NL2013780B1 - Mowing device, vehicle provided therewith, and method for its use. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mowing device for mowing around objects, comprising: - a support frame adapted to be mountable on a vehicle; - a first arm rotatably connected to the support frame with a first rotator; - a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm with a second rotator; - a mowing device rotatably mounted on the second arm with a third rotator and comprising at least one mowing head; - control means for controlling the first, second and third rotator such that the at least one cutting head is movable at least partially around the object to be mowed. The invention further relates to a vehicle provided therewith, as well as to a method for mowing around an object with such a mowing device.

Description

CUTTING DEVICE, SUCH FITTED WITH VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR

APPLICATION THEREOF

The invention relates to a grinding device for mowing around objects, and to a vehicle provided with such a grinding device. In addition, the invention relates to a method for mowing around an object / obstacle with such a grinding device.

When large areas need to be mowed, vehicles with specially equipped mowers are often used. An example of a commonly used combination is a tractor equipped with a flail mower. Such machines are arranged to be able to mow large surfaces relatively quickly, but lack the ability to be able to mow very accurately around objects, such as trees, traffic poles, etc. As a result, manual post-processing with so-called brushcutters is necessary. The use of a brush cutter is labor-intensive, physically demanding and risky. Brushcutters are heavy machines that are carried by a person with the help of a harness. Objects lying between the grass to be mowed can be thrown away at dangerous speeds, and for this reason users should wear protective clothing, including a face-shielded helmet. The heavy brush cutter, combined with the protective clothing, makes mowing physically very heavy during the summer season. In addition, forest protectors produce a lot of noise, which forces users to wear hearing protection. However, the noise during the work will also cause noise nuisance for the nearby area. Furthermore, brushcutters are usually equipped with a 2-stroke engine, which entails a relatively high burden on the environment. If the use of a brush cutter can be reduced by a vehicle with a diesel engine, it is less harmful to the environment.

In order to reduce the need for post-processing with brushcutters, it is desirable to provide a grinding device capable of making objects more accurately around objects.

An object of the present invention is to provide a grinding device in which the disadvantages mentioned do not occur, or at least to a lesser extent.

Said object has been achieved with the grinding device for mowing objects according to the invention, comprising: - a support frame which is adapted to be attachable to a vehicle; - a first arm rotatably connected to the support frame with a first rotator; - a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm with a second rotator; - a mowing device rotatably mounted on the second arm with a third rotator and comprising at least one mowing head; - control means for controlling the first, second and third rotator such that the at least one cutting head is movable at least partially around the object to be mowed. Because the first, second and third arm are rotatably connected to rotators and the control means are arranged to move the at least one cutting head at least partially around the object to be mowed, it is possible with the grinding device according to the invention to mow close to an object . This minimizes the need for post-processing with a brush cutter.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control means are adapted to drive the first rotator and the second rotator in the opposite direction of rotation while mowing around an object, and simultaneously control the first rotator and third rotator in the same direction of rotation. As a result, the movement of the at least one cutting head will describe at least a partial arc around the object to be mowed. If the vehicle is stationary, this arc will be a circle. The milling device according to the invention will rotate the cutting heads around the object, the object being located in the virtual pivot point of the circle described by the cutting heads.

According to a further preferred embodiment, when the support frame comprises a spacer on which the first rotator is arranged and wherein the first arm is at least shorter than the spacer, the spacer is movable along the vehicle. This allows a movement that makes it possible to make the arc shape around the object to be mowed possible with the construction of rotatably attached arms.

Because the control means according to a further preferred embodiment are at least switchable between a forward and a return switching state, the mowing device with the at least one cutting head can be moved back to an initial position after it has moved in an arc around an object to be mowed. A vehicle on which the grinding device is mounted can then continue to move and position the grinding device for mowing a following object.

If the control means further comprise a neutral switching state, they can, if desired, be permanently supplied with energy. For example, a hydraulic or pneumatic motor of a vehicle on which the grinding device is mounted can pump fluid continuously, and the control means can only ensure that this fluid is passed on when driving the rotators of the grinding device is desired.

