Europaisches Patentamt
`European Patent Office
`Office europeen des brevets
`
`© Publication number:
`
`0 1 2 0 5 7 4
`A 1
`
`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
`
`© Application number: 84300891.3
`© Date of filing: 13.02.84
`
`© Int. CI.3: A 01 F 29/00
`
`© Priority: 14.02.83 GB 8304035
`
`© Date of publication of application:
`03.10.84 Bulletin 84/40
`© Designated Contracting States:
`BE DE FR GB IT NL SE
`
`© Applicant: Fosse Agriculture Limited
`Delves Lane Industrial Estate
`Consett Durham. DH8 9HT(GB)
`© Inventor: Jarrett, Michael Richard
`215 Leamington Road
`Coventry West Midlands(GB)
`© Representative: Bannerman, David Gardner et al.
`Withers & Rogers 4 Dyer's Buildings Holborn
`London, EC1N2JT(GB)
`
`© Bale chopping and distributing apparatus.
` Cutting and distributing apparatus for bales of straw, hay,
`
`silage or the like, comprising a container(3) for one or more
`bales, cutting means (6) for cutting lengths of straw from the
`bale or bales, a conduit (9) for conducting the cut lengths away
`from the cutting means to a fan (11) by means of which they
`are discharged from the apparatus through an outlet passage
`(20) characterised in that the conduit has air inlet means (10)
`so arranged that the fan (11) draws air into the conduit (9) .
`through the inlet means (10) and the cut lengths are entrained
`by the resulting air current air current and conveyed thereby
`to the fan (11 whereupon they are blown out through the
`outlet passage(20).
`This apparatus enabled the bales to be cut up to provide
`lengths of straw, hay or silage suitable for animal feed or
`bedding.
`
`1 of 19
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`

`
`T h i s
`
`i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s
`
`to c h o p p i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g
`
`a p p a r a t u s f o r s t r a w or hay or s i l a g e b a l e s .
`
`S t r a w
`
`and hay
`
`is n o r m a l l y s t o r e d
`
`in b a l e s w h i c h are e i t h e r
`
`of t h e o l d e r s m a l l r e c t a n g u l a r
`
`t y p e , or more c o m m o n l y
`
`nowadays of the l a r g e r round or r e c t a n g u l a r type.
`
`However,
`
`t h e b a l e s are p r e f e r a b l y c h o p p e d
`
`i n t o
`
`i n d i v i d u a l p i e c e s
`
`of hay,
`
`s t r a w or s i l a g e of a p a r t i c u l a r
`
`l e n g t h ,
`
`t o
`
`e n a b l e
`
`t h e s t r a w to be u s e d as f e e d or b e d d i n g f o r
`
`farm a n i m a l s .
`
`The c o n v e n t i o n a l
`
`t y p e of c h o p p i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g
`
`a p p a r a t u s f o r s t r a w or hay c o m p r i s e s a
`
`t o w a b l e w h e e l e d
`
`c h a s s i s c a r r y i n g a
`
`t u b
`
`to r e c e i v e one or more b a l e s
`
`r o t a t a b l e a b o u t a v e r t i c a l a x i s , a r o t a t a b l e c u t t i n g
`
`means b e n e a t h t h e
`
`t u b f o r g r a d u a l l y c u t t i n g up t h e
`
`r o t a t i n g b a l e
`
`i n t o s h o r t
`
`l e n g t h s of s t r a w or hay, a
`
`b l o w e r f o r d i s c h a r g i n g t h e cut s t r a w or hay from t h e
`
`m a c h i n e , and a r o t a t a b l e a u g e r f o r c o n v e y i n g t h e c u t
`
`s t r a w or hay from t h e c u t t i n g means
`
`to t h e b l o w e r .
`
`U n f o r t u n a t e l y ,
`
`s t r a w , hay and s i l a g e a r e n o t
`
`u n i f o r m m a t e r i a l s .
`
`For e x a m p l e ,
`
`s t r a w v a r i e s d e p e n d i n g
`
`on t h e
`
`t y p e of g r a i n
`
`( e . g . w h e a t , b a r l e y )
`
`from w h i c h
`
`i t has been d e r i v e d , and hay v a r i e s d e p e n d i n g on t h e
`
`v a r i e t y of g r a s s u s e d .
`
`A l s o ,
`
`s t r a w , hay and s i l a g e
`
`are s o m e t i m e s wet and s o m e t i m e s d r y , d e p e n d i n g on t h e
`
`w e a t h e r and s t o r a g e c o n d i t i o n s .
`
`T h e s e v a r i a t i o n s
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`2 of 19
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`

