REAR TILLER FOR A SNOW CRACKER AND SNOW CRACKER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a rear-mounted milling attachment for a snow groomer, comprising a milling unit for mechanically processing a snow slope along a processing direction, to which the milling unit is extended transversely along a lateral direction, and a suspension device for detachably attaching the rear-mounted milling attachment to a rear-mounted implement carrier of the snow groomer. The invention further relates to a snow groomer with a rear-mounted implement carrier and with a rear-mounted milling attachment of the aforementioned type, which is detachably attached to the rear-mounted implement carrier by means of its suspension device.

[0002] Such a snow groomer with such a rear-mounted tiller is known from EP 2 212 476 B1. The known snow groomer has a rear-mounted implement carrier with a double-jointed arrangement by means of which a coupling for attaching the rear-mounted tiller can be laterally adjusted along a width direction of the snow groomer. The known rear-mounted tiller comprises a tilling unit and a suspension device for detachably attaching the rear-mounted tiller to the coupling of the implement carrier. The suspension device and the tilling unit of the known rear-mounted tiller are fixed to each other and are therefore not adjustable relative to each other. To avoid collisions, the rear-mounted tiller of the known snow groomer can be laterally offset by adjusting the joint arrangement of the rear carrier transversely to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0003] The object of the invention is to create a rear-mounted rotary tiller and a snow groomer of the type mentioned above, which have improved functionality compared to the prior art.

[0004] For the rear-mounted snow groomer, this problem is solved by positioning the milling unit, including the finisher and side finishers, so that it can be adjusted laterally along the width relative to the mounting bracket. This means that the milling unit is movable relative to the mounting bracket along the width and can be locked in a resulting relative position after adjustment. If, during the mechanical processing of the snow slope with the rear-mounted snow groomer, a collision between the milling unit and an obstacle located in front of the groomer in the direction of processing is imminent, the milling unit can be adjusted laterally to avoid a collision. This lateral adjustment allows the rear-mounted snow groomer to be positioned at a lateral distance from the obstacle, enabling the snow slope to be groomed around it.Advantageously, the milling unit does not pivot relative to the snow groomer, so that it maintains an optimal orientation for grooming the snow slope even during collision avoidance. In particular, the extension of the rear-mounted milling unit remains perpendicular to the direction of travel when adjusted. Adjusting the snow groomer's mounting bracket is not necessary. Therefore, the rear-mounted milling unit can be used with a snow groomer that is less complex than conventional snow groomers. This is especially true for the snow groomer's rear mounting bracket, which can be designed without lateral adjustability without impairing collision avoidance when using the rear-mounted milling unit according to the invention.In addition to preventing collisions, the lateral adjustability allows for particularly reliable preparation of piste edges, as the milling unit can be aligned laterally with the piste edge to be prepared.

[0005] In an embodiment of the invention, the rear-mounted rotary tiller has a control device that is connected to both the rotary tiller and the suspension device via a drive mechanism for laterally adjusting the tilling unit relative to the suspension device. The control device thus allows the tilling unit and the suspension device to be actively adjusted relative to each other. The control device is preferably configured to fix the tilling unit and the suspension device relative to each other after adjustment.

[0006] In a further embodiment of the invention, the control device forms a linear drive. Such a linear drive can comprise at least one selected hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, and an electric spindle drive. Such a control device proves to be particularly robust. Furthermore, such a control device can be controlled with exceptional precision in order to achieve a particularly accurate relative positioning of the milling unit and the suspension device relative to each other.

