GB2114877A

GB2114877A - Silage cutter and block conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2114877A
Application number: GB08303713A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Der Lely Cornelis Van
Original assignee: C Van der Lely NV
Current assignee: C Van der Lely NV
Priority date: 1982-02-12
Filing date: 1983-02-10
Publication date: 1983-09-01
Also published as: GB2114877B; NL8901554A; FR2521394B1; DE3304669C2; FR2591419A1; FR2521394A1; GB2161366A; NL191197B; NL191168B; GB8516215D0; NL8200528A; NL191197C; NL191168C; GB2161366B; GB8303713D0; FR2591419B1; DE3304669A1

Abstract

A silage cutter comprises a cutting member (25) secured to a hydraulic ram (24) to cut vertically down through the silage. The cutter assembly is mounted on a support member (23) which is pivotable about vertical axis (21) and can be locked in various positions by pin (29) and holes (28), thereby enabling three sides of the silage block to be cut. For producing a larger block, the cutter and support assembly is displaceable along a guide (14), and can be locked in various positions by pin (31) and holes (32). The block is lifted by tines (44), and can be discharged laterally. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Silage cutters/block conveyors This invention relates to silage cutters, and also to silage block conveyors.

According to the present invention there is provided a silage cutter comprising a frame and a cutting member by means of which the periphery of a silage block can be cut loose, a support member of the cutting member being displaceable along a guide so as to occupy a plurality of operative positions with respect to this guide and being settable in any one of at least two operative relationships to the guide in any one of said operative positions.In use of this cutter, as the cutting member can be adjusted relative to the guide, the dimensions of the blocks cut from stacked silage can be chosen, and in particular can be selected to be small so that the blocks cut loose are not so large and heavy as to be transportable only with difficulty through comparatively small passages such as are found in stables, and furthermore difficulties in distributing the fodder to the cattle can be minimised.

An implement as discussed above can be used without a cutting member, or without using its cutting member, as a silage block conveyor.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a silage cutter, Figure 2 is a sectional view taken in the direction of arrow il in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view taken on line Ill-Ill in Figure 2 of the silage cutter shown in a position for discharging a cut block laterally of the cutter, Figure 4 is a sectional view of a detail, taken on line IV--IV in Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a partly sectional side view, taken on line V-V in Figure 3.

Referring first to Figure 1, the silage cutter is shown hitched to a front (or it could be a rear) three-point lifting device of a tractor, the cutter covering the whole width of a commercially available tractor or more, though it may be made narrower.

The silage cutter has a frame 1 that is formed by a framework occupying a substantially vertical position during operation and extending transversely of the direction of travel A of the tractor over the aground. The framework includes a top beam 2 and a bottom beam 3 (Figure 2), which are horizontal, parallel to one another and transverse of the direction of travel A. The beams 2 and 3 are interconnected by upwardly extending, hollow beams (not visible in the Figures), which are disposed symmetrically with respect to the vertical plane of symmetry of the tractor and of the frame 1 , these beams being spaced apart and arranged at a distance from the ends of the beams 2 and 3.

On the outer side of each upright beam and at a short distance therefrom there are arranged upwardly extending plate strips 5, which also interconnect the top beam 2 and the bottom beam 3. Between each pair of plate strips 5 extends, during operation, the free end of a lower lifting arm 6 of the three-point lifting device of the tractor. This free end is connected by means of a horizontal pin extending parallel to the beams 2 and 3 with the plate strips 5 and thus forms one of the two coupling points on a lower lifting arm.

At the area of each of the upright beams a plate 8 is welded to the top face of the top beam 2 so as to extend substantially upwardly, though it has a gentle inclination to the vertical in the direction away from the tractor. Viewed in the direction of travel A the two beams 8 are disposed vertically.

Midway the length of the top beam 2 an upwardly extending beam 9 is welded to the side face of the beam 2 remote from the tractor, this beam 9 terminating at the same height above the top face of the top beam 2 as the beams 8. To the top faces of the beams 8 and the beam 9 is welded a horizontal carrier 10 extending symmetrically to the vertical plane of symmetry of the frame 1. The carrier 10 is parallel to the beams 2 and 3. On the side of the beam 9 facing the tractor two plate supports 11 are fastened one on each side of the vertical plane of symmetry of the frame 1. Through holes in these supports 11 is passed a horizontal pin 12, by means of which the upper lifting arm of the lifting device of the tractor can be fastened.

