DRIVE WHEEL FOR DRIVING A FEED CHAIN FOR THE DRY FEEDING OF LIVESTOCK

Abstract

A drive wheel for driving a feed chain for dry-feeding livestock includes a base wheel having an axial passage for receiving a drive shaft and, a gear rim having a toothed external circumferential face, wherein the external circumferential face has a multiplicity of tooth elements. Each tooth element has two tooth tips and one chain clearance disposed between the two tooth tips. At least the gear rim composed of an elastic material.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A drive wheel for driving a feed chain for dry-feeding livestock, the drive wheel comprising: a base wheel having an axial passage for receiving a drive shaft; and a gear rim having a toothed external circumferential face, wherein the external circumferential face comprising a multiplicity of tooth elements, each tooth element having two tooth tips and one chain clearance disposed between the two tooth tips; wherein the gear rim is composed of an elastic material.

17. The drive wheel of claim 16, wherein the elastic gear rim material has a SHORE hardness A between 90 and 120.

18. The drive wheel of claim 16, wherein each tooth element has a baffle disk bearing face, the baffle disk bearing face comprising a first portion and a second portion.

19. The drive wheel of claim 18, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the baffle disk bearing face are inclined toward one another.

20. The drive wheel of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and the second portion of the baffle disk bearing face has a curved surface.

21. The drive wheel of claim 20, wherein the curved surface of the least one of the first and the second portion of the baffle disk bearing face has a variable radius.

22. The drive wheel of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and the second portion of the baffle disk bearing face has a contoured surface.

23. The drive wheel of claim 16, wherein the base wheel is also composed of an elastic material.

24. The drive wheel of claim 23, wherein the elastic material for each of the gear rim and the base wheel are identical.

25. The drive wheel of claim 24, wherein the gear rim and the base wheel are integrally configured and the elastic material for each of the gear rim and the base wheel comprises a plastic material.

26. The drive wheel of claim 25, wherein the plastic material is polyurethane and the gear rim and the base wheel are formed as a casting.

27. The drive wheel of claim 16, wherein the gear rim comprises a first part and a second part and a gear rim separating plane is disposed between the first and the second part of the gear rim orthogonally to the axial passage, and the base wheel comprises a first part and a second part and a base wheel separating plane is disposed between the first and the second part of the base wheel rim orthogonally to the axial passage.

28. The drive wheel of claim 27, wherein the first part of the gear rim and the first part of the base wheel are integrally configured and the second part of the gear rim and the second part of the base wheel are integrally configured.

29. The drive wheel of claim 28, wherein the first part of the gear rim and the first part of the base wheel are configured as a single casting and the second part of the gear rim and the second part of the base wheel are configured as a single casting.

30. The drive wheel of claim 16, wherein a first lateral face of the base wheel is recessed in relation to the gear rim to form a first receptacle for a first stabilizer disk, and an opposed second lateral face of the base wheel is recessed in relation to the gear rim to form a second receptacle for a second stabilizer disk, the first stabilizer disk being disposed in the first receptacle of the first lateral face of the base wheel, and the second stabilizer disk being disposed in the second receptacle of the second lateral face of the base wheel.

31. A feeding system for dry-feeding livestock comprising a drive wheel according to claim 16 and a feed chain driven by the drive wheel.

32. A gear rim fora drive wheel for driving a feed chain for dry-feeding livestock, wherein the drive wheel comprises a base wheel having an axial passage for receiving a drive shaft and the gear rim, the gear rim comprising a toothed external circumferential face having a multiplicity of tooth elements, each tooth element having two tooth tips and one chain clearance disposed between the two tooth tips, and wherein the gear rim is composed of an elastic material.

33. A method for driving a feed chain for dry-feeding livestock, the method comprising the step of: driving a feed chain by means of the drive wheel and a gear rim in accordance with claim 32.

34. A method for refurbishing a drive wheel for driving a feed chain for dry-feeding livestock, the method comprising the steps of: removing a pre-mounted gear rim from a drive wheel comprising the pre-mounted gear rim and a base wheel having an axial passage for receiving a drive shaft; and disposing a replacement gear rim in accordance with claim 32 on the base wheel.

