Patent Application
20100263345
The present invention relates to cutter-mixer-feeders for processing livestock feed material. More particularly the invention is concerned with a total management computerized controlled loading-mixer-feeder (also referred to as cutter-mixer-feeder).
It has long been known in livestock feeding to blend nutritive ingredients of the feed in a mixer, either stationary or mobile. A typical mixer contains augers, blades and other types of mixing components which are intended to operate on the ingredients of the feed to cut long fiber materials and to mix them into a substantially homogeneous mass and on demand to assist in conveying and discharging the feed from the mixer so that all animals fed from the batch in the mixer will be provided a substantially uniform ration content.
It has been found that uniformity of the feeding blend, total mix ration (TMR), is essential in livestock nutrition resulting in increased milk produce and controlled animal health.
A variety of mixer feeder wagons are known in the art for processing livestock feed material. One such wagon is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,485.
European Patent Application No. EP0963970 discloses a cutter-mixer-feeder vehicle for treating materials suitable for producing compost, comprising a container with one or more internal screw feeders equipped with blades for cutting the material to be treated and a lifting device which collects the material to be treated placed outside the wagon and arranges it on a conveyor belt which transfers it into the container. The lifting device comprises a screw feeder on top of which there is a revolving shaft, supported by a casing and provided with blades for cutting and loading the material onto the conveyor belt.
Also known are various improvements in components of mixer-feeders. One such improvement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,588 which is directed to a screw feeder fitted within a container of a cutter-mixer-feeder for fodder and grass or straw materials; said screw feeder is placed at the bottom of said container and provided with at least a pair of spirals, one of which is rolled up clockwise, while the other counterclockwise. In the substantially central area of the screw feeder where said spirals meet, they set out a discoidal element consisting of a right half spiral and a left half spiral, each of which has at least one outlet which is obtained by taking away a part of the half spiral itself.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a totally managed, computer controlled, self propelled, self loading cutter-mixer-feeder (herein after referred to also as CMF). A device according to the present invention yields accurately blended livestock feed, the ingredients of which are chopped to an optimal size without deteriorating its nutritive values, and where the overall power consumption of the device is significantly reduced as well as the turnover time of a cycle of operation.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cutter-mixer-feeder (CMF) adapted for producing, transporting and discharging fodder comprising:
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a cutter-mixer-feeder (CMF) adapted for producing, transporting and providing fodder comprising a mobile platform, and at least one of the following:
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a cutter-mixer-feeder (CMF) adapted for producing, transporting and providing fodder comprising:
Each of the above aspects of the present invention may assume any one or more of the following features:
Said CMF may be adapted for performing at least one of the following cycles:
Said CMF may be designed such that at least two of the cycles (i) to (iii) are performed simultaneously.
Said control system may be provided with a central processor so as to provide real time diagnosis of different parameters of the elements (a) to (e). In addition, by virtue of the control system, said chopper assembly may be adapted to receive power priority during said loading cycle, and said auger may be adapted to receive power priority during said mixing cycle.
Said control system may further be adapted for regulating the RMP of the chopper assembly and auger according to respective density of said raw material and fodder.
Said CMF may also comprise a weighing mechanism articulated to said container and connected to said control system, and adapted for regulating the amount of at least one raw material received within said container for production of fodder therefrom. Said control system may be adapted for regulating said weighing mechanism according to the allowed load of material on the conveyer belt.
Said control system may also be adapted for receiving input in the form of a recipe specifying a desired amount for one or more of said raw material and/or said fodder and/or at least one nutritive ingredient, and regulate operation of the chopper assembly accordingly, to load/harvest the desired amount of each raw material. During loading/harvesting of said raw material by said chopper assembly, said control system may further be adapted to automatically cut-off/continue operation of said chopper assembly according to respective sufficient/insufficient desired amount of said raw material.
Said chopper assembly may comprises a chopper arm articulated at a proximal end of said mobile platform and equipped at a distal end thereof with an elongated chopper member extending along a central axis. Said elongated chopper member may be fitted with a spiral blade extending therealong around said central axis, and having a non-uniform pitch, wherein the distances between adjacent blade portions of said spiral blade increase inwardly, to thereby axially accelerate loose material from respective ends of said elongated chopper member towards a central portion thereof.