According to a further preferred embodiment, at least the first rotator and the third rotator comprise their own hydraulic motor which are substantially identical and are in fluid communication such that they have the same direction of rotation during use. By "substantially identical" is meant that the hydraulic motors undergo substantially the same angular rotation with the same flow. The direction of the angular rotation can be the same (preferably with the first and third rotator) or the opposite (preferably with the first and second rotator). Although it is conceivable that the rotators are designed as electric motors, it is particularly advantageous if the actuators are hydraulic or pneumatic and are coupled to each other because they are in fluid communication with each other. A complex control that would be necessary to guarantee the synchronicity between electric motors is therefore superfluous, which contributes to the reliability and robustness of the grinding device. Compared to a mechanical transmission, a fluid connection has the advantage that it can be guided flexibly along the arms, thereby providing additional flexibility. A fluid line can thus be guided along a pivotable second arm, which will be explained in more detail below.

Synchronous control of the first rotator and second rotator can be obtained if, according to a further preferred embodiment, the first rotator and the second rotator comprise their own hydraulic motor which are substantially identical and are in fluid communication such that the rotational direction of the rotators is opposite. Moreover, if all three rotators comprise substantially identical hydraulic motors, a single control system can be used.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the first rotator, the second rotator and the third rotator are connected in series via a fluid connection such that in the forward switching state of the control means fluid from the control means to the first rotator, from the first rotator to the second rotator, flows from the second rotator to the third rotator, and then from the third rotator back to the control means. A single fluid flow, which can be generated by a fluid pump of the vehicle on which the milling device is mounted, can thus be used to control all three actuators via a single system and synchronously.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the first rotator, the second rotator and the third rotator are connected in series via a fluid connection such that in the return switching state of the control means fluid from the control means to the third rotator, from the third rotator to the second rotator , flows from the second rotator to the first rotator, and then from the first rotator back to the control means. For the return movement of the milling device, the control means switch to an opposite flow of the actuators.

According to an alternative embodiment, the first rotator and the second rotator are mechanically coupled, for example with a (toothed) belt or chain.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the mowing device is provided with one or more mowing arms extending from the mowing device, each of which comprises at least one mowing head. Such mowing arms, also referred to as mowing decks, place the mowing head at some distance from the mowing device, whereby a greater flexibility in the size of objects to be mowed is created.

It is particularly advantageous if the mowing device is provided with two mowing arms which are placed on either side of the object when mowing. After all, it is then sufficient for the mowing device to describe a semi-circular shape, i.e. 180 °, to mow completely around the object. This semi-circular shape has the special advantage that a vehicle can collide until the object to be mowed is at a predetermined position between the mowing arms. During mowing, the cutting unit with the cutting decks undergoes a rotation of 180 °, so that it is oriented after the mowing operation so that the vehicle can drive straight on. In the meantime that the vehicle moves the grinding device to a subsequent object, the grinding device can rotate back to its starting position.

If, according to a still further preferred embodiment, the mowing arms extending from the mowing device are provided with at least two, and more preferably at least three, mowing heads, a larger mowing area can be covered around the object. The mowing paths of the individual mowing heads preferably connect to each other in the radial direction from the object, with adjacent mowing heads each mowing a certain range from the object.

Cutting heads that are provided with wear-resistant wire, such as steel wire, mow very well and require relatively little maintenance. However, they have the disadvantages that they can damage the mowing object. In order to prevent damage to the object to be mowed, according to a further preferred embodiment, the mowing heads arranged near the mowing device are provided with a device for receiving a consumption amount of wearable wire. Such cutting heads that are provided with wire that breaks off before it can damage objects are also called cleaning heads. The other cutter heads are, for example, provided with wear-resistant steel wire, which relatively only wears very slowly.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the mowing device is provided with two extending mowing arms which are arranged so as to be mutually displaceable on the mowing device that the distance between the mowing arms is adjustable. This makes it possible to position the cutting heads on the two extending arms at a desired distance on either side of an object. As a result, the grinding device is adjustable for different dimensions of objects, which are each mowable up to close to the circumference thereof.

In a further preferred embodiment a stop member is provided which prevents the mowing arms from being able to approach the object too closely. Such a stop member can for instance comprise a hose which when pressed in prevents a further rapprochement of the mowing arms to the object.

The milling device can be used in a particularly flexible manner if the mowing device with the arms arranged thereon can be placed at different distances alongside the vehicle with one or more mowing heads. In order to achieve this, the first and / or second arm is adjustable in length according to a further preferred embodiment. This adjustability can be obtained by designing the first and / or second arm as a scissor arm, i.e. with two arm segments pivotable relative to each other. Alternatively, the first and / or second arm can be made extendable.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the spacer is pivotally mounted on the support frame such that the spacer is displaceable between a collapsed transport position and an unfolded operating position.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the grinding device is provided with an auxiliary mowing device, which comprises an arm extendable laterally with respect to the vehicle, on which at least one mowing head, preferably a cleaning head, is provided.

