IE911722A1

IE911722A1 - "Mixer apparatus"

Info

Publication number: IE911722A1
Application number: IE172291A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Samuel Joseph Hughes
Original assignee: Redrock Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 1990-05-21
Filing date: 1991-05-21
Publication date: 1991-12-04
Also published as: GB2245473B; GB2245473A; IE66374B1; GB9110996D0; GB9011313D0

Abstract

A mixer apparatus comprises a mobile container (10) having an open-topped mixing chamber to receive silage and from which mixed silage is dischargable through one or more outlets (24) at an end of the container (10) onto distributing means to dispense mixed silage to both lateral sides of the container (10). The distributing means comprises two rollers (44) from the outer periphery of which similar series of helically arranged blades (46) radially extend.

Description

This invention relates to mixer apparatus for mixing silage preparatory to distributing the silage for feeding to animals primarily, but not necessarily, in animal feeding houses.

Heretofore, silage has been mixed in a mobile container by mixing means having a horizontally oriented, rotatable shaft carrying a plurality of mixing paddles therearound. The top of the container is open or openable to allow silage to be placed into the container however there is a problem in dispensing the mixed silage in an animal house. A majority of animal houses has a passageway with animal pens located along each lateral side thereof. Most of these houses were constructed with a passage of sufficient width for a tractor and trailer to pass therealong. Heretofore, silage has been dispensed from conventional mixing containers from one lateral side. To dispense silage to both sides of the passageway, the container has to be driven along the passageway in one direction out the house at the other end and then driven back along the passageway in the opposite direction. If there is no exit at the other end, then the procedure involves reversing the trailer. This is time consuming and disadvantageous .

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage.

Accordingly, the present invention is a mixer apparatus comprising a mobile container having an open05 topped mixing chamber to receive silage and from which mixed silage is dischargable through one or more outlets at an end of the container onto distributing means to dispense mixed silage to both lateral sides of the container.

Preferably, the container has a horizontally oriented, rotatable shaft carrying a plurality of mixing paddles projecting therefrom. The paddles desirably each have an arm mounting a blade at its outer end. The paddles are preferably arranged in a balanced series radially of the shaft, each paddle being disposed angularly offset from its neighbour on the shaft. The shaft is preferably driven externally of the container by a PTO shaft of a prime mover, for example an agricultural tractor, to which the container is hitched.

Preferably also, an outlet is provided in the trailing end of the container. The trailing end of the container is desirably provided with a rearward annular channel extension. The outlet is preferably provided in an upper portion of the inner peripheral wall of the channel and has a feeder chute extending downwardly therefrom towards the distributing means. A door for closing the outlet is preferably defined by a portion of the web of the channel and an arcuate portion of the inner peripheral wall of the channel together with a segmental portion of the end wall of the container. The door is desirably hinged at the upper end of the web portion to the outer peripheral wall of the channel and its movement is governed by a ram and cylinder arrangement.

Preferably further, a set of three paddles are provided nearest the trailing end of the container, each of whose blades project rearwardly therefrom at right angles whereby to travel in the channel and cause silage therein to be moved therearound and to be discharged through the outlet, when open, onto the feeder chute.

The set of three paddles each preferably has a similar forward extension whose outer edge is shaped and pitched to collect silage delivered to them by the other paddles. Λ series of helically arranged ribs are desirably provided on the inside face of the container directed towards the trailing end thereof to assist the passage of the silage as the set of paddles are rotated.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:25 Fig. 1 shows a plan view from above of a mixer apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a side view of the apparatus with part; cut-away to revoal a drive abaft below the a container: and Fig. 3 shown a perspective end view.

Referring to the drawings, a mixer apparatus comprises a mobile container 10 having an open-topped mixing chamber to receive silage and from which mixed silage is dischargable through an outlet 24 in a trailing end thereof onto distributing means to dispense mixed silage to both lateral sides of the container 10.

The container 10 is horizontally-oriented with a hollow semi-cylindrical body having extended upright sides. The container 10 is mounted on a chassis having two ground-engaging wheels 12, one on each lateral side. The container 10 has a horizontally oriented, rotatable shaft 14 carrying a plurality of mixing paddles 16, six in all, projecting therefrom. The paddles 16 each have an arm 10 mounting a blade 20 at its outer end. The arms 10 are braced in their fixture to the shaft 14 by webs 22. The paddles 16 are arranged in two sets, each set being in a balanced series radially of the shaft 14 and with each paddle 16 being disposed angularly offset from its neighbour in each set. The shaft 14 is driven externally of the front end of the container 10 through power transfer means, ie. gear wheels and chain, by a PTO shaft of prime mover such as an agricultural tractor to which tho container 10 is hitched.

