DE102022105516A1 - Cutting device and method for separating plant clippings - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cutting device (10) for separating plant clippings such as hedges, branches and trunks, with a chassis (16) for attachment to a mobile carrier machine (14), in particular an excavator, and one by means of a rotary drive (26). Rotary axis (28) rotatingly driven cutting disc (20), which is provided with several cutting edges (30, 32) acting in at least one direction of rotation. According to the invention, it is proposed that the cutting disc (20) is rotatably mounted on a concentric counter-holder disk (22), and that the counter-holder disk (22) has on its peripheral edge a plurality of counter-holder tongues (38) swept over by the cutting edges (30, 32), which extend from radially outwardly open insertion recesses (40) for inserting the clippings are limited.

Description

The invention relates to a cutting device for separating plant clippings such as hedges, branches and trunks, with a chassis for attachment to a mobile carrier machine, in particular an excavator, and a cutting disc driven by means of a rotary drive to rotate about an axis of rotation, which has several in at least one direction of rotation effective cutting edges. The invention further relates to a method for using such a cutting device.

During maintenance measures, for example along traffic routes but also in open areas, different plants have to be cut back from time to time. Here you will find plant material of different thicknesses, such as grass, hedges, thin branches, but also young trees with larger diameters, for example up to 20 cm. Both hanging and standing clippings should be cut back with a clean cut pattern.

When using correspondingly long scissors with counterblades, the disadvantage is that the material to be cut, such as branches, bends from the cutting edge to the counterblade, which means that the “too thin” branch is not cut across, but sometimes at a very flat angle is thus slit in length or breaks open. This in turn leads to branches being slashed right down to the trunk, causing the tree to become diseased. Another problem is that the carrier machine can only carry a limited weight and therefore the use of heavy mechanics has to be avoided.

Various systems for cutting open the plant clearance profile using devices mounted on excavators or similar machines (e.g. harvesters) are known from practice. These essentially differ in whether a continuous or discontinuous workflow is enabled. The continuously working attachments, for example, use constantly running large circular saw blades arranged several times one behind the other.

Such a sawing device is also from the EP 3 653 042 A1 known. Although rapidly rotating saw blades produce a good cutting appearance, they can only be used effectively on hanging material such as branches. When cutting standing material (trees), especially with larger diameters, these saw blades quickly tend to jam. When cutting thinner, very elastic clippings (such as hedges) the result is an unsatisfactory cutting result.

In addition, when used horizontally close to the ground, there is a constant risk of foreign objects (e.g. stones, waste, etc.).

Based on this, the invention is based on the object of further improving the devices and methods known in the prior art and of achieving the separation of different diameters and orientations of the cuttings with a clean cutting image with little handling effort.

To solve this problem, the combination of features specified in claims 1 and 17 is proposed. Advantageous refinements and further developments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea of enabling the clippings to be fixed during the separation process using continuously operating cutting means. Accordingly, it is proposed according to the invention that the rotatingly driven cutting disc is mounted on a concentric counter-holder disk, and that the counter-holder disk has on its peripheral edge a plurality of counter-holder tongues swept over by the cutting edges of the cutting disk, which are delimited by insertion recesses that are open radially outwards for inserting the cuttings. Receiving the cuttings in the insertion recesses results in a defined positioning, with the counter-holding tongues having a supporting effect during the cutting process and thus enabling a clean transverse cutting. In addition, with continuous rotation, the inertia of the cutting disc can also be used when it hits the material to be cut. Attachment to a carrier machine also allows large-scale work to be carried out quickly and easily without any special manual effort.

Advantageously, at least some of the insertion recesses have opening widths that differ from one another, so that clippings of different thicknesses can be supported without too much transverse play. For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if the insertion recesses have a U-, C- or V-shaped edge contour, although combined arrangements of these are also conceivable. A further improvement in the possible uses can be achieved by ensuring that the opening widths of the insertion recesses are in the range of 1 to 30 cm. This means that a suitable holder can be provided for the branch thicknesses in question, which guarantees an optimal cutting angle.

