Reel unwinding and braking system for pasture fences

Abstract

Reel unwinding and braking system (1) for pasture fences, including a lever (4) which is designed to be fastened to a reel post (2) by means of a mounting bracket (3), a stopper (13) for braking the rotational movement of a reel (8), a U-shaped strand bracket (5) for guiding a strand (9) on a reel (8), the open end pieces of which are fastened to the lever (4), characterized in that the fastening of the two end pieces of the strand bracket (5) to the lever (4) is designed to be detachable in order to enable the strand (9) to be threaded in and out quickly, a reel axis (12) being provided for receiving the reel (8), which is secured by a preferably removable spring pin (11) and enables the reel (8) to be easily removed from the holder (3), which is designed as a mounting bracket (3) and from the reel frame (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanical reel unwinding and braking system for pasture fences, which makes it considerably easier for the livestock farmer to set up and dismantle a pasture with a stranded wire for an electric fence.

[0002] Electric fences are widely used in grazing livestock farming for numerous grazing animal species and use posts that are inserted into the ground at specific intervals and serve as supports for the spanning live wire.

[0003] Once a pasture has been grazed by grazing animals or livestock such as horses or sheep, a new pasture is fenced in for grazing.

[0004] However, the effort required to dismantle and erect such mobile pastures with electric fences is quite high for the livestock farmer.

[0005] Often, different sized and differently shaped areas need to be fenced, which requires different lengths of stranded wire or other electrical tape. The stranded wire, often called stranded wire, is wound as electrical conductors on plastic reels, which are rotatably attached to a reel post.

[0006] If additional tools are used to tension the electric fence wires, several reels can be attached to one reel post and can wind up or unwind several strands at the same time.

[0007] In addition to the manual winding and unwinding of the reel by the livestock farmer, certain motor-driven aids are also known from the state of the art, which are intended to make the work of erecting a fence easier.

[0008] For example, DE202005002586U1 proposes connecting a cordless drill to the reel to achieve the rotary motion for winding and unwinding electric tape onto a reel for dismantling electric fences. For coupling to the reel, appropriate clamping pins or roller bearings are provided on the ground spike. However, unwinding the smooth-running reels should not be a problem, but rather a requirement for the use of additional tools on the pasture.

[0009] The European patent EP3633122B1 proposes a device for erecting and dismantling pasture fences, which is carried by an agricultural machine whose drive is coupled to the reel via a slip clutch.

[0010] With the described device and its drive, several reels can be rotated and several strands can be tensioned simultaneously on a reel post. However, this requires a considerable amount of agricultural machinery, which is not available everywhere and may not be worthwhile for smaller pastures.

[0011] Simpler solutions are therefore cheaper and easier to handle, especially in private livestock farming, which allow livestock farmers to fence pastures by hand or with small drive motors on reel posts and reels with wound-on polywire.

[0012] This is especially true for mobile electric fences, such as those often used for horse or sheep pastures, where the pastures are quickly grazed and need to be changed.

[0013] A stranded wire or stranded wire is a current-carrying thin conductor or thin current-carrying wire, which is often used to fence pastures in grazing livestock farming.

[0014] Long wire lengths of up to 400 m are available, especially for electric fences that use such thin and lightweight strands wound on reels. The reel is rotatably mounted on a reel post that can be inserted into the ground and can be easily pulled by the livestock farmer to the next reel post by hand or with a drive motor on the reel.

[0015] In most cases, the grazing livestock farmer doesn't need the entire stranded wire for their pasture, so, for example, only 250 m, but the reel has, for example, 400 m of stranded wire. For this reason, the reel must always remain attached to the established pasture, as the stranded wire is usually not cut.

[0016] Further problems with known solutions, the usual reels on reel posts available on the market, are that these continue to rotate when a strand is unwound as soon as the tensile force of the strand decreases, for example when the grazing animal farmer holds on to a corner post.

[0017] A similar effect is achieved by a drive motor for rotating the reel which stops, but the strand continues to unwind and unwanted loops and knots form around the reel.

[0018] The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a reel unwinding and braking system for pasture fences which avoids the disadvantages of previously known solutions and prevents uncontrolled unwinding of stranded wire from the reel.

[0019] Furthermore, the proposed system should enable a simple and tool-free changing or removal of a reel from the reel post for its next use.

[0020] This problem is solved by the features of the first claim in conjunction with the features of the generic term.

[0021] Further preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0022] The present invention is characterized by a reliable mechanical construction which prevents the strand from unwinding further from the reel due to the livestock farmer holding it on a corner post and the now reduced tension of the strand, and which enables the reel and strand to be easily removed from the reel post for further use.

