GB2161366A - Silage cutters/block conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

An implement that can be used as a silage cutter, or as a silage block conveyor, comprises a frame (1) and supporting means (44) on which a silage block can be transported, at least part of the supporting means being arranged on the frame so as to be laterally displaceable. The block can be dispensed from the supporting means by a pusher-plate (50). <IMAGE>

Description

1 GB 2 161 366 1

SPECIFICATION

Silage cutters/block conveyers This invention relates to silage cutters, and also to 70 silage block conveyors.

According to the present invention there is pro vided a silage cutter or silage block conveyor com prising a frame and supporting means on which a silage block can be transported, at least part of the supporting means being arranged on the frame so as to be laterally displaceable.

An implement as discussed above can be used without a cutting member, or without using its cut ting member, as a silage block conveyor.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a silage cutter, 85 Figure 2 is a sectional view taken in the direction of arrow 11 in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view taken on line 111-111 in Fig ure 2 of the silage cutter shown in a position for discharging a cut block laterally of the cutter, Figure 4 is a sectional view of a detail, taken on line IV-IV in Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a partly sectional side view, taken on line V-V in Figure 3.

Referring first to Figure 1, the silage cutter is shown hitched to a front (or it could be a rear) three-point lifting device of a tractor, the cutter covering the whole width of a commercially available tractor or more, though it may be made nar- rower.

The silage cutter has a frame 1 that is formed by a framework occupying a substantially vertical position during operation and extending transversely of the direction of travel A of the tractor over the ground. The framework includes a top beam 2 and a bottom beam 3 (Figure 2), which are horizontal, parallel to one another and transverse of the direction of travel A. The beams 2 and 3 are interconnected by upwardly extending, hollow beams (not visible in the Figures), which are disposed symmetrically with respect to the vertical plane of symmetry of the tractor and of the frame 1, these beams being spaced apart and arranged at a distance from the ends of the beams 2 and 3.

On the outer side of each upright beam and at a short distance therefrom there are arranged upwardly extending plate strips 5, which also interconnect the top beam 2 and the bottom beam 3. Between each pair of plate strips 5 extends, during operation, the free end of a lower lifting arm 6 of the three-point lifting device of the tractor. This free end is connected by means of a horizontal pin extending parallel to the beams 2 and 3 with the plate strips 5 and thus forms one of the two cou- pling points on a lower lifting arm.

At the area of each of the upright beams a plate 8 is welded to the top face of the top beam 2 so as to extend substantially upwardly, though it has a gentle inclination to the vertical in the direction away from the tractor. Viewed in the direction of travel A the two beams 8 are disposed vertically. Midway the length of the top beam 2 an upwardly extending beam 9 is welded to the side face of the beam 2 remote from the tractor, this beam 9 terminating at the same height above the top face of the top beam 2 as the beams 8. To the top faces of the beams 8 and the beam 9 is welded a horizontal carrier 10 extending symmetrically to the vertical plane of symmetry of the frame 1. The carrier 10 is parallel to the beams 2 and 3. On the side of the beam 9 facing the tractor two plate supports 11 are fastened one on each side of the vertical plane of symmetry of the frame 1. Through holes in these supports 11 is passed a horizontal pin 12, by means of which the upper lifting arm of the lifting device of the tractor-can be fastened.

The length of the carrier 10 is somewhat smaller than that of the beams 2 and 3 (Figure 1). Each of the two ends of the carrier 10 is provided with a support 13, which is illustrated is a plate but which could have the form of a closed, elongate box. The supports 13 are horizontal and extend away from the carrier 10 in a direction away from the tractor. The ends of the two supports 13 remote from the carrier 10 are rigidly secured to a carrier or guide beam 14, which extends parallel to the carrier 10 and hence also parallel to the beams 2 and 3, its length being equal to that of the carrier 10. Viewed on plan, the carriers 10 and 14 and the two supports 13 constitute a rectangle. The carriers 10 and 14 are, moreover, coupled by means of two box form carriers 15 located inside the supports 13, the carriers 15 being welded to the proximal sides of the hollow carriers 10 and 14 and also part of the top faces of the beams 8.

