EP3836774A1

EP3836774A1 - Metering unit for granular material

Info

Publication number: EP3836774A1
Application number: EP19752155.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan Philipp RADEKE
Original assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Priority date: 2018-08-17
Filing date: 2019-08-05
Publication date: 2021-06-23
Also published as: US20210176913A1; DE102018120071A1; US12069982B2; EA202190202A1; WO2020035339A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering unit (8) for granular material, such as seeds or fertiliser, for conveying the granular material in adjustable quantities, wherein the metering unit (8) comprises a metering housing (9) and a driveable metering wheel (10) which is mounted such that it can be rotated in the metering housing (9) and which can be driven, wherein the metering unit (8) comprises a metering cover (12) that can be brought into different positions and a bearing housing (20) for rotatably mounting the metering wheel. In order securely fix the bearing housing (20), according to the invention, the metering cover (12) has a strut-type, preferably attachment-type, section element (22) and the section element (22) forms a contact point for the bearing housing (20).

Description

Dosing device for granular goods

The invention relates to a metering device for granular material according to the

The preamble of claim 1 and an agricultural distribution machine according to the preamble of claim 3.

A distribution machine for spreading seed, fertilizer or the like is known from the document EP 2 832 202 B1. This distribution machine comprises a storage container with a plurality of metering devices for granular material, a metering device for conveying the granular material being set up in adjustable quantities. To this end, the respective

Dosing device a dosing housing. A rotatably mounted metering wheel is arranged in the metering housing. In operation, the metering wheel is set in rotation by a drive, so that granular material is conveyed by means of the metering wheel. In addition, the metering device comprises a gate valve that can be moved into different positions. The gate valve can thus be moved into different positions and thus gives a desired one

Open cross-section through which granular material can flow into the dosing housing. Consequently, the gate valve must be opened for operation so that granular material can flow continuously. Outside the company is the

Slide gate valve so far that the opening cross-section

is closed in order to prevent undesired escape of the granular material from the storage container to the metering wheel.

This metering device comprises means for rotatably mounting the metering wheel. During operation of the dosing device, there is a build-up between the drive and the drive

Dosing wheel a differential torque, which must be recorded and derived in a suitable manner. In this metering device, a positive connection by means of a groove is provided on the means for the rotatable mounting, which are difficult to access anyway. This complicated structure makes initial assembly and maintenance difficult. The object underlying the invention is therefore a

To create a metering device for an agricultural distributor, which has a simplified storage of the metering wheel.

This object is achieved in that the metering device for rotatably mounting the metering wheel comprises a bearing housing, that the bearing housing has a securing position in which the bearing housing is fixed in the axial direction on the metering housing, and an unlocking position in which the bearing housing can be removed from the metering housing , comprises that the bearing housing can be rotated between the securing position and the unlocking position, that the metering housing comprises a metering cover which can be moved into different positions, that the metering cover comprises a first position protecting the metering wheel and a second position releasing the metering wheel, that the metering cover has a web-shaped, preferably formed shoulder-shaped, that the shoulder in the first position of the metering cover forms a system for the bearing housing and is thus set up to rotate the bearing housing from the

To block the securing position in the unlocking position.

As a result of this measure, the metering device is created with particularly easily accessible storage. In addition, the groove for the positive connection can be omitted, since the bearing housing is supported directly by the system on the metering cover. Occurring on the bearing housing during operation

Differential torques are easily absorbed by the bearing housing and diverted to the metering cover. The metering device according to the invention is consequently distinguished by a particularly simple and safe structure.

The metering device according to the invention is also advantageous

further developed that the metering cover is arranged on the metering housing by means of a swivel joint having a swivel axis, that the metering cover can be moved between the first and second positions by means of the swivel joint. It is advantageous here that the metering cover is arranged so that it cannot be lost on the metering housing. That means, also when working on Inside the dosing housing, the dosing cover is attached to the dosing housing and does not have to be stored with special care or can be damaged by falling.

In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the metering cover comprises a nose on the side facing the shut-off slide, the metering cover being associated with a locking device securing the metering cover in the first position and with the locking device

comprises push-away locking element which is set up to produce a releasable, form-fitting connection with the nose of the metering cover in the first position of the metering cover, the gate valve in the pushing-away direction of the locking element behind the locking device

is arranged and has a receptacle for the locking element, the gate valve being set up by means of the receptacle to enable and / or to block the locking element.

As a result of this measure, the metering device is created with two safety levels connected in series, so that the protection for the user during handling is increased in an excellent manner. The first security level is formed by the lock, without its operation the inside of the

Dosing housing is not accessible to the user. This locking is additionally secured by the position of the gate valve, which forms the second security level.