[0007] In a further embodiment of the invention, the rear-mounted milling machine has a support structure that carries the milling unit and is movably guided relative to the suspension device. Such a support structure promotes the stability of the milling unit. This allows the milling unit to be kept particularly well aligned parallel to the surface being machined. This ensures good machining quality.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the support structure has a guide section on which at least one complementary guide element, in particular a guide tube, of the rear-mounted rotary tiller is movably guided along the lateral direction, wherein the guide section is attached to the tilling unit and the at least one guide element is attached to the suspension device. In this way, the guide function for adjusting the tilling unit and the suspension device relative to each other can be assigned to the support structure in addition to its load-bearing function. In other words, a separate guide device can be dispensed with by integrating the guide function into the support frame. The support structure can be a main frame of the rear-mounted rotary tiller. The support structure, preferably together with the tilling unit, is laterally adjustable relative to the suspension device.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the guide section and the guide element have complementary, and in particular non-circular, cross-sections with respect to the width direction. This results in a particularly low-backlash guide. Advantageously, with non-circular cross-sections, the form-fit also prevents the guide element and the guide section from rotating relative to each other, especially about a virtual axis of rotation extending along the width direction. The milling unit can therefore be arranged in a torsionally rigid manner relative to the suspension device. This allows machining forces acting on the milling unit during operation to be supported particularly well.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the milling unit and the suspension device are guided linearly relative to each other, and in particular exclusively so. This advantageously counteracts any twisting of the suspension device and the milling unit relative to each other about a vertical axis of the rear-mounted milling unit, which is oriented perpendicular to the machining direction and perpendicular to the lateral direction. Such twisting would impair the surface preparation using the rear-mounted milling unit and, in particular, degrade the condition of the snow surface after processing with the rear-mounted milling unit. Besides its visual appearance, the surface condition can affect the grip, hardness, and wear resistance of the snow surface.By preventing the milling unit and suspension device from rotating relative to each other, a particularly appealing and functional slope appearance can be achieved, even if the milling unit is adjusted to one side relative to the suspension device to avoid collisions.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the milling unit is pivotably connected to the suspension device about a transverse axis running along the width direction. This allows for a particularly simple adjustment of the immersion depth of the at least one milling shaft of the milling unit into the snow slope to be processed.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the milling unit is adjustable relative to the suspension device at least between a first and a second position, which are arranged along the lateral direction on both sides of a vertical central plane of the milling unit. The vertical central plane can include the vertical axis. The lateral direction is preferably oriented perpendicular to the central plane. Starting from a central position, the milling unit can therefore be adjusted both to the left and to the right in the machining direction to avoid a collision with any obstacle.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the milling unit comprises at least one milling shaft housing in which at least one milling shaft of the milling unit is rotatably mounted. The milling shaft preferably extends axially along the width direction. Advantageously, the milling shaft allows the surface preparation of the snow track over a processing width that extends longitudinally along the width direction. The milling shaft housing preferably shields the milling shaft upwards and to the rear with respect to the processing direction, in order to protect the milling shaft from external influences and to prevent snow cut from the snow track during operation from being thrown outwards in an uncontrolled manner.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the rear-mounted rotary tiller features a finisher extending along the machining direction to the milling unit for generating a profile pattern. The finisher can be positioned behind the milling unit with respect to the machining direction. The profile pattern generated by the finisher can be a cord pattern with snow prisms extending longitudinally along the machining direction, alternating with grooves. Any pivoting of the milling unit about its vertical axis makes generating the profile pattern more difficult. Since such pivoting is counteracted in the embodiments of the invention described above, the profile pattern can be generated with particular reliability.

[0015] For the snow groomer, the problem is solved by equipping it with a rear-mounted milling unit according to the invention, as described above. Accordingly, the advantages of the rear-mounted milling unit according to the invention, already mentioned above, also apply to the snow groomer according to the invention.

[0016] All components necessary for lateral adjustability, excluding operating fluids and components for their conveyance, are expediently integrated exclusively into the rear-mounted tiller. The snow groomer's implement carrier may be laterally fixed. Alternatively or additionally, the implement carrier may be designed to pivot around the snow groomer's vertical axis.

[0017] Advantageously, the implement carrier can have a support section on which a coupling section and a connecting section are mounted opposite each other, each rotatably adjustable relative to the support section about parallel, horizontal transverse axes. The implement carrier can be connected to the chassis of the snow groomer via its connecting section and to the rear-mounted tiller via its coupling section. This allows the rear-mounted tiller to be adjusted relative to the chassis along the vertical axis, particularly to set a tilling or cutting depth.

