Crawler-type cutting and pulverizing integrated weeding machine

Abstract

The utility model discloses a caterpillar type cutting and smashing integrated weeding machine for realizing mechanized weeding of complex terrain along railway. It includes car body, caterpillar type walking module, weeding machine head module, wherein, weeding machine head module is hinged and is installed at the front end of car body, and weeding machine head module includes head casing, knife roll, flail assembly, head motor and hydraulic cylinder, wherein, a plurality of installation grooves that staggered arrangement and along the circumferential of knife roll spiral arrangement are provided on the knife roll, the mounting support in flail assembly is connected with the installation groove mechanical connection through welding or / and fastening, the head motor is installed on the head casing and is connected with the knife roll belt drive, the hydraulic cylinder is arranged between car body and head casing and drives the pitch angle of weeding machine head module. Whether it is railway embankment, cutting slope or along the narrow area, can realize overall coverage, avoids the blind area of weeding.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of unmanned weeding equipment. Background Technology

[0002] The proliferation of weeds and shrubs is one of the most common and persistent problems in railway maintenance, and the harm it causes is mainly reflected in the following aspects: (1) Huge fire hazard: In autumn and winter, withered weeds are extremely dry, and once they come into contact with nearby open flames, they can easily cause large-scale railway fires. Railway fires not only damage railway facilities (such as cables and signals), but also lead to line blockages and train interruptions, causing huge economic losses and adverse social impacts.

[0003] (2) Affecting driving safety: The tall weeds on both sides of the line will seriously obstruct the view of locomotive drivers and shunting personnel, especially in curved sections, level crossings, and station entrance and exit areas, which can easily create blind spots and pose a serious threat to driving safety.

[0004] (3) Damage to railway infrastructure: Weed roots penetrate deep into the roadbed, damaging the interlocking structure and drainage performance of the ballast, leading to a soft roadbed and reduced stability. Weeds growing in drainage ditches can clog the drainage system, causing water accumulation during the rainy season, eroding the roadbed, and triggering geological disasters.

[0005] Therefore, timely and effective clearing of weeds and shrubs along railway lines is a routine and fundamental task for the railway maintenance department, and an indispensable link in ensuring the safe and smooth operation of railway transportation.

[0006] Currently, the bureau still relies heavily on traditional methods for weeding operations in both the internal and external environments, mainly including: (1) Manual operation: Cleaning is carried out using tools such as sickles and handheld brush cutters. This most primitive method has the problems of extremely high labor intensity, low work efficiency, easy fatigue of personnel, and easy personal injury.

[0007] (2) Backpack sprayer chemical weeding: Herbicides are sprayed. Although the efficiency is higher than that of manual operation, the problems are more prominent: ① The environment is seriously polluted, and the herbicide causes persistent pollution to the soil and water sources; ② There are safety hazards, as wind may cause the herbicide to drift and affect the health of those who come into contact with it; ③ Long-term use will cause weeds to develop resistance and the effect will decrease.

[0008] (3) Handheld machinery: Efficiency has been improved, but personnel still need to follow closely to operate it. It is not safe to operate on complex terrain (such as slopes and ditches) around railway lines, and there is a risk of machinery overturning and personnel injury.

[0009] The core problem with these traditional work methods is that "humans and machines are not separated," meaning workers are constantly in a high-risk, high-intensity environment, facing immense safety pressure. Furthermore, the messy piles of weeds and shrubs after the work requires secondary cleaning, further increasing labor intensity.

[0010] The development of unmanned weeding machines can be divided into flame weeding, laser weeding, herbicide weeding, and wire saw weeding, depending on their functions. The common feature of these types of weeding equipment is that they all use unmanned vehicles as motorized tools.

[0011] A search revealed a similar technical document, CN202421081986.5, which discloses an unmanned weeding device. This device features rotating weeding blades at its bottom, a crushing device at its rear, guide plates on both sides of the feed inlet at the bottom of the crushing device, a rotating crushing rod inside the crushing device, and a longitudinally movable soil-turning device on one side of the crushing device. This invention, by incorporating rotating weeding blades at the bottom of the unmanned weeding device, allows the blades to cut the roots of the grass. However, this weeding device is unsuitable for railway slope maintenance projects because the maintenance area contains scattered rocks, sticks, and other debris, which can easily damage the weeding blades. Utility Model Content

[0012] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model provides a tracked integrated cutting and crushing weeding machine for mechanized weeding on complex terrains such as slopes (slope ≤ 30°), gravel, grassland, and ditches along railway lines.

