FR2851482A1 - Vertical crusher/spreader for e.g. liquid manure containing fibers and plant debris, has blade holder supporting two blades immobilized in rotation on support plate using splined shafts tightly fitted in corresponding slotted rings - Google Patents

Abstract

Crusher/spreader includes blade holder (4) supporting two blades (51, 52) which are immobilized in rotation on support plate (40). Blades can move axially against spring (9) along axis (X1-X'1), with spring permanently pressing blades against inner sides (211, 221) of respective counter-rotating blades (21, 22). Blades are immobilized in rotation using splined shafts (517, 527) tightly fitted in corresponding slotted rings (516, 526, 518, 528).

Description

The present invention relates to a vertical distributor mill of a

  liquid such as liquid manure, containing in particular fibers or plant debris.

  This crusher can also be used to distribute any other type of liquid waste, for example wastewater treatment plant residues or wine waste.

  The slurry spreading devices generally comprise a chassis mounted on wheels and capable of being towed, this chassis supporting a liquid storage tank or "slurry tanker" and at the rear, a device for distributing this slurry. liquid on the ground, such as a burier or a spreading boom.

  Slurry is a liquid containing in particular plant debris and fibers, such as for example silage residues, straw or grass, and sometimes also feathers, hairs or pieces of string.

  In order to avoid obstructing the pipes and the orifices of the device for distributing and distributing the slurry on the ground, a device called "shredder distributor" is installed between it and the tank.

  The function of the latter is to finely grind the plant debris 20 present in the slurry coming from the tank and, incidentally, to collect certain solid bodies, such as stones, before distributing the slurry in a series of distribution pipes connected for example to the spreading boom.

  Already known in the prior art, a so-called "horizontal" distributor mill comprising a cylindrical enclosure extending substantially horizontally, supplied with slurry by a pipe opening at its upper face, the slurry then being distributed by outlet openings in its underside. A counter knife consisting of a circular plate provided with cutting orifices is disposed at the lower part of this enclosure. A blade whose length substantially corresponds to the diameter of the counter knife is rotated about an axis passing through its center and is pressed against this counter knife so as to cut the fibrous residues present in the slurry.

  However, in such a device the waste tends to accumulate quickly under this very long blade.

  EP 0 520 974 also discloses a horizontal distributor mill comprising a box provided with an upper opening for the supply of liquid manure and several lower openings for the exit of liquid manure to the distribution system. This box contains at its bottom a first fixed plate forming a counter knife provided with a series of cutting holes coinciding with the lower outlet openings. A second plate coaxial with the first and capable of being driven in rotation is mounted parallel to this first plate. This second plate carries, in the vicinity of its periphery and on its lower face situated opposite the first plate, a series of cutting disks, mounted idly, coming into frictional contact with said first plate forming a counter knife. By friction against the counter knife, the mad discs turn on themselves and cut the fibrous waste.

  Such a device has the disadvantage that the crazy discs wear out quickly.

  Also known from the prior art is a vertical distributor mill for a liquid such as slurry, containing in particular plant fibers or debris, this mill comprising: - an enclosure delimited by two parallel flanges and by a wall lateral peripheral, each flange being provided with a series of outlets for said liquid, - means for introducing said liquid inside the enclosure, - two plates acting as a counter knife, fixed respectively against each of the inner faces of the two flanges and provided with a series of cutting holes arranged opposite the outlet orifices of the flanges, - a knife holder comprising a support plate disposed inside said enclosure parallel to the two flanges, 25 driven in rotation about an axis XX 'perpendicular to the plane of the two flanges, and supporting at least one pair of knives mounted on either side of said support plate, each of them being pressed respectively against the inner face of one of the two plates acting as a counter knife, its cutting edge being adapted to cooperate with the cutting holes of this counter knife to cut the fibers or debris plants present in the liquid.

  The object of the invention is to develop a vertical distributor mill whose efficiency of the cutting members is improved compared to what is known in the state of the art, while reducing the rate of wear of these cutting members.

  This object is achieved using a vertical distributor mill of the type described above which is remarkable in that the knives are immobilized in rotation on the support plate.