[0018] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated with reference to the drawings.

[0019] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without leaving the scope of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of a snow groomer according to the invention with a rear-mounted milling head designed according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the rear-mounted milling head. Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 in schematic top view the rear tiller according to the Fig. 1 and 2 , Fig. 4 in schematic top view the rear tiller according to the Figs. 1 to 3 with the suspension device partially disassembled for better clarity, Fig. 5 the rear tiller according to Fig. 4 , wherein a milling unit of the rear-mounted rotary tiller is laterally adjusted relative to the suspension device, Fig. 6 in schematic front view of the rear-mounted rotary tiller according to the Figs. 1 to 5, Fig. 7 in schematic perspective view separately a support structure of the rear milling machine according to the Figs. 1 to 6 , Fig. 8 in schematic perspective view another embodiment of the rear milling machine according to the invention.

[0020] A rear tiller 1 after the Figs. 1 to 6The rear-mounted milling attachment 1 is designed for use on a snow groomer 20. It serves to prepare the surface of a snow slope. The milling attachment 1 is configured to pick up existing snow on the slope and mechanically process it to create a visually appealing and grippy surface. The snow groomer 20 is intended for preparing a snow slope in a ski resort. Preparation can be carried out by processing the surface using the milling attachment 1. Alternatively or additionally, preparation can be carried out using a front-mounted snowplow blade 22 on the snow groomer 20. The snowplow blade 22 can be detachably attached to a front-mounted implement carrier 21 of the snow groomer 20. The snow groomer 20 includes a rear-mounted implement carrier 21. The milling attachment 1 has a suspension device 3 for detachably attaching the milling attachment 1 to the rear-mounted implement carrier 21 of the snow groomer 20. In the illustration of the Fig. 1The rear-mounted rotary tiller is detachably attached to the rear-mounted implement carrier 21 by means of its suspension device 3. The rear-mounted rotary tiller 1 is towed across the snow slope for surface preparation.

[0021] The rear-mounted snow groomer 1 has a milling unit 2. The milling unit 2 is used for the mechanical preparation of the snow slope along a processing direction A. The processing direction A can correspond to a direction of travel of the snow groomer 2. The milling unit 2 is extended longitudinally along a lateral direction B. The lateral direction B is oriented transversely to the processing direction A. The processing direction A and the lateral direction B can be perpendicular to each other. The milling unit 2 and the suspension device 3 of the rear-mounted snow groomer 1 are arranged to be adjustable relative to each other along the lateral direction B. The suspension device 3 is therefore movable along the lateral direction B relative to the milling unit 2 and, after adjustment, can be locked in its relative position to the milling unit 2.

[0022] The rear-mounted rotary tiller 1 comprises a control unit 4. The control unit 4 is connected to both the suspension device 3 and the milling unit 2 via a drive mechanism. The milling unit 2 is adjustable relative to the suspension device 3 by means of the control unit 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the control unit 4 forms a linear drive 5. Such a linear drive 5 can comprise at least one hydraulic cylinder and / or at least one pneumatic cylinder and / or at least one electric spindle drive.

[0023] The linear actuator 5 is designed with a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder can extend axially along the width direction B. It comprises a housing that defines an interior space. A hydraulic piston is arranged within this interior space, adjustable axially relative to the housing along the width direction B. In this configuration, a piston rod is attached to each side of the piston, projecting from the interior space at opposite axial ends of the housing. One of the two piston rods can be omitted. The housing of the hydraulic cylinder is attached to the suspension device 3, and the piston rods are attached to the milling unit 2, facing away from the piston, to form the drive connection between the milling unit 2 and the suspension device 3. By applying hydraulic pressure to the piston, its position within the interior space can be adjusted relative to the housing.Any movement of the piston is directly transmitted to the piston rods. Accordingly, applying fluid pressure to the piston results in a movement of the milling unit 2 relative to the suspension device 3.