The gate valve with its receptacle for the locking element is arranged behind the locking device in such a way that the locking element,

in particular by pushing away, can be moved into the receptacle. The

Recording on the gate valve is arranged so that the

Locking element can only be moved into the receptacle if the

Gate valve is in its closed position. As soon as the gate valve is moved into an at least partially open position, the receptacle is no longer aligned with the locking element, so that the displaceability of the locking element is blocked. In the operation of the

The interior of the dosing housing is no longer the user accessible because the actuation of the lock is already prevented by the open position of the gate valve and the metering cover is thus secured in its first position protecting the metering wheel.

To open the metering housing, the gate valve must therefore be moved to the closed position so that the

Locking element is made possible. The metering device is typically not in operation when the gate valve is closed, so that it is safe for the user to open the metering cover without coming into contact with the driven metering wheel.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the metering housing has a first stop for limiting the rotational movement of the bearing housing from the unlocking position to the securing position, the shoulder in the first position of the metering cover forming a second stop, preferably opposite the first stop, and the bearing housing between the first and the second stop can be fixed in a rotationally fixed manner on the metering housing. The bearing housing is thus not only fixed in the axial direction on the metering housing, but is also held between the first stop and the second stop in the safe position which is safe for operation. The first stop advantageously serves to limit the

Assembly movement of the bearing housing.

The object underlying the invention is further achieved by a

Agricultural distributing machine of the type mentioned at the outset, the agricultural distributing machine comprising at least one storage container for seed, fertilizer or the like and the storage container being assigned at least one metering device, the metering device being designed according to at least one of the above embodiments.

Further details of the invention can be found in the example description and the drawings. The drawings show Fig.1 a behind an agricultural tractor attached agricultural

Distribution machine in perspective view,

2 shows a metering device according to the invention with a gate valve in the closed position in a perspective view,

3 the dosing device, the gate valve being in the open position, in a perspective view,

4 shows the metering device with a lock in a sectional view and

Detail view

5 shows the metering device, the locking device being unlocked, in a sectional view and a detailed view,

6 the dosing device with a dosing cover in the open position in a perspective view,

7 the dosing device with a bearing housing in side view,

8 shows the dosing device, the bearing housing being in a removable position, in a side view, and

9 shows the dosing device in a side view.

An agricultural spreading machine designed as a precision seed drill 1 is shown in FIG. 1. The precision seed drill 1 is suspended behind an agricultural tractor 2, so that the two machines can move together in operation over a field to be worked in the direction of travel F and can spread granular material, such as seed or fertilizer. The

Precision seeder 1 comprises at its rear end in the direction of travel F a plurality of seeding units 3 arranged transversely to the direction of travel F. The seeding units 3 are fastened to the frame 1A of the seeder 1, wherein the frame 1A can be folded or telescoped to the total width for road transport.

The sowing units 3 are fastened to the frame 1 A of the precision seed drill 1 by means of a mounting flange. In the upper area, the sowing units 3 have a first storage container 4, primarily for seeds, and two second ones

Storage container 5, primarily for granular goods. In the lower area facing the ground, the sowing units 3 have tillage tools 6. The tillage tools 6 are used to open a seed furrow and to close it again after the seed and granular material have been cut into it

were delivered.

To dispense seed from the first storage container 4, the

Seeding units 3 each have a separating device 7. The

Separating device 7 is connected on the one hand to the first storage container 4 and on the other hand to the tillage tools 6 and is set up to dispense seeds individually into the sowing furrow. To convey granular material in adjustable quantities, the sowing units 3 each comprise two metering devices 8. The metering devices 8 are each the second

Assigned to storage containers 5 and arranged at an outlet thereof. The granular material conveyed by the metering devices 8 is also passed to the tillage tools 6, where it is in the ground

is incorporated.

A metering device 8 according to the invention is shown in a perspective view in FIG. The dosing device 8 essentially comprises a dosing housing 9, a dosing wheel 10 which is arranged and can be driven in the dosing housing 9, a dosing cover 12 and a sliding gate valve 11 which is closed here in FIG. 2. The dosing housing 9 can be attached via fastening hooks 13 on its rear side 8R arrange on a second reservoir 5. On the rear 8R of the metering housing 9 there is an inlet for granular material from the second storage container 5, which is hidden here in FIG. 2. This inlet is covered by the gate valve 11 when the gate valve 11

is closed, so that no granular material flows into the metering housing 9 can. The gate valve 11 is consequently shown in Figure 2 in its closed position. In order to enable the influence of granular goods in the metering housing 9, the gate valve 11 can be moved, that is opened, as shown in FIG. 3, so that an opening cross section of the inlet into the metering housing 9 is released.

