WO2016099292A1

WO2016099292A1 - A bedding attachment

Info

Publication number: WO2016099292A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2015/050211
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Currie
Original assignee: Hustler Equipment Limited
Priority date: 2014-12-19
Filing date: 2015-12-09
Publication date: 2016-06-23

Abstract

A bedding attachment for evenly distributing bedding material. A housing defines a passageway with a plurality of rotating paddles in the passageway which draw material into the passageway and eject it via an outlet. The distance between the housing and the outer periphery of the paddles is between 5-40mm. A grill may be provided on the side of the housing adjacent the inlet that may be positioned so that paddles partially project through the grill to engage a bale positioned against the grill.

Description

A BEDDING ATTACHMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bedding attachment suitable for spreading bedding material such as hay.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bedding material such as hay may be spread by specific purpose equipment or bale feeders with bedding attachments. Many conventional bedding attachments eject bedding material over the top of rotating flails but this design has limited bedding distribution range and uneven distribution. Some designs have a large gap between the flails and a surface supporting the bedding material, limiting the throughput and distance of projection. The use of pivoting flails also results in high mechanical wear. Many designs are also unsuitable for use with square bales. Some are easily blocked and others utilise a PTO drive, which can be dangerous.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved bedding attachment that overcomes at least some of these problems or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one exemplary embodiment there is provided a bedding attachment for receiving bedding material at an inlet and ejecting bedding material from an outlet including: a. a housing defining a passageway therethrough; and b. a plurality of rotating paddles positioned in the passageway to draw material into the passageway and eject it via the outlet; c. wherein the distance between the housing and the outer periphery of the paddles is between 5-40mm.

According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a bedding attachment for receiving bedding material at an inlet and ejecting bedding material at an outlet including:

a. a housing defining a passageway therethrough; b. a plurality of rotating paddles positioned in the passageway to draw material into the passageway and eject it via the outlet; and

c. a grill on the side of the housing adjacent the inlet positioned so that paddles partially project through the grill to engage a bale positioned against the grill.

It is acknowledged that the terms "comprise", "comprises" and "comprising" may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, these terms are intended to have an inclusive meaning - i.e. they will be taken to mean an inclusion of the listed components which the use directly references, and possibly also of other non-specified components or elements.

Reference to any prior art in this specification does not constitute an admission that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of exemplary embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a bedding feed out system including a bedding attachment;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a bedding attachment;

Figure 3 shows a front view of the bedding attachment shown in

Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a front view of the bedding attachment shown in

Figure 2 with the front cover removed;

Figure 5 shows a right hand side view of the bedding attachment shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 shows a left hand side view of the bedding attachment shown in Figure 2;

Figure 7 shows a sectional view through the centre of the bedding attachment shown in Figure 2 viewed from the left hand side; and

Figure 8 shows a sectional view of the bedding attachment shown in

Figure 2 from the rear. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a bedding attachment 1 attached to a bale feeder in a configuration for ejecting bedding material to form a bedding layer for animals. Desirably the bedding material is ejected at a fast rate and spread evenly over a long distance. The bale feeder may suitably be of the type described in the applicant's US Patent No.6533520 although any suitable bale feeder may be employed. In use toothed drums 4 and 5 of bale feeder 2 remove an outer layer 3 from a bale to deliver a stream of feedstock 6 into bedding attachment 1 . Bedding attachment 1 ejects the bedding material so as to project the material a substantial distance to provide an even bedding layer.

Bedding attachment 1 includes a housing having a rotatably mounted drum 8 mounted therein to define a passageway 9 through the bedding attachment. In this embodiment drum 8 is directly driven by hydraulic motor 9, which is electrically controlled. Whilst a PTO drive could be used this is more dangerous and inconvenient. A plurality of paddles 10 extend from drum 8 and are preferably in a "comb" form with a plurality of fingers 1 1 extending from a base section. This may be easily formed from a sheet of steel. In this design it is preferred that the distance between the housing 7 and the outer periphery of the paddles is between 5-40mm. The width of the passageway (12 in Figure 2) is preferably between 1000-2000mm, and more preferably between 1300 to 1600mm. The inlet path continuously narrows towards the point of minimum distance between the housing and the outer periphery of the paddles and the outlet path continuously widens from the point of minimum distance between the housing and the outer periphery of the paddles. The relatively small gap at the point of minimum distance combined with a high rotational speed of the drum between 700 to 900 rpm allows a high throughput with even distribution and a good distance of projection.

When square bales are fed by bale feeder 2 large chunks known as "biscuits" may be torn off and the supply feed may include such large chunks. If these are fed directly into the bedding attachment they can clog the machine. To assist with the handling of square bales a grill 13 may be provided. As best seen in Figure 8 bars of grill 13 may be positioned in between fingers 1 1 so that by moving the grill 13 towards or away from drum 8 more or less of the fingers 1 1 may project through the grill. As seen in Figure 1 the grill 13 stops large chunks of bedding material being fed into the bedding attachment - these are held by grill 13 and the fingers 1 1 projecting through the grill break them up so that they may join the main feed stream to provide a relatively constant rate of material supply to the bedding attachment.

