Abstract:
A device for withdrawing debris, for example compost material, stored on a sliding base with longitudinally displaceable boards. A mobile driving unit having at least one driving device can be coupled/uncoupled to at least one section of the sliding base boards in at least one coupling position. The sliding base boards can be at least partially guided into and out of the driving unit. Once guided in, the ends of the sliding base boards remain in the driving unit during the longitudinal back and forth motion of the sliding base boards.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a withdrawal device for materials stored on sliding bases, in particular bulk materials such as materials to be composted. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In known systems for storing bulk materials such as materials to be composted, it is known practice to store them, i.e. perform the composting process, on sliding bases arranged in tunnels, for example, and then to withdraw the composted material after composting, i.e. remove it from the tunnel. 
     It was known practice to store the material to be composted on a net-like base and, given an appropriate withdrawal, to roll up the entire net by means of a driving device to be arranged in front of the tunnel. That is to pull it out of the tunnel and hence also the compost material in the tunnel, and then to remove this material by means of conveyor belts. 
     It was also known practice to provide a driving unit being arranged in front of the individual tunnels such that it could likewise be moved and be capable of being coupled with the sliding bases. 
     A known driving device of this kind has sliding-base boards arranged in the movable part. These, boards are capable of being coupled to the sliding-base boards in the tunnel and each has their own drive arranged in the driving unit. 
     With such a device, there is the risk that material to be withdrawn will fall between the arranged boards and driven in the driving unit. The result is that this material will collect in the base area and will permanently impair the mobility of the driving unit and thereby increase the outlay on maintenance and cleaning. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object on which the invention is based to provide a withdrawal device for materials stored on sliding bases, particulary bulk materials such as materials to be composted: the device is, on the one hand, distinguished by a construction of simple design while, at the same time, being highly reliable in operation and which, furthermore, can be used with a very wide variety of sliding bases. 
     This and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention, wherein the driving unit has at least one driving device, which can be coupled to and decoupled from the sliding-base boards in at least one coupling position. The sliding-base boards are arranged in such a way that they can be moved at least partially into and out of the driving unit, at least with their end that faces the driving unit. The ends of the sliding-base boards which project into the driving unit after their insertion are arranged in such a way that, during a backward and forward motion of the sliding-base boards in the longitudinal direction, they do not leave the driving unit. This ensures, on the one hand, that various tunnels provided, for example, with sliding bases can be coupled into one and the same driving unit for the purpose of withdrawing the bulk material located in the tunnel or materials located on the sliding base, i.e. the individual sliding bases do not need a separate driving unit. It is also ensured that the material to be withdrawn is fed directly to the driving unit and hence to the conveyor belts provided. The speed of withdrawal and quantity withdrawn requiring appropriate control. It is furthermore ensured that the bulk material to be withdrawn does not get into the area of the path of the driving unit, i.e. does not impair the mobility of the driving unit. It is furthermore ensured that the door area of the individual tunnels remains unobstructed by the driving and/or coupling unit when not coupled, i.e. can, for example, be closed completely. 
     If a driving device which can be coupled to the sliding-base board is provided for each of the latter, this ensures that withdrawal can be performed in an optimum manner. 
     If the sliding-base board and the driving device are designed in such a way that they can be coupled at at least two coupling points arranged at a distance from one another, it is possible for that end of the sliding-base boards which faces the driving unit to be moved into the driving unit, thus ensuring that there is no gap between the driving unit and the end of the sliding base. A gap which would otherwise have to be bridged by auxiliary means; on the contrary, the driving unit and the sliding base form a unit. 
     If the sliding-base board has coupling devices which are used for coupling, this ensures direct coupling between the sliding-base board and the driving device and hence the driving unit without the need here for a manual operation such as the insertion of a pin, such pin creates a noncontinuous connection between the sliding-base board and the driving unit or withdrawal unit. 
