EP3954829B1 - Backmounted device for a piste groomer and piste groomer - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a rear attachment for a snow groomer with at least one driven milling shaft, which is mounted rotatably relative to a supporting structure, and with a housing section assigned to the supporting structure, which partially surrounds the milling shaft. The invention also relates to a snow groomer with such a rear attachment. Snow groomers for processing and shaping snow terrain are well known. A snow groomer of this type forms a tracked vehicle which has a chassis frame and a track running gear carried by the chassis frame. A driver's cab sits on the chassis frame at the front. In front of the driver's cab, a front attachment is adjustably mounted on the front of the chassis frame. The front attachment forms a clearing blade. At the rear, the chassis frame is provided with a rear implement carrier on which a rear tiller is arranged. The rear tiller has a rotatable tiller shaft that is driven by a drive device. The auger shaft is positioned in an auger box that partially surrounds the auger shaft. A finisher arrangement is mounted on the rear of the tiller box, which is used to smooth the crushed snow and ice particles. The finisher arrangement can be adjusted hydraulically relative to the tiller box and thus relative to a supporting structure part of the rear tiller. EP 2 781 658 A2 describes a rear attachment according to the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the invention is to create a rear-mounted implement and a snow groomer of the type mentioned at the outset, which enable improved processing of a snow slope.

For the rear attachment, this object is achieved in that - viewed in the forward direction of travel of the snow groomer - at least one driven blade shaft is arranged behind the at least one cutter shaft, which is rotatably mounted relative to the support structure, and whose axis of rotation is aligned at least largely parallel to an axis of rotation of the cutter shaft is. The solution according to the invention enables a snow slope design with an improved slope quality compared to the prior art. In known rear tillers, a single tiller shaft was provided for milling open a differently compacted snow surface that had been churned up by the clearing blade and the subsequent driving over of the chains, for breaking up clumps of snow or compacted patches of snow and then smoothing them out. A reduction in the size of the snow grains on the snow surface was thus a main objective of known rear cutters. In the case of known rear tillers, it has been found that, despite intensive processing and comminution of appropriate snow grain sizes, defects in the form of holes or in the form of lumps were still present. According to the invention is now the function of a tiller shaft, which mechanically reduces the size of the snow grains, combined with an additional shovel shaft arranged behind the tiller shaft - viewed in the direction of travel of the rear attachment - which shovels snow grains processed and milled by the tiller shaft back onto the tiller shaft and thus creates the possibility to transport a larger proportion of milled snow grains in front of the milling shaft compared to a single milling shaft. The solution according to the invention comprises both a single milling shaft that extends over the entire width of the supporting structure and a blade shaft that is positioned behind it and also extends over the entire width of the supporting structure in a corresponding manner, as well as several milling shafts that are arranged side by side as seen over the width of the supporting structure and correspondingly several blade shafts, which are also arranged next to each other in multiple copies behind the arrangement of milling shafts. The invention also includes a auger shaft or shovel shaft, which is combined with a plurality of shovel or auger shafts. In the case of at least two milling shafts and/or in the case of at least two blade shafts, the respective milling shafts or blade shafts are preferably aligned coaxially with one another. According to the invention, it is also possible to align the tiller shafts and/or shovel shafts at an incline relative to a transverse direction of the rear attachment—seen during operation. In the case of the at least one milling shaft, the milling function for the snow grain sizes to be processed dominates according to the invention, and in the case of the at least one shovel shaft, a shovel function in the direction of the milling shaft dominates. The at least one milling shaft and the at least one shovel shaft can be driven in different directions of rotation. Hydraulic motors or electric motors are preferably provided as drive motors for the at least one milling shaft and the at least one shovel shaft. The solution according to the invention avoids compressed snow deposits in the area of a housing section of the supporting structure. The invention is based on the finding that, in the case of known housing sections of known rear cutters, these compressed snow deposits can lead to defects in the form of snow lumps if they break loose unexpectedly. Defects in the form of holes in the snow surface could also arise due to known compressed snow deposits in the tiller box of known rear tillers. According to the invention, this is avoided or at least largely reduced. The invention in particular enhances the transport of snow from the area of the housing section to the front in front of the at least one milling shaft. This increases the amount of loose snow in front of the tiller shaft in order to fill up negative gaps caused by holes or chain bar compaction. In addition, as a side effect, the at least one shovel shaft further breaks down the snow that has already been milled up by the milling shaft.