  According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention, taken alone or in combination: - each knife is axially movable against a spring along an axis XI-X'I perpendicular to the plane of the flanges, this spring tending to constantly press this knife against the inner face of the corresponding counter knife; - The knife is immobilized in rotation on the support plate by means of the fitting of a grooved shaft in a grooved ring of complementary profile; - each knife is a polygon, the sides of which constitute straight cutting edges; - Each knife is removable so as to be able to adopt different angular positions relative to the support plate in order to compensate for the wear of the sharp edges; the support plate is hollow and provided with an air intake and each knife has a central recess communicating with the interior of said support plate, so as to allow air circulation from outside the enclosure in direction of the outlet openings of the flanges; - the cutting holes of the plates acting as a counter knife are of circular section; - The cutting holes of the plates acting as a counter knife are distributed over at least one circle of axis XX ′ which coincides with the trajectory of the knives; - at least one of the plates acting as a counter knife is reversible; the means for introducing the liquid inside the enclosure include an orifice formed in the side wall of the enclosure and the liquid is introduced tangentially to the knife holder. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. This description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a partial vertical sectional view of the mill according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the mill taken along the plane of section shown by line II-11 in Figure 1, - Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of half of the sectional view of Figure 2, and - Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a knife and its fixing elements on the knife holder. The vertical distributor mill according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  In these two figures, the distributor mill is shown in its normal vertical position of use, that is to say the position in which it is fixed to the rear of the slurry storage tank.

  As can be seen better in FIG. 2, this mill comprises an enclosure 1 delimited by a peripheral side wall 10 and by two parallel flanges 11, 12 extending in a vertical plane, parallel to a vertical median axis YY ′ of the pregnant 1.

  The two flanges 11, 12 are preferably circular with axis XX 'perpendicular to the axis YY' and have outlet orifices 110, 112, 20 respectively 120, 122, preferably circular and the central axis of which is perpendicular to the plan of the flanges 1 1 and 12.

  Preferably, the outlet orifices 112 are distributed on the flange 11 in a circle whose central axis is coaxial with the axis XX 'of the circular flange 11, while the outlet orifices 110 are arranged on a second concentric circle 25 at the first but of larger diameter.

  By way of example, the outlet orifices 110 situated on the outer circle are fourteen in number and the outlet orifices 12 are six in number. These values are not limitative of the invention.

  The outlet orifices 120 and 122 are distributed in a similar manner on the flange 12.

  Preferably also, the outlet orifices 110 of the flange 11 and the outlet orifices 120 of the flange 12 are coaxial with axis X0-X'O. Similarly, the outlet orifices 112 of the flange 1 1 and the outlet orifices 122 of the flange 12 are coaxial with axis X2-X'2.

  The two flanges 11, respectively 12, have an internal face 111, respectively 121, oriented towards the inside of the enclosure 1 and an opposite external face 113, respectively 123.

  The flange 11 extends outwards at each of its 5 outlet orifices 110, 112 by connection mouths 114 secured to its external face 113.

  Similarly, the flange 12 has connection mouths 124.

  The slurry distribution pipes, not shown in the figures, and 10 making it possible to connect the distributor shredder to the slurry distribution device on the ground are force fitted on these connection mouthpieces 114, 124.

  The peripheral side wall 10 extends perpendicularly between the flanges 11 and 12 to which it is fixed by screws 116, 126.

  As can be seen in FIG. 1, the side wall 10 has a portion in an arc 100 extending substantially over a third of the circumference of the flanges 11 and 12. In the upper left part of the mill (relative to FIG. 1), this wall 10 is extended by a slightly curved portion 101 and by a rectilinear portion 102 closed on either side by two closure plates 30, of substantially triangular shape, only one of which is visible in FIG. 1 .

  The rectilinear portion 102 of the side wall is pierced with an orifice 103 on which is fixed a connection mouth 31 capable of receiving the end of a liquid supply pipe, here in slurry, connected to the storage tank of this liquid.