[0013] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is as follows: A tracked integrated cutting and crushing weeding machine includes a vehicle body, a tracked walking module, and a weeding head module. The weeding head module is hinged to the front end of the vehicle body. The weeding head module comprises a head housing, a blade roller, a blade assembly, a head motor, and a hydraulic cylinder. The blade roller has multiple staggered mounting slots arranged spirally along its circumference. The mounting supports in the blade assembly are mechanically connected to the mounting slots via welding and / or fastening. The head motor is mounted on the head housing and connected to the blade roller via a belt drive. The hydraulic cylinder is positioned between the vehicle body and the head housing and drives the pitch angle of the weeding head module.

[0014] Furthermore, the blade assembly includes a mounting bracket, a wear-resistant pin, a locking nut, a blade, and a cotter pin. The mounting bracket includes an arc-shaped plate and a side lug fixed to the arc-shaped plate. The arc-shaped plate is an arc-shaped steel plate of uniform thickness. The arc-shaped plate mates with the mounting groove, and the blade is movably mounted on the side lug by the wear-resistant pin and fixed at its end using a locking nut and a cotter pin.

[0015] Furthermore, bolt holes and threaded holes are provided in the arc-shaped plate and the mounting groove, and the arc-shaped plate is fastened by fastening bolts.

[0016] Furthermore, the bolt hole is located at the center of the arc-shaped plate, and the threaded hole is located at the center of the mounting groove.

[0017] Furthermore, a disc spring washer is added between the side ear and the swivel blade.

[0018] Furthermore, the blade is configured with a bending feature, which can be either an arc-shaped bend or a corner bend.

[0019] Furthermore, a protective cover is provided on the head housing.

[0020] Furthermore, safety markings are affixed to the surface of the vehicle body.

[0021] Furthermore, protective plates are provided on the inner and outer sides of the tracked walking module.

[0022] Furthermore, the tracks in the tracked walking module are made of rubber tracks used in engineering machinery, and are reinforced with steel wire cords inside.

[0023] The beneficial effects of this utility model are: (1) Strong terrain adaptability and wide coverage: The tracked walking design enables the weeder to easily cope with complex terrains such as slopes (slope ≤30°), gravel, grassland, and ditches along the railway line, solving the problems of slippage and tipping of traditional wheeled equipment. The cutting height can be steplessly adjusted within the range of 0-20cm, which can carry out precise operation on weeds and shrubs of different growth heights. Whether it is railway embankment, cutting slope, or narrow area along the line, it can achieve full coverage and avoid blind spots in weeding.

[0024] (2) Convenient and safe operation, reducing labor intensity: With remote control, weeding can be carried out without the need for operators to enter dangerous areas, effectively avoiding the safety risks of manual weeding.

[0025] (3) Environmentally friendly and energy-saving, meeting green maintenance requirements: The pure electric power system has zero emissions and low noise (noise ≤60dB during operation), avoiding exhaust pollution and noise pollution problems of fuel equipment, and has little impact on the ecological environment along the railway. The lithium battery has a range of up to 4 hours (when fully charged), which meets the daily routine operation needs, and the electricity cost is only 1 / 5 of that of fuel equipment, making it economically viable in the long term.

[0026] (4) Easy maintenance and low failure rate: The equipment has a modular structure design, and each core component (such as motor, battery, and blade) can be disassembled and replaced independently, which facilitates daily maintenance. The motor adopts a DC brushless motor, which ensures the overall reliability of the equipment and reduces the maintenance frequency and cost. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a 3D view of the weed cutter head module.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a demonstration of the mounting structure of the swivel blade assembly on the cutter roller.

[0031] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Cross-sectional view.

[0032] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional view of the cutter roller.

[0033] Figure 7 A three-dimensional view of the mounting bracket.

[0034] Figure 8 This is an assembly diagram of the wear-resistant pin.

[0035] Figure 9 This is a 3D diagram of a slingshot.

[0036] Figure 10 This is a 3D diagram of a slingshot.

[0037] Figure 11 This is a 3D view of the blade assembly.

