Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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AGRICULTURAL FEED BAG UNLOADING APPARATUS
DESCRIPTION
Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for unloading feed, such as silage and
the like,
S from an agricultural feed storage bag of the type formed of an elongated
tubular flexible sheet
plastic material.
Background Of Invention
Elongated feed storage bags which extend horizontally on the ground surface
have
become a common replacement for the conventional vertical silos and bunker
type storage of
silage feed. The use of such bags requires considerable less capital cost, and
they are capable of
storing large quantities of feed with little spoilage. On the other hand, more
work is usually
involved in removing the feed as required from the bag and frequently more
wastage occurs as
compared to using common unloaders such as used in upright silos.
The most conventional manner of unloading the bag involves scooping the feed
from an
open end of the bag with a front-end loader or the like, and dumping the feed
into a feed trough,
a wagon or other carrier for moving the feed to an intake site of a feed
system or a site directly
available to the livestock. This process is not unlike that commonly used with
bunker type
storage of feed. The use of the storage bag, however, has a further
disadvantage of having to
cope with the loose plastic sheeting from the bag at the site of loading from
the bag and its
subsequent disposal.
There have been various proposals of machines for removing of silage stored in
stacks
on the ground or contained in bunkers or the like and simultaneously loading
the removed silage
into a wagon, but in the main, such machines are not generally in use because
of their cost and
the fact front-end loaders, which are usually readily available at cattle
operations, are often
capable of doing a relatively good job of breaking silage from the pile and
moving it away as
required. As indicated above, the removal of silage from a feed storage bag,
on the other hand,
presents problems somewhat different than those relating to bunker silos and
the like because of
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the presence of the plastic sheet material, and this is certainly so in the
case when a front end
loader is being utilized. While attempts have been made to provide an
unloading apparatus for
use with feed storage bags, such as shown in U. S. Patent No. 4,420,119,
December 13, 1983, to
V.V. Johnson, as far as it can be determined, unloaders of this type, or of
any type useful in
unloading bags are not widely available on a commercial basis It is believed
that attempts to
provide an apparatus to remove silage from feed storage bags has generally
been unsuccessful
due to the complexity of proposed self contained machines which present a cost
problem and to
the fact they have not been capable of dealing with the variations in the size
of bags utilized, and
particularly, with the irregularities in the shapes assumed by such bags. The
bags used for
storing agricultural feed are purchased on the basis of desired diameter, and
depending on a
number of factors, such as the type of forage used, its moisture content at
time of harvesting,
and the initial compression achieved when filling the bag, the final cross
sectional shape of the
compacted mass of silage and size of the bag contents vary considerably after
fermentation.
Moreover, other features, such as the straightness of the horizontal axis of
the elongated bag,
1 S vary from bag to bag as filled.
Summary Of The Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of relatively
simple and
economical structure and one which is capable of readily removing silage from
feed storage bags
while coping with variations in conditions presented by such bags.
According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus for removing
compacted feed,
such as silage and the like, from an open end of an agricultural feed storage
bag of the type
formed of an elongated tubular flexible sheet material, the apparatus having a
front part for
facing the open end of the bag and ground engaging means which supports the
framework for
normal travel over the ground towards the open end of the bag in a direction
substantially
coinciding with a longitudinal axis of the bag. There is provided a conveyor
system which
includes a feed collecting means and a transporting means for carrying feed
from the feed
collecting means to an area of removal, the feed collecting means extending
substantially across
the framework and defining a forward edge adjacent the front part of the
framework. A feed
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transfer means projects forwardly for engaging the compacted feed exposed at
the open end of
the bag and moving feed towards the feed collecting means, and an advancing
means is provided
for drawing the framework over the ground towards the open end of the bag and
in a direction
of the longitudinal axis of the bag. The advancing means includes a lower
roller means mounted
on the framework for rotation about a transverse, horizontal axis extending
normal to the
longitudinal axis of the bag, the lower roller means presenting an outer
surface for driving
engagement with a lower portion of the sheet material extending from beneath
the compacted
feed in the bag. A roller drive means is provided for rotating the lower
roller means so as to
develop a pull on the framework and move it toward the open end of the bag.
The lower roller
means further forms a sheet raising portion for directing the lower portion of
said sheet upward
from the ground relative to said framework and adjacent the forward edge of
the feed collecting
means.
In a specific embodiment of the invention, the collecting means includes an
open topped,
feed collecting trough member extending substantially the width of the
framework adjacent the
front part of the framework and presenting a forward transverse upper edge and
further
including a conveyor means for transporting feed from the trough member to the
area of
removal. The feed transfer means is in the form of a feed comminuting and
transfer means
including arm means having a rear end portions mounted on pivot means carried
by the
framework rearwardly and above the trough member and a forward end portion
extending
forwardly of the trough member. A transversely extending cylindrical member,
which has
projections thereon is mounted for rotation on the forward end portions of the
side arm
members. Second drive means is provided for rotating the cylindrical member
for fragmenting
the compacted feed, and elevating means is arranged to pivot the arm means
about the rear end
portion so as to move the cylindrical member along an arcuate path between a
raised position
proximate a top surface of the compacted feed and a lowered position forward
of the roller
means.
Brief Description of Drawings
In the accompanying drawings which show embodiments of the present invention
by way
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of examples,
Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the present
invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view as seen from the right side of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through the feed transfer means, the feed
collecting and
transporting means, and the advancing means of the apparatus as seen from line
3--3 of Figure ;
but with the cylindrical member of the feed transfer means in a lowermost
position;
Figure 4 is a view looking at the outer surface of a drum means forming part
of the feed
transfer means but developed to a flat condition so as to illustrate an
arrangement of blades
thereon.
Figure 5 is a somewhat enlarged elevational view of a rear portion of the
apparatus as
seen from the left side of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 6--6, of Figure
5;
Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the mounting of the rear
wheel at the
right side of the apparatus as viewed from the line 7--7, and with the wheel
shown in outline for
sake of clarity;
Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a mounting feature of the
front right
wheel of the apparatus as seen from line 8--8 in Figure 12, but showing the
wheel in outline for
the sake of clarity;
Figure 9 is an elevational view of a front side portion of the apparatus, as
seen from the
left hand side and showing in use an alternative embodiment of the invention;
Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, but showing a yet further alternative
form of the
present invention;
Figure 11 is a side elevation view as seen from the left hand side of another
embodiment
of the invention;
Figure 12 is a plan view of the embodiment as seen in Figure 1 l;
Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 13--13 of Figure
12, but
showing only the apparatus advancing means, lower sheet storage means, and
feed collecting and
transporting means;
Figure 14 is a right hand side view of a lower portion of the apparatus of
Figure 11 on an
enlarged scale.
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Figure 15 is an enlarged view as seen from the line 15--15 of Figure 12,
showing a
mounting arrangement for the rear right wheel of the apparatus of the present
invention;
Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view as seen from the line 16--16 of Figure 15;
Figure 17 is an enlarged view as seen from the line 17--17 of Figure 12
showing a cross-
section through a rear feed conveyor; and
Figure 18 is a view of the rear left portion of an embodiment of the invention
provided
with a self contained elevation system for delivery feed received from the
rear feed conveyor of
Figure 16--16.
In the drawings reference numbers corresponding to those used in the following
description are used to denote like parts, and wherein 10 is utilized to
generally indicate the bag
unloading apparatus of the present invention. The unloading apparatus 10
includes an overall
framework 11 having a front part 12, which, during operation, faces an open
end of an
agricultural feed storage bag 13 of the type formed of an elongated tubular
member formed of
flexible plastic sheet material. The feed bag when in a filled condition, such
as when containing
compacted and fermented feed in the form of silage and the like, lies on the
ground surface in an
extended form of a somewhat flattened cylindrical cross sectional shape having
a central
longitudinal axis 14. As will be described in more detail below, when the
unloading apparatus 10
is located in front of an end of the bag, with the front part 12 thereof
facing an opened end of the
bag, the tubular member forming the bag is initially slit along horizontal
lines at opposite sides of
the bag (Figure 2). The slits are made above the ground level and are
substantially parallel to the
axis 14 of the bag at opposite sides thereof, as shown at S in Figure 2 , thus
forming a lower
portion 1 S and an upper portion 16 of the sheet material of the bag
The framework 11 has main side components 17,18 shown at the left and right
hand
sides, respectively, as viewed in Figure 1, and which are of similar
construction, each including a
horizontal lower beam member 20 and an horizontal upper beam member 21
parallel to lower
member 20 and connected thereto by vertical members 22, 23 and 24. The side
components
17,18 also include upright columns 25 which are situated more to the rear
ofthe framework and
have upper ends positioned well above the upper beam member 18. It will be
noted that in the
embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, transversely spaced
forward portions of
the side components 17,18 extend forward of the open end of the bag 13. The
framework 11 is
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mounted on ground engaging means shown in the form of wheel means including a
pair of front
wheels 26,27 at the extreme front ends of side components 17,18 respectively,
and a pair of rear
wheels 30 and 31 at the rear ends of the side components 17,18, respectively.
