ES1056934U - Fodder distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

Forage distributor device, adaptable to means that move it over a wide area where cattle graze, comprising an unrolling area (3) in which a cylindrical forage bale (4) is placed with the horizontal axis, having This forage bale has a radius (R), this unwinding area (3) comprising a first horizontal floor (7) that houses a plurality of bars (9), these bars (9) having propulsion means that move them sliding on the first floor (7) towards the rear of the unwinding area (3) in a continuous movement according to a closed path in which the bars (9) return below the first floor (7) to the front of the area unwinding (3), where the cycle continues, characterized in that it comprises at the rear of the device a first horizontal axis (11) with a plurality of fins that make up a pallet (12), the first axis (11) being located at a first height (d2) s Open the first floor (7), the first horizontal axis (11) having means that make it rotate in the direction (13), so that the flap of the pallet (12) located below the axis (11) rotates towards the of the forage distributor device, and the vane fin (12) located above the shaft (11) rotates towards the rear of the forage distributor device, and the length (d1) of the vane fins (12)) greater than half of the first height (d2/2). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Forage distributor device.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a device  fodder distributor, which can be adapted to a towed trailer by a tractor, in which one or several cylindrical bales are placed fodder, undoing the device while distributing the fodder evenly while the trailer is traveling by a farm where cattle feed.

State of the art

Modern barley, alfalfa, harvesters hay or other plants totally or partially suitable for feeding animals bale the resulting straw or plants After cutting them. These bales can have different sizes, and although in principle they had a parallelepipedic form, they are generalizing the harvesters that return the harvest `` rolled up '' in the form of cylindrical bales, also called `` bowling. ''

The largest number of machines to convert the food grouped in these bales in fodder suitable for feeding the cattle consist of a device in which the bale is introduced, and The device is chopped by cogwheels, rollers, worm screws, etc. This may be acceptable for food. in mangers, where chopped fodder is not wasted. Without However, to complement the feeding of cattle grazing in a farm would not be adequate, as much fodder would be wasted. Being chopped would disperse more, and if it has grain like the oatmeal, this one would be lost. In addition, the device should be mounted on a trailer to distribute the fodder through a space large.

Another way of distributing a farm with cattle the forage harvested in bales is to do it manually. I know they load the bales in the trailer of a tractor, and an operator in the trailer is taking the fodder with a gallows and distributes it as the tractor advances. However, in this case you need Two operators: the tractor driver and the one on the trailer. It is also a slow process, which depends on physical strength of the operator on the trailer. In addition, for large bales such as the cylindrical bales, the work is very painful.

There are some machines, mounted on trailers, specially prepared to be loaded with bales of fodder and to undo these bales and distribute the forage while the trailer travels over a wide surface, such as a farm where cattle graze.

In UK patent GB2158111 it is describes a machine of this type: this patent describes a apparatus for distributing fodder from cylindrical bales that It consists of a frame on which the bale rotates driven by some slats with skewers, moved by chains. The bale leaves `` unwinding '' and the fodder is falling down the side of the apparatus. It also has a wheel with small paddles, but This wheel is not connected to any turning mechanism, but rather It rotates along with the spin of the bale, as it is resting on it. Its function is only to hollow the bale so that the slats with Skewers unwind it more easily. This machine has the inconvenient that the slats with skewers do not unwind evenly the bale, and the fodder is falling from the device in some places in a lot and others in a little. Also, although not It is explained in detail in the patent, it seems that the device is going distributing the fodder on one side, and admits only the distribution of one bale at a time, needing to be loaded the trailer again when this single bale ends.

Using endless belts or chains that move slats with spikes attached between these chains is also described in patent application WO94 / 17652. In this patent the cylindrical bale is placed between a support and the frame with the slats distributors. Support and frame form an angle that It varies as the size of the bale is reduced. Nevertheless, the disadvantages of this type of machine are similar to those previous.

A third example of the known technique is the shown in United States patent US3035729. In this patent a machine mounted on a trailer is clearly shown, although In the example, the bale is of the parallelepiped type. In this machine there is a shaft with some blades that disintegrates the bale, ripping off the fodder and dropping it on the slats moved by chains that distribute it outside the trailer. There is another axis with pallets that serves to prevent the conveyor formed by the slats eject a large amount of fodder from the trailer to the time Although the distribution of fodder is improved in this machine compared to the previous ones, it is very complicated, with several axes perpendicular to each other which implies several gears of change of direction and a greater possibility of breakdowns In addition, if cylindrical bales were used the device It would be much less efficient.

