Self-propelled mixer wagon with electric drive for the preparation of feed for animals

Abstract

An electrically driven self-propelled mixer wagon (100) is described comprising: a cabin (300); a supporting frame (11), feed means (12) to move the mixer wagon (100); a rotating barrel (16) for containing the feed to be mixed equipped with a counter-rotating mixing auger; a loading cutter (14) through which the loading of flour and silage into the rotating barrel (16) is carried out; a high voltage battery (201); an electronic control unit for controlling and managing the mixer wagon (100) and for setting the mixture recipe to be prepared; a chopping mill (18) with adj ustable knives for loading long fibres into the rotating drum (16); means for loading solid material and liquid material to be mixed; metal pick-up magnets; and a 24V auxiliary electrical system to allow accessory functions even when the vehicle is off.

Description

[0001] SELF-PROPELLED MIXER WAGON WITH ELECTRIC DRIVE FOR

[0002] THE PREPARATION OF FEED FOR ANIMALS

[0003] The present invention relates to an electrically driven sel f-propelled mixer wagon for preparing feed for animals , in particular farm animals , for example cattle .

[0004] For feeding livestock on farms , it is known to use machines dedicated to the preparation of a mixture of ingredients according to a recipe chosen on the basis of the type of animals to be fed .

[0005] These machines are called mixer wagons , or mixer-shredders , and can be sel f-propelled or towed by a tractor .

[0006] In particular, a sel f-propelled mixer wagon produced by the Applicant is known, which, in order to prepare the desired mixture recipe , uses a cutting process by means of a milling cutter which can be combined with an adj ustable cutting mill with knives .

[0007] This known sel f-propelled mixer wagon also comprises a rotating barrel for containing the feed to be mixed equipped with a counter-rotating mixing auger and magnets for capturing metals in the mixture , a loading hopper and an electronic control unit for managing the mixer wagon and for setting the recipe , and a weighing unit of the mixture connected to a computer .

[0008] The known sel f-propelled mixer wagon and its apparatuses are driven by an internal combustion engine powered by diesel or fossil fuel or renewable fuel (biogas ) which supplies the driving energy of the mixer wagon and the driving energy of its apparatuses through auxiliary hydraulic circuits .

[0009] This known sel f-propelled mixer wagon, however, has a problem caused by the emission of exhaust gases into the environment .

[0010] Another problem is that of requiring the presence of relatively complex and expensive hydraulic circuits which actuate the auxiliary apparatuses to carry out the various operations envisaged for mixing .

[0011] Obj ect of the present invention is solving the aforementioned prior art problems by providing a sel f-propelled mixer wagon which allows eliminating the emission of exhaust gases into the environment , reali zing a simpli fied wagon propulsion system which requires fewer components , is less expensive and simpli fies the control circuits of the auxiliary equipment which carry out the operations envisaged for mixing, and reduces noise pollution .

[0012] The aforesaid and other obj ects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are achieved with an electric-powered sel f-propelled mixer wagon such as the one described in the independent claim .

[0013] Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention form the subj ect matter of the dependent claims .

[0014] It is understood that all attached claims are an integral part of the present description .

[0015] It will be immediately obvious that innumerable variations and modi fications may be made to what has been described ( for example relating to shape , dimensions , arrangements and parts with equivalent functions ) without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as appears from the attached claims .

[0016] The present invention will therefore be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof , provided by way of non-limiting example , with reference to the attached drawings , in which :

[0017] FIG . 1 shows a perspective view of an electrically driven sel f-propelled mixer wagon according to the present invention;

[0018] FIG . 2 shows a perspective view of an electrically driven sel f-propelled mixer wagon according to the present invention;

[0019] FIG . 3 shows a perspective view of an electrically driven sel f-propelled mixer wagon according to the present invention; and

[0020] - FIG . 4 shows a schematic view of a high- voltage electrical system of an electric-powered sel f-propelled mixer wagon according to the present invention .

[0021] With reference to the Figures , a first embodiment of an electric-powered sel f-propelled mixer wagon 100 according to the invention comprises a cabin 300 , a load-bearing frame 11 , a first electric traction motor 6 and forward means 12 , for example wheels or tracks , operated by the first electric motor 6 for moving the mixing wagon 100 on the ground, preferably said first electric traction motor 6 and feed means 12 being connected to the supporting frame 11 ; a rotating barrel 16 for containing the feed to be mixed actuated in rotation with respect to the supporting frame 11 by a second electric motor 4 and equipped with a counter-rotating mixing auger in turn actuated by a third electric motor 3 ; a loading cutter 14 , connected to the supporting frame 11 through an arm 15 , through which the loading of flour and silage into the rotating barrel 16 is carried out , for example using a loading belt placed inside the arm 15 , said loading cutter 14 being driven by a fourth electric motor 1 ; auxiliary apparatuses , for example gear pumps of auxiliary hydraulic circuits , and a fi fth electric motor 5 for driving said auxiliary apparatuses ; at least one high voltage battery HV 201 for powering the electric motors ( or traction battery) , for example a lithium ion battery with a nominal working voltage of 600 Vdc and a maximum charge voltage of 700 Vdc, preferably comprising two units 201 connected to each other via the wiring of a high voltage system 200 housed inside sel f-supporting boxes fixed to the supporting frame 11 ; an electronic control unit preferably comprising two microprocessors configured to control and manage the mixer wagon 100 with the auxiliary apparatuses and to set the mixture recipe to be prepared, for example by using memory cards or data trans fer via S IM, PC, tablet or smartphone .

