GB2048654A

GB2048654A - Silage cutting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2048654A
Application number: GB8007377A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-10-04
Filing date: 1980-03-04
Publication date: 1980-12-17
Also published as: IE781988L

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus for cutting silage. Conventional apparatus which is attached to and hydraulically operated from a tractor can only deliver silage in a forward direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the tractor. The invention provides silage cutting apparatus wherein the jaws are operable to deliver silage laterally of the tractor. One construction comprises a mounting plate (1) attached to the tractor front lift arms (15) and pivotally movable by hydraulic rams (18) about pins (14), a lower jaw (30) consisting of a conventional buckrake secured to the mounting plate (1) and pivotally moveable by ram (22) about a vertical axis defined by pin (13), and an upper jaw (50) consisting of a housing having sharpened lower edges and being open at one side, secured to the lower jaw (30) and pivotally movable by rams (42) about a horizontal axis defined by pins (39), the arrangement being such that when the jaws (30) and (50) cut a block of silage, the jaws (30) and (50) can be swung about pivot pin (13) to deliver the silage to one side of the tractor. In an alternative construction, Fig. 7 (not shown), the upper jaw is compartmented and movable laterally with respect to the lower jaw. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Silage cutting apparatus The present invention relates to apparatus for cutting and delivering silage.

In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus adapted to be mounted on and to be operable frdm a vehicle such as for example a tractor or hydraulic excavator, the apparatus being designed to cut silage from a body of silage and to deliver the silage at a different location.

Known silage cutting and delivering apparatus, which may be mounted on and operable frdm a tractor, comprises an upper and lower jaw for cutting and subsequently delivering a block of silage, but such conventional apparatus can, if general, only release the block of silage in a forward direction relative to the vehicle. A problem with such apparatus is that when it is used to deliver silage to animals housed in a shed cdmprising a narrow central aisle with animal pens at either side, the aisle providing little rodm in which to maneouvre a tractor, it is unable to deliver silage to the pens but can only deliver silage in the aisle, thus necessitating the manual' movement of the silage from the passageway to the pens.

Accordingly, the present invention provides apparatus for cutting and delivering silage, said apparatus cdmprising an upper and a lower jaw, the upper jaw being moveable relative to the lower jaw frdm a closed position in which the jaws define a substantially rectangular box formation, to an open position in which the jaws mutually define the open mouth of the apparatus, support means fo i mount- ing the apparatus upon a vehicle having a power source and power operated means for moving one or both of the jaws relative to the support' means, the arrangement being such that '(1) the lower jaw may be pressed into a body of silage, (2) the upper jaw may be closed over the lower jaw so as to cut and form a block or blocks of silage between the jaws, and (3)' movement of one or both of the jaws relative to the support' means delivers the cut silage to a position laterally of the disposition of the support means.

In one construction of apparatus according to the invention both jaws are moveable together through an angle of approximately 90" about a generally upwardly extending pivotal axis located on one side of the support means.

In an alternative construction of apparatus accord ing to the invention the upper jaw is' moveable across the lower jaw in a lateral direction relative to the disposition of the support' means.

One practical construction of apparatus according to the invention which' may be' mounted on a tractor and operated by the hydraulic system of the tractor will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 ofthe accdmpanying drawings.

