GB2171592A

GB2171592A - Bale shredding apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2171592A
Application number: GB08604716A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Charles Merriman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-02-28
Filing date: 1986-02-26
Publication date: 1986-09-03
Also published as: GB8604716D0; GB8505186D0

Abstract

A silage bale shredder 10 capable of being carried by a tractor has a horizontally-projecting platform 13 above which is mounted a horizontally- projecting shredding mechanism (15, Fig. 3). Mechanism (15) is vertically movable towards and away from platform 13 and has a pair of spaced rotary elements 20 entraining an endless carrier 21 provided with projecting teeth 23. When a bale is supported by the platform 13 the teeth 23 in the lower run of the carrier 21 shred the upper surface of the bale and discharge the shredded material in a row when the tractor moves. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shredding apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for shredding compacted materials in bale form, and is particularly suited to shredding of silage bales.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for shredding compacted materials in bale form, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be mounted on an agricultural tractor and having a horizontally-projecting platform for supporting a bale to be shredded, a horizontally-projecting shredder mechanism located above the platform, and means for changing the vertical spacing between the platform and the shredder mechanism, wherein the shredder mechanism comprises a pair of spaced-apart rotary elements, an endless carrier entrained around the rotary elements, means for moving the carrier by rotating the rotary elements, and a plurality of toothed devices mounted at intervals along the length of the carrier.

Preferably the endless carrier is in the form of a pair of spaced-apart endless chains interconnected at intervals along their lengths by members on which said toothed devices are mounted.

Preferably the platform is secured to the frame and the shredder mechanism is carried by a subframe which is vertically slidable on the frame.

Preferably the carrier moving means is operable to move the carrier in either of its directions according to the selected rotational direction of the rotary elements.

Preferably the shredder mechanism incorporates a safety cover extending over the upper run of the endless carrier.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates apparatus according to the present invention, in operation, mounted on an agricultural tractor; Fig. 2 is a front view of the Fig. 1 apparatus; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the Fig. 1 apparatus; Fig. 4 is a front view of the shredder mechanism of the apparatus; and Fig. 5 is a rear view of the shredder mechanism of Fig. 4.

In the drawings Fig. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10 mounted at the rear of an agricultural tractor on the 3-point hitch thereof and in course of shredding a bale 9 of silage for feeding penned cattle. It will be seen that as the tractor progresses forwardly silage is shredded from the bale 9 laterally to one side of the tractor to provide a deposited row 8 of cattle feedstuff. By reversing the direction of movement of the tractor and also by reversing the action of the shredder mechanism, as will be explained, a second row of feedstuff can be deposited to the other side of the tractor so that two rows of penned cattle receive feedstuff.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the apparatus 10 in the absence of a bale 9 of compacted material. As is best seen in Fig. 3 the apparatus 10 comprises a vertically-extending frame 11 with mounts 12for attachment to the 3-point hitch of the tractor. Fixed to the frame 11 and extending horizontally therefrom (Fig. 2) is a platform 13 for supporting a bale to be shredded. Although not shown the platform 13 may incorporate formations for preventing lateral slippage of a bale when the apparatus is in use. Associated with platform 13 is a vertical backing plate 14forming part of the frame 11.A horizontally-projecting shredder mechanism 15 is mounted above platform 13 on a verticallyextending sub frame 16 which is slidable vertically relative to frame 11 by means of an hydraulicallyoperated ram 17 powered from the tractor hydraulics via flexible hoses 18. The sub frame 16 carries a pair of laterally spaced projecting rotary elements 20 and, as can be more clearly seen in Fig.

4, an endless carrier 21 is entrained around elements 20, the carrier being in the form of a pair of chains spaced longitudinally of the elements 20.

Mounted on the carrier 21 is a plurality of toothed devices 23 in the form of nail-like teeth secured to rigid supports 29 interconnecting the chains at intervals along their lengths. Rotary movement of one of the elements 20 is effected by a hydraulic motor 25 which thereby causes the carrier 20 to move, and, in use, the toothed devices 23 on the lower run of the carrier 20 graze the top surface of a bale 9 of compacted material to thereby remove part of the bale by shredding. Hydraulic motor 25 is reversible so that deposit of shredded material can be effected at either side of the frame 11 as previously explained.

In order to control ram 17 and motor 25 a hydraulic valve assembly 27 is provided (Fig. 5) with actuation levers for operation by the tractor driver from the tractor driving position. A safety cover 28 extends over the upper run of the carrier 20.

It will be appreciated that in the embodiment described the apparatus 10 is relatively simple to construct and to operate and is releasably securable to a tractor so that it is easily stored when out of use.

Furthermore, although it is possible to load a bale onto platform 13 by means of a hoist or the like, this is not necessary since platform 13 is ground hugging when apparatus 10 is mounted on the tractor with the 3-point hitch in its lowermost position so that platform 13 can be slid underneath a bale. It will also be appreciated that the bale itself is preferably of a cut silage type of rectilinear format as distinct from being cylindrical orwound.

