Vehicle with suction function

Abstract

Vehicle (1) with at least one mowing device (2) and at least one suction device (5), in particular for mowing and / or cutting material, sand, stones and / or waste picked up by the vehicle (1), wherein picked-up material can be conveyed into a collection chamber 7 via the suction device (5), characterized in that a separator (22) for seeds, small animals and the like is arranged upstream of the suction device (5) and that the beginning (19) of the suction device (5) is located in a plane above the separator (22) and the latter is kept at least largely free from suction by the suction device (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle with at least one mowing device and at least one suction device, in particular for material picked up by the vehicle, including mowing and / or cutting material, sand, stones and / or waste, according to the preamble of claim 1, claim 7 and / or claim 14, which may be implemented individually or in combination. The vehicle may be either a road vehicle or a rail vehicle.

[0002] Such vehicles are generally known. The suction system ensures that the collected material does not remain on the mowed area, thus partially blocking it from further light and air circulation, which would cause damage. However, the suction also removes seeds from mowed flowers and other beneficial plants, as well as numerous small animals such as beetles, resulting in a loss of biological quality in the mowed area. Furthermore, the mowing process itself kills numerous small animals that are caught in the mower.

[0003] The invention is based on the problem of reducing the decline in biological quality when mowing surfaces, especially roadsides.

[0004] The invention solves this problem by providing a vehicle – self-propelled or towed – with the features of claim 1, claim 7 and / or claim 14, which may be implemented individually or in combination. For further embodiments of the invention, reference is made to dependent claims 2 to 6, 8 to 13 and 15 to 19.

[0005] Because the suction device according to claim 1 includes a separator with openings in its base, seeds or other small parts or organisms contained in the material, such as beetles or insects, can at least partially fall back down and thus remain available to the mowed area. Its biological quality is therefore significantly better than if these animals and plant parts, especially seeds, were vacuumed up along with the material. At the same time, the quality is also better than if suction were omitted, since then mowed, predominantly long-stemmed material would remain on the surface, and plants and animals underneath would partially suffocate and / or die from lack of light.

[0006] If the separator has a base area with multiple openings, each with a radial or lateral extent of a few centimeters, not only seeds but also, in particular, beetles or other insects can fall back onto the surface. The openings in the base area can run directly above the mowed area, so that the seeds and organisms fall back onto it.

[0007] Advantages include adjustable opening sizes and / or the availability of different opening patterns for the corresponding ground area, which can then be interchanged. This allows for adjustments to different soil types to be mowed, such as using a different opening pattern for sandy soil than for loamy soil.

[0008] It is particularly advantageous to position the suction device at a level above the separator. This keeps the separator largely free from suction by the device. As a result, seeds, small beetles, and similar animals contained in the separator are not sucked up to a large extent, but can fall back onto the mowed area through the openings in the base, thus enriching it.

[0009] To avoid excessive suction on the separator, it is advantageous for the extraction device above the separator to draw in air in a cross-flow process, i.e., in particular air that has not previously passed through the separator.

[0010] Furthermore, it is advantageous to arrange one or more mechanical conveying devices in the separator for material picked up by the mower. These then convey, in particular, straw material further into the suction device, while small organisms and plant parts, especially seeds, can fall through to the bottom.

[0011] Another advantageous design, which can be implemented additionally or alternatively, involves a material feeder positioned upstream of the suction device, conveying the material from the mower to the suction device. This feeder has several movable, thin blades that act on the material. Long stalks can then be cut into shorter pieces, thus preventing blockages and allowing stalks to be suctioned at a lower flow rate. This increases the chances that small animals and seeds will not be sucked up in the airflow but will fall back down.

[0012] For this purpose, it is advantageous for the knives to have a blade thickness between three and eight millimeters.

[0013] Provided the blades are rotatable, they can act on each stalk multiple times, thereby breaking it down into short pieces that can be easily vacuumed up.

[0014] The knives are particularly advantageous when arranged in parallel, one behind the other on wings extending radially outwards from a shaft, resulting in high efficiency.

[0015] In particular, the blades can comb against each other during their movement. This results in actual cutting of the material being harvested between the blades; the stalks do not need to be crushed. Both blade shafts are therefore synchronized in their rotation.

[0016] To enable this combing, the knives can originate from two adjacent and counter-rotating shafts.

[0017] A particularly advantageous combination provides that the knives are part of a separator according to claim 1 for seeds, small animals and the like, and partially convey the collected material as conveying elements to a transfer point for a suction device and partially to the outside through openings in the bottom area.