As far as the dimensions in a direction of height are concerned, in the disposition shown in Figure 2 the beam 2 is located about 50 to 70 cms above the ground, the beam 3 is at a short distance of, for example, 10 cms above the ground and the framework formed by the carriers 10, 14, 15 and the supports 13 is at a height of about 1.80 ms above the ground. These parts of the frame 1 constitute a rigid assembly. The beams and carriers are preferably formed by hollow members of square or rectangular, closed section. The carrier 14 is located approximately midway above the space occupied by the block to be cut from the silage.

To the vertical face of the carrier 14 remote from the carrier 10 is welded a plate strip 16, which extends throughout the length of the carrier 14. The vertical dimension of the plate strip 16 is such that the strip extends over a given distance beyond the top face and below the underface of the carrier 14. Two pairs of rollers 17 and 18 travel along the top and bottom edges of the plate strip 16. Each roller has a central part having a dimension in the direction of the rotary axis of the roller substantially corresponding to the width of the plate strip 16 and two outer roller parts integral with the central part and having a diameter exceeding that of the central part, these two parts providing support along the two vertical boundary faces of the plate strip 16. The pairs of rollers 17 and 18 are spaced 2 GB 2 161 366 2 apart by a distance of about 40 to 70 ems, prefera bly about 60 ems. The rotary axes of the rollers 17, 18 are parallel to one another and normal to the beams 2 and 3 and carriers 10 and 14 and they are rigidly secured to a plate strip 19 extending parallel to the plate strip 10.

Approximately at the level of the top face of the carrier 14, on the side of the plate strip 19 remote from this carrier, a substantially horizontal set plate 20 is welded to the strip 19, this plate, viewed on plan (Figure 1), being mainly bounded by half a circle, which is continued near the plate strip 19 in the form of two parallel lines adjoining the plate strip 19. The centre of this semicircle is designated by reference numeral 21. The set plate 20 bears on the underside in a manner not shown on the part of the plate strip 19 located below the set plate 20 by means of supporting plates.

At the centre of the semi-circular boundary of the set plate 20 is fastened a pivotal shaft 22, which is coaxial with a line normal to the plane of the set plate 20 and going through the centre 21.

To the pivotal shaft 22 is fastened a rigid, hollow carrying beam 23, which is at right angles to the direction of the pivotal shaft 22 and is located par- 90 allel to and below the set plate 20. The carrying beam 23 is pivotable through an angle of about 180' about the pivotal shaft 22. To the end of the carrying beam 23 remote from the pivotal shaft 21 is rigidly secured a double-acting hydraulic ram 24, 95 the centre line of which is parallel to the centre line of the pivotal shaft 22 so that during operation it is substantially vertical. Viewed in a horizontal direc tion (Figure 2) the major part of the double-acting hydraulic ram 24 protrudes above the carrying beam 23 and an end of the piston rod emerging from the underside of the ram 24 is located below a horizontal plane coinciding with the underside of the carrying beam 23. To the lower end of the pis ton rod is ridigly secured a cutting member 25 (formed by an elongate knife in the cutter shown).

The larger dimension of the knife 25 extends in a horizontal direction. As shown in Figure 2 the cut ting member extends symmetrically on both sides of the centre line of the ram 24. The knife 25 is made from hardened steel sheet, the top edge of which, viewed at right angles to the plane of this sheet, extends in the direction of the larger dimen sion of the cutter and has the shape of part of a circle, or in alternative forms not shown of another 115 upwardly converging structure with regard to a re duction of forces exerted on the knife when the knife is drawn up out of the silage after a down ward movement. At its ends the top edge is rounded off and the bottom edge defines a se quence of at least two teeth 26, in the form illus trated five, each of which has the shape of a V, the teeth lying side by side in the same plane, Each tooth 26 is symmetrically designed and is bounded by a sharp cutting edge which is upwardly inclined 125 from the lower point to both sides. The cutting face is sharply ground as will be seen from the sectional view of Figure 4. In the area of the junc tion of the cutting faces of each two adjacent teeth 26, viewed at right angles to the plane of the knife, 130 a cavity 27 is provided in the boundary line of the sequence of teeth 26 in the form of a semi-circle which also has a sharp cutting edge. The horizontally measured overall length of the knife 25 is at least 40 ems and as illustrated is about 90 ems.