The invention further relates to a vehicle comprising a grinding device as described in the foregoing.

The invention further relates to a method for mowing around an object with a grinding device described above, comprising the steps of: - placing the at least one cutting head close to an object to be mowed; - controlling the first, second and third rotator with the control means such that the at least one cutting head goes through a movement which runs at least partially around the object to be mowed.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, during mowing around an object, the control means control the first rotator and the second rotator in the opposite direction of rotation, and simultaneously control the first rotator and third rotator in the same direction of rotation.

In the following description, preferred embodiments of the present invention are further explained with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1: a perspective view of a grinding device according to the invention;

Figure 2: a schematic top view of the milling device shown in Figure 1 in a transport position;

Figure 3: a schematic top view of the milling device in a partially folded-out position;

Figures 4-11: schematic top views of the grinder in eight consecutive phases of an operating position;

Figure 12: a schematic representation of the control of the milling device in a rest position;

Figure 13: a schematic representation of the control of the milling device during the traversing of a mowing operation around an object;

Figure 14: a schematic representation of the control of the milling device during the return movement of the milling device to a starting position;

Figure 15: a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a grinding device according to the invention;

Figure 16: a perspective view from the other side of the milling device shown in Figure 15.

Figure 1 shows a grinding device 1 which is mounted on a vehicle 78 with a support frame 2. The grinding device 1 is adapted to mow around objects O and comprises a spacer 4 which is arranged on the support frame.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the spacer 4 is pivotally mounted around a hinge 6 on the support frame 2, and a rotation member 8 in the form of a hydraulic cylinder is provided around the spacer 4 between a transport position (not shown) which is substantially collapsed and move the folded working position shown in Figure 1.

A first arm 10 is rotatably connected to the spacer 4 with a first rotator 24, and furthermore a second arm 14 is provided which is rotatably connected to the first arm 10 with a second rotator 26. To this second arm 14 is connected to a third rotator 28 a cutting device 52 is provided, which comprises at least one cutting head 62. Finally, the grinding device 1 comprises control means 32 for controlling the first rotator 24, second rotator 26 and third rotator 28 such that the at least one cutting head 62 can be moved at least partially around the object O to be mowed. The first rotator 24 has an axis of rotation R1, the second rotator 26 has an axis of rotation R2, and the third rotator 28 has a third axis of rotation R3.

The second arm 14 has a scissor construction in that it is divided into two sub-segments 16 and 18, which are connected with a hinge 20. The second arm 14 is hereby adjustable in length, and the mowing device 52 can be positioned laterally by a driver of the vehicle 78 at a desired distance from the vehicle 78, so that the mowing heads 62 can be placed near an object O to be mowed before start the circular mowing operation. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the left-hand mowing arm 54 and right-hand mowing arm 58 are both provided with only one mowing head 62, which in the embodiment shown comprises a so-called cleaning head 64. A cleaning head 64 is provided with wire that simply breaks off, thereby preventing damage to the object O to be mowed as a result of mowing.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the mowing device 52 is provided with two mowing arms 54, 58, which is particularly advantageous. As will be explained in various phases on the basis of the plan views in figures 2-11, it is possible with two mowing arms 54, 58 to work particularly efficiently. With two mowing arms 54, 58 that are placed on either side of the object O, it is possible to mow completely around the object O with a 180 ° stroke. A particularly practical consequence of the reversing of the milling device 1 is that, after the mowing operation, it is oriented such that the vehicle 78 can immediately drive straight ahead. In the meantime that the vehicle 78 moves the grinding device 1 to a following object O, the control means 32 of the grinding device 1 will rotate the mowing device 52 back to its initial position, so that it is ready for a subsequent mowing operation.

Figure 2 shows a possible transport condition of a grinding device 1 according to the invention. In an alternative (not shown) transport position, the second arm 14 is positioned substantially parallel to the first arm 10 and transversely of the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 78, the mowing arms 54, 48 extending away from the vehicle 78 in the forward direction. This alternative transport position has the further advantage that the milling device 1 in the transport position can be used for mowing operations in front of the vehicle 78.