When the
unloading apparatus is in its normal operating mode, the wheels are all
oriented so as to allow the
framework to travel in a path coinciding with the central axis 14 of the bag
13, i.e., wheels are
positioned to rotate about transverse axes. As will be described in more
detail below the wheels
include features which allows control of the steer of the framework 11 so as
to properly track in
the proper direction during normal unloading operations and also which permit
convenient
sideways travel of the apparatus when movement of the apparatus 10 from one
site to another is
required. As is most apparent from Figure 1, the front part 12 of the
framework 11 is effectively
open, i.e., the front portions of the main side components 17,18 are spaced
without any
transverse frame members extending therebetween in the front part of the
apparatus. The
spacing of the side components is sufficient to allow the main side components
17,18 to straddle
the sides of the bag 13 with ample clearance, it being apparent that the width
of the apparatus is
selected to accommodate the largest diameter bag the apparatus is expected to
encounter.
Mounted between the open front part 12 of the framework is a forwardly
extending feed
transfer means 32 which engages compacted feed 38 exposed at the open end of
the bag. The
feed transfer means performs the functions of comminuting the compacted feed
and moving it
towards a conveyor system 33 which collects and transports the broken-up feed
to an area of
removal as will be described in more detail below. The feed transfer means 32
includes arm
means in the form of a pair of rigid, laterally spaced, side arms 34,34, which
are disposed for
swinging movement immediately within the side components 17,18 of the
framework 11. The
side arms 34,34, have rear end portions thereof affixed to a transverse
tubular member 35 which
in turn has opposite ends journalled for rotation within opposite bearing
members 36,36 carried
at the upper ends of the upright columns 25,25. To rigidify the overall
structure formed by the
side arms 34,34 and the transverse tubular member 35, there are provided
diagonal reinforcing
members 37,37, which extend between the side arms and the tubular member 35.
At a forward
end portion of each arm 34, there is provided a bearing member 40. The feed
transfer means 32
further includes a cylindrical member 41, which has shafts 42 extending from
opposite ends
thereof received in the bearing members 40,40 so that the cylindrical member
41 is thereby
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rotatably carried at the forward ends of the side arms 34,34. Drive means 43
is provided for
rotating the cylindrical member 41 and it will be described in more detail
below. An elevating
means 44 (Figure 1 ) is connected between each side arm 43 and supports 47
provided on lower
beams 17,18 located below the respective side arm. Such elevational means 44
is provided at
each side and is shown in the form of a piston and cylinder type motor,
commonly termed a
double acting hydraulic cylinder. As can be seen from Figure 2, lower ends of
a cylinder
members 45 of each hydraulic cylinder is pivotally connected to the support 47
carried by lower
beam member 20, and a piston rod 46 extending from an upper end of each
cylinder member 45
is pivotally connected to the side arm 34. As will be described in more detail
below, a control
system is provided for controlling the extension of the piston rod 46 so as
for selectively pivoting
the feed transfer means upwardly and downwardly as indicated by the arrows A
(Figure 1 ).
As can be seen from the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1
and 3, there
are provided lower transverse frame members 48 connected between lower beam
members 20,20
of the main side components 17 and 18. Diagonally and downwardly extending
bracer members
50,50 are connected between upright columns 25,25 and the rearmost transverse
frame member
48. A portion of the conveyor system 33 in the form of a feed collecting means
51 is located
between the frame member 48,48, and extends substantially the width of the
framework 11. As
is apparent from Figures 1 and 3, the feed collecting means 51 of the
embodiment of the
invention illustrated in these figures is in the form of a horizontally
extending open top trough
member 52 extending between main side components 17 and 18, the trough member
being made
up of a horizontal flat bottom 53 formed integrally with a front side member
54 and a rear side
member 55. The front and rear side members 54,55 extend below the bottom 53
and at the lower
edges thereof there are provided inturned flange portions 54',55'. The feed
collecting means 51
of the conveyor system 33 includes a driven conveyor shown in the embodiment
of Figure 1 as a
chain type drag conveyor 58 having a pair of sprocket driven side chains 56,56
connected at
spaced intervals by cross bars 57. The top flight of the conveyor 58 drags
along a top surface of
the bottom 53, traveling from left to right as seen in Figure 1, and a bottom,
return flight of the
conveyor (Figure 3), slides beneath the bottom 53 on inturned flange portions
54',55'. The
conveyor 58 could alternatively be in the form of a continuous flexible belt
instead of a chain type
conveyor. An upper portion of front side member 54, which is shorter than the
rear side member
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SS of trough member 52, defines an upper forward edge 60 of the feed
collecting means 51.
Located immediately forward of the front side member 54 of the feed collecting
means S 1
is an advancing means 61 utilized to draw the apparatus 10 towards the
compacted feed 38
exposed at the open end of the storage bag 13. The advancing means 61 of the
embodiment
shown in Figures 1 and 3 is in the form of a lower roller means 69 provided by
an elongated
cylindrical roller 62 having opposed shafts 63,64 projecting from opposite
ends thereof and
journalled in bearings 65,65 affixed to an upper surface of the horizontal
lower beam member 20
of the opposite main side components 17,18 forming the framework 11. The
roller 62 therefore
extends substantially the full width of the framework, and is provided with
drive means 66, which
will be described in more detail below, for rotating the roller 62 about its
axis which extends
transversely relative to the travel of the apparatus in the direction of the
longitudinal central axis
14 of the bag 13. The roller 62 defines a cylindrical outer surface 67 (Figure
3) which is
preferably provided with a plurality of sharp projections 68 spaced about the
circumference and
along the length of the roller. The roller 62 is carried by the framework 11
above the ground,
and it is so positioned that its upper peripheral surface is forward of the
upper forward edge 60
of the front side member of the trough 52, as is most apparent from Figure 3.
The upper
peripheral surface of the roller 62 is at a level at least as high as the
upper forward edge 60.
Prior to commencement of the unloading of the bag 13, and once the slits S
have been
first formed so as to form the separate lower portion 15 and upper portion 16
of the sheet
material of the bag, the free end of the lower portion 15 is snagged on the
projections 68 so that
when the roller 62 is then initially driven to rotate in the direction of the
arrow B (Figure 3), the
lower portion 15 starts to form a roll 82 of the plastic sheet material on the
lower roller means
69. In view of the position of the roller 62 above ground surface 71, it can
be seen that the lower
portion 15 of the sheet material is effectively raised from the ground surface
as it passes over the
top of the roll in the process of being wound on the roller 62. Also as the
lower portion 15 is
pulled upwardly to the raised position it is adjacent the upper forward edge
60 of the feed
collecting means S 1. The feed which has been fragmented and pushed rearwardly
by feed
transfer means 32 so as to rest on the lower portion 15 of the sheet material
being raised by the
roller 61 tumbles into feed collecting means S 1 as the roller 62 is rotated.
Moreover, as will be
described in more detail below, as the turning of the roller 61 in the
direction of the arrow B
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continues, the lower portion 15 of the flexible sheet material, on which the
compacted feed rests, is
pulled taut to the extent that the winding up of the lower portion 15 provides
a pull resulting in a
drawing force on the apparatus 10 towards the exposed end of the compacted
feed. Further
description is set out below of the manner in which the advancing means is
selectively operated to
advance the apparatus 10 while it at the same time functions to store the
plastic sheet material of the
bag 13 as it is emptied. It may be desirable, particularly in the situation
where the feed is of the type
containing high moisture grain, to locate the roller 62 at a higher level and
more rearwardly over the
edge 60 of the trough member.
