AU603814B2 - Transporter for particulate material - Google Patents

Description

L his CIOeUM it con tain~s he Section 49 and is correct for printing COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA The Patents Act 1952-1969 *,Name of Applicant: P-ETER--UCE-NEWT-ON Address of Applicant: B-ruee-Fei-ghway--T-U---Y-r---84, Queen--I-and--A-US-ra-l-i-a Actual Inventor: Peter Bruce Newton Address for Service: G.R. CULLEN CO Dalgety House 79 Eagle Street Brisbane QLD 4000 Australia COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTIO! NILD The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to us.

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2 THIS INVENTION is concerned with improvements in or relating to agricultural implements and in particular to loaders and transporters of particulate materials.

The invention is particularly applicable to an improved loader and transporter of sugar cane billets.

Prior art cane billet loaders and transporters have comprised a mobile bin adapted initially for transportation of cane billets from a cane field to a rail siding or the like, the transporter then acting as a loader to transfer the cane billets to a rail car or the like.

Such prior art loaders and transporters have comprised a mobile chassis, either self-powered or tractor drawn, with a tippable bin capable of being elevated over a rail car then tipped transversely to empty the bin contents 15 into the rail car.

c The main problem with these types of loaders and 900 transporters arises from the fact that the rail cars are manufactured in a multitude of different shapes and volumes, I: and that the sugar cane billets have a tendency to settle in the bin during transport and so form a compacted bundle of billets with individual billets keyed together. When the bin is tipped to empty its contents, the entire bundle of billets exits the bin in a single mass, and hence, the size of the i bin must be chosen so that it will not overfill the rail car.

3 This means that a multitude of different sized bins must be available to suit the different sizes of rail cars. Other L I 011k 3 prior art devices such as those described in Australian patents nos. 525,839 and 522,770 have comprised a longitudinally tippable bin which empties into a hopper for direction onto transversely extendable conveyor to convey the cane billets into the rail car. These machines have similar problems to those described above, and also the bundle of cane billets makes it difficult to create or sustain a continuous flow of cane up and along the conveyor.

In other prior art devices, such as those described in Australian patent application no. 15216/76, it has been proposed to incorporate into the stationary end or side wall of a two-part transporter bin, a conveyor means to convey the cane billets from within the bin over an elevated edge thereof into the rail. By incorporating such a conveyor means it was possible to limit the extent of tilt of the fit I movable part of the transporter bin which would otherwise be required to empty the contents thereof. A major difficulty t tr associated with such apparatus is the requirement of separate I i controls to extend and retract the conveyor which add substantially to initial capital cost and subsequent maintenance problems. Also, feeding the cane billets onto t the conveyor remains a problem, as discussed above.

i It is an aim of the present invention to overcome or alleviate the problems of prior art loaders and transporters of particulate materials and to provide a more effective and more cost efficient loader and transporters for @4 -1 LS y

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4 particulate materials.

Although the following description is limited to the application of the invention to the transportation of cane billets, it should be appreciated that the apparatus, with suitable modifications, is equally applicable to the bulk handling of other particulate materials such as wood chips, vegetables and fruits, cereal crops including rains such as wheat, barley, rice etc. and larger items such as corn cobs etc., as well as fine particulate materials including sugar crystals, flour and chemical compounds. It is envisaged that with the addition of appropriate spreading S equipment, the apparatus according to the invention could be suitably adapted or modified for use as a fertilizer spreader o and/or seed sowing implement.

According to the invention there is provided a transporter for particulate material, such as bugar cane billets, comprising: a mobile frame; St I a bin mounted on the framp. and tiltable about a transverse axis of the frame from a transport position to a discharge position whereat it is elevated relative to the transport position, the bin having a pair of opposed side walls, and further having an aperture in at least one side wall thereof; continuous conveyor means located in, and mounted to, the bin and extending transversely thereof; t tilting means for tilting the bin and thereby raising the conveyor means, ©f r I I i wherein when the bin is tilted to its discharge position, the conveyor means is located at the bottom of the bin and the bin operates as a hopper to direct the material onto the conveyor means; and means for operating the conveyor means to discharge the material transversely of the bin through the aperture.