The length of the carrier 10 is somewhat smaller than that of the beams 2 and 3 (Figure 1).

Each of the two ends of the carrier 10 is provided with a support 13, which as illustrated is a plate but which could have the form of a closed, elongate box. The supports 1 3 are horizontal and extend away from the carrier 10 in a direction away from the tractor. The ends of the two supports 1 3 remote from the carrier 10 are rigidly secured to a carrier or guide beam 14, which extends parallel to the carrier 10 and hence also parallel to the beams 2 and 3, its length being equal to that of the carrier 10. Viewed on plan, the carriers 10 and 14 and the two supports 13 constitute a rectangle.The carriers 10 and 14 are, moreover, coupled by means of two box form carriers 1 5 located inside the supports 13, the carriers 1 5 being welded to the proximal sides of the hollow carriers 10 and 14 and also part of the top faces of the beams 8.

As far as the dimensions in a direction of height are concerned, in the disposition shown in Figure 2 the beam 2 is located about 50 to 70 cms above the ground, the beam 3 is at a short distance of, for example, 10 cms above the ground and the framework formed by the carriers 10, 14, 1 5 and the supports 13 is at a height of about 1.80 ms above the ground. These parts of the frame 1 constitute a rigid assembly. The beams and carriers are preferably formed by hollow members of square or rectangular, closed section.

The carrier 14 is located approximately midway above the space occupied by the block to be cut from the silage.

To the vertical face of the carrier 14 remote from the carrier 10 is welded a plate strip 16, which extends throughout the length of the carrier 14. The vertical dimension of the plate strip 1 6 is such that the strip extends over a given distance beyond the top face and below the underface of the carrier 14. Two pairs of rollers 17 and 18 travel along the top and bottom edges of the plate strip 1 6. Each roller has a central part having a dimension in the direction of the rotary axis of the roller substantially corresponding to the width of the plate strip 1 6 and two outer roller parts integral with the central part and having a diameter exceeding that of the central part, these two parts providing support along the two vertical boundary faces of the plate strip 1 6.The pairs of rollers 17 and 18 are spaced apart by a distance of about 40 to 70 cms, preferably about 60 cms. The rotary axes of the rollers 17, 18 are parallel to one another and normal to the beams 2 and 3 and carriers 10 and 14 and they are rigidly secured to a plate strip 1 9 extending parallel to the plate strip 10.

Approximately at the level of the top face of the carrier 14, on the side of the plate strip 1 9 remote from this carrier, a substantially horizontal set plate 20 is welded to the strip 19, this plate, viewed on plan (Figure 1), being mainly bounded by half a circle, which is continued near the plate strip 19 in the form of two parallel lines adjoining the plate strip 1 9. The centre of this semicircle is designated by reference numeral 21. The set plate 20 bears on the underside in a manner not shown on the part of the plate strip 1 9 located below the set plate 20 by means of supporting plates.

At the centre of the semi-circular boundary of the set plate 20 is fastened a pivotal shaft 22, which is coaxial with a line normal to the plane of the set plate 20 and going through the centre 21.

To the pivotal shaft 22 is fastened a rigid, hollow carrying beam 23, which is at right angles to the direction of the pivotal shaft 22 and is located parallel to and below the set plate 20. The carrying beam 23 is pivotable through an angle c about 1 80C about the pivotal shaft 22. To the end of the carrying beam 23 remote from the pivotal shaft 21 is rigidly secured a double-acting hydraulic ram 24, the centre line of which is parallel to the centre line of the pivotal shaft 22 so that during operation it is substantially vertical.