     If the coupling device is a prismatic socket, this ensures that the coupling facility provided is not prone to faults and is thus reliable. 
     If the end of the sliding-base board is formed by a coupling piece and the coupling points are situated in the region of the coupling piece, this also allows retrofitting of existing sliding-base systems and replacement when wear occurs without the need to replace entire sliding-base boards. 
     If the driving device is a hydraulic cylinder which is designed to be controllable and has a piston rod designed as a push/pull rod, and if the piston rod is provided with a prism which is used for coupling, this ensures individual control of the individual sliding-base boards while maintaining a maximum of reliability and minimum susceptibility to faults. 
     If the driving unit has a surface for receiving and supporting the bulk material, and if a device for removing the bulk material from the driving unit is provided, this ensures that bulk material which passes into the driving unit can only leave it on the predetermined path (i.e. there is no risk that the bulk material will fall through available gaps into the area underneath the driving unit, even in small quantities). 
     If the device for removing the bulk material comprises two spade shafts, these having spades, and a screw shaft, this ensures that the compost which passes into the driving unit is loosened and homogenized before it is transferred to the conveyor belt. 
     If upon assuming a position within the driving unit, the end of each sliding-base board is arranged above the support, this ensures that the bulk material always reaches the support in the desired manner. 
     If at least two sliding bases, each arranged in a tunnel, are provided and at least one driving unit, which can be coupled optionally to at least some of the sliding bases present, is provided, this ensures that the driving unit is always optimally utilized and is hence utilized economically. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a sectional partial plan view of tunnels which are arranged adjacent to one another and each have a sliding-base system, with a driving unit arranged in front of a tunnel; 
     FIG. 2 shows a side view of the driving unit with an adjoining conveyor belt; 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of the driving unit arranged in front of a tunnel with a sliding base; 
     FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view of the driving unit with spade shafts; 
     FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a tunnel with a sliding base; 
     FIG. 6 shows a front view of two tunnels arranged adjacent to one another showing the sliding base; 
     FIG. 7 shows a detail drawing of the front end of two sliding-base boards with respective coupling pieces, 
     FIG. 8 shows a side view of a sliding-base board with a coupling piece when coupled to a push/pull rod of the driving device; 
     FIGS. 9 a - 9   n  show a schematic side view representation of various push/pull rod and cylinder positions, and 
     FIGS. 10 a - 10   i  show another schematic side view representation of various push/pull rod and cylinder positions. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As can be seen from FIG. 1, the composting system  1  represented in the embodiment example under consideration here has mutually adjacent tunnels  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 , which are each provided with what is referred to as a sliding-base system, i.e. a sliding base  7  on which the waste to be composted or the bulk material to be composted is deposited. 
     The individual tunnels  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  are designed in such a way that they can be closed on their right-hand side as viewed in the direction according to FIG. 1, i.e. can each be closed by means of a gate  33  illustrated in FIG. 9 a.    
     A driving unit  8  is furthermore arranged in front of the second tunnel  5  from the bottom when viewed in FIG. 1, this driving unit  8  being arranged in such a way that it can be moved, i.e. the driving unit  8  is guided by means of a guide system situated in front of the tunnels  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 . 
     As can be seen from FIG. 2, in the case of the embodiment example under consideration here the entire composting system  1  is substantially accommodated in an enclosed shed  9 . 
     As can furthermore be seen from FIG. 2, a rising conveyor belt  10  is assigned to the driving unit  8  in the exemplary embodiment. The compost to be withdrawn from the tunnel  5  is transported via the driving unit  8 , with the spade shafts  11 ,  12 , equipped with spades  17 ,  18 , provided therein, to a screw shaft  13  likewise arranged in the driving unit  8 . The material to be withdrawn is loosened and homogenized by means of the spade shafts  11 ,  12  fitted with spades  17 ,  18  and is then discharged onto the rising conveyor belt  10  by means of the screw shaft  13  and fed to further processing or onward transport and thus removal. 