Said elongated chopper member may also be fitted with at least one directing blade so as to impart raw material with acceleration in a radial direction towards the conveyer belt.
Said chopper assembly may comprise, in addition, a housing articulated to the chopper arm and formed at its back wall with an aperture for material passage onto the belt conveyer. Said housing may be further fitted at its top fore end with a pivotable deflector, whereby upon rotation of the elongated chopper member, loose material is prevented from escape away from the chopper assembly. Said housing may also be fitted at its inner surface with at least one directing blade for directing loose material chopped by the elongated chopper member towards a central portion thereof.
Said mobile platform may comprise a front wheel axle and a rear wheel axle, each of said wheel axles being individually, and independently controlled by said control system.
In order to understand the various aspects invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, some features of the invention will now be described, by way of a non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Attention is first directed to
The cutter-mixer-feeder wagon 10 (CMF wagon) further comprises a large container 20 formed with a top opening 22 and fitted with an auger 24 mounted on a central axis X vertically extending within the container 20. It is however appreciated that more then one auger may be provided, depending on the size of the container. A discharge opening is formed at a lower part of the container 20 with a discharge door 21 and a discharge conveyer belt 23 is provided for discharging fodder to livestock, e.g. to feeding troughs. Discharge of the ready food material takes place at the left side of the wagon, such that the operator can best maneuver it to discharge the fodder accurately. It is however noted that a right-side door 25 and a respective discharge conveyer belt 27 are provided as well (
A chopper assembly generally designated 30 comprises a cylindrical chopper 31 rotatable about a chopper axis 33 and is supported at a fore end of a chopper arm 32 in the form of a closed duct with a conveyer belt 36 (seen at a partially sectioned portion at a fore and of the arm 32 in
The CMF wagon 10 in accordance with the present invention is fitted with a powerful control system comprising a plurality of sensors for pick-up of various data information corresponding with measured parameters and transferring same to a local processor (computer system) fitted on the wagon which in turn generates a series of control signals as will be discussed hereinafter in detail.
The CMF wagon 10 has two major operating modes namely, travel/locomotive mode in which the CMF wagon travels along a path or road, and a farm mode. The farm mode includes several work cycles, as follows:
The arrangement is such that power consumption from the power unit 16 is logically distributed depending on a current operating cycle and however, remaining the output of the power unit within the range of between approximately 80% to 90% of its power output, to thereby prevent cut-off of the power unit, and to maintain a substantially efficient cycle of operation.
Accordingly, during the loading cycle, the chopper assembly 30 is a primer consumer of power generated by the power unit 16. As the CMF wagon 10 travels within a restricted operating area (typically forwards and backwards while “biting” into a heap of straw, silage, or the like), the chopper arm 32 is pivotally displaced to gain access to a heap of straw whilst the conveyer belt 36 is active to convey the chopped material into the container 20. During the loading cycle the auger 24 has first priority on power withdrawal from the power unit, and mixing auger reduced RPM according to the maximum allowed power.
As already mentioned above, the CMF wagon is fitted with a plurality of control sensors including, among others, a chopper sensor assembly comprising a chopper pressure sensor fitted on the induced pressure line and/or on a chopper axle 33, whereby the power transmitted to the chopping assembly 30 dynamically changes depending on load induced pressure by the material chopped. Accordingly, for light material such as straw, hay and the like, the chopper 31 rotates at essentially high RPM though consuming low power, that noting the potentially low resistance of the chopped material. For that purpose, at least two pressure sensor assemblies are provided, one fitted on the chopper high pressure line and/or on axle 33 and the other fitted on the high pressure line and/or on the axle of the auger 24.
The arrangement is as such that during a loading cycle (chopping mode) the chopper 31 has power consuming priority to thereby obtain best chopping performance by reducing the revolving RPM of the auger 24.