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`c a u s e a g r e a t d e a l of d i f f i c u l t y w i t h a u g e r c o n v e y o r s ,
`
`b e c a u s e
`
`t h e s e w i l l n o t s a t i s f a c t o r i l y h a n d l e c u t
`
`l e n g t h s
`
`of s t r a w , hay or s i l a g e w i t h w i d e l y d i f f e r i n g p r o p e r t i e s .
`
`S t r a w , hay or s i l a g e w h i c h
`
`i s u n s u i t a b l e f o r a p a r t i c u l a r
`
`a u g e r c o n v e y o r can c a u s e
`
`j a m m i n g of
`
`t h e a u g e r .
`
`We h a v e now d i s c o v e r e d t h a t
`
`i f
`
`t h e a u g e r c o n v e y o r
`
`i s r e p l a c e d by an a i r c o n v e y o r
`
`in w h i c h a c u r r e n t o f
`
`a i r c o n v e y s
`
`t h e c u t
`
`l e n g t h s away f r o m t h e c u t t i n g m e a n s
`
`to e n a b l e them to be blown o u t of t h e a p p a r a t u s ,
`
`t h e s e
`
`p r o b l e m s a r e o v e r c o m e .
`
`The a i r c o n v e y o r can h a n d l e
`
`a w i d e v a r i e t y of d i f f e r e n t t y p e s of s t r a w , h a y , o r
`
`s i l a g e
`
`in d i f f e r e n t s t a t e s of d r y n e s s w i t h o u t b e c o m i n g
`
`c l o g g e d .
`
`A c c o r d i n g to t h i s
`
`i n v e n t i o n we t h e r e f o r e p r o v i d e
`
`c u t t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g a p p a r a t u s f o r b a l e s of s t r a w ,
`
`h a y ,
`
`s i l a g e or t h e
`
`l i k e , c o m p r i s i n g a c o n t a i n e r f o r
`
`one or more b a l e s , c u t t i n g means f o r c u t t i n g l e n g t h s
`
`of s t r a w , h a y ,
`
`s i l a g e or t h e
`
`l i k e f r o m t h e b a l e o r
`
`b a l e s , a c o n d u i t f o r c o n d u c t i n g t h e c u t
`
`l e n g t h s a w a y
`
`f r o m
`
`t h e c u t t i n g means to a fan by m e a n s of w h i c h t h e y
`
`a r e d i s c h a r g e d f r o m t h e a p p a r a t u s t h r o u g h a n o u t l e t
`
`p a s s a g e , c h a r a c t e r i s e d
`
`in t h a t t h e c o n d u i t has a i r
`
`i n l e t m e a n s so a r r a n g e d t h a t t h e f a n d r a w s a i r
`
`i n t o
`
`t h e c o n d u i t
`
`t h r o u g h t h e
`
`i n l e t means and t h e c u t
`
`l e n g t h s
`
`a r e e n t r a i n e d by t h e r e s u l t i n g a i r c u r r e n t w h i c h c o n v e y s
`
`t h e m to
`
`t h e f a n , w h e r e u p o n t h e y a r e b l o w n out t h r o u g h
`
`t h e o u t l e t p a s s a g e .
`
`P r e f e r a b l y ,
`
`t h e c o n t a i n e r c o m p r i s e s a
`
`t u b
`
`( w h i c h
`
`3 of 19
`
`

