WO2019168488A2

WO2019168488A2 - A self-propelled pruning residue shredding machine

Info

Publication number: WO2019168488A2
Application number: PCT/TR2019/050053
Authority: WO
Inventors: Murad CANAKCI; Mehmet TOPAKCI; Mehmet Cakir; Davut KARAYEL; Ilker UNAL
Original assignee: Akdeniz Universitesi; Yildiz Teknik Universitesi
Priority date: 2018-02-28
Filing date: 2019-01-25
Publication date: 2019-09-06
Also published as: WO2019168488A3

Abstract

The invention is a pruning residue shredding machine (810) to be used particularly in agricultural field, which comprises an upper pick-up unit (40) and a lower pick-up unit (40). It is characterized in that it comprises at least one processor unit (81) which transmits instruction signals sent from a user interface (80) to an upper drive element (31) in the upper pick-up unit (30) and a lower drive element (41) in the lower pick-up unit (40) and is configured such that it operates or stops the upper drive element (31) and the lower drive element (41) independently of each other by means of the send instruction signal.

Description

A SELF-PROPELLED PRUNING RESIDUE SHREDDING MACHINE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a pruning residue shredding machine used particularly in agricultural sector.

PRIOR ART

Fruit trees should be pruned in the certain periods of year in vineyards and orchards works of the agricultural production. It appears woody residues as a result of pruning operations of orchards .

Pruning residues are removed from orchard by means of conventional methods in fruit-growing farms in Turkey. And this causes significant problems in terms of labor and costs. In particular, that operations cannot be completed on time in large-scale farms prevents the other operations from being carried out and causes them to be delayed. Again, importance of the timeliness concept is increased due to rains in spring. Farmers would like to remove residues on the ground among trees in a short time after pruning operations. Residues are removed by way of burning them, shredded and directly mixed in soil as an organic substance, or can be used as compost, mulch, biomass or raw material in industry by carrying and performing various processes after shredding process.

Leaving residues resulting from the pruning process on the ground after shredding them constitutes a positive contribution to soil structure. Therefore, methods, in which residues are mixed in soil, become more popular. To this, shredding machines are preferred which comprises blades attached to the rotor with free oscillation driven by tractor PTO shaft. The machine shredded residues taken from the ground and then leaves it directly on the soil. Shredded residues are then mixed in soil by means of a proper tillage machine.

It has been observed in studies conducted that it is experienced some problems in using a PTO shaft driven and mounted type of a present shredding machines of tractors in the stage of mixing residues in the soil. Residues should be formed into a windrow and run over said windrow so that machine at the rear side of tractor can perform shredding operation. In such cases, depending on the height of tractor's belly and windrow, it can be faced problems while taking materials in shredding unit during working. Further, thorns and knots may damage rubber wheels of tractor. So as to overcome this drawback, some companies may manufacture machine such that it can be operated by reverse gear of tractor by changing connection points of machine according to the tractor. However, it is thought that said method does not provide a sustainable solution in large-scale farms requiring long-lasting works.

Furthermore, operation capability of the machine depends on power and action transmission property in machines driven through tractor. Work performance can be limited while working with these types machines at different environmental conditions and different materials.

As a result, all of the above-mentioned problems constitute an obligation to make an innovation in the related technical field .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a self-propelled pruning residue shredding machine so as to overcome the above- mentioned disadvantages and provide the related technical field with new advantages. It is an objective of the invention to exhibit a pruning residue shredding machine comprising flexible operating possibilities so as to ensure woody structures occurring after pruning operation particularly in agricultural sector to be shredded into small pieces.