Furthermore, there is an override mechanism to prevent overloading of the chopper or any other mechanical elements of the system by an operator. For that purpose, a plurality of pressure sensors ensure that the output moment of the chopper does not reach the maximum permitted load, depending on a respective signal received from the pressure sensors.
Clogging or arresting of the chopper 31 during a chopping process (i.e. upon “biting” into a heap of straw material) may eventually result in cut off of the power unit. In such a case, it is common practice in the art to disengage the chopper from the heap by forwards/backwards maneuvering of the wagon, or by elevating/lowering the chopper arm or by inverting direction of rotation of the chopper. These are time consuming procedures as well as power consuming procedures which in accordance with the present invention are avoided since maximum power output is directed towards the chopper 31 (since at this cycle only minimal required power is transmitted to the auger 24 or to the locomoting assembly of the platform 12)
Thus, the arrangement according to the present invention is such that the control system governs the load of each of the operating components (e.g. chopper assembly, auger and vehicle platform), namely controlling the moment and the maximal RPM, to thereby ensure that these components do not exceed the maximum power consumption as designed for each operation. Accordingly, the load applied by the auger is reduced depending on the power consumed by the chopper assembly 30 as mentioned hereinabove. Likewise, during a loading cycle (farm mode) the CFM wagon 10 travels at an essentially low speed and at low power consumption.
The provision of the pressure sensors responsive to pressure over the chopper 31 governs also the speed of elevation/lowering of the chopper arm 32 as well as the speed of rotation of the chopper 31 such that the operator of the CFM cannot override the system so as to ensure smooth and continuous operation of the device however with minimal time and energy consumption.
According to a particular embodiment of the invention the speed of the chopper 31 is prioritized to be maintained at constant speed over elevation/lowering of chopper arm 32.
During a discharge cycle, i.e. after all the ingredients have been loaded into the container 20 and the auger 24 has chopped and mixed these ingredients to a desired and well controlled state, the CFM wagon 10 travels towards a discharge area, typically feeding troughs of the livestock. During such traveling, the auger 24 keeps rotating and upon reaching the discharge site, the discharge door 21 opens and the discharge conveyer belt 23 is engaged into operation to thereby discharge the fodder into said troughs.
The CFM wagon 10 has two primary working modes one being a so-called “road mode” namely an ‘automotive controlled mode’ intended for fast motion of the wagon, and the other the ‘farm mode’, being an operator controlled travel e.g. at the facilities of the barn and upon discharging fodder. However, during farm mode (i.e. during a loading cycle or a discharge cycle) the motor of the CFM wagon will not exceed the nominal RPM recommended by the manufacturer thereof so as to maintain an optimal fuel consumption. According to a particular embodiment of the invention the motor will operate at 1700 RPM.
It is in interest of the farmer to reduce to minimum the overall feeding cycle period, i.e. reduce the overall time required for chopping, mixing, traveling and discharging the fodder, however whilst maintaining fodders quality and at minimal energy consumption.
Further chopping of the ingredients fed into the container 20 takes place upon revolving of the auger 24 which simultaneously mixes the ingredients. However, it is required not to lose notorious qualities of the fodder mixture by over chopping the long-fiber ingredients. Thus, a control assembly in the form of pressure sensors is provided on the motor and/or on the axle of the auger 24 to thereby reduce the RPM of the auger upon decrease of the load sensed over the axle of the auger 24. Furthermore, the revolving speed of the auger 24 may be continuously monitored and controlled by the operator of the wagon and even more so a maximum revolving speed may be set. Controlling these parameters results in reducing the overall cycle time, reduction of energy consumption and controlled fiber length.
Contrary to constant-speed revolving augers, the auger in accordance with the present invention revolves at alternating speed depending on the current operating cycle and in combination with the condition of the mixture within container 20. Thus, whilst the CFM wagon 10 has completed loading all fodder ingredients and travels towards the feeds troughs, the RPM of the auger is reduced to a minimum in order to prevent over-chopping of the fibers beyond a minimal effective length, and further in order to reduce the total energy consumed. If, during the traveling stage, the CFM wagon 10 has stopped for some reason, e.g. for repairing a flat tire or if access to the dairy barn is blocked for some reason, over-chopping of the fibers will not occur owing to automatic reducing the revolving speed of the auger 24.