`
`may be c y l i n d r i c a l or any o t h e r c o n v e n i e n t s h a p e )
`t o be r o t a t a b l y d r i v e n a b o u t a v e r t i c a l a x i s ,
`
`m o u n t e d
`
`and p r o v i d e d w i t h means f o r g r i p p i n g a b a l e or b a l e s
`
`c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n
`
`i t
`
`to e n s u r e
`
`t h a t
`
`i t or
`
`t h e y r o t a t e
`
`w i t h t h e
`
`t u b .
`
`The c u t t i n g means p r e f e r a b l y c o m p r i s e s
`
`at
`
`l e a s t one h o r i z o n t a l r o t a t a b l y - d r i v e n s h a f t p r o v i d e d
`
`w i t h c u t t e r b l a d e s and m o u n t e d b e n e a t h
`
`t h e
`
`t u b so
`
`t h a t
`
`as t h e t u b
`
`t u r n s
`
`i t s c o n t e n t s a r e c a r r i e d o v e r t h e
`
`r o t a t i n g c u t t e r b l a d e s and t h e b a l e s are t h e r e f o r e
`
`g r a d u a l l y c u t u p .
`
`The f a n
`
`is p r e f e r a b l y a r r a n g e d so
`
`t h a t
`
`t h e a i r
`
`c a r r y i n g t h e c u t
`
`l e n g t h s of s t r a w , hay or s i l a g e
`
`i s
`
`drawn
`
`i n t o t h e f a n p a r a l l e l
`
`to or a l o n g t h e a x i s , a n d
`
`is d i s c h a r g e d t a n g e n t i a l l y to t h e fan
`
`i n t o t h e o u t l e t
`
`p a s s a g e .
`
`In t h i s c a s e t h e fan
`
`is p r e f e r a b l y m o u n t e d
`
`in a g e n e r a l l y c y l i n d r i c a l h o u s i n g in such a way t h a t
`
`the gap b e t w e e n
`
`t h e fan and t h e h o u s i n g w a l l
`
`i n c r e a s e s
`
`p r o g r e s s i v e l y t o w a r d s an o u t l e t
`
`t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e a i r
`
`and cut m a t e r i a l a r e d i s c h a r g e d
`
`i n t o
`
`t h e o u t l e t p a s s a g e .
`
`The f a n b l a d e s are p r e f e r a b l y f l a t and e x t e n d
`
`a l m o s t p a r a l l e l to t h e fan a x i s , b u t w i t h a s l i g h t
`
`o f f s e t to p r o v i d e t h e n e c e s s a r y s u c t i o n .
`
`Each b l a d e
`
`p r e f e r a b l y c o m p r i s e s a w i d e r p o r t i o n which
`
`is
`
`j o i n e d
`
`to a n a r r o w e r a x i a l b o s s by a
`
`t a p e r e d p o r t i o n .
`
`T h e
`
`b l a d e s w h i c h may f o r e x a m p l e be s i x
`
`in n u m b e r , a r e
`
`p r e f e r a b l y e a c h s t r e n g t h e n e d by a web e x t e n d i n g
`
`p e r p e n d i c u l a r
`
`to
`
`t h e fan a x i s .
`
`The webs p r e f e r a b l y
`
`4 of 19
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`

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`t a p e r t o w a r d s
`
`t h e i r o u t e r e n d s .
`
`As an a l t e r n a t i v e to t h e a b o v e - d e s c r i b e d c e n t r i -
`
`f u g a l f a n , an a x i a l f a n may be u s e d .
`
`The
`
`t u b
`
`i s p r e f e r a b l y r o t a t a b l y d r i v e n by a h y d r a u l i c
`
`m o t o r
`
`( a l t h o u g h any o t h e r t y p e of m o t o r c o u l d a l s o
`
`be u s e d ) w h i c h
`
`i s
`
`in t u r n d r i v e n f r o m t h e h y d r a u l i c
`
`s y s t e m of a
`
`t r a c t o r e . g . a t r a c t o r u s e d to
`
`tow t h e
`
`a p p a r a t u s .
`
`The f a n and t h e or e a c h c u t t e r s h a f t a r e
`
`p r e f e r a b l y b o t h d r i v e n from t h e t r a c t o r p o w e r t a k e -
`
`o f f , and t h e i r r o t a t i o n a l s p e e d s
`
`( a n d a l s o t h a t o f
`
`t h e t u b ) a r e c a r e f u l l y c h o s e n .
`
`More s p e c i f i c a l l y ,
`
`i t h a s b e e n f o u n d t h a t t h e o p t i m u m
`
`l e n g t h f o r cut s t r a w
`
`and hay
`
`i s a b o u t 2) to 3
`
`i n c h e s
`
`( 6 . 3 5 to 7 . 6 2 cm)
`
`f o r
`
`a n i m a l f e e d or b e d d i n g , a l t h o u g h
`
`l e n g t h s down to o n e
`
`i n c h or e v e n
`
`l e s s may be p r e f e r r e d
`
`in some a p p l i c a t i o n s .
`
`The s p e e d of r o t a t i o n of t h e c u t t e r s h a f t
`
`i s c h o s e n
`
`b e a r i n g t h e d e s i r e d
`
`l e n g t h
`
`in m i n d .
`
`The s p e e d o f
`
`r o t a t i o n of t h e
`
`t u b
`
`i s so s e l e c t e d t h a t
`
`t h e b a l e s a r e
`
`c a r r i e d o v e r
`
`t h e c u t t i n g s h a f t at s u c h a s p e e d t h a t
`
`t h e m a t e r i a l
`
`i s c u t at a r a t e w h i c h
`
`i s f a s t e n o u g h
`
`f o r p r a c t i c a l p u r p o s e s , w h i l s t n o t b e i n g so r a p i d a s
`
`to c a u s e c u t m a t e r i a l
`
`to
`
`jam a r o u n d t h e c u t t e r s h a f t
`
`or to a c c u m u l a t e
`
`in t h e c o n d u i t .
`
`The s l o w e r
`
`t h e r a t e
`
`of r o t a t i o n of
`
`t h e t u b f o r a g i v e n r o t a t i o n a l s p e e d
`
`of t h e c u t t e r s h a f t ,
`
`t h e f a s t e r
`
`i s
`
`t h e r a t e of c u t .
`
`The s p e e d of r o t a t i o n of t h e fan
`
`i s c h o s e n so t h a t
`
`i t p r o v i d e s a c u r r e n t of a i r w h i c h
`
`is s u f f i c i e n t t o
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`5 of 19
`
`

