U.S. patent application number 14/390881 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-30 for feed-mixing wagon.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lely Patent N.V.. The applicant listed for this patent is Lely Patent N.V.. Invention is credited to Jan Lambertus Pastoor, Howard Sie, Karel Van Den Berg, Jan Martinus Van Kuilenburg.
Application Number | 20150115084 14/390881 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48044988 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150115084 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pastoor; Jan Lambertus ; et
al. |
April 30, 2015 |
FEED-MIXING WAGON
Abstract
A feed-mixing wagon for animal feed, including a frame with a
drive, a container with a continuous wall with a feed-unload
opening, a feed auger which is arranged in the container for mixing
and cutting animal feed and including an auger shaft and an auger
body which is arranged around it in a spiral which has several
blades. The blades include at least one blade of a first, long type
and at least one blade of a second, short type, and at least one
blade of the short type is situated closer to the bottom than at
least one blade of the long type. As a result of the various blades
in the described configuration, the cutting and mixing behaviour
can be adjusted in an optimum way.
Inventors: |
Pastoor; Jan Lambertus;
(Maassluis, NL) ; Van Kuilenburg; Jan Martinus;
(Maassluis, NL) ; Van Den Berg; Karel; (Maassluis,
NL) ; Sie; Howard; (Maassluis, NL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lely Patent N.V. |
Maassluis |
|
NL |
|
|
Assignee: |
Lely Patent N.V.
Maassluis
NL
|
Family ID: |
48044988 |
Appl. No.: |
14/390881 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
March 14, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NL2013/050180 |
371 Date: |
October 6, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
241/101.76 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01F 13/004 20130101;
B01F 7/245 20130101; B01F 2215/0008 20130101; B01F 7/162 20130101;
B01F 7/0025 20130101; B01F 7/00616 20130101; B01F 13/0032 20130101;
B01F 15/00538 20130101; B01F 2215/0024 20130101; B01F 15/00448
20130101; B01F 2015/00597 20130101; A01K 5/004 20130101; B01F 7/247
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
241/101.76 |
International
Class: |
A01K 5/00 20060101
A01K005/00; B01F 7/24 20060101 B01F007/24; B01F 13/00 20060101
B01F013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 20, 2012 |
NL |
2008677 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A feed-mixing wagon for mixing and unloading animal feed, and
comprising: a frame with a drive, a container which is arranged on
the frame and is open at the top, with a bottom and a continuous
wall arranged thereon and a closable feed-unload opening in the
wall, at least one feed auger which is arranged in the container
and is rotatably drivable in a direction of rotation about a
substantially vertical axis of rotation, which feed auger is
arranged to mix and cut animal feed which has been introduced into
the container and comprising an auger shaft and an auger body which
is arranged around it in a spiral and has an outer edge, on which
outer edge a plurality of blades are provided, wherein the blades
comprise at least one blade of a first, long type and at least one
blade of a second, short type, wherein the long type is longer than
the short type, and wherein at least one blade of the short type is
situated closer to the bottom than at least one blade of the long
type.
15. The feed-mixing wagon according to claim 14, wherein a blade of
the first type is provided as top blade on the outer edge.
16. The feed-mixing wagon according to claim 14, wherein exactly
two blades of the first type are provided on the outer edge.
17. The feed-mixing wagon according to claim 16, wherein one of the
two blades of the first type is provided substantially halfway up
the feed auger.
18. The feed-mixing wagon according to claim 14, wherein at least
as many blades of the second type are provided on the outer edge as
blades of the first type, in particular more blades of the second
type than blades of the first type.
19. The feed-mixing wagon according to claim 18, wherein a first
number of the blades of the second type are provided below a bottom
blade of the first type, and a second number of the blades of the
second type are provided above the bottom blade of the first type,
wherein the first number is at least equal to and is preferably
larger than the second number.
20. The feed-mixing wagon according to claim 14, wherein the
blades, viewed in vertical projection on the feed auger, are
distributed substantially evenly over an outer periphery of the
feed auger.
21. The feed-mixing wagon according to claim 20, wherein at least
the blades of the first type, viewed in vertical projection on the
feed auger, are distributed substantially evenly over the outer
periphery of the feed auger.
22. The feed-mixing wagon according to claim 14, comprising a motor
arranged on the frame for rotatably driving the feed auger, wherein
the drive of the frame comprises a motor, in particular wherein the
feed-mixing wagon is an autonomous feed-mixing wagon.
