GB2215974A

GB2215974A - Apparatus for moving silage

Info

Publication number: GB2215974A
Application number: GB8903431A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Henry Shepherd
Original assignee: REDROCK ENG Ltd
Current assignee: REDROCK ENG Ltd
Priority date: 1988-02-16
Filing date: 1989-02-15
Publication date: 1989-10-04
Also published as: GB8803518D0; GB8903431D0

Abstract

Apparatus for clearing silage in a cow-shed comprises two silage pushing gates 18 connected to a main frame support 10 by a rigid linkage 24 pivoted by rod 29, at least to the main frame 10. The linkage 24 is preferably of a parallelogram type so that when said gates 24 move apart under the action of pistons 32 to push the silage sidewards, they remain substantially perpendicular to the support frame 10. <IMAGE>

Description

MATERIrlLS tdOVINGi~Q,PPARQ"TUS,, This invention relates to apparatus for moving materials, and is particularly useful for pushing apart moulds of silage such as in a cattle feeding shed.

In a cattle-shed, the cattle are penned in two parallel rows and have their heads extending through the pen bars into a central passage where they feed from silage. Ns the cattle eat the accessible silage at the periphery of the passage, more is pitched over manually from the middle part. Such manual moving of the silage as will be appreciated is labour intensive. Furthermore the passageway is too narrow for a tractor to manoeuvre and push silage thereacross.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for moving silage more easily than heretofore.

According to the present invention there is provided a transportable materials moving apparatus comprising a main support. Rt least one materials pushing member arranged forwardly of the main support and connected thereto by a rigid type linkage which is pivoted at least to the main support to allow sideward movement of the materials pushing mernbei-, and an actuating member for moving the materials moving member.

Therefore in spite of the restrictive breadth of a cow-shed passageway, the present invention can still move the silagr therein towards the feeding animals by pushing it sideways relative to the direction of movement of the apparatus.

This sideward movement could be obtained by a number of constructions such as that found in a car vlind-screen wiper and in which case the materials moving member would sweep sidewardly in an arc-wise movement would vary its angle continuously relative to the sides of the passageway.

It is preferred however that the materials moving member remains at subtantially the same angle and preferably perpendicular parallel relative to the main support throughout its sideward movrnent, and an advantageous way of achieving this is by a parallelogram type of linkages.

The apparatus can have one materials moving member but preferably two such members are provided, which move increasingly apart and then back together.

The materials moving member or members could be actuated electrically or mechanically, preferably by a ram, which to also move sidewardly preferably is pivoted to the main support and materials pushing member or members.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a transportable materials moving apparatus comprising a main support, at least one materials pushing member arranged forwardly of the main support and connected thereto by a parallelogram type linkage.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of pushing silage in the central passageway of a cow-shed towards the feeding animals which includes moving an apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims up the passageway and actuating the sideward movement of the materials moving member or members.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus in which its silage pushing gates are closed; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus in which its silage pushing gates are open; Fig 3 is a side view of the apparatus; and Fig. 4 is a rear view of the apparatus in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus, slightly modified, in the open position; and Fig. 6 is a side view of the apparatus nf Fig. 5; and Fig 7 is a grab attachment for the apparatus.

The apparatus yenerally comprises a main support frame 10 to which two silage pushing gates 18, ae connected via a parallegram linkage 24. The silage pushing gates 18 are actuated by hydraulic rams 32 between a closed and an open position, respectively rig.

1 and 2. s best illustrated in the modified embodiment of Fig. 5, the silage pushing gates 18 sweep outwards in an arc-wise motion, but, the pushing face retains substantially the same angle throughout (actually the pushing face turns slightly as shown from Figs. 1 and 2).

Rs will be apparent from the description hereinafter, the apparatus is substantially symmetrical about the vertical plane between the rams and through the centre line of the frame 10.