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`c o n v e y t h e cut m a t e r i a l away from
`
`t h e c u t t e r s h a f t
`
`and to d i s c h a r g e
`
`i t out of t h e m a c h i n e
`
`t h r o u g h
`
`t h e
`
`o u t l e t p a s s a g e , b u t
`
`i s not e x c e s s i v e , w h i c h c o u l d
`
`l e a d
`
`to u n c o n t r o l l a b l e s c a t t e r i n g of
`
`t h e c u t m a t e r i a l , a n d
`
`a l s o b l o c k i n g of
`
`t h e f a n .
`
`One b a l e c u t t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g m a c h i n e e m b o d y i n g
`
`t h e
`
`i n v e n t i o n w i l l now be d e s c r i b e d by way of e x a m p l e
`
`and w i t h r e f e r e n c e
`
`to t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g d r a w i n g s ,
`
`i n
`
`w h i c h :
`
`F i g u r e 1
`
`i s a s i d e e l e v a t i o n of
`
`t h e m a c h i n e ,
`
`p a r t i a l l y cut a w a y ,
`
`F i g u r e 2
`
`is a f r o n t end e l e v a t i o n ,
`
`F i g u r e 3
`
`is a p l a n v i e w ,
`
`F i g u r e 4
`
`i s a d e t a i l f r o n t e l e v a t i o n s h o w i n g t h e
`
`fan h o u s i n g and t h e d r i v e to t h e f a n and c u t t i n g s h a f t ,
`
`F i g u r e 5 shows
`
`t h e p o s i t i o n s of t h e fan w i t h i n
`
`t h e fan h o u s i n g ,
`
`F i g u r e 6
`
`is a s i d e view s h o w i n g t h e f a n w i t h i n
`
`i t s h o u s i n g , a n d
`
`F i g u r e 7
`
`is a f r o n t view of
`
`t h e fan
`
`i t s e l f -
`
`The m a c h i n e shown c o n s i s t s of a w h e e l e d c h a s s i s 1
`
`p r o v i d e d w i t h a
`
`tow b a r 2 which e n a b l e s
`
`i t to be t o w e d
`
`b e h i n d a c o n v e n t i o n a l a g r i c u l t r u a l t r a c t o r
`
`( n o t s h o w n ) .
`
`A c y l i n d r i c a l t u b 3 f o r one
`
`l a r g e r o u n d b a l e or s e v e r a l
`
`s m a l l e r r e c t a n g u l a r ones
`
`is m o u n t e d t o w a r d s t h e b a c k
`
`of t h e c h a s s i s f o r r o t a t i o n a b o u t a v e r t i c a l a x i s .
`
`The tub has an open b o t t o m and b e n e a t h
`
`i t i s a f i x e d
`
`6 of 19
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`

