Rotor system for ground milling or mine milling

A rotor system for ground milling or mine milling comprising a base rotor provided with a number of support plates for accommodating tools. The tool support plates are detachably joined to the base rotor in the rotor system. A number of segments are radially arranged around a central axis (M) and a number of retaining plates are provided in an axially interspaced manner between the individual segments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a soil tiller for cutting up organic substances with a rotor system, the rotor system having a basic rotor with a plurality of carrier plates for accommodating tools.

Such soil tillers with rotor systems for working various soils are known on the market and are in use in a wide variety of forms and designs. The previous constructions of rotors are usually based on a closed tubular shell. The tool holders or the tools are attached in various forms to this tubular shell. This type of construction has an adverse effect during detonations, since their pressure wave has a large area of application and therefore considerable damage to the rotor system or the tilling machine may occur. Such repair of the tilling machine on site often involves considerable problems, since there is often no appropriate infrastructure in regions and countries contaminated with mines.

Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that conventional rotor constructions are subjected to considerable wear and are designed to be very heavy. In addition, it is disadvantageous that tool carrier plates are also often subjected to wear, distorted or destroyed, which is undesirable. These tool carrier plates cannot be exchanged on site without a great deal of work.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,486 describes a mining machine, in particular a rotor for mining, to which tool holders are assigned. Two tools are arranged radially at different effective diameters in the tool holder.

A similar machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,468. There, two tools arranged radially one behind the other are assigned to a rotor at different effective diameters in a workpiece holder.

DE 43 24 234 shows a milling breaker for road and highway construction, the roller of which is fitted with tilling picks.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,379 discloses a device for roughening roads, having a rotor element on which picks or tools mounted in a spring-loaded manner are arranged.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,434 shows a tiller for tilling bituminous road surfaces with a rotor element.

The object of the present invention is to provide a rotor system of the type mentioned at the beginning which removes said disadvantages and with which a basic rotor is to be improved in a simple and cost-effective manner. In addition, the rotor system is to exhibit as little damage as possible after a mine detonation. Furthermore, the ease of handling and the interchangeability of tools and tool carrier plates are to be considerably improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing object is achieved by the present invention by providing a rotor system for soil or mine tillers, having a basic rotor with a plurality of carrier plates for accommodating tools, characterized in that the tool carrier plates are releasably connected to the basic rotor.

In the present invention, a soil tiller having a rotor system with a basic rotor is provided, which basic rotor is formed from a plurality of radially spaced-apart segments, the individual segments being connected to one another via retaining plates. The retaining plates are at a distance from one another in the axial direction and form corresponding cassettes.

A plurality of tools and/or tool carrier plates, in particular tool carriers, are releasably secured to the segments and/or to the retaining plates. The tool carrier plates can be secured in a directly releasable manner for accommodating tools or the tool itself. In this case, the tools, in particular the tool carrier plates, can be connected to the basic rotor, in particular to the segments, on different effective diameters.

In particular the cassette-like design of the basic rotor by means of the segments and retaining plates inserted in between results in an open type of construction, the advantage of which consists in the fact that, during a detonation, the pressure wave can be reduced more effectively than in the case of a closed tubular shell.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that no damage to the rotor system occurs. In addition, it has proved to be advantageous that a lower overall weight of the rotor in the above-mentioned lightweight type of construction is obtained in this way, so that the overall weight of the machine can also be considerably reduced. Due to the simple type of fastening between tool carrier and the basic rotor via, for example, screwed connections, the maintenance and servicing of the rotor is greatly simplified, since damaged tool plates and/or tools can be replaced on site without any problems. Working with different numbers of tools or with different tools themselves is likewise possible by simple addition or removal of tool carrier plates including tool.

A combination of different tools for producing, for example, different effective diameters is also possible. In addition, a tool carrier can be inserted free of play in a frictional or positive-locking manner between individual segments and releasably connected to the retaining plate of the basic rotor. In this way, in a lightweight construction of the rotor and with a low dead weight, very high cutting forces can be absorbed. A self-cleaning effect is produced by the cassette-like design of the basic rotor. In addition, due to the cassette-like open type of construction, the area of application during the detonation is reduced, the pressure wave can spread more effectively and leads to less mechanical damage.