The cylindrical member 41 of the feed transfer means 32 includes an elongated
drum 70
defining a cylindrical outer surface 71, from which a multiplicity of
projections 72 extend for
engaging the compacted feed 38 on rotation of the drum about a transverse axes
74 in the direction
of arrow C (Figures 3 & 4). Contact of the projections 72 with the compacted
feed 38 fragments
the compacted feed thus forming loose comminuted feed 73. The projections 72
are preferably in the
form of a plurality of blades provided by plate members 75, each affixed at an
inner end to the
cylindrical outer surface 71 of the drum 70. Each plate member 75 is of a
generally rectangular
shape, with the exception that the inner end is of a curvature substantially
matching the curvature of
the outer surface 71. The plate members thus define substantially parallel
leading edge 76 and
trailing edge 77 when considered in the direction of rotation C of the drum
70. Each plate member
75 has a central axis 78 thereof disposed or aligned on a radial line 80
projecting from the central
axis 74 of the drum 70. The plate members 75 are spaced from each other in a
substantially parallel
relationship. As is most apparent from Figure 4, the blades or plate members
75 can be considered
to be arranged in sets 81 of blades, there being shown three such sets wherein
each set consists of a
plurality of plate members 75 disposed on an imaginary line 83 extending
longitudinal substantially
along the full length of the drum. Preferably, the lines 83, which are equally
spaced at 120 degrees,
spiral about the drum 70. The central axis 78 of each plate member is disposed
in a transverse plane
p normal to the central axis 74 of the drum 70, the planes p being axially
spaced a set distance d.
The transverse plane p containing the central axis of a blade in one set is
thus spaced a distanced
from the plane of a blade of the consecutive set taken in the direction of
rotation so that the leading
edge of each blade defines a circumferential cut as the drum rotates which is
separate from the cuts
of all other blades on the drum. It is further preferable that at least some
of the blade members 75 be
turned at a slight angle a about their central axis relative to the central
plane p thereof (Fig. 4). The
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plate members 75 between a mid point of the drum and one end of the drum are
turned through
the angle a in an opposite direction to that of the plate members 75 between
the midpoint and the
opposite end of the drum.
In operation, the side arms 34 are first raised by elevating means 44 so that
the drum 70 is
S higher than the top of the compacted feed 38, and the apparatus 10 is
advanced a few inches so
that the drum is above the compacted feed and beyond the exposed end of the
compacted feed.
The drum 75, which is then rotating in the direction of the arrow C, is slowly
lowered as the arms
34,34 move downwardly through the arc depicted by arrow A (Figure 2). As the
compacted
feed 38 is comminuted by the rotating blades, it is directed rearwardly under
the descending drum
10 70, and due to the slight orientation of the blades, the movement of the
fragmented feed 73 is
slightly inward from the opposite ends of the drum, thus reducing spillage
from side edges of the
lower portion 15 of the sheet material from the bag 13. The fragmented feed 73
is continually
pushed rearwardly as more and more fragmented feed is removed from the exposed
rear face of
the compacted feed 38. Accordingly, the fragmented feed is pushed rearwardly
by the rotating
drum suffciently to continually spill over into trough member 52 of the feed
collecting means 51.
The fragmented feed 73 falling into the collecting means 51 is continually
carried to an area of
removal at one end of the trough member 52 by conveyor 58 and then loaded into
a wagon or the
like as will be more fully described below. Once the drum 70 has reached its
lower most position
illustrated in Figure 3, it is then raised to its uppermost position again by
elevating means 44, at
which time the advancing means 61 is again activated so that on rotation of
roller 62, more of the
lower portion 15 is rolled onto roller 62 to form a stored roll 79 of the
sheet material on the
roller 62. Such rolling up of the lower portion 15 of the bag material from
under the compacted
feed 38 results in a pull force which again moves the apparatus towards the
open end of the bag.
As such action shortens the distance between the roller 62 and the end face of
the compacted
feed and at the same time raises the lower portion 15 to the upper peripheral
of the roller 62, the
fragmented feed remaining on the upper surface of the lower portion 1 S
tumbles on to the
conveyor 58 and is carried away. The advancement of the apparatus again
positions the drum 70
for its next downward comminuting stroke.
As the blades or plate members 75 are rotated into engagement with the
compacted feed,
the blades of more than one set 81 of blades are continually in engagement
with the feed which
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would not be the situation if the lines 83 of the sets of blades did not
spiral about the surface of
the drum 70. This feature reduces vibration which otherwise could be
significant, particularly if
the exposed compacted feed 38 is in a frozen condition.
Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a power source 85 which is mounted
on the
main side component 17 of the framework 11. The power source is shown, by way
of an
example, as being an internal combustion engine 86 mounted on a subframe 87
having a rotatable
output shaft 88. Mounted on the same subframe 87 is a hydraulic pump 90 having
a fluid supply
line 91 connected to a hydraulic reservoir 92 carried below the subframe 87 on
lower beam
member 20 of the main side component 17. The subframe 87 is carried on a pair
of horizontal
supporting members 93 which are mounted between upright column 25 and rear
vertical member
24, the subframe 87 including a pair of horizontal tubular members 94 having
internal dimensions
to closely receive the outer cross-section shape of the horizontal supporting
members 93 so that
the subframe 87 is free to reciprocate in forward and rearward directions as
indicated by the
arrow D. The pump 90 is supported on the subframe 87 by a pivot connection 95
so that it can
pivot upwardly from a normal operating position as shown to a tilted position
as indicated by the
curved arrow E. A lever mechanism 96, which is only partially shown in Figure
5, includes a
linkage between a stationary frame part (not shown) and both the subframe 87
and pump 90, so
that when the lever 96 is pivoted to a downward position as indicated by the
arrow F, the linkage
is moved to an over center position to hold the pump in its normal operating
position and the
subframe 87 in an operative position to the right. However, when the lever is
raised, the linkage
shifts the engine to the left and the pump to the raised tilted position.
The output shaft 88 of the engine 86 has a multiple groove sheave 97 mounted
on it for
driving rotation therewith. The pump 90 has a sheave 100 affixed to an input
shaft 101 of the
pump, the sheave 100 having a groove aligned with one groove of the sheave 97
of the engine
86. Rotatably mounted on one end of the tubular member 35 of the forwardly
projecting feed
transfer means is a hub means 102 on which are fixed for rotation therewith a
sheave 103 and a
sprocket 104, a groove of the sheave 103 being aligned with another groove of
the sheave 97.
One belt 1 OS drivingly connects sheave 97 of the engine to the sheave 100 of
the pump, and a
second belt 106 drivingly connects sheave 97 to the sheave 103 for turning
sprocket 104.
The drive means 43 of the feed transfer means includes a sprocket 110 abed to
the shaft
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42 at the left end of drum 70, as viewed in Figure 1, and a continuous drive
chain 108 encircles
sprockets 104 and 105 so as to provide drive for the rotation of the drum 70
of the feed transfer
means of the apparatus 10. Because the location of the sprocket 107 is fixed
relative to the
forward end of the side arm 34, and the swinging movement of the arm is about
the axis of the
S tubular member 35 on which the hub means, which includes the axis of the
sprocket 104, is
mounted for coaxial rotation relative to the tubular member 35, the continuous
drive chain 108 is
not affected by the arcuate travel of the drum 70 as it is raised and lowered.
When the lever mechanism 96 is in the position for normal operation, the belts
105 and
106 are maintained taut for driving the drum 70 and the pump 90. However, if
it is desirable to
remove all load from the engine 86, such as during cold starting of the
engine, the lever
mechanism 96 can be raised to shift the engine 96 to the right, relative to
the framework 1 l, as
viewed in Figure 5. This action removes the tension on belt 106, and at the
same time pivots the
pump upward, relative to the engine, whereby the output shaft 88 idles without
load It would be
a reasonable alternative to provide a more elaborate clutching means between
the engine and the
sheaves driven directly from the output shaft 88 of the engine 86, but normal
operating
experiences encountered by the apparatus 10 may not warrant such a more
elaborate mechanism
than that which has been illustrated. As will be described in relation to
another embodiment of
the invention, the engine 86 may be adapted to drive a hydraulic pump whereby
all components
of the apparatus are driven through hydraulic motors.
