Device for transferring liquid manure

Abstract

Device (14) for transferring liquid manure from a storage tank (8) to a spreading tank (4) towed by an agricultural tractor (2), comprising a front pipe section (16) with a suction end (12) connectable to the storage tank (8), to which a pump (100) is assigned, and an upper pipe section (28) which is fluidically connected to the pump () and which is adapted for fluidic connection to the spreading tank (4), characterized in that the pump (100) has a motor (110) arranged between at least two pipe sections (112) fluidically connected to the suction port (10) and the upper pipe section (28).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for transferring liquid manure from a storage tank to a spreading tank that can be towed by an agricultural tractor. The manure transfer device has a front pipe section with a suction port that can be connected to the storage tank and an upper pipe section that can be fluidically connected to the spreading tank. Such devices are commonly used in the field. The agricultural tractor typically tows a spreading tank suitable for spreading liquid manure. This tank is designed to meet the requirements of the field and, in particular, is constructed to ensure the gentlest possible soil compaction when the spreading tank is driven over the agricultural area. For this purpose, the spreading tank is typically mounted on a multi-axle chassis whose tires are inflated to a low air pressure.Furthermore, the spreading tank is sometimes coupled to a wide-spreading spreading device, through which the slurry is applied to the soil over a large area as the vehicle drives over the field. Converting the spreading tank from its current configuration for field application to one suitable for road transport is another reason to store the slurry in the field via a holding tank.

[0002] This supply tank is typically also towed by a vehicle and can be mounted on a semi-trailer or trailer. The tank's maneuverability is optimally adapted to the requirement of transporting the liquid manure by road from its source and / or storage location to the application point in the field.

[0003] The device of this type transfers the slurry from one tank to the other and usually has its own pump for drawing the slurry from the supply tank and transferring the extracted slurry into the application tank.

[0004] Prior devices have a pump that is interposed between the suction port and the upper pipe section and is usually located adjacent to the suction port. This configuration is also preferably applicable to the present invention. By means of this pump, liquid manure can be drawn from a storage tank and pumped via the device into the application tank.

[0005] The present invention addresses the problem of creating a more compact and reliable device for transferring liquid manure. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring the least possible loss during manure transfer. The device should be especially suitable for robust use in agriculture.

[0006] In this respect, the present invention proposes that the pump has a motor arranged between at least two pipe sections. The pipe sections are fluidically connected to the suction port and the upper pipe section. The pipe sections are preferably arranged downstream of the pump in the flow direction and accordingly preferably serve to discharge the slurry drawn in by the pump towards the upper pipe section.

[0007] The pump preferably has a pump chamber in a manner known per se. The pump is preferably a centrifugal pump. In the preferred embodiment described above, the pipe sections extend from the pump chamber towards the upper pipe section, resulting in a compact design of the device according to the invention. The pipe sections preferably accommodate the motor between them, so that the motor is arranged between the two pipe sections and protected from external shocks or impacts by the pipe sections.

[0008] It is understood that more than two pipe strands may be provided, which may preferably be arranged in a circumferential direction around the motor of the pump in order to protect it.

[0009] The pipe strings are preferably identical in design. They are particularly preferably connected to each other in an axially symmetrical manner about an axis defined by a shaft of the motor. This axis accordingly preferably forms the axis of symmetry for the point-symmetrical arrangement of the respective pipe strings around the motor.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a suction port connection section projects from the pump chamber. This suction port support section is part of the connection support and leads to the free end of the same, with which the connection support can be connected to the mounting bracket. The suction port connection section opens into the pump chamber, preferably in the direction determined by the motor shaft. This allows for a central introduction of the slurry to be pumped into the pump chamber.

[0011] To provide sufficient assembly space for the pump, a preferred embodiment of the present invention proposes that the pipe sections each extend from the pump chamber and are oriented in one direction substantially parallel to the motor shaft. These pipe sections and the motor have approximately the same dimensions in this direction parallel to the motor shaft. Thus, the pipe sections and the motor extend substantially parallel to each other over the length of the motor sections.

[0012] Preferably, the pipe sections terminate opposite the pump chamber in a pipe-dividing line connection section, which connects the pipe section to the connecting pipe section. The pipe-dividing line connection sections are preferably inclined to a central longitudinal axis of the connecting pipe section. This inclination is selected to ensure the most efficient possible merging of the respective partial flows of the slurry conveyed through the pipe sections. The aim is to achieve minimal turbulence at the outlet of the respective pipe sections and to introduce the partial flows into the connecting pipe section with a high velocity component, corresponding to the orientation of the connecting pipe section.

[0013] The front pipe section and the upper pipe section can be pivotally attached to a support that can be mounted to the front of the agricultural tractor, as is particularly evident from the following description of a first embodiment. In this configuration, the upper pipe section is typically routed above the tractor.

[0014] The front and upper pipe sections can also be assigned to the dispensing tank, which is pulled by the towing vehicle. In this preferred embodiment, the upper pipe section is regularly located at least partially in the upper area of ​​the dispensing tank.

