to the front part of the apparatus where the jockey wheel 4 is supported. The jockey wheel 4 is steerable by a steering handle 4a. Supported on the member 5 there is a small engine 6, for example, a petrol engine. The output from the engine 6 is connected via a pulley 7 through a drive belt 8 to a first drive wheel 9. On the axle 3 there is mounted a second drive wheel 10 and three separate hose reels 11a, lib and 11c, on which lay flat hose of, for example, two inch (50 mm) or three inch (75 mm) diameter can be rolled, in lengths of, for example, up to 125 metres. Also provided on the axle 3 are three individual clutches 12a, 12b and 12c. The clutches 12a, 12b, 12c are fast with the axle 3, as is the second drive wheel. The land wheels 2 are made steady by means of spokes 13.

The first drive wheel 9 may be moved relative to the second drive wheel 10 carried on the axle by means of a pivoting lever mechanism. The mechanism comprises a control handle 14 connected to a rod 15 which is pivotably connected, via a short member 16, to a further rod 17 which actuates the first drive wheel 9. Movement of the control handle 14 from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 1 causes the first drive wheel 9 to disengage from the second drive wheel 10 on the axle 3, and the belt slackens, as will be clear from Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings (Figure 4 showing the drive wheels engaged and Figure 5 showing the drive wheels disengaged) . As shown in Figure 4, the drive wheel comprises two separate components, an outer component 9a about which the drive belt extends and an inner component 9b to which the outer component 9a is rigidly connected. Inner component 9b engages and drives the second drive wheel 10.

The arrangement of the control handle 14 can be more clearly seen in Figure 6. The control handle 14 is pivotable about a pivot point 18. Movement of the control handle from a first position in which it is adjacent to the steering handle 4a of the jockey wheel to a position in which it lies substantially horizontal causes rod 15 to be pulled to the right in the drawing thereby disengaging the drive wheels 9,10. In the first position, the control handle is not "over- centre", which means that, should it be released during operation, it will move quickly to the horizontal position in which the first drive wheel 9 will be disengaged from the second drive wheel 10, and the belt will slacken. Figure 7 shows in more detail the engagement or disengagement of the first drive wheel 9 from second drive wheel 10; the disengaged position is shown by dotted lines whilst the engaged position is shown by solid lines. Reference here should be made to Figure 1 and 2 described above.

Figures 8a to 8c illustrate the selective engagement of a land wheel 2b or a hose reel lie using clutch 12c. The clutch 12c, which is fast with axle 3, includes a drive pin 25 capable of engaging a hole 26 (or other abutment means) in a drive plate 27 secured to the hose reel lie. The drive pin includes an operating handle 28. Engagement of the pin 25 in the hole 26 is shown in Figure 8a. When drive pin 25 is engaged in hole 26, the drive is transferred through the axle 3 and the clutch 12c to the reel lie. As shown in Figure 8b, the drive pin 25 may alternatively engage a drive catch dog 30 formed as part of a land wheel catch plate 31 on the land wheel 2b to transfer the drive to land wheel 2b. Finally, in Figure 8c, the drive pin 25 is neither engaged with the drive catch dog 30 of the land wheel nor the hole 26 of the hose reel lie. This is a free wheeling position in which neither the land wheel 2b nor the hose reel lie is engaged. It is to be noted here that engagement is achieved manually; however, an automatic arrangement could be included to operate the drive pin 25.

A similar arrangement would be required for clutch 12a between hose reel 11a and drive wheel 2a. As regards engagement between clutch 12b and the hose reel lib, a single drive pin is required which is capable of engaging a hole in a drive plate of the hose wheel lib. Figures 9a and 9b show an alternative arrangement for the selective engagement of land wheel 2b or hose reel lie using clutch 12c. As in Figure 8, a drive pin 25 and drive catch dog 30 arrangement is used to engage the drive to the land wheel 2b. However, the hose reel lie is engaged by means of a drive dog 31 which is formed as part of the clutch 12c and which engages a hole 35 in the hose reel drive plate 27. Normally, the drive plate 27 and the clutch 12c are urged apart by a spring, for example "schnorr" spring washers, which prevents the drive dog 31 engaging the hole 35 in the drive plate 37. However, as shown in Figure 9b, when the spring washers 36 are compressed (by urging the hose reel lie inward toward clutch 12c and locking the hose reel lie in position by means of, for example, a pin 32 pushed through a hole 33 in the axle 3) the drive dog engages the hole 35 in the drive plate 27 thereby enabling the drive to be transmitted to the hose reel lie. Instead of drive catch dog 30, a special protruding catch would be employed which engages pin 25 by a flat surface when land wheel 2b rotates in one direction, but causes disengagement, by a chamfered surface which forces the pin 25 to slide out of engagement with the catch when land wheel 2b rotates in the other direction.