[0022] The cabin contains a glazed area, an upgraded headlight assembly, shock bars , a negative tilt of the front glass for constant cleaning, cameras for a 360 ° visibility and anti-collision sensors .

[0023] In a second embodiment of the invention, the sel f-propelled electric-powered mixer wagon 100 comprises , alternatively or in addition to the loading cutter 14 , a chopping mill 18 with adj ustable knives driven by a sixth electric motor 2 for loading long fibres (hay, wrapped, straw) in the rotating barrel 16 with clean cut , variable length according to needs ; preferably, the cutting mill 18 is mounted in correspondence with the arm 15 of the loading cutter 14 .

[0024] In a preferred way, the sel f-propelled electric-powered mixer wagon 100 of the invention also comprises : means for loading solid material ( flours or shredded material ) , for example a loading hopper, and liquid material to be mixed, magnets for collecting metals located in the rotating barrel 16 and / or in correspondence with the counter-rotating mixing auger and a 24 V auxiliary electrical system galvanically separated from the high voltage electrical system HV 200 and comprising a battery of a known type for powering a heating and air system conditioning of the mixer wagon 100 and al lowing all accessory functions even with the vehicle of f .

[0025] Preferably, the electric-powered sel f- propelled mixer wagon 100 of the invention comprises a steering system made with power steering and a braking system o f the traditional hydraulic type with emergency brake and negative parking; the braking system pressure is continuously monitored by the electronic control unit : in the event of a lack of hydraulic pressure , the brakes are activated automatically; the electronic control unit , integrated with additional devices , veri fies the galvanic isolation of the high voltage HV system and monitors the control logics of the mixer wagon 100 , including the movement safety logics .

[0026] Preferably, the HV high voltage system 200 comprises said at least one HV high voltage battery 201 , at least one inverter 203 and the electric motors 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ; in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electric motors are permanent magnet motors . The recharging of the high voltage battery 201 is carried out via a socket suitable for rapid recharging in direct current DC, and, when the high voltage battery 201 is being recharged, it does not supply voltage to the system to avoid movement of the mixer wagon 100 .

[0027] The 100 mixer wagon devices are all equipped with Safe Torque Of f ( STO) command and HVIL (HV interlock) signals , all inverters 203 are equipped with power connectors for automotive high voltage HV systems with HVIL safety signal .

[0028] The high voltage HV system 200 is made according to the regulations for agricultural electric machines ( ISO16230 and ISO6469-3 standards ) , is equipped with high voltage HV cables and is galvanically isolated from the supporting frame 11 and from the 24V line .

[0029] The high voltage HV line 202 includes a safety interlock control and management system; the high voltage HV system 200 is equipped with HV capacity charging and discharging systems with the necessary protections .

[0030] Advantageously, the electric-powered sel f- propelled mixer wagon according to the invention allows eliminating the emission of exhaust gases into the environment , reali zing a simpli fied propulsion system of the wagon, which is less expensive and simpli fies the control circuits of the auxiliary apparatuses .

[0031] The main features of the present invention are therefore as follows :

[0032] - the cabin has been completely redesigned and renewed according to the most recent criteria o f ergonomics , functionality and silence . The forced ventilation and heating system have been enhanced and set up for air conditioning . The comfortable chair, the great visibility and the logical layout of the controls make it intuitive and pleasant to use the machine in full operator safety . One of the most innovative cabs in the sector : more glazed area, upgrade of the headlight assembly, shock bars , negative ti lt of the front glass for constant cleaning, visibility and precision with cameras for 360 ° visibility and anti-collision sensors ;

[0033] - it is possible to set the uni- feed recipe directly on the on-board computer with the possibility of memory card or data trans fer via S IM with data processing directly from a PC, tablet or smartphone . The precision of the weighing is guaranteed by sensors placed directly at the base of the barrel ; the loading characteristics are : flour loading through the hopper placed at the top or directly on the ground with the cutter ; loading of the trace elements by means of an electric belt elevator ( optional ) ; loading of liquid products through the special system with quick coupling; loading of the long fibres (hay, wrapping, straw) with a net cut at variable length according to the needs , thanks to the high-speed cutting mill with knives ; silage loading in the trenches by means of the new cutters redesigned to physical-organoleptic characteristics of the same ;