Viewed on plan (Figure 1), the carrying beam 23 of the cutting knife 25 extends beyond the set plate 20 over a distance substantially equal to the radius of the boundary line ol this plate. Along the cir- cumference of the set plate 20 is provided a plurality of holes (as illustrated three), the centres of which are equally spaced from the centre 21. Each two adjacent holes cover a circumferential angle of 90'. Through each of the holes 28 and a hole in the top face of the carrying beam 23 can be passed a locking pin 29 for fixing the carrying beam 23 and the knife 25 in different positions relative to the set plate 20 after a turn of the carrying beam 23 about the centre line of the pivotal shaft 22. The carrying beam 23 and the set plate 20 constitute the main part of the cutting knife 25. The hydraulic ram 24 is a double-acting cylinder and communicates with the hydraulic system of the tractor.

To the plate strip 19 is rigidly secured an ear 30, which is bent over and across the top edge of the plate strip 16 and then extends parallel to the top face of the carrier 14. In the last-mentioned part of the ear 30 a hole is provided. The top face of the carrier 14 has a row of holes 32 spaced apart from one another in the direction of length of the carrier 14. The locking pin 31 can be passed through the hole in the ear 30 and any selected one of the holes 32 in the carrier 14 for fixing the set plate 20 with respect to the carrier 14. After releasing the locking pin 31 the set plate 20 can be translatorily displaced by means of the two pairs of rollers 17 and 18 along the plate strip fastened to the carrier 14, the set plate 20 and the carrying beam 23 thus moving parallel to the beams 2 and 3 and at right angles to the plane of symmetry of the silage cutter and the tractor. Subsequently the locking pin 31 can be passed through the hole in the ear 30 and a further hole 32 in the carrier 14 so that the set plate 20 is again fixed in place in its new position.

It should be noted here that during this setting the upper boundary of the cutting knife 25, even in the topmost position, is invariably located below the framework 10, 13, 14, 15 so that the knife 25 does not represent an obstacle to this lateral displacement.

The lower boundary of the knife 25 in a position in which the piston rod of the ram 24 is fully withdrawn is at a level above the ground that determines the greatest height (about 150 to 180 ems or more) of the silage to be cut. It is possible, by leaving out supporting means to be described herein after, that silage can be cut at an even greater height above the ground after the lifting device of the tractor is elevated.

Near the underside of the frame 1 the substantially vertical framework 2 to 5 is provided with at least one pivotable device (as illustrated two devices) intended inter alia for discharging the cut fodder. Near the two ends of the beams 2 and 3 the framework 2 to 5 is provided with upwardly di- 3 GB 2 161 366 3 rected pivotal shafts 33 and 34, each formed by pins aligned in the beams 2 and 3. By means of ears 35 and 36 adapted to turn about the pivotal shafts 33 and 34 respectively, two frameworks 37 and 38 respectively are pivotable about the pivotal shafts 33 and 34. Like the framework 2 to 5, the frameworks 37 and 38 extend parallel to a substantially vertical plane and in the position illustrated in Figure 1 they are in engagement with the frame- work 2 to 5. As shown in Figure 1, the frameworks 37 and 38 extend from an end of the framework 2 to 5 up to the beam 9, which is rigidly secured to the framework 2 to 5.

Each of the two frameworks 37 and 38 is pivota- ble about the associated pivotal shaft 33 and 34 respectively by means of a double-acting hydraulic ram 39 and 40 respectively, which extends horizontally and one end of which is pivotally connected with the top of the framework 2 to 5, whilst the end of the piston rod is pivotally connected with a top beam 41 and 42 respectively of the frameworks 37 and 38 respectively. In the position shown in Figure 1 the top beams 41 and 42 are parallel to the top beam 2.