[0015] The front pipe section is typically pivotable relative to the towing vehicle or the application tank. The mobility of the front pipe section is specifically adapted to the ability of the device according to the invention to draw slurry from the supply tank via this front pipe section. This mobility of the front pipe section allows the suction inlet to be regularly lowered to ground level, even if the device is mounted wholly or partially relatively high on the towing vehicle or the application tank. The upper pipe section typically serves only to transfer the drawn-up slurry into the application tank.

[0016] Further details and advantages of the following invention will become apparent from the subsequent description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a side view of a first embodiment of the device with a forward pivoted front pipe section behind a supply tank and in front of a discharge tank; Fig. 2 a perspective front view of the towing vehicle after Fig. 1 with a front support in a starting position; Fig. 3 a side view of the towing vehicle Fig. 1 with the front support in a forward-swiveled position with the front pipe section swung forward; Fig. 4 a perspective rear view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 a perspective longitudinal section view of a pump with an intake-side area of ​​the first embodiment; Fig. 6 a perspective side view of the in Fig. 5 details shown; Fig. 7 a perspective top view of the in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 details shown; Fig. 8 a rear top view of a second embodiment of the device with a laterally pivoted front pipe section which is pivotably mounted on a discharge tank and Fig. 9 a side view of the in Fig. 8 shown second embodiment with the front pipe section in a rest position.

[0017] In Fig. Reference numeral 1 denotes an agricultural tractor, which pulls a slurry tanker 4 mounted on a trailer chassis 6. A supply tank 8 with a suction port 10 is schematically shown in front of the tractor 2. This suction port can be fluidically coupled to a suction end 12 of a device designated by reference numeral 14 for transferring slurry.

[0018] The intake end 12 communicates with a front pipe section 16. A suction pump 18 is located between this front pipe section 16 and the intake end 12. The opposite end of the front pipe section 16 is pivotally connected to a front support 22 via a front pipe bracket 20. The corresponding pipe joint 24 also pivotally connects an upper pipe bracket 26. The front and upper pipe brackets 20 and 26 each have two legs 20.1, 20.2; 26.1, 26.2, which are pivotally connected at one end to the pipe joint 24 and rigidly connected at the other end to the respective pipe section 16, 28, where reference numeral 28 designates an upper pipe section that extends substantially horizontally from front to rear above the agricultural tractor 2.A connecting hose 30, which fluidically connects an inlet-side end 32 of the upper pipe section 28 with an outlet-side end 34 of the front pipe section 16, is located between the respective legs 20.1, 20.2; 26.1,26.2.

[0019] An outlet-side end of the upper pipe section 28, marked with reference numeral 36, rests on a support 38, which is provided at the free upper end of a rear support 40. This support 38 is U-shaped with lateral cheeks 42, so that the outlet-side end 32 can be inserted into the support 38 from above and receives a certain degree of support in a transverse direction due to the cheeks 42.

[0020] The rear support 40 is connected to the rear three-point linkage 44 of the towing vehicle 2 via a suitable device. Similarly, the front support 22 is connected to a front three-point linkage 46 of the towing vehicle 2. For this purpose, a base 48 is appropriately adapted to accommodate standard agricultural weights, which are designated by reference numeral 50. The front support 22 extends upwards from the base 48 and has a lower support element 52. The lower end of the lower support element 52 is connected to the base 44 via a pivot bearing 54, while the upper end of the lower support element 48 is pivotally connected to the lower end of an upper support element 58 via a hinge connection 56. The lower support element 52, the pivot bearing 54, and the hinge connection 56 are rigidly connected to one another.

[0021] In front of the lower support element 52, the base 48 forms a receptacle for receiving the suction end 12 in the Fig. 2 starting positions shown.

[0022] Reference number list 60 designates a support swivel device in the form of a length-variable support swivel cylinder. 62 (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 4) One end of the support pivot cylinder 62 engages an upper end of the lower support element 52. The other end is pivotally mounted at the base 48.

[0023] Furthermore, the device 14 comprises a front pivoting device 64, which determines the angular alignment between the upper support element 58 and the front tube section 16, and consequently of the front tube holder 20, and necessarily changes this alignment with the pivoting movement of the front support 22. This front pivoting device 64 has a two-armed lever 66, which is pivotally mounted on the upper support element 58. The end of this two-armed lever 66 facing the towing vehicle 2 is connected to the base 48 via a lower actuating element 68 formed by a rod. The opposite end of the two-armed lever 66 acts on the front tube section 16 and is connected to the front tube holder 20 via an upper actuating element 70. The upper actuating element 70 is attached to a pivot point 72, which pivotally connects an upper articulated arm 74 to a lateral articulated arm 76.The upper articulated arm 74 is pivotally mounted on the underside of the front pipe holder 20. The lateral articulated arm 76 is pivotally mounted on a joint head 78, which closes off the upper support element 58 and also pivotally connects the two pairs of legs 20.1, 26.1 and 20.2, 26.2, respectively, and accommodates the connecting hose 30 between them. The upper actuating element 70 is formed by a length-variable actuating cylinder 80.