The present invention presented so as to carry out all objectives to be appeared from the description above and below mentioned is a pruning residue shredding machine to be used particularly in agricultural field, which comprises an upper pick-up unit and a lower pick-up unit. Accordingly, it comprises at least one processor unit which transmits instruction signals sent from a user interface to an upper drive element in the upper pick-up unit and a lower drive element in the lower pick-up unit and is configured such that it operates or stops the upper drive element and the lower drive element independently from each other by means of the sent instruction signal.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, it comprises at least one upper drive shaft which is pivoted by means of the drive gained from said upper drive element of the upper pick-up unit and has at least one upper pick-up arm thereon .

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, it comprises at least one lower drive shaft which is pivoted by means of the drive gained from said lower drive element of the lower pick-up unit and has at least one lower pick-up arm thereon .

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, it comprises at least one upper pick-up adjustment element configured such that it takes the upper pick-up unit closer/away to/from the lower pick-up unit. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, it comprises at least one adjustment element drive unit foreseen so as to provide the upper pick-up adjustment element with a drive .

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the processor unit is configured such that it stops or starts the adjustment element drive unit by means of the instruction signal sent from the user interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates a representative side view of the inventive self-propelled pruning residue shredding machine .

Figure 2a illustrates a representative isometric view of the shredding unit comprised by the inventive pruning residue shredding machine

Figure 2b illustrates a representative schematic view of the shredding unit comprised by the inventive pruning residue shredding machine.

Figure 3 illustrates a representative isometric view of the connection mechanism comprised by the inventive pruning residue shredding machine.

Figure 4 illustrates a representative schematic view of the user interface and the corresponding components comprised by the inventive pruning residue shredding machine .

DE TAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, an inventive shredding machine (10) is disclosed by means of no-limiting examples so that the subject is understood better. The present invention relates to a shredding machine (10) provided so as to shred leftovers of branches and trees particularly in vineyards and orchards in agricultural sector. Said shredding machine (10) essentially comprises at least one vehicle portion (70), at least one shredding unit (20) and at least one connection mechanism (60) .

Said shredding machine (20) comprises at least one main body (21) and at least one side wall (22) . It comprises at least one upper pick-up unit (30), at least one lower pick-up unit (40) and at least one shredding chamber (50) in the shredding unit (20) . There is a predetermined distance between said upper pick-up unit (30) and said lower pick-up unit (40) . Said shredding chamber (50) is positioned at a rear side of the lower pick-up unit (40) according to the work flow.

There is at least one shredding rotor (54) provided in the shredding chamber (50) . Said shredding rotor (54) essentially extends over the width of the shredding chamber (50) . There is at least one shredding blade (55) provided on the shredding rotor (54) . Said shredding blade (55) provided in plural numbers such that there is a predetermined space therebetween. There is at least one sieve (56) at the lower neighborhood of the shredding rotor (54) . In a possible embodiment of the invention, the sieve (56) is provided in a round form. Thus, the distance of every portion of said sieve (56) to the shredding rotor can be close to each other. There is at least one sieve adjustment mechanism (58) so as to adjust the distance between said sieve (56) and shredding rotor (54) . In a possible embodiment of the invention, the sieve (56) is hinged to said main body (21) from its one side and can be drawn closer/away to/from the shredding rotor (54) by being pivoted in the hinge axis by means of the sieve adjustment mechanism (58) provided in other side thereof. The shredding rotor (54) rotates around its own axis. The shredding rotor (54) receives the energy required while carrying out this rotation from at least one main drive element (51) . The shredding rotor (54) is connected with at least one second pulley (53) and said drive element (51) is connected with at least one first pulley (52) . Action transmission is carried out by belt by means of employing said pulleys.

The lower pick-up unit (40) comprises at least one lower drive element (41) and at least one lower drive shaft (42) . It is positioned between said lower drive element (41) and said lower drive shaft (42) . The lower drive shaft (42) essentially extends over the lower pick-up unit (40) . At least one lower pick-up arm (43) is positioned on the lower drive shaft (42) .

In a possible embodiment of the invention, said lower pick-up arm (43) is in plural numbers, wherein it is connected with the lower drive shaft (42) such that arms are at least on- sided and have a phase space.

