DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DEFLECTING A CONVEYOR CHAIN AND ANIMAL FEED TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Abstract

A device for deflecting a conveyor chain for transporting animal feed and an animal feed transport system for transporting animal feed includes a housing with a first housing opening and a second housing opening, and a deflection wheel. The deflection wheel is arranged within the housing between the first housing opening and the second housing opening, and is mounted rotatably about a vertical axis of rotation. The deflection wheel has a first conveyor chain guide element which extends radially outwards from an outer circumference of the deflection wheel, wherein the first conveyor chain guide element has a first conveyor chain guide section. The deflection wheel further comprises a second conveyor chain guide element which extends radially outwards from the outer circumference of the deflection wheel, wherein the second conveyor chain guide element comprises a second conveyor chain guide section.

Claims

1.-19. (canceled)

20. A device for deflecting a conveyor chain for transporting animal feed, the device comprising: a housing with a first housing opening and a second housing opening; and a deflection wheel adapted to guide and deflect a conveyor chain from the first housing opening of the housing to the second housing opening of the housing, wherein the deflection wheel is arranged within the housing between the first housing opening and the second housing opening, and wherein the deflection wheel is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation; wherein the deflection wheel has a first conveyor chain guide element extending radially outwards from an outer circumference of the deflection wheel, wherein the first conveyor chain guide element has a first conveyor chain guide section; and the deflection wheel has a second conveyor chain guide element extending radially outwards from the outer circumference of the deflection wheel, wherein the second conveyor chain guide element has a second conveyor chain guide section.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the first housing opening and the second housing opening are arranged rotated relative to each other with respect to the axis of rotation by at least 75 and at most 150.

22. The device according to claim 20, wherein the first conveyor chain guide element and the second conveyor chain guide element are arranged at a predetermined distance from one another in the direction of the axis of rotation; and wherein the distance in the vertical direction between the lower side of the first conveyor chain guide element and the upper side of the second conveyor chain guide element is at least 22 mm.

23. The device according to claim 20, wherein the first conveyor chain guide element extends radially outwards from the outer circumference of the deflection wheel parallel to a radial direction which is aligned orthogonally to the axis of rotation; and wherein the second conveyor chain guide element extends radially outwards from the outer circumference of the deflection wheel parallel to a radial direction which is aligned orthogonally to the axis of rotation.

24. The device according to claim 20, wherein the first conveyor chain guide section is arranged on an underside of the first conveyor chain guide element; wherein the second conveyor chain guide section is arranged on an upper side of the second conveyor chain guide element; and wherein the first conveyor chain guide section and the second conveyor chain guide section are arranged facing each other.

25. The device according to claim 20, wherein the first conveyor chain guide element extends further radially outwards than the second conveyor chain guide element; wherein the extension of the first conveyor chain guide element in the radially outward direction is at least four times greater than the extension of the second conveyor chain guide element in the radially outward direction; wherein the extension of the first conveyor chain guide element in the radially outward direction is at least 34 mm or at most 50 mm; and wherein the extension of the second conveyor chain guide element in the radially outward direction is at least 3 mm and/or at most 8 mm.

26. The device according to claim 20, wherein the first conveyor chain guide section and the second conveyor chain guide section are formed and adapted to receive a conveyor chain between the first conveyor chain guide section and the second conveyor chain guide section.

27. The device according to claim 20, wherein the housing has a housing body comprising a thermoplastic polymer and designed as a plastic injection-molded component; and wherein the housing comprises a base plate detachably connected to the housing body and which comprises or consists of steel having a hardness according to EN ISO 6506-1 of less than 400 HBW.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein no chain guide rail is arranged on the inner surface of the housing body.

29. The device according to claim 27, wherein the housing in the region of the first housing opening has at least one feed trough guide element formed integrally with the housing body for guiding a feeding trough; and wherein the housing in the region of the second housing opening has at least one feed trough guide element formed integrally with the housing body for guiding a feed trough.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the at least one feed trough guide element arranged in the region of the first housing opening is configured as at least one projection projecting into the first housing opening with an L-shaped cross section; and wherein the at least one feed trough guide element arranged in the region of the second housing opening is configured as at least one projection projecting into the second housing opening with an L-shaped cross section.

31. The device according to claim 20, further comprising: a device holding arrangement, comprising at least one stand and a foot element connected to the at least one stand; and at least one wire bracket connected to the housing and designed to fix the device to the at least one stand of the device holding arrangement.