[0018] In the embodiment according to claim 14, the mowing device comprises one or more adjacent mowing discs that, during operation, at least partially feed the cut material to a transverse conveyor. From this conveyor, the material can be transported above a downward-permeable opening with perforations or similar openings, transverse to the direction of travel of the mower. Unlike a flail mower, the mowing discs allow for a precise, clean cut of the stalks or stems close to the ground, while simultaneously ensuring that small animals or seeds located above remain undamaged. Furthermore, the cut material can be transported by the transverse conveyor far enough towards a suction point that it is not damaged before the actual suction process. The suction point can be located at any point on the mower head, and the transverse conveyor provides a suitable feed.

[0019] If the mowing discs are held slightly angled to a horizontal plane during operation, and if at least a slight upward conveyance of the collected material from the ground to the cross conveyor is possible, some of the small animals or seeds can slide directly off the mowing discs to the rear and land back on the mowed area, thus improving the biological quality there.

[0020] Provided the transverse conveyor comprises two sub-conveyors conveying towards a transverse center. Due to the conveying towards the transverse center, a suction system can be activated there, so that the mower head can be used equally effectively both to the left and to the right of the vehicle.

[0021] In particular, the transverse conveyor is a screw conveyor with two sub-conveyors with opposing screw flights. Therefore, only one direction of rotation needs to be provided for both sub-conveyors via a common drive.

[0022] A very advantageous feature is the ability to convey the collected material in the transverse center to a separator by means of longitudinally acting conveying elements above a central area equipped with perforations or similar openings. This allows for the desired separation and fallback of the aforementioned animals and seeds before they enter the suction system.

[0023] If, furthermore, the material can be guided past fixed blades by the longitudinally acting conveying elements before reaching the separator, an initial cutting of the cut stalks can be carried out there. This prevents blockages in the separator.

[0024] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention shown in the drawing and described below.

[0025] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 An exemplary schematic top view of a vehicle in use at a ditch with a mowing device extending laterally and a suction device that empties into a collection container, Fig. 2. The vehicle as shown in the figure during use on an outer trench flank in a perspective view from a rear angle. Fig. 3 A side view of the mowing device shown without any further attachments, approximately in the direction of arrow III. Fig. 2, Fig. 4 the mowing device after Fig. 3 in view regarding the direction of travel from the rear, Fig. 5 the mowing device after Fig. 3 in front view Fig. 6 the mowing device after Fig. 3 in top view, Fig. 7 the mowing device after Fig. 3 in view from below, Fig. 8 a perspective view of the mowing device after Fig. 3 in perspective view from a slightly rear angle, Fig. 9 the construction unit after Fig. 8 in view from a slightly rear and below angle, Fig. 10 a perspective view of the building unit according to Fig. 8, however with partially removed outer sheets and a view through to the divided transverse conveyor conveying towards the transverse center, Fig. 11 the parts after Fig. 10, however, when viewed from a slightly oblique front view, Fig. 12 a detailed view of the rear of the mowing device with a separator and rotating blades within it, as well as an inlet to a suction system located above it, Fig. 13 A perspective view from a slant above of the separator with a view through the intake of the extraction system.

[0026] The in Fig. Vehicle 1, shown in plan view, can be a self-propelled vehicle, as shown here. Towed or pushed vehicles are also possible. A road vehicle is shown here. Alternatively, a rail vehicle could also be designed according to the invention.

[0027] Vehicle 1, for example, is like in Fig. 1. An agricultural tractor or mounted on a small truck, such as a Unimog. The vehicle size varies depending on the requirements.

[0028] The vehicle 1 is equipped with at least one mowing device 2, which may include one or more mowing heads 3. This or these may be mounted on a multi-jointed boom 4 that can also pivot about a vertical axis, such that it can operate at a distance of several meters from the vehicle 1 – even in an angled position, for example here on the slope H of a ditch G.

[0029] The material cut and collected by the mowing unit 2, such as stalks, sand, debris, and other materials, can be extracted via a suction device 5. This ensures that the collected material does not remain on the mowed area, partially blocking it from further light and air supply, which would cause damage. The extracted material can be conveyed by a suction blower 6 into a collection chamber 7 with a capacity of, for example, a few or more cubic meters. This chamber can be part of the vehicle 1, a trailer, or a separate vehicle.

[0030] An example of a mower head 3 is shown in the drawing below. Fig. 3 presented in its possible details.

[0031] The mowing head 3 can be guided over the ground via a sensor roller 8 or similar device, and can also operate at large angles of inclination, as in Fig. 1 enable. For this purpose, the mowing head 3 is pivotally mounted on the boom 4 via flanges 9.