  All of the aforementioned elements, that is to say the connection mouth 31, the portions 101 and 102 of the side wall and the closure plates 30 constitute introduction means 3 or slurry introduction housing. inside enclosure 1.

  The side wall 10 is further extended at the lower part of the mill by two rectilinear portions 104, 105, covered on either side by two closure plates 60 and 61 having substantially the shape of a truncated cone whose large base is in an arc. All of these elements define a funnel 6 at the base of which it is possible to fix, using pliers 62, a flexible receptacle, such as a bag or sock, so as to recover bodies therefrom. solids such as stones or pieces of wood for example. This flexible receptacle can be drained quickly.

  This part of the device is known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in more detail.

  Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the distributor mill further comprises two plates 21, 22 acting as a counter knife, 5 also called "counter knives", preferably circular in shape and whose diameter is slightly lower than that of flanges 11 and 12.

  Each counter-knife 21, respectively 22, has an internal face 211, respectively 221, oriented towards the inside of the enclosure 1 and an opposite external face 213, respectively 223.

  The counter knife 21 is fixed against the flange 11 at several points by means of elements allowing a removable fixing, for example screws 115 and so that its external face 213 is in contact with the internal face 111 of said flange 11.

  The counter knife 22 is similarly fixed to the flange 12. The counter knives are reversible, that is to say that the screws 115 can be unscrewed and each counter knife 21, 22 can be reassembled so that it is its internal face 211, respectively 221 which is mounted opposite the internal face 111, 121 respectively of the flanges 11 and 12.

  The counter knife 21 has two series of circular cutting holes 20 210 and 212 disposed opposite the respective outlet orifices 110 and 112 of the flange 11, that is to say along two concentric circles of axis XX ′ .

  The counter-knife 22 has two series of circular cutting holes 220 and 222 distributed in a similar manner, that is to say facing the respective outlet orifices 120 and 122 of the flange 12.

  These cutting orifices have an edge at right angles to the internal and external faces of the counter knife inside which they are provided.

  In addition, the crusher also comprises a knife holder 4 comprising a support plate 40 disposed inside the enclosure 1, parallel to the two flanges 11 and 12, in the median plane Y-Y '. This plate 40 is rotated around the axis XX ′ using a motor referenced 7.

  More specifically, the motor 7 rotates a shaft 70, the end portion 71 opening out inside the enclosure 1 is grooved. It will be noted that the flange 12 and the counter knife 22 are for this purpose provided with a central orifice 77 allowing the passage of this shaft, (see FIG. 3).

  A circular sleeve 72 is mounted around the portion of the shaft 70 located outside the enclosure. It is connected at its two ends on the one hand to the motor 7 and on the other hand to the external face 123 of the flange 12 respectively by screws 73, 74.

  Two lip seals 75 and an angular contact bearing 76 with two rows of balls are arranged around the shaft 70 and fitted inside the sleeve 72. The ball bearing 76 constitutes a rolling bearing for the shaft 70 which it guides in rotation.

  The support plate 40 is hollow, it consists of two circular plates 401, 402 arranged in parallel and at a short distance from each other, connected at their periphery by an annular connecting ferrule 403. The two plates 10 401 and 402 delimit a cavity 404.

  The plate 402 oriented towards the motor 7 is integral with a sleeve 41 of axis XX ′.

  This sleeve 41 has a grooved central opening, complementary to the grooved portion 71 of the shaft 70, on which it is engaged. The support plate 40 is therefore integral in rotation with the shaft 70 but can possibly move slightly axially around the latter, over a limited stroke.

  In addition, a tube 42 of axis XX ′ is made integral with the annular plate 401 by means of a disc 43 welded at one of its ends and by the fixing of this disc 43 on the plate 401, for example by means of screws 430.

  This tube 42 is in communication with the internal cavity 404 of the support plate 40 and constitutes an air intake.

  The knife holder 4 is intended to support at least one pair of knives 51, 52, preferably three pairs as shown in FIG. 1, the knives of each pair being mounted on either side of said support plate 40.

  To this end, the support plate 40 is crossed by three sleeves 44 of axis XI-X'l parallel to the axis X-X 'and angularly spaced by 120.