23. A feed-mixing wagon for mixing and unloading animal feed, and
comprising: a frame with a drive, a container which is arranged on
the frame and is open at the top, with a bottom and a continuous
wall arranged thereon and a closable feed-unload opening in the
wall, at least one feed auger which is arranged in the container
and is rotatably drivable in a direction of rotation about a
substantially vertical axis of rotation, which feed auger is
arranged to at least mix animal feed which has been introduced into
the container and comprising an auger shaft and an auger body which
is arranged around it in a spiral and has, viewed in the direction
of rotation, a bottom front edge which is situated closest to the
bottom during rotation of the feed auger and extends in a
substantially horizontal plane, wherein a greatest chord of the
bottom front edge extends through the auger body and wherein a line
through said chord extends, viewed in the direction of rotation, in
front of the axis of rotation.
24. The feed-mixing wagon according to claim 23, wherein the bottom
front edge is continuously curved, in particular with a local
radius of curvature directed radially towards the auger body.
25. The feed-mixing wagon according to claim 24, wherein the feed
auger comprises a transition which extends around the auger shaft,
between the bottom front edge and the auger body, which transition
in particular comprises an edge face which stands at an oblique
angle with the horizontal as well as an adjacent horizontal face
portion which extends between the edge face and an end radius of
the auger body which is arranged as an auger helix body.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a feed-mixing wagon for mixing and
unloading animal feed, and comprising a frame with a drive, a
container which is arranged on the frame and is open at the top,
with a bottom and a continuous wall arranged thereon and a closable
feed-unload opening in the wall, at least one feed auger which is
arranged in the container and is rotatably drivable in a direction
of rotation about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, which
feed auger is arranged to mix and cut animal feed which has been
introduced into the container and comprising an auger shaft and an
auger threaded body which is arranged around it in a spiral and has
an outer edge, on which outer edge a plurality of blades are
provided.
[0002] Such feed-mixing wagons are known in the prior art. They are
used in particular to mix, cut and unload silage and other animal
feed to animals. To this end, auger(s) with one or more blades are
provided in the container.
[0003] In practice, it has been found that the mixing and cutting
behaviour of such feed-mixing wagons is not always satisfactory.
Often, the required power in particular is relatively high, which
reveals itself in a relatively high fuel consumption or a longer
cutting and mixing time if the power or fuel consumption is
limited. It is an object of the present invention to provide a
feed-mixing wagon of the kind mentioned in the introduction which
does not suffer from the abovementioned drawbacks or at least only
to a lesser degree.
[0004] The invention achieves this object by means of a feed-mixing
wagon according to claim 1, in particular a feed-mixing wagon for
mixing and unloading animal feed, and comprising a frame with a
drive, a container which is arranged on the frame and is open at
the top, with a bottom and a continuous wall arranged thereon and a
closable feed-unload opening in the wall, at least one feed auger
which is arranged in the container and is rotatably drivable in a
direction of rotation about a substantially vertical axis of
rotation, which feed auger is arranged to mix and cut animal feed
which has been introduced into the container and comprising an
auger shaft and an auger threaded body which is arranged around it
in a spiral and has an outer edge, on which outer edge a plurality
of blades are provided, wherein the blades comprise at least one
blade of a first, long type and at least one blade of a second,
short type, wherein the long type is longer than the short type,
and wherein at least one blade of the short type is situated closer
to the bottom than at least one blade of the long type.
[0005] With such a feed-mixing wagon, the blade configuration can
be adapted in an optimum way on the container in particular. In
practice, it has been found advantageous not to use the same size
of blade in all instances. With vertical augers, for example, it is
advantageous if the container narrows towards the bottom, which is
also a particular embodiment. With such containers, the feed in the
container will be compacted more towards the bottom due to the
weight of the feed situated above it. As a result thereof, it is
easier to cut and long blades would result in much more resistance,
leading to an increase in the fuel consumption. In addition, the
containers (in this case) widen towards the top. As a result
thereof, the feed which is picked up by the auger at the bottom
will mix more readily in the larger, wider space at the top and
drop down again. In this large, wide space, the density of the feed
is lower and the blades may, for example, be larger. Thus, it is
not only possible to cut in a larger partial volume, but cutting
also does not particularly require much more fuel or power. All
this will be explained below in more detail, partly by means of
particular embodiments which are mentioned, for example, in the
dependent claims.