The upper pick-up unit (30) comprises at least one upper drive element (31) and at least one upper drive shaft (32) . It is positioned between said upper drive element (31) and said upper drive shaft (32) . The upper drive shaft (32) essentially extends over the upper pick-up unit (30) . At least one upper pick-up arm (33) is positioned on the upper drive shaft (32) .

In a possible embodiment of the invention, said upper pick-up arm (33) is in plural numbers, wherein it is connected with the upper drive shaft (32) such that the upper pick-up arm

(33) are at least on-sided and has a phase space. Further, the upper pick-up unit (30) is covered by at least one protective cover (35) such that it protects its own upper portion. The upper pick-up unit (30) is connected with the main body (21) by means of at least one upper pick-up adjustment element

(34) . Said upper pick-up adjustment element (34) moves the upper pick-up unit (30) upward and downward. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the upper pick-up adjustment element (34) may be extended and shortened hydraulically or mechanically. At least one adjustment element drive unit (341) is provided so as to ensure that the upper pick-up adjustment element (34) is driven. Said adjustment element drive unit (341) may be a hydromotor, a hydraulic pump, an electrical motor, a servo motor or a different drive unit.

Vehicle portion (70) comprises at least one motor (71) . Said motor (71) provides the energy required for the shredding machine (10) . In a possible embodiment of the invention, the motor (70) converts diesel fuel into motional energy. Motor (70) is connected with at least one hydraulic pump (73) . Said hydraulic pump (73) is connected by means of employing the drive elements and hydraulic transmission element. Said hydraulic pump (73) provides the hydraulic pressure required by elements of the shredding machine (10) by means of the oil taken from the hydraulic oil tank (72) . The vehicle portion (70) further comprises at least one drive wheel (74) . Said drive wheel (70) rotates in the work flow such that it ruts. The drive wheel (74) is connected with at least one drive element (not shown in Figures) . Said drive element provides energy required so that the drive wheel (74) rotates. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the drive element may be a hydraulic motor.

The vehicle portion (70) and shredding unit (20) are positioned by employing said connection mechanism (60) . The connection mechanism (60) comprises at least one connection body (63) . Said connection body (63) is connected with at least one height adjustment mechanism (61) and at least one parallelism adjustment element (62) . Said parallelism adjustment element (62) is connected with the connection body (63) and shredding unit (20) . The parallelism adjustment element (62) can be extended and shortened. Said height adjustment mechanism (61) is fundamentally a three-arm mechanism. The height adjustment mechanism (61) comprises at least one longer arm (614) . Said longer arm (614) is connected with the shredding unit (20) . The longer arm (614) further connected rigidly with at least one shaft (613) . Said shaft (613) is connected rigidly with at least one shorter arm (612) . Said shorter arm (612) and at least one height adjustment piston (611) are connected therebetween. Further, said height adjustment piston (611) is connected also with the vehicle portion (70) . The height adjustment piston (611) may be extended and shortened.

In a detailed description, the inventive self-propelled shredding machine (10) ensures that woody structures in an area are shredded into small pieces. Shredding operation is carried out by the shredding unit (20) . The vehicle portion (70) ensures that the shredding unit (20) changes its locations and is directed. According to the work flow, the lower pick-up unit (40) and upper pick-up unit (30) carry out rotational movement in a opposed direction such that they direct woody structures into the shredding chamber (50), and in its own axis such that they push woody structures into the shredding chamber (50) . Woody structures on the ground are pushed into the shredding chamber (50) by means of the arm (33) comprised by the upper pick-up unit (30) and the arm (43) comprised by the lower pick-up unit (40) when the shredding machine (10) is started in an area containing woody structures .