  The mounting of one of the knives, here the knife 52, on the support plate 40 will now be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  The knife 52 is a thin plate having the shape of a polygon with at least three straight sides, these sides constituting sharp edges 520. Advantageously, these are eight in number, but they could also be at number of three or four for example so that the knife 52 would then have a triangular or square shape.

  The knife 52 could also have a hexagonal or star shape. Finally, instead of being straight, the sharp edges 520 could also be slightly concave, that is to say curved in the direction of the center of the knife.

  In order to be sharp, the straight edges 520 are slightly bevelled at an angle (x between about 250 and 450 relative to the horizontal (see Figure 3).

  The knife 52 is pierced with a central orifice 523, for example circular.

  It has an inner face 521 oriented towards the inside of the enclosure 1, provided with an annular counterbore 524 surrounding the orifice and an opposite outer face 522 provided with a circular counterbore 525 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  Smooth holes 81, here four in number, pass through the knife 52 and open on its inner face 521 at the countersink 524.

  This knife 52 is fixed to the knife holder 4 by means of two rings 526, 528, the inner face of which is grooved, and a sleeve 527, the outer face of which is provided with grooves, the profile of which corresponds to that of the grooves of the two rings 526 and 528.

  The ring 526 is also pierced with four tapped holes 82. The ring 526 is mounted inside the counterbore 524 and fixed to the knife 52 by four screws 8 passing through the smooth holes 81 and the tapped holes 82.

  The sleeve 528 is also force-fitted inside a shoulder 440 defined in the free end of the sleeve 44.

  The fluted sleeve 527 is introduced inside the ring 528 and then the knife 52 and ring 526 assembly is also fitted at the other end of said fluted sleeve 527, as shown in FIG. 3.

  Preferably, the knife 52 and the fluted sleeve 527 are made of hardened stainless steel and the two rings 526 and 528 in bronze. However, the knife 52, the ring 526 and the sleeve 527 could also be made of the same material and in one piece.

  Similarly, the knife 51 is mounted opposite the sheath 44 by means of two grooved rings 516 and 518 and a grooved sleeve 517.

  A helical compression spring 9 is also arranged inside the sheath 44 so that its two opposite ends rest against the opposite faces of the two fluted sleeves 517, 527.

  It will also be noted that there is a small clearance j between the free end of the sleeve 44 and the opposite face of the grooved ring 526, and respectively between the free end of the sleeve 44 and the opposite face of the grooved ring 516. This clearance j is necessary to take account of the manufacturing tolerances of the different parts.

  Thanks to this arrangement, each knife 51, 52 is axially movable along the axis XI-X'1, against the spring 9, since the grooved rings 516, 526 can slide respectively on the sleeves 517, 527.

  The spring 9 tends to constantly press the knives 51, 52 10 respectively against the inner faces 211, 221 of the corresponding counter-knives 21, 22.

  Thus the cutting edges 520, 510 respectively of the knives 52 and 51 can cooperate with the cutting holes 220, 210 of the counter knives 22, 21 for cutting the fibers or the plant debris present in the liquid. The force of the spring 9 must be sufficient so that the knives 51, 52 are pressed against the counter-knives and can by scissor effect cut the fibers but without however causing too rapid wear of said knives 51, 52.

  In addition, the assembly using the fluted sleeve 527 and the fluted rings 526, 528 causes the blades 51, 52 to immobilize in rotation relative to the support plate 40.

  The operation of the distributor mill according to the invention will now be explained in more detail.

  The enclosure l is supplied with slurry under pressure by the introduction means 3, the slurry being introduced tangentially to the knife holder 4.

  The motor 7 rotates the knife holder 4. The knives 51, 52 immobilized in rotation relative to the support plate 40 are moved along a circular trajectory around the axis XX ', respectively opposite the cutting holes 210 , 212 and 220, 222 of plates 21, 22.