[0038] In the picture: 100. Vehicle body 200. Tracked walking module; 210. Protective plate. 300. Weeder head module; 310. Head housing; 311. Protective cover; 320. Blade roller; 321. Mounting slot; 330. Blade assembly; 331. Mounting support; 3311. Arc plate; 3312. Side lug; 332. Wear-resistant pin; 333. Locking nut; 334. Blade; 335. Cotter pin; 336. Fastening bolt; 340. Head motor; 350. Hydraulic cylinder. Detailed Implementation

[0039] refer to Figures 1 to 11 This tracked integrated cutting and shredding weed cutter includes a chassis 100, a tracked walking module 200, and a weeding head module 300. The chassis 100 module contains a hydraulic unit, an electronic control unit, and a lithium battery unit. The weeding head module 300 is hinged to the front end of the chassis 100, and a hydraulic cylinder 350 is positioned between them to effectively adjust the pitch angle of the weeding head module 300. The tracked walking module 200 moves under the control of the electronic control unit and the lithium battery unit.

[0040] Furthermore, the tracks in this tracked walking module 200 have their structural parameters, such as pitch, width, and thickness, optimized using 3D software to increase the contact area and friction between the tracks and the ground, thereby enhancing their ability to traverse special terrains such as railway rock slopes and soft ground. Simultaneously, the preferred DC motor in this walking module is directly driven, and the tracks are made of rubber with a textured pattern, providing sufficient traction and grip to ensure stable and efficient movement of the equipment in various complex terrains.

[0041] Furthermore, the chassis of this tracked walking module 200 is made of high-strength steel, making it robust and durable, capable of withstanding various loads when the weeder travels and operates in complex terrain. Shock-absorbing devices, such as spring shock absorbers and rubber shock-absorbing pads, are installed on the chassis to reduce vibration and bumps during travel, protecting the internal mechanical and electrical components and extending the equipment's service life.

[0042] Furthermore, protective plates 210 are provided on the inner and outer sides of the tracked walking module 200 to prevent debris from entering the walking module and to help keep the walking module clean.

[0043] Furthermore, the tracks are made of rubber used in engineering machinery, with internal steel wire cord reinforcement, which has the advantages of being wear-resistant, tear-resistant, having low ground pressure, and not damaging asphalt or cement pavement (such as flat walkways).

[0044] The chassis frame of the walking module is welded from high-strength rectangular steel pipes, making it sturdy and providing support for the entire device.

[0045] Furthermore, the tracked walking module 200 adopts a pure electric drive scheme and consists of a lithium battery pack, a power management system (BMS), a vehicle controller (VCU), a walking motor and controller, and a working motor and controller.

[0046] Furthermore, the drive power in this tracked walking module 200 adopts a brushless DC motor with a rated power of approximately 800W, which drives the tracks forward, backward, and steer through a reducer. The motor has high torque characteristics, ensuring climbing and obstacle-crossing capabilities.

[0047] The head motor in the weed cutter head module 300 is a high-power brushless DC motor with a rated power of 3kW, which directly drives the cutter roller 320 to rotate at high speed via a high-strength belt or coupling. The design and forming of the cutter roller 320 are based on the growth characteristics and cutting requirements of weeds along the railway line. Computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) technologies were used to optimize the shape, material, installation angle, and rotation speed of the blades 334 on the cutter roller 320. This embodiment simulates and analyzes the cutting performance of the blades 334 under different design parameters to obtain the shape of the blades 334. The blades 334 have a 30-degree included angle design and serrations along their edges. These serrations are milled to improve cutting efficiency and quality. Furthermore, the blades 334 in this embodiment are made of high-strength, wear-resistant alloy steel to extend their service life.

[0048] The weeding head module 300 includes a head housing 310, a blade roller 320, a blade assembly 330, a head motor 340, and a hydraulic cylinder 350.

[0049] Furthermore, this embodiment studies the installation method of the sling cutter 334 on the cutter roller 320, adopting a modular design and effectively installing it through an integrated sling cutter assembly 330. The sling cutter assembly 330 includes a mounting bracket 331, a wear-resistant pin 332, a locking nut 333, the sling cutter 334, and a cotter pin 335. The mounting bracket 331 includes an arc-shaped plate 3311 and two side lugs 3312. The arc-shaped plate 3311 is an arc-shaped steel plate of uniform thickness with a chamfered design. The arc-shaped plate 3311 fits snugly against the mounting groove 321 on the cutter roller 320, and the two are fully welded together. Furthermore, bolt holes and threaded holes are provided in the arc-shaped plate 3311 and the mounting groove 321, and the arc-shaped plate 3311 is initially tightened by fastening bolts 336. This design makes the fastening bolts 336 process bolts, used for installing the arc-shaped plate 3311 into place before welding. Specifically, the bolt holes are located at the center of the arc-shaped plate 3311, and the threaded holes are located at the center of the mounting groove 321. During installation, the arc-shaped plate 3311 is initially tightened using fastening bolts 336, and then welded using a welding process. This process ensures the installation accuracy of the arc-shaped plate 3311 on the cutter roller 320. In this embodiment, the mounting grooves 321 are arranged in a staggered spiral pattern along the circumference of the cutter roller 320. This arrangement increases the number of times the weeds come into contact with the cutter, improving the crushing effect.

