GB2038767A - Wagons for agricultural use - Google Patents

Abstract

A wagon has a beater 6 provided with end plates 38 which are substantially flush with the sides of the wagon 2 each end plate 38 rotating in a circular hole 42, the periphery of which just clears the edge of the end plate 38. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wagons for agricultural use This invention relates to wagons for agricultural use of the kind having horizontal rotating beater drums provided inside the wagon for the treatment of the material in the wagon.

The rotating beater drums give rise to a problem of sealing at their ends. Unless careful provision is made material from the body of the wagon works its way down between the ends of the drum and the side plates of the body causing a build up of hard materials. This gives rise to very considerable friction and consequent power consumption.

According to this invention there is provided a wagon for agricultural use having a horizontally mounted rotatable beater drum for breaking up the material in the wagon and urging it towards the discharge end of the wagon, the beater being provided with end plates, the said end plates being flush or substantially flush with the sides of the wagon and each end plate rotating in a circular aperture in a side of the wagon the periphery of which aperture just clears the edge of the end plate.

The invention will now be described with reference to a forage feeder one form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Figure 1 is a side view of the feeder; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic front sectional view of a beater; and Figure 3 is a detail view of the side of the body of the feeder and end of a beater.

Referring to the drawings, the wagon 2 is provided with the conventional floor conveyor belt 4 and at the front horizontally mounted beater-drums 6 having a plurality of tines 8 for breaking up the material in the wagon. The beater-drums rotate in the direction of the arrow a so that the material in the wagon is thrown up and over. An auger 10 rotating in the same direction is provided near the beaters 6, this auger being parallel to and substantially at the same height as the lower beater 6.

The end discs 38 of each drum 6 are larger in diameter than the drum 6 itself and in fact are of a slightly larger diameter than the overall diameter of the teeth or tines 8 fixed to the drum, although this point is only for convenience and is not essential.

How the convenience arises will be described later.

The said end discs 38 are of fairly thick steel plate say 1/2" or 5/8", and are machined on the peripheral edge to a flat cylindrical surface. The side plates of the body 2 are provided with holes 42 very slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the end discs 38, say 1/16" or 118" more in diameter.

The spacing apart of the end discs 38 on each drum is arranged so that from the middle of one disc 38 measured axially along to the middle of the other disc 38 is exactly the nominal centre to centre distance between the two side plates of the vehicle 2.

The drums 6 are supported on suitable bearings so that the end discs 38 can rotate within the holes 42 in the side plates without touching. By having the end discs 38 fairly thick it is possible, even after allowing for welding distortion and other minor discrepancies, to align the discs 38 more or less centrally, in an axial sense, with the side plate material.

It will be appreciated from this description that, when looking at the vehicle from outside, the end discs 38 of the drums 6 are clearly visible and indeed when working they can be seen rotating. Since, however, they are smooth steel plates there is no question of any danger arising nor of any guarding required. By having the bearing support at one end removable, it is possible to thread the complete drum 6 from one side of the vehicle into position and if, as mentioned above, the end discs 38 are of an adequate diameter, the plates or tines can be fixed to the drum first before assembly within the machine, which is very convenient from a Work's Production point of view.

In practice it is found that any odd little fragments of fodder, silage or any other material which happens to become entrained in the very slight gap between the edge of the disc 38 and the edge of the hole 42 in the side plate 40 are quickly shredded away harmlessly without any build-up or resulting friction since in fact the sealing takes place against a side plate edge of very small thickness, say 1/10" or thereabouts. In this way expensive grass rings and other sophisticated means of preventing material fouling the ends of the discs are completely avoided while at the same time the construction of the drum itself is of the utmost simplicity.

1. A wagon for agricultural use having a horizontally mounted rotatable beater drum for breaking up the material in the wagon and urging ittowardsthe discharge end of the wagon, the beater being provided with end plates, the said end plates being flush or substantially flush with the sides of the wagon and each end plate rotating in a circular aperture in a side of the wagon the periphery of which aperture just clears the edge of the end plate.