[0034] - the system of the invention al lows capturing dangerous metals through three batteries of magnets placed inside the barrel directly on the rear ailerons at 120 ° from each other . By taking advantage of the repeated " soft" passages and falls of the uni- feed on the magnets starting from the fibres , an almost perfect capture of the ferrous elements that are lethal for animals is obtained; the rotating barrel mixing with counter auger allows creating a soft , voluminous and homogeneous ration, safeguarding the organoleptic speci fications of each ingredient : the best uni- feed mixing obtained with the least energy expenditure , without yielding the fibres , de-mixing or heating the mass ; the inventive method provides for the following steps : 1 ) the preparation is pushed towards the bottom of the barrel by the system o f spirals placed on the internal wall ; 2 ) the central screw, which rotates in the opposite direction to the barrel , brings the preparation back to the exit . The contemporaneity of the two movements causes the mass to move , falling back on itsel f without ever becoming constipated . The result is a perfectly blended product in full compliance with the organoleptic characteristics of the individual component ; once loading is complete , after the necessary mixing time , it is suf ficient to invert the direction of rotation of the barrel to obtain, by means of the counter-rotating auger, the dosed and rapid discharge of the preparation directly into the manger . The hydraulic discharge extension improves the distribution of the product . The numerous magnets , integral with the unloading screw, in addition to the three batteries of internal magnets , capture any ferrous obj ects even at the time of final unloading;

[0035] - therefore , the present invention can boast the lowest energy consumption in its category, thanks to the very high-speed fibre cutting system (mill knives ) and the rotating barrel mixing with counter-rotating auger, as well as guaranteeing perfect mixing, low temperature and surprising softness of the discharged product , requiring reduced energy consumption .

Claims

CLAIMS1. Self-propelled electric drive mixer wagon (100) comprising : a cabin (300) containing a glazed area, an upgraded headlight assembly, shock bars, a negative tilt of the front glass for constant cleaning, cameras for a 360° visibility and anti-collision sensors ; a supporting frame (11) , a first traction electric motor (6) and feed means (12) driven by the first electric motor (6) to move the mixing wagon (100) ; a rotating barrel (16) containing the feed to be mixed driven in rotation with respect to the supporting frame (11) by a second electric motor (4) and equipped with a counter-rotating mixing auger in turn driven by a third electric motor (3) , wherein, once loading is complete, after a necessary mixing time, the direction of rotation of the rotating barrel (16) is inverted to obtain, by means of the counter-rotating mixing auger, a dosed and rapid discharge of the preparation with a distribution enabled by a hydraulic discharge extension; a loading cutter (14) through which theloading of flour and silage into the rotating drum(16) is carried out, said loading cutter (14) being driven by a fourth electric motor (1) ; auxiliary apparatuses and a fifth electric motor (5) for driving said auxiliary apparatuses; at least one high-voltage battery (201) for powering the electric motors with a high-voltage system (200) ; an electronic control unit configured to control and manage the mixer wagon (100) with the auxiliary equipment and to set the mixture recipe to be prepared; a cutting mill (18) with adjustable knives driven by a sixth electric motor (2) for loading long fibres into the rotating barrel (16) , in which the loading cutter (14) is connected to the supporting frame (11) via an arm (15) and the cutting mill (18) is mounted in correspondence with the arm (15) of the loading cutter (14) ; means for loading solid material and liquid material to be mixed; metal pick-up magnets located in the rotating barrel (16) and / or at the counter-rotating mixing auger, to enable capturing any ferrous objects in the mixture upon rotation and upon a finalunloading of the mixture; and a 24V auxiliary electrical system galvanically separated from the high voltage electrical system(200) to allow accessory functions even when the vehicle is off.

2. Self-propelled electric-powered mixer wagon (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a braking system of the traditional hydraulic type with emergency brake, in which the pressure of the braking system is continuously monitored by the electronic control unit.

3. Self-propelled electrically driven mixer wagon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the high-voltage system (200) comprises said at least one high-voltage battery(201) , preferably two high-voltage batteries (201) connected to each other via high voltage wiring, at least one inverter (203) and the electric motors (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) .

4. Self-propelled electrically driven mixer wagon (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the electric motors are permanent magnet motors.

5. Self-propelled electric-powered mixer wagon (100) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a plug suitable for rapid directcurrent recharging and in that the high-voltage battery (201) , when it is recharged, does not supply voltage to the high voltage system (200) to avoid movement of the mixer wagon (100) .

6. Self-propelled electrically driven mixer wagon(100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic control unit comprises two microprocessors.

7. Self-propelled electric-powered mixer wagon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic control unit, supplemented by additional devices, checks the galvanic isolation of the high-voltage installation (200) and monitors the control logics of the mixer wagon (100) .

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