Accordingly, once the automatic mixing cycle is completed and the fodder has been chopped and mixed to the desired extent, the auger's RPM is reduced to a minimal RPM, that is to maintain the fodder at a homogeneous mixed state without further chopping of the fibers. Noting that the fodder may be at damp/wet condition, continuous rotation of the auger is required, though at low RPM (e.g. 1 to 2 RPM) in order to prevent the fodder from sticking.
At a cleaning state, when it is required to clean the container 20 and discharge ingredients from the auger 24, the auger is revolved at high RPM (e.g. at about 50 RPM) to thereby discharge material from the flightings and chopping/mixing blades, whereby centripetal forces assist in discharging material from the flightings and blades.
Maintaining a low speed rotation of the auger 24 while traveling with a loaded container prevents the mixed material from becoming bulk and maintains it at a fluffy state. This is also important since during traveling the mixture may become tightened (compressed) under its self weight owing to bouncing of the wagon during its travel. As already mentioned hereinabove, the device of the present invention is a so-called total energy managed wagon and is thus fitted with a plurality of load and pressure sensors such that energy to the various power consuming assemblies is transferred only upon actual demand of these assemblies and mechanisms, depending on control signals emitted from various sensors fitted in said mechanisms and assemblies. This arrangement thus provides that power supply to operated units and assemblies is dynamic and continuously changes according to demand and operating cycle, that as opposed to on/off type assemblies operating at fixed speeds and power outputs.
It is well known that milk production is highly dependent on the quality of the fodder and to a great extent also on maintaining fixed optimal parameters, namely supplying regular food batches. It is appreciated that the significant expense at a dairy barn is the food stuff and it is for these reasons that it is desired to supply the livestock with food batches nearing to a nutritionists recommendations, which also have significant implications on the livestocks health.
In order to ensure a fixed discharged fodder batch, the container 20 is mounted on a weighing mechanism. The operator enters into the controller the recommended portion of each of the fodder ingredients, by entering the relative mass thereof. In a fully automatic and computer-controlled mechanism, without any input by the operator, the system constantly calculates the relative weight of each ingredient fed into the container 20, as it is loaded from each specific loading station, namely chopping of material by the chopper 31. Accordingly, when the weighing system generates a mass signal corresponding with the weight of a specific loaded ingredient, the chopping speed of chopper 31 is reduced along with slowing the conveyer belt 36. When the weighing system generates a signal indicating that a certain ingredient has been completely loaded, the chopper 31 stops and the belt conveyer 36 now moves in an opposite direction to discharge any residual material remaining thereon, so as to prevent introduction of excessive material into the container 20.
The arrangement is such that the controller of the CFM wagon 10 is pre-loaded with the recipe of the fodder mixer such that the system recognizes the relative weight of each ingredient in the fodders' recipe. Such information may be manually fed into the controller or by wireless means or otherwise, such as to allow versatility of the nutritive parameters depending on specific requirements of the dairy barn, depending on feedings of the year, type of livestock, etc.
Thus, as concluded from the above, the system is completely automatic and no input of the operator is required, unlike some systems in which an alert signal indicates to the operator to cease chopping a certain ingredient. In the particular invention, the operator receives a signal indicating that chopping (loading) of a particular ingredient has completed and that the CFM wagon 10 is now to travel to another loading station to load another ingredient. However, at the event that a certain ingredient was not completely loaded into the container 20, namely the particular ingredient did not reach its required mass, a constant alert appears, indicating to the operator that that particular ingredient is still to be completed into the container.
As already mentioned hereinabove, it is desired to reduce the overall time required for completing a feeding cycle including collecting material, chopping, mixing, discharging and traveling. In this regard, the CFM of the present invention is designed to perform a feeding sequence at minimal time as a result, among other, of the following features:
With further reference to
Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, mutatis mutandis.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IL08/01456 | 11/5/2008 | WO | 00 | 5/5/2010 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60996165 | Nov 2007 | US |