[0006] For example, a blade of the first type is provided as top
blade on the outer edge. However, the possibility of using a short
blade as top blade is not excluded, but, as has been described
above, it is advantageous with regard to the ratio of cutting power
and required motor power if the blade or the blades at the top
is/are longer than the blade or the blades at the bottom. An
embodiment thereof is one in which the top blade is of the first
type. It should be noted here that, in this application, the length
of a blade is understood to mean, for example, the physical length
of the part, but in alternative embodiments also the effective
length, or the length over which the blade extends from the outer
edge of the auger body. The reason for this is that it is possible
that blades of the same length have been provided which are,
however, either fitted radially further or less far towards the
inside and/or at different angles and are to this end
advantageously adjustable, so that the operative length of the
blades may in those cases also be regarded as being different.
However, the length of the effective cutting edge of the blades
will be the same in those cases. Thus, however, in the context of
the present invention, the length is in particular understood to be
the total length of the blade part, so that in particular the total
length of the at least one short blade is smaller than the total
length of the at least one long blade. For example, the short blade
is approximately 20 cm and the long blade approximately 40 cm long,
but other lengths and ratios are not excluded. In embodiments,
exactly two blades of the first type are provided on the outer
edge. This embodiment has the advantage of having a very favourable
ratio between required motor power, cutting power and material
costs. The reason for this is that it has been found that with 3 or
more long blades, it is still possible for the increased yield to
rise slightly, and therefore these embodiments can certainly not be
excluded, but the resistance in particular and consequently the
required motor power rises more. In addition, the longer, heavier
blades require more material, are heavier, and are also subjected
to greater loads due to the greater resistance, which may cause
them to break more rapidly. In a practical case, it was found that,
if a second long blade was added, the yield (the cutting power,
which can be seen as an associated shortening of the required
cutting time, etc.) increased by ca. 30%, whereas adding a third
long blade only resulted in another 5% increased yield.
[0007] As has already been mentioned, advantageously one of the
blades of the first type is provided as the top blade,
advantageously substantially at the top of the auger, that is to
say, for example, as the highest operative point of the auger, but
in any case in the top 10% of the auger threaded body. In
embodiments, one of the two blades of the first type is provided
substantially halfway up the feed auger, that is to say at between
1/3 and 2/3 of the height of the auger, more particularly the auger
threaded body. With such a positioning of the second long blade, it
is possible, at least for the long blades, to provide an optimum
cutting action relative to the required power.
[0008] Incidentally, it should be noted here that the number of
blade types is likewise not particularly limited. For example,
three or more types of blades may be provided. However, there are
logistical advantages to limiting the number of blade types and it
has been found in practice that two blade types suffice for most
purposes.
[0009] In particular embodiments, at least as many blades of the
second type are provided on the outer edge as blades of the first
type. In this case, use is made of the fact that these shorter
blades can be fitted relatively freely on the feed auger as they
offer less resistance than the long blades. In particular, there
are more blades of the second type than blades of the first type.
As a result thereof, cutting action may be provided at more than,
for example, only one or two locations, that is to say by the long
blades, without the resistance and thus the required power
increasing excessively.
[0010] In particular, a first number of the blades of the second
type are provided below a bottom blade of the first type, and a
second number of the blades of the second type are provided above
the bottom blade of the first type, wherein the first number is at
least equal to and is preferably larger than the second number.
This in fact indicates that the short blades are preferably
provided mainly at the bottom, where the greater density of the
feed renders the provision of (many) long blades superfluous, thus
saving power.