Given the inconvenience of machines known in the state of the art, the present invention offers a device for distributing forage packed in cylindrical bales, which distributes it evenly with few mechanisms susceptible to breakdown, and capable of carrying loaded and continuously distribute several bales.

Description of the invention

The present invention relates to a device  fodder distributor, which can be adapted to a towed trailer by a tractor, in which one or several cylindrical bales are placed fodder, undoing the device while distributing the fodder evenly while the trailer is moving, in a farm where cattle feed.

The device could also fit the box of a truck or other vehicle that can move through the farm.

Being destined to be installed on some means that allow the device to scroll can be defined a forward or previous direction in the direction of travel, and a backward or backward direction that is in the opposite direction to direction in which the device moves.

The forage distributor device of the invention comprises a unwinding zone in which it is placed a cylindrical forage bale with the horizontal axis, comprising This area unwinds a first horizontal floor. Too it comprises a plurality of bars, these bars having propulsion means that move them sliding on the first ground towards the back of the unwind zone in a continuous movement along a closed path in which the bars return below the first floor to the front from the unwind zone, where the cycle continues.

The function of these bars is to drag the forage detached from the bale and distribute it outside the device.

The propulsion means can be two chains or two straps that run along the sides of the first floor, driven by pairs of wheels placed at the axle ends horizontals located on the front side and on the back side from the first floor. The ends of the bars are attached to the chains or straps, and so they move by sliding on the first floor in a continuous movement according to the closed path defined by chains or belts.

The forage distributor device comprises also at the rear a first horizontal axis with a paddle comprising a plurality of fins, with means that do turn one way. This direction of rotation is such that a fin located below the axis turns towards the front of the forage distributor device, and a fin located above of the shaft rotates towards the back of the distributor device of forage.

This first axis is located at a first height  on the first floor, this first height being greater than the radius of the base of the cylindrical bale as it leaves the harvester, before beginning the distribution of the forage. The length of vane fins is greater than half of this first height, so that most of the distance defined by the first height is occupied by a fin located in its lowest position, leaving only a space between the edge of the fin and the first floor for the bars to pass, the means of propulsion of the bars and the fodder carried by bars. The length of the first floor, where you can roll the bale, is larger than the initial diameter of the cylindrical bale, to allow reduced rolling movement of the bale. Without However, the length of the first floor is not so large as to prevent when there is a bale of fodder in the area of unrolled the vane fins hit the bale in your area lower, turning it and undoing its outermost layer. By its part, the length of the fins is not so large as to lift the bale completely from the first floor. When the diameter of the bale decreases, as the forage is distributed, the bars they drag the bale near it to the fins of the palette so that be hit and discard a little more.

An optional possibility is that each bar has a plurality of skewers perpendicular to the bar, to improve fodder drag. So when the bars move sliding on the first floor the skewers would be oriented up, where is the forage bale. The space between the first floor and the vane end of the vane located on its Lower position is enough for these skewers to pass.

The forage distributor device consists of Two main parts. One is the unwind zone and another is bale deposit The device could work perfectly without bale deposit, but only fodder could be distributed of a bale per trip. By fully distributing a bale, the device along with the means of transport would have to return to the place where the bales are stored, load a new one and start its distribution again. But the device of the invention allows a bale tank to be added that supplies another when the bale placed in the unwind zone has been distributed, increasing performance

That is, in a preferred embodiment, the forage distributor device has means to move a cylindrical forage bale from a bale tank located in front of the unwind zone towards the zone of unrolled

These means may comprise a second floor on which the bales can roll in the bale tank. East second floor is attached to the forage distributor device by a second horizontal axis located on the side of the second ground closest to the unwind zone. This second axis is located at a second height above the level of the first floor. So, the second floor can rotate with respect to the second axis from a First position to a second position. In the first position the second floor is inclined with the side near the first floor taller than the opposite side. This inclination depends on the second height, which should be enough for this first position a bale placed in the tank store to roll according to the inclination of the ground to the opposite side of the area of unrolled To prevent the bales from rolling then and fall down the front of the device, the bale tank It comprises means for retaining the bales stored. These Retention means may consist of a simple wall.