As will be described further below, situated behind the power source 87 as
shown in
Figure 5, there is provided an operator's station (not shown), which includes,
in addition to the
lever mechanism 96, control means for the engine 86 and flow control valves
for manually
controlling the flow of pressurized fluid to the various motor units utilized
in the necessary drive
systems of the apparatus 10. As described above, the drum 70 is driven in the
illustrated
embodiment of the invention through belt 106 and continuous chain 106. An
alternative system
which can be used in the present embodiment of the invention could include a
hydrostatic motor
drivingly connected to shaft 43 either directly or through a drive chain. In
such an arrangement,
which is described in a later embodiment, a flow control valve is provided at
the operator's
station for controlling the flow to such motor so as to allow the operator to
start and stop the
rotation of drum 70 or to vary its speed. There is provided a control valve
(not shown) for
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controlling the flow via a fluid line (not shown) to a hydraulic motor shown
at 111 in Figures 1
and 9 as mounted on lower beam member 20 of the main side beam member 17. The
shaft 63 of
the roller 62 projects through bearing 65 affixed the beam member 20 and has a
sprocket 112
affixed thereto. A continuous chain 113 connects sprocket 112 and a sprocket
114 driven by an
output shaft of motor 111. Thus, as advancement of the apparatus 10 forward
towards the
exposed face of the compacted feed is required, the appropriate control valve
is activated to
cause the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the motor 111 for a short
period of time so as to
rotate the roller 62 and thus draw the apparatus forward a short distance.
This operation at the
same time further stores the lower portion of the sheet material of the bag 13
on the roll 82.
It will be appreciated that instead of providing the apparatus 10 with its
self contained
engine 86, it could be provided with a shaft for removable connection to a PTO
shaft of a tractor,
and also pressurized fluid could be supplied to the various hydraulic drive
systems of the
apparatus 10 by way of connections of the valuing at the operator's station to
the hydraulic
system of the tractor.
As indicated above, the apparatus 10 includes features which allow control of
the steer of
the framework 11 so as to properly track the apparatus 10 to closely follow
the central axis 14 of
the bag 15. Referring to Figures S and 6, it is to be noted that the left rear
wheel supports the
rear vertical member 24 of the main side component 17 by way of a swivel type
mounting means
116. A rearwardly extending projection 117 is rigidly affixed to a rear face
of the member 24 at
a level higher than lower beam member 20. A mounting member 120 of the wheel
includes a
horizontal load bearing member 121 which engages a bottom surface of the
projection 117 and
has affixed to its upper surface a vertical king pin or spindle 122 received
for rotational
movement in a vertically extending opening through the projection 117. At
opposite ends of the
member 117 there are provided opposed strap members 123, 123 which extend
downwardly and
rearwardly. The lower end portions 124 of strap members 123, 123 curve inward
towards each
other and carry therebetween an axle 125 of the wheel 30. Affixed to an
outside end of the load
bearing member 121 and extending forwardly past the vertical frame member 24
is a steering arm
126 having at its forward end a threaded opening 128 therethrough. A forwardly
extending
projection 127 is affixed to a forward face of the vertical member 24 and has
an opening 129 in
alignment with the threaded opening through the forward end of steering arm
126. A threaded
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
14
rod 130 is received through the threaded opening 128 of the steering arm 126
and has an inner
end passing through the opening 129 in the projection 127. At its inside end,
the rod 130 has a
pair of abutment members 131,131 affixed thereto so as to prevent its endwise
movement in
either direction as the threaded rod 130 is rotated. At the outer end of the
threaded 130 rod,
there is affixed thereto a crank arm 132 which extends perpendicular to the
rod and is provided
with a crank handle 133 at the outer end of the crank arm 133 so as to provide
the crank means.
As the crank means is rotated, the threaded rod 130 is screwed through the
threaded opening 128
in the steering arm 126, and because the threaded rod 130 cannot move endwise
due to abutment
members 131,131, the steering arm 126 is caused to travel along the threaded
rod 130 in either
direction, depending on the direction of rotation of the crank means. This
movement of the
steering arm 126 forces turning of the mounting member 120 about the spindle
122, thus
imparting a steer of the wheel 30 in either direction, again depending on the
direction of rotation
of the crank means.
Affxed to the lower end portion 124 of the strap member 123 which is at the
inside of the
wheel 30 is a lug 134. The lug 134 has fastened to an upper side thereof an
upwardly projection
pin 135 which is pivotally received in an opening in an end of a tie rod 136
extending between
the wheels 30 and 31.
A similar swivel mounting means 116a is provided for wheel 31 at the right
rear of the
apparatus 10 as shown in Figure 7. However, the mounting member 120a for this
wheel is not
provided with a steering arm corresponding to steering arm 126 of the mounting
member 120 of
wheel 30. The mounting member 120a does include, a lug 134a on the strap
member 123 which
is on the inside of the wheel 3 l, and the lug 134a, like lug 134, has an
upwardly projecting pin
135a for reception in an opening in the end of the tie rod 136 opposite to the
end connected to
lug 134. The opening at both ends of the tie rod are preferable of the ball
type which permit the
tie rod to swivel about its longitudinal axis. The upper end of the pin 135a
has a diametrical
opening therethrough for the reception of a removable snap pin 137.
Thus, for reason explained below, by quickly removing the snap pin 137, the
right end of
the tie rod 136 can be disconnected from the pin 135a so as to permit free
swivel of the wheel 31
about the axis of the vertical spindle 122a. The pin 135 of the mounting
member 120 of wheel
30 is preferably also provided with a like snap pin arrangement in order that
the tie rod 136 can
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
1$
be removed entirely from its normal location connecting mounting member
120,120a.
While wheel 26 at the left front of the apparatus 10 may be attached to the
main side
component 17 of the framework 11 by way of a permanently connected axle
providing the axis of
rotation of the wheel extending in a transverse direction, wheel 27 at the
front right corner is
$ preferably mounted on axle means 140 (Figure 8) which can be relocated to
permit mounting of
said wheel for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the transverse axis of
normal travel during
operation of the apparatus 10. The vertical member 22 at the front is provided
with aligned
bosses 141 on opposite sides and through which transverse openings 142 extend
for reception of
an inner end 143 of a transversely extending axle member 144. The wheel 27 is
mounted for
rotation on an outer end 14$ of the axle member 144. A pin 146 passes through
aligned bores to
one of the bosses 144 and axle member 144 for retaining the axle fixed in
place, thereby allowing
the wheel 27 to rotate about a transversely extending axis during normal use.
For reasons which
will be discussed further below, under certain conditions, it may be desired
to mount the wheel
for rotation about an axis which is perpendicular to the transverse axis, and
accordingly, the
1$ vertical member 22 includes bosses 147, 147 on its front and rear surfaces
below transverse
openings 142, and through which openings 148,148 extend for the alternative
reception of the
inner end 143 of the axle member 144 at right angles to its normal
orientation. Thus, the wheel
27 can be switched to a position mounted on the axle means providing an axis
extending in the
longitudinal direction of the beam member 20.
Referring again to Figure 1, it may be noted that there is provided a rigid
tongue 1$0
affixed to and projecting perpendicularly from the lower beam member 20 of the
left hand main
side component 17 of the framework 11. When it becomes desirable to move the
entire
apparatus 10 from one site to another, the tie rod 136 can be removed in the
manner discussed
above and placed elsewhere on the apparatus, such as on the trough member $2
of the conveyor
2$ system 33 for carrying it with the apparatus as it is moved. The wheel 27
can be repositioned, by
withdrawing pin 13$, pulling the axle member 144 from openings 142,142,
replacing the axle
member 144 in opening 148,148 and replacing pin 13 $ in the opening provided
in the rear boss of
the bosses 147. A tractor not shown, can then be connected to the tongue 1$0,
and the
hydraulic system of the tractor used to raise the side component 17 sufficient
to cause wheels 26
and 30 to clear the ground. As the apparatus is then pulled sideways by the
tongue 1$0, the
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
16
wheel 27 is free to rotate about its axis provided by the repositioned axle
member 144, and wheel
31 is free to swivel to a trailing mode. At a new site the apparatus is pulled
to a position where
the front part 12 faces the end of a new bag 13. The tie rod 136 is then
replaced, and the axle
member 144 is returned to its normal position so that the apparatus is ready
for advancement
toward an opened end of a fresh bag 13. The advancement is achieved by
slitting either side of
the bag material, as shown at S, and the lower portion 15 of the sheet
material thus formed is
placed over roller 62 in a manner to cause the projections 68 to penetrate the
sheet plastic. As
the controls are operated to start the motor 111 so as to rotate the roller
62, the formation of the
roll 82 is started. Continued rotation causes the lower portion 15 of the
sheet material to become
suffciently taut to draw the apparatus to a position where normal unloading of
the bag is
commenced and carried out as explained above.
