Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AGRICULTURAL BAG LOADING APPAP~ATUS
TECHNICAL FIELn
The present invention relates to farm machinery, and
particularly relates to an agricultural bag loading
apparatus for loading silage and the like into
agricultural bags.
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BACKGROuNn ART
It is known to store agricultural products such as
silage and the like in the field in large plastic bags
referred to as agricultural bags. Such bags are
generally designed to be filled from one end and may have
a diameter in excess of eight feet and a length of up
to one hundred feet or more.
Machines have been developed to load silage and other
agricultural products into such agricultural bags. A
known conventional agricultural bag loading apparatus
includes a housing with a rotating shaft mounted therein.
The shaft has a plurality of teeth extending outwardly
therefrom which are arranged in a helical pattern about
and along the shaft. As the shaft rotates, the teeth
force silage into an agricultural bag which has been
secured adjacent to the loading apparatus. As silage
is loaded into the bag, the loading apparatus moves away
from the filled end of the bag in a controlled manner.
A stripping basket mounted in the housing encompasses
the shaft for strippiny silage from the teeth mounted
on the shaft.
Although known agricultural bag loading apparatus
has performed adequately, difficulties encountered in
the operation and maintenance of such apparatus indicate
a need for still further improvements in the art. For
exaMple, it is sometimes necessary to gain access to or
remove the shaft of an agricultural bag loading apparatus,
for example, to facilitate bearing maintenance or repair
and to facilitate the repair or replacement of broken
teeth. When the shaft is positioned within the stripping
basket as is the case in certain prior agricultural bag
loading apparatus, access to the shaft cannot be obtained
without considerable difficulty. Likewise, the helical
tooth arrangement of the prior agricultural bag loading
apparatus is believed to cause difficulty in feeding
silage and similar materials in certain instances.
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Sl~1MARY OF T~IE INVENTION
- The foregoing and other problems associated with
conventional agricultural bag loading rnachines are solved
by rneans of the present invention in which an agricultural
bag loading apparatus for loading silage and the like
into asricultural bags includes a housing defining an
intake chamber for receiving silage and an output chamber
adapted to fit within the nouth of an agricultural bag.
A passageway is formed between the intake and output
chambers, and the mouth of the agricultural bag is
secured about the outp~t chamber.
In accordance of the present invention, a feeder is
mounted in the intake chamber of the housing for forcing
silage in the intake chanber towards the passageway. The
feeder may cornprise a feeder shaft rotatably mounted in
the intake cha~ber with a plurality of projections
extending in a generally perpendicular direction fron
the feeder shaft. The feeder shaft is rotated and the
projections urge silage in the intake chamber towards
the passageway and the primary shaft.
A primary shaft is rotatably supported in the
passageway; and a motor selectively rotates both the
primary shaft and the feeder shaft. A plurality of teeth
are nounted on the prinary shaft in a non-helical, random
pattern with the teeth being generally evenly distributed
on the surface of the shaft. The teeth are adapted to
force silage from the intake chamber through the
~assageway and into the output chanber when the shaft
is rotated. A stripping comb is mounted on the housing
and extends to within a predetermined distance from the
shaft for removing silage from the teeth as the shaft
rotates the teeth from the output chamber through the comb
into the input chamber.
The teeth are operable when rotated to force silage
fron the intake chamber through the output chamber and
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into the agricultural bag. A backstop structure yieldably
engages the end of the agricultural bag to resist the
movement of the loading apparatus away from the filled
end of the agricultural bag as silage is forced into the
bag. Thus, a selected pressure is applied to the end
of the agricultural bag so that the silage is loaded into
the agricultural bag at a predetermined compression or
pressure.
The backstop structure may comprise at least one
drum rotatably mounted on the loading apparatus, and a
brake mounted on the loading apparatus for braking or
resisting the rotation of the drum with a selected brake
force. A cable is wrapped around the drum in a single
layer so that excessive wear of the cable is avoided.
The cable is connected to a sheet of netting or other
flexible material configured to conform to the shape of
the end of the agricultural bag. The sheet of flexible
material is operable to distribute the force of the cable
over the area of the filled end of the agricultural bag
to yieldably resist the movement of the loading apparatus
away from the filled end of -the bag as silage is received
therein. In the preferred embodi~ent, the brake is a
disc brake controlled by a manually operated pump with
a pressure indicator and dial.
In accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, the primary shaft is a steel pipe mounted in
a pair of brass bushings that support both ends of the
steel pipe. A driven sprocket is mounted on one end of
the steel pipe, and a chain is connected between a drive
sprocket and the driven sprocket. A hydraulic motor
rotates the drive sprocket to rotate the primary shaft.
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In accordance with another aspect of the invention,
the teeth on the primary shaft are arranged in groups, and
the teeth are curved away from the direction of travel to
facilitate the removal of silage from the teeth as they
pass through the comb. The comb includes a plurality of
prongs extending downwardly from the housing to a pre-
determined position in the output chamber adjacent to the
primary shaft so that the teeth are operable to force
silage under the comb, and silage is removed from the
teeth by the comb as the teeth pass therethrough. The
prongs of the comb are curved with convex surfaces facing
the output chamber of said housing to facilitate removal
of silage from the teeth.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention
there is provided an agricultural bag loading apparatus
for loading material into agricultural bags, said
apparatus comprising: a housing defining an intake chamber
; ~ for receiving silage and an output chamber adapted to ~f-~
the mouth of an agricultura~ bag; means securing
the mouth of an agricultural bag about said output
chamber; a passageway formed between sa.id intake chamber
and said output chamber; a primary shaft; means for
rotatably supporting said primary shaft in said
passageway; drive means for selectively rotating said
primary shaft; a plurality of teeth mounted along said
primary shaft in a random pattern with said teeth being
evenly distributed on the surface of said shaft, said
teeth being adapted to force silage from the intake
chamber through said passageway and into said output
chamber when the shaft is rotated; a comb mounted on said
housing and extending to within a predetermined distance
from said shaft for removing silage ~rom said teeth when
the shaft is rotated; said teeth being operable when
rotated to force silage from the intake chamber, through
said passageway, through said output chamber and into the
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agricultural bag; and means for yieldably engaging thefend
` of the agricultural bag to resist the movement of the
loading apparatus away from the filled end of the bag as
silage is forced into the agricultural bag so that silage
5 is loaded into the bag at a predetermined pressure.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DR~WINGS
The present invention may best be understood by
reference to the following Detailed Description when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings
in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the agricultural
bag loading apparatus of the present invention with an
agricultural bag secured thereto and partially loaded;
FIGURE 2 is a view of the agricultural bag loading
apparatus showing the output chamber thereof with an
agricultural bag shown in phantom;
FIGURE 3 shows the intake chamber of the loading
apparatus and a feeder for forcing silage towards
a passageway to the output chamber;
FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of the loading
apparatus taken through the plane 4-~ as shown in FIGURE
2;
FIGURE 5 is a development of the primarY shaft
showing the location of teeth on the shaft surface;
FIGURE ~ is a side view of the loading apparatus
showing drive and bra~ing mechanisms;
FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view ta~en through
line 7-7 shown in FIGURE 6 to illustrate the support
structure for rotatably supporting the primary shaft; and
FIGURE 8 is a detail view showing a disc brake for
resisting the rotation of a drum.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference
characters designate like or corresponding parts
throughout the several views, there is shown in FI~U~E 1
a perspective view of an agricultural bag loading
apparatus 10 embodying the present invention. An
agricultural bag 12 is shown mounted on the loading
apparatus 10 and partially filled with silage. The
agricultural bag 12 is gathered near the bag mouth 14 in
an accordian-like fashion. As silage is fed into the
agricultural bag 12, the loading apparatus 10 moves away
from the filled end o, the bag and the gathered portion of
the bag expands to allow the bag to be filled.
A backstop 16 is positioned at the filled end of the
agricultural bag 12. The backstop 16 is made of a
suitable flexible material such as netting and conforms
to the shape of the end of the agricultural bag 12. A
pair of cables 1~ tonly one of which is shown in FIGURE
1) extend between the backstop 16 and a pair of rotatable
drums 20. As silage is forced into the agricultural bag
12, and the loading apparatus moves away from the filled
end of the bag, cables 18 are pulled from the drums 20.
