Bale processor and flail for use with same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9802201-B2
Application number	US-201514616489-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2015
Priority date	Oct 31, 2013
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

In one embodiment, a bale processor includes a hopper for receiving baled material, a discharge opening for outputting chopped material, and primary and secondary rotors. The primary rotor has an axis of rotation and a rotatable flail to chop the material from the bale received in the hopper. The secondary rotor is rotatable to chop the material after being chopped by the primary rotor, and the secondary rotor is offset from the primary rotor such that the primary rotor is between the secondary rotor and the discharge opening. The flail includes a pivot tube for rotating about the axis, first and second hammers secured to the pivot tube, and a paddle. The paddle is positioned between and secured to the first and second hammers to generate airflow when the first and second hammers are rotated at an operating speed, thereby increasing a throw distance of the chopped material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flail for use in a bale processor to yield a chopped filamentary material, the flail comprising:
a pivot tube for rotating about an axis, the pivot tube extending continuously between a first hammer and a second hammer; and
a paddle extending directly from the pivot tube and positioned between and secured to the first and second hammers, the paddle generating airflow when the first and second hammers are rotated at an operating speed, thereby increasing a throw distance of the chopped filamentary material.

2. The flail of claim 1 , wherein the first hammer has a cutting face having a hardfacing material deposited thereon to form a hardfacing layer.

3. The flail of claim 2 , wherein the deposited hardfacing material comprises a carbide material.

4. The flail of claim 3 , wherein the hardfacing material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: a tungsten carbide based hardfacing material, a silicon carbide based hardfacing material, and a boron carbide based hardfacing material.

5. The flail of claim 4 , wherein:
the first hammer comprises steel;
the hardfacing material is silicon carbide based; and
the silicon carbide is deposited on the steel along with a welding wire composition.

6. The flail of claim 5 , wherein the paddle and the pivot tube collectively extend between about 25% to 50% of a length of the first hammer.

7. The flail of claim 1 , wherein the first hammer and the second hammer each have:
a first longitudinal edge face;
a second longitudinal edge face; and
a distal top edge face extending between and adjoining the first longitudinal edge face and the second longitudinal edge face.

8. The flail of claim 7 , wherein the distal top edge face of the first hammer and the distal top edge face of the second hammer has a hardfacing layer thereon.

9. The flail of claim 8 , wherein:
at least one of the first longitudinal edge face and the second longitudinal edge face of the first hammer has a hardfacing layer thereon; and
at least one of the first longitudinal edge face and the second longitudinal edge face of the second hammer has a hardfacing layer thereon.

10. The flail of claim 1 , wherein the paddle is substantially planar.

11. The flail of claim 1 , wherein the first hammer has a first slot, the second hammer has a second slot, the paddle has a first tab engaging the first slot, and the paddle has a second tab engaging the second slot.

12. The flail of claim 1 , wherein the first and second hammers are hardfaced using at least one of a laser cladding process and a gas metal arc welding hardfacing process.

13. The flail of claim 1 , wherein the flail further comprises a void between the first and second hammers, the void allowing an intermeshing element to pass between the first and second hammers, the intermeshing element being selected from the group consisting of a rotatable flail and a stationary knife.

14. The flail of claim 13 , wherein:
the first and second hammers each have a proximal end and a distal end;
the pivot tube is adjacent the first hammer proximal end and the second hammer proximal end; and
the paddle includes a main portion and an extension stretching from the main portion toward the first hammer distal end, the void being defined beside the extension to allow the intermeshing element to pass between the first and second hammers.

15. The flail of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second hammers each have a proximal end and a distal end;
the pivot tube is adjacent the first hammer proximal end and the second hammer proximal end;
the paddle includes a main portion, a first extension stretching from the main portion toward the first hammer distal end, and a second extension stretching from the main portion toward the second hammer distal end;
a void is defined between the first extension and the second extension to allow the intermeshing element to pass between the first and second hammers.

16. A bale processor, comprising:
a hopper for receiving a bale of baled material;
a discharge opening for outputting chopped material; and
a processing section having primary and secondary rotors; the primary rotor having an axis of rotation and a rotatable flail to chop the material from the bale received in the hopper; the secondary rotor being rotatable to chop the material after being chopped by the primary rotor; the secondary rotor being offset from the primary rotor such that the primary rotor is between the secondary rotor and the discharge opening;
wherein the flail comprises:
a pivot tube for rotating about the axis of rotation, the pivot tube extending continuously between a first hammer and a second hammer; and
a paddle extending directly from the pivot tube and positioned between and secured to the first and second hammers to generate airflow when the first and second hammers are rotated at an operating speed, thereby increasing a throw distance of the material chopped by the flail.

17. The bale processor of claim 16 , wherein the first hammer has a cutting face having a hardfacing material deposited thereon to form a hardfacing layer.

18. The bale processor of claim 17 , wherein:
the first hammer comprises steel;
the hardfacing material is silicon carbide based; and
the silicon carbide is deposited on the steel along with a welding wire composition.

19. The bale processor of claim 16 , wherein the first hammer has a first slot, the second hammer has a second slot, the paddle has a first tab engaging the first slot, and the paddle has a second tab engaging the second slot.

Assignees

• Vermeer Mfg Co

Inventors

• Stam Phil
• Graham Lucas
• Muchtar Wanti
• Landon David
• Johnson Bjorn
• Egging Phil
• Schiferl Tyler
• Mushitz Luke

Classifications

• B02C13/28 Primary

  Shape or construction of beater elements · CPC title

• A01F29/005

  for disintegrating and cutting up bales of hay, straw or fodder (for unrolling round bales A01D87/127) · CPC title

• A01K5/002

  with mixing or shredding element rotating on horizontal axis · CPC title

• A01K5/005

  where fodder, e.g. bales, is conveyed by conveyor or slide to mixing or shredding elements on transversal and horizontal axes · CPC title