Mobile device for mixing fodder

Abstract: A mobile device for mixing fodder, in particular cattle fodder, which device includes a mixing chamber (1) containing a vertical mixing element (2), which is capable of rotation about a substantially vertical axis and which is capable of moving the fodder in upward direction, and a horizontal mixing element (7), which is capable of moving the fodder substantially in horizontal direction. The device includes driving means for driving said mixing elements, wherein the mixing chamber (1) comprises a mixing chamber portion (4) positioned before the vertical mixing element (2), seen in the direction of movement of the device, and a mixing chamber portion (5) positioned behind said vertical mixing element (2). A horizontal mixing element (7,8) is present in both mixing chamber portions, which element is capable of moving the fodder towards the vertical mixing element (2).

Description: The invention relates to a mobile device for mixing fodder, in particular cattle fodder according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a device is known from GB-A-1381024. A mobile device for mixing fodder may include a mixing chamber which is open on the upper side, wherein the fodder to be mixed is introduced into the mixing chamber from above by loading means, which may or may not be connected with the device. Furthermore, loading means may be present which introduce the fodder to be mixed into the mixing chamber via an opening in the side wall. Chunks of silage can be introduced into the mixing chamber thereby, which silage is loosened by the mixing elements. In addition, further components can be added to the fodder, which components are mixed with the other fodder components by means of the mixing elements, so that a homogeneous mass is formed. A device for mixing fodder of this kind may furthermore include means for delivering the mixed fodder in a measured manner. Said delivery of mixed fodder may take place after the device has been driven to the location where the fodder is to be consumed by the cattle. It is desirable for economic reasons to provide the device with a large mixing chamber, preferably so large that the fodder for a large group of cattle can be mixed in one cycle and subsequently be measured out at different locations. A large mixing chamber makes the mixing process more difficult, in the sense that on the one hand the mixing process takes a disproportionately long period of time while on the other hand it requires a disproportionately large amount of power. The object of the invention is to provide a mobile device for mixing fodder, wherein the fodder is mixed into a homogeneous mass in an efficient and relatively quick manner. According to the invention, in order to accomplish that objective, the axis of rotation of the vertical mixing element and the axes of rotation of the two horizontal mixing elements extend substantially in the same vertical plane. In practice it appeared that in this manner an efficient mixing process is obtained, wherein especially the vertical mixing element requires relatively little power, and wherein a good exchange of mixing fodder between both mixing chambers is achieved. Prefered embodiments of the invention are disclosed in claims 2-13. The invention furthermore relates to a method for mixing fodder in a mobile device according to claim 14. In order to explain the invention more fully, a few embodiments thereof will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. The figures are merely schematic representations, wherein corresponding parts are indicated by the same numerals. Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II-II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the mixing chamber of said embodiment; Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of another mixing chamber; Figure 5 is a plan view of the mixing chamber of Figure 4; Figure 1 is a very schematic longitudinal sectional view of a device consisting of a first vehicle part 31 including a driving motor 33, a seat 34 for the driver of the device and wheels 35, and further of a second vehicle part 32 including a mixing chamber 1 and wheels 36. The mixing chamber 1 for mixing fodder and/or other materials includes a vertical mixing element in the form of a rotor 2, which is provided with a helical blade 3. The mixing chamber includes a mixing chamber portion 4, which is disposed before rotor 2, and a mixing chamber portion 5, which is disposed behind rotor 2, assuming that the direction of movement of the device of Figure 1 is to the left. Near bottom 6 of the mixing chamber, a horizontal mixing element in the shape of a rotor 7 is mounted in mixing chamber portion 4 and a rotor 8 is mounted in mixing chamber portion 5. Both rotors 7, 8 include a helical blade 9, 10, so that the fodder which is present in mixing chamber 1 is moved in horizontal direction upon rotation of rotors 7, 8. Rotors 7, 2, 8 are driven via a drive shaft 11 on the front side of mixing chamber 1. Drive shaft 11 is connected with the front end of rotor 7, whilst the other end of rotor 7 is connected with a gearbox 12. Rotors 2 and 8 are driven by rotor 7 via gearbox 12. The direction of rotation of rotors 2, 7, 8 is such that the two horizontal rotors 7, 8 move the material to be mixed towards rotor 2, whilst rotor 2 moves said material in upward direction. A circulating flow of material is thereby present in the two mixing chamber portions 4, 5, as a result of which a good mixing effect is obtained, whilst an exchange of the material between the two mixing chamber portions 4, 5 is effected at the location of vertical rotor 2. The bottom 6 of mixing chamber 1 includes an upwardly sloping part 38 near vertical rotor 2. The diameter of blades 9, 10 of horizontal rotors 7, 8 thereby decreases in the direction of vertical rotor, such that it joins bottom 6 at all times, also in part 38 of bottom 6. A closable outlet 51 is present in the side wall of mixing chamber 1, near vertical rotor 2, which outlet functions to enable delivery of the mixed fodder at the location where it is to be consumed by the cattle. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of mixing chamber 1, which shows that the mixing chamber, and in particular the bottom part of mixing chamber 1, is wider near vertical rotor 2 than near rotors 7, 8. Present in the wider part is outlet 51 (Figure 1), which is closed by means of a slide 52, which can be moved upward by means of hydraulic cylinder 53 so as to release said outlet. The upper side of rotor 2 is bearing-mounted in a cross beam 13, which extends in the transverse direction of mixing chamber 1 and which is mounted near the upper edge of the side wall of the mixing chamber. Figure 3 is a smaller-scale, schematic plan view of the mixing chamber according to Figures 1 and 2. The vertical rotor 2, which is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, includes a double blade 14 consisting of twin helical blades extending within one another. The conveying capacity of such a rotor is larger at a particular rotational speed, twice as large in principle, as a result of which a mixture can be generated more quickly. Figures 4 and 5 show an embodiment of a mixing chamber 1 wherein the horizontal mixing elements consist of two bottom chains 16, 17, which move substantially in a horizontal plane near the bottom of mixing chamber 1. Bottom chains 16, 17 move in a clockwise direction, seen in Figure 6. They are fitted with carriers 18, which are pivotally connected with the bottom chain. Carriers 18 are furthermore connected with bottom chain 17, 18 by means of connecting bars 19, so that carriers 18 will slightly retract from the material to be mixed when bottom chain 17, 18 rounds terminal wheel 20, 21. It will be apparent that in the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 the material to be mixed is not only moved in the direction of vertical mixing element 2, but also, on the other side of the mixing chamber, in opposite direction. This is conducive towards a good exchange of the material to be mixed between the two mixing chamber portions 4, 5. In the embodiment according to Figures 4 and 5, driving takes place via gearbox 22, which is driven by means of drive shaft 11 and which in turn drives vertical rotor 2. Bottom chains 16, 17 both have a terminal wheel 23, 24 which is mounted on the shaft of rotor 2 and which is thus driven via gearbox 22.