In one embodiment, the bin is pivotally connected to the frame so that it is pivotable relative to the frame.

Preferably, there is a pivotal coupling between an upper end portion of the bin and an elevated portion of the frame, such S as a post at the front of the frame. When the bin is tilted o pabout this pivotal connection, it is elevated relative to the a°o ,o frame by the tilting movement. The tilting means may suitable comprise a hydraulic cylinder assembly connected *5 between the bin and the frame.

In another embodiment, the bin is tilted together with part or all of the frame. For example, the mobile frame may comprise an upper frame on which the bin is mounted, and a sub-frame mounted on wheels. The upper frame and bin are tiltable together relative to the sub-frame about a transverse axis of the transporter, located at the forward o end of the frame relative to the normal direction of travel.

6 The mobile frame may form part of a self-powered vehicle such as a truck, or it may be drawn by a prime mover such as a tractor or the like.

In the preferred embodiment, the bin is a walled bin, and the bottom portions of at least some of the walls are inclined. The conveyor means extends substantially across an inclined wall portion when the bin is in its transport position. When the bin is elevated to its discharge position, the conveyor means is located at the floor of the bin. The bin therefore acts as a hopper to direct the material inside onto the conveyor means.

The conveyor means may comprise any suitable form of conveyor such as a belt-type conveyor, an endless chain conveyor or the like. Suitably the conveyor means is associated with a lower inclined wall of the bin such that when the bin is in an elevated position, the lower wall forms a lowermost floor of said bin. Preferably, the conveyor means is laterally extendable from at least one side of said bin. Most preferably the conveyor means is laterally extendable from opposing sides of said bin. The conveyor means may be telescopically extendable or it may include outwardly foldable portions.

In order that the invention may be more fully S- understood, reference may be made to a preferred embodiment Vitt of a sugar cane transporter illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of the apparatus in a retracted position; Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the apparatus of Fig.

tc Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the apparatus in an elevated position; Fig. 4 shows a rear elevation of the apparatus in an elevated position; M i' x~ Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 shows a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 5 in an elevated position; Fig. 7 shows a section view of the apparatus along I N iir ii i ~bPMb~ I~~ line VII-VII of FIG 6; FIG 8 shows a sic6e elevation of a transverse wall of the apparatus of FIGS 5 and 6; FIG 9 is a detailed view of a modification of the bin of the apparatus of FIG 5 to 8; and, FIG 10 shows detail of a conveyor extension.

In FIG 1 the cane transporter comprises a mobile frame or chassis 1 supported at its rear end 2 by ground engaging wheels 3. The front end 4 includes a drawbar 5 for attachment to a towing connection 6 of a prime mover 7 (shown only in part).

t iMounted on the frame 1 is a walled bin 8 having an J open top 9. The upper front end of bin 8 is pivotally i connected by a pivot bearing 10 to an upright support post 15 11 mounted towards the front of frame 1.

An hydraulic cylinder 12 is pivotably mounted at one end 13 to the frame 1 and pivotally mounted at its other end 14 to a link arm 15 which in turn is pivotally connected to a pivot bracket 16 on bin 8.

4 20 The bin 8 comprises upright side walls 17, an upright rear wall portion 18, an inclined rear wall portion 4 19 and a further wall portion 20 which forms a floor to bin j 8 in a retracted transporting position as shown. The front wall of the bin 8 is comprised of an upper inclined portion 21 and a lower inclined portion 21a and located between 1* front wall portions 21,21a is a transversely extending conveyor belt 22 which forms a further wall portion.

-7- On each side wall 17 of bin 8 are located recesses 23 in which are located foldable conveyor extensions 24.

The conveyor extensions 24, when extended, form with the conveyor belt 22 a continuous.conveyor means extending transversely of the bin 8.

An hydraulic cylinder 25 is connected between the bin 8 via a pivotal connection 26 and a further pivotal connection 27 on the conveyor extensions 24 to selectively extend or retract the conveyor extensions 24.