A further embodiment provides that the counter-holding tongues are together with the cutting edges have menacting right-angled cutting edges or wedge-shaped countercutters.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, it is proposed that the rotary drive is switchable, so that the cutting disk can be driven in a first direction of rotation or in opposite directions in a second direction of rotation.

The cutting edges of the cutting disc are advantageously provided with a radially straight shearing edge in one direction of rotation for shearing or chopping off the clippings, so that a clean cut is possible with smaller branch cross-sections.

So that even thick trees can be cut through, it is advantageous if the cutting edges in the other direction of rotation are designed with a radially stepped saw edge for sawing off the clippings. Here it is particularly favorable if the saw edge has 3 to 10 radially graduated steps.

For the structural design, it is favorable if the saw edge extends over the same radial length as the shear edge.

A further improvement results from the fact that the shearing edge and/or the sawing edge has a radial extent in the range between 10 and 20 cm.

In order to avoid blocking during the sawing movement, it is advantageous if the radially inner step of the saw edge, viewed in the circumferential direction, is wider than the steps adjoining it.

In order to keep the weight of the drive low and still be able to drive a sufficiently large cutting disc, it is advantageous if the rotary drive has a chain drive coupled to the cutting disc, preferably driven by a hydraulic motor.

For optionally advantageous orientation of the insertion recesses, it is advantageous if the counter-holder disk is mounted in a rotationally adjustable manner and can, if necessary, be locked in a specific rotational orientation by means of locking means.

In order to be able to make good use of moments of inertia for the cutting process, it is advantageous if the speed of the cutting wheel is in the range between 10 and 80 rpm.

To avoid an impending blockage, the rotary drive should be able to be switched off automatically when a torque limit is reached and optionally switched to the other direction of rotation.

Processing close to the ground can be made easier by the fact that the chassis forms a skid that faces away from the cutting disc and can be placed slidably on the ground.

In order to be able to carry out repairs or adjustments easily if necessary, it is advantageous if the cutting disk and/or the counter-holder disk is composed of several segments fixed on a support.

A mechanical work process can be accomplished in that the cuttings can be inserted into correspondingly oriented insertion recesses in the counter-holder disk by a driving movement and/or manipulation of the carrier machine.

From a procedural point of view, in order to solve the problem mentioned at the beginning, it is proposed that a cutting device is attached to a mobile carrier machine, and a cutting disk of the cutting device, which is provided with several cutting edges acting in at least one direction of rotation, is preferably driven in continuous rotation about an axis of rotation, the cutting disk being on a Counter-holder disk is stored concentrically, with counter-holder tongues on the peripheral edge of the counter-holder disk being swept over by the cutting edges of the rotating cutting disk, and the cutting material being inserted into insertion recesses of the counter-holder disk that are delimited by the counter-holder tongues and open radially outwards. This means that the advantages explained above in relation to a device are achieved in an analogous manner.

• 1 einen Bagger mit einem Schneidegerät am Baggerstiel in Seitenansicht;
• 2 das Schneidegerät mit einer Gegenhalterscheibe und einer segmentierten Trennscheibe in perspektivischer Ansicht;
• 3 und 4 das Schneidegerät ohne und mit Trennscheibe in Seitenansicht; und
• 5 einen Schnitt entlang der Linie 5 - 5 der 4.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the drawing. Show it:

• 1 a side view of an excavator with a cutting device on the excavator arm;
• 2 The cutting device with a counter-holder disk and a segmented cutting disk in a perspective view;
• 3 and 4 the cutting device without and with a cutting disc in a side view; and
• 5 a cut along line 5 - 5 of the 4 .

1 shows a cutting device 10 on a stick or boom 12 of an excavator 14 as an example of a mobile carrier machine, the cutting device 10 being mounted on a chassis 16 by means of a quick-change device 18 at the end of the stick 12 and being pivotable and, if necessary, using the kinematics of the stick 12 . can be rotated on a rotator. The cutting device 10 includes a rotating cutting disk 20 and a counter-holder disk 22 for separating plant cuttings, such as hard grasses, hedges, branches and trunks during a driving movement and/or manipulation by the excavator 14.

