IMPROVED MIXED TRUCK

Abstract: A mixer truck for preparing and delivering feed mixtures for stock rearing, provided with a mixing container (7) and means (9) for the loading thereof, is provided with means (20) for translating the loading means (9) away from and towards the mixing container (7).

Description: IMPROVED MIXED TRUCK Technical field The present invention relates to an improved mixer truck according to the preamble to the main claim. Background art Within the range of activities connected with stock rearing, it is known to use mixer trucks for animal feed. These mixer trucks are generally equipped with means for the loading and transportation of the feed mixtures, for the mixing of the feed mixtures by means of suitable stirrers and, finally, for the continuous distribution of the feed mixtures . However the loading means provided often project notably from the load-bearing structures of these trucks, thus imposing serious limitations on their manoeuvrability. Moreover, the resulting considerable bulkiness hinders safe driving of the mixer truck along public roads . Disclosure of the invention The problem upon which the present invention is based is that of providing a mixer truck which is designed structurally and functionally to overcome the disadvantages complained of above with reference to the prior art mentioned. This problem is solved by the present invention by means of a mixer truck formed in accordance with the appended claims . Brief description of the drawings The characteristics and the advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a partially-sectioned, schematic side view of a mixer truck formed in accordance with the present invention, with loading means extending in a first operative position, - Figure 2 is a partially-sectioned, schematic side view of the mixer truck of Figure 1 with loading means retracted in a second, inoperative position, - Figure 3 is a schematic side view in an enlarged scale of a detail of Figure 1, - Figure 4 is a partial view of the detail of Figure 3, sectioned in the plane IV-IV. Best mode of carrying out the invention With reference to the drawings mentioned, a mixer truck formed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated 1. The mixer truck 1 comprises a load-bearing structure 2 of predominantly longitudinal extent, in which opposed end regions 3 and 4 are defined. A mixing container 7 having internal means for mixing feed mixtures for feeding animals is mounted in the end region 3 of the load-bearing structure 2. The mixing means are of conventional type and are not shown in the appended drawings . Transverse axles 5 and 6 having wheels fitted with tyres are supported in the end regions 3 and 4 of the load- bearing structure 2 and a driving cab 8 is arranged upright in a substantially intermediate position thereof; loading means 9 extend longitudinally beside the cab 8 and have a transverse milling loader 10 at their end remote from the mixing container 7. Translation means 20 provided between the load-bearing structure 2 and the loading means 9 comprise actuator means 25 and guide means 21 for moving the loading means 9 away from and towards the mixing container 7. The guide means 21 in turn comprise a frame 13 parallel to the loading means 9 and supported for pivoting at an end 22 thereof in the vicinity of the mixing container 7 to define a transverse and substantially horizontal swing axis. Swing actuator means 11 of the hydraulic-jack type also extend between the opposite end 23 of the frame 13 and the load-bearing structure 2 for pivoting the frame 13 about the swing axis. The loading means 9 comprise, along a predominant portion of their longitudinal dimension, a plate 12 having longitudinal lateral appendages 12a and 12b. The appendages 12a and 12b are engaged for sliding in the frame 13 which, in addition to its main function of guiding the translational movement, thus also constitutes a support for the loading means 9 on the load-bearing structure 2. The frame 13 comprises a plate 15 parallel to the plate 12 and coplanar strip-like elements 16a and 16b parallel to the plate 15 and arranged on transversely opposite sides of the loading means 9. The strip-like elements 16a and 16b are also located on the opposite side of the plate 12 to the plate 15 and are fixed to the plate 15 by means of bolts 17 for restraining the appendages 12a and 12b of the plate 12. Further strip-like elements 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, preferably made of bronze to prevent any seizure during sliding, are interposed between the plate 15 and the plate 12 and between the latter and the elements 16a and 16b. The guide means 21 further comprise bearings, all indicated 19, which have axes perpendicular to the plate 15 and are supported on the frame 13 so as to be coplanar with the plate 12, with their outer ring in contact with the appendages 12a and 12b thereof . The functional characteristics of the mixer truck 1 comprise both the ability of the loading means 9 to pivot vertically, by virtue of the operation of the swing actuator means 11, about the swing axis defined at the end 22 of the frame 13, and the ability of these loading means 9 to translate relative to the load-bearing structure 2, by virtue of the translation means 20. The action of the translation means 20 thus defines a first operative position of the mixer truck 1 in which the loading means 9 extend longitudinally away from the mixing container 7 to the maximum extent (Figure 1) and a second, inoperative position of the truck 1 in which the loading means 9 are retracted towards the mixing container 7 (Figure 2) . In this second, inoperative position, the loading means 9 are superimposed on the load-bearing structure 2 to a greater extent and are partially housed in the mixing container 7. The present invention thus remedies the limitations of known mixer trucks and, moreover, has many advantages amongst which are improved manoeuvrability of the truck achieved by its greater compactness when the loading means are in the inoperative position. A further advantage consists of facilitated storage of the mixer truck.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A mixer truck for preparing feed mixtures, comprising a load-bearing structure (2) , a mixing container (7) mounted on the load-bearing structure (2) , and means (9) , associated with the load-bearing structure, for loading the mixing container, characterized in that means (20) are provided for translating the loading means (9) relative to the load- bearing structure (2) , away from and towards the mixing container (7) between a first, operative position in which they extend away from the mixing container (7) to a maximum extent and a second, inoperative position, in which they are at least partially superimposed on the load-bearing structure (2) . 2. A truck according to Claim 1, in which, in the second, inoperative position, the loading means (9) are at least partially housed in the mixing container (7) . 3. A truck according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 , in which the means (20) for translating the loading means (9) include actuator means (25) acting between the loading means (9) and the load-bearing structure (2) and guide means (21) constituting a support for the loading means (9) on the load-bearing structure (2) . 4. A truck according to Claim 3 , in which the loading means (9) comprise a first laterally projecting appendage (12a) and a second laterally projecting appendage (12b) , and the guide means (21) comprise a frame (13) mounted pivotably on the load-bearing structure (2) and bearing respective guide members (15, 16a, 16b) in which the said appendages (12a, 12b) are slidably restrained. 5. A truck according to Claim 4, in which the frame (13) can pivot about a substantially horizontal swing axis and has swing actuator means (11) acting between the frame (13) and the load-bearing structure (11) in order to swing the loading means (9) about the swing axis. 6. A truck according to Claim 5, in which the swing axis is substantially perpendicular to the axis of translation of the loading means (9) by the translation means (20) . 7. A truck according to Claim 5, in which the swing axis is disposed at one end of the frame (13) and the swing actuator means (11) act on an opposite end (23) of the frame (13) , remote from the swing axis. 8. A truck according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the loading means (9) comprise a milling loader (10) . 9. A truck according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the truck is self-propelled.

Inventors: FACCIA ALESSANDRA, FACCIA, ALESSANDRA
Applicants: FACCIA ALESSANDRA, UNIFAST S R L, FACCIA, ALESSANDRA, UNIFAST S.R.L.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B01F13
IPC codes: A01F25, A01K5, B01F13, B01F15