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`b a s e p l a t e 4 h a v i n g a r a d i a l l y - e x t e n d i n g o p e n i n g 5.
`
`U n d e r t h e o p e n i n g i s a r r a n g e d a h o r i z o n t a l c u t t e r s h a f t
`
`6 p r o v i d e d w i t h a p l u r a l i t y of c u t t e r b l a d e s .
`
`T h e
`
`b l a d e s a r e m o u n t e d on t r a n s v e r s e d i s c s 7 s p a c e d a l o n g
`
`t h e s h a f t , e a c h d i s c h a v i n g t h r e e b l a d e s 8 e x t e n d i n g
`
`o u t w a r d s and
`
`i n c l i n e d at 120°
`
`to one a n o t h e r .
`
`An
`
`a i r c o n d u i t 9
`
`i s
`
`l o c a t e d
`
`in
`
`t h e c h a s s i s and e x t e n d s
`
`p a r a l l e l
`
`to t h e
`
`l o n g i t u d i n a l d i m e n s i o n of
`
`t h e c h a s s i s
`
`f r o m an a i r
`
`i n t a k e g r i l l e 10 at
`
`t h e r e a r of t h e c h a s s i s
`
`t o a f a n h o u s i n g 11 at t h e f r o n t .
`
`The c u t t e r s h a f t
`
`6 and t h e c o n d u i t 9 a r e p a r a l l e l , and t h e c u t t e r s h a f t
`
`i s a r r a n g e d a b o v e
`
`t h e c o n d u i t so t h a t c u t m a t e r i a l
`
`can f a l l
`
`i n t o t h e c o n d u i t
`
`t h r o u g h an o p e n i n g
`
`in t h e
`
`t o p t h e r e o f .
`
`A s h o r t c o n n e c t o r p a s s a g e 12
`
`j o i n s
`
`t h e d o w n s t r e a m
`
`end of t h e c o n d u i t 9 w i t h t h e fan h o u s i n g 11 and f e e d s
`
`t h e a i r and e n t r a i n e d m a t e r i a l
`
`i n t o t h e f a n h o u s i n g
`
`11
`
`in
`
`t h e v i c i n i t y of t h e c e n t r e of t h e f a n 13, w h i c h
`
`i s m o u n t e d on a b o s s 14 and r o t a t e s a b o u t an a x i s
`
`p a r a l l e l
`
`to
`
`t h e
`
`l o n g i t u d i n a l d i m e n s i o n of
`
`t h e m a c h i n e .
`
`The c u r v e d w a l l of t h e c y l i n d r i c a l fan h o u s i n g 11
`
`i s s p a c e d f r o m t h e p a t h 19
`
`t r a c e d by t h e t i p s of t h e
`
`f a n b l a d e s 15, and t h e f a n a x i s
`
`i s s l i g h t l y o f f s e t
`
`r e l a t i v e
`
`to
`
`t h e a x i s of t h e h o u s i n g so
`
`t h a t
`
`t h i s s p a c i n g
`
`g r a d u a l l y
`
`i n c r e a s e s
`
`in t h e d i r e c t i o n of r o t a t i o n o f
`
`t h e f a n
`
`( s h o w n by t h e a r r o w 16)
`
`to t h e o u t l e t 1 7 .
`
`The o u t l e t 17 f e e d s
`
`i n t o a d i s c h a r g e s p o u t 18 h a v i n g
`
`7 of 19
`
`