[0023] The reel unwinding and braking system for pasture fences according to the invention comprises the following components: - a lever which is designed to be fastened to a reel post by means of a mounting bracket, which can also be designed in two parts, - a stopper to slow down the rotation of the reel with strand as soon as the tension of the strand decreases and the lever presses the stopper against the edge of the reel by its own weight, - a U-shaped strand bracket for guiding a strand on a reel, the open end pieces of which are attached to the lever, - wherein the fastening of the two end pieces of the strand bracket to the lever is designed to be detachable in order to enable the strand to be threaded in and out quickly.

[0024] Furthermore, a reel axle is provided to hold the reel, which is secured by limiting discs and a removable spring pin, split pin or other removable fastening element and enables easy removal of the reel from the reel post.

[0025] The lever's pivoting attachment to the reel post or mounting bracket, combined with its own weight, which acts on the taut strand via the attached strand clamp, allows the lever and stopper to be lowered to one edge of the reel when the livestock farmer releases the strand tension. The stopper then slows the reel's rotation and prevents further uncontrolled unwinding of the strand from the reel. This prevents unwanted knots or loops in the strand on the reel.

[0026] According to the invention, the end pieces of the U-shaped strand clamp are detachably connected to the lever for guiding the strand. If the clamp is secured with wing nuts designed as locking nuts, these can be easily loosened without tools, allowing the strand to be threaded out of the strand clamp.

[0027] The design of the end pieces as eyelets or hooks also allows the wire to be quickly disconnected from the license bracket.

[0028] In conjunction with the removable spring pin or another suitable fastening element for fixing the reel to the reel axle, the reel and strand can be advantageously removed for further use on another reel pile.

[0029] According to the invention, two reel unwinding and braking systems (double system) for pasture fences can also be arranged on one reel post, allowing two reels with wound polywire to be arranged simultaneously on one mounting bracket. Since pasture fences are often constructed from several polywires stacked on the reel posts, this further development of the invention allows approximately two polywire levels to be tensioned simultaneously, saving the livestock farmer a considerable amount of time.

[0030] Essentially, only the mounting bracket of the system on a reel post of the simple system needs to be replaced by a new mounting bracket doubler, which is suitable for holding two reels on one reel.

[0031] The assembly and braking system according to the invention can therefore be used advantageously for both reels for pulling in and building up two strands.

[0032] Furthermore, several single and / or double reel unwinding and braking systems can be arranged on one reel post in order to be able to pull in and set up a large number of strands.

[0033] The invention will now be explained by means of embodiments and the Fig. 1 to 5 are described in more detail.

[0034] They show: Fig. 1 the reel unwinding and braking system 1 according to the invention, with a detachable strand bracket 5, Fig. 2 a rear view of the system 1 with the reel axis 12 and spring pin 11, Fig. 3 a system 1 mounted on a reel post 2 with stopper 13, Fig. 4 the “Doppler System 1” for two reels 8 and the mounting bracket Doppler 15, Fig. 5 a “Doppler system 1” mounted on a reel post 2 with two reels 8.

[0035] The reel unwinding and braking system for pasture fences 1 according to the invention has the main function of braking the reel as soon as the tensile stress in the strand decreases.

[0036] The mounting bracket 3 ( Fig. 1) Lever 4, which is attached to the reel post 2 and arranged via a rotating pivot 7, is raised or lowered by increasing or decreasing the tension on the strand 9 and the strand clamp 5. This raises or lowers the stopper 13, also arranged on the lever 4, or lowers it onto the edge of the reel 8. The frictional forces acting here between the stopper 13 and the reel edge slow the rotational movement of the reel 8 and prevent the formation of unwanted knots and loops in the strand 9.

[0037] As soon as tension is applied to the strand again, the lever 4 is lifted by means of the strand bracket 5 and thus releases the rotation of the reel 8 and the unwinding of the strand 9.

[0038] The lever 4 is preferably made of a non-conductive material, preferably plastic. This serves to insulate the current between the post and the current-carrying wire 9 if the system 1 remains in the pasture. As can be seen from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the stranded wire bracket 5 is firmly but rotatably connected to the lever 4 by a screw connection in one of the bores 18, while the lower bracket arm 6 can be releasably pivoted into a clamping opening 17.