     As can be seen from FIG. 3, the driving unit  8  is arranged in front of the tunnel openings  22  in such a way that it can be moved by means of a drive  14 , it being possible for the driving unit  8  to be supported both by vertical and horizontally arranged hydraulic cylinders  15 ,  16 . 
     FIG. 4, shows the spade shafts  11 ,  12  with the spades  17 ,  18  situated on them and with the respective drive  19 ,  20 . 
     FIG. 5 is a detail view of one of the tunnels  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  shown in FIG. 1, e.g. tunnel  5 , with the sliding base  7  situated therein, which, in the exemplary embodiment, comprises sliding-base boards  21 . 
     As can be seen from FIG. 5, the individual sliding-base boards  21  are arranged parallel to one another and spaced apart at their ends facing the closable opening  22  of the tunnel  5 , they have coupling pieces  23  which are used to couple them to the respectively associated driving device including a hydraulic cylinder  30 , a hydraulic piston  31 , and a prism-shaped projection  32  (FIG. 8) arranged in the driving unit  8 . 
     For this purpose, as can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 7, each coupling piece  23  has two prismatic sockets  24 ,  25 , i.e., dovetail-shaped sockets, arranged on a center line, i.e. coaxially at a distance from one another. 
     As can be seen from FIG. 6, using one example of two adjacently arranged tunnels  5 ,  6 , each tunnel  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  has the sliding base  7  illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 shows driving unit  8  and a sliding-base board  21  coupled together. 
     The driving unit  8  has a bulk material support, i.e. a bulk material base  29 , which is designed as a closed surface. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, this closed bulk material base  29  comprises individual segment boards which can be removed separately. 
     Under each of the segments of the bulk material base  29  there is a a hydraulic cylinder  30  of a driving device, which serves to drive the individual sliding-base boards  21 , i.e. move them in the longitudinal direction. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, each sliding-base board  21  is assigned a, corresponding hydraulic cylinder  30  with a hydraulic piston  31 , which, is designed as a push/pull rod. The number of hydraulic cylinders  30 /hydraulic pistons  31  corresponds to the number of sliding-base boards  21  of the sliding base  7 . 
     At the same time, it is conceivable that if the sliding bases  7  are of different sizes, the number of hydraulic cylinders  30 /hydraulic pistons  31  could correspond to the number of sliding-base boards  21  of the largest sliding base  7 . 
     As can be seen from FIG.  8  and already explained, the coupling piece  23  belonging to the sliding-base board  21  is situated at that end of each sliding-base board  21  which faces the driving unit  8 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, this coupling piece  23  has two prismatic sockets  24 ,  25  dovetail-shaped. 
     At the end of the hydraulic piston  31  there is a prism-shaped connector  32  i.e., dovetail-shaped, which is used to couple it to the respective sliding-base board  21 . 
     In use, the driving unit  8  is first of all moved in front of the tunnel  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  to be emptied, in our embodiment example in front of tunnel  5 , the intention being to remove the compost in tunnel  5  and deliver it to the conveyor belt  10 . 
     Once the withdrawal device  8 ,  23  has been set up, the withdrawal process takes place fully automatically. 
     The driving unit  8  is moved in front of the center of the tunnel, i.e. accurately positioned, and all the hydraulic cylinders  30 /hydraulic pistons  31  being arranged in the starting position, i.e. the retracted position, with the hydraulic piston  31  retracted during the traversing movement. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 9 a , the bulk material base  29  plus the hydraulic cylinder  30 , the hydraulic piston  31  and the prism-shaped connector  32  are in an inclined position in the direction of the tunnel  5 , the tunnel  5  being closed by the gate  33  illustrated here. 
     However, any other movement is also conceivable for the purpose of coupling. 
     After appropriate positioning as described above, the gate  33  is first opened, after which the vertical support cylinders  15  of the driving unit  8  are extended, with the result that the bulk material base  29  is in a horizontal position illustrated in FIG. 9 b.    