How out 2 and 4 As can be seen, the cutting disk 20 is composed of eight identical segments 24 and can be driven in rotation about the central axis of the disk 28 as the axis of rotation by means of a rotary drive 26 arranged in the chassis 16. The rotary drive 26 is switchable so that the cutting disk 20 is driven in a first direction of rotation or in opposite directions in a second direction of rotation.

Each segment 24 has two cutting edges 30, 32 on its outer edge, each of which has a cutting effect in one direction of rotation of the cutting disk 20. A first cutting edge 30 is provided with a radially straight shearing edge 34 for shearing or squeezing off the cuttings, while the second cutting edge 32 is designed with a radially stepped sawing edge 36 for sawing off the cuttings.

The saw edge 36 expediently extends over the same radial length as the shearing edge 34, with a radial extension in the range between 10 and 20 cm being favorable depending on the intended use.

In the example shown, the saw edge 36 has five steps, of which the radially inner step, viewed in the circumferential direction, is wider than the steps adjoining it.

In the exemplary embodiment according to 3 The counter-holder disk 22 is formed in one piece and has on its peripheral edge a plurality of radially projecting counter-holder tongues 38, which are delimited by insertion recesses 40 which are open radially outwards for inserting the cuttings. The U-shaped insertion recesses 40 have opening widths that differ from one another, as can be determined as the respective arc length on an outer circle. The opening widths of the insertion recesses are expediently in the range of 1 to 30 cm.

In this way, it is possible to accommodate cuttings of different thicknesses, which are laterally supported on the counter-holder tongues 38 during the cutting process, while the cutting edges 30, 32 of the cutting disk 20 rotating concentrically on the counter-holder disk 22 sweep over the insertion recesses 40. In order to support the cutting process, it is also possible for the counter-holding tongues 38 to have rectangular cutting edges 42 or wedge-shaped counter-cutters that interact with the cutting edges 30, 32.

The counter-holder disk 22 is mounted on the chassis 16 in a rotationally adjustable manner and is centered and guided at its central recess by a rotary head. This is provided with screw holes 46 to which the segments 24 of the cutting disk 20 can be screwed. It is also possible for the axial distance of the cutting edges 30, 32 from the counter-holder disk 22 to be adjustable using spacers 47.

How out 5 As can be seen, the chassis 16 comprises a motor housing 48 and a trough-like support structure 50 projecting laterally therefrom for the cutting disk 20 and counter-holder disk 22. The support structure 50, with its underside facing away from the disks 20, 22, forms a skid 52 that can be slidably placed on the floor Attachment to the excavator 14 is a quick-change flange 54 attached to the motor housing 48 opposite the support structure 50 and thus at a radial distance from the counter-holder disk 22.

The rotary drive 26 comprises a hydraulic motor 56 and a chain drive 58 for coupling the hydraulic motor 56 to the laterally spaced rotary head 44. Using appropriate gear means 60, a speed of the cutting disk 20 can expediently be selected in the range between 10 and 80 rpm.

In order to suitably position the insertion recesses 40 with their different opening widths, the counter-holder disk 22 can be rotated into a desired rotational orientation and then locked in place on the device via locking means 62. This can be done by rolling the star-shaped counter-holding tongues 38 over the ground by a machine movement, whereby a frictional connection of the locking means 62 is temporarily overcome, so that the excavator operator does not have to leave the driver's cab and does not have to handle the cutting device 10 directly.