The apparatus comprises essentially a mounting plate for attachment to the front lift arms of a tractor so as to be pivotally moveable relative thereto about a substantially horizontal pivotal axis, a lower jaw consisting of a conventional buckrake which is secured to the mounting plate so as to be pivotally moveable relative thereto about a substantially vertical pivotal axis, and an upper jaw secured to the lower jaw so as to be pivotally moveable relative thereto about a substantially horizontal pivotal axis.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus with the jaws open; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus mounted on a tractor, with the jaws open; Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus mounted on a tractor and moved about its pivotal axis so as to deliver silage to one side.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the' mounting plate; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lower jaw; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the upper jaw; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described with particular reference to Figures 2 and 3. The apparatus is mounted on the front lift arms 15 of a tractor 90. The tractor 90 is driven towards a clamp of silage (not shown) with the jaws 30 and 50 open (as seen in Figure 2). As seen frdm the tractor cabin, the tractor 90 is driven towards the right hand end of the clamp of silage. The lower jaw 30 is driven into the clamp of silage and the upper jaw 50 is then closed over it thereby forming a block of silage between the jaws 30 and 50. With the jaws 30 and 50 shut, the tractor 90 is then' moved to the location where it is desired to deliver the block of silage. The upper jaw 50 is then raised, and the lower jaw 30 is then pivotally' moved about the hinge 13 to the position shown in Figure 3. As the jaws 30 and 50 slew around the silage falls off.

The apparatus will now be described in' more detail. Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 4, the mounting plate 1 comprises essentially a flat metal plate 2 having apertures 2a and having at its lower edge a forwardly extending shelf 3.

Two sleeves 4 are provided at either side edge of the plate 1 for receiving hinge pins 13. On the plate 2 and rigidly fixed thereto are two bracket members 5, each consisting of two elongate parallel plates per pendicularto the plate 2, provided with holes 6 at one end and holes 7 at the other end. The lower holes 6 are provided for receiving pins 14 whereby the mounting plate 1' may be pivotally attached to the left arms 15 of the tractor 90. The upper holes 7 are provided for receiving pins 16 whereby the pistons 17 of hydraulic rams I 8' mounted on the tractor lift arms 15 (as shown in Figure 2)' may be secured to the' mounting plate 1 so as to enable it to be hydraul ically moved about the horizontal pivotal axis defined by the pins 14.Extending backwardly from the upper edge of the plate 2 is a further bracket 19 for supporting a' mounting member 20 to which is welded the cylinder 21 of hydraulic rdm 22. The 'mounting' member 20 is pivotally attached to the bracket 19 by' means of a pin 23 extending upwardly through the bracket 19,' mounting' member 20 and washers 24.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 5 the lower jaw 30, as mentioned, consists essentially of a conventional buckrake comprising an array of mutually parallel tines 31 rigidly and permanently fixed to a backing frame 32 perpendicular to the tines 31, the tines 31 being sufficiently closely spaced to support silage without loss. The backing frame 32 comprises essentially a' metal plate 33 having side frame members 34 and a bottom frame member 35. The side frame members 34 project upwardly beyond the top of the plate 33 and these projections 36 are each provided with two spaced apart holes 37 and 38, the upper holes 38 for receiving pins 40 whereby the cylinders 41 of hydraulic rams 42' may be pivotally attached to the lower jaw 30 and the lower holes 37 for receiving pins 39 whereby the upper jaw 50 may be pivotally attached to the lower jaw 30.Sleeves 43 are provided on the side frame members 34 which co-operate with sleeves 4 on the mounting plate 1 to receive hinge pins 13, whereby the lower jaw 30' may be pivotally attached to the' mounting plate 1.

Inwardly of the side frame members 34 and at the top end of the plate 33 are two further projecting support'members 44, similar two the projections 36, for supporting the upper jaw 50 and hydraulic cylin ders 41. A pin 45 is provided, welded to the front of the plate 33 and extending upwardly therefrom, for receiving the piston 46 of hydraulic rdm 42, whereby with one hinge pin 13 in position, the lower jaw 25 'may be pivotally moved about a pivotal axis defined by said hinge 13. The piston 46 is attached to the plate 33 by fitting it over the pin 45 and then tighten ing the nut 47 on to threads at the top end of the pin 16.

In a modification of the apparatus the tines' may be inclined slightly downwardly relative to the backing' plate, with an inclination of approximately three degrees (3c) so that the block of silage will slide off more easily.