Viewed in a horizontal direction (Figure 2) the major part of the double-acting hydraulic ram 24 protrudes above the carrying beam 23 and an end of the piston rod emerging from the underside of the ram 24 is located below a horizontal plane coinciding with the underside of the carrying beam 23. To the lower end of the piston rod is rigidly secured a cutting member 25 (formed by an elongate knife in the cutter shown). The larger dimension of the knife 25 extends in a horizontal direction. As shown in Figure 2 the cutting member extends symmetrically on both sides of the centre line of the ram 24.The knife 25 is made from hardened steel sheet, the top edge of which, viewed at right angles to the plane of this sheet, extends in the direction of the larger dimension of the cutter and has the shape of part of a circle, or in alternative forms not shown of another upwardly converging structure with regard to a reduction of forces exerted on the knife when the knife is drawn up out of the silage after a downward movement. At its ends the top edge is rounded off and the bottom edge defines a sequence of at least two teeth 26, in the form illustrated five, each of which has the shape of a V, the teeth lying side by side in the same plane.

Each tooth 26 is symmetrically designed and is bounded by a sharp cutting edge which is upwardly inclined from the lower point to both sides. The cutting face is sharply ground as will be seen from the sectional view of Figure 4. In the area of the junction of the cutting faces of each two adjacent teeth 26, viewed at right angles to the plane of the knife, a cavity 27 is provided in the boundary line of the sequence of teeth 26 in the form of a semi-circle which also has a sharp cutting edge. The horizontally measured overall length of the knife 25 is at least 40 cms and as illustrated is about 90 cms.

Viewed on plan (Figure 1), the carrying beam 23 of the cutting knife 25 extends beyond the set plate 20 over a distance substantially equal to the radius of the boundary line of this plate. Along the circumference of the set plate 20 is provided a plurality of holes (as illustrated three), the centres of which are equally spaced from the centre 21.

Each two adjacent holes cover a circumferential angle of 900. Through each of the holes 28 and a hole in the top face of the carrying beam 23 can be passed a locking pin 29 for fixing the carrying beam 23 and the knife 25 in different positions relative to the set plate 20 after a turn of the carrying beam 23 about the centre line of the pivotal shaft 22. The carrying beam 23 and the set plate 20 constitute the main part of the cutting knife 25. The hydraulic ram 24 is a double-acting cylinder and communicates with the hydraulic system of the tractor.

To the plate strip 1 9 is rigidly secured an ear 30, which is bent over and across the top edge of the plate strip 16 and then extends parallel to the top face of the carrier 14. In the last-mentioned part of the ear 30 a hole is provided. The top face of the carrier 14 has a row of holes 32 spaced apart from one another in the direction of length of the carrier 14.The locking pin 31 can be passed through the hole in the ear 30 and any selected one of the holes 32 in the carrier 14 for fixing the set plate 20 with respect to the carrier 1 4. After releasing the locking pin 31 the set plate 20 can be translatorily displaced by means of the two pairs of rollers 1 7 and 1 8 along the plate strip fastened to the carrier 14, the set plate 20 and the carrying beam 23 thus moving parallel to the beams 2 and 3 and at right angles to the plane of symmetry of the silage cutter and the tractor Subsequently the locking pin 31 can be passed through the hole in the ear 30 and a further hole 32 in the carrier 14 so that the set plate 20 is again fixed in place in its new position. It should be noted here that during this setting the upper boundary of the cutting knife 25, even in the topmost position, is invariably located below the framework 10, 13, 14, 1 5 so that the knife 25 does not represent an obstacle to this lateral displacement.

The lower boundary of the knife 25 in a position in which the piston rod of the ram 24 is fully withdrawn is at a level above the ground that determines the greatest height (about 1 50 to 1 80 cms or more) of the silage to be cut. It is possible, by leaving out supporting means to be described hereinafter, that silage can be cut at an even greater height above the ground after the lifting device of the tractor is elevated.

