WO1986003094A1

WO1986003094A1 - Method and apparatus for cutting up for example straw bales

Info

Publication number: WO1986003094A1
Application number: PCT/DK1985/000106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jens Peder Kokholm
Original assignee: Lambion Skandinavien A/S
Priority date: 1984-11-20
Filing date: 1985-11-18
Publication date: 1986-06-05
Also published as: DK151321B; DE3523559A1; AU5092785A; DK550484D0; DK550484A; EP0203121A1; DK151321C

Abstract

By a method for cutting up for example straw bales (1) a number of knives or spears (2, 3) are driven through the bale (1) by means of hydraulic cylinders (15). The cylinder (15) is pivotally secured to a post (8) in such a manner that additional hydraulic cylinders (6) may swing the upper knives or spears (2) upwards, whereas the remaining knives or spears (3) act as holding knives holding the bale (1) while the cut off part (10) of the bale is thrown into the opening (13) of a lock (9) which for instance may lead to a straw furnace, whereupon a lifting means (5) carry forward the bale for a new cutting operation. To ensure that the cords surrounding the bale (1) are cut, there is moreover provided a cutting knife (20) which by means of hydraulic cylinders (21) is pressed into one side of the bale. This method ensures that the cords are cut and that the bale of straw is cut up effectively and with no substantial energy consumption just as the shown apparatus is very simple and reliable.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING UP FOR EXAMPLE STRAW BALES.

The invention relates to a method for cutting up bales, rolls or similar objects of compressed materi¬ al, such as straw, and an apparatus for carrying out the method.

When burning straw in straw furnaces, it is important that the bales of straw are first cut up in order to achieve the best possible combustion. There are also, moreover, other situations, where the cutting up of bales is desirable. An example is feedstuff stored in bales which will have to be cut up before the feeding.

Several ways of cutting up bales are known. Examples are Danish published specification no. 146,251 and Danish published specification no. 144,202.

The common feature of these designs is that the bales are cut up by a rotating motion. In the former specification there is used a drum with knife blades, and in the latter specification there are used two shafts with knives and carriers.

The actual principle with a rotating motion has several drawbacks. One is that such apparatuses have a rather high energy consumption.

Furthermore, the bales are normally tied together with cord or twine usually made of nylon or a similar material and therefore very strong. For the known apparatuses it may be very difficult to tear or cut the cords, and the result is therefore often insufficient cutting up just as the apparatuses are exposed to many interruptions of operation.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a method and an apparatus, which with a relatively low energy consumption may cut up any kind of bales in a reliable manner.

This is achieved according to the invention, when one or more knives or spears are driven through the bale, and when the part cut off from the bale is subsequently lifted off by means of at least one of the knives.

It is not a very energy consuming process to press the knives or spears through the bale. With a single tipping movement the cut off part of the bale can then be carried on for example direct into the fur¬ nace. This may advantageously take place through a lock so that there is no risk that the fire will spread to the cutting up apparatus.

It is expedient when, as related to in claim 2, during the lifting off at least one knife or spear is used for holding the remaining part of the bale. It is hereby achieved that the rest of the bale retains its shape because the holding knife presses the bale down toward the base.

If, as related to in claim 3, the cutting and the lifting off are done several times on each bale, a good and effective cutting up of the bale is achie- ved .

It is expedient, if the knives or spears as related to in claim 4 are driven into the bale by insertion in the longitudinal direction of the knives as the cutting off may then be carried out with minimum energy consumption.

To ensure that the cords around the bale are cut prior to the cutting up of the bale, it is expedient, as related to in claim 5, to press a cutting knife into the bale, thereby cutting the cords.

An apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention can, as related to in claim 6, be characteristic in that the apparatus comprises one or more knives or spears for cutting off a part of the bale, and in that at least one of the knives or spears can be swung or lifted for lifting off the part cut off from the bale. This apparatus can cut up the bales in a very reliable manner due to its simple design, which also makes the apparatus inexpensive to install as well as to operate.