During cutting and transportation of silage, the lower frame' member 35 of the lower jaw 30 rests on and is supported by the shelf 3 of the mounting plate 1.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 6, the upper jaw 50 consists of a frame or housing comprising a roof 51, a front wall 52 and a left hand side wall 53.

The front wall 52 is provided with a cutting edge 54 along its lower surface. The side wall 53 is provided with cutting edges 55 and 55a along its lower and rear edges. On the roof 51 of the housing rigidly fixed thereto, are provided two bracket members 56 and 56a each comprising a pair of parallel elongate plates perpendicular to the roof 51 and projecting beyond the rear of the roof 51, each plate being pro vided with holes 57 at one end and holes.58 at the other end.

Apparatus, similar to that described above' may be provided in which the cutting edges are replaced by hydraulically operated reciprocating blades having serrated edges.

The rearward holes 57 are provided for receiving pins 39 whereby the upper jaw sa may be pivotally connected to the lower jaw 30 (Figure 1). The for ward holes 58 are provided for receiving pins 59 whereby the pistons 60 of hydraulic rams 42' may be attached to the roof 51 of the housing so that the upper jaw 50' may be moved about the pivotal axis defined bythe pins 39.

A second practical construction of apparatus according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings which shows a perspective view of apparatus according to this construction. The apparatus comprises essentially a lower jaw for attachment to the front lift arms of a tractor so as to be pivotally moveable relative thereto about a substantially horizontal pivotal axis, and an upper jaw secured to the lower jaw so as to be' moveable across the lower jaw.

The upper jaw comprises a housing similar two that described in the first embodiment. The housing is however divided into two compartments, a nondelivery compartment (the left hand compartment as seen in Figure 7) and a delivery compartment, by a central wall 82 having a sharpened lower edge Lateral' movement of the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw is accomplished by means of a hydraulic ram 83 which' moves in a horizontal direction and which is mounted above the frame 70 of the lower jaw.

In operation, silage is cut as before. The cut silage is however divided in two by the central wall 82 of the upper jaw. The vehicle is then driven to the desired silage delivery location. The upper jaw is moved laterally with respect to the lower jaw. The two bodies of silage contained between the jaws are thus pushed to one side of the apparatus (the delivery side), one by the central wall 82 of the upper jaw and the other by the side wall of the upper jaw, which side wall is at the non-delivery side of the apparatus.

As the upper jaw and the silage move across the lower jaw, the silage in the delivery compartment is no longer supported by the lower jaw and falls out.

The apparatus is so designed that when the upper jaw reaches its maximum displacement relative to the lower jaw, the base of the delivery compartment is completely exposed and all of the silage in the compartment falls out. Thus by moving the upper jaw to its maximum displacement relative to the lower jaw, a predetermined quantity of silage is delivered.

The second body of silage which was originally at the non-delivery side of the lower jaw is now at and supported by the delivery side of the lower jaw. The upper jaw is then raised; moved laterally to its original position, and lowered. The second body of silage is not contained in the delivery compartment of the housing, the non-delivery compartment being empty. This second body of silage may be delivered in the same manner as the first.

If it is desired to deliver sdme fraction of the amount of silage contained in one compartment instead of the full amount, the silage is cut and transported as previously, but the delivery proce dure is altered. On reaching the delivery location, the upper jaw is raised,' moved through part but not all of its possible lateral displacement, and then low ered so that the delivery compartment now contains a fraction of the amount of silage which a full com partment would contain. The magnitude of the lat eral' movement is chosen so that the delivery com partment contains the required fraction. The silage is released as previously described.