[0011] In embodiments, the blades, viewed in vertical projection on
the feed auger, are distributed substantially evenly over an outer
periphery of the feed auger. More particularly, at least the blades
of the first type, viewed in vertical projection on the feed auger,
are distributed substantially evenly over the outer periphery of
the feed auger. Thus, it is possible to ensure the mixing and
cutting behaviour in an optimum way, with as little as possible
formation of plugs or other irregularities occurring during
rotation of the feed auger. In this case, it is never possible to
entirely predict the behaviour, since feed is not a homogenous
mass, in particular with a vertical density gradient, but also
because the blades will make a different contribution to the torque
balance and force balance due to their different lengths. It is
nevertheless helpful if at least the different types of blades are
arranged (virtually) symmetrically. Very advantageously, the
feed-mixing wagon according to the invention comprises a motor
arranged on the frame for rotatably driving the feed auger, wherein
the drive of the frame comprises a motor. In particular, the
feed-mixing wagon is an autonomous feed-mixing wagon. These
embodiments make optimum use of the advantage provided by the use
of different blades, namely that the power delivered by the drive
of the feed auger can be used in an optimum way. This is due to the
fact that if the motor is provided on the feed-mixing wagon itself,
the power supply will in particular almost always also be provided
on the feed-mixing wagon. In this case, not only is the usable
power limited, but the amount of energy which can be used without
"refuelling" is also limited. More particularly, if the feed-mixing
wagon comprises an electrical power store, and the feed auger and
the feed-mixing wagon are directly or indirectly driven entirely
electrically, optimum efficiency is advantageous, such as according
to the invention. However, if the energy is stored in the form of
solar cells, fuel, etc., together with an associated motor, energy
efficiency is advantageous. Even if the power supply and/or drive
of the feed auger and/or the feed-mixing wagon is entirely
external, in particular with a feed-mixing wagon pulled by a
tractor, energy efficiency is advantageous, since this will result
in a lower fuel consumption of said tractor. It should be noted
here, that the term "drive" in this application not only denotes
said motor on the feed-mixing wagon itself, but also a coupling for
coupling to an external motor, such as in particular to a power
take-off of a tractor or other agricultural vehicle. In addition,
the feed-mixing wagon is provided with wheels or optionally
caterpillar tracks or the like in order to be able to displace it.
These may also be driven by an external drive or by a motor which
is provided on the feed-mixing wagon. In this case, separate motors
may be provided, either one or more for driving the wheels or the
like, and for driving the feed auger.
[0012] As has already been indicated above, a container which
narrows towards the bottom is an advantageous embodiment. However,
it is possible for the container not to narrow, that is to say to
have substantially vertical side walls. It is also possible for the
feed auger itself to narrow towards the top. This may, for example,
be achieved by making the auger body/auger threaded body on a
cylindrical auger shaft narrow or "shorten" towards the top.
Incidentally, this narrowing does not have to be along the entire
length, but may, for example, only be provided along a part. Such a
cylindrical auger shaft has the advantage that it is easier to
provide, for example, a drive and/or motor of the feed auger inside
said shaft. However, it may also be the case, and in some cases may
be advantageous, if the auger shaft itself narrows and the auger
body also narrows along the height thereof, or remains equally
wide, or even widens towards the top while the outer periphery
remains the same overall. Each of these cases offers excellent
mixing behaviour and partly as a result thereof a favourable
cutting behaviour of the feed as well.
[0013] Another problem which may occur with feed-mixing wagons
comprising an auger is that the feed in the container is not
reliably picked up by the feed auger. This is obviously very
important in order to achieve good mixing behaviour, and
consequently cutting behaviour, of the feed.
[0014] It is therefore another object of the invention to provide a
feed-mixing wagon of the type mentioned in the introduction, in
which this behaviour is improved.
[0015] The invention therefore also relates to a feed-mixing wagon
according to claim 10, in particular a feed-mixing wagon for mixing
and unloading animal feed, and comprising a frame with a drive, a
container which is arranged on the frame and is open at the top,
with a bottom and a continuous wall arranged thereon and a closable
feed-unload opening in the wall, at least one feed auger which is
arranged in the container and is rotatably drivable in a direction
of rotation about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, which
feed auger is arranged to at least mix animal feed which has been
introduced into the container and comprising an auger shaft and an
auger body which is arranged around it in a spiral and has, viewed
in the direction of rotation, a bottom front edge which is situated
closest to the bottom during rotation of the feed auger and extends
in a substantially horizontal plane, wherein a greatest chord of
the bottom front edge extends through the auger body and wherein a
line through said chord extends, viewed in the direction of
rotation, in front of the axis of rotation. In the prior art, it is
customary to the auger body, which is virtually always defined by a
screw thread, i.e. by a (horizontal) radius on the auger shaft
which rotates about a shaft at an optionally regular pitch. The
bottom end of such an auger threaded body is then also a radius on
the auger shaft. Said bottom edge is then always at right angles to
the direction of movement of the bottom edge, and is positioned
radially to the axis of rotation. As a result thereof, the
tipping-up behaviour for feed is not advantageous. According to the
invention at least a line runs through the greatest chord of the
bottom front edge in front of the axis of rotation. As a result
thereof, said bottom front edge is at a slight angle to the
direction of movement and, in fact, feed will be able to slide off
slightly towards the outside, which aids a more fluent tipping up,
that is to say when tipping the feed onto the auger body. As a
result thereof, the mixing behaviour will also be more even.
