A snow processing device for a snow tiller and snow tiller including such a device

Abstract

A snow processing device (6) for a snow tiller has at least one fastener (8, 9) to attach the processing device to the snow tiller (1) at a pivot axis (A3) between two adjacent rotors (4) of the snow tiller (1); and at least one tooth (14; 22) fixed to said fastener (8, 9) and configured to harrow the snowpack at the pivot axis (A3).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102024000025701 filed on November 14, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This invention relates to a snow processing device for a snow tiller and a snow tiller comprising such a device. This invention relates to snow tillers, in particular very wide snow tillers that have at least two rotors, which support tilling teeth and are, at least ideally, articulated to each other to follow the profile of the snowpack transverse to the forward direction.STATE OF THE ART

[0003] Snow tillers with articulated rotors are particularly efficient because they allow large areas of snowpack to be processed in a single pass due to their great width. However, the absence of teeth at the pivot axis between the rotors does not enable a strip of snowpack to be processed. This drawback is particularly critical when the snowpack consists of compacted and / or frozen snow where the unprocessed part of the snowpack defines a ridge that hinders winter sports activities.

[0004] Patent EP 3,071,745 B1 in the name of the applicant explains how to fit additional tilling teeth at the end flanges of the rotors at the pivot axis.

[0005] Although this solution has proven to be effective in mitigating the aforementioned technical problem, it is not applicable to all types of snow tillers with articulated rotors due to the small size of the flange on which the teeth are to be fixed or the complete absence of such a flange.SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to create a snow processing device that is capable of mitigating the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0007] In accordance with this invention, a snow processing device for a snow tiller is provided, the snow processing device comprising: at least one fastener to attach the processing device to the snow tiller at a pivot axis between two adjacent rotors of the snow tiller; at least one tooth fixed to said fastener and configured to harrow the snowpack at the pivot axis.

[0008] In this way, it is possible to easily and economically mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks and harrow the snowpack between the surfaces tilled by the rotors. The snow processing device is easily mounted on a snow tiller with at least two rotors, even as a retrofit.

[0009] For this purpose, the fastener comprises a flange configured to be attached to a side plate supporting a respective rotor via a releasable joint, in particular a bolted joint.

[0010] To ensure greater robustness of the snow processing device, the snow processing device comprises two fasteners, in this case, two flanges, which are attached to adjacent side plates supporting the respective rotors via releasable joints.

[0011] In this way, the tooth is supported symmetrically and the forces transmitted by the tooth are distributed over the two side plates.

[0012] To allow the rotors to pivot, the two flanges are hinged to each other via a pivot pin, which, in use, is coaxial to the pivot axis.

[0013] More specifically, the fastener comprises a plate and said tooth is integral with a fastener plate, which is selectively mountable on said plate.

[0014] In this way, it is possible to dismantle the fastener plate and its tooth, if harrowing is not required or to replace the tooth when worn without dismantling the fastener.

[0015] In addition, the fastener plate is selectively adjustable in relation to the plate so as to vary the harrowing depth of said tooth.

[0016] In particular, the tooth has the shape of a knife with a concave leading edge.

[0017] The knife also has a concave trailing edge and a flared free end.

[0018] According to one variant, the tooth has a bifurcated free end.

[0019] The snow processing device can comprise teeth of the same type or teeth of different types distributed transverse to the forward direction.

[0020] Another purpose of this invention is to provide a snow tiller that mitigates the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0021] In accordance with this invention, a snow tiller is provided for ski slope preparation, the snow tiller being configured to be advanced in a forward direction and comprising: a main frame configured to be connected to a tractor; two sub-frames, each of which is movably supported by said main frame; at least two rotors, which are equipped with snow-processing teeth, can rotate about their respective axes of rotation, are pivoted relative to each other at their respective ends around a pivot axis substantially parallel to the forward direction, and are supported so as to rotate about their respective axes of rotation by their respective subframes; and a snow processing device mounted on at least one subframe at said pivot axis to harrow the snowpack at the pivot axis.

[0022] This makes it possible to harrow the strip of snowpack between the two areas tilled by the respective rotors.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] Additional characteristics and advantages of this invention will become clear from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein: Figures 1 and 2 are elevated rear views, with parts removed for clarity, of a snow tiller in two respective operating positions equipped with a snow processing device made in accordance with this invention; Figures 3 and 4 are elevated side views, with parts in cross section and parts removed for clarity, of the snow tiller in Figure 1 in two different operating positions; Figure 5 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity, of the snow processing device in Figure 1; Figure 6 is an elevated rear view, on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity, of the snow processing device in Figure 5; Figure 7 is an elevated side view, with parts removed for clarity, of the snow processing device in Figure 5; and Figure 8 is an elevated rear view, with parts removed for clarity, of a variant of the embodiment in Figure 5. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, reference number 1 denotes a snow tiller that comprises a main frame 2 configured to be connected to a tractor, not illustrated in the attached figures, and to be advanced in a forward direction D (Figures 3 and 4). The snow tiller 1 comprises two sub-frames 3 movably coupled to the main frame 2; two rotors 4, which are provided with teeth 5 for processing the snowpack, can rotate about respective rotation axes A1 and A2, are pivoted relative to each other about a pivot axis A3 substantially parallel to the forward direction D and are supported so as to rotate about respective rotation axes A1 and A2 by respective sub-frames 3.

[0025] The rotors 4 as described in EP 3.071.754 B1 are joined together by a universal joint, which together with the degrees of freedom of the sub-frames 3 with respect to the main frame 2 defines the pivot axis A3 of the rotors 4.