Furthermore, it is intended within the scope of the present invention that a pivotable or movable counter blade is provided the rotor system, in particular the basic rotor, in order to vary a cutting gap. In this case, the counter blade can be adjusted and set relative to the effective diameter or the outer tool via lever arms, hydraulic cylinders or the like (not described and shown here). At the same time, consideration is to be given to the fact that the counter blade can be movable in a flap-like manner about a joint or can be moved in a linear manner toward the counter blade.

It is also important in the present invention that the movable counter blade is located inside the housing of the rotor system, so that all of the objects possibly cut up in a preliminary manner in a rigid counter blade can be cut up further again at the movable counter blade. In this way, the cutting-up process is optimized.

Furthermore, it has proved to be advantageous that the outer tools are preferably connected in a movable manner to the basic rotor, in particular to the tool retaining plate or to the segments, these tools, for example, adjoining a movable chain or movable articulated connections. In this case, consideration is also to be given to arranging the tools in tool carrier plates or retaining plates in a pivotable manner via appropriate oscillating or push-in pivots. This has the advantage that, in particular in the forest, when cutting up thick wood, the basic rotor1does not jam if thick wood in particular gets into it.

The corresponding tools are pivotable via the movable chain or via the oscillating or push-in pivot and can prevent such a jamming movement. Said tools can give way. The outer tools are accelerated outward via the corresponding centrifugal force. The tools located on the inner smaller effective diameter are preferably arranged in a fixed position, although the invention is not restricted thereto.

On the whole, a rotor system can thereby be provided which can increase a capacity, in particular a cutting-up capacity, with a basic rotor of very light design, it being possible at the same time to reduce the wear of the tools and of the basic rotor. In addition, light tilling into thick wood is possible with the rotor system according to the invention, the areas of application being reduced in particular by the yielding of the movably mounted outer tools.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Shown according toFIG. 1is a rotor system R1which in a conventional manner has a basic rotor1which is usually formed from a closed tubular shell2. Tool holders3or tools4are fastened in various forms to this tubular shell2. A disadvantage with this rotor system R1is that, in particular during detonations, if the rotor system R1should be designed as a soil or mine tiller, the pressure wave is exerted over a large area of application on the tubular shell2and results in considerable damage to the rotor system R1or the tilling machine.

According toFIG. 2, a rotor system R2according to the invention exhibits a basket-like, open type of construction in which no closed shell is provided but rather the basic rotor1is composed in a box-like manner of individual, radially spaced-apart segments5, axially spaced-apart retaining plates6being provided between the individual segments5, seeFIG. 3, and forming “cassettes”7with the segments5.

Tool carriers or tool carrier plates8can be releasably secured, in particular screwed, to the retaining plates6. The tool carrier or the tool carrier plate8serves to accommodate at least one tool9, seeFIG. 2. A further advantage of the present invention is that the tool carrier or the tool carrier plate8, due to its configuration, is connected to the basic rotor1in a positive-locking manner, as indicated in particular inFIG. 4.

In this case, the tool carrier plate8bears against respective inner bearing surfaces10,11of two adjacent segments5, so that the tool carrier plate8or the tool carrier is inserted in a positive-locking manner in the basic rotor1or between the segments5. The tool carrier plate8can be additionally fastened to or held on the retaining plates6in a frictional manner by additional fastening elements or fastening screws (not shown in any more detail here). On account of the shaping of the tool carrier plate8, the tool carrier or the tool carrier plate8anchors itself in the basic rotor1, seeFIG. 4, fastening elements, in particular fastening screws, for the releasable securing of the tool carrier plate8to the retaining plate6, only having to be stressed in tension. In this way, a frictional and positive-locking connection free of play is realized.

The basic rotor1is constructed in such a way that the number of screwed-on tool carriers or tool carrier plates8can be varied. This can be advantageous if, for example when working different soils, clogging of the rotor, binding of the rotor, etc., is to be prevented, or if different degrees of freedom are to be set.