32. An animal feed transport system for transporting animal feed, comprising: at least one device according claim 20; and the conveyor chain comprising a plurality of interconnected chain links, wherein the conveyor chain extends through the at least one device; wherein the conveyor chain is arranged at least in sections between the first conveyor chain element and the second conveyor chain element and between the first conveyor chain guide section and the second conveyor chain guide section.

33. The animal feed transport system according to claim 32, further comprising: at least one feeding trough in the form of a U-profile connected to the at least one device; and a drive unit for driving the conveyor chain, wherein the drive unit is adapted to move the conveyor chain at a speed of at least 10 m/min and at a speed of at most 40 m/min.

34. The animal feed transport system according to claim 32, further comprising: at least one chain tensioning device for tensioning the conveyor chain; and a feed container, wherein the conveyor chain for receiving animal feed from the feed container extends through the feed container.

35. The animal feed transport system according to claim 33, wherein the at least one feeding trough is directly connected to the housing; and wherein the at least one feeding trough is insertable into the housing in a region of the first housing opening and/or the second housing opening.

36. A method for deflecting a conveyor chain for transporting animal feed, the method comprising: providing a device for deflecting a conveyor chain comprising: a housing with a first housing opening and a second housing opening; and a deflection wheel adapted to guide and deflect a conveyor chain from the first housing opening of the housing to the second housing opening of the housing, wherein the deflection wheel is arranged within the housing between the first housing opening and the second housing opening, and wherein the deflection wheel is mounted rotatably about a vertical axis of rotation; wherein the deflection wheel has a first conveyor chain guide element which has a first conveyor chain guide section; wherein the deflection wheel has a second conveyor chain guide element which has a second conveyor chain guide section; arranging a conveyor chain comprising a plurality of interconnected chain links within the housing so that the conveyor chain extends from the first housing opening to the second housing opening, wherein the conveyor chain is arranged along the deflection wheel at least in sections between the first conveyor chain element and the second conveyor chain element, and in between the first conveyor chain guide section and the second conveyor chain guide section; and moving the conveyor chain by means of a drive unit at a speed of at least 10 m/min and of at most 40 m/min.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the conveyor chain is only in direct contact with the deflection wheel when the conveyor chain is moved within the device and the conveyor chain is not in direct contact with other parts of the device.

38. Use of a device according to claim 20 in a barn for breeding animals and for transporting animal feed in the barn.

39. A device for deflecting a conveyor chain for transporting animal feed, the device comprising: a housing with a first housing opening and a second housing opening; and a deflection wheel adapted to guide and deflect a conveyor chain from the first housing opening of the housing to the second housing opening of the housing, wherein the deflection wheel is arranged within the housing between the first housing opening and the second housing opening, and wherein the deflection wheel is mounted rotatably about a vertical axis of rotation; wherein the deflection wheel has a first conveyor chain guide element extending radially outwards from an outer circumference of the deflection wheel, wherein the first conveyor chain guide element has a first conveyor chain guide section, such that the first conveyor chain guide section is arranged on an underside of the first conveyor chain guide element; wherein the deflection wheel has a second conveyor chain guide element extending radially outwards from the outer circumference of the deflection wheel, wherein the second conveyor chain guide element has a second conveyor chain guide section, such that the second conveyor chain guide section is arranged on an upper side of the second conveyor chain guide element; and wherein the conveyor chain comprises a plurality of interconnected chain links and extends through the device and is disposed between the underside of the first conveyor chain guide element and the upper side of the second conveyor chain guide element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0080] Preferred embodiments are explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures. The drawings are not necessarily true to scale. In the Figures, identical or essentially functionally identical or similar elements are designated with the same reference numbers. They show:

[0081] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from inclined above of a device for deflecting a conveyor chain;

[0082] FIG. 2 is a top view of a device for deflecting a conveyor chain;

[0083] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from inclined below of a device for deflecting a conveyor chain;

[0084] FIG. 4 is a view from below of a device for deflecting a conveyor chain;

[0085] FIG. 5 is a perspective view from inclined above of a device for deflecting a conveyor chain;

[0086] FIG. 6 is a side view of a device for deflecting a conveyor chain;

[0087] FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the view shown in FIG. 6;

[0088] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a device for deflecting a conveyor chain;

[0089] FIG. 9 is a detailed view of the view shown in FIG. 8;

[0090] FIG. 10 is a highly schematic sectional view of a device for deflecting a conveyor chain;

[0091] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an animal feed transport system; and

[0092] FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of a method for deflecting a conveyor chain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0093] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from inclined above of a device 10 for deflecting a conveyor chain. In the illustration shown here, the device 10 is shown without a cover so that the inside of the device 10 is visible.