[0050] Furthermore, two side ears 3312 are welded to the outer side of the arc plate 3311, and a pin hole is provided on the top of the side ears 3312 for installing the wear-resistant pin 332. At the same time, a pin hole is also provided on the cutter 334. The wear-resistant pin 332 passes through the side ears 3312 and the cutter 334, and the cutter 334 is movably installed on the base bracket. This operation achieves precise installation of the cutter 334.

[0051] Furthermore, the outer end of the wear-resistant pin 332 has a pin hole for installing a cotter pin 335, and a partial thread is provided inside the pin hole for installing a locking nut 333. The locking nut 333 adopts an ultra-thin design and distributes the force on the cotter pin 335, which is equivalent to the function of a washer.

[0052] A further improvement is made by placing a disc spring washer (not shown in the figure) on the aforementioned wear-resistant pin. Specifically, the disc spring washer is placed between the side ear 3312 and the sling cutter 334. The presence of the disc spring washer can reduce the impact of the sling cutter 334 on the side ear 3312 during high-speed rotation, so that the side ear 3312 is prevented from deforming, which is beneficial to the overall safety of the mounting bracket 331.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the shredder 334 is designed with a bending feature. This bending can be an arc-shaped bend or a corner bend, creating an optimal installation angle. This allows it to fully utilize centrifugal force during rotation, effectively cutting various tough weeds and shrubs. It also functions as a pulverizer, resulting in finer particles that are easier to degrade naturally or used as fertilizer. Optimizing the shape, arrangement, and spacing of the pulverizing blades improves pulverizing efficiency and uniformity.

[0054] Furthermore, the two ends of the aforementioned cutter roller 320 are mounted on the side plates of the head housing 310 via bearings and bearing housings, and a pulley is installed at one end of the cutter roller 320. This pulley is mechanically connected to the head motor via belt drive, forming a drive system. Belt drive features simple structure, smooth transmission, and shock absorption, ensuring reliable power transmission.

[0055] The aforementioned head housing 310 is hydraulically driven to connect with the body 100. The hydraulic system consists of a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic cylinder 350, and control valves. By controlling the flow and pressure of the hydraulic oil, the cutting and crushing devices are raised and lowered to accommodate weeds of different heights. The aforementioned hydraulic pump and other hydraulic control systems are installed inside the body 100.

[0056] Furthermore, a protective cover 311 is provided on the aforementioned head housing 310. The protective cover 311 is made of high-strength metal sheet and the surface is treated with anti-corrosion to prevent the fragments generated by the blade during cutting and crushing from flying and injuring people.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cutter roller 320 is made of high-strength alloy steel shaft, which has a mounting groove 321 for welding or bolting multiple sets of alloy steel cutters 334. The cutters 334 are made of special steel and undergo heat treatment to ensure their hardness and toughness.

[0058] Working principle: The blade roller 320 rotates at high speed (up to 3450 rpm) driven by a brushless DC motor, while the spalling blades 334 open under centrifugal force. The sharp blades cut and shred weeds and shrubs with tremendous impact force, rather than simply slicing them. Compared to rotary tillers and disc cutters, the spalling blades 334 have the advantages of: better shredding effect, finer grass clippings, and no need for secondary cleaning.

[0059] Furthermore, the aforementioned head housing 310 and its protective cover 311 adopt a fully enclosed design to prevent debris from splashing and injuring people. At the same time, a guide plate is designed inside to guide the grass clippings to be evenly thrown backward and downward.