The upper drive shaft (32) performs rotational movement by means of power taken from the upper drive element (31) . The upper drive element (31) is essentially a hydraulic motor, wherein it converts hydraulic pressure into motion. The upper drive element (31) transmits motional energy to the upper pick-up arm (33) by means of the upper drive shaft (32) . The upper pick-up arm (33) pushes woody structures into the shredding chamber (50) . The upper pick-up adjustment element (34) is provided to adjust the space between the upper pick-up unit (30) and lower pick-up unit (40) .

The lower drive shaft (42) performs rotational movement by means of power taken from the lower drive element (41) . The lower drive element (41) is essentially a hydraulic motor, wherein it converts hydraulic pressure into motion. The lower drive element (41) transmits motional energy to the lower pick-up arm (43) by means of the lower drive shaft (42) . The lower pick-up arm (43) pushes woody structures into the shredding chamber (50) .

The shredding chamber (50) carries out the shredding process by way of rotational movement of the shredding rotor (54) . Woody structures are shredded by striking to the shredding blade (55) rotating in the shredding rotor's (54) axis. Woody structures shredded into the size such that they can be discharged through holes comprised by the sieve (56) fall through the sieve (56) onto the ground. The shredding rotor (54) takes motional energy from the main drive element (51) . The motional energy transmission between the main drive element (51) and shredding rotor (54) is carried out by means of said first pulley (52) and said second pulley (53) . The sieve adjustment mechanism (58) may adjust the distance between the sieve (56) and shredding rotor (54) . Increasing and decreasing distance between the sieve (56) and the shredding rotor (54) ensures a more efficient shredding control. In other words, size of pieces to be fallen through the sieve can be varied. Upper cover (57) ensures that user monitors and interferes with the shredding chamber (50) .

The vehicle portion (70) ensures that the shredding unit (20) can be moved and directed. All energy requirement of the shredding machine (10) is met by the motor (71) . The motor (71) transmits motional energy to the hydraulic pump (73) . The hydraulic pump (73) generates hydraulic pressure. Said hydraulic pump (73) is connected with drive elements. The drive wheel (74) moves the shredding machine (10) on ground. While doing this, it is driven by drive elements.

Connection mechanism (60) provides mechanical connection of the vehicle portion (70) to the shredding unit (20) . It adjusts height and parallelism of the shredding unit (20) according to ground. The parallelism adjustment element (62) ensures parallelism of the shredding unit (20) depending on ground slope by means of user. The parallelism adjustment element (62) can be extended and shortened. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the parallelism adjustment element (62) may comprise a hydraulic or mechanical structure. The height adjustment mechanism (61) controls the distance between the shredding unit (20) and ground. While doing this, the height adjustment piston (611) may be extended and shortened. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the height adjustment piston (611) may comprise a hydraulic or mechanical structure. Extending and shortening the height adjustment piston (611) ensures that the shorter arm (612) changes its position. Since the shorter arm (612), shaft (613) and longer arm (614) are connected with each other rigidly, they ensure that the longer arm (614) moves. Motion of the longer arm (614) moves shredding unit (20) downwards and upwards. In a possible embodiment of the invention, shaft (613) extend over the connection body (63) . Height adjustment mechanism (61) connected with each other is positioned at two ends of the shaft (613) during its motion.

Addition to all of these embodiments, at least one support wheel (23) and at least one sled (24) positioned at the side wall (22) in the shredding unit (20) helps the shredding unit (20) to move on ground freely. Said support wheel (23) can rotate in its own axis bidirectionally. The support wheel (23) is not driven by any mechanical power, wherein, in a possible embodiment of the invention, it is driven by a hydraulic motor .

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the pruning residue shredding machine (10) comprises at least one user interface (80) . Said user interface (80) is positioned in the vehicle portion (70) where driver can reach in a possible embodiment of the invention. User interface (80) may be a control panel or touch screen.

