Patent ID: 12221755

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIGS.1and2, the number1indicates a snow tiller1, as a whole, for the preparation of the snow cover on ski runs. The snow tiller1mainly extends symmetrically on opposite sides with respect to a longitudinal axis A1and is configured to be dragged over the snow cover in a traveling direction D1via a tracked vehicle (not shown in the figures). The snow tiller1is connected via a drawbar (not shown in the figures) to the tracked vehicle (not shown).

Throughout the present description, the terms “front”, “rear”, “frontal”, and “side” will specifically refer to the traveling direction D1of the snow tiller1.

The snow tiller1comprises a frame2; two tiller modules3(one of which is not shown) supported by the frame2and substantially aligned in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis A1; a finisher4at the rear; and an adjusting assembly5for each tiller module3.

The frame2comprises a front hitch6configured to be connected to the drawbar (not shown in the figures); a support bar7; two forks8, each of which is configured to support a respective tiller module3and to enable small oscillations of the tiller module3around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis A1.

Each tiller module3is suspended from the respective fork8, so that a tiller module can oscillate, and is hinged to the adjacent tiller module3. Such a configuration provides that the snow tiller1is able to adapt to the ground hollows transverse to the traveling direction D1.

With reference toFIGS.3and4, the frame2comprises a support9coupled to a respective fork8and configured to support the adjusting assembly5.

Each tiller module3comprises a motorised shaft10, which rotates around a rotation axis A2that extends in a direction substantially transversal to the longitudinal axis A1and is equipped with a plurality of tools11configured to penetrate the snow cover; and a easing12arranged around the shaft10and configured to define a processing chamber13in which the snow is processed. In the embodiment shown, the casing12also has a bearing function to support the shall10and to connect the tiller module3to the frame2.

The finisher4comprises a flexible mat14coupled to the casing12to define the continuation of the casing12; and a pressure bar15that extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis A1and is fixed above the flexible mat14.

The flexible mat14comprises a portion16that extends from the casing12to the pressure bar15and can be configured according to the distance between the pressure bar15and the casing12.

With reference toFIG.1, the pressure bar15is made up of sections17, which are rigid and coupled to each other so as to enable relative small oscillations between adjacent sections17around axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A1and, thus, to adapt the pressure bar15and the flexible mat14to the irregularities and undulations of the snow cover transversely to the traveling direction D1. In certain embodiments, the sections17are made of a metallic material, such as aluminium.

The adjusting assembly5comprises a crossbar18that extends transversely to the longitudinal axis A1directly above the pressure bar15, and is coupled to the pressure bar15and to the support9.

In particular, the crossbar18is connected to each section17of the pressure bar15via respective connecting elements19.

In a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, each connecting element19comprises an articulated head so as to enable relative small independent oscillations of each section17of the pressure bar15around a plurality of axes passing through the respective articulated head.

With reference toFIGS.3and4, the adjusting assembly5comprises a universal joint20to connect the crossbar18to the support9, and a linear actuator21, which is coupled to the frame2via a universal joint22and to the crossbar18via a universal joint23.

The linear actuator21is a hydraulic cylinder selectively controlled by force and in a position to adjust the distance between the pressure bar15and the casing12.

In a non-limiting example of the present disclosure, the snow tiller1comprises two adjusting assemblies5, in which each linear actuator21is coupled to the respective fork8and in which each crossbar18is coupled to the respective support9.

In more detail, a housing for the universal joint20, such as a spherical joint, is located in the central portion of the body of the crossbar18.

In a non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the linear actuator21is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder the ends of which are coupled, respectively, to the frame2via a universal joint22and to the crossbar18via a universal joint23.

In particular, a central portion of the crossbar18comprises a seat configured to be connected to the linear actuator21via the universal joint23, which comprises an articulated head.

In use, the adjusting assembly5enables the selective adjustment of the distance between the pressure bar15and the casing12, via adjusting the length of the linear actuator21. The adjustment of the distance between the pressure bar15and the casing12enables the configuration of the portion16of flexible mat14, between the pressure bar15and the casing12, to be adjusted, thus varying the amount of snow present in the processing chamber13. In particular, with reference toFIG.3, when the linear actuator21is extended, the crossbar18rotates counter-clockwise around an axis passing through the universal joint20and parallel to the extension direction of the crossbar18, causing the pressure rod15to approach the casing12. In this configuration, the portion16of the flexible mat14is compressed and arches, defining a concavity towards the top.

In contrast, with reference toFIG.4, when the linear actuator21is retracted, the distance between the pressure bar15and the casing12is greater than when the linear actuator21is extended. In this configuration, the portion16of flexible mat14is stretched out and takes on a substantially flat shape. In this configuration, the accumulation of snow in the processing chamber13is reduced. The configuration shown inFIG.4with a substantially reduced snow accumulation is suitable for processing snow covers with fresh or soft snow, while the configuration inFIG.3accommodates a greater snow accumulation in the processing chamber13and is suitable for working with icy snow covers.

In a particular embodiment, the length of the linear actuator21is manually controlled by the driver of the tracked vehicle via a special control interface arranged in the cab (not shown in the figures).

In a particular embodiment, the length of the linear actuator21is controlled automatically. In particular, the length of the linear actuator21is controlled according to some parameters detected by special sensors (not shown in the figures), such as according to the properties of the snow cover, the height of the shaft10with respect to the snow cover, and the position of the shaft10with respect to the casing12.

With reference toFIGS.5and6, the universal joint20, such as a spherical joint, enables the crossbar18to oscillate, in a controlled manner, around an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis A1and passing through the universal joint20in order to adjust the distance between the pressure bar15and the casing12. However, it also enables the crossbar18to oscillate freely around the universal joint20to adapt the pressure bar15and the flexible mat14to the transverse profile of the ski run, independently of the tiller module3. In this way, the flexible mat14is able to remain in constant contact with the snow cover, even when the ski run has relatively close variations in the transverse profile in the traveling direction D1.

The adaptation of the pressure bar15to the snow cover conformation is also favoured by the connecting elements19comprising the articulated heads that make it possible for each section17to make relative small independent oscillations around a plurality of axes.

In a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a plane P on which the rotation axis A2lies and passing through the universal joint20identifies first spatial region above the plane P and a second spatial region below the plane P. The linear actuator21is arranged in the first spatial region, while the pressure bar15and the end of the flexible mat14, which is connected to the casing12, are arranged in the second spatial region. It should be appreciated that based on the possibility of adjusting the configuration of the portion16of the mat14, the amount of snow contained in the processing chamber13can be selectively adjusted so as to enable sufficient snow accumulation, when processing a snow cover, in order to level out irregularities in the snow cover or to avoid excessive amounts of tilled snow in the processing chamber13when not required.

Variations can be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the appended claims. As such, the present disclosure also covers embodiments that are not described in the detailed description and equivalent embodiments. Accordingly, various changes and modifications to the presently disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.