FIG 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG 1 showing the conveyor belt 22 forming part of the front wall of the bin 8.

i *In the retracted position shown in FIGS 1 and 2 the prime mover drawn apparatus travels beside a cane harvester and collects in bin 8 chopped cane billets from a conveyor I on the harvester. When the bin is full the apparatus is then driven to a rail siding for discharge of the cane into a rail truck.

The transporter is drawn up beside a rail car with 20 the side wall 17 of the bin 8 spaced suitably at 600mm from the side of the rail car.

The bin 8 is then elevated as shown in FIG 3 by means of hydraulic cylinder 12. In its fully tilted position the upper edge 28 of the bin is inclined at degrees to a horizontal portion 29 of frame 1 and conveyor belt 22, previously forming a 45 degrees inclined front wall portion, is now in an elevated horizontal position.

-8- Once the bin 8 is tilted and elevated as shown front and rear wall portions 18,19,20,21 and 21a assume a hopper-like configuration to direct cane billets towards the conveyor belt 22.

Hydraulic cylinders 25 are then actuated to extend the conveyor extension portions 24 such that the conveyor extension 24 adjacent the rail car extends over the side wall thereof towards the centre of the rail car.

Conveyor drive motor 30 is then actuated to discharge the contents of bin 8 into the rail car.

FIG 4 shows an end elevation of the apparatus of j o FIG 3 in a discharging configuration beside rail car 31.

If required, sector shaped check plates 32 may be 8 o fitted to the conveyor extensions to prevent spillage of the 15 cane billets off the conveyor extensions 24.

Figures 5 and 6 show another embodiment of apparatus 50 according to the invention. The apparatus a. is pivoted to the prime mover 7 at pivot point 51. The °o apparatus 50 has a space frame module provided by upper 0, 20 frame member 52, lower frame members 53, 54 generally upright frame members 55, 56 and cross frame member 57. A similar set of frame members is present on the opposite side of the apparatus 50 and spaced therefrom by a plurality of 0 0 transversely extending frame members (not shown). Bin 58 is integrated with the space frame module to strengthen the bin and also to reduce the re 'ultant weight of the apparatus.

Subframe 59 is pivoted at 60 to member 54 of the -9space frame module and carries an axle 61 to which a wheel 62 is mounted. A similar subframe and wheel is positioned at the opposite side of the apparatus. An hydraulic cylinder assembly shown diagrammatically at 63 is coupled between a mounting 64 at the rear of apparatus and a mounting 65 about the axle 61. When assembly 63 is extended the apparatus pivots about pivot 51 and moves from the Figure 5 to the figure 6 position to ensure that portion 53a of frame member 53 and conveyor 70 (see figire 7) which rests upon it extends substantially horizontally across the apparatus.

As shown in figure 6 the bin 58 has a transverse wall 71 which extends across the full width thereof. The wall 71 is hinged at 72 and is movable by an hydraulic cylinder assembly 73 (shown diagrammatically). Assembly 73 extends between mounting 74 on frame member 52 and mounting on the wall 71. The bin 58 has an open top 76, downwardly sloping leading and trailing walls 77, 78 walls 79, c0 which, in the figure 6 position are substantially vertical and opposed side walls 81. Transverse wall 71 is movable from the full outline position of figure 6 where it abuts wall 80 to the dotted outline position where it abuts wall 79. The bottom of the bin opens onto conveyor The normal position of wall 71 is that shown in full outline to the rear) in figure 6 where it remains during discharge of contents from the front of the bin. The wall 71 is then moved to the dotted line position by

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assembly 73 to allow the rear of the bin to be emptied by the conveyor 70. This feature as well as the provision of walls 79, 80 assists in the ejection of material from the bin. Without thess features there is a tendancy for cane billets to "bridge" across the opening in the bin and across the conveyor 70. The movable wall separates the front and rear of the bin and prevents the cane billets from keying together. The wall also provides a smooth surface along which the cane can flow and reduces the area of bonding layer between the cane billets discharged and those remaining. This in turn reduces the resistance that the conveyor has to overcome to discharge its load.