[0094] The device 10 is used to deflect a conveyor chain 90 by 90. The conveyor chain 90 is used to transport animal feed. The device 10 comprises a housing 20 with a first housing opening 21 and a second housing opening 22. The first housing opening 21 is formed by a first housing opening section 21a. The second housing opening 22 is formed by a second housing opening section 22a. In the region of the first housing opening 21a, a first feeding trough 61 is arranged and inserted into the housing body 25. In the region of the second housing opening 22a, a second feeding trough 62 is arranged and inserted into the housing body 25.

[0095] The device 10 comprises a deflection wheel 30 for guiding and deflecting the conveyor chain 90 from the first housing opening 21 of the housing 20 to the second housing opening 22 of the housing 20. The deflection wheel 30 is arranged inside the housing 20 between the first housing opening 21 and the second housing opening 22. The deflection wheel 30 is rotatably mounted about a vertically aligned axis of rotation 100.

[0096] The housing 20 has a housing body 25, which is made of a thermoplastic polymer and has been manufactured using a plastic injection molding process. The housing body 25 has an inner surface 24 on which no chain guide rail is arranged. The housing body 25 has a bulge 23 to receiving the deflection wheel 30 in the housing 20 at this position.

[0097] The conveyor chain 90 is guided and deflected by the deflection wheel 30 in such a way that the conveyor chain 90 is only in contact with the deflection wheel 30 inside the housing 20 and there is no friction between the conveyor chain 90 and the housing 20. The conveyor chain 90 has a large number of interconnected chain links 91, 92.

[0098] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the device 10 shown in FIG. 1 for deflecting a conveyor chain 90. In the illustration shown here, the device 10 is also shown without a cover, so that the inside of the device 10 is visible.

[0099] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view from inclined below of the device 10 shown in FIG. 1 for deflecting a conveyor chain. A base plate 28 is arranged on the lower section of the housing 20, which is detachably connected to the housing body 25 by means of a screw connection.

[0100] FIG. 4 shows a view from below of the device 10 shown in FIG. 1 for deflecting a conveyor chain. In this view, it can be seen that the device 10 has two wire brackets 55a, 55b, which are connected and/or connectable to the housing 20. These wire brackets 55a, 55b are provided to fix the housing 20 to a device holding arrangement.

[0101] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view from inclined above of the device 10 shown in FIG. 1 for deflecting a conveyor chain 90. In this view, however, in contrast to the view shown in FIG. 1, a cover 29, which is detachably connected to the housing body 25, is shown. Furthermore, a device holding arrangement 50 is shown in FIG. 5, which has two stands 51a, 51b and a foot element 52 connected to the stands 51a, 51b. The housing 20 is connected to the device holding arrangement 50 by means of the two wire brackets 55a, 55b.

[0102] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the device 10 shown in FIG. 5 for deflecting a conveyor chain 90.

[0103] FIG. 7 shows a detailed view A from the view shown in FIG. 6. The radially outer section of the deflection wheel 30 can be seen in this view. The deflection wheel 30 has a first conveyor chain guide element 31, which extends radially outwards from an outer circumference 35 of the deflection wheel 30. The first conveyor chain guide element 31 has a first conveyor chain guide section 31a.

[0104] The deflection wheel 30 also has a second conveyor chain guide element 32, which also extends radially outwards from the outer circumference 35 of the deflection wheel 30. The second conveyor chain guide element 32 has a second conveyor chain guide section 32a.

[0105] The conveyor chain 90 is arranged between the first conveyor chain guide element 31 and the second conveyor chain guide element 32 in such a way that the conveyor chain 90 is only guided and deflected within the housing 20 by the deflection wheel 30 and is not in contact with other components of the housing 20.

[0106] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of a device 10 for deflecting a conveyor chain 90. The device 10 has a housing 20 with a housing body 25 as well as a cover 29 and a base plate 28. A deflection wheel 30 is arranged rotatably about an axis of rotation 100 within the housing 20. The deflection wheel 30 is rotationally symmetrical.

[0107] FIG. 9 shows a detailed view B from the view shown in FIG. 8. The deflection wheel 30 has a first conveyor chain guide element 31, which extends radially outwards from an outer circumference 35 of the deflection wheel 30. The first conveyor chain guide element 31 has a first conveyor chain guide section 31a, which is arranged on the underside of the first conveyor chain guide element 31.

[0108] The deflection wheel 30 also has a second conveyor chain guide element 32, which also extends radially outwards from the outer circumference 35 of the deflection wheel 30. The second conveyor chain guide element 32 has a second conveyor chain guide section 32a, which is arranged on the upper side of the second conveyor chain guide element 32.