[0032] At its front and lower end, the mowing head 3 of the mowing device 2 comprises one or more adjacent mowing discs 10, which may be equipped with replaceable cutting edges 11. These mowing discs 10 are guided close to the ground during operation, so that the stalks or stems are only subjected to a clean cut in their lower section. Chopping is avoided, thus significantly improving the survival chances of beetles and insects living in the grass compared to flail or roller mowers. Instead of the mowing discs, circular saws with a fixed counter blade or a cutter bar can also be used.

[0033] The mowing disc(s) 10, as shown in the drawing, rotate around a vertical or nearly vertical axis. A slight inclination of typically up to 15° – especially forward – allows beetles or seeds, which are heavier than stalks, to fall off the mowing discs 10, at least partially, with the aid of centrifugal force.

[0034] In particular, a forward tilting position ensures that material picked up by the mower discs 10 is subjected to at least a slight upward conveyance from the ground to a transverse conveyor 12 located behind it.

[0035] For the additional material picked up during mowing, which may include plant parts as well as sand, stones, waste, grit, or similar materials, the aforementioned transverse conveyor 12 is provided above and behind the mower discs 10 in the mower head with respect to the direction of travel F. This conveyor can at least partially pick up and convey the material mowed during operation. It can be divided into several sub-conveyors 12a, 12b and therefore convey the material it picks up in different directions 13a, 13b, here towards the transverse center QM (see figure). Fig. 5).

[0036] The transverse conveyor 12 can have different configurations, for example, a perforated conveyor belt or, as shown here, a screw conveyor with counter-increasing screw flights in the sub-conveyors 12a and 12b. From these, the material can be conveyed transversely to the direction of travel of the mower head 3 above a bottom section 14 provided with perforations 13 or similar downward-permeable openings.

[0037] The openings 13 can be arranged in a regular pattern and cover more than 10% of the floor area 14. Each opening can be, for example, 3 to 12 centimeters long and 1 to 3 centimeters wide. This also allows small animals or seeds to fall back into the ground.

[0038] In contrast, the material conveyed to the transverse center QM is directed with a longitudinal component to the rear into a separator 22. For this purpose, longitudinally acting conveying elements are provided above a central area which is again provided with perforations or similar openings. These longitudinal conveying elements can transport the material directed to the transverse center QM, for example, past upper and lower – here fixed – knives 15, which serve as the first counter-blades, to the rear into the separator 22.

[0039] This separator 14 is a space designed to separate seeds, small animals and similar biologically valuable material and is located upstream of the extraction device 5 in order to prevent, as far as possible, this biologically valuable material from being removed by the extraction device 5.

[0040] The separator 14 comprises a base area 16 with a plurality of openings 17, each having a radial or edge extent of a few centimeters. A pattern of slotted recesses 17 is shown here, occupying several tens of percent of the base area 16 of the separator 22. These recesses 17 can also be slot-shaped and, for example, 3 to 12 centimeters long and 1 to 3 centimeters wide.

[0041] The openings 17 can also be adjusted in size to allow adaptation to different areas to be mowed. For example, a different setting can be chosen for sandy soil than for a flower meadow. Additionally or alternatively, the corresponding ground area 16 can also be interchangeable.

[0042] The inlet 19 of the extraction device 5 can be located on a level above the separator 22. Additionally, ambient air can be drawn in via open channels 18. The separator 22 is thus kept largely free from suction by the extraction device 5.

[0043] Air is drawn in through the open channels 18 above the separator 22 in a cross-flow process. The seeds, beetles, and similar items, which are relatively heavy and have a small volume compared to finely chopped stalks, can thus largely fall downwards through the openings 17 without being sucked in, since there is virtually no suction effect in the lower part of the separator 22.

[0044] In order to enable the feed of the material that has entered the separator 14 from the front upwards to the inlet 19 of the suction device 5, one or more mechanical conveying elements 20 for material picked up by the mower are arranged in the separator 14.

[0045] These conveying elements 20 are thus part of a transport device that conveys the material to the suction device 5. It is located in the material flow from the mowing device 2 to the suction device 5 and is positioned upstream of the suction device 5. The conveying elements 20 have several movable, thin blades 21 that act on the material. These blades are held on two shafts that are spaced apart from each other and parallel to each other, but rotatable in opposite directions.

[0046] The arrangement is such that the knives 21 are arranged in parallel, one behind the other on wings extending radially outwards from a shaft. The knives 21 of each pack are arranged parallel to one another ( Fig. 10) and typically have a blade thickness of between three and eight millimeters. The knives 21 are rotatable by the rotation of the respective shafts of the conveying elements 20.

