WO1981000245A1

WO1981000245A1 - A device for loading silage into and out of a silo

Info

Publication number: WO1981000245A1
Application number: PCT/SE1979/000155
Authority: WO
Inventors: H Plomer
Original assignee: H Plomer
Priority date: 1979-07-13
Filing date: 1979-07-13
Publication date: 1981-02-05

Abstract

Device for loading silage into and out of a silo (2), comprising a circular elevatable path (6) and a feed and distribution assembly (10) movable along said path in a rotating movement. The assembly is adapted to feed silage from a filling m ember generally radially outwardly towards the silo wall and distribute the silage in layers of generally uniform thickness during loading of the silo and to feed silage generally radially inwardly to an ejector means (24) during unloading of the silo. The ejector means delivers the silage out of the silo through a rigid conduit (28) connected thereto and adapted to direct the silage through at least one aperture (3') in the silo wall. The feed and distribution assembly (10) is connected to the ejector means via a bearing arrangement (26) having a generally vertical axis and permitting rotation of said assembly independently of the fact that the ejector means is not adapted to rotate about said axis during unloading. More specifically, the ejector means (24) is pivotably connected to a non-rotating part of the bearing arrangement and at its outlet rigidly connected to the inlet part of said conduit (28). The ejector means (24) and conduit (28) together form a rigid unit permitting a uniform ejection of silage from the ejector means through the conduit to the silo wall aperture.

Description

A DEVICE FOR LOADING SILAGE INTO AND OUT OF A SILO

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a device for loading silage into and out of a silo, comprising a circular elevatable path, a feed and distribution assembly movable along said path in a rotating movement, said assembly being adapted to feed silage from a filling member generally radially outwardly towards the silo wall and distribute the silage in layers of generally uniform thickness during loading of the silo and to feed silage generally radially inwardly to an ejector means during unloading of the silo, said ejector means delivering the silage out of the silo through a conduit connected thereto and adapted to direct the silage through at least one aperture in the silo wall, said feed and distribution assembly being connected to the ejector means via a bearing arrangement having a generally vertical axis and permitting rotation of said assembly independently of the fact that the ejector means is not adapted to rotate about said axis during unloading.

BACKGROUND ART A device of this kind is disclosed in the U.S. patent specification 4 043 465. This device has a rigid conduit which is pivotable relative to the ejector means. Accordingly, the angular relation of said conduit to the ejector means will vary in dependence upon the elevation of the device; a fact which in practice causes serious disturbances in the ejected flow of silage, in particular if the silage is damp or tacky. A gimilar device is known by the Austrian patent specification 335 352. However, in this device the ejector means is rigidly connected to a non-rotating part of the bearing arrangement and for this reason, the device must use a flexible conduit to direct the silage to the silo aperture. Such flexible conduitswill disturb the flow of silage and tend to become clogged since the flexible conduits will be more or less irregularly bent during operation.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to eliminate said disadvantages and obtain a device causing minimum disturbance to the ejection of silage.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

This object is achieved in that the ejector means is pivotably connected to a non-rotating part of the bearing arrangement and at its outlet rigidly connected to the inlet part of said conduit, said ejector means and conduit together forming a rigid unit permitting a uniform ejection of silage from the ejector means through the conduit to the silo wall aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

With reference to the appended drawings, a more specific description of the invention will follow hereinafter.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view obliquely from above of the device according to the invention which is intended to be mounted in a silo although the wall thereof is not visible in the figure;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same device, parts of the device being cut away for clarity;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device illustrated in Fig. 2; Figs. 4 - 7 illustrate certain features of the feed and distribution assembly of the device; and

