ARRANGEMENT FOR A ROLLER

Abstract: Arrangement for a roller which exhibits a number of moving roller sections, which sections are capable of actuation by means of fluid-operated piston cylinders (11, 12). The arrangement makes it possible, amongst other things, to adjust the desired roller pressure in a simple and effective manner and to provide suspension for the roller sections. Each piston cylinder (11, 12), which is so arranged as to force a roller section against the ground, is capable of being connected to a connection (23) for the supply of fluid, in addition to which each fluid supply connection (23) is connected to a spring arrangement (31) provided for said fluid.

Description: Arrangement for a roller The present invention relates to an arrangement for a roller which exhibits moving roller sections , which sections are capable of actuation by means of fluid-operated piston cylinders. The principal object of the present invention is in the first place to provide an arrangement of the kind indicated above which , amongst other t ings, affords the possibility of effectively achieving by simple means the desired uniform roller pressure in the various roller sections. Said object is achieved by means of an arrangement of the kind defined in the filed Patent Claim 1, which is characterized essentially in that each piston cylinder, which is so arranged as to force a roller section against the ground, is capable of being connected to a connection provided for the supply of fluid, and in that each fluid supply connection is connected to a spring arrangement provided for said fluid. The invention is described below as a preferred illustrative embodiment, in conjunction with which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an arrangement for a tractor-drawn three-section roller, with the roller sections folded down into the rolling position; Fig. 2 shows the roller and the arrangement viewed from the rear with the roller section in the folded-up position; and Fig. 3 shows a diagrammatic flow chart for an arrangement. A previously disclosed roller 1, to which an arrangement 2 in accordance with the present invention can be applied, comprises a central roller section 4 supported by a fixed frame 3 and a moving side roller section 7, 8 situated on each side of the fixed and supported central roller section 4 and supported preferably on an articulation 5, 6, which side sections in turn each contain their own moving side arm 9, 10. Each moving side roller section 7, 8 is attached to one end 11A, 12A of a fluid-operated piston cylinder 11, 12, whilst the other end 11B, 3 via an articulation 13, 14. The fluid accommodating space 15, 16 in each of said piston cylinders 11, 12, which is situated on one side of the appropriate piston 17, 18, is connected in a previously disclosed fashion via a common pipe 19 to a fluid accommodating container 20A or some other source of fluid situated, for example, on a tractor or some other towing vehicle 20. Each fluid accommodating space 21, 22 of the piston cylinders in question, which is situated on the opposite side of the appropriate piston when considered in relation to the spaces 15, 16, is so arranged in accordance with the present invention as to be capable of being connected to a connection 23 for the supply of fluid, which fluid is necessary in order to force said moving side roller sections 7, 8 against the ground 24 along which the roller 1 is so arranged as to be capable of being advanced, preferably in the form of a hydraulic fluid. Said connection 23 comprises in accordance with the preferred illustrative embodiment a pipe leading from preferably the above-ment oned fluid accommodating container 20A, which pipe branches to the respective piston cylinders 11, 12. By supplying pressurized fluid to the supply connection 23 in the direction of the arrows 25, the possibility is afforded of achieving the desired pressure loading in each roller section 7, 4, 8, thanks to the fact that the parts 11A, 12A of the piston cylinders, after having filled a fluid under pressure into the spaces 21, 22 in the cylinders, will attempt to extend in the direction of the arrows 26, 27 and to force the outer rollers 7, 8 against the ground 24, at the same time as the fluid, which is accommodated in the spaces 15, 16, is led via the pipe 19 to, for example, the source of fluid pressure 20A in the direction of the arrows 28. The arrangement appropriately comprises pressure-sensing means, such as a manometer or some other means which permit manual and/or automatic recording of the pressure in each supply connection 23 to the piston cylinders, for example as shown in Fig. 1, with a manometer 29 capable of being connected into a circuit 30 providing a connection to a compressed fluid supply line 23 of the aforementioned kind. Each fluid supply connection 23 is also connected to a spring arrangement 31 acting as a damper, which arrangement is intended for the fluid which is present in each of the aforementioned connections 23. For example, the suspension arrangement 31 includes a container 32 which is divided up internally by means of a moving device 33 or the like, preferably a wall, accommodated inside the container 32, which device is so arranged as to be capabLe of providing a seal against a volume of gas 34 or other fluid which is enclosed within a limited space 35 inside the container 32, which space 35 is limited by the wall 33 of an accommodating space 36 for the fluid in the connection 23. Means can be provided for this purpose so arranged as to enable the gas volume, etc., to be varied, that is to say means for the introduction or release of gas into or from the space 35. Spring devices of a kind other than the gas spring described above may, of course, be used for the arrangement 2 in accordance with the invention, for example coil springs or rubber springs. The function of the arrangement described above is as follows: in order to set the desired pressure Leading for each roller section 7. 4, 8, the roller can be driven cnto separate weig i ng machines for each roller section 7, . 8, so that, by supply i . g an appropriate quantity of fLuid via each ccrnecticn frcm the container 20A_ the desired pressure Loading can be achieved for each roller section 7, 4, 8. An identical pressure may appropriately be set for all the roller sections 7, 4, 8. When driving with the roller 1 at low speeds, and in the event of encountering hard Lumps of soil, etc., the roller section which encounters the obstruction will attempt to lift from the ground 24, as a consequence of which the fluid in the piston cylinder concerned, which is connected to the lifting roller section, will attempt to pass into the connection 23 and onwards into the accommodating space 36 in the suspension arrangement 31. The gas, etc., 34 in the space 35 is thus compressed and absorbs said resiliency movement of the roller section in question, whereupon BAD ORIGINAL it causes the raised roller section to be forced back against the ground 24. When driving with the roller 1 at normal rolling speeds, that is to say in fairly high gear ratios, the arrangement 2 in accordance with the present invention is such that the roller sections 7, 4, 8 will, on encountering hard lumps of soil, etc., be able to pass over the lumps of soil in question as a unit so as to be able to crush said lumps of soil, or so as to roll down hard stones, for example, into the ground. All the roller sections 7, 4, 8 in this way constitute a body which is to all intents and purposes rigid. This is made possible by the fluid connections 23 for the moving sections 7, 8 of the roller being connected to a spring arrangement 31 of the kind indicated above. Said connections 23 can be so arranged for this purpose that the fluid inside them will not, in the presence of rapid actuations of the roller sections 7, 4, 8, manage to transfer movements from the roller sections 7, 8 to the spring unit 31 in order to be able to swing said actuated roller section separately upwards. When driving with the roller 1 in areas which exhibit a progressive transition from one slope of the ground to another or, as already mentioned, at low speeds, the roller 1 can be made, thanks to the invention, to behave sensitively and with identical ground pressure over the entire working width of the roller. The advantage of the invention should have become apparent from the above description. The pressure which actuates the moving roller sections 7, 8 can be read off on a manometer 29 connected in a circuit 30 which runs between the spring container 32 and each piston cylinder 11, 12. Swinging up of the moving roller sections 7, 8 is achieved in a previously disclosed fashion by the supply of fluid in the direction of the arrows 37, via the appropriate line 19. The invention is not restricted to the illustrative embodiment described above and portrayed in the drawings, but can be modified within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention.