[0024] How a comparison of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 occupied, the angular alignment between the front support 22, specifically the upper support element 58, and the front pipe section 16 can be changed by means of this actuating cylinder 80. The comparison of the Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 3 further shows that when the front support 22 is pivoted forward, the front pivoting device 64 necessarily pivots the front pipe section 16 and with it the front pipe holder 20 upwards, when the support is moved from the in Fig. 2 starting position shown in the Fig. The position shown in section 3, which is swivelled forward, is being swivelled.

[0025] How the different length of the upper pipe section 28 in Fig. 1 on the one hand and for example in Fig. 3, on the other hand, indicates that this upper pipe section 28 is telescopic.

[0026] In this case, it has two interlocking pipe sections, wherein a front pipe section marked with reference numeral 82 and forming the inlet-side end 32 has a guide 84 which interacts with the outer circumferential surface of a rear pipe section 86 which forms the outlet-side end 36.

[0027] Due to the pivotability of the front support 22 and the telescoping of the upper pipe section 28, the intake end 12 can extend further forward than was possible in the prior art.

[0028] Especially in the Fig. Reference numeral 4 to 7 designates 100 as a pump with a [missing information] in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Pump housing 102, which is still open on the intake side, surrounds a pump chamber 104 in which an impeller 106 is arranged and connected to the free end of a shaft 108 of a motor 110. The motor 110 is located between two pipe sections 112. These pipe sections 112 consist of pipe sections 114 extending from the pump chamber 104 and connecting pipe sections 116 adjoining them, which lead into a connecting pipe section 118 that forms the inlet-side end of the front pipe section 16 and serves to connect the [unclear - possibly referring to a specific component or component]. Fig. The unit shown in sections 4 to 7 is equipped with a 120 mm flange.

[0029] The pipe sections 114 extend parallel to an axis A defined by the shaft 108. The pipe section connecting sections 116 extend obliquely to this axis and towards each other. The pipe section connecting sections 116 are arranged axially symmetrically to the axis A and terminate in the inlet-side end of the connecting pipe section 118, whose central longitudinal axis L forms an angle α of 25° with the direction of extension of the pipe section connecting sections 116.

[0030] Especially the Fig. As illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, motor 110 is located between the respective pipe sections 112, which carry partial flows of the aspirated slurry. These partial flows are connected at a flow-optimized angle near the outlet of the pipe sections 112, so that they enter the connecting pipe section 118. The total cross-sectional area of ​​the pipe sections 112 is approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting pipe section 118.

[0031] The motor 110 is protected by the extensive pipe sections 112 arranged around it. Furthermore, unlike in the prior art, the motor 110 does not protrude laterally from the device, resulting in a more compact overall design.

[0032] In the Fig. 4 and Fig. Reference division 7 designates a suction port connection section 122, which leads to the suction end 12 shaped with a convex outer circumferential surface. This suction port connection section 122 extends from the pump housing 102 with the axis A oriented. The pipe section leading to the suction end 12 is curved and equipped with a slide valve 124, by means of which the inlet area to the front pipe section 16 can be mechanically shut off.

[0033] The Fig. 8 and Fig. Figure 9 shows a second embodiment in which the pipe sections 16 and 28 are attached to the dispensing tank 4 and are movable with it. The front pipe section 16 is mounted on a two-jointed arm, which has a first articulated arm 126 that is pivotable on both sides and mounted on the dispensing tank 4 about a vertical axis, and a second articulated arm 128 that is designed as a telescopic arm. Actuating cylinders 130 cause the pivotability and / or the change in length of the telescopic arm.

[0034] By pivoting around the vertical axis, the display in Fig. 9 the front pipe section 16 pivots parallel to the longitudinal extent of the discharge tank 4 into a rest position and is fixed in this position on the top of the discharge tank 4. Reference symbol list 2 Towing vehicle 4. Dispensing tank 6 Trailer chassis 8 Provisioning tank 10 intake manifolds 12 Intake ends 14 Device 16 front pipe section 18 Suction pump 20 front pipe holder 20.1 Thigh 20.2 Thigh 22 front support 24 pipe joint 26 upper pipe holder 26.1 Thigh 26.2 Thigh 28 upper pipe section 30 connecting hose 32 inlet-side end upper pipe section 34 outlet end front pipe section 36 outlet-side end upper pipe section 38 supports 40 rear support 42 Cheek 44 Three-point linkage lifts 46 Front three-point linkage 48 base 50 weight 52 lower support element 54 swivel bearings 56 Joint connection 58 upper support element 60 Support swivel device 62 support swivel cylinders 64 front swivel device 66 two-armed lever 68 lower position element 70 upper positioning element 72 Joint point 74 upper articulated arm 76 lateral articulated arm 78 Joint head 80 actuator cylinders 82 front pipe section 84 Leadership 86 rear pipe section 90 support leg 92 Support leg 94 Strut 100 pump 102 Pump housings 104 Pump chamber 106 impeller 108 wave 110 engine 112 Pipeline 114 pipeline sections 116 pipe string connection sections 118 Connecting pipe section 120 flange 122 Intake manifold connection section 124 slides 126 articulated arm 128 articulated arm 130 actuator cylinders Axis L Central longitudinal axis

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