GB2177937A

GB2177937A - A flail device

Info

Publication number: GB2177937A
Application number: GB08615292A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Keenan; Richard Michael Keenan; Gerard John Keenan; Thomas Anthony Keenan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-06-26
Filing date: 1986-06-23
Publication date: 1987-02-04
Also published as: IE851594L; GB2177937B; GB8615292D0; IE56991B1

Abstract

A trailer includes a container for animal feed or slurry having a dispensing disc for dispensing material from the trailer through a chute 4. The dispensing disc has a plurality of radially extending vanes 26 and three flail devices 30 each comprises a chain 35 extending between the anchor points 31 and 32 and carrying a material engaging member 40 which may comprise four radially outwardly extending material engaging arms 41 terminating in material engaging edges 43 which engage and flail material. The material engaging members 40 are arranged at different radial positions along the chains 35 so that on rotation of the disc 35 the edges 43 of the arms 41 are offered to the material in different positions as the flail device acts on the material to rip the material from the disc and prevent caking thus allowing material to be easily dispensed. Members 40 may be attached to the chains via further chains. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Aflail device The present invention relates to a flail device, and in particular, to a flail device for dispensing material from a container, for example, animal feed, slurry or the like from a trailer with the container mounted thereon. The invention also provides a trailer incorporating the container and flail device.

Trailers for dispensing animal feed are known. One typical trailer comprises a container in which the animal feed is loaded. A dispensing disc mounted to one end ofthe container dispenses the feed. In gener- al, such discs comprise a plurality of radially arranged members extending axiallyfrom the disc. The radial members in general bear on the feed in the container and as the disc rotates the radial members dispense it from the containerthrough a chute. In many cases, such containers are provided with a conveyor membey which is mounted transverselyinthe container and movablefrom one end to the other, so that it constantly keeps the animal feed pressed against the dispensing disc.

The problem however, with such devices is that invariablythe animal feed gets caked ontothe disc between the radial dispensing members, and eventuallythe disc with the caked material rotates as one homogeneous mass. This mass thus presents an essentially smooth surface to the feed to be dispensed, and thus no furtherfeed is dispensed. In fact, in many cases with the constant rotation of the caked mass on the disc against the feed to be dispensed, the friction between the two materials can cause the contentsofthecontainerto ignite. This, needlesstosay, is undesirable and can have serious consequences.

Somewhatsimilarcomments apply to such dis pensing discs when the material is slurry exceptthat in this casethere is an even greatertendencyforthe material to cake on the disc.

There is therefore a need for a device which overcomes this problem. There is also a need for a container incorporating the device.

The present invention is directed towards provid ing such a device and container.

According to the invention there is provided a flail device comprising a flexible elongateflail means extending between a pair of anchor points and a mate rial engaging memberattachedtotheflail means.

In one embodiment ofthe invention the material engaging member comprises at leasttwo material engaging arms extending from theflail means. Preferablythe material engaging arms extend radially outwardly oftheflail means so that in use, an outer edge of each arm engages material to be flailed.

In a preferred embodiment ofthe invention each arm tapers from one end ofthe arm to the otherto present an inclined outeredgeforengaging the mate rival to beflailed. In this case preferablyeach material engaging arm is ofsubstantiallytriangularshape in plan.

Alternatively, each material engaging arm is of such stantially rectangular shape in plan.

In a preferred embodimentofthe invention the material engaging member comprises four arms extending from the flail means. Preferably the material engaging arms are peripherally spaced-apart and extend radially outwardly of the flail means.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the material engaging member is of substantially X-shape in cross section.

In one embodiment ofthe invention the material engaging arms extend outwardly from a mounting means bywhich the arms are attached to the flail means. Preferably the mounting means provides two mounting points to which the flail means is attached.

Typically the mounting means is at least partially formed by inner extensions of the material engaging arms.

In a particularly preferred embodiment ofthe invention the flail means is provided buy a chain means.