The rotation of the drums 20 is resisted by a brake
mechanism hereinafter described. Thus, the motion of the
loading apparatus away from the filled end of the bag is
yieldably resisted by the drums 20. The tension on the
cables 18 is applied uniformly and evenly against the
filled end of the agricultural bag 12 by the backstop 15.
In this manner, the silage within the agricultural bag 12
is compressed at a pressure corresponding to the brake
force on the drums 0.
The prime mover of the loading apparatus 10 is a
hydraulic motor 22. The hydraulic motor 22 receives its
power from a hydraulic pump driven by a tractor 24 which
is shown in phantom. The loading apparatus 10 is mounted
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on four wheels 26 that may rotate through an angle of 90.
Thus, the loading apparatus 10 may be moved laterally
for transport as well as forwardly and rearwardly for
positioning and use.
Conventional means are used to secure the loading
apparatus 10 to the tractor 24 for towing the loading
apparatus 10 from place to place. As the agricultural
bag 12 is filled with silaye, the loading apparatus 10
is inched forward so that the bottom of the bag 12
remains stationary with respect to the ground. In some
applications, it may be preferred to allow the loading
apparatus 10 to remain stationary with respect to the
ground while silage is loaded into the agricultural bag
12. In this latter case, the bottom of the agricultural
bag 12 will be forced to slide along the ground or other
support surface as it is filled.
In FIGURE 2, another side of the loading apparatus
10 is shown. In this view, the second drum 20 and cable
18 are shown. A shaft 28 interconnects the t~o drums
20 so that they must rotate in unison. The shaft 28 is
rotatably supported by bearings 30.
- The agricultural bag 12 and the backstop 16 are shown
in phantom in FIGURE 2 so that the output chamber 32 may
be seen. The output chamber 32 is defined by a horizontal
bottom 34 with two sidewalls 36 extending upwardly
therefrom. The upper portion of the output chamber 32
is defined by two inclined sidewall sections 38 and a
backwall 40 which abuts the inclined sidewall sections
38 and is inclined rearwardly from its base to its apex.
Silage is forced into the output chamber 32 through
a passageway 42. An inclined shield 44 is mounted on the
bottom surface 34 in the center of the passageway 42.
Gaps are left on either side of the shield 44 and the
sidewalls 36 so that silage is more easily forced through
the passageway 42 along the sides of the output chamber
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32 than in the center of the cha~ber 32. Sila~e is forceA
into the output chamber 32 by a plurality of teeth 46. As
the teeth 46 pass out of the output chamber 32, a comb 48
strips silage from the teeth 46 retaining the silage in
the output cha~ber.
Referring now to FIGURE 3, there is shown a
perspective view of the intake chamber 50 of the loading
apparatus lO. The intake chamber 50 has an open top
and one open side. Silage is fed into the intake chamber
50 fro~n the top and is forced laterally out of the
chamber. The passageway 42 extends between and connects
the intake chamber 50 and the output cha~ber 32. A
primary shaft 52 is rotatably mounted on the loading
apparatus lO and may be considered to be within the
intake chamber 50. The primary shaft 52 is rotated in
the direction indicated by arrow 54 in FIG11RE 3 so that
the teeth 46 force silage in the intake chamber 50 under
the primary shaft 52 through the passageway 42 and into
the output chamber 32. As the teeth 46 return back into
the intake chamber 50, the comb 43 strips the silaqe from
the teeth 46.
A feeder shaft 60 is also mounted in the intake
chamber 50 in a parallel relationship with the primary
shaft 52. A plurality of feeder projections 62, which may
comprise lengths of angle iron, are mounted on the shaft
60 and extend outwardly therefrom in a substantially
perpendicular relationship to tl1e shaft 60. As the shaft
60 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 64,
silage is forced under the shaft 60 and towards the shaft
52. In this manner, the feeder shaft 60 and the feeder
projections 62 function to precompress the silage to a
slight degree and insures that an adequate supply of
silage is always presented to the teeth 46. Thus, the
feeder insures the efficient operation of the loadin~
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apparatus 10 so long as an adequate amount of silage is
fed into the input chamber 50.