As illustrated in Figure 9, the feed transfer means 32, the conveyor system 33
and even the
advancing means 61 for the apparatus, shown in Figure 1 are the same as
previously described.
However, this alternative embodiment includes a sheet material storage means
151 for collecting
the upper portion 16 of the sheet material forming the bag above the pair of
side slits S. The
storage means 151 is in the form of an upper roller 152, which is carried by
an elevated frame
portion 153, and extends in the transverse direction of the apparatus 10
having a length
substantially equal to the width of the framework of the apparatus. The
elevated frame portion
153 includes a pair of vertical posts 154 each having a horizontal support
member 155 affixed at
a rear end to the post 154 and extending forwardly therefrom. A lower portion
of each post is
received in a bracket 156 formed integral with an upper end of the post 22 of
each of the main
side components 17,18. Each bracket 156 forms a forward rigid sleeve portion
157 having an
internal vertical passage shaped to slidingly receive the lower portion of the
post 154. The posts
154 have a plurality of transverse openings 160 spaced along the length of
their lower portions,
and a transverse opening is provided through the sleeve portion of the fixed
bracket 156 and is
positioned to align with one of the openings 160 so that by way of the
alignment of a particular
one of the openings 160 with the opening in the sleeve portion and inserting a
pin 159 through
the aligned opening at the post and the bracket, a selected height of the
support member 155 is
maintained.
A bearing member 161 is carried on top of each of the horizontal support
members 155
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
17
above each side of the framework 11 at the forward end thereof and the upper
roller 152, which
may be similar in construction to that of lower roller 62 and is provided with
projections, is
rotatably supported between the bearings 161. In the embodiment shown in
Figure 9, a shaft
(not shown) affixed to the end of roller 152 extends through the bearing 161,
and a hydraulic
motor 163 is attached thereto for rotating the roller 152 as indicated by the
arrow G, when
pressurized fluid is provided through a hydraulic line (not shown) as the
operator activates a
control valve at the operator's station.
Accordingly, when the apparatus 10 is moved into position facing the end of a
bag 13,
and the slits S are made at either side of the bag, in addition to attaching
the lower portion 15 of
the sheet material forming the bottom of the bag beneath the compacted feed 38
to the lower
roller 62 of the advancing means 61, the upper portion 16 of the sheet
material is taken to the
upper roller 152 and snagged on projections of the type described in relation
to lower roller 62.
Thus, as motor 163 is activated, the upper portion 16 commences to wind up on
the roller 62 to
thereby start the formation of a stored roll 164. Whenever the apparatus is
advanced by the
operator activating motor 111, the motor 163 is also operated to collect the
upper portion 16 of
the sheet material by way ofthe sheet material storage means 151. The setting
ofthe height of
the upper roller 162 can be changed to accommodate different sized bags, and
if the machine is
designed to place the storage means closer to the conveyor system 33, for
example, it may be
raised during operation to be positioned above the feed transfer means 32 in
its uppermost
position. When not in operation, the elevating frame portion can be adjusted
to lower the roller
so that the upper portion 16 is held tightly on top of the compacted feed 38.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 10, the sheet material storage means 151 a
is of
substantially the same structure as that shown in Figure 9, except it has been
modified to enable it
to be moved to an inoperative position in which it holds the upper portion 16
of the sheet
material in an extended position over the feed transfer means 32 and the
conveyor system 33. In
this extended idle condition the storage means 151 a not only protects parts
of the apparatus from
the weather but prevents the exposed end of the compacted feed 38 and the
already loose
fragmented feed 73 remaining in front of the apparatus and on the feed
collecting means S 1 from
becoming wet and/or covered with snow or ice. In this embodiment, the post 22a
is formed of
two parts connected by a transverse pivot sha$ 165. Piston and cylinder type
extendable motors
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
18
166 are provided at opposite sides of the apparatus for moving the storage
means 151a from its
upright operative position. A cylinder 167 of each motor 166 is pivotally
connected at its lower
end to the lower beam 20 of the main side component 17,18, and an upper end of
a piston rod
167 is pivotally connected to the post 22a above the pivot. In the extended
condition of the
motors 166, the posts 154 of the storage means 151 a are held in their upright
operative
conditions. However, as the motors 166 are contracted, the posts are swung
rearwardly due to
pivoting action about pivot shaft 165 so that the roller 152 is swung
rearwardly to a rearward
position, thereby pulling the upper portion 16 of the sheet material over the
end of the compacted
feed, the already loosened fragmented feed 73, the feed transfer means 32 and
the feed collecting
means 51 of the conveyor system 33.
As described above, the fragmented feed falling into the collecting means 51
is
continuously moved to the right hand end of the trough member 52 which is the
area of removal
in the presently described embodiment. It is preferable to provide a conveyor
extension as part
of the conveyor system to continuously move the feed from this area to one for
further cartage of
the feed from the site of the bag. In the structure shown in Figures l and 2
the conveyor system
33 includes an upwardly extended trough section 170 which is contiguous with
the trough
member 52 so that the conveyor 58 passes under a sprocket (not shown) at the
juncture of the
trough member 52 and is drawn up to the raised upper end of the section 170
where it passes
around an upper drive sprocket which is rotated by way of a hydraulic motor
171. As in the case
of other hydraulic motors of the apparatus 10, the operation of motor 171 is
controlled by way of
a control valve at the operator's station. The lower end of trough section 170
is mounted at the
end of trough member 52 to pivot about an axis which is coaxially disposed
about a shaft
rotatable mounting the sprockets at the juncture, and thus the height of the
upper end of the
trough section 170 can be varied by selection of the length of chains 172,172
which extend
between a bracket 173 attached to the trough section 170. The chains 172, 172
have outer ends
thereof attached to front vertical member 22 and upright column 25 of the main
side component
22. The height of the upper end of trough section 170 would be selected, for
example to raise
the fragmented feed suffciently to fall freely into a feed wagon or the like.
An alternative conveyor extension arrangement may be desirable for use when
there are a
number of storage bags 13 arranged side-by-side in close parallel
relationship. With this type of
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
19
placement of the bags, there may not be sui~cient room between the bag being
emptied and its
neighbour bag to the right, as viewed in Figure l, to place a wagon to be
filled under the raised
outer end of the conveyor extension. In such an alternative arrangement the
upperward inclined
trough at the removal end of the trough member 52 may be relatively short so
that its upper end
is only a few feet above the ground surface. The overall conveyor extension
could then
additionally include a commonly used agricultural elevator of the type which
is mounted on a pair
of wheels and is provide with a hitch at its forward lower end. The framework
11 would then
include a draw bar (not shown) rigidly affixed to and extending
perpendicularly from the side of
horizontal lower bean member 20 of the main side component 18 of the framework
11. The
outer end of the draw bar would include means of providing a swivel connection
between the
draw bar and the hitch of the elevator, and the draw bar would be of
sufficient length and
appropriately located along the beam member 20 so that an intake of the
elevator is located
under the raised outer end of the short upwardly inclined extension from the
trough member 52.
With this connection, the elevator is drawn in the direction of the normal
operational travel of the
apparatus 10. The elevator would thus be oriented to have its upper end behind
and to the right
hand side of the apparatus where a wagon could be conveniently located without
interfering with
the next bag to the right of the one being emptied. Because of the swivel
connection between the
hitch of the elevator and the rigid draw bar of the apparatus 10, when the
apparatus is drawn to
the left during movement to another site, the elevator can turn to a travel
position and then
follow freely behind the apparatus 10 when it is being towed in that
direction. When the elevator
is of the type having a hydraulic drive motor at its upper end, it is possible
to connect hydraulic
lines leading to this drive motor in series with the hydraulic motor provided
for driving the
conveyor 58 so that the operations of both systems are synchronized from one
control valve.