Preferablytheflail means extends through and is attached to the mounting means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the flail means comprises a first flail member extending between the anchor points.

In another embodiment of the invention the flail means includes a second flail member extending fromthefirstflail member intermediate the ends of the first flail member, the material engaging member being mounted to the second flail member.

Preferablythefirstflail membercomprisesachain extending between the anchor points.

Where provided the second flail member prefer ably comprises a chain extending from thefirstflail member.

In one embodiment of the invention a pair of second flail members are mounted to thefirstflail member and each ofthe second flail members carries a material engaging member.

Preferably the distance between the flail members and their respective adjacent anchoring point is approximately the same and also approximatelythe same as the distance between the second flail members.

In another aspect the invention provides a dispensing discfordispensing material having at leastone flail device according to the invention.

In one embodiment of this aspect ofthe invention, the flail device is mounted to the disc so that the material engaging member is in engagement with material being dispensed.

Preferablytheflail means is mounted to extend substantially radially ofthe dispensing disc from a mounting point adjacent the centre of rotation of the disc.

In one embodiment ofthe invention there are at leasttwoflail devicesmountedtothedisc,theflail devices being peripherally spaced-apart. Preferably there are three flail devices mounted to the disc.

Ina preferred embodimentoftheinventiontheflail devices are approximately equi-peripherally spaced- apart.

In a particularly preferred embodiment ofthe invention the material engaging members oftheflail devices are spaced atdifferent radial distancesfrom the mounting point adjacent the centre of rotation of the disc. In this case preferably in the direction of rotation of the disc, the material engaging member of a first flail device is located radially outwardly of the material engaging memberofthefollowing flail device.

The invention also provides a container for material to be dispensed onto the container including a dispensing disc according to the invention.

The invention further provides a trailer including a container according to the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a trailer according to the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of a detail ofa containerforming partofthetrailerof Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of a dispensing disc according to the invention forming part of the container of Figure 2, and incorporating a flail device according to the invention.

Figure4is a perspective on an enlarged scale of portion ofthe dispensing disc of Figure 3 showing one oftheflail devices in detail, Figure 5is an elevational view of a dispensing disc according to another embodiment of the invention incorporating a flail device, also according to another embodimentofthe invention, and Figure 6is a perspective view of portion of one of the flail devices illustrated in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings and initiallyto Figures 1 to 4thereof, there is illustrated a trailer according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1,comprising acontainer2for material such as animal feed orslurryand having a dispensing disc 3 for dispensing thefeed from the trailerthrough a chute 4 into an animal feeding trough orthe like. The container 2 and dispensing disc3 are also according to the invention.

Such trailers asthetraileri are in general well known, and it is not intended to describe the trailer itself in any great detail. Briefly, the trailer 1 comprises a chassis 6 with a hitch 7 for attaching to atractoror the like. Ground engaging wheels 8 are provided on an axle 9. The container 2 is mounted on the chassis 6 and comprises a pair of side walls 10 joined buy a semi-cylindrical base 11 and front and rearendwalls 14 and 15 respectively. The dispensing disc3 is fast on a shaft 1 6which is driven through a sprocket chain and gear box drive indicated generally by the refer encenumeral 17.A stub shaft 1 8from the gear box hassplines 19forconnection to a drive shaft (not shown) for the powertake-offshaft of or a tractor (also not shown). A plumber block bearing 20 and a bearing (not shown) in the front end wall 14, supportthe shaft 16.

A conveyor member provided by a transverse member 21 is provided in the container2 and is mov ablefrom one end to the otherforcompressing the animal feed againstthe dispensing disc3.Thetrans- verse member21 isfaston steel cables 22 which are carried on pulleys 23 on the end walls 14 and 15, and are driven by a drive means (not shown) mounted in the chassis 6. In this particular case, hydraulic rams are used to drive the cables 22, however othersuitable arrangements could be provided.