In FIGURE 4, a cross-sectional view of the loading
apparatus 10 is shown taken through the plane 4-4 of
FIGURE 2. Silage is fed into the top of the chamber 50
directly onto the rotating feeder projections 62. First,
the silage is forced downwardly along the rear wall 70 of
the intake chamber 50 by the projections 62. As the rear
wall 70 extends downwardly, it curves inwardly and
eventually forms the bottom surface 72 of the intake
chamber 50. The silage follows the curvature of the rear
wall 70 and is then forced along the bottom surface 72
towards the teeth 46. The momentum imparted to the silage
by the rotating projections 62 carries it towards the
teeth 46. Also, silaye is forced towards the teeth 46
by following sila~e that was later placed in the intake
chamber 50.
Sprockets 74 and 76 are mounted on the secondary
shaft 60 and the primary shaft 52, respectively, and a
chain 78 extends between the two sprockets so that the
shaft 60 is rotated in response to the rotation of the
shaft 52. The relative rotational velocities of the
shafts 52 and 60 is controlled by the size of the
sprockets 74 and 76. In the e~bodiment shown, sprocket
76 is slightly larger than sprocket 74 so that the shaft
: 60 will rotate at a greater rotational velocity than the
shaft 52. A tensioning sprocket 80 is used to control
the tension in the chain 78.
The teeth 46 on shaft 52 are rotated in the direction
indicated by arrow 54 in FIGURE 4 for engaging silage fed
towards ther,l by the feeder. The teeth 46 force the silage
downwardly and, then, away from the intake chamber 50.
In the approximate r.liddle of the passageway 42, the teeth
46 force silage up the curved incline of shield 44, as
indicated by arrow 82 in FIGURE 4.
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The comb 4~ includes a plurality of prongs 90 that
extend downwardly in the output chamber 32 to a
predetermined position adjacent the shaft 52. The teeth
46 and the prongs 90 are alternately arranged so that each
tooth 46 passes between a pair of prongs 90, and so that
each prong is positioned between a pair of teeth. Each
prong 90 is curved with the convex surface of the prong
facing the output chamber. As the teeth 45 move in a
circular motion about the shaft 5 , the teeth gradually
pass through the curved prongs 90 of the comb 48. In this
manner, the prongs 90 strip silage and the like away from
the teeth 46 after the silage has been forced into the
output chamber 32.
It will be appreciated that the teeth 46 have a
curved leading edge which is swept bac]~ away from the
direction of travel of the teeth. This curvature enhances
the ability of the comb 48 to strip silage from the teeth.
Also, the curvature of the prongs 90 further enhance the
ability of the comb 48 to strip silage from the teeth 46.
In FIGURE 5, a development of the sha~t 52 is shown
to illuskrate the placement of the teeth 46 thereon. In
this development, the entire surface of the shaft 52 is
shown flat as if the shaft 52 had been cut longitudinally
and laid flat. The center line of FIGUR~. 5 may be
considered coincident with the axis of rotation of shaft
52. The teeth 46 are arranged in groups ~2, with each
group including either 3 or 4 teeth, in accordance with
particular requirements. ~ithin each group ~2 the teeth
46 extend axially relative to the shaft 52.
The teeth 46 are distributed along the surface of the
shaft 52 in a random pattern. The pattern is referred to
as random because the tooth arrangement does not form any
type of geometric pattern. However, the distribution of
the teeth is generally even, albeit random, over the
surface of the shaft 52. he even distribution of the
teeth 46 on a shaft 52 insures that on the movement of
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silage by the teeth 46 will be approximatelv equal along
the length of the shaft 52. The random pattern of
distribution of the teeth 46 on the shaft 52 insures that
different teeth will be in stress positions at different
times. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5 ~ it will be
noted that the leading edges of each tooth 46 of a
. particular group 92 does not coincide horizontally with
the leading edge of any other group 92.
Referring now to FIGURE 6, there is shown a side
view of the loading apparatus 10. In this vie~, the drive
system of the loading ap2aratus 10 is clearly shown. The
hydraulic motor 22 is interconnected by hydraulic lines
; 93 and 94 to a source of hydraulic power such as a
hydraulic pump which rnay be driven by the power take-off
of a tractor. A dial 96 is provided to measure the
pressure of the hydraulic fluid going to the motor 22. A
drive sprocket 98 is rotatably driven by the motor 22, and
a driven sprocket 100 is secured to the shaft 52. A chain
102 mechanically connects the drive sprocket 98 to the
driven sprocket 100 so that the motor 22 is operable to
rotate the shaft 52 through the drive sprockets ~8 and 100
and the chain 102.