By designing the apparatus as related to in claim 7, where at least one knife or spear is adopted to operate as a holding knife for holding the remain¬ ing part of the bale, it is achieved that the rest of the bale will retain its shape after the cutting off.

Cutting the cords of the bale is rendered possible if the two outer knives at either side are placed opposing the sides of the bale being parallel to 1 the direction of insertion of the knives, as related to in claim 8.

By designing the apparatus as related to in claim 5 9, where the swinging knives or spears and the hold¬ ing knives are secured to each its arm, and where the arms are connected to one or more means of motion being adopted to press the knives through the bale in their longitudinal direction, it is achieved 10 that the additional displacement means may easily swing the swinging knives upwards in order that the part cut off from the bale can be thrown out, e.g. onto a conveyer or into a furnace.

15 By designing the apparatus as related to in claim 10, a simple and effectively operating apparatus is achieved.

By designing the apparatus as related to in claim 2.0 11, where the additional displacement means opposite the arm are pivotally secured to the apparatus frame, another effectively operating apparatus is achieved.

By securing the cutting knife to one or more hydrau- 25 lie cylinders, as related to in claim 12, the cutting of the cords is ensured in a simple and reliable manner.

Moreover, it is expedient for the apparatus to com- 30 prise a lifting means situated below the knives or spears, as related to in claim 13. This makes it possible to cut up the bales in a fully automatic operation. Each time the lifting means lifts the bale the knives or spears can cut off a part of the bale and carry this along.

It is expedient, as related to in claim 14, to pro¬ vide each knife of the apparatus with a front cutting edge in the direction of insertion.

The turning box related to in claim 15 ensures that the straw bale may be controlled during the cutting off.

In the following the invention shall be described with reference to the drawing, wherein

fig. 1 shows a side view of the apparatus according to the invention,

fig. 2 shows a front view of the same appara¬ tus,

fig. 3 shows a top view of the apparatus ac¬ cording to figs. 1 and 2, and

fig. 4 shows the actual cutting up apparatus on a larger scale.

Fig. 1 shows a straw bale 1 mounted on a lifting means 5 consisting of a hydraulic cylinder lifting the bale 1 stepwise.

Two essentially horizontal hydraulic cylinders 15,

15' are pivotally mounted on posts 8. These cylinders may draw a number of knives or spears 2, 3 through the bale 1. Moreover, hydraulic cylinders 21 are secured to the posts 8, said hydraulic cylinders pressing a cutting knife 20 wavy-edged along the front edge into one side of the bale 1. This primarily takes place before or at the same time as the knives or spears 2, 3 are inserted into the bale, the cords thereby being cut prior to the cutting up.

The opposite end of the swinging knives or spears 2 is situated on an arm 17 pivotally connected to two additional hydraulic cylinders 6, 6', whose opposite ends are connected to the bottom of the apparatus by means of a pivotal bearing 7.

As indicated by dotted lines the hydraulic cylinders 6,6' can swing the knives or spears 2 upwards, while the knives or spears hold the rest of the bale 1. The cut off part 10 from the bale is by this motion thrown through the opening 13 in a lock 9 with two flaps. This lock 9 ensures that no direct connection between the furnace chamber and the cutting up appa¬ ratus ever occurs.

Fig. 2 moreover shows how the apparatus is fed from a turning device turning the bales 90° prior to the cutting up in order that they stand in an up¬ right position. The arrow 12 indicates the direction of the turning.

Fig. 3 shows the whole furnace with the cutting up apparatus seen from above. It is seen how the knives or spears 2, 3 are attached to the arms 17, 18. After cutting, the straw is thrown through the lock 9 to the furnace chamber below the boiler 11. The furnace also has a chimney 16.

Fig. 4 shows the turning device in further detail. The straw bale is placed in a turning box 19 consist- ing merely of a U-shaped frame. When the box 19 is turned to its upright position, the lifting means 5 may push the bale upwards through the box 19. Du¬ ring the actual lifting the bale is held together on three sides, while the holding knives 3 at the same time press the bale down from above.