[0016] In this case, it should be noted that the expression "the
greatest chord" is understood to mean a line section which extends
between the two ends of the bottom front edge. In this case, said
bottom front edge does not have to be a(n arch of a) circle, but
may, if desired, also have a different curvature or even be
straight. The chord does have to run through the auger body, since
there will be a hollowing if it does not, and feed will collect
precisely in said hollowing during rotation.
[0017] In embodiments, the bottom front edge is continuously
curved, in particular with a local radius of curvature directed
radially, that is to say outwards, towards the auger body. In this
embodiment, there is a more gradual transition of the feed to the
auger body, so that the tipping up also occurs in a more gradual
way. In this case, the radius of curvature may remain the same or
change, but preferably does not change in sign, that is to say
direction, anywhere in order to prevent the above-described
formation of a cavity.
[0018] In particular, the feed auger comprises a transition which
partly extends around the auger shaft, between the bottom front
edge and the auger body, which transition in particular comprises
an edge face which stands at an oblique angle with the horizontal
as well as an adjacent horizontal face portion which extends
between the edge face and an end radius of the auger body. In this
case, the auger body is arranged as an auger helix body, that is to
say as having a helical shape. Said screw thread ends at the end
radius and there passes into the rest of the auger body, in this
case therefore the transition, which extends further to the bottom
front edge. Said embodiment ensures an uninterrupted auger body
from the bottom front edge to the top with a smoother feed
tipping-up behaviour according to the invention, which embodiment
also offers the freedom of shaping said front edge to one's own
liking within the scope of the present invention. The reason for
this is that, in the prior art, the front edge runs directly along
the end radius and there is no possibility for another bottom front
edge. Such an embodiment according to the present invention also
functions as a scraper, partly because of the edge face standing at
an angle which extends even closer to the bottom of the container
and ensures in an optimum way that all the feed is caught, while in
addition ensuring that no or at least little feed remains behind
between the auger body and the bottom. After all, said feed would
not only not be mixed, but would, in addition, also cause
unnecessary resistance. In the prior art, scrapers are known per
se. It should be noted here that it is also possible to provide
even more scrapers on the auger shaft in order to achieve an even
better mixing behaviour. However, as far as is known, they were not
combined with the auger body, as is the case with this embodiment
of the present invention.
[0019] Furthermore, it should be noted here that, just as with the
embodiments according to claims 1-9, the drive may comprise wheels
and/or caterpillar tracks, as well as a motor or a coupling to an
external motor. More generally, it should be noted here that each
of the embodiments according to claims 1-9 and the associated
description can also be applied to the feed-mixing wagons according
to the second aspect of the invention, associated with claims 10-12
and the associated description. Furthermore, it is also possible in
each of the embodiments to arrange two or more vertical feed augers
in the container, even though this will usually mean that the
feed-mixing wagon will become larger overall, and also that the
required motor will have to provide more power.
[0020] The invention will now be explained in more detail with
reference to the drawing which shows a few non-limiting
embodiments, and in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of a first
embodiment of a feed-mixing wagon according to the invention,
[0022] FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a sectional view of another
feed-mixing wagon 1, and
[0023] FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows a top view of a feed auger
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0024] The feed-mixing wagon 1 comprises a frame 2 with wheels 3,
as well as a container 4 with a side wall 5 and a bottom 6. A feed
auger 7 with an auger shaft 8 is arranged inside the container 4
and is able to rotate about an axis of rotation 9. Arranged on the
auger shaft 8 is an auger body 10 comprising a long blade 11 and a
short blade 12. Reference numeral 13 denotes a feed-unload opening
and reference numeral 14 denotes a power take-off coupling.
[0025] The feed-mixing wagon 1 can be used to mix and cut, for
example, silage for dairy animals which cut and mixed feed can then
be unloaded via the closable feed-unload opening via a closure (not
shown here). By means of the power take-off coupling 14, which
contains a drive shaft which is rotatable in the direction of arrow
A, the feed wagon 1 can be coupled to, for example, a tractor.