Near the underside of the frame 1 the substantially vertical framework 2 to 5 is provided with at least one pivotable device (as illustrated two devices) intended inter alia for discharging the cut fodder. Near the two ends of the beams 2 and 3 the framework 2 to 5 is provided with upwardly directed pivotal shafts 33 and 34, each formed by pins aligned in the beams 2 and 3. By means of ears 35 and 36 adapted to turn about the pivotal shafts 33 and 34 respectively, two frameworks 37 and 38 respectively are pivotable about the pivotal shafts 33 and 34. Like the framework 2 to 5, the frameworks 37 and 38 extend parallel to a substantially vertical plane and in the position illustrated in Figure 1 they are in engagement with the framework 2 to 5.As shown in Figure 1 , the frameworks 37 and 38 extend from an end of the framework 2 to 5 up to the beam 9, which is rigidly secured to the framework 2 to 5.

Each of the two frameworks 37 and 38 is pivotable about the associated pivotal shaft 33 and 34 respectively by means of a double-acting hydraulic ram 39 and 40 respectively, which extends horizontally and one end of which is pivotally connected with the top of the framework 2 to 5, whilst the end of the piston rod is pivotally connected with a top beam 41 and 42 respectively of the frameworks 37 and 38 respectively. In the position shown in Figure 1 the top beams 41 and 42 are parallel to the top beam 2.

The frameworks 37 and 38 furthermore comprise a bottom beam designated by reference numeral 43 for the framework 37 in Figure 2. In the position shown in Figure 1 this beam 43 is parallel to the bottom beam 3. The top and bottom beams of the frameworks 37 and 38 are interconnected by vertical tie beams. As illustrated the frameworks 37 and 38 are hollow. The vertical walls of the bottom beams 43 have holes into which releasable supporting members 44 are inserted, these members being steel rods, preferably solid rods extending horizontally and, view on plan, at right angles to the frameworks 37 and 38.Near their free ends the supporting members 44 are punctiform and slightly bent up near the bottom beams 43 in a manner such that their ends held in the bottom beam 43 extend horizontally and the supporting members 44 can bear on the ground, whilst the underside of the frame 1 is still slightly above the ground. As illustrated, four relatively parallel, equidistant supporting members 44 on each framework 37 and 38 respectively are inserted into the beams 43. The length of each of the supporting members 44 is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the length of the beams 41 to 43 of the frameworks 37 and 38, to which the members 44 are fastened. In the position shown in Figure 1 the whole row of members 44 of the frameworks 37 and 38 covers a width substantially equal to the overall width of the framework 2 to 5 shown in Figure 1.

To each of the pivotable frameworks 37 and 38 is rigidly secured a double-acting hydraulic ram 45 and 46 respectively. For this purpose a vertical beam 47 forming an upwardly directed tie beam between the horizontal beams 41 and 43 of the pivotable frameworks 37 and 38 (Figure 5) has secured to it by welding a closed, hollow beam 48 of rectangular section, which extends substantially horizontally away from the associated framework 37 and 38 respectively in the direction towards the tractor to which the silage cutter is attached.

In use the cutter attached to the three-point lifting device of the tractor is driven against the stored silage in a manner such that the supporting members 44 slide with their tips below the silage to be cut until the silage cutter is in the position shown in Figure 1, in which the frameworks 37 and 38 are in contact with the framework 2 to 5.

Reference numeral 55 indicates the foremost boundary of the silage to be cut prior to the cutting operation. A block of silage can now be cut in a single operation from the stored silage, the larger dimension of which block is indicated in the plan view of Figure 1 by boundary lines formed by the knife 25 and the boundary lines represented by the dot-and-dash lines 51, 52, 53 and 54.

At the beginning the knife 25 is in the position shown in Figure 1. For this purpose, by means of the locking pin 31, the set plate 20, the carrying beam 23, the hydraulic ram 24 and the knife 25 are disposed with respect to the direction of length of the carrier 14 in a manner such that the locking pin 31 can be inserted into a hole 32 nearest one end of the carrier 14. By means of the locking pin 29 the carrying beam 23 is fixed in place with respect to the set plate 20 in a manner such that the carrying beam 23 is parallel to the carrier 1 4 and protrudes beyond the neighbouring end of the carrier 14. The locking pin 29 is then passed through the associated hole 28 in the set plate 20. The operator is located near a controlcasing for actuating the hydraulic rams. This casing may be fastened near one of the pivotal shafts 33 of the frame 1.