`
`a c u r v e d end p o r t i o n 20.
`
`The u s e r can d i r e c t
`
`t h e
`
`s u p p l y o f c u t s t r a w or hay from t h e s p o u t
`
`in a c c o r d a n c e
`
`w i t h h i s r e q u i r e m e n t s .
`
`The fan b l a d e s 15 e x t e n d a l m o s t p a r a l l e l
`
`to
`
`t h e
`
`a x i s of t h e b o s s 14, b u t have a s l i g h t s e t
`
`to p r o v i d e
`
`t h e n e c e s s a r y s u c t i o n
`
`in t h e c o n d u i t 9.
`
`Each b l a d e
`
`( t h e r e a r e s i x
`
`in
`
`t o t a l ) c o n s i s t s of a w i d e r r e c t a n g u l a r
`
`end 15a p o r t i o n
`
`j o i n e d to t h e n a r r o w e r b o s s 14 by a
`
`t a p e r e d p o r t i o n 15b.
`
`Each b l a d e
`
`is p r o v i d e d w i t h
`
`an o u t w a r d l y - t a p e r i n g r e i n f o r c i n g web 2 1 .
`
`The m a c h i n e
`
`is d r i v e n from t h e power
`
`t a k e - o f f
`
`s h a f t of a c o n v e n t i o n a l a g r i c u l t u r a l
`
`t r a c t o r v i a
`
`t h e
`
`s h a f t 22 w h i c h
`
`is r i g i d w i t h a f i r s t
`
`l a r g e p u l l e y 23
`
`and a s e c o n d
`
`l a r g e p u l l e y 2 3 ' .
`
`A f i r s t d r i v e b e l t 2 4
`
`o p e r a t i v e l y c o n n e c t s p u l l e y 23'
`
`to a f i r s t s m a l l e r
`
`p u l l e y 25, w h i c h
`
`i s r i g i d w i t h and d r i v e s
`
`t h e c u t t e r
`
`s h a f t 6, and a s e c o n d d r i v e b e l t 26 c o n n e c t s
`
`t h e p u l l e y
`
`23 w i t h a s e c o n d s m a l l e r p u l l e y 27, p a s s e s o v e r a g u i d e
`
`p u l l e y 29, and
`
`i s r i g i d w i t h and d r i v e s t h e f a n b o s s 1 4 .
`
`The r e l a t i v e d i a m e t e r s of t h e v a r i o u s p u l l e y s
`
`23, 2 3 ' , 25, 27 a r e s u c h t h a t , when t h e p o w e r
`
`t a k e -
`
`o f f s h a f t of t h e t r a c t o r
`
`is r o t a t i n g at a c o n v e n t i o n a l
`
`s p e e d
`
`( e . g . 540 rpm)
`
`t h e c u t t e r s h a f t s p e e d
`
`i s 2 0 0 0
`
`to 2500 rpm
`
`( p r e f e r a b l y 2000 rpm) and t h e f a n s p e e d
`
`is 1400 to 1750 rpm
`
`( p r e f e r a b l y 1500 r p m ) .
`
`T h i s
`
`c o m b i n a t i o n p r o v i d e s p i e c e s of cut s t r a w , h a y ,
`
`s i l a g e
`
`or t h e
`
`l i k e a b o u t 2)
`
`to 3
`
`i n c h e s
`
`( 6 . 3 5 to 7 . 6 2 cm)
`
`l o n g .
`
`The
`
`t u b 3
`
`is d r i v e n
`
`i n d e p e n d e n t l y t h r o u g h a
`
`8 of 19
`
`

`
`h y d r a u l i c m o t o r 30 m o u n t e d on
`
`t h e c h a s s i s and a c t u a t e d
`
`by t h e h y d r a u l i c s y s t e m of
`
`t h e t r a c t o r .
`
`I t d r i v e s
`
`t h e
`
`t u b
`
`t h r o u g h a d r i v e c h a i n 31 e x t e n d i n g a r o u n d t h e
`
`l o w e r c i r c u m f e r e n c e of
`
`t h e t u b .
`
`I t h a s b e e n f o u n d
`
`t h a t a
`
`t u b s p e e d of 18
`
`to 24 rpm
`
`( p r e f e r a b l y 20 r p m )
`
`g i v e s s a t i s f a c t o r y r e s u l t s .
`
`T h r e e e q u a l l y - s p a c e d g r i p p e r p l a t e s 32 a r e a l s o
`
`p r o v i d e d
`
`i n s i d e t h e t u b and a r e p i v o t a l l y m o u n t e d o n
`
`t h e
`
`t u b w a l l ,
`
`so
`
`t h a t
`
`t h e y s w i n g i n w a r d s as t h e t u b
`
`r o t a t e s and g r i p a b a l e or b a l e s w i t h i n
`
`t h e
`
`t u b t o
`
`e n s u r e t h a t
`
`t h e c o n t e n t s r o t a t e w i t h
`
`t h e t u b .
`
`The b a l e or b a l e s may be a r r a n g e d w i t h i n t h e t u b
`
`so t h a t e i t h e r a f l a t s u r f a c e , or p r e f e r a b l y a c u r v e d
`
`s u r f a c e of t h e b a l e
`
`i s a c t e d on by
`
`t h e c u t t i n g m e a n s .
`
`I t has b e e n f o u n d t h a t t h i s a p p a r a t u s can h a n d l e
`
`a w i d e v a r i e t y of t y p e s of s t r a w , hay or s i l a g e
`
`i n
`
`v a r i o u s s t a t e s of d r y n e s s w i t h o u t d i s p l a y i n g t h e p r o b l e m s
`
`w h i c h a r e e n c o u n t e r e d
`
`in u s i n g b a l e c u t t i n g m a c h i n e s
`
`p r o v i d e d w i t h a u g e r c o n v e y o r s -
`
`9 of 19
`
`