[0026] Here, the illustrated feed auger 7 with the auger body 10
comprises two different blades, namely a long blade 11 at the top
and a short blade 12 situated underneath. According to the
invention, such a configuration with different blades offers
advantages when cutting feed in the container 4. Said container 4
has a continuous side wall 5 which narrows towards the bottom,
which may offer advantages when mixing the feed. FIG. 2
diagrammatically shows a sectional view of another feed-mixing
wagon 1. As is the case in the entire drawing, similar parts are
denoted by the same reference numerals. Furthermore, axial holders
15 are shown here for the shafts of the wheels 3 (not shown here),
as well as a drive line which comprises a drive 17, a battery 18
and a coupling piece 19. Finally, reference numeral 16 denotes a
scraping part.
[0027] The diagrammatic cross section illustrated here shows a
hollow auger shaft in which the drive is accommodated, which drive
comprises a motor and an optional transmission. In addition, the
power supply is provided in the form of a battery 18. It should be
noted that the power supply in all such embodiments may in addition
also be provided externally, at least in order to recharge the
batteries, but advantageously also to mix and cut which, after all,
requires more power than unloading. The vehicle illustrated here is
an autonomous vehicle, and comprises a control unit (not shown
here).
[0028] The auger shaft 8 in this case comprises an auger body 10 in
the form of a spiral or screw thread to which two long blades 11
and four short blades 12 are attached. At the bottom, a scraper
part 16 is indicated which will be explained in more detail
below.
[0029] In this embodiment, in which the auger shaft 8 is attached
to the drive 17 by means of the coupling piece 19, two long blades
11 are fitted to the auger body 10. One of these is the top blade
and the second long blade 11 is situated slightly over halfway up
the auger shaft. Of the four short blades 12, two are situated
between the two long blades 11 and two underneath the bottom long
blade 11. These and other arrangements are possible according to
the advantages mentioned in the introduction to the description. It
should be noted that all of the blades are in a substantially
horizontal position. This can be achieved by making them narrow and
positioning them radially, but this has the drawback that they are
relatively fragile. In a sturdier embodiment, the blades are wider
and will be slanting slightly without requiring special measures,
due to the fact that they follow the curvature of the auger body
10. If a horizontal position is desired, then this can be achieved
by a curved attachment part of the blades which compensates for the
curvature of the auger body.
[0030] FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows a top view of a feed auger
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0031] In this case, two long blades 11 are likewise fitted to the
auger body 10 which has a widening auger body part 10'. In
addition, three short blades 12 are visible, as well as an
embodiment of a bottom part of the feed auger, comprising an end
radius 20, a face portion 21, an upright edge face 22 and a bottom
front edge 23. Furthermore, reference numeral 24 denotes a scraper
face portion, reference numeral 25 a scraper edge portion and
reference numeral 26 a scraper front edge.
[0032] The visible blades are distributed more or less evenly over
the auger body 10. In this case, it is for example possible to take
into account an even load on the auger body 10. Furthermore, it can
be seen that the auger body 10 widens towards the bottom and blends
into a widening auger body part 10'. The widening auger body part
10' and the auger body 10 as such form a helical unit, the auger
threaded body. The truly helical part finishes at the end radius 20
and there blends into a horizontally extending face portion 21
which forms an arcuate segment around the auger shaft 8. The face
portion 21 in turn ends in an obliquely upright edge face 22 with a
bottom front edge 23. The bottom front edge 23 also extends in an
arch shape, in which case it is able to pick up feed when the feed
auger is rotated in the intended direction of rotation, that is to
say in this case clockwise, and gradually fling it onto the auger
body 10 which is gradually performing a throwing-up movement. Due
to the fact that the bottom front edge 23 is curved and extends
radially outwards, viewed in the intended direction of movement,
the feed in the container will gradually be thrown up. In addition,
the bottom front edge 23 and the upright edge face 22 perform a
scraping function on the bottom of the container. This scraping
function is also performed by the second scraper, in this case
arranged as a scraper face portion 24 and fitted to the auger shaft
8, and ending in a scraper edge part 25 which likewise stands at an
angle and has a front scraper front edge 26. Said scraper edge is
arranged substantially diametrically opposite the bottom front edge
23 in order to achieve an even scraping and throwing-up behaviour.
The second scraper may be supplemented by even more scrapers, but
this is also optional.
[0033] The exemplary embodiments illustrated here are non-limiting
examples. The scope of protection of the invention is also
determined by the attached claims.
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