A combination of two tools4.1,4.2is shown inFIGS. 5aand5b. As shown in cross section inFIG. 5aand as indicated inFIG. 5b, the tool4.1is a type of narrow, pointed tool having an effective diameter d1.

In addition, the tools4.2having a smaller effective diameter d2may be fastened to the basic rotor1. The tools4.2are designed to be more like a blade and to be wider than the tools4.1. Under certain working conditions, e.g. when tilling bush-like terrain, it is advisable to use the tools4.2. The effective diameter d2is intended to work right down to the earth surface; the effective diameter d1plunges into the soil. The tools4.2assist the cutting-up of the bush at the surface, whereas the tools4.1till through the soil.

Shown according toFIG. 6is a further rotor system R6which has a basic rotor1of the type described above, in which a plurality of segments5are provided. It has proved to be advantageous in this case to arrange the tools4.1,4.2on different effective diameters d1, d2.

At least one counter blade12is preferably provided, which interacts with the inner and outer tools4.1,4.2, different cutting gaps being formed in between.

Furthermore, it has proved to be advantageous in the present invention that a counter blade15is provided inside a housing13of the rotor system R3, which counter blade15is movable, in particular pivotable, about a joint14and can be firmly set, or if need be is also variable about the joint14during operation.

In this way, a cutting gap, for example between effective diameter d1and tool4.1or4.2, can be set in any desired manner. The cutting-up process can be influenced as a result.

In particular, the cutting-up of organic substances, such as wood for example, optimizes the cutting-up process in the rotor system R3. In addition, lower wear of the basic rotor1designed as stepped rotor occurs with a smaller number of tools4.1and/or4.2, in particular with a smaller number of teeth. Furthermore, the individual tools4.1,4.2are arranged radially offset and lie axially on the basic rotor1in different effective planes A, B.

In addition, said tools4.1,4.2, as also indicated inFIG. 7, have different effective diameters d1, d2, so that additional cutting-up can be effected in the intermediate spaces.

In particular, the different effective planes A, B are also shown here, so that, as viewed in partial cross section, the tools4.1,4.2are arranged alternately in the different effective planes A and B over the complete axial length of the basic rotor1.

In this way, a cutting-up process, likewise assisted by the movable counter blade15, can also be optimized for reducing the wear of the tools4.1,4.2.

In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention according toFIGS. 8 and 9, instead of a pivotable counter blade15, a linearly displaceable counter blade15which is movable as shown in double arrow direction X may also be provided in further rotor systems R4and R5. In this case, this counter blade15can be moved back and forth in a plurality of steps in a linearly movable, displaceable or latchable manner in double arrow direction X shown.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention according toFIG. 9, a rotor system R5is shown which roughly corresponds in a simplified manner to that according toFIG. 6.

However, the counter blade15here is at a further distance from the tool4.1, so that the material to be cut up, in particular wood, can likewise be influenced by a larger cutting gap.

In two further exemplary embodiments of the present invention according toFIGS. 10 and 11, the tools4.1are preferably designed to be movable between the segments5. In the exemplary embodiment according toFIG. 10, the tool4.1is secured to the basic rotor1, in particular between the segments5, by means of a chain16. The chain16is a flexible element and allows a movement, even a radial movement, of the tools4.1. During the rotation of the basic rotor1, the tool4.1is located on the effective diameter d1via the centrifugal force.

Furthermore, it is intended to be within the scope of the invention that the tool4.1, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of the rotor system R7according toFIG. 11, is secured to the retaining plate6via, for example, oscillating or push-in pivots17such that it can pivot about the latter, the tool4.1being oriented on the outside to the effective diameter d1likewise by the centrifugal force, in particular the revolution of the basic rotor1.

The rotor systems R6, R7have the advantage that they are also suitable for cutting up relatively thick wood, in particular for driving into the latter, the areas of application being reduced as a result and jamming of the basic rotor1being prevented.

The scope of the present invention is also intended to include, for example, the design of articulated connections or flexible retaining plates of that kind, instead of the chain16, in order to secure the tool4.1to the basic rotor1in a movable, in particular an articulated, manner. The present invention is not restricted thereto.