Transport device for wood chips of a chipper

Abstract

Device for transporting away the wood chips produced by a chopper (1) and emerging from its outlet opening (2), characterized by a conveyor screw (8) which is enclosed on all sides by a conveyor tunnel (3) along the conveying direction (4), wherein one end (5) of the conveyor tunnel (3) can be connected in a flow-tight manner to the outlet opening (2) via a connecting element and the other end (6) of the conveyor tunnel (3') is open for discharging the wood chips.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for transporting the wood chips produced by a chipper and emerging from its outlet opening according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In agriculture, it is known that the stems and stalks of still-standing fruit vines are cut and chopped on the ground by so-called forage choppers, either directly or immediately after harvesting the grain, resulting in chopped material a few millimeters or centimeters long. It is also known from the prior art to subsequently chop the stalks and spread them, for example, as chaff, on the harvested field.

[0003] Stationary chopper machines or those mounted on mobile machines or trucks are also frequently used to process the material to be chopped on site. The subject of EP 1 133 915 A1 is a method and device for the fully continuous chopping of straw bales and for the dust-free deposit of the chopped material, addressing the problem of dust generation during chopping. The dust generation can be so massive that surrounding buildings, machines, vehicles, and people are completely enveloped in a virtually opaque dust mist, with corresponding adverse effects on human health and corresponding effort to remove the dust after the chopping process. This problem is also described in the publications cited in the aforementioned European patent application.Dust is generated particularly at the shredder's outlet opening, from which the shredded material is blown out along with a considerable amount of dust and fine dust. From the prior art mentioned, it is known to blow the shredded material through an ejection system consisting of a series of pipes after it leaves the shredder, which reduces the dust to a certain extent. However, it is also considered necessary to mix the shredded material with an organic adhesive, which is sprayed onto the shredded material immediately before the end of the ejection system, in order to reduce dust formation. This has the disadvantage of additional consumables and undesirable components of the adhesive used in the shredded material. Furthermore, a very large amount of adhesive must be used to achieve a measurable reduction in dust generation.

[0004] The task is therefore to design a device for transporting the wood chips produced by a chipper in such a way that dust development is minimal.

[0005] This problem is solved by the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the subclaims.

[0006] According to the invention, the device for transporting the wood chips produced by the chopper and exiting its outlet opening comprises a conveyor screw enclosed on all sides by a conveyor tunnel along the conveying direction determined by the direction of rotation of the conveyor screw. One end of the conveyor tunnel can be connected in a flow-tight manner to the outlet opening of the chopper via a connecting element, and the other end of the conveyor tunnel is open for discharging the wood chips. The use of a conveyor screw within a closed conveyor tunnel precompacts the wood chips, whereby the resulting dust is compressed with the wood chips and no longer escapes freely. Dust development is thus significantly reduced.

[0007] Preferably, the connecting element is designed as a flange so that it can be easily connected and disconnected.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment, the conveyor tunnel is attached to the chopper's outlet opening via an articulated connection. This can provide both pivoting capability around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the chopper's outlet opening to enable up-and-down movement of the conveyor tunnel. Alternatively, or in addition, pivoting capability around a vertical axis perpendicular to the chopper's outlet opening can be provided to enable left-and-right pivoting movement of the conveyor tunnel.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the conveyor tunnel comprises a first tunnel section adjoining the connecting element and a second tunnel section pivotally connected to the first tunnel section via a joint. This allows the conveyor tunnel to be folded for transport.

[0010] If the conveyor tunnel is divided into two parts, the conveyor screw is preferably also divided into two parts. The two parts of the conveyor screw then correspond to the two parts of the conveyor tunnel and are connected to each other by a claw coupling. This is preloaded by a spring assembly at the end of the conveyor tunnel and is therefore always engaged.

[0011] An embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show: Fig. 1 a side view of a truck with a chipper arranged thereon and a device according to the invention for transporting the wood chips in the transport position; Fig. 2 a representation of the truck according to Fig. 1 from top; Fig. 3 a representation of the truck from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 from behind; Fig. 4 a representation of the truck from Fig. 1 with the device for transporting the wood chips into working position; Fig. 5 a representation according to Fig. 4 from the top; Fig. 6 a representation according to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 from behind; Fig. 7 a longitudinal section through the conveyor tunnel with connection element to the chopper; Fig. 8 a view like Fig. 7 (a) and detailed views of the claw coupling (b) and the spring assembly (c).

