Abstract:
A silage cutter and loader assembly including a beater assembly for removing silage from a bunker and transferring the silage via a cross auger to a conveyor for transport to an independent container. The assembly further includes independently arranged wheels, at least two of the wheels being rotatable about a respective vertical axis.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a silage cutter and more particularly to a silage cutter and loader capable of lateral movement. 
     Silage and other agricultural materials are commonly stored in bunkers or specially constructed trenches. These bunkers can be built to satisfy any required storage capacity, and widths of up to three-hundred feet are not uncommon. Stored material is packed tightly into the bunker, and the exposed outer surface cures and protects the interior silage from spoilage and weathering. Manual removal of the material can allow sprawling, air infiltration and increased spoilage. Manual removal is also time consuming, labor intensive and can become difficult in colder temperatures when the material is frozen. 
     Machines specifically designed to remove agricultural material from bunkers are well known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,121,488 describes a silage cutter that removes a section of material from the front of a bunker. It utilizes a vertically moving, revolving cutter head mounted on a horizontally moving frame. The machine is positioned in front of the bunker and the cutter head is lowered, thus removing a section of material. Removed material is moved to a container by a conveyor. The horizontally moving frame is then shifted laterally and the cutter head is lowered again. This continues until the frame has traveled the substantial width of the machine, wherein the entire machine is backed away from the bunker and repositioned adjacent to the first position. The removal operation is again performed, and the repositioning will continue until material has been removed from the entire width of the bunker. 
     Existing silage cutters convey removed material away from the bunker, wherein a separate container must be positioned to catch the conveyed material. The container is typically placed directly behind the silage cutter. Difficulty arises each time the silage cutter must be repositioned. The container must first be moved clear of the silage cutter&#39;s path. The silage cutter must be backed away from the bunker, then turned and driven forward to the new position. Once it is in place, the container must be moved into the correct position to catch the material. The sequence of operations required creates difficulty for a single person to effectively remove silage from a bunker. 
     The difficulty of operations has induced many bunker owners to use construction or landscaping equipment, such as a front-end loader or payloader, to remove silage. The greater mobility of a front-end loader allows faster removal of silage without the need to move the container. Unfortunately, the use of such machinery creates sprawling of the silage and air infiltration, while at the same time reducing the ability to monitor the volume of silage removed. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus capable of cleanly removing a known amount of silage off the front of a bunker, that is also capable of lateral movement. The ability to remove an amount of silage equal to the width of the apparatus with a single motion will also increase efficiency. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by providing an apparatus capable of removing silage from a bunker, having power driven wheels that are capable of turning about a vertical axis to the point of allowing powered lateral movement. 
     A further object of the present invention is the ability to remove an amount of silage substantially equal to the width of the apparatus in a single motion. 
     A further advantage of the invention is the ability to monitor the amount of silage removed by each sequence, thereby allowing the amount of silage used per day to be easily calculated and known. 
     The present invention is a silage cutter and loader having a revolving beater, a vertical frame on which the beater is mounted, a revolving cross auger positioned near ground level, a conveyor and one or more specially designed wheel assemblies that allow lateral movement. The revolving beater and cross auger span the entire width of the machine, allowing the machine to remove a full width of silage with a single motion. A gasoline engine drives a hydraulic pump that supplies hydraulic power for all operations of the machine. Hydraulic valves in a central control panel allow the operator to control all operations from the driver&#39;s seat. 
     The machine is first positioned with the revolving beater raised and the cross auger abutting the silage to be removed. The machine may be driven up to the silage in the same fashion as a conventional silage removing machine, and a container may be placed to catch freed material. As the revolving beater lowers onto the silage, it loosens and frees material packed into the bunker. Freed material falls to the cross auger, where it is moved to the central conveyor and carried away. 
     When the revolving beater has finished its downward ravel, the drive wheels may be turned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the machine, allowing lateral movement along the face of the bunker. The beater may be raised, and the machine and the container may be repositioned quickly. The beater is again lowered, and the sequence may be repeated until an appropriate amount of material is removed. 
     The machine removes approximately the same amount of material with each downward motion, thereby allowing the amount of material used per day to be easily monitored. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the descriptions that follow. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view depicting an embodiment of a present drive wheel assembly for the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 depicts the drive wheel assembly of FIG. 3 rotated ninety degrees. 