The dispensing disc 3 according to the invention comprises a circular disc 25 of metal plate with a plurality of substantially radially extending vanes 26 arranged around the disc 25. The radial vanes 26 are also of metal and are welded to the disc 25. In this case, three flail devices according to the invention are indicated generally by the reference numeral 30 and each extend from anchoring points 31 and 32 adjacent to the centre of rotation of the disc 25 and the periphery ofthe disc respectively. Each flail device 30 comprises a flexible elongate flail means which in this case comprises a firstfiexible flail memberformed by a chain 35 extending between the anchor points 31 and 32. The chain 35 is in this case arranged to be slightly slack so that it flails material as the disc 25 is rotated.In some cases, particularly when difficult materials are being dispensed, the chain may be mounted relatively slackto achieve a greaterflailing action.Tothisend,means(notshown) may be provided for adjusting the degree of slackness of the chain, for example, the link of the chain 35 which is anchored to one of the anchoring points 31,32 may be varied.

A material engaging member indicated generally by the reference numeral 40 is attached to the chain 35. The material engaging member40 in this case comprises four material engaging arms 41 which extend radially outwardly from the chain 35 andterminate in material engaging edges 43 which engage and flail the material.Each ofthe arms 41 is ofsubstantial- lytriangularshape and the outer edges 43 are inclined axially inwardly radially outwardly with re spectto the axis of rotation of the disc25. The arms 41 are arranged in a substantially X-shape configuration in cross section, the arms being radially spaced-apart at an angle ofapprnximately90. It will be apparent, particularly from Figure 4that each ofthe arms 41 is formed with inner extension legs 44 which are welded together to form a box shape mounting meanstowhichthechain 35 is mounted by bolts 45 extending between the chain 35 and the mounting means.

As will be apparentfrom Figure 3, to ensurethatthe material engaging members40engageagainstthe material at different radial positions, the members 40 are arranged at different radial positions along the chains 35, the material engaging member40 and one ofthe chains 35 being positioned adjacent the outer periphery ofthe disc 25, the material engaging member40 ofthefollowing chain 35 in the direction R of rotation of the disc 25 being positioned closer to the centre of rotation of the disc and the material engaging member40ofthethirdchain35 being located inwardly adjacent the centre ofthe disc 25. This en sures that the edges 43 ofthe arms 41 are offered to the material in the container in different positions as the flail device acts on the material on rotation ofthe disc3.

In use, as the transverse member 21 is moved in the direction ofthe arrowAofFigure 2, the material in the container is pressed against the dispensing disc 3.

The radial vanes 26 dispensethe material throughthe chute 4. The chute may be pivotal in the direction of the arrow B, see Figure 1,to vary the direction of output of the feed. As the dispensing disc 3 rotates, the flail devices 30 pull through the material. By virtue ofthefactthatthe edges 43 ofthe arms 41 of each material engaging member40 engages the material, the material is ripped by the edges 43 from there mainderofthe material, and thus loosens for discs pensing by the radial members 26. It has also been found that the flail devices 30 themselves also assist in throwing the material out through the chute 4.As the dispensing discS rotates the chains 35, by virtue of being relatively slack, are pivotted on their pivotal anchors and the gravityforce exerted by the material engaging members 40 loosen the material and allow itto be dispensed out th rough the chute 4. In addition to preventing caking ofthe material on the disc25 in this way, the flail devices 30 also rip the material from the remaining material in the container.

The principle advantage of the invention is in providing a flail device which rips material from the disc and prevents caking, thus allowing the material to be more easily dispensed.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, a pair of flail devices according to another embodiment of the invention are indicated generally by the reference numeral 50, and extend from anchoring points 51 and 52 adjacent the centre ofthe disc and the periphery respectively.

Each flail device 50 comprises a first radially extending chain 54 which is relatively slack and anchored by chain cleats 55 to the anchoring points 51 and 52 on the vanes 26. Second flexible members, in this case provided by chains 57 extend from the chain 54 and each carry material engaging member 58. In this case, it will be apparentfrom Figure 5 that the distance between the outer anchoring point 52 and its adjacent chain 57 and the inner anchoring point 51 and its adjacent chain 57 is similarto the distance between the chains 57.