`
`1.
`
`C u t t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g a p p a r a t u s f o r b a l e s o f
`
`s t r a w , h a y ,
`
`s i l a g e or
`
`t h e
`
`l i k e , c o m p r i s i n g a c o n t a i n e r
`
`f o r one or more b a l e s , c u t t i n g means f o r c u t t i n g
`
`l e n g t h s
`
`of s t r a w , h a y ,
`
`s i l a g e or
`
`t h e
`
`l i k e from t h e b a l e o r
`
`b a l e s , a c o n d u i t f o r c o n d u c t i n g t h e cut
`
`l e n g t h s a w a y
`
`from t h e c u t t i n g means
`
`to a f a n by means of w h i c h
`
`t h e y
`
`are d i s c h a r g e d from t h e a p p a r a t u s
`
`t h r o u g h an o u t l e t
`
`p a s s a g e , c h a r a c t e r i s e d
`
`in t h a t
`
`t h e c o n d u i t h a s a i r
`
`i n l e t means so a r r a n g e d t h a t
`
`t h e f a n draws a i r
`
`i n t o
`
`t h e c o n d u i t
`
`t h r o u g h t h e
`
`i n l e t means and t h e c u t l e n g t h s
`
`are e n t r a i n e d by t h e r e s u l t i n g a i r c u r r e n t w h i c h c o n v e y s
`
`them to t h e f a n , w h e r e u p o n t h e y a r e blown out
`
`t h r o u g h
`
`t h e o u t l e t p a s s a g e .
`
`2.
`
`C u t t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g a p p a r a t u s f o r b a l e s
`
`a c c o r d i n g to c l a i m 1, w h e r e i n t h e c o n t a i n e r i s a
`
`t u b
`
`m o u n t e d f o r r o t a t i o n a b o u t a v e r t i c a l a x i s , a t
`
`l e a s t
`
`one h o r i z o n t a l r o t a t a b l e c u t t i n g s h a f t p r o v i d e d w i t h
`
`c u t t e r b l a d e s
`
`is
`
`l o c a t e d b e n e a t h t h e
`
`tub so
`
`t h a t t h e
`
`c o n t e n t s of
`
`t h e tub r o t a t e a g a i n s t
`
`t h e s e c u t t e r b l a d e s ,
`
`c h a r a c t e r i s e d
`
`in t h a t
`
`t h e s a i d c o n d u i t
`
`is
`
`l o c a t e d a l o n g -
`
`s i d e or b e n e a t h
`
`t h e c u t t i n g s h a f t or s h a f t s s o
`
`t h a t
`
`t h e
`
`l e n g t h s but by t h e b l a d e s can f a l l
`
`i n t o
`
`t h e c o n d u i t .
`
`3.
`
`C u t t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o
`
`e i t h e r p r e c e d i n g c l a i m , w h e r e i n t h e c o n d u i t e x t e n d s
`
`10 of 19
`
`