[0060] Furthermore, the optimized design of the 334 cutting blade involves combining fluid mechanics and materials mechanics theories, and using finite element analysis software to simulate the stress state and cutting process of the blade. Based on the simulation results, the structural parameters of the blade, such as the blade angle, blade curvature, and handle length, are optimized to ensure a stable airflow field during rotation, reducing cutting resistance and improving cutting efficiency. High-strength manganese steel is selected as the material for the blade, and a surface hardening treatment process is employed to achieve a hardness of HRC45-55, improving wear resistance by more than 30%. In addition, a detachable blade structure is designed for easy maintenance and replacement, reducing operating costs.

[0061] Furthermore, safety signs such as high-voltage warning and rotation warning are affixed to the surface of the vehicle body 100.

[0062] The performance specifications of this weeding machine are as follows: (1) Mowing width: ≥80cm; (2) Walking speed: ≥3.5km / h; (3) Angle of ascent: ≥30°; (4) Cutting height: 0-20cm; (5) Walking speed: ≥3.5km / h; (6) Rated power of the DC motor for the cutter head: 3000W; (7) Battery life: ≥4 hours of continuous operation time on a single charge (clearing weeds); (8) Remote control range: ≥200m (unobstructed environment).

[0063] This embodiment offers the following technical advantages: It integrates the "cutting-shredding" function into railway weeding equipment for the first time, breaking the traditional operational mode of "separate removal after cutting." Weeds are directly shredded after cutting, resulting in small particles that can rapidly degrade naturally, reducing the weed removal process and significantly improving operational efficiency. Simultaneously, the shredded weeds can serve as organic mulch, improving soil conditions along the railway line and achieving integrated "weeding-ecological maintenance." Furthermore, the 334 blade employs a composite structure of "serrated edges + curved blade body," increasing cutting efficiency by 40% compared to traditional straight-blade blades, and achieving a cutting rate of over 98% for tough weeds. Additionally, optimization of the blade components and their installation method improves installation accuracy and ease of replacement.

Claims

1. A tracked integrated cutting and crushing weeding machine, comprising a body (100), a tracked walking module (200), and a weeding head module (300), wherein, The weeding head module (300) is hinged to the front end of the vehicle body (100). The weeding head module (300) includes a head housing (310), a blade roller (320), a slinger assembly (330), a head motor (340), and a hydraulic cylinder (350). The blade roller (320) is provided with a plurality of staggered mounting grooves (321) arranged spirally along the circumference of the blade roller (320). The mounting support (331) in the slinger assembly (330) is mechanically connected to the mounting grooves (321) by welding or / and fastening. The head motor (340) is mounted on the head housing (310) and connected to the blade roller (320) by belt drive. The hydraulic cylinder (350) is located between the vehicle body (100) and the head housing (310) and drives the pitch angle of the weeding head module (300).

2. The tracked integrated cutting and crushing weeding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blade assembly (330) includes a mounting bracket (331), a wear-resistant pin (332), a locking nut (333), a blade (334), and a cotter pin (335). The mounting bracket (331) includes an arc-shaped plate (3311) and a side lug (3312) fixed on the arc-shaped plate. The arc-shaped plate (3311) is an arc-shaped steel plate of equal thickness. The arc-shaped plate (3311) cooperates with the mounting groove (321). The blade (334) is movably mounted on the side lug by the wear-resistant pin (332) and fixed at the end by the locking nut (333) and the cotter pin (335).

3. The tracked integrated cutting and crushing weeding machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, Bolt holes and threaded holes are provided in the arc plate (3311) and the mounting groove (321), and the arc plate (3311) is fastened by fastening bolts (336).

4. The tracked integrated cutting and crushing weeding machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bolt hole is located at the center of the arc plate (3311), and the threaded hole is located at the center of the mounting groove (321).

5. The tracked integrated cutting and crushing weeding machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, An additional disc spring washer is provided between the side ear (3312) and the slinger (334).

6. The tracked integrated cutting and crushing weeding machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The blade (334) is configured with a bending feature, which can be either an arc bend or a corner bend.

7. The tracked integrated cutting and crushing weeding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, A protective cover (311) is provided on the head housing (310).

8. The tracked integrated cutting and crushing weeding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, Safety markings are affixed to the surface of the vehicle body (100).

9. The tracked integrated cutting and crushing weeding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, Protective plates (210) are provided on the inner and outer sides of the tracked walking module (200).

10. The tracked integrated cutting and crushing weeding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tracks in the tracked walking module (200) are made of rubber tracks used in engineering machinery and are reinforced with steel wire cords inside.

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