In the second position the side closest to the first floor is lower than the opposite side, which is higher than the second height, so a bale in the bale tank You can roll to the unwind zone.

In addition, the bale deposit comprises means to rotate the second floor with respect to the second axis between it first position and second position, such as ones hydraulic cylinders.

As can be deduced from the description above, only one operator is needed to operate the device: this operator can drive the means of transport of the device through the farm and at the same time, when the right time comes, activate the means that move the bars, the shaft with the paddle or the bale deposit to load a new one in the area of unrolled

Details on the mentioned means of shaft drive, etc. they are known in the art, and they can vary from one embodiment to another without altering it The essence of the invention.

Description of the figures

The characteristics of the present invention are they will be able to understand more clearly with the following description, in which an embodiment example is shown, accompanied as an integral part of that description, a game of drawings where illustrative and never limiting, has represented the following

Figure 1: represents a perspective view of the  device of the invention.

Figure 2: represents a view of the area of unrolled, without any bale in it.

Figure 3: represents a profile view of the device, where distances and dimensions are appreciated relative.

Figure 4: represents a view of the deposit of bales in their second position

Preferred embodiment

Figure 1 shows the device fodder distributor of the invention mounted on a trailer (1) pulled by a tractor (2). In the unwind zone (3) there are placed a cylindrical bale (4) and in the bale tank (5) two other bales (6) more.

On the back of the device you can see the first floor (7), located in the unwind zone (3). The drive means of the device elements consist in this embodiment on handwheels connected by timing belts and attached to an axle under the trailer floor, actuated by a socket of tractor force.

In particular, a flywheel (8) drives an axis with two cogwheels that move chains that in turn propel a plurality of bars (9) that move sliding on the first floor (7). In Figure 1 you can appreciate one of these bars (9) at the time it reaches the rear edge of the first floor (7).

There is another steering wheel (10) integral to a first axis (11) horizontal, located at a first height (d2) to which they are joined fins that form a vane (12) so that at turn the steering wheel (10) the mentioned fins rotate in the direction of the arrows (13), hitting the bale (4), spinning it and by raising it slightly, so that the outer layer of the bale The fodder is undone and the fodder is detached. The length (d1) of the vane fins (12) is considerable in relation to height on the first floor (7) of the shaft (11), of course greater than the half of the first height (d2 / 2). In this way most of  the distance defined by the first height is occupied by the vane fin (12) located in its lowest position, leaving only space between the fin end and the first ground (7) for the bars (9) to pass, the propulsion chains of the bars and the fodder dragged by the bars.

In Figure 2 you can see the area of unrolled (3) but without any bale of fodder, with the first ground (7) on which the bars (9) on which they slide have placed a plurality of skewers (14) perpendicular to the bars. The bars (9) slide on the first floor propelled by chains (15) that define a continuous movement according to a closed path in which the bars (9) return by under the first floor (7). In this embodiment they have placed two bars with skewers (9) in the chains. However, yes higher distribution speed is desired, or if the forage is more compact, or if convenient for another reason they could easily attach one or more bars (9) more to the chains.

A profile of the device, where distances and dimensions are appreciated relative. The cylindrical forage bale, as it leaves the combine, has a radius (R). As can be seen in the Figure 3, the unwind zone (3) has a length (d3), a little greater than the diameter of the bale (2R) that allows the bale turn when hit by the vane fins (12).

The height (d2) of the first axis (11) above the ground of the unwind zone (3) and the length (d1) of the fins of the paddle (12) is such that it leaves a space where the fodder, bars (9) and skewers.

In addition the height (d2) of the first axis is something greater than the radius (R) of the bales, and the length of the fins of the pallet (d1) is greater than half of the first height (d2 / 2), so that the vane fins hit the bale below, spinning it but not lifting it completely. In this example of embodiment the vane (12) consists of two fins, but also another number of fins could be used (three, four ... etc.).