`
`p a r a l l e l
`
`to t h e a x i s of
`
`t h e f a n and
`
`is a r r a n g e d t o
`
`f e e d s a i d a i r c u r r e n t and t h e
`
`e n t r a i n e d cut
`
`l e n g t h s
`
`to t h e c e n t r e p o r t i o n of t h e f a n .
`
`4.
`
`C u t t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o
`
`any p r e c e d i n g c l a i m w h e r e i n t h e f a n
`
`i s
`
`l o c a t e d w i t h i n
`
`a g e n e r a l l y c y l i n d r i c a l h o u s i n g h a v i n g an a x i a l
`
`i n l e t
`
`and a t a n g e n t i a l o u t l e t ,
`
`t h e h o u s i n g b e i n g so s h a p e d
`
`t h a t t h e gap b e t w e e n t h e f a n h o u s i n g and t h e p a t h
`
`d e f i n e d by t h e t i p s of t h e f a n b l a d e s g r a d u a l l y i n c r e a s e s
`
`t o w a r d s t h e o u t l e t
`
`in t h e d i r e c t i o n of r o t a t i o n o f
`
`t h e f a n .
`
`5.
`
`C u t t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o
`
`any p r e c e d i n g c l a i m , w h e r e i n t h e f a n h a s a p l u r a l i t y
`
`of b l a d e s m o u n t e d on a common b o s s , e a c h b l a d e e x t e n d i n g
`
`in
`
`t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h e f a n a x i s and c o n s i s t i n g o f
`
`an o u t e r p o r t i o n c o n n e c t e d t o
`
`t h e b o s s w h i c h
`
`i s n a r r o w e r
`
`t h a n t h e o u t e r p o r t i o n by a
`
`t a p e r i n g p o r t i o n .
`
`6.
`
`C u t t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o
`
`any of c l a i m s 2 to 5, w h e r e i n t h e s p e e d s of r o t a t i o n
`
`of t h e t u b ,
`
`t h e c u t t e r s h a f t , and t h e fan a r e s u c h
`
`t h a t c u t
`
`l e n g t h s of a b o u t 1
`
`t o 3
`
`i n c h e s
`
`( 2 . 5 4 to 7 . 6 2 cm)
`
`a r e d i s c h a r g e d f r o m t h e o u t l e t p a s s a g e .
`
`7.
`
`C u t t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o
`
`c l a i m 5, w h e r e i n e a c h f a n b l a d e
`
`i s s l i g h t l y i n c l i n e d
`
`11 of 19
`
`

`
`to t h e f a n a x i s
`
`in o r d e r
`
`to p r o v i d e t h e r e q u i r e d s u c t i o n
`
`in t h e c o n d u i t .
`
`8.
`
`C u t t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o
`
`c l a i m s 5 or 7, w h e r e i n e a c h b l a d e
`
`is p r o v i d e d w i t h
`
`a s t r e n g t h e n i n g web p e r p e n d i c u l a r
`
`to
`
`t h e fan a x i s a n d
`
`t a p e r i n g from t h e b o s s
`
`t o w a r d s
`
`t h e b l a d e
`
`t i p .
`
`9.
`
`C u t t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o
`
`c l a i m 1 and s u b s t a n t i a l l y as h e r e i n d e s c r i b e d , w i t h
`
`r e f e r e n c e
`
`to
`
`t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g d r a w i n g s .
`
`12 of 19
`
`

`
`01 20574
`
`13 of 19
`
`

`
`01 20574
`
`14 of 19
`
`

`
`xljau-—_;.:+L_:-j
`
`15 of 19
`
`

`
`16 of 19
`
`

`
`01 20574
`
`FIGS.
`
`17 of 19
`
`

`
`18 of 19
`
`

`
`3:22:93" Pate”
`
`EUROPEAN SEARCH REPORT
`
`DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`Citation of document with Indication. where appropriate.
`of relevant passages
`
`CBIGQOVY
`
`0 1“"%°g‘§"?'”é'
`
`EP
`
`84 30 0891
`
`CLASSIFICATION OF THE
`APPLICATION (Int Cl. 3)
`
`A 01 F
`
`29/oo
`
`US-A-4 158 469
`*
`6,
`
`(RISSER)
`lines 7-68; figures
`
`LANDTECHNIK, Vol. 38, no. 11,
`November 1983, pages 475-478,
`Lehrte, DE
`"Gerate
`Zerkleinern
`
`und
`Auflésen
`zum
`Von Strohballen -
`
`Bauarten -
`
`" * Figure 5 *
`
`(BLAIR)
`FR-A-2 320 043
`* Page
`2,
`lines 15-38; page 3,
`figures 1-6 *
`
`FR-A-2 500 718
`
`(DEWEY)
`
`DE-A-2 749 255
`
`(ooeescn)
`
`TECHNICAL FIELDS
`SEARCHED (Int. Cl. 3)
`
`The present search report has been drawn up for all claims
`
`.
`
`Place of search
`THE HAGUE
`
`Date of completion of the seam
`25-05-1984
`
`h
`
`Examiner
`VERMANDER R.H.
`
`CATEGORY OF CITED DOCUMENTS
`
`2 particularly relevant if taken alone
`: particularly relevant if combined with another
`document at the same category
`2 technological background
`: non-written disclosure
`:
`intermediate document
`
`
`
`EPOForm1503.03.82
`
`lyr
`th
`:
`eory or principle under ng the invention
`: earlier patent document‘ but published on. or
`after the filing date
`: document cited in the application
`: document cited for other reasons
`
`merrrber Hi" the same patent tamily. correeponding H
`document
`
`19 of 19