There is at least one processor unit (81) associated with the user interface (80) . Said processor unit (81) is associated with the lower drive element (41) comprised by the lower pick up unit (40) . Accordingly, instruction signal sent from the user interface (80) is transmitted to the lower drive element (41) by means of the processor unit (81), thereby causing the lower drive element (41) to start or stop. Further, the processor unit (81) is associated with the upper pick-up unit (30) . Accordingly, instruction signal sent from the user interface (80) is transmitted to the upper pick-up unit (30) by means of the processor unit (81), thereby causing the upper drive element (31) to start or stop. Due to said embodiment, it is ensured to start or stop the lower pick-up unit (40) and upper pick-up unit (30) independently from each other.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, on the other hand, the processor unit (80) is associated with the adjustment element drive unit (341) provided on the upper pick-up unit (30) . Accordingly, the instruction signal sent from the user interface (80) start the adjustment element drive unit (341) and, correspondingly, the upper pick-up adjustment element (34) driven. Thus, position of the upper pick-up unit (30) is adjusted and its distance to the lower pick-up unit (40) can be changed. Due to said embodiments, it is ensured by means of instruction entered to the user interface (80) on the pruning residue shredding machine (10) that the lower pick-up unit (40) and the upper pick-up unit (30) can be started independently from each other in line with the requirements. Further, if necessary, distance of the upper pick-up unit (30) to the lower pick-up unit (40) is adjusted by means of the user interface .

The extent of protection of the invention is defined in accommodating claims, wherein it is not limited to illustrations disclosed in the detailed description. Because it is clear that those skilled in the art can exhibit similar embodiments in the light of description disclosed above without exceeding the main theme of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN FIGURES

10 Self-propelled pruning residue shredding machine

20 Shredding unit

21 Main body

22 Side wall

23 Support wheel

24 Sled

30 Upper pick-up unit

31 Upper drive element

32 Upper drive shaft

33 Upper pick-up arm

34 Upper pick-up adjustment element

341 Adjustment element drive unit 35 Protective cover

40 Lower pick-up unit

41 Lower drive element

42 Lower drive shaft

43 Lower pick-up arm

50 Shredding chamber

51 Main drive element

52 First pulley

53 Second pulley

54 Shredding rotor

55 Shredding blade

56 Sieve

57 Upper cover

58 Sieve adjustment mechanism

60 Connection mechanism

61 Height adjustment mechanism

611 Height adjustment piston

612 Shorter arm

613 Shaft

614 Longer arm

62 Parallelism adjustment element

63 Connection body

70 Vehicle portion

71 Motor

72 Hydraulic oil tank Hydraulic pump Drive wheel User interface Processor unit

Claims

1. A pruning residue shredding machine (10) comprising an upper pick-up unit (30) and a lower pick-up unit (40) to be used particularly in agricultural sector, characterized in that it comprises at least one processor unit (81) which transmits instruction signals sent from a user interface (80) to an upper drive element (31) in the upper pick-up unit (30) and a lower drive element (41) in the lower pick-up unit (40) and is configured such that it operates or stops the upper drive element (31) and the lower drive element (41) independently from each other by means of the sent instruction signal .

2. A shredding machine (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that, it comprises at least one upper drive shaft (32) which is pivoted by means of the drive gained from said upper drive element (31) of the upper pick-up unit (30) and has at least one upper pick-up arm (33) thereon.

3. A shredding machine (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that, it comprises at least one lower drive shaft (41) which is pivoted by means of the drive gained from said lower drive element (41) of the lower pick-up unit (40) and has at least one lower pick-up arm (43) thereon.

4. A shredding machine (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that, it comprises at least one upper pick-up adjustment element (34) configured such that it takes the upper pick-up unit (30) closer/away to/from the lower pick-up unit (40).

5. A shredding machine (10) according to Claim 4, characterized in that, it comprises at least one adjustment element drive unit (341) so as to ensure that the upper pick-up adjustment element (34) is driven.

6. A shredding machine (10) according to Claim 5, characterized in that, the processor unit (81) is configured such that it stops or starts the adjustment element drive unit (341) by means of the instruction signal sent from the user interface (80).