[0039] As already described, in a further variant, the two end pieces of the U-shaped strand bracket 5 are detachably connected to the lever 4, which is designed to guide the strand 9. If the strand bracket 5 is fastened, for example, by two wing nuts 10 designed as locking nuts and both openings 18 are designed, for example, as tension openings 17, the strand bracket 5 can be completely removed, since both wing nuts 10 can be easily loosened by hand without tools, and the strand 9 can be threaded out of the strand bracket 5.

[0040] The design of the end pieces of the strand bracket 5 as a specific eyelet shape or hook shape, which are detachably connected to the openings 17 and / or 18, also allows a quick uncoupling of the strand 9 from the strand bracket 5.

[0041] The strand 9 can be threaded into a certain type of eyelet or it has a curved shape similar to a swing or ceiling hook and an open end.

[0042] In a further development of the invention, other designs of the locking nut 10 also fall within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0043] Any known manually screwable element, such as a knurled screw, or even a swing hook or a ceiling hook can be used instead of a wing nut 10.

[0044] Various suitable materials can also be used.

[0045] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention already mentioned, only the lower bracket arm 5 is detachably connected to the lever 4.

[0046] Here, the wing nut 10 on the end piece of the bracket arm 6 fixes the bracket arm 6 and thus the strand bracket 5 in the clamping opening 17 ( Fig. 1). If the reel 8 with the strand 9 is to be removed from the reel post 2 for further use, the wing nut 10 is first loosened and the bracket arm 6 is unscrewed from the clamping opening 17.

[0047] This provides the advantage that the stranded wire 9 can be replaced quickly and easily without any tools. The wing nut 10 on the lower bracket arm 6 allows the stranded wire bracket 5 to be folded forward by manually unscrewing it.

[0048] This creates an opening through which the strand 9 can be easily threaded in or out of the strand bracket 5.

[0049] After folding back the strand bracket 5, the wing nut 10 is tightened again and the strand bracket 5 is firmly screwed to the lever 4. This simple opening mechanism for the strand bracket 5 allows for quick threading and unthreading of the strand 9 and the reel 8 from the reel post 2.

[0050] In an advantageous further development of the invention, the reel 8 is secured on the reel axis 12 with spacers and a removable spring pin 11 ( Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).

[0051] The easily removable spring pin 11 allows quick assembly and disassembly of the reel 8 from the reel post 2.

[0052] Because the strand 9 can now be unthreaded according to the invention, the complete reel 8 can also be removed from the mounting bracket 3 and the reel post 2.

[0053] Now only the reel 8 with the remaining strand 9 must remain on the pasture until dismantling.

[0054] For this purpose, there are already simple reel posts on the market, onto which the reel 8 can be attached and remain until the pasture is dismantled.

[0055] The reel unwinding and braking system 1, however, can be taken along for use at another location.

[0056] In a further development of the invention, a spacer bushing is arranged between the nuts of the holes 18 on the upper bracket arm. This bushing ensures the correct distance between the nuts 18 inside and outside so that the stranded bracket 5 is rotatably mounted. The spacer bushing is not technically essential, but it facilitates the assembly of the system 1. Without the spacer bushing, the play of the two upper nuts 18 would have to be precisely adjusted, and the nuts 18 would have to be secured with threadlock adhesive so that it can be turned smoothly but not too loosely.

[0057] In an advantageous further development of the invention, two reel unwinding and braking systems 1 are arranged in a mirror image on a reel post 2 and thus enable two strands 9 to be used simultaneously for fencing a pasture ( Fig. 4 and Fig. 5).

[0058] The mirror-image arrangement of the system 1 according to the invention offers the advantage of using as many reels 8 as possible in the smallest space.

[0059] It is also possible and advantageous to attach a reel post 2 with two or more systems 1 to a vehicle, such as a quad or an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle), which considerably facilitates the pulling in of the strand 9 and the construction of the pasture.

[0060] This further development of the invention, hereinafter also referred to as "Doppler System 1", now has two minor differences in the components 12 and 15 compared to the simple System 1, as previously described.

[0061] On the one hand, the attachment of the Doppler system 1 to a reel post 2, and on the other hand, the new design of the reel axis 12.

[0062] The attachment to the reel post 2 is made by a mounting angle doubler 15, which has two wings that are arranged symmetrically and carry two levers 4. The two levers 4 are rotatably mounted by means of a swivel joint 7 ( Fig. 4).

[0063] The reel axis 12 extends continuously, preferably in one piece, through two openings 16 in the mounting bracket doubler 15. Both reels 8 are again designed to be removable and secured by a removable spring pin ( Fig. 4 and Fig. 5).