Claims: A mobile device for mixing fodder, in particular cattle fodder, which device includes a mixing chamber (1) containing a vertical mixing element (2), which is capable of rotation about a substantially vertical axis and which is capable of moving the fodder in upward direction, and a horizontal mixing element (7,8), which is capable of moving the fodder substantially in horizontal direction, and which includes driving means (11) for driving said mixing elements (2,7,8), wherein the mixing chamber (1) comprises a mixing chamber portion (4) positioned before the vertical mixing element (2), seen in the direction of movement of the device, and a mixing chamber portion (5) positioned behind said vertical mixing element (2), wherein a horizontal mixing element (7,8) is present in both mixing chamber portions (4,5), which element (7,8) is capable of moving the fodder towards the vertical mixing element (2), characterized in that the axis of rotation of the vertical mixing element (2) and the axes of rotation of the two horizontal mixing elements (7,8,16,18) extend substantially in the same vertical plane. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the dimension of the mixing chamber (1) in the direction of movement is larger, preferably more than two and a half times larger, more preferably more than three times larger, than the dimension of the mixing chamber (1) transversely to the direction of movement. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vertical mixing element (2) includes a helical blade, preferably twin helical blades extending within one another. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that part of the bottom (6) of the mixing chamber (1) slopes upwards in the direction of the vertical mixing element (2). A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a separate helical, horizontal mixing element (7,8) which is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis is present in each mixing chamber portion (4,5). A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the two horizontal mixing elements (7,8) are positioned substantially in line and in that they preferably have opposite pitch. A device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the driving means (11) drive one end of a horizontal mixing element (7), which mixing element (7) is drivably connected at the other end with said vertical mixing element (2) and/or with the other horizontal mixing element (8). A device according to any one of the claims 5 - 7, characterized in that a horizontal mixing element (7,8) has, at least partially, a decreasing outside diameter, seen in the direction of the vertical mixing element (2). A device according to any one of the claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the horizontal mixing element (7,8) comprises a bottom chain (16,17) fitted with carriers (18) which are moved along the bottom (6) of the mixing chamber (1). A device according to claim 9, characterized in that said bottom chain (16,17) is an endless element which is movable essentially in a horizontal plane, to which carriers (18) extending essentially in a horizontal plane are attached, which carriers (18) pivot backwards when said element makes a turn. A device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a bottom chain (16,17) is present in each mixing chamber portion (4,5). A device according to any one of the claims 9 - 11, characterized in that the driving means (11) drive the vertical mixing element (2) and the horizontal mixing element (7,8) is drivably connected to the vertical mixing element (2). A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a closable outlet (51) for discharging the fodder from the mixing chamber (1), wherein the horizontal mixing element (7,8) extends higher than the lowest point of the outlet (51). A method for mixing fodder in a mobile device, wherein fodder is mixed in a mixing chamber (1) containing a vertical mixing element (2), which rotates about a substantially vertical axis and moves the fodder in upward direction, and horizontal mixing element (7,8), which moves the fodder in substantially horizontal direction, wherein driving means (11) drive said mixing elements (2,7,8), wherein the mixing chamber (1) comprises a mixing chamber portion (4) positioned before the vertical mixing element (20, seen in the direction of movement of the device, and a mixing chamber portion (5) positioned behind said vertical mixing element (2), wherein a horizontal mixing element (7,8) is present in both mixing chamber portions (4,5), which element moves the fodder in the direction of said vertical mixing element(2), characterized in that the axis of rotation of the vertical mixing element (2) and the axes of rotation of the two horizontal mixing elements (7,8,16,17) extend substantially in the same vertical plane.

Inventors: VAN DER PLAS NICOLAA, VAN DER PLAS, NICOLAA
Applicants: TRIOLIET MULLOS, TRIOLIET MULLOS B.V.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A01K5
IPC codes: B01F7, B01F15, B01F13, A01K5, G01G19