The apparatus shown in Figure 7 will now be described in' more detail. The lower jaw comprises an outer frame 70, an array of mutually parallel L-shaped tines 71 and a projecting arm 72 and sup porting strut 73 therefor. Rigidly fixed to the back of the tines 71 are two flat metal plates 74 for support ing bracket 75. The brackets 75 each comprise two parallel elongate plates perpendicular to the plates 74, provided with holes 76,77 at either end, the lower holes 76 for receiving pins whereby the pistons of hydraulic cylinders may be attached to the lower jaw so as to' move it about its pivotal axis. The brackets 75 also support a slide bar78 whose pur pose will be described below.Rotation of the upper jaw in a vertical plane is accdmplished by means of a further hydraulic ram 84 which moves in a vertical direction,' mounted to the rear of and spaced backwardly from the frame 70, and attached to one end of a lever 85 whose other end is slidably attached to the roof 86 of the housing and whose fulcrum 87 is provided by a fulcrum member88 at the top of the frame 70. The ram 84 is mounted so that it is free to slide along the horizontal shaft 78 at the rear of the frame 70 and can thus move laterally with the lateral ' movement of the upper jaw. The lever 85 is similarly slidably connected to the roof 86.

The hydraulic rdms 83 and 84 are connected to the hydraulic system (not shown) of the vehicle to which the apparatus is attached, and the operation of the apparatus is controlled entirely frdm the driving seat of the vehicle.

Apparatus according to the invention' may of course be used as conventional silage cutting apparatus by using only the relative vertical' motion of the jaws.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cutting and delivering silage, said apparatus cdmprising an upper and a lower jaw, the upper jaw being movable relative to the lower jaw from a closed position in which the jaws define a substantially rectangular box formation, to an open position in which the jaws mutually define the open mouth of the apparatus, support' means for mount ing the apparatus upon a vehicle having a power source, and power operated' means for moving one or both of the jaws relative to the support' means, the arrangement being such that (1) the lower jaw' may be pressed into a body of silage, i2)the upper jaw may be closed over the lower jaw so as to cut and form a block or blocks of silage between the jaws, and (3)' movement of one or both of the jaws relative to the support' means delivers the cut silage to a position laterally of the disposition of the support means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the power operated means are hydraulic rams.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein both jaws are' movable together through an angle of approximately 90" about a generally upwardly extending pivotal axis located on one side of the support' means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the lower jaw comprises a back plate and a plurality of tines which project from the lower edge of the back plate, and the upper jaw comprises a roof plate, one edge of which is pivotally connected to the upper edge of said back plate and has silage cutting blades supported from one or more of its other edges, both jaws when closed defining a substantially rectangu lar box formation of section.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 in which the support means comprises a substantially rectan gular support plate against which the lower jaw abuts in the silage cutting position of the jaws, the support plate having a shelf extending from the lower edge thereof, for supporting the lower jaw in the cutting position of the jaws.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the support plate is provided with' means whereby it may be' mounted upon a vehicle having a source of hydraulic power.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, as dependent on claim 2, in which the support plate has a pair of elongate perpendicularly disposed brackets the lower end of which' may be attached to lift arms on the vehicle, and to the other end of which' may be attached hydraulic pistons by means of which the jaws may be tilted about a horizontal axis.

8. Apparatus according to any of claims 4 to 7 in which the cutting blades comprise hydraulically dri ven reciprocating blades.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the upper jaw is' moveable across the lower jaw in a lateral direction relative to the disposition of the support' means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the box formation is divided into two or more compart- ments by means of a wall or walls extending in a forward direction relative to the disposition of the support' means.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 in which the lower jaw comprises a series of parallel L-shaped tines, and the support' means comprises brackets attached to the back of the vertical arms of the tines.

12. Apparatus according to any of claims 9, 10 or 11 in which the lateral' movement of the upper jaw across the lower jaw is by means of a hydraulic ram located above the top edge of the lower jaw.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 12 in which the upper jaw is pivotally' movable relative to the lower jaw about a horizontal pivotal axis at the top of the lower jaw, by means of a vertically extend ing hydraulic ram located behind the lower jaw and connected by means of a lever, having fulcrum above the top of the lower jaw, to the top of the upper jaw.

14. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1-6 or Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.