The frameworks 37 and 38 furthermore comprise 90 a bottom beam designated by reference numeral 43 for the framework 37 in Figure 2. In the position shown in Figure 1 this beam 43 is parallel to the bottom beam 3. The top and bottom beams of the frameworks 37 and 38 are interconnected by verti95 cal tie beams. As illustrated the frameworks 37 and 38 are hollow. The vertical walls of the bottom beams 43 have holes into which releasable sup porting members 44 are inserted, these members being steel rods, preferably solid rods extending 100 horizontally and, viewed on plan, at right angles to the frameworks 37 and 38. Near their free ends the supporting members 44 are punctiform and slightly bent up near the bottom beams 43 in a manner such that their ends held in the bottom 105 beam 43 extend horizontally and the supporting members 44 can bear on the ground, whilst the underside of the frame 1 is still slightly above the ground. As illustrated, four relatively parallel, equi distant supporting members 44 on each framework 110 37 and 38 respectively are inserted into the beams 43. The length of each of the supporting members 44 is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the length of the beams 41 to 43 of the frameworks 37 and 38, to which the members 44 are fastened. 115 In the position shown in Figure 1, the whole row of - members 44 of the frameworks 37 and 38 covers a width substantially equal to the overall width of the framework 2 to 5 shown in Figure 1.

To each of the pivotable frameworks 37 and 38 is 120 rigidly secuted a double-acting hydraulic ram 45 and 46 respectively. For this purpose a vertical beam 47 forming an upwardly directed tie beam between the horizontal beams 41 and 43 of the pi votable frameworks 37 and 38 (Figure 5) has se cured to it by welding a closed, hollow beam 48 of rectangular section, which extends substantially horizontally away from the associated framework 37 and 38 respectively in the direction towards the tractor to which the silage cutter is attached.

In use the cutter attached to the three-point lifting device of the tractor is driven against the stored silage in a manner such that the supporting members 44 slide with their tips below the silage to be cut until the silage cutter is in the position shown in Figure 1, in which the frameworks 37 and 38 are in contact with ihe framework 2 to 5. Reference numeral 55 indicates the foremost boundary of the silage to be cut prior to the cutting opera- tion. A block of silage can now be cut in a single operation from the stored silage, the larger dimen sion of which block is indicated in the plan view of Figure 1 by boundary lines formed by the knife 25 and the boundary lines represented by the dot and-dash lines 51, 52, 53 and 54.

At the beginning the knife 25 is in the position shown in Figure 1. For this purpose, by means of the locking pin 31, the set plate 20, the carrying beam 23, the hydraulic ram 24 and the knife 25 are disposed with respect to the direction of length of the carrier 14 in a manner such that the locking pin 31 can be inserted into a hole 32 nearest one end of the carrier 14. By means of the locking pin 29 the carrying beam 23 is fixed in place with respect to the set plate 20 in a manner such that the carrying beam 23 is parallel to the carrier 14 and protrudes beyond the neighbouring end of the carrier 14. The locking pin 29 is then passed through the associated hole 28 in the set plate 20. The operator is located near a control-casing for actuating the hydraulic rams. This casing may be fastened near one of the pivotal shafts 33 of the frame 1.

By actuating the hydraulic ram 24 the knife 25 initially being in its topmost position is pressed downwards across the silage in the direction of arrow 56 in Figure 2. The downward movement of the knife 25 is substantially uniform. The angle between a cutting side of a symmetrical tooth of the knife 25 and a horizontal plane, designated in Figure 2 by reference numeral 57, is in the cutter illustrated about 3W, but it may also be larger. These cutting sides penetrate through the stems and fibres of the silage whilst cutting them in a sliding, oblique movement and adhering parts on the cutting edges of two adjacent teeth can be subsequently cut via the cavities 27 and,lor be conducted away along a boundary face of the knife. The knife moves substantially uniformaly down to the floor on which the silage is lying and the proportioning is such that the plane in which the knife is moving is located just at the side of one of the supporting members 44 so that just at the side of the cutting path a satisfactory counter-pressure of the fodder is obtained.