[0047] In addition to conveying, the blades 21 also perform a shredding function, cutting longer stalks into short sections a few centimeters long as they mesh with each other. Due to the multiple blades 21 arranged in a row, this shredding occurs reliably even with long stalks. The finely shredded material is conveyed upwards in the direction of arrows 23 towards the inlet 19 of the suction device 5, while small animals, seeds, and similar biologically valuable material fit into the space between the blades 21 arranged in a row on a shaft. A portion of this material can then fall downwards through the openings 17 in the base section 16 and land back on the mowed area. The space below this base section 16 can be located behind the main part of the mower head 3 and therefore remain unobstructed.

[0048] The knives 21 in the separator 22 therefore only partially transfer the collected material, in particular long-fibered material and material cut in the separator, upwards towards 23 to a transfer point to a suction device 5, whereas another part, namely in particular seeds, small animals and the like, is returned to the mowed area through the openings 17.

[0049] It goes without saying that several of the above measures can be combined in one device and vehicle. Reference symbol list 1 vehicle, 2 mowing device, 3 mowing heads, 4 outriggers, 5 Suction device, 6 suction blowers, 7 Collection room, 8 stylus roller, 9 flanges, 10 mowing discs, 11 replaceable blades, 12 cross conveyors, 12a Partial funder, 12b Partial funder, 13a Direction of conveyance, 13b Direction of conveyance, 13 breaches, 14 Base section, 15 fixed knives, 16 Floor area, 17 breaches, 18 open channels, 19 Inlet of the extraction system, 20 funding bodies, 21 rotating blades, 22 separators, 23 Direction of conveyance, F Direction of travel, G Trench, H Hang, QM Cross center

Claims

[1] Vehicle (1) with at least one mowing device (2) and at least one suction device (5), in particular for material picked up by the vehicle (1), for sand, stones and / or for waste, characterized by , that a separator (22) for seeds, small animals and the like is arranged upstream of the suction device (5). [2] Vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the separator (22) has a bottom area (16) with a plurality of openings (17), each having a radial or edge extent of a few centimeters. [3] Vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the openings (17) are adjustable in size and / or the corresponding floor area (16) is replaceable. [4] Vehicle (1) according to claim 3, characterized by, that the beginning (19) of the extraction device (5) is located in a plane above the separator (22) and that the latter is kept at least largely free from suction by the extraction device (5). [5] Vehicle (1) according to claim 4, characterized by , that the extraction device (5) above the separator (22) draws in air in a cross-flow process (channels 18). [6] Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that one or more mechanical conveying elements (20) for material picked up by the mower are arranged in the separator (22). [7] Vehicle (1) with at least one mowing device (2) and at least one suction device (5), in particular for material picked up by the vehicle (1), for sand and / or for waste, characterized by, that the suction device (5) is preceded by a transport device in the material flow from the mowing device (2) to the suction device (5), which has several movable thin knives (21) acting on the material. [8] Vehicle (1) according to claim 7, characterized by that the knives (21) each have a blade thickness between three and eight millimeters. [9] Vehicle (1) according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized by , that the knives (21) are rotatable. [10] Vehicle (1) according to claim 9, characterized by , that the knives (21) are arranged on wings extending radially outwards from a shaft in parallel, one behind the other, stacks. [11] Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized by , that the knives (21) comb each other during their movement. [12] Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized by, that the knives (21) originate from two adjacent and counter-rotating shafts. [13] Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by , that the knives (21) are part of a separator (22) according to claim 1 for seeds, small animals and the like and convey the collected material partly to a transfer to a suction device (5) and partly to the outside through openings (17) in the bottom area (16). [14] Vehicle (1) with at least one mowing device (2) and at least one suction device (5), in particular for material picked up by the vehicle (1), for sand, stones and / or for waste, characterized by, that the mowing device (2) comprises one or more adjacent mowing discs (10) which, in operation, convey or convey material mowed at least partially to a transverse conveyor (12), from which the material can be conveyed transversely to the direction of travel of the mower above a bottom part (14) provided with perforations (13) or similar downwardly permeable openings. [15] Vehicle according to claim 14, characterized by , that the mowing discs (10) are held slightly angled to a horizontal plane during use and that at least a slight upward conveyance of the material picked up from the ground to the transverse conveyor (12) is possible from these. [16] Vehicle (1) according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized by , that the transverse conveyor (12) comprises two partial conveyors (12a;12b) conveying in the direction of a transverse center (QM). [17] Vehicle according to claim 16, characterized by, that the transverse conveyor (12) is a screw conveyor with two partial conveyors (12a; 12b) with oppositely rising screw flights. [18] Vehicle according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized by , that in the transverse center (QM) a further conveyance of the received material into a separator (22) is made possible by means of conveying elements acting in the longitudinal direction above a central area provided with perforations or similar openings. [19] Vehicle (1) according to claim 18, characterized by , that the material can be conveyed past fixed knives (15) by the conveying elements acting in the longitudinal direction.

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