Figures 10a, 10b and 11 illustrate an alternative apparatus 40 in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus has the same basic structure as the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 9 and the same reference numerals as used therein have been used to identify the same or similar component. The drive means of apparatus 40 comprises two arrangements, a primary arrangement 42 as shown in Figure 10a and a secondary arrangement 44 as shown in Figure 10b. The primary arrangement 42 shown in Figure 10a comprises -8- the engine drive pulley 7 which is linked by a primary drive belt 46 to a drive reduction pulley 48. Tensioning of belt 46 is achieved by operation of the control handle 14 which causes a belt tensioning pulley 50 to engage belt 46 thereby tensioning it. Release of the control handle 14 causes the belt tensioning pulley 50 to move away from the belt and this therefore disengages .the drive reduction pulley 48 from the drive. Control handle 14 is connected by control rod 15 to a pivoting arrangement 52 to provide movement of pulley 50. As will be seen from Figure 11, drive reduction pulley 48 is mounted on an axle 54 on which there is also mounted a drive pulley 56. Drive pulley 56 is connected via a secondary drive belt 58 to drive wheel 10 which drives axle 3. A belt back idler 60 is provided to tension the secondary belt 58. In use, therefore, when the primary drive belt 46 is tensioned by operation of the control means 14, the engine drive pulley 7 drives the reduction pulley 48 which in turn causes pulley 56 to be driven. This, via secondary drive belt 58, drives the main pulley 10 which in turn drives axle 3 on which the hose reels 11 and the drive wheels 2 are mounted.

Each of the hose reels 11 and land wheels 2 may be selectively engaged or disengaged on the axle 3 by the various means described in relation to Figures 1 to 9 and, as shown in Figure 11, hose reel lib is driven in this way by means of member 62 which is fast with the axle 3 and the engagement pin 64. Engagement of the wheel engagement pin 64 with the member 62 is achieved manually.

However, selective engagement and disengagement of the land wheels 2a and 2b on the axle 3 may alternatively employ a special clutch unit 66 which is shown in more detail in Figure 12.

In Figure 12, the clutch unit 66 will be seen to comprise a central sprocket 70 having a number of teeth 72 around its periphery. This sprocket 70 is made fast with the axle 3. Mounted on each wheel 2a, 2b is a disc 74. Wheel spokes 76 emanate from this disc 74. Mounted on the disc 74 is a pawl arrangement 78 comprising a pawl 80 which is capable of engaging teeth 72 on the sprocket 70 in order to lock the disc 74 in relation to the sprocket so that drive may pass to the wheels 2. Pawl 80 is urged into engagement with teeth 72 by a spring 80. The two positions of the pawl 80 can be seen in Figure 12. There is a first position 80a in which the pawl is engaged with the sprocket 70, and a second position 80b in which the pawl is disengaged. Operation of the pawl 80 is controlled by an operating lever 82. This clutch arrangement may be used on any of the land wheels 2a, 2b or hose reels 11a, lib or lie.

In operation, if it is desired to lay out a length of lay-flat hose from one of the hose reels 11 on the apparatus, a short length of lay flat hose is first unreeled from the hose reel 11 and laid on the ground. The drive is then engaged to the land wheels 2 and, as the apparatus 1 moves along the ground, the hose reel 11 will rotate about the axle 3 thereby unwinding the hose onto the ground. When it is desired to wind the hose, the land wheels 2 are disengaged and the hose reel is engaged to the drive. This rotates the hose reel 11 and causes the lay flat hose to be wound onto the hose reel, at the same time draining any remaining slurry or liquid out of the lay flat hose. Once the lay flat hose is fully wound onto the reel 11, the drive to the hose reel 11 can be disengaged and the drive to the land wheel 2 engaged thereby to move the apparatus 1 to another location. Whilst the apparatus of the present invention is particularly suited to the laying, and winding up, of lay-flat hose, it is to be appreciated that it can be employed for any type of flexible hose, or indeed any other flexible material which has to be laid, and subsequently wound up.

Claims

1. A mobile hose-winding apparatus including an axle member, a drive means operative to drive the axle, at least one land-engaging wheel mounted about its axis on the axle and being engageable, by first engagement means, on the axle to rotate therewith, and a hose reel mounted about its axis on the axle and being engageable, by second engagement means, on the axle to rotate therewith.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 and having two land-engaging wheels, each having separate engagement means whereby each may be made fast with the axle so that rotation of the axle drives the apparatus through the wheels.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, and having two or more hose reels, each of which is provided with a second engagement means whereby each reel may be independently engaged on the axle to rotate therewith.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first and second engagement means, for engaging the or each land wheel and the or each hose reel may be combined, or linked, such that engagement of the land wheel or wheels causes disengagement of the hose reel or reels.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the drive means includes a first drive wheel engageable with a second drive wheel secured to the axle.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the drive means whereby the first drive wheel is engageable with the second drive wheel includes a pivoted rod assembly which, in operation, is capable of moving the first drive wheel into engagement or out of engagement, as desired, with the second drive wheel.

7. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the drive means includes a belt drive for transmitting drive from a first drive wheel to a second drive wheel secured to the axle.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the belt drive comprises first and second drive belts, the first drive belt extending between the first drive wheel and a first intermediate drive wheel and the second drive belt extending between a second intermediate drive wheel and the second drive wheel which is secured to the axle, said second intermediate drive wheel being linked to said first intermediate drive wheel tc rotate therewith.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the drive means further includes a pivoted rod assembly which, in operation, is capable of disengaging said belt drive.

10. An apparatus according to claim 6 or 9, wherein the rod assembly is actuated by a control lever movable between first and second positions in which the drive is respectively engaged and disengaged.