Referring now to the embodiment of the apparatus as shown at 10' in Figures 11
and 12,
it may be noted that it has a framework 11' of a simpler and more compact
construction. The
framework 11' has a pair of opposed main side components of similar
construction, each
including a rear column 180, corresponding to column 25 of the previous
embodiment, and a
front column 181. An upper horizontal beam 182 joins columns 180 and 181. A
pair f lower
horizontal beams 183, 184 connect columns 180 and 181 at their lower ends,
beam 183 being
spaced above but parallel to beam 184 which joins the lower ends of columns
180 and 181.
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
As in the structure of the earlier embodiments, the apparatus 10' includes a
feed transfer
means 32', a feed collecting means 51', an advancing means 61', and upper
sheet material storage
means 151'. As in the earlier embodiments, the advancing means 61' is not only
used to draw the
apparatus 10' forward during operation, but it also functions as a lower sheet
material storage
5 means. In the embodiment now being described, however, there is provided a
separate sheet
raising means 59' for providing a function also performed in the combination
of the elements
forming the advancing means 61 in the earlier embodiment.
As illustrated at 85' in Figures 1 l and 12 a power source is provided at the
rear right
corner of the apparatus 10', and it may be mounted, for example, on a platform
(not shown) to be
10 carried at a level above beam 183. In this embodiment of the invention, it
is proposed that the
power source 85' be in the form of a self contained internal combustion engine
which drives a
main hydraulic pump, and further that all driven components of the apparatus
10' be powered by
hydraulic motors so that no drive other than that required for the main
hydraulic pump, and
possibly the usual electrical generating means, be connected to the output of
the engine. The
1 S controls for the various hydraulic motors may be located at the rear right
corner of the apparatus,
thus establishing an operator's station at that location.
The overall structure of the feed transfer means 32' is substantially the same
as that
described above. It includes the previous described cylindrical member 41
rotatably mounted
between the front ends of side arms 34,34 which are connected to at their rear
ends to the
20 transverse tubular member 35 carried for rotation in bearings 36,36 afl~xed
to the upper ends of
columns 180, 180. The feed transfer means 32' is also provided with elevating
means in the form
of hydraulic cylinder members 45 for moving the cylindrical member 41 through
a working arc as
again indicated by arrow A. The operation of cylinder members 45 is of course
controlled from
the above described operator's station. Unlike the previously described
embodiment of the
invention the cylindrical member 41 of the feed transfer means 32' is not
driven through
mechanical means directly from the engine forming the power source of the
apparatus 10'. As
can be seen in Figure 12 the right hand arm 34 has a small platform 186
mounted on the inside
thereof near the front end of the arm, and a hydraulic motor 187 is carried by
the platform 186.
An output shaft of the motor carries a sprocket which is aligned with a
sprocket on an end of a
shaft 190 of the cylindrical member 41, whereby the cylindrical member 41 is
rotated through a
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
21
chain drive 191 connecting the sprockets of the motor 187 and of the
cylindrical member 41.
Again, the operation of the motor 187 may be controlled from the operator's
station.
Unlike the chain type drag conveyor 58 forming the feed collecting means 51 of
the
earlier apparatus 10 of the embodiment, the feed collecting means 51' of the
apparatus 10'
includes an auger type conveyor 192 which extends between lower horizontal
beams 183,184 of
the two opposed main side components of the framework 11'. The conveyor 192
includes a
rotatable auger component 193 which includes a main central shaft 194
journalled for rotation in
bearings 195,195 affixed beneath beam 183 (Figure 11 ). As is apparent from
Figure 14, a
support member 196 is connected between beams 183 and 184 and carries a
hydraulic motor 197
which is attached to the right end of the shaft 194 for rotating the auger
component 193 in the
direction of the arrow H. The auger component 193 further includes a pair of
oppositely spirally
wound auger flights 200,200 each commencing from opposite ends of shaft 194
and extending to
opposed spaced inner ends 201,201 adjacent the mid point of the conveyor 192
(Figure 12). The
flights 200,200 being oppositely wound results in the feed of both flights,
when the auger
component is rotated in the direction indicated, being towards the mid point
which thus forms an
area of removal of collected feed in this embodiment of the invention.
The feed collecting means 51' includes a trough member 52' which also extends
the
transverse distance between the beams 183,184 of the main side components,
thus being
substantially the same length as the auger component 193. The cross sectional
shape of the
trough member 52' is different, however, than that of conveyor 58 of the
earlier embodiment.
The trough member 52' in cross section has a substantially vertical rear wall
202 having an upper
edge extending well above the upper periphery of outer circumferential edges
of the flights
200,200. The rear wall merges downwardly into a lower arcuate section 203
which extends
downwardly and under the flights 200,200, the radius of the arcuate section
203 being slightly
greater than the radius of the circumferential edges of the flights. Towards
the front of the auger
component the trough member 52' has a forwardly and slightly upward extending
portion 204 at
substantially a tangent to the arcuate section 203 and terminating at a
forward edge 205.
It can be seen that the comminuted feed which is dumped into the trough member
52' in a
manner described in more detail below is thus moved towards a mid point or a
central area of
removal of the trough member 51' by the rotating auger component 193 which
thus provides a
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
22
transport means in the collecting means S 1'. In apparatus 10', the feed is
then carried away from
this area of removal by a rear feed conveyor means which is shown in the form
of a second auger
type conveyor 206 extending rearwardly and upwardly to a rear end 207 behind
the apparatus
10'. The rear feed conveyor 206 is of a type having a pair of side-by-side
auger units 208,208
contained in a trough 210, the bottom wall 211 which merges substantially
tangentially at its
lower end with the lower arcuate section 203 of the trough member 52'. The
rear wall 202 and a
part of the arcuate section 203 of the trough member 52' are provided with an
opening 212
shaped to provide a passage from the interior of the trough member 52' to the
inside of the
trough 210 of the rear feed means 206.
The auger units 208,208 extend the length of the trough 210, and have lower
ends
passing into the interior of the transverse trough member 52' beneath the
middle portion of the
shaft 194 of auger component 193. The trough 210 has a transverse rear end
wall 213, and
immediately in front of this wall the bottom wall 211 is provided with an
opening 214 through
which the feed can fall as it approaches the rear end of this rear feed means
206. As will be
described further below a lower end of an elevator 21 S may be placed to
collect the falling feed
and transfer it upwardly for dumping into a wagon or the like. The auger units
208,208 are of
similar construction, each consisting of a central shaft 216 with a spiral
flight 217 axed thereto,
but the flights are wound in opposite directions. The central shafts 216,216
of the two auger
units are mounted in parallel fashion with upper ends which are journalled in
and pass through
the rear end wall 214 of the trough 210 lower ends of shafts 216,216 are
journalled in bearing
means 218 fixed on the upper surface of forwardly extending portion 204 of the
trough 52'. The
upper ends of the central shafts 216,216 have drive means 220 for rotating the
auger units in
opposite directions as indicated by the arrows I,I in Figure 17. The drive
means may be in the
form of a pair of hydraulic motors, or a single hydraulic motor with
appropriate gearing to have a
double output of opposite rotation.
It is believed apparent from Figures 11 to 13 and Figure 17, that as the
fragmented feed is
dumped into the trough 52' during operation of apparatus 10', the feed is
moved transversely to
the central area of the trough by the rotation of auger component 192, and
from this area it is
moved rearwardly and through the opening 212 by the auger units 208,208 the
lower ends of
which are rotating in opposite directions below the central portion of the
central shaft 194. The
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
23
fragmented feed thus moves up the rear feed means formed by the conveyor 206
falls from the
rear end of this conveyor as it reaches the opening 212 in the bottom wall
211. The falling feed
may be moved to another site such as by the conveyor 21 S, one form of which
is described
further below.