The milling device 1 is located in Figure 2 mainly in front of the vehicle 78, so that it has a limited width. When the vehicle approaches an area G to be mowed with objects O, the milling device 1 is brought to an operative working position. To this end, the spacer 4 with the rotary member 8 is pivoted around hinge 6 in the fold-out direction U1, whereby the spacer 4 is brought into an orientation in which it extends substantially forward of the vehicle 78 (Fig. 3). The mowing device 52 is hereby brought from a position for the support frame 2 arranged on the vehicle 78 to a position adjacent to the support frame 2. The mowing device 52 is now adjacent and slightly in front of the vehicle 78, ie slightly above the area to be mowed. By extending the second arm 14 in the direction U2, the mowing device is moved further sideways relative to the support frame 2 and the vehicle 78. whereby the mowing device 52 is placed substantially in front of object O (figure 4).

The mowing arms 54, 58 are moved sufficiently far apart for the object O to fit between them. The vehicle can then drive forward in the direction of travel D, until the object O is substantially between the cutting heads 62, or cleaning heads 64, (Figure 5). The mowing arms are then moved towards each other in the width adjustment direction B until the mowing heads 62, 64 are at a desired distance from the object O. This width adjustment is possible because the left-hand mowing arm 54 is included in a guide 56, and because the right-hand mowing arm 58 is included in a guide 60. The preparation phase is completed with this width adjustment of the mowing arms 54, and the actual mowing operation shown in Figures 6-10 can now start.

Figure 6 shows how the cutting heads 62, 64 are located near the object O and are rotated in a direction of rotation Rm, whereby the mowing operation starts. The control means 32 then control the first, second and third rotators 24, 26, 28 such that the cutting heads 62, 64 are moved around the object O in the mowing direction M. Successive stages of this mowing operation are shown in Figures 7-10, showing the completed mowed area V.

Figure 10 shows the state in which the mowing operation around the object O has ended. The mowing device 52 of the grinding device 1 is completely inverted, so that the grinding device 1 is now oriented such that the vehicle 78 can immediately drive straight on in the direction of travel D (Figure 11).

In the meantime that the vehicle 78 moves the grinding device 1 to a following object O, the control means 32 of the grinding device 1 will rotate the mowing device 52 back to its initial position, so that it is ready for a subsequent mowing operation. The operation of the control means will now be explained with reference to the schematic representation in figures 12-14.

The control means 32 are adapted to drive the first rotator 24 and the second rotator 26 in the opposite direction of rotation while mowing around an object O, and simultaneously control the first 24 rotator and third rotator 28 in the same direction of rotation.

In the embodiment shown, the control means 32 comprise three switching states. In the forward switching state 34, the rotators 24, 26, 28 are driven in accordance with the mowing direction M in Figures 7-10. The return switching state 36 reverses the direction of rotation of the rotators 24, 26, 28, whereby the milling device is moved back from the state shown in Figure 11 to the state shown in Figure 6 opposite to the mowing direction M. To be able to pump the fluid around, several fluid connections are provided: a fluid connection 40 between vehicle pump 80 and the control means 32, a fluid connection 42 between the control means 32 and the first rotator 24, a fluid connection 44 between the first rotator 24 and the second rotator 26, a

Fluid connection 46 between the second rotator 26 and the third rotator 28, and finally a fluid connection 48 between the third rotator 28 and the control means 32.

A neutral switching state 38 is provided to enable the rotators 24, 26, 28 to be temporarily disconnected from a fluid pump 80 of the vehicle 78, which can thereby continue to rotate permanently. This is necessary if the fluid pump 80 of the vehicle 78 also supplies other hydraulic / pneumatic systems with circulated fluid.

It is particularly advantageous if the mowing arms 54, 58 have any length and each has several mowing heads 62. The mowing heads closest to the mowing device 52 are preferably cleaning heads 64, because these mowing heads 62 are placed near the object O as shown in FIG. However, because a plurality of cutting heads 62 are provided, they will each mow their own path V around the object O while the circular motion is running. As a result, the mown area V around the object O increases enormously.

Incidentally, it is noted that in the condition of the mowing arms 54, 58 placed close to each other in figures 15 and 16 it is also possible to mow on a flat piece - and even under objects such as benches. If the mowing arms are oriented somewhat obliquely with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle 78, the overlap between the parts V mown by the different mowing heads 62 will increase, so that a more balanced mowing result is achieved.