During operation, the arrangement of separating and counter-holding slides 20, 22 can be guided horizontally, vertically or in an inclined position, with a movement relative to the material being cut into the insertion recesses 40. During the work process, the cuttings to be cut hold the shearbar in position until the cutting process is completed. The cutting disk 20 rotates continuously, so that inertial forces can also be used. In order to achieve a clean cutting image, the direction of rotation in which the linear shearing edges 34 are effective is first selected. In the case of very thick cuttings, it can be provided that the rotary drive 26 switches off automatically when a torque limit is reached and can optionally be switched to the other direction of rotation in which then the steps of the saw edges 36 successively penetrate into the material.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 3653042 A1 [0005]

Claims (17)

Cutting device for separating plant clippings such as hedges, branches and trunks, with a chassis (16) for attachment to a mobile carrier machine (14), in particular an excavator, and a cutting disc driven to rotate about an axis of rotation (28) by means of a rotary drive (26). (20), which is provided with several cutting edges (30,32) acting in at least one direction of rotation, characterized in that the cutting disk (20) is rotatably mounted on a concentric counter-holder disk (22), and that the counter-holder disk (22) is on its Circumferential edge has several counter-holding tongues (38) swept over by the cutting edges (30, 32), which are delimited by insertion recesses (40) which are open radially outwards for inserting the material to be cut. cutting device Claim 1 , characterized in that at least some of the insertion recesses (40), which preferably have a U-, C- or V-shaped edge contour, have opening widths that differ from one another. cutting device Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the opening widths of the insertion recesses (40) are in the range of 1 to 30 cm. Cutting device according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the counter-holder tongues (38) have rectangular cutting edges or wedge-shaped counter-cutters that interact with the cutting edges (30,32). Cutting device according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the rotary drive (26) is switchable, so that the cutting disk (20) is driven in a first direction of rotation or in opposite directions in a second direction of rotation. Cutting device one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the cutting edges (30,32) of the cutting disc (20) are provided in one direction of rotation with a radially straight shearing edge (34) for shearing or squeezing off the cuttings, and that the cutting edges (30,32) in the in a different direction of rotation with a radially stepped saw edge (36), preferably having 3 to 10 steps, for sawing off the material to be cut. cutting device Claim 6 , characterized in that the sawing edge (36) extends over the same radial length as the shearing edge (34). cutting device Claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the shearing edge (34) and/or the sawing edge (36) has a radial extent in the range between 10 and 20 cm. Cutting device one of the Claims 6 until 8th , characterized in that the radially inner step of the saw edge (36) is wider, viewed in the circumferential direction, than the steps adjoining it. Cutting device according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the rotary drive (26) has a chain drive (58) coupled to the cutting disk (20), preferably driven by a hydraulic motor (56). Cutting device according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , characterized in that the counter-holder disk (22) is rotatably adjustable and can optionally be locked in a specific rotational orientation by locking means (62). Cutting device according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 , characterized in that the speed of the cutting disk (20) is in the range between 10 and 80 rpm. Cutting device according to one of the Claims 1 until 12 , characterized in that the rotary drive (26) can be switched off automatically when a torque limit is reached and can optionally be switched to the other direction of rotation. Cutting device according to one of the Claims 1 until 13 , characterized in that the chassis (16) forms a skid (52) which faces away from the cutting disk (20) and can be placed slidably on the floor. Cutting device according to one of the Claims 1 until 14 , characterized in that the cutting disk (20) and/or the counter-holder disk (22) is composed of several segments (24) fixed on a support. Cutting device after the Claims 1 until 15 , characterized in that the cutting material can be inserted into correspondingly oriented insertion recesses (40) of the counter-holder disk (22) by a driving movement and/or manipulation of the carrier machine (14). Method for separating plant clippings such as hedges, branches and trunks, in which a cutting device (10) is attached to a mobile carrier machine (14), and a cutting disk (20) provided with several cutting edges (30, 32) acting in at least one direction of rotation. of the cutting device (10) is driven to rotate about an axis of rotation (28), characterized in that the cutting disk (20) is mounted on a counter ter disk (22) is stored concentrically, with counter-holding tongues (38) on the peripheral edge of the counter-holder disk (22) being swept over by the cutting edges (30, 32) of the rotating cutting disk (20), and with the cuttings being cut in areas limited by the counter-holding tongues (38), Insertion recesses (40) of the counter-holder disk (22) which are open radially outwards are inserted.

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