[0012] Fig. 1 shows a conventional truck 10 with a chassis, a driver's cab, a flatbed 11, and the drive system typical for a truck 10 (not further described). Located on the flatbed 11 of the truck 10 is a chopper 1, which may be a standard chopper or a straw mill or hay mill. Regardless of the specific embodiment, the following will be referred to as a chopper 1, although this may also be designed as a straw mill. The chopper 1 has an inlet hopper 12 on its top side, through which the chopper 1 can be filled with wood chips, e.g., straw, hay, or twigs. The internal structure of the chopper 1 is known per se and will not be described in further detail below. Within the chopper 1, the feed material is chopped and, in some cases, also ground.It leaves the shredder 1 at the outlet opening 2, to which a discharge device in the form of a pipe, sometimes also a conveyor belt, is or can be connected.

[0013] In the device according to the invention, however, a device for transporting the wood chips produced by the chopper 1 is provided at the outlet opening 2 of the chopper 1, which device is connected in a flow-tight manner to the outlet opening 2 of the chopper 1 via a flange 7 with an articulated arrangement. Adjoining the flange 7 is a first tunnel section 3' of a conveyor tunnel 3, which merges into a second tunnel section 3", which forms the second part of the conveyor tunnel 3. The first tunnel section 3' is connected to the second tunnel section 3" via a joint 9. In the Fig. In the transport position shown in Figure 1, the first tunnel section 3' points vertically upwards, starting from the outlet opening 2 or the flange 7, and the second tunnel section 3" is bent forwards by an angle of 90°, i.e. in the direction of travel of the truck 10, via the joint 9, relative to the first tunnel section 3', whereby the second tunnel section 3" is located above the truck 10 or above the inlet 12 of the shredder 1. In this way, a safe movement of the truck 10 in road traffic is possible.

[0014] The same arrangement shows Fig. 2 from above and Fig. 3 from behind. It can be seen that the conveyor tunnel 3, consisting of the two tunnel sections 3' and 3'', are arranged behind and above the truck 10 in such a way that they do not impair its use in road traffic.

[0015] In order to put the device for transporting the wood chips into operation, the conveyor tunnel is first brought into a position consisting of the first tunnel section 3' and the second tunnel section 3" by pivoting the second tunnel section 3" around the joint 9 by an angle of 90°, in which the two tunnel sections 3' and 3" run collinearly, as shown in the Fig. 4 to 6. These figures show the overall arrangement of the shredder 1 and the truck 10, as well as the removal device in a working position. As can be seen from the figures, the two tunnel sections 3' and 3" are now aligned collinearly and, of course, connected and secured to each other in such a way that no unintentional bending around the joint 9 can occur. The corresponding safety devices are not shown in detail.

[0016] Again Fig. 4, the conveyor tunnel 3, consisting of the two tunnel sections 3' and 3", is inclined rearwardly (relative to the direction of travel of the truck 10) relative to the outlet opening 2 of the shredder 1, so that the entire conveyor tunnel 3 protrudes rearwardly and upwardly from the truck 10. This is achieved by pivoting the conveyor tunnel 3 about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the outlet opening 2 of the shredder 1, in this case an axis that runs transversely to the direction of travel of the truck 10.

[0017] How Fig. As can be seen from Figure 5, the conveyor tunnel 3 is not only pivoted rearward in the direction of travel of the truck 10, but also laterally and thus projects beyond the side plane of the truck 10. This lateral pivoting is made possible by pivoting about a vertical axis arranged perpendicular to the outlet opening 2 of the chopper 1.

[0018] Both pivoting possibilities are made possible by a pivoting arrangement of the flange 7 between the outlet opening 2 and the rear end 5 of the conveyor tunnel 3, which are not shown in detail.

[0019] In Fig. Figure 7 shows a longitudinal section through the conveyor tunnel 3 in the working position. This longitudinal section shows that a conveyor screw 8 is located within the conveyor tunnel 3, which is arranged so as to be rotatable about an axis 13. This conveyor screw 8 extends from one end 5 of the conveyor tunnel 3, which is located in the area of ​​the outlet opening 2 of the chopper 1, to the other end 6 of the conveyor tunnel 3, which is located at the open end of the conveyor tunnel 3. The conveyor screw 8 is driven by a motor 14, preferably a hydraulic motor, not shown in detail. The axis 13 of the conveyor screw 8 protrudes beyond the other end 6 of the conveyor tunnel 3 and is mounted there.

[0020] The conveyor screw 8 can either be constructed in one piece and subsequently inserted into the conveyor tunnel 3 after the two tunnel sections 3 and 3' have been pivoted together to form a complete conveyor tunnel 3, or it can be constructed in two parts, like the conveyor tunnel 3 itself. In this case, the two parts of the conveyor screw 8 must be connected in the area of ​​the joint, i.e., in the area of ​​the joint 9.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment according to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the conveyor screw 8 consists of the two parts 8' and 8'', whereby the part 8' of the conveyor screw 8 is in direct connection with the motor 14 for its drive and the two parts 8' and 8'' are connected to each other via a claw coupling 15. This is particularly well suited in Fig. 8 b. In order to keep the claw coupling 15 in constant engagement and thus achieve a reliable power transmission from the first part 8' to the second part 8'' of the conveyor screw 8, a spring assembly 16 is provided at the other (free) end 6 of the conveyor tunnel 3 on the axis 13, which spring assembly 16 urges the second part 8'' toward the first part 8' and thus keeps the claw coupling 15 engaged.