[0024] The rear tiller 1 has a support structure 6 which is located in the Fig. 7The supporting structure 6 carries the milling unit 2 and is movably guided relative to the suspension device 3. At least one guide element 8 of the rear milling unit 1 is designed to be complementary to the guide section 7 and is movably guided along the guide section 7 along the lateral direction B. Two such guide elements 8 are present. The two guide elements 8 are identical in design. The guide element 8 is, for example, designed as a guide tube 9, which at least partially surrounds the guide section 7. The guide section 7 is thus received in an interior space of the guide tube 9 in order to guide the guide element 8 along the lateral direction B. The guide section 7 of the supporting structure 6 is attached to the milling unit 2 and is therefore immovable relative to the milling unit 2.At least one - in this case each - guide element 8 is attached to the suspension device 3, i.e. immovable relative to the suspension device 3.

[0025] The guide section 7 and the guide element 8 guided by it have complementary cross-sections with respect to the width direction B. The respective cross-sections of the guide section 7 and the guide element 8 are oriented perpendicular to the width direction B. The complementary cross-sections of the guide element 8 and the guide section 7 can be non-circular. In this case, the complementary cross-sections are square. It is understood that other non-circular cross-sections are also conceivable, which prevent rotation of the guide element 8 and the guide section 7 relative to each other by means of positive locking. For example, an non-circular or rounded, angular, mirror-symmetrical, and / or point-symmetrical shape of the cross-sections is conceivable.

[0026] The milling unit 2 and the suspension device 3 are guided in a linear manner relative to each other. In this case, the milling unit 2 and the suspension device 3 are guided exclusively in a linear manner relative to each other. Therefore, any twisting or pivoting of the milling unit 2 and the suspension device 3 relative to each other is excluded or prevented. However, the rear-mounted implement carrier 21 of the snow groomer 20, together with the rear-mounted milling unit 1 attached to it, can be pivoted laterally.

[0027] The milling unit 2 is adjustable relative to the suspension device 3 at least between a first and a second position, which are arranged along the width direction B on both sides of a vertical center plane M of the milling unit 2. Thus, the milling unit 2 can be adjusted from a central position relative to the suspension device 3 along the machining direction A to the left and to the right along the width direction B. The first and second positions can be arranged off-center.

[0028] The milling unit 2 comprises a milling shaft housing 10 and at least one milling shaft 11. In the illustrated embodiment, two milling shafts 11 are provided. The milling shaft 11 is rotatably mounted in the milling shaft housing 10. The milling shaft housing 10 shields the milling shaft 11 upwards and to the rear, so that snow cut by the milling shaft 11 during the base preparation of the snow slope is fed to a finisher 12 of the rear-mounted milling machine 1. The finisher 12 connects to the milling unit 2 along the processing direction A. The finisher 12 serves to create a profile pattern in the snow slope. For this purpose, the finisher 12 can compact the snow cut by the milling unit 2 to imprint the profile pattern. Side finishers 13 are also arranged on both sides of the milling unit 2 along the width direction B.

[0029] The maximum width of the snow groomer 20 can be determined by the extension of the rear-mounted tiller 1 along the lateral direction B. The tilling unit 2 of the rear-mounted tiller 1 can be laterally adjustable relative to the rear-mounted implement carrier 21 transversely to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, in particular without rotation. This expressly does not preclude the rear-mounted implement carrier 21 from being designed to pivot about a vertical axis and / or about at least a horizontal transverse axis relative to a frame of the snow groomer 20.

[0030] The implement carrier 21 can have a support section 26 on which a coupling section 23 and a connecting section 24 of the implement carrier 21 are mounted opposite each other, each rotatably mounted relative to the support section 26 about horizontal transverse axes S1, S2 that are parallel to each other. The implement carrier 21 can be connected to a vehicle frame 25 of the snow groomer 20 by means of its connecting section 24 and to the suspension device 3 of the rear-mounted rotary tiller 1 by means of its coupling section 23. This allows the rear-mounted rotary tiller 1 to be adjusted along its vertical axis, in particular to set a tilling depth. The coupling section 23 and the suspension device 3 can be connected to each other by means of a screw connection.