It will be appreciated that a substantial mechanical
advantage is achieved by using a relatively s~all drive
sprocket 98 compared to the size of the driven sprocket
100. Thus, the rotational velocity of the motor 22 is
greater than the rotational velocity of the shaft 52.
Referring back to FIGURE 4, it is shown that the primary
shaft 52 also drives the feeder shaft 60. Thus, the
hydraulic motor 22 drives both shafts 52 and 60.
In FIGURE 6, it is shown that a sprocket 104 is
mounted on the exterior end of the drum 20 and is
interconnected with a sprocket 106 by a chain 108. The
sprocket 105 is connected to a disc brake 110 which is
- 35 used to resist the rotation of the drum 20. As the cable
13
18 is pulled outwardly, the drum 20 is rotated. The
rotational force of the drum 20 is transmitted through
the sprockets 104 and 106 and the chain 108 to the brake
110. Thus, the brake force of the brake 110 resists the
rotational movement of the drum 20 and the outward
r,love~ent of the cable 18.
The brake 110 is a conventional automobile disc brake
and operates in a conventional manner. A ~anual pump 112
is interconnected through hydraulic line 114 and 116 with
the brake 110 and is used to pressurize the brake. The
pump 112 includes a pump handle 118 and a cylinder 120.
As the handle 118 is pumped out and in with respect to the
loading apparatus 10, the brake 110 is pressurized and a
braking force is created. The brake force of the brake
110 is therefore proportional to the pressure created by
the pump 112. A pressure sensor and dial 122 is connected
between the hydraulic lines 114 and 116 to indicate the
; pressure being applied to the brake 110.
Referring to FIGURES 1 and 6, it will be appreciated
that the pressure indicated by the sensor and dial 122 is
an indirect measurement of the brake force of brake 110.
This brake force is directly proportional to the force
required to pull the cable 18 from the drum 20. The force
on the cable 18 is applied through the backstop 16 to the
end of the agricultural bag 12 to determine the degree of
compression of the silage or the pressure of the silage
within the agricultural bag 12. Thus, the reading of the
pressure sensor and dial 122 is an indirect measurement
of the deyree of compression of silage ~ithin the
agricultural bag 12. By using the pump 112 to set the
pressure on the brake 110, the operator may control the
compression of the silage within the agricultural bag 12.
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Referring now to FIGURE 7, there is sho~n a cross
sectional view taken through lines 7-7 of FIGURE 6. In
this view, the mounting of the primary shaft 52 is clearly
shown with the middle portion of the shaft 52 being cut
away so that only the two ends of the shaft are shown.
The shaft 52 is preferably a steel pipe. ~he ends of the
shaft 52 are supported by brass bushings 130 and 132 which
are welded to the sidewalls 134 and 136 of the loading
apparatus 10. The sprocket 76 is bolted to one end of
the shaft 52 and abuts against the bushing 130 to hold
the shaft 52 in position. On the other end of the shaft
52, a metal sleeve 138 is welded to the end of shaft 52
and is bolted to the sprocket 100. The sprocket 100 abuts
the bushing 132 to hold the shaft 52 in positionO The
sprockets 76 and 100 prevent axial movement of the primary
shaft 52 in either direction. This mounting structure
is inexpensive, easy to manufacture, reliable and durable.
Referring now to FIGURE 8, there is shown a detailed
view of the brake 110 used to control the rotational
movement of the drum 20. As also shown in F~GURE ~, a
chain 108 connects the drum sprocket 104 to the brake 110.
The brake 110 is a conventional disc hrake including a
disc 150 and disc pads 15~. When pressure is applied to
the brake rnechanism 154 through the hydraulic line 116,
the disc pads engage the disc 150 to apply a braking force
through the chain 108 to the drum 20. As in a
conventional brake system, the pressure applied through
the hydraulic line 116 determines the brake force of the
brake 110 and determines the degree of resistance to the
rotational movement of the drum ~0.
Although a particular embodiment has been described
in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be
understood that the invention is capable of numerous
rearrangements, modifications and substitutions of parts
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