Figure 1 also shows the bale tank (5) in a first position. In this first position the deposit, which can rotate around an axis (16), has its ground, second ground (17), inclined towards the front of the device, by what the bales (6) tend to roll forward, and not fall into The unwind zone.

The bale tank (5) has means to pass to the situation shown in Figure 3 when the bale (4) that it was in the unwind zone (3) has been scrapped and the fodder distributed by the device. In this second position, the tractor driver has driven means, which in this example they can be two hydraulic cylinders, not shown in the figure, lifting the second floor (17) of the bale tank (5) by rotating it on the shaft (16). The second floor (17), of bale tank, is then inclined towards the area of unrolled (3), so that one of the bales (6) of the tank roll forward and fall into the unwind zone (3). TO then the hydraulic cylinders return to their first position to the bale tank (5), to prevent another bale from falling to the unwind zone.

The operation of the device to distribute  forage is as follows:

First, several bales (6) are loaded into the tank (5) and a bale (4) in the unwind zone (3).

Then, they actuate the means that they rotate the first axis (11), so that the vane fins (12) they hit the cylindrical bale (4) in its lower zone and simultaneously the propulsion means of the bars are operated (9), so that the bars (9) when moving drag the fodder detached outermost layer of the bale (4) and what Distribute outside the device. The beating combination of vane fins (12) with the displacement of the bars (9), rotates the bale (4) and causes the fodder to detach from the outermost layer of it.

When the first bale (4) has been distributed, it actuate the means to move the second floor (17) of the first position to the second position, so that a bale (6) of the tank (5) of wheel bales due to the inclination of the second ground (17) and falls on the unwind zone (3).

Finally, the means to move are activated. the second floor (17) from the second position to the first, once that a bale (6) has fallen on the unwind zone (3), of so that the bales (6) of the bale tank (5) do not roll towards the unwind zone (3).

In this example of practical realization, show concrete means that can easily be replaced by  other equivalent means, without altering the spirit of the invention. For example, replace chains with straps, or straps by chains, or the transmission of mechanical force by a hydraulic or electrical transmission, and may be the means of drive hydraulic or electric motors, or any other medium known by the art.

Claims (4)

1. Forage distributor device, adaptable to means that move it over a wide surface where cattle paste, which comprises an unrolling zone (3) in which a cylindrical forage bale (4) is placed with the horizontal axis, having this forage bale is a radius (R), this unwind zone (3) comprising a first horizontal ground (7) that houses a plurality of bars (9), these bars (9) having propulsion means that move them sliding on the first floor (7) towards the back of the unwind zone (3) in a continuous movement along a closed path in which the bars (9) return below the first floor (7) to the front part of the zone unwind (3), where the cycle continues, characterized in that it comprises at the rear of the device a first horizontal axis (11) with a plurality of fins that form a vane (12), the first axis (11) being located at a first height (d2) s lock the first floor (7), the first horizontal axis (11) having means that rotate it in direction (13), so that the vane fin (12) located below the axis (11) rotates towards the part front of the forage distributor device, and the vane fin (12) located above the shaft (11) rotates towards the rear of the forage distributor device, and the length (d1) of the vane fins (12) being ) greater than half of the first height (d2 / 2). 2. Forage distributor device according to claim 1, characterized in that each bar (9) has a plurality of skewers (14) perpendicular to the bar, and because when the bars (9) move sliding on the first floor (7) the skewers go facing up. 3. Forage distributor device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises means for moving a cylindrical forage bale (6) from a bale tank (5) located in front of the unwind zone (3) towards the unwind zone. 4. Forage distributor device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means for moving a bale (6) from the bale tank (5) to the unwind zone (3) comprise a second floor (17) in the bale tank ( 5) on which the bales (6) can roll, the second floor (17) being connected to the forage distributor device by means of a second horizontal axis (16) located on the side of the second floor closest to the unwind zone (3 ) and the second axis (16) being located at a second height above the level of the first floor (7), the second floor (17) being able to rotate on the second axis (16) from a first position in which the second floor is inclined with the side near the first floor (7) higher than the opposite side to a second position where the side near the first floor (7) is lower than the opposite side, and because it comprises means for moving the second floor ( 17) between the first position and the sec A single position, and because the bale tank (5) comprises means that prevent when the second floor (17) is in the first position the bales roll (6) out of the bale tank.