     FIG. 5 depicts an alternative embodiment of the drive wheel assembly of this invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational, environmental view of the material mover of the present invention approaching a material storage bunker. 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational, environmental view of the material mover of the present invention in position to remove material from a bunker. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational, environmental view of the material mover of the present invention removing material from a bunker. 
     FIG. 9 is a top environmental plan view of the material mover of the present invention removing material from a bunker. 
     FIG. 10 is a top environmental plan view of the material mover of the present invention having the front drive wheel assemblies turned to allow lateral movement. 
     FIG. 11 is a top environmental plan view of the material mover of the present invention during lateral movement. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention comprises an improved machine or apparatus  10  for removing agricultural material  98  (see FIGS. 6-11 inclusive) from a storage bunker  11  (see FIGS.  9 - 11 ). In brief, the apparatus  10  includes a horizontal structural frame  14 , a supporting revolving beater shaft  22  rotatably mounted on laterally spaced masts  18  and  19  of an upright frame  20 , a revolving cross auger  32 , a conveyor  40 , one or more specially designed drive wheel assemblies  60 , one or more passive wheel assemblies  50  and a hydraulic pump  12 , powered by a gasoline engine (not shown), to supply hydraulic pressure to a plurality of hydraulic motors for operation of the machine. The use of hydraulics are well known in the art, as the use of electric motors has been known to ignite airborne silage dust. 
     Again, with specific reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. A driver may control all operations via a control box  90  having a plurality of rocker arm levers  92 . These levers  92  control hydraulic valves, which open or close hydraulic lines supplying hydraulic power throughout the apparatus  10 . A front assembly  16  is supported by the structural frame  14  on a pivot connection  36 . The front assembly  16  may rotate about the pivot connection  36 , and may be raised by means of a hydraulic piston  80  for greater mobility. The front assembly  16  includes a connecting arm  35 , the vertical frame  20  and the cross auger  32 . Attached to the vertical frame  20  are cantilevered beaters support members  30 , which support the revolving beater shaft  22 . The upright frame  16  is of sufficient height to allow the revolving shaft  22  to be raised above material  98  stacked in the bunker  11 , as will be later shown and described. 
     The preferred revolving beater shaft  22  horizontally spans the substantial width of the apparatus  10 , and includes a cutter mechanism including a plurality coaxially spaced blades  27  designed to cleanly cut agricultural material  98 , such as silage or the like (see FIG.  6 ), from the storage bunker  11 . A hydraulic motor  100  (shown in phantom, FIGS. 1 and 2) mounted on, and supported by, the beater support member  30  turns a beater drive sprocket  28 . A drive chain  26  connects the drive gear sprocket  28  to a second driven sprocket  29 , which is affixed to the beater shaft  22 . In the preferred embodiment, the driven sprocket  29  has a larger diameter than the drive sprocket  28 , thereby reducing the rotational speed of the beater shaft  22  and increasing available torque. Gears of different sizes may be substituted to adjust the rotation speed and available torque as desired. The beater shaft preferably rotates at a fairly low speed, such as sixty revolutions per minute or less. 
     The support members  30 , which carry the beater shaft  22 , are slidably mounted on the upright frame  20 . The members  30  may be raised by one or more hydraulic motors,  102  (shown in phantom, FIGS.  1  and  2 ), and may be power-driven driven in either longitudinal direction with respect to the upright frame  20 , or be permitted to drop downwardly by gravitational force. In the present embodiment, the support members  30  are respectively connected to lift chains  24  on either side of the machine  10 . Movement of the lift chains  24  are synchronized by an upper connecting rod and gear assembly  21 . A hydraulic motor (not shown), drives a lower lift gear  25 , thereby moving the lift chains  24  and raising the beater shaft  22  and support members  30 , which may then be lowered by gravity. A hydraulic choke may be used to slow the downward travel. 
     Agricultural material  98  removed by the beater blades  27  falls into the cross auger  32 , which horizontally spans the substantial width of the machine  10  (see FIG.  2 ). The auger  32  has blades  33  oriented to move material to the auger midpoint  31  during rotation. Angling of the blades  33  is reversed on opposite sides of the midpoint  31  to convey the material  98  towards the conveyor  40 . As material  98  is brought to the midpoint  31 , it is picked up by the conveyor  40  and delivered to an awaiting independent container  70  (see FIG.  9 ). A guard frame  34  prevents material from spilling to the sides or behind the auger  32 , and assists in directing material  98  towards the conveyor  40 . A single hydraulic motor  104  (see FIG. 2) powers the auger  32  rotation and conveyor  40  operation. The motor is connected to and turns the lower roller  42  of the conveyor  40 . A belt or chain  44 , also connected to the lower roller  42 ,, rotates the auger  32 . 