The trailing end of the container 10 is provided vzith a rearward annular channel extension 26. The outlet is provided in the upper portion of the inner peripheral wall of the channel 26 and has a feeder chute 28 extending downwardly therefrom towards the distributing means as shown. The outlet 24 is provided with an openable door 30. The outlet 24 is defined by a portion of the web of the channel 26 and an arcuate portion of the inner peripheral wall of the channel 26 together with a segmental portion of the end wall 32 of the container 10. The door 30 is hinged at the upper end of the web portion to the outer peripheral wall of the channel and its movement is under the control of a hydraulic ram and cylinder arrangement 34. Λ further set of three paddles 36 is provided on the shaft 14 at the trailing end of the container 10 each has its blade 38 projecting rearwardly therefrom at right angles as shown whereby to travel .in the channel 26 and cause silage therein to he moved therearound and to be discharged through the outlet 24, when open, onto the feeder chute 28. The further set of three paddles 36 all have similar forward extensions 40 whose outer edges are shaped and pitched to collect silage delivered to them by the other sets of paddles 16. Λ series of helically arranged ribs 42 are provided on the inside Face of the container 10 directed towards the trailing end thereof to assist, the passage of the silage as the set of paddles 36 are rotated.

The distributing means comprises two rollers 44 from the outer periphery of which similar series of helically arranged blades 46 radially extend. The axes of tho rollers 44 are parallel to each other and with the shaft 14. Jloth rollers 44 rotate in troughs 48 and are driven in a counter-clockwise direction. Each roller has a first sprocket wheel 50 mounted on its outer end and has a chain 52 arranged therearound and around a second sprocket wheel 54 of a gear box shown generally at 56, the wheels 50, 5A being driven through gearing (not shown) by a drive shaft 58 from the front end of the container 10. Λ cover 60 with hinged flap 62 is provided for each roller 44 to encase the top surround of the respective roller 44, the flaps 62 being connected to the outside of the door 30 by a flexible element: 64 whereby opening of the door 30 causes consequential opening of the flaps 62. The amount of opening of the flaps 62 can be adjusted by length20 adjustment of the elements 64 when the flaps 62 are closed .

The paddles 16 in the two sets have their blades 20 angled to cause the silage to be directed towards the rear or trailing end of the container 10 to enter the channel 26.

In use, with the container 10 hitched to a tractor •Ε 911722 Ί and the PTO shaft connected up to the power transfer means, silage is placed in the container 10, and the PTO shaft is energised. With the outlet 24 closed, the silage is mixed by the paddles 16, 36 and when mixed, the outlet is opened and the silage is delivered to the channel 26 and thence through the outlet 24 onto chute 28 and then fed onto the distributing means, the rollers 44 dispensing the silage to both lateral sides of the container 10. The amount of silage deposited depends on the opening between the flaps 62 and the outer edge of the trough 48.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above .

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed,

Claims

1. I · Λ mixer apparatus cornpr i. s i ng a mobile container having an open topped mixing chamber to receive silage and from which mixed silage is dischargable through one or more outlets at an end of the container onto 05 distributing means to dispense mixed s.il.age to both lateral sides of the container.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, container has a horizontally oriented, carrying a plurality of mixing paddles wherein the rotatable shaft project ing I |,ere f rum .

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the paddles each have an arm mounting a blade at its outer end . 4 . Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the paddies are arranged in a balanced series radially of the shaft, each paddle being disposed angularly offset Γ π mi its neighbour on the shaft.. Apparatus as claimed in f’lnim 2, 3 or 4 , wherein the shaft; is driven externally of the container by a PTO shaft of a prime mover to which the container is h i tched.

4. 6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein an outlet is provided in the trailing end of the container.

5. 7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the trailing end of the container is provided with a rearward annular channel extension.

6. 8. Apparatus as outlet i s provided peripheral wall of e xtendi ng downwardly claimed in Claim 7, in an upper portion and has towards the channel therefrom wherein the of the inner a feeder chute the distributing means .

7. 9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein a door for closing the outlet is defined by a portion of the web of the channel and an arcuate portion of the inner peripheral wall of the channel together with a segmental 05 portion of the end wall of the container.

8. 10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the door is hinged at the upper end of the web portion to the outer peripheral· wall of title channel and its movement in governed by a ram and cylinder arrangement.

9. 11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 10, wherein a set of three paddles are provided nearest the trailing end of the container, each of whose blades project rearwardly therefrom at right angles whereby to 05 travel in the channel and cause silage therein to be moved therearound and to be discharged through the outlet., when open, onto the feeder chute.

10. 12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the set. of three paddles each has a similar forward extension whose outer edge is shaped and pitched to collect silage delivered to them by the other paddles.

11. 13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 or 12, wherein a series of helically arranged ribs are provided on the inside face of the container directed towards the trailing end thereof to assist the passage of the silage 05 as the set of paddles are rotated.

12. 14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the distributing means comprises two rollers from the outer periphery of which similar series of helically arranged blades radially extend.

13. 15. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the axes of the rollers are parallel to each other and with the shaft.

14. 16. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, wherein both rollers rotate in troughs and are driven in a counterclockwise direction.

15. 17. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein each roller has a first sprocket wheel mounted on its outer end and has a chain arranged therearound and around a second sprocket wheel of a gear box, the θ5 wheels being driven through gearing by a drive shaft from the front end of the container.

16. 18. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 16 or 17, wherein a cover with hinged flap is provided for each roller to encase the top surround of the respective roller.

17. 19. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the flaps are connected to the outside of the door by a flexible element whereby opening of the door causes consequential opening of the flaps 62. 29. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 19, wherein the amount of opening of the flaps is adjusted by lengthIE 911722 adjustment of the elements when the flaps are closed.

18. 21. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.