In this case the material engaging members 58 comprisefoursubstantially rectangular-shaped arms 56 formed from a pair of metal plate members 59 weldedtogetherattheirparallel portions 60. Thefree end 61 ofthe members 59 diverge apartfrom each otherto form a substantiallyX-shape configuration.

The chains 57 are secured to the plate members 59 by screws 62 adjacentthe edges ofthe plate member59.

This ensures that outer material engaging edges 63 of the plate member will be offered to the material in the container as the flail devices act on the material. In use, as the dispensing disc 3 rotates the flail devices 50 are pulled through the material. By virtue ofthe fact that the edges 63 ofthe plate members 58 engage the material, the material is ripped bythe edges 63 from the remainder of the material and thus loosened and dispensed by the radial vanes 26. Again it has been found that the flail devices 50 themselves act in throwing the material outthrough the chute 4. Asthe dispensing disc 3 rotates the flail devices 50 are thrown both upwardly and downwardly underthe gravity force.This further varies their position as the disc25 rotatesso thatthe arms 56 seldom engagethe material in the container in the same position on different passes. Furthermore, because ofthefact that the edges 63 of the arms 56 are presented to the material, the material engaged is ripped from the remaining material in the container.

A particular advantage of flail device according to this embodiment ofthe invention is that by virtue of the fact that the material engaging members 58 are free to fall undertheirown weight, they flop around the disc 25 as it rotates, and thus engage the material in different positions on each rotation ofthe disc 25.

This has the particularadvantagethatfresh material is presented to the material engaging members 58 on each pass, and accordingly the material on the con tainer does not get caked ontothe dispensing disc25 which was a serious problem with devices known heretofore.

The flail device according to this embodiment of the invention, however, has one disadvantage over the flail device described above with reference to Figures 3 and 4 in that because of slackness ofthe chains andthefactthatthe material engaging mem bers 58 fall under gravity, efficient flailing action is achieved at the expense of an increase in the noise level due to the material engaging members and chains banging againstthe disc25. This problem may be alleviated by shortening the length ofthe second chains and possibly also by making the first chain slightly less slack.

Manyvariations on the specificembodiments of the invention described will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art. For example, it will beappreci- ated that while the flail means is preferably provided by a chain, it may in some cases be provided by other flexible elongate members such as a rope, or cable which may have a roughened exterior.

It will also be appreciated thatwhilethe particular shape and configuration ofthe material engaging members described above are particularly advantageous in breaking up the material and preventing caking, other suitable constructions may be employed. Forexample,the material engaging member may have more orlessthanfouroutwardlyextending arms.

It will further be appreciated that in the case ofthe dispensing disc the anchor points to which the flail device is attached may be in any suitable location. In particular, they may be mounted off centre, possibly increasing flailing action, and may not necessarily extend radially, as sufficient flailing action may be achieved iftheflail devices are mounted so thatthey extend between adjacent material dispensing vanes.

It will further be appreciated that in the case of a dispensing disc, lessthan or more than three flail devices may be employed.

In particular, the material engaging members could be of any suitable shape, for example, of H-section, L-shaped, star-shaped or the like.

It will also be appreciated that instead of mounting the chains in position intermediate the materialengaging vanes ofthe dispensing disc, they may be mounted directly to or adjacent to the vanes.

twill also be appreciatedthatwhiletheflail device according to the invention has been described as being mounted on a dispensing disc of an animal feed container, they could be mounted to any other suitable dispensing means. Further, it will be appreciated that it is not necessarythatthetrailer according to the invention should contain a container as described. A containerortrailerofanysuitableconstruction may be used.

Further, it is envisaged thattheflail devices according to the invention could be used forflailing any suitable material.