[0022] The device works as follows.

[0023] First, the truck 10 with the chopper 1 is brought to the working position. Then, the two tunnel sections 3 and 3' are pivoted against each other around the joint 9, whereby the complete conveyor tunnel 3 is created. When the two tunnel sections 3 and 3'' are folded into the working position, the claw coupling 15 also engages between the two parts 8' and 8'' of the conveyor screw 8 and takes up the Fig.8 b, under the pressure of the spring assembly 16.

[0024] The conveyor tunnel 3, which is then in its working position, can then be pivoted both upwards, i.e. around a horizontal axis, and sideways, i.e. around a vertical axis. The chipper 1 can then be put into operation. It blows the wood chips from its outlet opening 2 into the removal device, as flow-tight as possible so that no secondary air is blown away. The wood chips are then transported by the conveyor screw 8 within the conveyor tunnel 3, running past the inner walls of which at a short distance, and are also compressed and compacted. The wood chips are then discharged via the free end 6 of the conveyor tunnel 3 and poured out. In order to enable the widest possible discharge over a wide area, the conveyor tunnel 3 can also be pivoted around the vertical axis in the area of ​​the flange 7 during operation.Likewise, the truck 10 can be moved during chopping in order to achieve a further change in the position of the piled-up chopped material.

[0025] Due to the pre-compaction and compression of the chopped material within the conveyor tunnel 3 by the conveyor screw 8, the dust generated by chopping adheres automatically and, without the need for additional means, to the more solid components of the chopped material. The discharge of the chopped material at the end 6 of the conveyor tunnel 3 is thus low in dust. The particular advantages of the invention, however, become apparent during further operation, when a pile of wood chips has accumulated and the end 6 of the conveyor tunnel 3 then ends in this pile. Due to the conveyor screw 8, the wood chips are introduced into the pile even when counterpressure due to gravity and density builds up there, and the pile of conveyed material is not sprinkled from above, as is the case with conventional conveyor belts, but is pushed from below. As a result, the wood chips themselves act as a dust filter and practically no dust is generated when the wood chips are conveyed.In this position, the conveyor tunnel 3 can be moved to the left or right or, by moving the truck 10, also forwards or backwards, whereby care must be taken that the free end 6 is, if possible, located within the pile in order to prevent dust formation.

[0026] Therefore, no special precautions need to be taken to protect people and animals from dust development, and subsequent cleaning of the workplace is also possible with minimal effort. List of reference symbols 1 shredder 2 outlet opening 3 conveyor tunnels 3' first tunnel section 3'' second tunnel section 4 Conveying direction 5 one end of the conveyor tunnel 6 other end of the conveyor tunnel 7 Flange 8 screw conveyor 9 Joint 10 trucks 11 Flatbed 12 Filling opening 13 Axis 14 Engine QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 1 133 915 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Device for transporting the wood chips produced by a chopper (1) and emerging from its outlet opening (2), characterized by a conveyor screw (8) which is enclosed on all sides by a conveyor tunnel (3) along the conveying direction (4), wherein one end (5) of the conveyor tunnel (3) can be connected in a flow-tight manner to the outlet opening (2) via a connecting element and the other end (6) of the conveyor tunnel (3') is open for discharging the wood chips. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the conveyor tunnel (3) is pivotally attached to the outlet opening (2) of the chopper (1) via an articulated connection (10). [3] Device according to claim 2, characterized by that pivoting is possible around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the outlet opening (2) of the shredder (1). [4] Device according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized bythat pivoting is possible around a vertical axis arranged perpendicular to the outlet opening (2) of the shredder (1). [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the conveyor tunnel (3) has a first tunnel section (3') adjoining the connecting element and a second tunnel section (3'') pivotally connected to the first tunnel section (3') via a joint (9). [6] Device according to claim 5, characterized by that the conveyor screw (8) is designed in two parts and a first part (8') is assigned to the first tunnel section (3') and a second part (8'') is assigned to the second tunnel section (3'') and the two parts (8', 8'') are in engagement with one another via a claw coupling (15) on the axis (13). [7] Device according to claim 6, characterized bythat at the other end (6) of the conveyor tunnel (3) a spring assembly (16) is provided for resiliently preloading the second part (8'') of the conveyor screw (8) in the direction of the claw coupling (15).

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