As shown in figures 5 and 6 and in greater detail in figure 7 the apparatus has a foldable conveyor extension 90. Whilst only one such extension is shown in figure 7, two may be present projecting from oppsoed sides of the bin 58. As in the figure 1 to 4 embodiment the conveyor extension 90 is movable to the position shown and may be withdrawn into the bin. The extension has sector shaped check plates 91 to prevent spillage of billets off extension The extension 90 pivots about pivot 92 under the influence of an hydraulic cylinder assembly 93 (shown diagrammatically mounted between mounts 94, 95. A single conveyor 96 is trained over rollers or sprockets 97, 98 and an intermediate roller (not shown).

The transverse wall 71 is shown in detail in figures 7 and 8. This wall has a frame 100 to which is j(! ii ii i- ~1 11 secured a leading and a trailing face 101, 102. The trailing face has an upper segment 103 to which a lower segment 104 is pivotally attached at 105. As is evident from figure 7 the wall 71 does not extend completely across the bin. A small gap Gi exists on the left of figure 7 whilst a larger gap G2 exists to the right. Gap G2 provides clearance for extension when in the withdrawn attitude. Hinged lower segment 104 functions such that when the wall 71 is moved to the dotted outline position (figure 6) and past wall 79, the segment 104 abuts wall 79 and assumes a substantially vertical attitude.

S By being able to first empty the leading or forward part of the bin and then the trailing or rear part of the bin jamming, bridging or keying of billets is eliminated.

ae Figure 9 shows a fragmentary view of trailing wall 78 of the bin which is adjacent frame member 54. That wall 78 is provided with a transverse slot 110 in which transverse .c flap 111 located when the flap is in its unloading position.

In this position the flap 111 substantially bridges the slot

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110 to complete wall 78. Flap 111 is mounted to a quadrant oC 4 r 112 which is in turn secured to shaft 113 for pivotal movement. The quadrant has a mount 114 between which and CCC C mount 115 on bracket 116 an hydraulic cylinder assembly 117 (shown diagrammatically) may extend. With the cylinder assembly 117 retracted flap 111 is in the position shown.

When assembly 117 is extended quadrant 112 rotates and flap 111 is moved to the dotted

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-12outline position. This is the loading position of the flap. During loading of the bin the flap 111 is mrintained in the dotted outline position and when the bin is unloaded the flap is moved to the full outline position by retracting the cylinder assembly. The flap 11 and this movement also assists in preventing the jamming of cane billets during unloading of the bin.

Figure 10 shows details of conveyor 96 and the conveyor extension 90. The conveyor extension, in this figure is shown on its retracted position substantially in line with side wall 81 of the bin. The conveyor consists of o an upper track 120 for a chain conveyor and a lower track O 121. The horizontal (in use in the unloading position) *0* ar floor of the conveyor is indicated by the numeral 122.

15 Although the invention has been described with reference to a loader and transporter for chopped cane billets, it will be readily apparent that the invention may ii 'be adapted for the handling of particulate flowable materials. Such materials may include minerals, fruit and V' 20 vegetables, cereal grains and the like.

Having regard to the nature of the particulate flowable material the shape and configuration of the bin may be adapted such that it operates as a storage and/or transport container in the retracted position and as a feed hopper for the conveyor in a tiltpd elevated position.

Similarly the nature of the conveyor may be chosen to suit the physical properties of the material to be transported i 1 t i -13and loaded. For example the conveyor may comprise a simple belt conveyor, a belt conveyor with cleats, a screw auger etc. It is preferred that the conveyor is reversible in direction to enable the loader and transporter to discharge from either side of the bin as required. The drive means may comprise any suitable drive mechanism such as an electric or hydraulic motor which may be connected to the conveyor in any suitable position. If required a single drive means may operate the conveyor and the conveyor extensions via a linked drive train. Alternatively separate drive means may be provided for the conveyor and each conveyor extension.