[0064] In conjunction with the described mechanism for threading the strand 9 out of the strand bracket 5, reels 8 with strand 9 can also be removed from a reel post 2 without tools in this inventive Doppler system 1.

[0065] This means that the electric fence can be set up quickly and easily using a suitable vehicle.

[0066] The use of the simple system and the Doppler system offers the livestock farmer maximum flexibility. Whether attached to a reel post or a vehicle, they can use the respective system, individually or several at once, wherever they are needed.

[0067] The advantages of the described invention lie particularly in the facilitated assembly and disassembly of pasture fences, since the reels used can be easily attached to and removed from the reel posts with the inventive reel unwinding and braking system 1 for stranded wires 9.

[0068] The specified reel unwinding and braking system 1 allows maximum flexibility in the assembly and disassembly of pasture fences and requires only a few of these systems 1 according to the invention for each type of pasture.

[0069] The Double 1 reel unwinding and braking system for pasture fences can be used very advantageously as an attachment on specially equipped vehicles. List of reference symbols 1 reel unwinding and braking system, system, Doppler system 2 reel posts for stranded wire 3 mounting brackets for reel post or bracket on reel post 4 levers, with stopper 13, brake lever, 5 strand brackets, guide brackets 6 lower bracket arm of 5 7 Swivel joint 8 reels for stranded wire 9 stranded electrical wire 10 locking nuts, fixing the end pieces of 5, 6 11 removable spring pin or similar fasteners 12 Reel axle for reel 8 13 Stopper, brake bushing 14 clamping brackets for 12 15 Mounting angle Doppler 16 openings in 15 for 12 17 clamping opening for 6 18 holes, nuts for stranded wire brackets in 5 in 4 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] DE 202005002586U1

[0008] EP 3633122B1

[0009]

Claims

[1] Reel unwinding and braking system (1) for pasture fences, including a lever (4) which is designed to be fastened to a reel post (2) by means of a mounting bracket (3), a stopper (13) for braking the rotational movement of a reel (8), a U-shaped strand bracket (5) for guiding a strand (9) on a reel (8), the open end pieces of which are fastened to the lever (4), characterized by , that the fastening of the two end pieces of the strand bracket (5) to the lever (4) is designed to be detachable in order to enable the strand (9) to be threaded in and out quickly, a reel axis (12) being provided for receiving the reel (8), which is secured by a preferably removable spring pin (11) and enables the reel (8) to be easily removed from the holder (3), which is designed as a mounting bracket (3) and from the reel frame (2). [2] Reel unwinding and braking system (1) for pasture fences, according to claim 1, characterized by , that the two end pieces of the stranded wire bracket (5) are designed to be pluggable through a respective bore in the lever (4) and are each fastened by a detachable locking nut (10), which enables the stranded wire (9) to be quickly uncoupled from the stranded wire bracket (5) by turning or pulling it, whereby one or both end pieces of the strand bracket (5) can also be designed as an eyelet or hook, which also enables quick uncoupling of the strand (9). [3] Reel unwinding and braking system (1) for pasture fences, according to claim 2, characterized bythat the upper bracket arm of the stranded bracket (5) is firmly connected to the lever (4) but is rotatably mounted, and the lower bracket arm (6) is designed to be engageable in a bore designed as a clip opening (17) and to be fastened with a locking nut (10) designed as a detachable wing nut (10), wherein both bracket arms (5) in connection with the openings (18) can also be designed to be detachable from the lever (4) and to enable the removal of the stranded bracket (5). [4] Reel unwinding and braking system (1) for pasture fences according to claim 3, characterized by that the upper bracket arm of the strand bracket (5) has a spacer bush for better rotation of the strand bracket (5), which enables easy decoupling of the strand (9). [5] Reel unwinding and braking system (1) for pasture fences, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that it is designed as a Doppler system (1) in which the mounting bracket (3) is designed as a mounting bracket doubler (15) which enables the accommodation and fastening of two reel unwinding and braking systems (1) on a reel post (2), which allows the accommodation and operation of two or more reels (8) for the simultaneous pulling in of several strands (9). [6] Doppler system (1) for pasture fences according to claim 5, characterized by that the mounting angle doubler (15) has two openings (16) for receiving and guiding one or more reel axes (12) for the reels (8) to be accommodated, wherein the reel axis (12) is preferably designed in one piece and is guided through the two openings (16). [7] Doppler system (1) for pasture fences according to claim 6, characterized by that the one or more reel axes (12) each have at least one removable, preferably spring pin (11) for securing the reel (8) and several discs.

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