1. Apparatus for shredding compacted materials in bale form, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be mounted on an agricultural tractor and having a horizontally-projecting platform for supporting a bale to be shredded, a horizontallyprojecting shredder mechanism located above the platform, and means for changing the vertical spacing between the platform and the shredder mechanism, wherein the shredder mechanism comprises a pair of spaced-apart rotary elements, an endless carrier entrained around the rotary elements, means for moving the carrier by rotating

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Shredding apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for shredding compacted materials in bale form, and is particularly suited to shredding of silage bales. According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for shredding compacted materials in bale form, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be mounted on an agricultural tractor and having a horizontally-projecting platform for supporting a bale to be shredded, a horizontally-projecting shredder mechanism located above the platform, and means for changing the vertical spacing between the platform and the shredder mechanism, wherein the shredder mechanism comprises a pair of spaced-apart rotary elements, an endless carrier entrained around the rotary elements, means for moving the carrier by rotating the rotary elements, and a plurality of toothed devices mounted at intervals along the length of the carrier. Preferably the endless carrier is in the form of a pair of spaced-apart endless chains interconnected at intervals along their lengths by members on which said toothed devices are mounted. Preferably the platform is secured to the frame and the shredder mechanism is carried by a subframe which is vertically slidable on the frame. Preferably the carrier moving means is operable to move the carrier in either of its directions according to the selected rotational direction of the rotary elements. Preferably the shredder mechanism incorporates a safety cover extending over the upper run of the endless carrier. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates apparatus according to the present invention, in operation, mounted on an agricultural tractor; Fig. 2 is a front view of the Fig. 1 apparatus; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the Fig. 1 apparatus; Fig. 4 is a front view of the shredder mechanism of the apparatus; and Fig. 5 is a rear view of the shredder mechanism of Fig. 4. In the drawings Fig. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10 mounted at the rear of an agricultural tractor on the 3-point hitch thereof and in course of shredding a bale 9 of silage for feeding penned cattle. It will be seen that as the tractor progresses forwardly silage is shredded from the bale 9 laterally to one side of the tractor to provide a deposited row 8 of cattle feedstuff. By reversing the direction of movement of the tractor and also by reversing the action of the shredder mechanism, as will be explained, a second row of feedstuff can be deposited to the other side of the tractor so that two rows of penned cattle receive feedstuff. Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the apparatus 10 in the absence of a bale 9 of compacted material. As is best seen in Fig. 3 the apparatus 10 comprises a vertically-extending frame 11 with mounts 12for attachment to the 3-point hitch of the tractor. Fixed to the frame 11 and extending horizontally therefrom (Fig. 2) is a platform 13 for supporting a bale to be shredded. Although not shown the platform 13 may incorporate formations for preventing lateral slippage of a bale when the apparatus is in use. Associated with platform 13 is a vertical backing plate 14forming part of the frame 11.A horizontally-projecting shredder mechanism 15 is mounted above platform 13 on a verticallyextending sub frame 16 which is slidable vertically relative to frame 11 by means of an hydraulicallyoperated ram 17 powered from the tractor hydraulics via flexible hoses 18. The sub frame 16 carries a pair of laterally spaced projecting rotary elements 20 and, as can be more clearly seen in Fig. 4, an endless carrier 21 is entrained around elements 20, the carrier being in the form of a pair of chains spaced longitudinally of the elements 20. Mounted on the carrier 21 is a plurality of toothed devices 23 in the form of nail-like teeth secured to rigid supports 29 interconnecting the chains at intervals along their lengths. Rotary movement of one of the elements 20 is effected by a hydraulic motor 25 which thereby causes the carrier 20 to move, and, in use, the toothed devices 23 on the lower run of the carrier 20 graze the top surface of a bale 9 of compacted material to thereby remove part of the bale by shredding. Hydraulic motor 25 is reversible so that deposit of shredded material can be effected at either side of the frame 11 as previously explained. In order to control ram 17 and motor 25 a hydraulic valve assembly 27 is provided (Fig. 5) with actuation levers for operation by the tractor driver from the tractor driving position. A safety cover 28 extends over the upper run of the carrier 20. It will be appreciated that in the embodiment described the apparatus 10 is relatively simple to construct and to operate and is releasably securable to a tractor so that it is easily stored when out of use. Furthermore, although it is possible to load a bale onto platform 13 by means of a hoist or the like, this is not necessary since platform 13 is ground hugging when apparatus 10 is mounted on the tractor with the 3-point hitch in its lowermost position so that platform 13 can be slid underneath a bale. It will also be appreciated that the bale itself is preferably of a cut silage type of rectilinear format as distinct from being cylindrical orwound. CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for shredding compacted materials in bale form, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be mounted on an agricultural tractor and having a horizontally-projecting platform for supporting a bale to be shredded, a horizontallyprojecting shredder mechanism located above the platform, and means for changing the vertical spacing between the platform and the shredder mechanism, wherein the shredder mechanism comprises a pair of spaced-apart rotary elements, an endless carrier entrained around the rotary elements, means for moving the carrier by rotating the rotary elements, and a plurality of tooth ed devices mounted at intervals along the length of the carrier.

2.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the endless carrier is in the form of a pair of spaced apart endless chains interconnected at intervals along their lengths by members on which said toothed devices are mounted.

3. Apparatus as claimed in either preceding claim, wherein the platform is secured to the frame and the shredder mechanism is carried by a sub-frame which is vertically slidable on the frame.

4.Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the carrier moving means is operable to move the carrier in either of its directions according to the selected rotational direction of the rotary elements.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shredder mechanism incorporates a safety cover extending over the upper run of the endless carrier.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.