By actuating the hydraulic ram 24 the knife 25 initially being in its topmost position is pressed downwards across the silage in the direction of arrow 56 in Figure 2. The downward movement of the knife 25 is substantially uniform. The angle between a cutting side of a symmetrical tooth of the knife 25 and a horizontal plane, designated in Figure 2 by reference numeral 57, is in the cutter illustrated about 30 , but it may also be larger.

These cutting sides penetrate throuqh the stems and fibres of the silage whilst cutting them in a sliding, oblique movement and adhering parts on the cutting edges of two adjacent teeth can be subsequently cut via the cavities 27 and/or be conducted away along a boundary face of the knife. The knife moves substantially uniformly down to the floor on which the silage is lying and the proportioning is such that the plane in which the knife is moving is located just at the side of one of the supporting members 44 so that just at the side of the cutting path a satisfactory counterpressure of the fodder is obtained.

After the termination of the whole downward cutting path, the knife 25 is moved upwards into its topmost position. Then the lock pin 29 is removed and the carrying beam together with the hydraulic ram 24 and the knife 25 is turned through 900 about the pivotal shaft 22, after which the locking pin is passed through the hole 28, which is at a circumferential angle of 900 from the hole first used. Then the hydraulic ram 24 is again energised so that a cut is made along the boundary line 51. The proportioning is such that the boundary line 51 intersects the first boundary line (in the position of the knife 25 in Figure 1) so that some overlap is obtained and the block to be cut out no longer adheres to the further stored silage which has to be left.

Subsequently the assembly of the set plate 20, the arm 23 and the ram 24 and the knife 25 is moved along the plate strip 1 6 by means of the rollers 17 and 18, after removal of the pin 31. The locking pin 31 is then passed through the hole shown in Figure 1 (32) furthest remote from the hole 32 first used. The hydraulic ram 24 is again energised so that the knife 25 cuts along the boundary line 52. After the knife is again moved into its topmost position, the arm 23 is turned to the right through 90" about the pivotal shaft 22 (as viewed in Figure 1) and after energisation of the hydraulic ram 24 a cut is made simultaneously along the boundary lines 53 and 54. At every subsequent cutting movement a given amount of overlap is obtained between the boundaries cut in sequence.

After the knife has again been moved into its topmost position, the silage cutter and the cut block bearing on the members 44 can be removed by lifting the silage cutter with the aid of the threepoint lifting device of the tractor. The tractor can then be driven towards the place where the cut silage is to be used. At this place the supporting members 44 are again brought to ground level, after which the operator simultaneously actuates the hydraulic rams 45 and 46. Thus the two partition plates 50 of the framework 37, 38, which are in line with one another, slide away and push the cut block from the supporting members 44 so that the block is deposited on the ground. The partition plates 50 are then drawn in, after which the cutting operation can start again.

The silage cutter also permits of cutting smaller blocks having the boundary lines 58 to 65 in Figure 1, in which case a further boundary line (not visible in Figure 1) is cut in line with the boundary line 61 between the boundary line 55 of the stored silage and the boundary line 51. A block outlined by the boundary lines 62, 63, 51, 55 and that drawn along the knife 25 in Figure 1 can be cut out by turning the knife 25 (in the position of the set plate 20 shown in Figure 1) and the carrying beam 23 through 900 out of the position (hole 28) used for the boundary line 51 after having cut along the last-mentioned boundary in the position of the knife 25 as shown in Figure 1 and along the boundary line 51 as described above, so that in the new position the knife has turned through 1 800 out of the position shown in Figure 1.By again actuating the knife 25 the boundary lines 62 and 63 are cut.

Subsequently the boundary lines 52 and 53, 54 can be cut so that the two cut blocks will bear on the supporting member 44. After elevation by means of the three-point lifting device of the tractor and homeward travel of the tractor the hydraulic ram 39 can be actuated so that the framework 37 turns about the pivotal shaft 33 through at least 450 into the position shown in Figure 3. After actuation of the hydraulic ram 45 the partition plate 50 pushes one of the two blocks off the associated supporting member 44 in a lateral direction. In this way the block part can be deposited at the side of the tractor at the desired place in a stable or anywhere else so that only minor manual effort is required for moving the fodder within reach of the cattle at a place where it will not hinder any further activities.Then the tractor can be moved to another place, where the ram 40 can be actuated to turn the framework 38 about the pivotal shaft 34, the remaining block also being laterally displaced and pushed off by means of the hydraulic ram 46 and the associated partition plate 50.

