GB2032376A

GB2032376A - Transport apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2032376A
Application number: GB7926261A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Alois Poettinger Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Current assignee: Alois Poettinger Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Priority date: 1978-08-10
Filing date: 1979-07-27
Publication date: 1980-05-08
Also published as: SE7906684L; DE2927082A1; FR2432982A1; DE2927082C2; NL7905767A; AT377675B; GB2032376B; CH640105A5; FR2432982B1; ATA581178A

Abstract

Transport apparatus, for example, for loading wagons, comprises cutters (9), transport elements (2) projecting into a transport channel (3) and cooperating with the cutters, the cutters being adjustable in position when a predetermined cutting force is exceeded, and a control mechanism operable by the cutters. The control mechanism is connected to a drive (20) for the transport elements and if a force greater than the predetermined cutting force is applied to the cutters the drive to the transport elements is either terminated or reversed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transport apparatus This invention relates to transport apparatus, for example, for loading wagons.

It is known to provide cutters or cutter beams of cutting units of loading wagons with an overload protection device so the cutters pivot out of a transport channel when a predetermined force, caused by foreign bodies, for example, metal fragments or stones, is exceeded and pivot back into the transport channel afterthe predetermined force has ceased to exist. However, such overload protection devices are disadvantageous inasmuch as they only protect the cutters from damage, and foreign bodies remain in the transported material and cannot be removed.

However, the foreign bodies cause damage to subsequent machinery and may cause injury to animals if the loaded wagon is agricultural.

Furthermore, the known overload protection devices presuppose specific shapes of cutter or specific constructions of transport and cutting devices.

According to the present invention there is provided a transport apparatus comprising: cutter means; transport means projecting into a transport channel and co-operating with the cutter means which are adjustable in position when a predetermined cutting force is exceeded; and control means operable by the cutter means and connected to drive means for the transport means for controlling the drive to the transport means.

The cutter means are preferably coupled mechanically to the drive means. Support for the cutter means may be connected by at least one traction member to a control lever of a change-speed gear of the drive means.

In one embodiment a plurality of switching elements are provided in the path of the cutter means, the switch elements being arranged to control electro-hydraulicallythe drive means. Each switching element may be an electrical switch or a pressure switch.

The drive means may be reversible by the control means.

In a preferred embodiment the drive means has a first coupling for driving the transport means in one direction and a second coupling for driving the transport means in the opposite direction, the first and second couplings being engaged or disengaged by the control means. Each switching element may be spring biased to a datum position.

The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 4 show schematic embodiments of transport apparatus according to the present invention.

Throughout the drawings like parts have been designated by the same reference numerals.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated one embodiment of a transport apparatus 1 according to the present invention, having transport tines 2 extending into a transport channel 3 defined by a front wall constituted by strippers 4 and a rear wall 5 which may be divided and atthe lower end of which is provided with a receiving drum 6 with a sensing wheel 7. An upper end 8 of the transport channel 3 terminates, for example, in a loading space of a loading wagon. A transport apparatus of this type may be provided not only on loading wagons, but also on other agricultural machines, such as so-called chaffcutters.

A plurality of spaced apart cutters 9 arranged transversely to a transport direction F project into the transport channel 3 either from the front wall 4 or from the rear wall 5. The cutters are mounted slidably (Figure 1 and Figure 3) by means of bolts 10, 10' which engage through respective slots 11, 11', or are mounted pivotably (Figure 2 and Figure 4) on a bolt 12 about an end 13 located towards the transport direction F. Each cutter is maintained in a work position by means of a spring 14 which is braced against a frame 15 integral with a chassis.

A switching element in the form of a cutter support 16 (Figure 1) or an electro-mechanical switch 17 (Figure 2) or a pressure trip switch 18 (Figure 3 and Figure 4), is arranged at the end of the adjustment stroke of the cutters 9, the switch element having an adjustable switching point.

According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a mechanical connection is provided from the cutter support 16 to a drive, e.g. a traction member 16' to a lever 19 of a change-speed gear 20. Any sliding movement of the cutter 9 causes a change speed gear 20 to be controlled by means of the traction member 16' in such a waythatthe drive is initially interrupted and the latter can then be switched on, for example, manually, in the opposite direction of rotation.

If a foreign body in the transport channel 3 causes sliding movement of the cutters 9, the drive for the transport tines 2 is therefore switched off and the drive can thereupon be reversed, whereupon the material in the transport channel is transported back, i.e. the opposite direction to the transport direction F and the foreign body which caused the drive to be switched off can be found and removed, or the material in the transport channel can be segregated or removed simultaneously with the foreign body.

Instead of a single cutter support 16, a plurality thereof may be provided each coupled to the lever 19.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, there is associated with each cutter an electromagnetic switch 17 which, in the event of an insufficient pivoting of the cutters 9, switches electrical signals delivered to a converter 21. The electrical signals are transformed into a hydraulic control which, via an hydraulic work cylinder 22, actuates the lever 19 operating the change-speed gear 20. This embodiment has a high sensitivity of response and operates in a similar manner to the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the pressure trip switch 18 controls an electromagnetic coupling 23 which can interrupt the flux of force extremely rapidly. By means of a second coupling 24 a reversing gear 25 can be engaged to reverse the direction of rotation of the transport tines 2. The signals from the switch 18 are controlled by a converter 26.

A protection device against damage to the switching elements if a prescribed switching stroke is exceeded is provided in the form of a spring device 27 which permits a backward yielding of the switching elements 17, 18 when a predetermined load is exceeded.

Claims

1. Transport apparatus comprising: cutter means; transport means projecting into a transport channel and co-operating with the cutter means which are adjustable in position when a predetermined cutting force is exceeded; and control means operable by the cutter means and connected to drive means for the transport means for controlling the drive to the transport means.

2. Transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the cutter means are coupled mechanically to the drive means.

3. Transport apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which a support for the cutter means is connected by at least one traction memberto a control lever of a change-speed gear of the drive means.

4. Transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a plurality of switch elements are provided in the path of the cutter means, the switch elements being arranged to control electro-hydraulically the drive means.

5. Transport apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which each switch element is an electrical switch or a pressure switch.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the drive means is reversible by the control means.

7. Transport apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the drive means has a first coupling for driving the transport means in one direction and a second coupling for driving the transport means in the opposite direction, the first and second couplings being engaged or disengaged by the control means.

8. Transport apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or any of claims 5 to 7 when dependent thereon in which each switching element is spring biased to a datum position.

9. Transport apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.