As seen in Figure 2 the grill 13 may pivot about pivot point 14 and be secured by fastener 15, which can travel in slot 16, to set the extent to which the fingers project beyond the grill 13. Different settings may be suitable for different bales.

The bedding attachment 1 may be mounted so as to be moveable between a bedding configuration in which the bedding attachment receives bedding material from the bale feeder 2 and out of use position in which the bedding attachment is located towards the back of the bale feeder 2 and away from the feed out path of the bale feeder 2.

This bedding attachment provides even bedding material distribution over a large area (up to a 14m spread during trials). It is able to handle square bales due to the grill holds "biscuits" and keeps an even flow of bedding material coming from the bale feeder into the inlet of the bedding attachment to avoid jamming. The design is also simple and cost effective and safe compared PTO driven systems.

The bedding attachment also folds away at the rear of the bale feeder so as not to impede the farmer from easily using the bale feeder for simple feed out use. This also keeps the machine a standard width for ease of transport. Electric control of the hydraulic drive motor means that only 2 hydraulic hoses need to be connected into the tractor into tractor and provides continuously variable control of the swath width. Control may be via a wireless control link or electric cables. The unit also delatches without a user having to hop out of the tractor.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.

Claims

A bedding attachment for receiving bedding material at an inlet and ejecting bedding material from an outlet including: a. a housing defining a passageway therethrough; and b. a plurality of rotating paddles positioned in the passageway to draw material into the passageway and eject it via the outlet; c. wherein the distance between the housing and the outer periphery of the paddles is between 5-40mm.

A bedding attachment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the paddles are in the form of a plurality of fingers.

A bedding attachment as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plurality of fingers extend outwardly from a rotating drum.

A bedding attachment as claimed in claim 3 wherein each paddle is in the form of a comb with a plurality of teeth projecting from a base section affixed to the drum.

A bedding attachment as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the drum rotates at between 700 to 900 rpm.

A bedding attachment as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the drum is directly driven by an hydraulic motor.

A bedding attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the inlet path bounded by the housing and outer periphery of the paddles continuously narrows towards the point of minimum distance between the housing and the outer periphery of the paddles.

8. A bedding attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the outlet path bounded by the housing and outer periphery of the paddles continuously widens from the point of minimum distance between the housing and the outer periphery of the paddles. 9. A bedding attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the width of the outlet is between 1000-2000mm.

10. A bedding attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the width of the outlet is between 1300 to 1600mm

1 1 . A bedding attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a grill on the side of the housing adjacent the inlet positioned so that paddles partially project through the grill to engage a bale positioned against the grill.

12. A bedding attachment as claimed in claim 1 1 wherein the grill position with respect to the paddles is adjustable to allow adjustment of the extent to which the paddles project through the grill.

13. A bedding attachment for receiving bedding material at an inlet and ejecting bedding material at an outlet including: a. a housing defining a passageway therethrough; b. a plurality of rotating paddles positioned in the passageway to draw material into the passageway and eject it via the outlet; and c. a grill on the side of the housing adjacent the inlet positioned so that paddles partially project through the grill to engage a bale positioned against the grill.

14. A bedding attachment as claimed in claim 13 wherein the grill position with respect to the paddles is adjustable to allow adjustment of the extent to which the paddles project through the grill.

15. A bedding attachment as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the distance between the housing and the outer periphery of the paddles is between 5-40mm.

16. A bedding attachment as claimed in claim 15 wherein the paddles are in the form of a plurality of fingers.

17. A bedding attachment as claimed in claim 16 wherein the plurality of fingers extend outwardly from a rotating drum.

18. A bedding attachment as claimed in claim 17 wherein each paddle is in the form of a comb with a plurality of teeth projecting from a base section affixed to the drum.

19. A bedding attachment as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the drum rotates at between 700 to 900 rpm.

20. A bedding attachment as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein the drum is directly driven by an hydraulic motor.

21 . A bedding attachment as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 20 wherein the inlet path bounded by the housing and outer periphery of the paddles continuously narrows towards the point of minimum distance between the housing and the outer periphery of the paddles.

22. A bedding attachment as claimed in any one of the claims 13 to 21 wherein the outlet path bounded by the housing and outer periphery of the paddles continuously widens from the point of minimum distance between the housing and the outer periphery of the paddles.

23. A bedding attachment as claimed in any one of the claims 13 to 22 wherein the width of the outlet is between 1000-2000mm.

24. A bedding attachment as claimed in any one of the claims 13 to 22 wherein the width of the outlet is between 1300 to 1600mm.

25. A bedding feed out system including a bale feeder and bedding attachment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the bale feeder supplies bedding material to the inlet of the bedding attachment.

26. A bedding feed out system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the bedding attachment is moveable between a bedding configuration in which the bedding attachment receives bedding material from the bale feeder and out of use position in which the bedding attachment is located away from a feed out path of the bale feeder.

27. A bedding attachment substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

28. A bedding feed out system as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.