[0109] The extension L1 of the first conveyor chain guide element 31 in the radially outward direction is many times greater, in the embodiment shown here more than four times greater, than the extension L2 of the second conveyor chain guide element 32 in the radially outward direction.

[0110] The conveyor chain 90 is arranged between the first conveyor chain guide element 31 and the second conveyor chain guide element 32, in particular between the first conveyor chain guide section 31a and the second conveyor chain guide section 32a, in such a way that the conveyor chain 90 is only guided and deflected within the housing 20 by the deflection wheel 30 and is not in contact with other components of the housing 20.

[0111] FIG. 10 shows a highly schematic sectional view of a device 10 for deflecting a conveyor chain 90. Only schematic parts of the housing 20 are shown, including the base plate 28 and the inner surface 24 of the housing body 25. The deflection wheel 30 has a first conveyor chain guide element 31, which extends radially outwards from an outer circumference 35 of the deflection wheel 30. The first conveyor chain guide element 31 has a first conveyor chain guide section 31a, which is arranged on the underside of the first conveyor chain guide element 31.

[0112] The deflection wheel 30 also has a second conveyor chain guide element 32, which also extends radially outwards from the outer circumference 35 of the deflection wheel 30. The second conveyor chain guide element 32 has a second conveyor chain guide section 32a, which is arranged on the upper side of the second conveyor chain guide element 32.

[0113] The extension L1 of the first conveyor chain guide element 31 in the radially outward direction is many times greater, in the embodiment shown here more than four times greater, than the extension L2 of the second conveyor chain guide element 32 in the radially outward direction.

[0114] The first conveyor chain guide element 31 and the second conveyor chain guide element 32 extend in a horizontal direction and are spaced apart from each other by a distance D in a vertical direction.

[0115] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an animal feed transport system. The animal feed transport system has four devices 10. An endless conveyor chain extends between these devices 10. A plurality of feeding troughs 61, 62 are provided between the devices 10, which serve to provide the feed for the animals. The feeding troughs 61, 62 are designed in the form of a U-profile.

[0116] Furthermore, an electric drive unit 80 is provided for driving the conveyor chain, wherein the drive unit 80 is designed to move the conveyor chain at a speed of 12 to 18 m/min or at a speed of 36 m/min, for example.

[0117] In addition, two chain tensioning devices 70 are provided for tensioning the conveyor chain, wherein the chain tensioning devices 70 are each arranged between two feeding troughs 61, 62 and are designed to push the feeding troughs 61, 62 apart and thereby tension the conveyor chain 90.

[0118] Furthermore, a feed container 75 is provided, wherein the conveyor chain for receiving animal feed from the feed container 75 extends through the feed container 75.

[0119] FIG. 12 shows a schematic representation of a method 200 for deflecting a conveyor chain, in particular for transporting animal feed. The method comprises the following steps:

[0120] In a step 210, providing a device 10 for deflecting a conveyor chain 90, the device 10 comprising a housing 20 with a first housing opening 21 and a second housing opening 22, and a deflection wheel 30, wherein the deflection wheel 30 is arranged within the housing 20 between the first housing opening 21 and the second housing opening 22, and wherein the deflection wheel 30 is mounted rotatably about a, preferably vertical, axis of rotation 100, wherein the deflection wheel 30 has a first conveyor chain guide element 31 which has a first conveyor chain guide section 31a, and wherein the deflection wheel 30 has a second conveyor chain guide element 32 which has a second conveyor chain guide section 32a.

[0121] In a step 220, arranging a conveyor chain 90, preferably comprising a plurality of interconnected chain links 91, 92, so that the conveyor chain 90 extends from the first housing opening 21 to the second housing opening 22, wherein the conveyor chain 90 is arranged along the deflection wheel 30 at least in sections between the first conveyor chain element 31 and the second conveyor chain element 32, and in particular between the first conveyor chain guide section 31a and the second conveyor chain guide section 32a.

[0122] In a step 230, moving the conveyor chain 90 by means of a drive unit 80 at a speed of at least 10 m/min, preferably at least 12 m/min, and of at most 40 m/min, preferably at most 38 m/min. Preferably, the conveyor chain 90 is moved at a speed in the range from 12 m/min to 18 m/min or at a speed of 36 m/min. The conveyor chain 90 is moved for a maximum of 75 minutes per day, preferably for a maximum of 20 minutes per day, particularly preferably for a maximum of 15 minutes per day.

[0123] In a step 240, stopping 240 the conveyor chain 90 by stopping the drive unit 80. Steps 230 and 240 are then carried out continuously and alternately one after the other.