Furthermore, it is seen from the figure that the two outer knives by insertion will cut through the sides of the bale 1, thereby cutting the cords in case these cords run along lines where the cutting knife 20 does not operate.

Finally, it should be added that the apparatus and the method according to the invention may of course be applied to all kinds of bales. Consequently, the bales need not be bales of straw. Within the scope of the invention the apparatus may be given other designs than that shown in the drawing. For instance other displacement means than hydraulic cylinders may be applied, and these means may be placed in other ways than the one shown.

Any number of knives may be used, and the knives may be larger or smaller than those shown. The knives are advantageously made of metal, preferably steel, but other materials may be used. Instead of the shown knives circular rods can be used pointed to¬ wards their end portions to form spear like knives.

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S

1. Method for cutting up bales, rolls or similar objects of compressed material such as straw, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that one or more knives or spears (2, 3) are driven through the bale (1), and that the part (10) cut off from the bale (1) is subsequently lifted off by means of at least one of the knives (2) .

2. Method according to claim 1 and where at least two knives or spears are used, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that during the lifting off at least one knife or spear (3) is used for holding the remaining part of the bale, i.e. at least one of the knives or spears is constantly resting on the cutting face during the lifting off.

3. Method according to claims 1-2, c h a r a c t e - r i z e d in that the cutting and the lifting off are done several times on each bale (1).

4. Method according to claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that the knives or spears (2, 3) are driven into the bale (1) by insertion in the longitu¬ dinal direction of the knives or spears (2, 3).

5. Method according to claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that before or at the same time as the knives or spears (2, 3) are inserted in the bale (1), a cutting knife (20) is pressed into one side of the bale (1) for cutting the cords surround¬ ing the bale.

6. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claims 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the apparatus comprises one or more knives or spears (2, 3) for cutting off part of the bale, and in that at least one of the knives or spears can be swung or lifted for lifting off the part (10) cut off from the bale (1).

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 and having at least two knives or spears, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that at least one knife or spear is adopted to operate as a holding knife or spear for holding the remaining part of the bale during the lifting off.

8. Apparatus according to claims 6 and 7 and having at least two knives, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the outer knives in each side are arranged opposite the sides of the bale (1) which are parallel to the direction of insertion of the knives (2, 3), i.e. in such a manner that the outer knives by insertion will cut through the sides of the bale (1).

9. Apparatus according to claims 6-8, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the swinging knives or spears (2) and the holding knives or spears (3) are secured to each its arm (17, 18), and that the arms (17, 18) are connected to one or more means of motion (15) such as hydraulic cylinders, said means of motion being adopted to press the knives or spears (2, 3) through the bale in their longitudinal direc¬ tion.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the end of the displacement means (15) facing away from the arms (17, 18) is pivotally secured to the apparatus frame, and that the arm (17) with the swinging knives or spears (2) is connected to one or more additional displace¬ ment means (6, 6' ) for swinging the knives or spears.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that that or those additional displacement means (6) opposite the arm (17) is/are pivotally secured to the apparatus frame, that or those additional displacement means (6) forming an angle of 60° to 90° with the knives or spears before insertion.

12. Apparatus according to claims 6-11, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d in that the cutting knife (20) is secured to one or more means of motion such as hy- draulic cylinders (21) for movement into and out of one side of the bale (1).

13. Apparatus according to claims 6-12, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d in that the apparatus comprises a lifting means (5) situated below the knives or spears (2, 3) which lifting means (5) is adopted stepwise to lift the bale (1) past the knives or spears (2, 3).

14. Apparatus according to claims 6-13, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d in that each knife (2, 3) is provided with a front cutting edge in its end of insertion.

15. Apparatus according to claims 6-14, c h a r a c- t e r i z e d in that the apparatus comprises a turning box (14) for the straw bales, said turning box consisting of a U-shaped frame.