Finally, a particularly advantageous extension is pointed out in the form of an auxiliary mowing device 68 (Figures 15 and 16). This auxiliary mowing device 68 comprises an extendable arm 72 on which at least one mowing head 70, preferably a cleaning head, is provided. With such an auxiliary mowing device 68 it is possible to carry out minor post-processing operations.

The embodiment described above, although showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, is only intended to illustrate the present invention and not to limit the description of the invention in any way. The embodiment shown is thus provided with an optional spacer 4. An alternative (not shown) embodiment of the invention lacks such a spacer 4, whereby the first rotator 24 is arranged on the support frame 2 near the vehicle 78. The first arm 10 and / or second arm 14 can in such a case be made adjustable in length, for instance in accordance with the second arm 14 in the embodiment shown. Such an embodiment can for instance be used to mow around an object O directly in front of the vehicle 78.

When measures in the claims are followed by reference numerals, such reference numerals only serve to contribute to the understanding of the claims, but are in no way restrictive of the scope of protection. The rights described are defined by the following claims in the scope of which many modifications are conceivable.

Claims (20)

A grinding device for mowing around objects, comprising: - a support frame that is adapted to be mountable on a vehicle; - a first arm rotatably connected to the support frame with a first rotator; - a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm with a second rotator; - a mowing device rotatably mounted on the second arm with a third rotator and comprising at least one mowing head; - control means for controlling the first, second and third rotator such that the at least one cutting head is movable at least partially around the object to be mowed. 2. Grinding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means are adapted to drive the first rotator and the second rotator in the opposite direction of rotation while mowing around an object, and simultaneously control the first rotator and third rotator in the same direction of rotation. 3. Grinding device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the support frame comprises a spacer on which the first rotator is arranged, and wherein the first arm is at least shorter than the spacer so that it can be moved along the vehicle. Grinding device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means are at least switchable between a forward and a reverse switching state. Grinding device according to claim 4, wherein the control means further comprise a neutral switching state. Grinding device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein at least the first rotator and the third rotator comprise their own hydraulic motor which are substantially identical and are in fluid communication such that they have the same direction of rotation during use. 7. Grinding device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the first rotator and the second rotator comprise their own hydraulic motor which are substantially identical and are in fluid communication such that the direction of rotation of the rotators is opposite. 8. Grinding device as claimed in any of the claims 4-7, wherein the first rotator, the second rotator and the third rotator are in series connection with each other via a fluid connection such that in the forward switching state of the control means fluid from the control means to the first rotator, flows from the first rotator to the second rotator, from the second rotator to the third rotator, and then from the third rotator back to the control means. Grinding device as claimed in any of the claims 4-7, wherein the first rotator, the second rotator and the third rotator are in series connection with each other via a fluid connection such that in the return switching state of the control means fluid from the control means to the third rotator, flows from the third rotator to the second rotator, from the second rotator to the first rotator, and then from the first rotator back to the control means. Grinding device according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the first rotator and the second rotator are mechanically coupled. Grinding device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the mowing device is provided with one or more mowing arms extending from the mowing device, each comprising at least one mowing head. 12. Grinding device as claimed in claim 11, comprising two mowing arms which can each be placed on either side of an object. Milling device according to claim 11, wherein the mowing arms extending from the mowing device are provided with at least two, and more preferably at least three, mowing heads. Grinding device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting heads arranged near the mowing device are provided with a device for receiving a consumption amount of wearable wire. Grinding device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mowing device is provided with two extending mowing arms which are arranged so as to be mutually displaceable on the mowing device that the distance between the mowing arms is adjustable. Grinding device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second arm is adjustable in length. Grinding device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the spacer is pivotally mounted on the support frame such that the spacer is displaceable between a collapsed transport position and an unfolded operating position. A vehicle, comprising a grinding device according to any one of the preceding claims. Method for mowing around an object with a grinding device according to one of claims 1-17, comprising the steps of: - placing the at least one cutting head near an object to be mowed; - controlling the first, second and third rotator with the control means such that the at least one cutting head goes through a movement which runs at least partially around the object to be mowed. A method according to claim 19, wherein the control means while mowing around an object drive the first rotator and the second rotator in the opposite direction of rotation, and simultaneously control the first rotator and third rotator in the same direction of rotation.