35. A method for producing a drive wheel for driving a feed chain for dry-feeding livestock, wherein the drive wheel comprises a base wheel and a gear rim, the gear rim comprising a toothed external circumferential face having a multiplicity of tooth elements, each tooth element having two tooth tips and one chain clearance disposed between the two tooth tips, and wherein the gear rim is composed of an elastic material, the method comprising the steps of: shaping the base wheel having an axial passage for receiving a drive shaft; shaping the gear rim, wherein the gear rim comprises a toothed external circumferential face having a multiplicity of tooth elements, each tooth element having two tooth tips and one chain clearance disposed between the two tooth tips.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Preferred exemplary embodiments will be described in an exemplary manner by means of the appended Figures in which:

[0051] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a feeding system for dry-feeding;

[0052] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a drive unit;

[0053] FIG. 3 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a drive unit;

[0054] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a drive wheel;

[0055] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a feed chain;

[0056] FIG. 6 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a feed chain;

[0057] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a feed chain in engagement with an exemplary embodiment of a drive wheel under minor stress; and

[0058] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a feed chain in engagement with an exemplary embodiment of a drive wheel under high stress.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0059] Identical elements, or elements of substantially equivalent function, are provided with the same reference signs in the figures. General descriptions typically refer to all embodiments, to the extent that differences are not explicitly stated.

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a feeding system 1000 for dry-feeding pigs. The feeding system 1000 comprises a feed silo 1001 from which dry feed is conveyed to feeding stations by way of a feed line 1002.

[0061] The feed line 1002 is typically configured as a conveyor pipe 1012, as best shown in FIG. 3, and can run by way of a plurality of deflection elbows 1003, for example. A feed chain 400 runs within the conveyor pipe 1012 of the feed line 1002.

[0062] The feed chain 400, which can, in particular, also be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, has mutually spaced-apart baffle disks 401 which are connected to one another by way of chain links 410 or cable portions 420.

[0063] The feeding system 1000 has a drive unit 1004 by way of which the feed chain 400 is moved along the feed line 1002. The feed chain 400 is preferably configured as a continuous feed chain. A feeding system 1000 can, in particular, have feeding stations for individual animal feeding 1010, feeding stations for supply of automatic feeders 1020 for breeding piglets, feeding stations for the supply of automatic feeders 1030 for fattening, and/or feeding stations for the supply of on-demand feeding stations 1040 for pregnant sows in group pens.

[0064] The feeding system 1000 furthermore preferably has a control unit 1005 which by way of control signal lines 1006 is connected to the drive unit 1004 and/or the feed silo 1001, in particular, a metering unit of the feed silo 1001.

[0065] As can be seen, in particular, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drive unit 1004 within a frame 1400 has a drive wheel 1 and an idler wheel 500. The idler wheel 500 is tensioned by way of a tensioning unit 600. A drive 1300 drives the drive wheel 1 by way of the drive shaft 1301 which is received in an axial passage 201 of the drive wheel 1. The drive wheel 1 is connected to the drive 1300 of the drive shaft 1301 by way of fastening elements 99.

[0066] As can be seen, in particular, in FIG. 3 and also in the arrows plotted therein, the drive wheel 1 serves for driving a conveyor chain 400 which in the conveyor pipe 1012 runs into the drive unit 1004 and for converting torque that is transmitted from the drive 1300 to the drive wheel 1 by way of the drive shaft 1301 to an advancing movement of the conveyor chain 400. The idler wheel 500 is provided in the drive unit 1004 so that the conveyor chain 400 maintains the fundamental direction of movement thereof. In order for the conveyor chain 400 be driven, the drive wheel 1 has a plurality of tooth elements 110 which come to engage with baffle disks 401 of the feed chain 400.

[0067] As can be seen, in particular, in FIG. 4, the drive wheel 1 has a base wheel 200 having an axial passage 201 for receiving the drive shaft 1301. The drive wheel 1 furthermore has a gear rim 100 having a toothed external circumferential face. The external circumferential face has a multiplicity of tooth elements 110, which in the circumferential direction are mutually spaced apart in an equidistant manner. A tooth root surface 101 is in each case configured between the tooth elements 110. Each tooth element has two tooth tips 111 which are spaced apart in the axial direction and between which a chain clearance 112 is disposed. As can be seen, in particular, in FIGS. 3, 7, and 8, the chain links 410, or the cable portions 420, respectively, of the feed chain 400 run in the chain clearances 112 of the tooth elements 110 when the baffle disks 401 are in engagement with the corresponding tooth elements 110.

[0068] Each of the tooth elements 110 has a baffle disk bearing face 120, which has a first portion 121 and a second portion 122. The first portion 121 in relation to the axial passage 201 in the axial direction has a smaller spacing than the second portion 122. The tooth tips 111 are configured in the second portion 122. The first portion 121 and the second portion 122 are inclined toward one another. The first and/or the second portion 121, 122 can, in particular, be curved, for example, having a preferably variable radius. The baffle disk bearing face 120, in particular, the first and/or the second portion 121, 122, can have a contoured surface.