Blocks smaller than the two blocks just discussed can be cut, like in the last-mentioned cases, by slipping the supporting members 44, for example, by half their length belovy the stored silage rather than by their whole length. In this case the boundaries 58 and 61 and the boundary registering with the boundary 61 and lying below the beam 23 in Figure 1 can be cut. Also in this case the boundaries 59, 62 can be cut by turning the carrying beam 23 about the pivotal shaft 22 so that the position of the knife 25 can again be turned through 900. In the last-mentioned cases, in which small blocks are formed, only part of the length of the knife 25 is operative. The resultant, eccentric forces exerted on the supporting structure of the knife 25 can be advantageously transferred to the frame 1 by using torsionresistant hollow beams.

When the supporting members 44 are fully slipped below the silage so that a block of maximum size can be cut and the locking pin 31 is inserted into the central hole 32 of Figure 1, cuts can be made along the boundary lines 59, 60 and also along lines 64, 65 (four smaller blocks). After the silage cutter has been moved by the tractor (for example into the stable) and when these smaller blocks are slipped halfway from the members 44, they can again be cut along the lines 58, 61 and the prolongations thereof.

As illustrated three holes 28 are arranged in relative positions spaced apart by circumferential angles of 900, but more holes 28 may be provided so that the knife 25 can be put in inclined positions with respect to the vertical plane of symmetry of the silage cutter. It is also possible to increase the number of holes 32 in the carrier 14.

In this way it is possible to cut arbitrarily small blocks of different shapes within the maximum dimensions of a block in dependence on the extent to which the supporting members 44 are slipped below the stored silage. As briefly stated above, cutting smaller blocks may as well be carried out at a different place than that where a block of maximum size is cut out of the silo. In the manner described above smaller blocks may be cut, for example, in a stable.

Since the knife 25 can perform a cutting movement across the silage with relatively high speed and the knife described has a relatively large working width, cutting silage blocks can be carried out appreciably more rapidly than by means of cutting members performing a reciprocatory sawing movement. Moreover, fewer manipulations are required so that the working efficiency is enhanced.

The implement described can also be employed without a cutting member, or without using the cutting member, and then constitutes silage block conveyor by which blocks can be deposited in a lateral direction by using the two groups of supporting members 44 arranged on the pivotable frameworks 37, 38.

Whilst various features of the implements that have been described, and that are illustrated in the drawings, will be set forth in the following claims as inventive features, it is to be noted that the invention is not necessarily limited to these features and that it encompasses all of the features that have been described both individually and in various combinations.

Claims

1. A silage cutter comprising a frame and a cutting member by means of which the periphery of a silage block can be cut loose, a support member of the cutting member being displaceable along a guide so as to occupy a plurality of operative positions with respect to this guide and being settable in any one of at least two operative relationships to the guide in any one of said operative positions.

2. A silage cutter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cutting member can be moved selectively in more than two relatively parallel positions with respect to the frame.

3. A silage cutter as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a fastening place of the cutting member with respect to the frame is translatorily displaceable along the guide and is fixable in a plurality of positions, and is also pivotable about an upwardly extending pivot axis and fixable in any one of a plurality of angular positions.

4. A silage cutter comprising a frame and cutting member by means of which a silage block can be cut loose, the cutting member being displaceable with respect to the frame along a beam and supportable, whilst it is pivotable, about an upwardly extending axis.

5. A silage cutter as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the fastening place of the cutting member is displaceable along a guide beam fastened to the frame and located above a space occupied by the block to be cut.

6. A silage cutter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fastening place of the cutting member is displaceable by means of a roller guide.

7. A silage cutter as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the fastening place of the cutting member comprises a substantially vertical pivot shaft.

8. A silage cutter as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein at the fastening place there is arranged a hydraulic ram by means of which the cutting member can be moved up and down.