After the termination of the whole downward cutting path, the knife 25 is moved upwards into its topmost position. Then the lock pin 29 is removed and the carrying beam together with the hydraulic ram 24 and the knife 25 is turned through 90' about the pivotal shaft 22, after which the locking pin is passed through the hole 28, which is at a circumferential angle of 90' from the hole first used. Then the hydraulic ram 24 is again energised so that a cut is made along the boundary line 51. The proportioning is such that the boundary line 51 in- 4 GB 2 161 366 4 tersects the first boundary line (in the position of the knife 25 in Figure 1) so that some overlap is obtained and the block to be cut out no longer ad heres to the further stored silage which has to be left.

Subsequently the assembly of the set plate 20, the arm 23 and the ram 24 and the knife 25 is moved along the plate strip 16 by means of the rollers 17 and 18, after removal of the pin 31. The locking pin 31 is then passed through the hole shown in Figure 1(32) furthest remote from the hole 32 first used. The hydraulic ram 24 is again energised so that the knife 25 cuts along the boundary line 52. After the knife is again moved into its topmost position, the arm 23 is turned to the right through 90' about the pivotal shaft 22 (as viewed in Figure 1) and after energisation of the hydraulic ram 24 a cut is made simultaneously along the boundary lines 53 and 54. At every sub- sequent cutting movement a given amount of overlap is obtained between the boundaries cut in sequence.

After the knife has again been moved into its topmost position, the silage cutter and the cut block bearing on the members 44 can be removed by lifting the silage cutter with the aid of the threepoint lifting device of the tractor. The tractor can then be driven towards the place where the cut silage is to be used. At this place the supporting members 44 are again brought to ground level, after which the operator simultaneously actuates the hydraulic rams 45 and 46. Thus the two partition plates 50 of the framework 37, 38, which are in line with one another, slide away and push the cut block from the supporting members 44 so that the block is deposited on the ground. The partition plates 50 are then drawn in, after which the cutting operation can start again.

The silage cutter also permits of cutting smaller blocks having the boundary lines 58 to 65 in Figure 1, in which case a further boundary line (not visible in Figure 1) is cut in line with the boundary line 61 between the boundary line 55 of the stored silage and the boundary line 51. A block outlined by the boundary lines 62, 63, 51, 55 and that drawn along the knife 25 in Figure 1 can be cut out by turning the knife 25 (in the position of the set plate 20 shown in Figure 1) and the carrying beam 23 through 90' out of the position (hole 28) used for the boundary line 51 after having cut along the last- mentioned boundary in the position of the knife 25 as shown in Figure 1 and along the boundary line 51 as described above, so that in the new position the knife has turned through 180' out of the position shown in Figure 1. By again actuat- 120 ing the knife 25 the boundary lines 62 and 63 are cut. Subsequently the boundary lines 52 and 53, 54 can be cut so that the two cut blocks will bear on the supporting member 44. After elevation by means of the three-point lifting device of the tractor and homeward travel of the tractor the hydraulic ram 39 can be actuated so that the framework 37 turns about the pivotal shaft 33 through at least 450 into the position shown in Fig- ure 3. After actuation of the hydraulic ram 45 the partition plate 50 pushes one of the two blocks off the associated supporting member 44 in a lateral direction. In this way the block part can be deposited at the side of the tractor at the desired place in a stable or anywhere else so that only minor manual effort is required for moving the fodder within reach of the cattle at a place where it will not hinder any further activities. Then the tractor can be moved to another place, where the ram 40 can be actuated to turn the framework 38 about the pivotal shaft 34, the remaining block also being lat erally displaced and pushed off by means of the hydraulic ram 46 and the associated partition plate 50.