  Thanks to the pressure of the spring 9, the knives 51, 52 are pressed against the counter knives 21, 22 and cooperate with the sharp edges of the cutting holes 210, 212 and 220, 222 like the two blades of a chisel for crush the plant residues. The rectilinear shape of the cutting edges 510, 520, or even slightly curved towards the center of the knife cooperates with the circular shape of the cutting holes to bring the fibers back towards this cutting edge and thus improve the cutting efficiency.

  The knives 51, 52 being fixed, they wear less quickly, furthermore, their mounting on a splined shaft 517, 527 allows a periodic angular permutation of the knives when the cutting edges 510, 520 are blunt.

  The counter knives 21, 22 can also be reversed when the cutting holes 210, 212 and 220, 222 are blunt, which increases their total life.

  Finally, so that the flow of slurry is done correctly in the distribution pipes connected to the connection mouths 114, 124, air is sucked in by the air intake 42, passes inside the support plate 40 , then through the orifices 513, 523 of the knives 51, 52. When a knife obstructs one of the cutting holes 210, 212, 220, 222, the air replaces the slurry in the distribution pipe corresponding to the time of the knife passing in front of this cutting hole. he

Claims (10)

  1. Vertical distributor mill for a liquid such as slurry, containing in particular fibers or plant debris, this mill comprising: - an enclosure (1) delimited by two parallel flanges (11, 12) and by a peripheral side wall ( 10), each flange (11, 12) being provided with a series of outlet orifices (110, 112, 120, 122) of said liquid, - means (3) for introducing said liquid inside the enclosure (1), two plates (21, 22) acting as a counter knife, fixed 10 respectively against each of the interior faces (111, 121) of the two flanges (11, 12) and provided with a series of holes cutting (210, 212, 220, 222) arranged opposite the outlet orifices (110, 120) of the flanges (11, 12), - a knife holder (4) comprising a support plate (40) disposed at 15 l 'interior of said enclosure (1) parallel to the two flanges (11, 12), rotated about an axis XX' perpendicular to the plane of the two flanges (11, 12), e t supporting at least one pair of knives (51, 52) mounted on either side of said support plate (40), each of them being pressed respectively against the inner face (211, 221) of one of the two plates (21, 22) acting as a counter knife, its cutting edge (510, 520) being adapted to cooperate with the cutting holes (210, 220) of this counter knife (21, 22) for cutting the fibers or the plant debris present in the liquid, characterized in that said knives (51, 52) are immobilized in rotation on the support plate (40).   2. Distributor mill according to claim 1, characterized in that each knife (51, 52) is axially movable against a spring (9) along an axis X1-X'1 perpendicular to the plane of the flanges (11, 12), this spring (9) tending to constantly press this knife (51, 52) against the inner face (211, 221) of the corresponding counter-knife (21, 22).   3. Distributor mill according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the knife (51, 52) is immobilized in rotation on the support plate (40) by means of the fitting of a splined shaft (517, 527 ) in a grooved ring (516, 526; 518, 528) of complementary profile.   4. Distributor mill according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each knife (51, 52) is a polygon whose sides constitute sharp edges (510, 520) rectilinear.   5. Distributor mill according to claim 4, characterized in that each knife (51, 52) is removable so as to be able to adopt different angular positions relative to the support plate (40) in order to compensate for the wear of the sharp edges (510, 520).   6. Distributor mill according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support plate (40) is hollow and provided with an air intake (42) and in that each knife (51, 52) has a central recess (523) communicating with the interior of said support plate (40), so as to allow air circulation from outside the enclosure (1) towards the outlet orifices (110, 120) of the flanges (11, 12).   7. Distributor mill according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting holes (210, 212; 220, 222) of the plates (21, 22) acting as a counter knife are of circular section.   8. Distributor mill according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting holes (210, 212; 220, 222) of the plates (21, 22) acting as a counter knife are distributed over at least one circle of axis XX 'which coincides with the trajectory of the knives (51, 52).   9. Distributor mill according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the plates (21, 22) acting as a counter knife is reversible.   10. Distributor mill according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (3) for introducing the liquid inside the enclosure (1) comprise an orifice (103) formed in the side wall ( 101) of the enclosure (1) and in that the liquid is introduced tangentially 30 to the knife holder (4).