9. A silage cutter as claimed in claims 7 and 8, wherein the hydraulic ram together with the cutting member is pivotable about the pivot shaft and fixable in any one of three positions.

10. A silage cutter as claimed in claim 9, wherein two neighbouring positions are spaced apart by a circumferential angle of 900.

11. A silage cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a silage block can be cut into four parts.

12. A silage cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting member, which can be moved up and down across the silage by a hydraulic ram, is provided with at least two teeth.

1 3. A silage cutter comprising a frame and at least one cutting member by which a silage block can be cut loose, the cutting member being movable across the silage by a hydraulic ram and being provided with at least two teeth.

14. A silage cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting member is an elongate knife extending in a substantially horizontal direction.

1 5. A silage cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dimension of the cutting member, measured in a horizontal direction, is at least 40 cms.

1 6. A silage cutter comprising a frame and at least one cutting member by means of which a silage block can be cut loose, the cutting member being movable across the silage with the aid of a hydraulic ram and having a working width of at least 40 cms.

17. A silage cutter as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the main dimension of the knife, measured in a horizontal direction, is about 90 cms.

18. A silage cutter as claimed in claim 12 or any one of claims 13 to 17 as appendant to claim 12, wherein each tooth of the knife has two upwardly inclined, sharp cutting edges.

1 9. A silage cutter as claimed in claim 18, wherein the cutting edges are at an angle of about 300 or more to a horizontal plane.

20. A silage cutter as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein adjoining cutting edges of two neighbouring teeth terminate in upward direction in a cavity also having a cutting edge along its circumference.

21. A silage cutter as claimed in claim 14 or any one of claims 1 5 to 20 as appendant to claim 14, wherein the knife has an upper boundary extending in an upwardly converging manner.

22. A silage cutter as claimed in claim 14 or in any one of claims 1 5 to 21 as appendant to claim 14, wherein the knife is made from a flat steel plate.

23. A silage cutter as claimed in claim 14 or any one of claims 1 5 to 21 as appendant to claim 14, wherein the knife is fastened to the bottom of a substantially vertical hydraulic ram.

24. A silage cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising supporting means, for the cut silage blocks, at least part of which is arranged on the frame so as to be laterally displaceable.

25. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor comprising a frame and supporting means on which a silage block can be transported, at least part of the supporting means being arranged on the frame so as to be laterally displaceable.

26. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in claim 25, wherein the supporting means are horizontal rods.

27. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in claim 24, 25 or 26, wherein the supporting means are pivotable about an upwardly extending pivot axis with respect to the frame.

28. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein the supporting means comprises at least two groups of supporting rods, each of which is laterally displaceable with respect to the frame.

29. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in claim 27 or 28, wherein the supporting means are pivotable about a pivot axis arranged near a lateral boundary of the frame.

30. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 29, wherein the supporting means are laterally pivotable through at least 450.

31. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, provided with a member for removing the cut silage block from the supporting means.

32. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in claim 30, wherein said member is adapted to remove a cut part of a cut block from the supporting means.

33. A silage block conveyor comprising a frame and supporting means on which a silage block can be transported, the silage block conveyor being provided with a member to remove part of the block cut in a substantially vertical direction off the silage block from the further part of the block independently thereof from the conveyor.

34. A silage block conveyor as claimed in claim 33, wherein the supporting means are horizontal rods.

35. A silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 34, wherein in order to remove at least part of a cut block from the supporting means said member is arranged between part of the frame and the cut block so as to be movable substantially parallel to the supporting means.

36. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in claim 35, wherein said member comprises a beam or a plate arranged parallel to a plane perpendicular to the supporting means.

37. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 36, wherein said member is hydraulicaily movable.

38. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 37, wherein each laterally displaceable group of supporting means is provided with a member for displacing cut blocks from the supporting means.

39. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the horizontal width of a block cut loose is about 1 75 cms.

40. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the horizontal length of a block cut loose is about 90 cms.

41. A silage cutter or silage black conveyor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, attachable to the three-point lifting device of a tractor.

42. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.