Blocks smaller than the two blocks just discussed can be cut, like in the last-mentioned cases, by slipping the supporting members 44, for example, by half their length below the stored silage rather than by their whole length. In this case the bound- aries 58 and 61 and the boundary registering with the boundary 61 and lying below the beam 23 in Figure 1 can be cut. Also in this case the boundaries 59, 62 can be cut by turning the carrying beam 23 about the pivotal shaft 22 so that the position of the knife 25 can again be turned through 90'. In the last-mentioned cases, in which small blocks are formed, only part. of the length of the knife 25 is operative. The resultant, eccentric forces exerted on the supporting structure of the knife 25 can be advantageously transferred to the frame 1 by using torsion-resistant hollow beams.

When the supporting members 44 are fully slipped below the silage so that a block of maximum size can be cut and the locking pin 31 is in- serted into the central hole 32 of Figure 1, cuts can be made along the boundary lines 59, 60 and also along lines 64, 65 (four smaller blocks). After the silage cutter has been moved by the tractor (for example into the stable) and when these smaller blocks are slipped halfway from the members 44, they can again be cut along the lines 58, 61 and the prolongations thereof.

As illustrated three holes 28 are arranged in relative positions spaced apart by circumferential an- gles of 90', but more holes 28 may be provided so that the knife 25 can be put in inclined positions with respect to the vertical plane of symmetry of the silage cutter. It is also possible to increase the number of holes 32 in the carrier 14. In this way it is possible to cut arbitrarily small blocks of differ- ent shapes within the maximum dimensions of a block in dependence on the extent to which the supporting members 44 are slipped below the stored silage. As briefly stated above, cutting smaller blocks may as well be carried out at a dif ferent place than that where a block of maximum size is cut out of the silo. In the manner described above smaller blocks may be cut, for example, in a stable.

Since the knife 25 can perform a cutting move ment across the silage with relatively high speed and the knife described has a relatively large work ing width, cutting silage blocks can be carried out appreciably more rapidly than by means of cutting members performing a reciprocatory sawing GB 2 161 366 5 movement. Moreover, fewer manipulations are re quired so that the working efficiency is enhanced.

The implement described can also be employed without a cutting member, or without using the cutting member, and then constitutes silage block 70 conveyor by which blocks can be deposited in a lateral direction by using the two groups of sup porting members 44 arranged on the pivotable frameworks 37, 38.

Whilst various features of the implements that have been described, and that are illustrated in the drawings, will be set forth in the following claims as inventive features, it is to be noted that the invention is not necessarily limited to these features and that it encompasses all of the features that have been described both individually and in various combinations.

member is hydraulically movable.

12. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in claim 4 or any one of claims 5 to 11 as appendant directly or indirectly to claim 4, wherein each laterally displaceable group of supporting means is provided with a member for displacing cut blocks from the support means.

13. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, attach75 able to the three-point lifting device of a tractor.

14. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Claims (11)

1. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor com prising a frame and supporting means on which a silage block can be transported, at least part of the supporting means being arranged on the frame so as to be laterally displaceable.

2. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting means are horizontal rods.

3. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the supporting means are pivotable about an upwardly extending pivot axis with respect to the frame.

4. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the supporting means comprises at least two groups 100 of supporting rods, each of which is laterally dis placeable with respect to the frame.

5. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the supporting means are pivotable about a pivot axis arranged 105 near a lateral boundary of the frame.

6. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting means are laterally pivota ble through at least 45'.

7. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, pro vided with a member for removing the cut silage from the supporting means.

8. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as 115 claimed in claim 7, wherein said member is adapted to remove cut silage from the supporting means.

9. A silage block conveyor as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein in order to remove at least part of 120 cut silage from the supporting means said member is arranged between part of the frame and the cut silage so as to be movable substantially parallel to the supporting means.

10. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as 125 claimed in claim 9, wherein said member corn prises a beam or a plate arranged parallel to a plane perpendicular to the supporting means.

11. A silage cutter or silage block conveyor as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein said 130 Printed in the U K for HMSO, D8818935, 11'85, 7102. Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.