It will be readily apparent to a skilled addressee that many modifications and variations will be possible with the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

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Claims (18)

1. A transporter for particulate material, such as sugar cane billets, comprising: a mobile frame; a bin mounted on the frame and tiltable about a transverse axis of the frame from a transport position to a discharge position whereat it is elevated relative to the transport position, the bin having a pair of opposed side walls, and further having an aperture in at least one side wall thereof; :oo continuous conveyor means located in, and mounted o *0 Sto, the bin and extending transversely thereof; tilting means for tilting the bin and thereby 6 raising the conveyor means, 9 wherein when the bin is tilted to its discharge position, the conveyor means is located at the bottom of the bin and the bin operates as a hopper to direct the material t t t l onto the conveyor means; and means for operating the conveyor means to discharge the material transversely of the bin through the aperture.

2. A transporter as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pivotal connection between an upper end portion of the bin and an elevated portion of the frame, whereby the bin is elevated relative to the frame by its tilting movement about its pivotal connection to the frame.

3. A transporter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the j' tilting means comprises a hydraulic cylinder assembly connected between the bin and the frame. i ,i 1

4. A transporter as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the pivotal connection is located at the forward end of the bin, relative to the normal direction of travel of the transporter. A transporter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile frame comprises an upper frame on which the bin is mounted, and a sub-frame mounted on wheels, said upper frame and bin being tiltable together relative to the sub-frame about a transverse axis located at the forward end of the mobile frame relative to the normal direction of travel, and 0" said tilting means comprises a hydraulic cylinder assembly S" extending between the upper frame and the sub-frame.

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6. A transporter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bin has front and rear walls and the conveyor means extends substantially across an inclinedjportion of the front e-r re-a- wall of the bin when the bin is in its transport position.

7. A transporter as claimed in claim 6 wherein the conveyor means forms part of the front wall.

8. A transporter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conveyor means includes at least one lateral extension movable between a withdrawn position whereat it closes the aperture and an extended position relative to the bin whereat the aperture is open to allow particulate material to pass therethrough on the conveyor means.

9. A transporter as claimed in claim 8 wherein the 1 i I^y L 16 conveyor extension is pivotally movable between the withdrawn and extended positions.

A transporter as claimed in claim 8 or 9, including two said conveyor extensions located at opposite sides of the bin in respective apertures in the opposed side walls of the bin.

11. A transporter as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a pivotally suspended transverse wall extending downwardly into the bin, the transverse wall being pivotally movable about a transverse axis between forward and rear So' positions relative to the normal direction of travel. S

12. A transporter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the transverse wall extends substantially across the full width of the bin. «r

13. A transporter as claimed in claim 11 or 12 wherein the transverse wall has a pivotable lower flap portion.

14. A transporter as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lower flap portion abuts a respective one of the front and rear walls of the bin when the transverse wall is in its forward and rear positions, respectively.

A transporter as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a pivotable flap extending transversely of an inclined portion of the rear wall, the flap being movable between a retracted position whereat it is substantially aligned with the inclined rear wall portion and an extended position whereat it extends generally perpendicularly to the 0 ~LS~ 17 rear inclined wall portion.

16. A transporter as claimed in claim 15 wherein the rear inclined wall portion of the bin includes a transverse slot for receiving the flap when the flap is in its retracted position.

*17. A transporter as claimed in any preceding claim wherein portions of the bin on either side of the conveyor means are orientated perpendicularly to the load carrying *surface of the conveyor means such that when the bin is tilted to its discharge position, said portions are orientated substantially vertically.

18. A sugar cane billet transporter comprising a b:Li Alit having an opening in a lateral wall thereof, conveyor means located in, and mounted to, the bin and orientated transversely thereto, means for tilting the bin about an axis transverse to the normal direction of travel of the transporter to an elevated discharge position and thereby raising the conveyor means, the conveyor means being 4 positioned in the bin such that when the bin is tilted to its discharge position the conveyor means is located at the lowermost portion of the bin, and is operable to discharge the sugar cane billets in the bin through the aperture transversely of the transporter. L19. A transporter for sugar cane billets, the transporter being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, or Figs. 5 to 10, of the 18 accompanying drawings. DATED this fourteenth day of August 1990 ROLAND BRUCE NEWTON and PETER BRUCE NEWTON By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. 0 #44 a 4 6 0 4 A4 41i