In order to allow a user to work on the inside of the metering housing 9, the metering cover 12 can be moved between different positions by means of a swivel joint having a swivel axis 14. 2 shows the metering cover 12 in a first position protecting the metering wheel 10, that is to say the metering housing 9 is closed. In this first closed position, the metering cover 12 is assigned a lock 15, which prevents the metering cover 12 from undesirably moving into a second one

Dosing wheel releasing position, as shown in Fig.6, can be brought.

The lock 15 comprises a lock element 16 which can be pushed away. The lock element 16 is set up to produce a releasable, form-fitting connection according to the principle of a snap connection with the metering cover 12 and thus protect the metering wheel 10 in its first

Secure position. In order to release this form-fitting connection and thus open the metering housing 9, the locking element 16 must be pushed away in the direction of the rear side 8R. Flierzu includes the dosing device 8 as

Tool 17 with corresponding insertion means 18 arranged on the dosing cover 12 for applying a pushing-away force. The

Insertion aid 18 forms a linear guide for tool 17 in

Actuating direction of the locking element 16 and thus facilitates that

Apply the pushing force. In addition, the insertion aid 18 is arranged so close in front of the locking element 16 that the locking element 16 cannot be operated by hand.

In Figure 4, the lock 15 is shown in detail and sectional view. The locking element 16 is in contact with a nose 12A

Dosing cover 12 and thus forms the positive connection. The nose 12A is in the position shown below the locking element 16 engaged. In the direction of the rear 8R behind the locking element 16, the gate valve 11, shown here in FIG. 4 in the closed position,

arranged. The gate valve 11 includes a recess 19 for the locking element 16. If the pressing force is now applied to the locking element 16 to release the locking 15 by means of the tool 17, the locking element 16 dips under elastic

Deformation into the recess 19 of the gate valve 11, as shown in FIG. 5. The positive connection between the locking element 16 and the nose 12A of the metering cover 12 is thus released and the metering cover 12 can be pivoted about the pivot axis 14 into its second position releasing the metering wheel 10, as shown in FIG. So that the locking element 16 can be pushed away into the recess 19 on the gate valve 11, it is necessary that the gate valve 11 is in its closed position.

In Fig. 3, the gate valve 11 is shown in its open position. The recess 19 is not in this position in the direction of the rear side 8R behind the locking element 16. If the user, in this open position of the gate valve 11, exerts the push-away force on the locking element 16 by means of the tool 17, the locking element 16 cannot be deformed elastically push away and thus do not release the lock 15. The gate valve 11 is thus set up by means of the recess 19 to push the locking element 16 away in it

block open position or in its closed position, as shown, among other things, in FIGS. 4 and 5. The arrangement of the recess 19 on the gate valve 11 means that the gate valve 11 must be closed so that the lock 15 can be released. Otherwise it can

Locking element 16 can not be received in the recess 19 and bumps in front of the gate valve 11 without releasing the nose 12A.

It is consequently necessary for the user to first close the gate valve 11 in order to open the metering device 8. The indenting force can then be applied to the locking element 16 with the aid of the tool 17. For this purpose, the tool 17 is to be inserted into the insertion aid 18 and into To push the direction of the locking element 16. This will make it

Locking element 16 pressed in and the positive connection between locking element 16 and the nose 12A on the metering cover 12 is released, so that the metering cover 12 can finally be moved. To spend the metering cover 12, the nose 12A on the

Dosing cover 12 pivoted out of the positive connection. The metering cover 12 swings down about the pivot axis 14 into its second position releasing the metering wheel 10.

6 shows the dosing device 8 with the dosing cover 12 open in a perspective view. Inside the metering housing 9 is that

Metering wheel 10 can be seen. For the rotatable mounting of the metering wheel 10, the metering device 8 comprises a removable bearing housing 20 with an almost round cross section. The bearing housing 20 comprises suitable means for mounting the metering wheel 10 and can be inserted into a semicircular receptacle 21 on the metering housing 9, as shown in a side view in FIG. 7. In order to releasably fix the bearing housing 20 to the metering housing 9, the bearing housing 20 comprises a groove-like recess 20A on its circumference. This groove-like recess 20A forms a slot and is thus set up to engage behind a quarter-circular, finger-shaped shape 21A on the receptacle 21.