2. Awagon according to Claim 1 wherein the end plates are of greater diameter than that of the beater including tines on the beater.

3. Awagon substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Wagons for agricultural use This invention relates to wagons for agricultural use of the kind having horizontal rotating beater drums provided inside the wagon for the treatment of the material in the wagon. The rotating beater drums give rise to a problem of sealing at their ends. Unless careful provision is made material from the body of the wagon works its way down between the ends of the drum and the side plates of the body causing a build up of hard materials. This gives rise to very considerable friction and consequent power consumption. According to this invention there is provided a wagon for agricultural use having a horizontally mounted rotatable beater drum for breaking up the material in the wagon and urging it towards the discharge end of the wagon, the beater being provided with end plates, the said end plates being flush or substantially flush with the sides of the wagon and each end plate rotating in a circular aperture in a side of the wagon the periphery of which aperture just clears the edge of the end plate. The invention will now be described with reference to a forage feeder one form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Figure 1 is a side view of the feeder; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic front sectional view of a beater; and Figure 3 is a detail view of the side of the body of the feeder and end of a beater. Referring to the drawings, the wagon 2 is provided with the conventional floor conveyor belt 4 and at the front horizontally mounted beater-drums 6 having a plurality of tines 8 for breaking up the material in the wagon. The beater-drums rotate in the direction of the arrow a so that the material in the wagon is thrown up and over. An auger 10 rotating in the same direction is provided near the beaters 6, this auger being parallel to and substantially at the same height as the lower beater 6. The end discs 38 of each drum 6 are larger in diameter than the drum 6 itself and in fact are of a slightly larger diameter than the overall diameter of the teeth or tines 8 fixed to the drum, although this point is only for convenience and is not essential. How the convenience arises will be described later. The said end discs 38 are of fairly thick steel plate say 1/2" or 5/8", and are machined on the peripheral edge to a flat cylindrical surface. The side plates of the body 2 are provided with holes 42 very slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the end discs 38, say 1/16" or 118" more in diameter. The spacing apart of the end discs 38 on each drum is arranged so that from the middle of one disc 38 measured axially along to the middle of the other disc 38 is exactly the nominal centre to centre distance between the two side plates of the vehicle 2. The drums 6 are supported on suitable bearings so that the end discs 38 can rotate within the holes 42 in the side plates without touching. By having the end discs 38 fairly thick it is possible, even after allowing for welding distortion and other minor discrepancies, to align the discs 38 more or less centrally, in an axial sense, with the side plate material. It will be appreciated from this description that, when looking at the vehicle from outside, the end discs 38 of the drums 6 are clearly visible and indeed when working they can be seen rotating. Since, however, they are smooth steel plates there is no question of any danger arising nor of any guarding required. By having the bearing support at one end removable, it is possible to thread the complete drum 6 from one side of the vehicle into position and if, as mentioned above, the end discs 38 are of an adequate diameter, the plates or tines can be fixed to the drum first before assembly within the machine, which is very convenient from a Work's Production point of view. In practice it is found that any odd little fragments of fodder, silage or any other material which happens to become entrained in the very slight gap between the edge of the disc 38 and the edge of the hole 42 in the side plate 40 are quickly shredded away harmlessly without any build-up or resulting friction since in fact the sealing takes place against a side plate edge of very small thickness, say 1/10" or thereabouts. In this way expensive grass rings and other sophisticated means of preventing material fouling the ends of the discs are completely avoided while at the same time the construction of the drum itself is of the utmost simplicity. CLAIMS

1. A wagon for agricultural use having a horizontally mounted rotatable beater drum for breaking up the material in the wagon and urging ittowardsthe discharge end of the wagon, the beater being provided with end plates, the said end plates being flush or substantially flush with the sides of the wagon and each end plate rotating in a circular aperture in a side of the wagon the periphery of which aperture just clears the edge of the end plate.

2. Awagon according to Claim 1 wherein the end plates are of greater diameter than that of the beater including tines on the beater.

3. Awagon substantially as described with reference to the drawings.