Claims: Patent Claiis 1. Arrangement for a roller (1) which exhibits a number of moving roller sections (7, 8), which sections are capable of actuation by means of fluid-operated piston cylinders (11, 12), charact er i zed in that each piston cylinder (11, 12), which is so arranged as to force a roller section (7, 8) against the ground (24), is capable of being connected to a connection (23) for the supply of fluid, and in that each fluid supply connection (23) is connected to a spring . arrangement (31) provided for said fluid. 2. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the spring arrangement (31) comprises a container (32) which is divided up by means of a device (33) positioned inside the container (32) and providing a seal against a volume of gas (34) or other fluid. 3. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 2, c h a r a ct e r i zed in that said dividing device is in the form of a moving wall (33) enclosed within the spring container (32). 4. Arrangement according to any of the foregoing Patent Claims 2-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that means are provided for varying the volume of the quantity of gas, etc. 5. Arrangement according to any of the foregoing Patent Claims, cha ract e r i zed in that the piston cylinders (11, 12) are capable of being connected via said connections (23) to a source of fluid (20A) arranged in a towing vehicle (20). 6. Arrangement according to any of the foregoing Patent Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that pressure-sensing means (29) are capable of being installed together with said connections (23) so as to enable the pressure of the fluid acting on the connections (23) to be read or monitored in some other way. 7. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 6, c h a r a cteri zed in that the pressure-sensing means consists of a manometer (29). 8. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 7, c h a r a cter i zed in that the manometer (29) is connected in a circuit (30) which runs between said suspension arrangement (31) and the piston cylinders (11, 12).

Inventors: OLSSON BENGT, OLSSON, BENGT
Applicants: RANFLO FOERSAELJNINGS AB
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A01B29
IPC codes: A01B29, A01B63, A01B73