[0069] As can furthermore be seen, in particular, in FIG. 4, a first lateral face 210 of the base wheel 200 is recessed in relation to the gear rim 100 and has a first receptacle 211 for a first stabilizer disk 212. A second receptacle for a second stabilizer disk is preferably configured on the side of the base wheel 200 that is opposite in the radial direction, a second stabilizer disk being disposed in said second receptacle. The receptacles and stabilizer disk are preferably disposed so as to be coaxial with the axial passage 201.

[0070] The drive wheel 1 is configured so as to be split into two parts, having a first and a second part 1a, 1b. The gear rim 100 is likewise configured so as to be split into two parts, having a first and a second part 100a, 100b, and the base wheel 200 is also configured so as to be split into two parts 200a, 200b, wherein only the second part 200b of the base wheel 200 can be seen in FIG. 4. The base wheel 100 is split into the two parts 1a, 1b, along the separating plane 700, wherein the separating plane 700 is disposed so as to be orthogonal to the axial passage 201. The separating plane 700 simultaneously forms the separating plane between the first and the second parts 100a, 100b of the gear rim 100, and between the first and the second parts of the base wheel 200. This design embodiment split into two parts has the advantage that the tooth tips 111 and chain clearances 112 can be more easily produced in the primary forming, in particular, casting in an open mold, of the respective parts.

[0071] The first part 100a of the gear rim 100 and the first part 200a (not shown) of the base wheel 200 are preferably configured so as to be integral and produced as a casting, in particular, as a vacuum casting, by casting in an open mold. The second part 100b of the gear rim 100 and the second part 200b of the base wheel 200 are preferably configured so as to be integral and produced as a casting, in particular, as a vacuum casting by casting in an open mold.

[0072] The gear rim 100, in particular, the two parts 100a, 100b thereof, and preferably also the base wheel 200, in particular, the two parts thereof 200a, 200b, are preferably configured from the same material, that is to say, that the gear rim material and the base material are preferably identical.

[0073] The gear rim material is an elastic material, in particular, having a SHORE hardness A between 90 and 120. The elastic gear rim material is preferably a plastics material, in particular, an elastic polymer such as preferably polyurethane.

[0074] On account of the preferred integral design embodiment of the respective first parts of the gear rim 100 and of the base wheel 200, and of the respective second parts of the gear rim 100 and of the base wheel 200, the drive wheel 1 illustrated in FIG. 4 overall thus has an elastic material. It is, therefore, preferable that stabilizer disks are disposed in the receptacles of the base wheel 200 and are preferably configured so as to be less elastic and thus ensure an increased stability of the base wheel 200 are provided. The stabilizer material of the stabilizer disks is preferably steel, in particular, a steel casting.

[0075] The stabilizer disks 212, best shown in FIGS. 7, 8, preferably also serve for transmitting a force from the drive shaft 1301 to the base wheel 200. The transmission of force preferably takes place from the drive shaft 1301 to the hub 800 by way of a shaft-to-hub connection. A connector plate 801 is preferably connected to the hub 800 in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting and/or materially integral manner. The transmission of force to the stabilizer disk 212 preferably takes place by way of a load protection 802 which is configured as a constricted sheet-metal part, for example. It is preferably provided that the stabilizer disk 212 thereafter transmits the force to the base wheel 200.

[0076] Various advantages result on account of the use of an elastic gear rim material and preferably also on account of the design embodiment of the tooth elements 110, in particular, of the baffle disk bearing face 120, described herein.

[0077] The engagement between the baffle disks 401 and the tooth elements 110, in particular, the baffle disk bearing face 120, can be improved on account thereof, on the one hand.

[0078] The elastic deformation of the tooth elements 110, in particular, under high stress, and the design embodiment of the baffle disk bearing faces 120, as is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, furthermore enables that a larger number of baffle disks 401 come to engage with a correspondingly larger number of tooth elements 110.

[0079] FIG. 7 shows a situation under only minor stress (thus of a very short feed chain 400 and/or a only very minor quantity of feed be conveyed, for example), in which only two baffle disks 401 are in engagement with two tooth elements 110, as is highlighted by A and B.

[0080] By contrast, a situation under high stress in which the tooth elements 110 which are in engagement with baffle disks 401 are elastically deformed is shown in FIG. 8, such that overall a number of seven baffle disks 401 are in engagement with the corresponding tooth elements 110, as is highlighted in FIG. 8 by A to G.

[0081] In this way, a significantly longer feed chain 400 can be moved, or a larger quantity of feed can be conveyed, respectively. The elastic design embodiment of the gear rim 100 simultaneously reduces the wear on the feed chain 400 as well as on the conveyor pipe 1012, since any beating of the conveyor chain 400 is reduced or minimized. On account thereof, the noise pollution is also reduced, which in turn benefits the well-being of the animals.