Apparatus 10' is provided with an upper sheet material storage means 1 S 1'
for collection
of the upper portion 16 of the bag material as the feed is removed from bag
13. The upper
storage means 151' includes an upper roller 152 supported by posts 154' and
having a hydraulic
drive motor 162. The structure of the posts 154' and the manner in which they
are mounted are
somewhat different than what has been previously described, and as a result of
the differences the
storage means 1 S 1' is more versatile in its positioning to accommodate
different sized bags and in
its ability to provide more complete coverage of the feed and the apparatus
when the apparatus is
notin use.
Each post 154' includes an outer elongated tubular member 219 which
telescopically
receives an elongated inner member 221 having bearing means at its outer end
for carrying the
upper roller 152 as previously described. The outer member 219 is provided at
its outer end with
a transverse opening for receiving a pin 159'. The inner member 221 includes a
plurality of
transverse openings 160' along its length and which can be aligned with the
opening in the outer
member so as to also receive the pin 159' to hold the inner member 221 at a
predetermined
amount of extension. At an inner end of the outer member 219 there is provided
a connecting
member 222 extending at right angles thereto and having a pivot connection 223
for fastening the
post 154' to the upper end of column 181. A hydraulic cylinder means 166' is
pivotally
connected at one end to a flange 228 affixed to outer member 219 and at its
outer end to a
bracket 224 ai~xed to the top of upper horizontal beam 182. The amount of
extension of the
hydraulic cylinder means 166' is again controllable from the operator's
station, as is the rotation
of the roller 152. It can be seen that as the cylinder means 166' is extended
the roller 152 is
moved upwardly forwardly of the apparatus 10'. The roller 52 is held in a
raised position and
well out of the path of the feed transfer means 32' as the cylindrical member
41 is raised to its
upper position preceding its downward working stroke.
After the operation of filling the necessary feed wagons, or the like, is
completed, the
cylinder means 166' is fully retracted, which, in effect, moves the storage
means 1 S 1' to a folded .-
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
24
back position, and the upper sheet material on the storage means 151' is
pulled back over the
apparatus 10. In this position the exposed end of the compacted feed, the feed
which has
already been fragmented, and also the feed transfer means 32' and the feed
collecting means 51' is
covered by the upper portion 16 of the bag 13 extending to the stored roll
152. Also by
telescoping the inner member 221 outwards to a more extended position the
upper portion 16 of
the sheet plastic material can be held in a taut position covering the entire
apparatus 10' as shown
at the upper right of Figure 11 until the next use of the apparatus is
required, at which time the
sheet material storage means 151' is returned to its operative position by
expanding cylinder 166'
and at the same time activating motor 163 to rewind the sheet material which
had been providing
a cover.
As indicated above, in apparatus 10', the advancing means 61' which is in the
form of
driven roller 62' positioned near the rear of the apparatus is separate from
the sheet raising means
59' positioned in front of feed collecting means 51'. The sheet raising means
59' includes two
transversely extending rollers, a first higher roller 225 being immediately in
front of the front
1 S edge 205 of the trough member 52' and a second roller 226 being in front
of and slightly lower
than roller 225. Roller 225, which extends the full length of the trough
member 52', is mounted
for rotation in bearing members 227 affixed to the top of lower beam 184.
Roller 226 is also
mounted for rotation in bearings carried by lower beams 184 of opposite sides
of the apparatus,
and it is preferably of about the same length as roller 225, i.e., it extends
substantially the full
distance between the two opposed main side components of the apparatus. The
axis of rotation
of roller 225 is located so that the upper periphery of the roller 225 is
above the upper surface of
the forwardly extending portion 204 of the trough member 52', and preferably
the forward edge
205 projects slightly under the rearmost periphery of the roller 225.
Roller 62' is mounted in bearing members 230 affixed to the top surface of
lower beam
184 slightly forward of rear columns 180 of the main side components of the
framework. It also
extends the full width of the space between the main side components of the
framework 11.
Referring to Figure 14, it is to be noted that affixed to the end of a shaft
231 of the roller 62' at
the right side of the apparatus is a drive sprocket 232. A hydraulic motor
233, the operation of
which is also controlled from the operator's station, is mounted on a platform
(not shown)
axed to lower beam 184 behind the feed collecting means 51'. Affixed to the
output shaft of
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
the motor 233 are a pair of drive sprockets 234 adapted to turn in the
direction of the arrow J
when the motor is activated. Through a chain drive 235, the motor 233 thus
rotates roller 62' in
the direction of the arrow K when the motor is selectively operated.
Affxed to a shaft 236 integrally attached to the roller 225 is a disc (not
shown). Adjacent
5 to the disc is a sprocket 237 mounted to rotate on the shaft 236. The
sprocket 237 is driven by a
drive chain 238 extending between sprocket 237 and a second of the pair of
sprockets 234 ofthe
drive motor 233, and during normal operation of the apparatus 10' the sprocket
237 simply free-
wheels on sha$ 236 when the motor 233 is activated. The sprocket has a bore
therethrough,
however, which can be aligned with a bore in the above mentioned disc which is
fixed to the shaft
10 236 of the roller 225, so that a pin 240 may be inserted in the aligned
bores to cause the roller
225 to be driven also in the direction of the arrow K from sprocket 237
through the disc.
Normally, the lower portion 15 of the sheet plastic forming bag 13 is trained
over the top
of roller 225 and then passes forwardly and over roller 226 as shown in Figure
13. The lower
portion 15' then passing around roller 226 is directed under the bottom of
trough member to the
15 roller 62'. The lower portion 15 winds up on roller 62' to form the stored
roll 79. During normal
operation, when motor 233 is selectively operated, the winding up of the lower
portion 15 of the
sheet material 15 on roller 62', draws the sheet material around rollers 225
and 226 which are
free to turn, and the pulling on the sheet materials causes the apparatus to
be drawn forward as
previously explained. The feed accumulated on lower portion 15 in front of
roller 225, drops
20 into the trough member 52' on rotation of roller 62'. The motor 233 is
stopped after appropriate
advancement of the apparatus 10' is achieved. As operation of the feed
transfer means 32' is
resumed, the fragmented feed is pushed back along the upper surface of the
lower portion 15 to
the area where it passes over roller 225 and at which point it falls into the
trough members 52'.
This feed is continuously conveyed to the mid portions of the trough member
52' from which it is
25 delivered by rear feed means 206 to the rear of the apparatus.
However, when the apparatus 10' is brought to a new bag 13, the roller 225 of
the
elevating means 59' may be used at first as an apparatus advancing means in
the event the lower
portion 15 of the bag is relatively short. The end of lower portion 15 can be
given an initial wrap
on roller 225 and the pin 240 inserted to cause the roller 225 to be driven by
motor 233. The
advancing can thus be achieved in the same manner by actuating motor 233 to
cause an initial roll
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
26
to be formed on roller 225. After a short period of operation in this manner,
the pin 240 is
removed so that the accumulated roll can be unwound and then threaded around
roller 226 as
shown in Figure 13 and wound on the roller 62' for continued storage there and
advancement of
the apparatus by the rotation of roller 62'.
It was described in connection with both roller 62 and upper roller 151 that
the upper
surfaces of these rollers could be provided with sharp projections for
snagging the sheet plastic
material to initiate the winding up action. Another form of an attachment to
commence the
wind-up of a roll, and one which would be preferably for temporary use with
roller 225, is in the
form of a clamp member (not shown). Such a clamp member could be substantially
as long as
the roller and be shaped of sheet steel of approximately semi-circular cross
section having a
radius slightly less than the outside of the roller. The sheet plastic need
then be simply placed on
the roller and the clamp member pushed down over the roller to entrap the
sheet plastic between
it and the roller. The resiliency of the sheet steel member provides a
clamping effect sufficient to
hold the sheet plastic for the first few turns of the roller after which the
forming of the roll would
in any event hold the clamp member in place.
The apparatus 10' is mounted for travel over the ground surface on four
wheels, one of a
rear pair of wheels being attached to the two rear columns 180,180 and a front
pair of wheels
being attached to the two front columns 181,181. Unlike the previous
embodiment of the
invention, front wheels 232 and 233 are steerable, while rear wheels 234 and
235 are fixed for
travel in the forward direction while the apparatus is in a normal working
mode. However, like
the earlier embodiment the front wheel and rear wheel at the right side of the
apparatus can both
be reoriented through 90° for road travel when a towing vehicle is
attached to a towing tongue
(not shown) afftxed to the frame at the left side of the apparatus. The manner
in which the four
wheels are mounted on the four columns is somewhat different, and reference
will be first given
to the wheel 235 at the rear right of the apparatus as shown in more detail in
Figures 15 and 16.
