GB2158798A

GB2158798A - Peat harvesting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2158798A
Application number: GB08410775A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ashley Bell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-04-27
Filing date: 1984-04-27
Publication date: 1985-11-20
Also published as: GB8410775D0

Abstract

Peat harvesting apparatus has a peat gathering conveyor 5 extending from support means 4 and being arranged to pivot about two axes to allow the conveyor to follow ground undulations when gathering peat. Further conveyors 9, 10 are provided to deposit peat in a storage area and to deposit peat into an adjacent trailer or the like. Hydraulic 16 and mechanical 17 drive means are provided for the conveyors and can be powered from a tow vehicle such as a tractor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Peat harvesting implement This invention relates to a peat harvesting implement.

Machines for harvesting cut turf are well known.

These machines generally consist of an implement which can be towed behind a tractor and have a conveyor, facing in the direction of travel, which picks up the cut turf.

Such known machines operate satisfactorily on flat ground and the conveyor angle is usually adjustable to cater for minor undulations. However, this type of machine is not suitable for harvesting cut peat from undulating peat bogs, as there is a tendency for the conveyor to catch on large bumps and to pass over pieces of cut peat lying in hollows.

According to the present invention there is provided a peat harvesting implement having a con veyorfor gathering cut peat extending from the implement, said conveyor being mounted on the implement through first attachment means which allows the conveyor to pivot around a first axis extending in the direction of travel of the implement, and second attachment means which allows the conveyor to pivot around a second axis extending transversely of the first axis.

Preferably counterbalanced support means are provided for the conveyor.

Preferably also, a second conveyor is provided on the implement which gathers the peat from the first conveyor and deposits it in a storage hopper.

Preferably also, a pair of interconnected flaps are pivotally mounted on the peat gathering conveyor arranged to guide cut peat onto the conveyor.

The flaps may each have a toe piece extending from them arranged to contact the ground so as to cause the flaps to pass easily over undulations.

A third conveyor may be provided to gather the peat from the storage hopper and deposit it into a trailer, wagon or the like positioned alongside the implement.

Hydraulic drive means are preferably provided for the first and second conveyors and a mechanical drive means is preferably provided for the third conveyor.

The peat gathering conveyor may be removable in order to reduce the width of the implement for transportation.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view from the left of one embodiment of a peat harvesting implement in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a front perspective view from the right of the implement of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of part of the implement of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of part of the implement of Figure 1; Figure 5is a detail view of the mounting of the pick-up elevator to the main frame of the implement of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a detail view of the mounting of the flaps to the pick-up elevator of the implement of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a peat harvesting implement comprises a chassis 1, having wheels 2 fitted with tracks 3. Extending from one side of the chassis lisa conveyor support 4. A pick-up conveyor 5 extends from the conveyor support 4.

An intermediate bracket 6, on which the conveyor 5 is mounted, is attached to the support 4 by a pivot bracket 8 which pivots around a first axis extending in the direction of travel of the implement. The conveyor 5 attaches to the intermediate bracket 6 by way of pivots 7 which pivot around a second axis extending transversely of the first axis. A second, intermediate conveyor 9 extends from the conveyor support 4 upwardly into a storage hopper having a discharge conveyor 10. A pair of interconnected flaps 11 are mounted at the lower end of the pick-up conveyor 5 by means of pivots. Each flap 11 has a toe piece lia.

The toe pieces 1 la extend from the flaps 11 and, when the implement is in motion, pass smoothly over ground undulations causing the flaps 11 and in turn the conveyor 5 to rise up over the undulations.

A support arm 12 extends from the chassis 1 and has chains 13 depending from one end which are attached to the lower end of the conveyor 5. A hydraulic ram 14 is mounted between the chassis 1 and the support arm 12 and can be operated to vary the angle between the chassis 1 and the support arm 12 and hence to vary the position of the lower end of the conveyor 5.

The chassis 1 is also fitted with a drawback 15, to allow the implement to be towed behind a tractor and has hydraulic connections for hydraulic drive means 16 for the pick-up conveyor 5 and the intermediate conveyor 9. A mechanical drive 17 from the tractor power take off is also provided for the discharge conveyor 10.

In use, the peat harvesting implement is towed behind a tractor and manoeuvred into position next to a line of peat to be harvested. The hydraulic ram 14 is operated to lower the support arm 12 thus, in turn, lowering the pick-up conveyor 5 into contact with the ground. The support arm 12 is counterbalanced so as to support part of the weight of the conveyor 5, this may, for example, be by way of a gas filled cylinder. The hydraulic drive means 16 are operated to drive the pick-up conveyor 5 and the intermediate conveyor 9. At the same time the tractor begins to move forward drawing the implement behind.

As the implement moves forward the cut peat is guided on to the pick-up conveyor 5 by the flaps 11.

The cut peat is then carried up the moving conveyor 5, transfers to the intermediate conveyor 9 and is then deposited in the storage hopper on top of the discharge conveyor 10.

Periodically, when the storage hopper is full of peat, the mechanical drive 17 operates the discharge conveyor 10 so as to discharge the load of peat into a wagon positioned alongside.

As the implement is towed along by the tractor the wheels 2 naturally follow the contours of the ground.

As the implement moves up and down over ground contours and from side to side the conveyor 5 moves on its pivots 7 on the intermediate bracket 6 and the said bracket 6 pivots around its bracket 8. This allows the conveyor 5 to follow the ground contours and continue to pick up cut peat without missing pieces as would be the case with conventional single pivot conveyors. In addition, the toe pieces 1 la on the flaps 11 ride over sudden bumps and undulations causing the flaps 11 to pivot on the conveyor 5 to rise over the bumps without catching and perhaps digging in so as to jam the machinery. The movement of the flaps 11 also causes the conveyor 5 to rise up over the bumps.

For road transport the conveyor 5 can be removed from the support 4 and stored in the discharge conveyor 10. The support 4 is slidably mounted on the chassis 1 and can be moved from its projecting position into a non-projecting position. In addition, the outer part 10a of the discharge conveyor 10 can be pivotted inwardly.

The implement is thus easily transportable and can be towed behind a tractor or the like.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Peat harvesting apparatus comprising support means and conveyor means for gathering cut peat extending from said support means, said conveyor means being arranged such that it may pivot about first and second axes arranged at an angle to one another.

2. Peat harvesting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first axis extends generally in the intended direction of travel of the apparatus and the second axis extends transversely of said first axis.

3. Peat harvesting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein second conveyor means are provided between said first conveyor means and storage means.

4. Peat harvesting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein third conveyor means are provided extending from the storage means and drivable independently of the peat-gathering conveyor means.

5. Peat harvesting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein counterbalance support means are provided for said first conveyor means.

6. Peat harvesting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein guide means are provided pivotally mounted at a leading end of the conveyor means for guiding cut peat onto the conveyor means.

7. Peat harvesting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said guide means have ground-engaging means extending from them to cause the conveyor means to follow ground undulations.

8. Peat harvesting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the peat gathering conveyor means is removable from the support means.

9. Peat harvesting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.