The approximately eighth circular shape 21 A on the receptacle 21 can be seen in FIG. 8, in which the bearing housing 20 is shown in an unlocking position which can be removed from the metering housing 9. The bearing housing 20 can be removed here because the recess 20A is not in engagement with the formation 21A. The formation 21A forms an undercut, so that when the formation 21A is engaged by the recess 20A, the bearing housing 20 is in a securing position defined in the axial and at least partially in the horizontal direction. This securing position of the

Bearing housing 20 is shown in FIG. 7, where, in contrast to the unlocking position shown in FIG. 8, the protrusion 21 A from the recess 20A

is attacked. To insert the bearing housing 20 into the receptacle 21 and thus on

Determine metering housing 9, that is, the bearing housing 20 from the

Spending the safety release in the safety position is that

Insert the bearing housing 20 into the receptacle 21. That is, the bearing housing 20 is positioned in the receptacle 21 so that the recess 20A

Form 21A can reach behind. Such a positioning of the bearing housing is shown as an example in FIG. Turning the bearing housing 20 up to a first stop 23 of the bearing housing then leads to the recess 20A sliding over the formation 21A and taking it in and thus engaging behind it, as shown in FIG. 7. In this position of the bearing housing 20 fixed on the dosing housing 9, the recess 20A points at least approximately radially from the central axis of the bearing housing 20 towards the floor. In order to release the bearing housing 20 again, the bearing housing 20 must be rotated in the opposite direction. This rotation in the opposite direction is blocked in the first position of the metering cover 12.

The metering cover 12 has a web-shaped, shoulder-shaped shoulder 22, which forms a contact for the bearing housing 20 in the first position of the metering cover 12, as shown in FIG. This ensures that the bearing housing 20 does not turn off unnoticed and unintentionally. In addition, the shoulder 22 thus forms a torque support for the bearing housing 20. Torques received during operation by the bearing housing 20 are forwarded via the shoulder 22 to the metering cover 12 and from there via the metering housing 9 to surrounding structures. Furthermore, in the first position of the metering cover 12, the shoulder 22 forms a second stop for the bearing housing 20 opposite the first stop 23, so that the bearing housing 20 is fixed on the metering housing in a rotationally fixed manner between the first stop 23 and the shoulder 22. If the metering cover 12 is open, as shown in FIG. 8, the shoulder 22 does not form an abutment for the bearing housing 20, so that the bearing housing 20 can be rotated counter to the direction in which the first stop 23 lies. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 precision seeder

1A frame

2 tractors

F direction of travel

3 sowing unit

4 first storage container

5 second storage container

6 tillage tools

7 separation device

8 dosing device

8R back

9 dosing housing

10 metering wheel

11 gate valve

12 Dosing cover

12A nose

13 fastening hooks

14 swivel axis

15 locking

16 locking element

17 tools

18 insertion aid

19 recess

20 bearing housings

20A recess

21 recording

21 A formation

22 paragraph

23 first stop

Claims

[Claims]

1. Dosing device (8) for granular material, such as seeds or

Fertilizer, for conveying the granular material in adjustable quantities, the metering device (8) comprising a metering housing (9) and a metering wheel (10) rotatably mounted and drivable in the metering housing (9), characterized in that the metering device (8) for rotatable mounting of the metering wheel (10) comprises a bearing housing (20) that the bearing housing (20) has a securing position in which the bearing housing (20) in axial

Direction on the metering housing (9) is fixed, and an unlocking position in which the bearing housing (20) can be removed from the metering housing (9) comprises that the bearing housing (20) can be rotated between the securing position and the unlocking position, that the metering housing ( 9) a metering cover (12) which can be moved into different positions, that the metering cover (12) comprises a first position protecting the metering wheel (10) and a second position releasing the metering wheel (10), that the metering cover (12) has a web-shaped, preferably lug-shaped, paragraph (23) that the paragraph (23) in the first position of the metering cover (12) forms a system for the bearing housing (20) and is thus set up to rotate the bearing housing (20) from the securing position in to block the unlocking position.

2. Dosing device (8) according to claim 1, characterized in that the dosing housing (9) has a first stop (23) for limiting the

Rotary movement of the bearing housing (20) from the unlocking position in the

Secured position, that the shoulder in the first position of the metering cover (12) forms a second stop, preferably opposite the first stop (23), that the bearing housing (20) can be fixed in a rotationally fixed manner on the metering housing (9) between the first and the second stop is.

3. Agricultural spreading machine (1) for spreading seed, fertilizer or the like, characterized in that the agricultural spreading machine (1) comprises at least one storage container (5) for seed, fertilizer or the like, that the storage container (5) has at least one metering device ( 8) is assigned that the metering device (8) is designed according to at least one of the preceding claims.