[0031] In the Fig. 8 Another embodiment of the rear tiller 1 is shown. In contrast to the embodiment described above, according to Fig. 8The milling unit 2 is adjustable relative to the support frame 6 along the vertical direction to adjust the milling depth. The milling unit 2 and the suspension device 3 are pivotally connected to each other about a transverse axis extending along the lateral direction B. For adjustment, the milling unit 2 and the support frame 6 can be connected by means of an adjustable control device 26. The control device 26 can be linearly adjustable, in particular along the vertical axis. The control device 26 can comprise at least one hydraulic cylinder and / or an electrical or electronic control device. The milling unit 2 is pivotally connected to the support frame 6 at a distance from the control device 26, so that the angle of attack of the milling unit 2 relative to the support frame 6 can be set by adjusting the control device 26.Alternatively, the milling unit 2 and the support frame 6 can be adjusted, for example along a straight line, using the control device 26.

Claims

1. A rear-mounted tiller (1) for a snow groomer (20), having a tilling unit (2) for mechanical grooming of a snow piste along a grooming direction (A), transversely to which the tilling unit (2) extends longitudinally along a width direction (B), wherein a finisher (12) is attached to the tilling unit (2) at the rear for compacting the snow piste groomed by the tilling unit (2) and for imparting a profiled pattern into the snow piste, and a side finisher (13) is attached on each opposite side; and a mounting unit (3) for detachable fastening of the rear-mounted tiller (1) to a rear-side equipment carrier (21) of the snow groomer (20), characterized in that the tilling unit (2) including the finisher (12) and the side finishers (13) is arranged to be laterally adjustable along the width direction (B) relative to the mounting unit (3).

2. The rear-mounted tiller (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear-mounted tiller (1) has a control unit (4) which is drivingly connected to the tilling unit (2) and to the mounting unit (3) for lateral adjustment of the tilling unit (2) relative to the mounting unit (3).

3. The rear-mounted tiller (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the control unit (4) forms a linear drive (5).

4. The rear-mounted tiller (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear-mounted tiller (1) has a carrier structure (6) which carries the tilling unit (2) and which is movably guided relative to the mounting unit (3).

5. The rear-mounted tiller (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the carrier structure (6) has a guide section (7) on which at least one complementary guide element (8), in particular a guide tube (9), of the rear-mounted tiller (1), is movably guided along the width direction (B), wherein the guide section (7) is fastened to the tilling unit (2) and the at least one guide element (8) is fastened to the mounting unit (3).

6. The rear-mounted tiller (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the guide section (7) and the guide element (8) have complementary, in particular non-circular, cross sections relative to the width direction (B).

7. The rear-mounted tiller (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tilling unit (2) and the mounting unit (3) are movably guided relative to one another, in particular exclusively, in a linear manner.

8. The rear-mounted tiller (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tilling unit (2) is connected (3) in an adjustable manner relative to the mounting unit swivelably about a transverse axis extending along the width direction (B).

9. The rear-mounted tiller (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tilling unit (2) is adjustable relative to the mounting unit (3) at least between a first and a second position which are arranged along the width direction (B) on both sides of a vertical central plane (M) of the tilling unit (2).

10. The rear-mounted tiller (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tilling unit (2) has at least one tilling shaft housing (10) in which at least one tilling shaft (11) of the tilling unit (2) is rotatably mounted.

11. The rear-mounted tiller (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear-mounted tiller (1) has a finisher (12) adjoining the tilling unit (2) along the grooming direction (A) for creating a profiled pattern.

12. A snow groomer (20) with a rear-side equipment carrier (21) and with a rear-mounted tiller (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which is detachably fastened to the rear-side equipment carrier (21) by means of its mounting unit (3).