The support-frame includes first, second and third spaced triangular supports 11, 12 and 13 (one of which is shown in Fig. 3) which each consist of an upright beam with a forwardly extending beam perpendicular to the top thereof and a diagonal strengthening beam. n first transverse and horizontal beam 14 extends between the front of the forwardly extending beams of the triangular supports 11 to 13, (Figs. 2 and 3); and as shown in the rear view of Fig. 4 second, third and fourth horizontal and transverse beams 15, 16 and 17 respectively extend across the top upper and bottom of the triangular supports 11 to 13. The ends of said first and second upper beams 15 and 16 project past said upright beams for connection of the parallelogram linkage 24 (see hereinafter).The whole frame 10 rests on wheels 17a received by stub axles 17b journalled at said fourth lower horizontal beam 17: Each silrge pushing gate 18 is positioned forwardly of the support frame and comprises an upright support 19 having an upper beam 20 (Figs. 1 and 2) and a lower beam (not shown) extending sidewardly and perpendicular from the upper part of the upright support 19 for connection of the parallelogram linkage 24. Ns shown in Fig. 3, forward and rear halves of a rectangular silage pushing frame 21 and 22 are fixed to the low part of each upright support 19. The forward half of said frame 21 has a T-shaped bar 2 across its lower half and acts as the pushing face for the silage fls can be seen in Fig.

1, the closed pushing gate frames 21 and 22, diverge at their rear half 22 and form a wedge at their front half 21.

Each parallelogram linkage 24 pivotally connecting the frame 10 and silage pushing gates 18 comprises first and second horizontal parallel side members 25 to 27 each of which includes upper and lower beams 25 and 26 connected by three smaller vertical spacer beams 27.

For pivotal connection between the frame 10 and silage pushing gates 18, both ends of said upper and lower horizontal beams 25 and 26 are apertured to receive a vertical rod 28 and 30. These are journalled between upper and lower brackets 29 and 31 respectively extending forwardly and rearwardly from the projecting ends of the second and third horizontal beams 15 and 16 of the frame 10, and the upper 20 and lower horizontal beams and lower horizontal beams of the silage pushing gates 18. Rs can be seen, said horizontal and beams 15 and 16 and horizontal beams 20 of the frame and pushing member form the other parallel (but shorter) sides of the linkage 24.

The two hydraulic rams 32 actuating silage pushing members 18 are pivotally connected between a lower central position on the frame 10 and a lower position on the upright gate supports 19 (see Fig. 3). These rams 32 are operable from the hydraulic of a tractor For transporting the apparatus, a grab attachment 33 is provided on the upper surface of the first and second horizontal beams 14 and 15 of the frame 10; and as shown in Fig. 7, comprises two rectangular frames connected at their corners one above the other and provide a space therebetween for receiving the tines 34 of a tractor attachment. .Four lugs 35 (Figs. 1 to 3) are also provided, extending from the rear of the frame at a central-top and bottom location thereof, for attachment to and transportation by the tractor.

In use the gates 18 are pushed into a pile of silage in the central passageway of a cow-shed and the rams 32 actuated to open said members 18 (Fig. 2) which retain subtantially the same angle and push the silage sideways towards the pens of feeding animals. After the gates 18 are closed, the apparatus is moved further up the passageway and the operation repeated.

In the modified embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6, at least one side members 25 to 27 of the parallelogram linkage 24 is triangular and is pivotally connected to the front half of the pushing gate frame 21. Also, each piston 32 is pivoted to the middle of the upper horizontal beam 20 of each pushing gate 18.

It should be appreciate that the apparatus although particularly useful for moving silage in a cow-shed, can also be used for other materials, and by reversing the operational mode of the apparatus, material within the span of the opened gates 18 can be swept into a pile.

Claims

Clairns

1. A transportable materials moving apparatus comprising a main support, at least one materials pushing member arranged forwardly of the main support and connected thereto by a rigid type linkage which is pivoted at least to the main support to allow sideward movement of the materials pushing member, and an actuating member for moving the materials moving member.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the linkage is a parallelogram type so that the materials moving member remains at substantially the same angle, and preferbly perpendicular, relative to the main support throughout its sideward movement.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 whzsin the parallelogram linkage includes first and second parallel spaced upper bars with respective first and second lower bars arranged substanially therebelow.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein there are two materials moving members which move increasingly apart and then back together.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the materials pushing members form a wedge when together.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the actuating means is a ram and is preferbly pivotally connected to the main support and materials moving member or members.

7. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accornpanying drawings.

8. n transportable materials moving apparatus comprising a main support, at least one materials pushing member arranged forwardly of the main support and connected thereto by a parallelogram type linkage.

9. R method of pushing silage in the central passageway of a cow-shed towards the feeding animals which includes moving an appratus as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims up the passageway and actuating the sideward movement of the materials moving member or members.