Claims

1. Aflail device comprising aflexibleelongateflail means extending between a pair of anchor points and a material engaging member attached to the flail means.

2. Aflaildeviceasclaimedinclaim 1 whereinthe material engaging member comprises at least two material engaging arms extending from the flail means.

3. Aflail device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the material engaging arms extend radially outwardly of the flail means so that in use, an outer edge of each arm engages material to be flailed.

4. Aflail device as claimed in claim 2 or3wherein each arm tapers from one end ofthe arm to the other to present an inclined outer edge for engaging the material to be flailed.

5. Aflail device as claimed in claim 4wherein each material engaging arm is of substantiallytriangular shape in plan.

6. Aflail device as claimed in ciaim 2 or 3 wherein each material engaging arm is of substantially rectangularshape in plan.

7. Aflail device as claimed in anyofclaims2to6 wherein the material engaging membercomprises four arms extending from the flail means.

8. Aflail device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the material engaging arms are peripherallyspacedapart and extend radially outwardly ofthe flail means.

9. Aflail device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the material engaging member is substantiallyX- shape in cross section.

10. Aflail device as claimed in any of claims 2to 9 wherein the material engaging arms extend outwardlyfrom a mounting means by which the arms are attached to the flail means.

11. Aflail device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the mounting means provides two mounting points to which the flail means is attached.

12. Aflail device as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the mounting means is at least partially formed by inner extensions of the material engaging arms.

13. Aflail device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the flail means is provided by a chain means.

14. Aflail device as claimed in anyofclaims 10to 13 wherein the flail means extends through and is attached to the mounting means.

15. Aflail device as claimed in anypreceding claim wherein the flail meanscomprisesafirstflail member extending between the anchor points.

16. Aflail device as claimed in claim 15wherein the flail means includes a second flail memberextending from the first flail member intermediate the endsofthefirstflail member, the material engaging member being mounted to the second flail member.

17. Aflail device as claimed in claim 15wherein the first flail member comprises a chain extending between the anchor points.

18. Aflail device as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein the second flail member comprises a chain extending from thefirstflail member.

19. Aflail device as claimed in any of claims 1 6to 18wherein a pairofsecondflail members are mounted tothefirstflail member and each ofthe second flail members carries a material engaging member.

20. Aflail device as claimed in claim 19wherein the distance between the flail members and their respective adjacent anchoring point is approximately the same and also approximately the same as the distance between the second flail members.

21. A dispensing disc for dispensing material hav ing at least one flail device as claimed in any preced ing claim mounted thereto.

22. Adispensing disc as claimed in claim 21 wherein the flail device is mounted to the disc so that the material engaging member is in engagementwith material being dispensed.

23. A dispensing disc as claimed in claim 21 or22 whereintheflail means is mountedto extend sub stantially radially ofthe dispensing disc from a mounting point adjacent the centre of rotation ofthe disc.

24. A dispensing disc as claimed in claim 23 wherein there are at least two flail devices mounted to the disc, the flail devices being peripherally spacedapart.

25. A dispensing disc as claimed in claim 24 wherein there are three flail devices mounted to the disc.

26. A dispensing disc as claimed in claim 25 wherein the flail devices are approximately equiperipherally spaced-apart.

27. A dispensing disc as claimed in any of Claims 24to 26wherein the material engaging members of the flail devices are spaced at different radial distances from the mounting point adjacent the centre of rotation ofthe disc.

28. A dispensing disc as claimed in claim 27 wherein, in the direction of rotation ofthe disc, the material engaging memberofafirstflail device is located radially outwardly of the material engaging member ofthefollowing flail device.

29. A container for material to be dispensed, the container including a dispensing disc as claimed in any of claims 21 to 28.

30. Atrailer including the containeras claimed in claim 29.

31. Aflail device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

32. A dispensing disc substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

33. Acontainersubstantiallyas hereinbeforede- scribedwith reference to the drawings.

34. Atrailersubstantially as hereinbefore de- scribed with reference to the drawings.