Fig. 8 is a side view generally corresponding to Fig. 3 but illustrating the device during loading of the silo instead of during the unloading thereof. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In Figs. 1 - 3 is illustrated a device 1 for unloading silage (not illustrated) out of a silo 2 indicated with dashed lines in Figs. 2 and 3. This silo includes in a known manner wall apertures 3, 3' located vertically spaced and through which the silage may be withdrawn as the silo is emptied and device 1 lowered within the silo. As is apparent from Fig. 1, the entire device 1 is carried by a number of cables 4 depending from the wall or upper part of the silo. Said cables are connected to a square frame 5 of device 1. A circular path or track 6 is rigidly connected to the lowest side of said frame and consists of an I-beam, in the web of which holes or recesses are made. Centering means 7 are provided at the four corners of frame 5 and include two telescopic arms, the movable 8 of which is spring-loaded and has a guide roller 9 at its free end. Said means 7 automatically center the frame and track in the silo; also in silos having diameters varying within rather wide limits.

A longitudinal feed and distribution assembly 10 extending radially relative to the track 6 is movably mounted therealong. The frame of the assembly is carried by the track 6 at two diametrically opposite locations, namely at one end 11 of the frame and at a location 12 between said frame end 11 and the opposite end 13 thereof. At the latter end of the assembly frame two guide rollers 14 are provided which are adapted to abut and run against the inside of the silo wall and which are provided on arms 15 which are telescopically displaceable in relation to the assembly frame. The assembly frame is suspended from track 6 by means of flanged wheels 16 (Fig. 3). Rotation or turning of the assembly relative to the track is carried out by means of a worm gear motor 17 driving a wheel 18, which is provided with projections engaging the holes or recesses in the web of the I-beam forming track 6 (Fig. 1). To feed and distribute the silage, assembly 10 includes two endless chains 19 (hidden by a cover plate in Fig. 1 but illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3). Each of said chains extend between an outer pulley 20 located near silo wall 2 and a drive pulley 21 located near the centre of the device. These pulleys 20, 21 have horizontal axes. Pulley 21 is driven by a motor 22 on the assembly frame via a suitable transmission 23. The ejector means consists of a radjal or centrifugal fan 24 driven by a motor 25. The fan or fan housing 24 is stationary in the sense that it is not adapted to rotate about a vertical axis during unloading of the silo and it is connected to assembly 10 via a turn table having a vertical axis and generally denoted 26. Moreover, fan housing 24 is pivotably connected to the stationary or non-rotating half or part of the turn table 26 via a hinge 27 having a horizontal axis. The outlet of the fan is connected to one end of a curved conduit 28 having a length and form such that the opposite end 29 of the conduit terminates near silo aperture 3'. Since fan housing 24 is hingedly connected to the stationary or non-rotating half of the turn table, the conduit 28 may be adjusted between different inclinations in relation to track 6 or assembly 10 so that the end 29 of the conduit can remain near silo aperture 3' also as the device is lowered within the silo during unloading thereof without any relative angular displacement between fan housing 24 and conduit 28. A suspension means 30 is connected to conduit 28 and has a hook member 31 for engagement with the wall opening 3 located immediately above the wall opening 3' through which silage is to be ejected via conduit 28

It appears from Fig. 3 that the inner ends of the feed chains 19 are located immediately in front of an inlet to a generally vertical silage passage limited by a guide plate 32 and extending through the turn table 26 and opening into a collecting socket 33 provided on the stationary or non-rotating half of the turn table and having a comparatively large diameter. An inlet socket 34 on the lower side of fan housing 24 projects into the collecting socket 33 and has a smaller diameter than the collecting socket. Since the guide plate 32 projects somewhat downwardly below the lower parts of chains 19 and is located immediately adjacent the inner ends of the chains the silage is efficiently collected. The silage is fed up to the guide plate 32 and up towards and suitably through the sockets 33 and 34 by the chains 19.

The structure of the chains 19 is illustrated in Figs. 4 - 7. Each chain comprises a certain number of links 35 having knife-like projections 36 intended to desintegrate and/or transport the silage. It appears from Fig. 5 that every second such projection 36 may be provided on one side of the chain and every second 36' on the other side of the frame. The links (see Figs. 6 and 7) may be of a type known per se with a hook engaging a cross piece of a preceding link. The projection 36 may be designed as generally triangular plates bolted to particular side pieces being welded onto the links.