     The machine  10  is supported by a number of wheels, including one or more passive caster wheel assemblies  50 , and one or more drive wheel assemblies  60 . Referring also to FIG. 3, in the preferred embodiment, both front wheels are drive wheel assemblies  60 . Each drive wheel  60  is able to be powered forward or powered reverse, independently from any other wheel, by its own hydraulic motor  64 . The assembly  60  may include reduction gears  65  (see FIG. 4) to reduce speed and increase available torque. 
     Referring also to FIG. 5, each drive wheel assembly  60  is able to rotate about a vertical axis  61 , has a range of travel of at least ninety degrees and is able to turn parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the machine  10 . In the present embodiment 2, steering is accomplished by a means of hydraulic piston  63  and a steering linkage  62  (see FIG.  2 ), which act upon a connecting arm  66  fixedly attached to the wheel assembly  60 . As the piston  63  extends or retracts, the steering linkage  62  will turn each wheel assembly  60  about its respective vertical axis  61 . When the piston  63  is fully retracted, the wheels assemblies  60  are positioned to allow sidewise lateral movement of the machine  10 . 
     The present steering assembly is used because it allows the drive wheels  60  to be rotated about their true central vertical axis  61 . Many conventional steering systems rotate the wheels about a vertical axis offset from the vertical axis of the wheel. If such a system were used, the drive wheels would become staggered when arranged for sidewise lateral movement, reducing overall stability of the machine  10 . The present steering assembly gives the machine  10  better stability than a conventional system because it maintains the same points of contact with the ground at all times. While any steering assembly allowing the drive wheels  60  to be rotated about their true central vertical axis  61  is preferred, a conventional steering system capable of turning the wheels to allow lateral movement may be used without departing from the present invention. 
     Maneuverability of the machine  10  is greatly increased by the ability to power each drive wheel  60  forward or reverse independently. In addition to the conventional steering means of turning the wheels  60  to point in the direction of desired travel, the present invention may be turned by powering only one wheel  60  forward or reverse, or by powering the drive wheels  60  in opposite directions. Such an operation allows the machine  10  to turn with a much smaller turning radius than with a conventional steering system. 
     FIGS. 6 through 8, inclusive, depict the present apparatus removing and conveying agricultural material  98  from a bunker (not shown). As depicted in FIG. 6, the apparatus  10  may be driven up to the storage bunker with the front assembly  16  raised for greater mobility. The front assembly  16  may be lowered as the apparatus  10  approaches the bunker. 
     With reference to FIG. 7, the revolving beater shaft  22  is raised on the vertical frame  20 , and the machine  10  is positioned with the cross auger  32  abutting the material  98  to be removed. The hydraulic motor for rotating the beater  22  is switched on, as is the motor that controls the cross auger  32  and conveyor  40 . As the beater  22  travels downward on the vertical frame  20 , it loosens and frees material  98  packed into the bunker. Freed material  98  falls to the cross auger  32  and is brought to the central conveyor  40 , which carries it away. FIG. 8 depicts the present invention partially through a material removal sequence. 
     As shown in FIG. 9, a separate container  70  may be placed to catch the loose material delivered by the conveyor  40 . When the beater  22  has finished its downward travel, an amount of material  98  substantially equal to the width of the machine  10  has been removed. The machine may now be repositioned. The beater shaft  22  should again be raised to prevent interference during lateral movement between the beater shaft  22  and any adjacent material  98  still packed into the bunker. If desired, the entire front assembly  16  may be raised. The steering piston  63  is contracted until the drive wheel assemblies  60  are positioned to allow lateral movement, as depicted by FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 11 shows the apparatus  10  moving laterally along the face of the material  98 , with no need to back away from the bunker. The container  70  may be moved laterally with the apparatus  10 . If required, the drive wheels  60  may be turned back to the forward drive positions after lateral movement for minor adjustments in positioning the apparatus  10 . The revolving beater shaft  22  may be lowered, and the removal sequence may be repeated as necessary. 
     With each downward travel of the revolving beater shaft  22 , an amount of material  98  is cleanly removed from the bunker. The material  98  remaining in the bunker is left tightly packed and undisturbed. The volume of material  98  removed with each removal sequence can be easily calculated using the known height, width and depth of the cut. This allows the amount of material  98  removed per day to be easily monitored. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.