     The horizontal support cylinders  16  of the driving unit  8  are then extended and preloaded to operating pressure, thus ensuring that a precise starting position has been adopted. 
     After appropriate precise positioning, the support cylinders  15 ,  16  are retracted, with the result that, as shown in FIG. 9 c,  the hydraulic cylinder  30  plus the hydraulic piston  31  and the bulk material support  29  are in a position in which they slope downwards in the direction of the tunnel  5 . 
     The hydraulic piston  31  with prism-shaped connector  32  is then extended in such a way that the prism-shaped connector  32  is underneath the right-hand prismatic socket  24  illustrated in FIG.  8 . 
     After appropriate positioning, the vertical support cylinders  15  are then extended as illustrated in FIG. 9F, with the result that the prism-shaped connector  32  comes into effective engagement with the prismatic socket  24 . 
     The hydraulic piston  31  is now moved, as illustrated in FIG. 9 g,  into the rearward position illustrated in FIG. 8, with the result that all the sliding-base boards  21 , each previously coupled in the manner described with a hydraulic piston  31 , are displaced in the direction of the driving unit  8  (i.e. they project by a certain amount into the driving unit  8 ). 
     Before appropriate retraction of the hydraulic piston  31 , the horizontal support cylinders  16 , illustrated in FIG. 9 g,  are first extended. 
     Both the horizontal and the vertical support cylinders  15 ,  16  illustrated in FIG. 9 i,  are now retracted, with the result that the driving unit  8 , in particular the bulk material base  29  plus the hydraulic cylinder  30  and the hydraulic piston  31 , move into a position in which they extend obliquely in the direction of tunnel  5 . 
     In accordance with FIG. 9 j,  the hydraulic piston  31  together with prism-shaped connector  32  and the vertical support cylinders  15  are extended again, with the result that the driving unit  8 , i.e. in particular the hydraulic cylinder  30  together with the hydraulic piston  31  and prism-shaped connector  32 , enter into effective engagement with the prismatic socket  25  illustrated in FIG. 8, which is on the left in the direction of view of FIG.  8 . FIGS. 10 a - 10   i  show a schematic representation of the rod and cylinder positions in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
     After effective engagement, the horizontally acting support cylinders  16  are then extended and the hydraulic piston  31  is moved into the position illustrated in FIG.  8 . 
     Once this basic position has been adopted, the individual sliding-base boards  21  can go into operation by moving backwards and forwards (i.e. the compost introduced can be removed from the tunnel  5  in a known manner by appropriate movement of the sliding-base boards  21 ). The result of removal being that the material to be withdrawn passes via the sliding bases  21  and the associated coupling piece  23  onto the bulk material base  29  of the driving unit  8  and, from there, by means of the spade shafts  11 ,  12  which are present in the exemplary embodiment, have already been mentioned and have spades  17 ,  18 , to the screw conveyor  13  and then onwards to the conveyor belt  10 . 
     Three groups of cylinders, for example, are formed. 
     Once the withdrawal process is complete, the sliding base  7  must first be moved back into the starting position. For this purpose, the reverse procedure to that described above is adopted. 
     To unlatch the driving unit, all the sliding-board hydraulic cylinders  30  must be moved into the unlatching position. 
     The horizontal support cylinders  16  then retract first, followed by the vertical support cylinders  15 , with the result that the entire unit  8  is lowered in the transition region and, in the process, settles on the guide system. 
     During the movement of the unit, all the cylinders  15 ,  16 ,  30  are retracted, with the result that the guide wheels on the guide rail bear the load and freedom of movement is ensured. 
     Attention is drawn to the fact that the arrangement of the sliding bases in the tunnel has been explained only by way of example, i.e. it is conceivable to arrange the sliding bases in any other structure, including arranging them in a truck, which would thus also affect the configuration and use of the withdrawal device.