[0026] This snow tiller 1 structure enables the configuration of the snow tiller 1 to be adapted to the configuration of the ski slope by freely arranging the two rotors 4 in a concave configuration at ridges transverse to the forward direction D (Figure 2) and in a convex configuration at a depression transverse to the forward direction D (Figure 1) .

[0027] The snow tiller 1 comprises a snow processing device 6 mounted on the sub-frames 3 at the pivot axis A3.

[0028] With reference to Figures 3 and 4, each sub-frame 3 comprises two side plates 7 (only one shown in the accompanying figures), which are configured to support the respective rotor 4 so that it can rotate. The two sub-frames 3, therefore, have two side plates 7 facing the pivot axis A3.

[0029] The snow processing device 6 is integrally mounted with the two side plates 7 facing each other and is articulated around the pivot axis A3.

[0030] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, adjusting the orientation of the snow tiller 1 around the rotors 4 allows the depth of the snow processing device 6, which actually harrows the snowpack, to be adjusted.

[0031] With reference to Figure 5, the snow processing device 6 comprises two flanges 8 and 9, each of which is configured to be connected to a respective side plate 7 (Figures 3 and 4) of the sub-frame 3 via a releasable joint, in this case a bolted joint.

[0032] The first flange 8 is connected to and integral with a plate 10 arranged square to the flange 8 and, similarly, the second flange 9 is connected to and integral with a plate 11, which is arranged square to the flange 9 and is coupled to the plate 10 so that it revolves around a pivot pin 12, which, in use, coincides with the pivot axis A3.

[0033] In use, the flanges 8 and 9 are hinged to each other around the pivot axis A3 so as to follow the movement of the respective sub-frame 3 to which they are attached.

[0034] The snow processing device 6 comprises a fastener plate 13, which has multiple teeth 14 extending downwards and is coupled to the plate 11 so as to be releasable. In particular, the plate 13 is fixed to the plate 11 by screws 15.

[0035] With reference to Figure 6, the plate 11 has fastening holes 16 for the screws 15 arranged at different heights so that the working depth of the teeth 14 can be gradually adjusted.

[0036] In accordance with a variant not shown in the attached figures, the fastener plate 13 has slots that allow the working depth of the teeth 14 to be adjusted continuously.

[0037] Referring to Figure 7, the teeth 14 extend from the plate 13 downwards and forwards with reference to the forward direction D. The plates 10, 11 to 13 have respective lower appendages 17, 18 and 19 inclined at substantially the same angle as the teeth 14. Each tooth 14 has the shape of a knife, a concave leading edge 20 and trailing edge 21 so that the free end is flared.

[0038] With reference to the variant in Figure 8, the central tooth 14 is knife-shaped, while the side teeth 22 are inclined and have a bifurcated end.

[0039] It is understood that variations may be made to the present invention without however departing from the scope of protection of the appended claims.

[0040] For example, the snow processing device is attached to a single side plate of a sub-frame.

[0041] In addition, the snow tiller may comprise more than two articulated shafts and a snow processing device at each pivot axis.

Claims

1. A snow processing device for a snow tiller, the snow processing device (6) comprising: - at least one fastener (8, 9) to attach the processing device to the snow tiller (1) at a pivot axis (A3) between two adjacent rotors (4) of the snow tiller (1); - at least one tooth (14; 22) fixed to said fastener (8, 9) and configured to harrow the snowpack at the pivot axis (A3).

2. The snow processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a flange (8; 9) configured to be attached to a side plate (7) supporting a respective rotor (4) via a releasable joint.

3. The snow processing device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the fastener (8, 9) comprises two flanges, each of which is configured to be attached to a respective side plate (7) supporting a respective rotor (4) via a releasable joint.

4. The snow processing device as claimed in claim 3 in which said flanges (8, 9) are hinged to each other via a pivot pin (12), in use, coaxial to the pivot axis (A3).

5. The snow processing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastener comprises a plate (10, 11) perpendicular to the flange (8, 9) and said tooth (14; 22) is integral with a fastener plate (13), which is selectively mountable on said plate (10, 11).

6. The snow processing device as claimed in claim 5, the fastener plate (13) is selectively adjustable with respect to the plate (10, 11) so as to vary the harrowing depth of said tooth (14; 22).

7. The snow processing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tooth (14) is knife shaped.

8. The snow processing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the knife has a concave leading edge (20).

9. The snow processing device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the knife has a concave trailing edge (21).

10. The snow processing device as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the knife has a flared free end.

11. The snow processing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tooth (22) has a bifurcated free end.

12. A snow tiller for ski slope preparation, the snow tiller (1) being configured to be advanced in a travelling direction (D) and comprising: - a main frame (2) configured to be connected to a tractor; - two sub-frames (3), each of which is movably supported by said main frame (2); - at least two rotors (4), which are equipped with snow-processing teeth (5), are pivoted about their respective axes of rotation (A1, A2), are pivoted relative to each other at their respective ends around a pivot axis (A3) substantially parallel to the travelling direction (D), and are supported pivotally about their respective axes of rotation (A1, A2) by their respective subframes (3); and - a snow processing device (6) mounted on at least one subframe (3) at said pivot axis (A3) to harrow the snowpack at the pivot axis (A3).

13. The snow tiller as claimed in claim 12, wherein each subframe (3) comprises two side plates (7) for pivotally supporting a respective rotor (4); the snow processing device (6) being mounted on at least one of the side plates (7) facing the subframes (3).

14. The snow tiller as claimed in claim 12 or 13, in which the snow processing device (6) is mounted on two side plates (7) facing each other via two flanges (8, 9) hinged to each other via a pivot pin (12) aligned with the pivot axis (A3).

Images