The actual axle component shown at 236, which consists of a horizontal axle
shaft 237 on which
the wheel is rotatably mounted and a vertical king pin portion 238, may in
fact be of common
design for all four wheels. The axle shaft 237 and king pin portion 238 are
integrally formed and
during straight ahead travel the axle shaft 237 projects transversely from the
column to which the
wheel is attached, in the case of wheel 235, the rear right column 180. The
vertical king pin
t
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
27
portion 238 passes through aligned bores 242 and 243 in upper and lower
brackets 240 and 241
which are affixed to the side of column 180. The upper end of king pin portion
238 is preferably
threaded whereby lock nuts 244,245 may be threaded onto the king pin portion
above and below
the bracket 240 to allow for adjustment of the wheel 235 in a vertical
direction relative to the
S framework 11' of which column 180 is a part. A plate 246 has a mounting
portion 247 which is
axed to the lower bracket 241 and locates the plate 246 normal to the axis of
the axle shaft 237
outwardly of the bracket 241. The lower portion of plate 246 extends below the
bracket 241 and
is provided with a slot 248 projecting upwardly from the lower edge thereof,
the slot 248 being
of a width sufficient to receive the axle shaft 237 as the king pin portion
238 is slid upwardly into
the aligned bores 242 and 243 of the brackets 240 and 241. The reception of
the axle shaft 237
in the slot 248 as shown in Figure 16 prevents the king pin portion 238 from
swivelling in the
bores 242,243 so that the rear wheel 235 remains in a straight ahead
orientation during normal
operation of the apparatus 10'. To this point of the description of the
mounting of wheel 235, the
mounting structure for the rear left wheel 234 is the same so that wheel 234
is held in a straight
ahead position at all times.
However, in order to permit the apparatus 10' to be pulled sideways when the
left side of
the apparatus 10' is raised by a towing vehicle, provisions are made to turn
the axle shaft 237 of
wheel 235 to a second position wherein the axle shaft 237 is on an axis
extending rearwardly of
the framework 11'. A vertically disposed plate member 250 is affixed to column
180 below
bracket 241 and projects laterally from the outside of column 180. The plate
250 has a lower
edge 251 upwardly from which extends a slot 252 also of a width for reception
of the axle shaft
237. The slot 252 in the fore and aft direction of the apparatus is aligned
with the axis of the
bores 242 and 243. Accordingly when the nuts 244,245 are adjusted to let the
axle component
236 drop a suffcient amount to permit the axle shaft 237 to swing under lower
edge 251 of the
plate 251, the axle component 236 can be pulled back up to cause the axle
shaft 237 to enter slot
252 at which time the lock nuts 244,245 are readjusted to maintain the axle
shaft in the slot 252.
In this position the wheel 235 is held in a position to rotate about an axis
permitting side-ways
travel of the apparatus 10'.
In the apparatus 10' the front wheels 232,233 are provided with power steering
means
253. For each of the front wheels, a steering arm 254 is affixed to an upper
portion of king pin
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
28
portion 238. A short post 255 is affixed to an upper surface of beam 183
behind the column 181
of each side from side component of the framework 11'. A hydraulic cylinder
256 is pivotally
connected at one end to the post 255 and at the other end to an outer end of
the steering arm 254
at each of the front wheels. The hydraulic cylinder 256 of the two power
steering means 253 at
either side of the apparatus are again controlled from the operator's station,
and the two
cylinders are connected in a slave relationship, wherein one cylinder 256 of
the pair of hydraulic
cylinders is hydraulically interconnected with the other so that on activation
one cylinder
contracts an appropriate amount while the other expands so that the steer of
the front wheels
232,233 is synchronized.
There is provided in association with the front wheel 233, a plate 250a
(Figure 2)
projecting from the adjacent front column 181, the plate 250a having a
configuration like that of
250 so that on disconnection of the steering arm 254 of the front wheel 233,
that front wheel can
be swung to a position and fixed in that position for rotation about an axis
extending in the fore
and aft direction of the apparatus 10' to permit the apparatus to be towed
sideways.
1 S In order to facilitate the switching of wheels 233 and 235 between the
normal operating
condition and the reoriented axle positioning to permit road travel, it may be
preferable to affix to
the lower beams 184 of the main frame components at the right hand side of the
framework, a
hydraulically actuated jack means for contact with the ground when operated
from the operator's
station so as to selectively raise the right hand side of the apparatus.
As explained above, during operation of the apparatus 10', the lower end of an
elevator
215 is normally located under the rear end of rear feed means 206 so that the
feed discharged
through opening 214 is then raised to a height by the elevator so as to dump
into a wagon or the
like. A conventional form elevator could be positioned to perform this
function, but it is
preferable to provide the apparatus 10' with a self contained rear elevating
system as shown at
21 S in Figure 18 so that the apparatus 10' can be moved from site to site
without the need of
transporting additional equipment and to further provide an arrangement
wherein the elevator
215 moves with the apparatus 10' as the advancing means 61' is activated
during normal
operating of the apparatus 10'.
The elevator 215 illustrated in Figure 18 includes an inclined trough portion
260, which
may include an operating system of various types, such as an auger, a drag
chain type, a
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
29
continuous flexible belt, etc. driven by a hydraulic motor (not shown)
controlled from the
operator's station. The trough portion 260 has a lower, feed receiving end 261
located below
the discharge end of the rear feed means 206, and an upper end (not shown) at
a height capable
of discharge into a receptacle, such as a feed wagon or the like. The inclined
trough portion 260
S is mounted on the rear part of the framework 11' in a fashion to allow
adjustment of the height of
its upper end and also to permit the inclined portion to swivel through
180° whereby the
receptacle can be located in various positions relative to the apparatus 10'.
This versatility makes
it possible to empty a feed bag which may be located close to a neighbouring
bag or even
between two adjacent bags.
At the rear of the framework 11', there is provided an upper cross beam 262
extending
between rear columns 180,180, depending from which is a pair of vertical
hanger members
263,263 which support the rear end 207 of the rear feed means 206. A cross-bar
259 is affixed
to the rear end 207 and has attached thereto a ball member of a ball and
socket attachment 264.
A rigid L-shaped support bracket 265 is connected to the trough member 260
slightly above its
lower end 261 and includes an upwardly projection portion 266 to which is
rigidly affixed a
laterally projecting portion 267. A socket portion of the ball and socket
attachment is connected
to the free end of the laterally projecting portion 267, whereby the lower end
261 of the elevator
217 is supported free of the ground in a fashion which allows the trough
portion of the elevator
to swing to any angle behind the apparatus 10', approximately through
180°.
The upper portion of the trough portion 260 is supported by way of a manually
operable
winch means 270 mounted on the framework provided for the support members of
the rear feed
means 206. Secured to cross beam 262 and a cross support member 271 affixed at
opposite ends
to hanger members 263,263 is an outer support tube 272 of circular cross
section. An inner
support tube 273 having an outer diameter sized to be rotatably received
within the inner
diameter of the outer support tube 272 is mounted within the outer support
tube 273. A winch
274 is secured to the upper end of inner support tube 273, the winch 274
having a manually
operable handle 275 for driving a cable storage reel 276. Extending outwardly
from the side of
the inner support tube is an arm 277 rotatably mounting a pulley 278 and over
which is trained a
cable 280. The cable 280 is wound on reel 276 at its inner end and is attached
to a support bar
281 affixed to the trough portion 260 at its outer end. Reeling in of the
cable 280 by operation
CA 02266563 1999-03-22
of the winch 274 raises the upper end of the trough portion 260 as is
permitted through the tilting
of the socket on the ball of the ball and socket connection 264. As the trough
is swung through
its angular position relative to the back of the apparatus 10', the socket
rotates on the ball of the
ball and socket connection 264 and the inner support tube 273 is free to
rotate within the outer
5 support tube 272.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, further
variations of the
features of the present invention within the spirit of the invention as
defined in the appending
claims will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