Fig. 4 illustrates that the outer pulley 20 of chain 19 is actuated by a spring 37 tending to move the pulley outwardly towards the silo wall and retain chain 19 properly stretched. The pulley 20 is mounted on a bracket 38 which is guided in relation to telescopic arm 15 (compare Fig. 3) by a guide not illustrated. The holder is carried by a threaded rod 39, which may be locked in different positions relative to a socket 40 attached to the lower side of assembly frame 10. By this adjustability of the threaded rod , the location of pulley 20 may be adapted to different silo diameters at the same time as spring 37 maintains the chains stretched. It is to be noted that the lenght of the chains 19 is adapted to different silo diameters by increasing and decreasing respectively the number of links in the chains which is easy to carry out due to the design of the links as hook members. Between the pulleys 20, 21, two pressure rollers 41 (Figs. 3 and 4) are provided and serving as dollies for the lower parts of the chains 19 during their engagement with the silage. The direction of rotation of chains 19 is reversible by reversing the direction of rotation of motor 22. Thus, the device may readily be adjusted from the silo unloading operation, during which the chains are driven clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3, to a silo loading operation, during which the chains are driven in the opposite direction.

In Fig. 8 it is illustrated that the fan 24 has been replaced by a funnel 42 when the device is to be used for silo loading. This funnel receives silage fed through an opening in the roof 44 of the silo via a pipe 43. From the funnel 42, the silage is transported by chains 19, which during the loacounterding operation are rotated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3 at the same time as the assembly 10 is rotated relative to the track while distributing the silage in uniform horizontal layers. The assembly 10 is preferably rotated in a reciprocating movement, a cycle of which comprises 360 in one direction and 360 in the opposite direction.

A support ring 45 (Figs. 1 - 3) is provided above frame 5 and ascertains that the conduit 28 is carried at a certain minimum level over the assembly 10 so that conduit 28 and assembly 10 cannot come into accidental engagement.

The advantages of the invention are evident in that no relative angular displacement between the fan housing 24 and conduit 28 occurs. Thus, the fan may always direct the silage tangentially into the conduit 28, which always is located in the best position to receive the silage. The angular displacement during elevation of the device occurs instead between the sockets 33, 34. However, at that location there is no question of throwing of the silage but the silage is preferably fed upwardly through the sockets by the chains 19.

POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS

The invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed. It is e.g. possible to use any kind of bearing arrangement having a generally vertical axis of rotation instead of the turn table 26 described. Instead of chains 19, worm screws may be used. It is to be noted that the term "conduit" is not limited to a pipe having an annular cross-secti on. Thus, the conduit may be in the form of a channel open downwardly.

Claims

1. A device for loading silage into and out of a silo, comprising a circular elevatable path (6), a feed and distribution assembly (10) movable along said path in a rotating movement, said assembly being adapted to feed silage from a filling member (42) generally radially outwardly towards the silo wall and distribute the silage in layers of generally uniform thickness during loading of the silo, and to feed silage generally radially inwardly to an ejector means (24) during unloading of the silo, said ejector means delivering the silage out of the silo through a rigid conduit connected thereto and adapted to direct the silage through at least one aperture (3') in the silo wall, said feed and distribution assembly being connected to the ejector means via a bearing arrangement (26) having a generally vertical axis and permitting rotation of said assembly independently of the fact that the ejector means is not adapted to rotate about said axis during unloading, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the ejector means (24) is pivotably connected to a non-rotating part of the bearing arrangement and at its outlet rigidly connected to the inlet part of said conduit (28), said ejector means (24) and conduit (28) together forming a rigid unit permitting a uniform ejection of silage from the ejector means through the conduit to the silo wall aperture (3')» 2. Device according to claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a silage passage between the feed and distribution assembly (10) and ejector means (24) and passing through the a bearing arrangement (26) opens into/collecting socket (33) provided on the non-rotating part of the bearing arrangement (26), and that the ejector means (24) has an inlet socket (34) projecting into the collecting socket.