In an embodiment of the invention, the housing section is designed in such a way that the housing section also partially surrounds the blade shaft. This further improves the scooping and crushing function of the scoop shaft. In addition, it is ensured that snow shoveled up by the shovel shaft cannot escape backwards to a finisher arrangement of the rear attachment, but is shoveled forwards to the milling shaft as desired, in order to be picked up by it and broken up again and thrown forward.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the housing section has a curved front hood section and a curved rear hood section adjoining the front hood section, viewed in the forward direction of travel of the snow groomer, with the front hood section being at least largely coaxial with the axis of rotation of the milling shaft and the rear hood section being at least largely coaxial to the axis of rotation of the vane shaft - each seen in cross section - are curved like a circular arc. This refinement improves the desired snow entrainment. The forward travel direction of the snow groomer corresponds to a forward travel of the rear attachment, since the rear attachment is inevitably pulled along by the snow groomer when it is functionally attached to the rear of the snow groomer.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the front and rear hood sections close together in a wedge-like manner in an intermediate area between the milling shaft and the shovel shaft. The wedge-shaped merger of the front and rear hood sections is provided in the area of a geometric funnel, which is defined by the milling shaft and the shovel shaft when driven in opposite directions. The wedge-like intermediate area consequently improves a guiding function for the grains of snow to be transported forward over the milling shaft.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a drive system for the milling shaft and the shovel shaft is provided, which provides a drive of the milling shaft and the shovel shaft in the same or opposite direction with respect to a direction of rotation. The drive system can provide a common drive motor for the auger shaft and the shovel shaft or at least one separate drive motor for the at least one auger shaft and the at least one shovel shaft, which can be driven in the same or opposite directions via a suitable controller of the drive system and their speeds can be matched to one another .

In a further embodiment of the invention, the drive system drives the milling shaft and the shovel shaft during operation at the same or different speeds, preferably for the Shovel shaft with a lower speed than for the milling shaft. The speeds to be provided depend on the way in which the at least one milling shaft and the at least one shovel shaft are equipped with milling or shovel elements arranged on their outer circumference. In addition, the direction of rotation and speed depend on environmental variables such as snow temperature, humidity, solar radiation and the like.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the drive system for the milling shaft and the shovel shaft each have a separate drive motor. Such a drive motor is preferably designed hydraulically or electrically.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a diameter of the shovel shaft is smaller than a diameter of the milling shaft. This configuration has proven to be advantageous for the desired improvement in the surface quality of the prepared snow slope.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the milling shaft is provided with a multiplicity of milling teeth distributed over its circumference. The cutting teeth are designed and distributed over the entire outer circumference of the cutting shaft in such a way that a consistent and good comminution function, i.e. cutting function, results over the entire length of the cutting shaft for corresponding snow grain sizes that are picked up by the cutting shaft.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the vane shaft is provided with a plurality of vane sections distributed over its outer casing, which are fixedly arranged on the outer casing and protrude outwards from the outer casing. The blade sections are metal elements that are fastened, preferably welded, to an outer casing of the blade shaft and produce a blade function when the blade shaft rotates.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the blade sections are designed as V-shaped or U-shaped web elements that are open to the outside and in one direction of rotation. The web elements are aligned in a V-shape on the outer shell in such a way that they form pocket-like receptacles in the direction of rotation for taking along corresponding snow grain sizes, which results in the desired shovel function.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the milling shaft and/or the shovel shaft are mounted in an oscillating manner in the supporting structure. This further improves the desired processing function of the rear attachment.

The object on which the invention is based is achieved for the snow groomer in that the snow groomer has a rear attachment according to at least one of the embodiments described above.

Fig. 1

zeigt in einer Seitenansicht schematisch eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Pistenraupe mit einer Ausführungsform eines heckseitig an der Pistenraupe montierten erfindungsgemäßen Heckanbaugeräts,

Fig. 2

in perspektivischer, aufgeschnittener Darstellung das erfindungsgemäße Heckanbaugerät gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

schematisch eine Funktionsdarstellung einer Fräswelle und einer Schaufelwelle des Heckanbaugeräts nach Fig. 2,

Fig. 4a bis 4d

verschiedene Varianten für einen Antrieb der Fräswelle und der Schaufelwelle gemäß Fig. 3,

Fig. 5

in perspektivischer Darstellung die Schaufelwelle für das Heckanbaugerät nach den Fig. 2 und 3, und

Fig. 6

eine weitere Ausführung einer Schaufelwelle ähnlich Fig. 5 für das Heckanbaugerät nach den Fig. 2 und 3.

Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the claims and from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated with the aid of the drawings.

1

shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a snow groomer according to the invention with an embodiment of a rear attachment according to the invention mounted on the rear side of the snow groomer,

2

in a perspective cutaway view of the rear attachment according to the invention 1 ,

3

schematically shows a functional representation of a milling shaft and a shovel shaft of the rear attachment 2 ,

Figures 4a to 4d

different variants for a drive of the milling shaft and the blade shaft according to 3 ,

figure 5

in a perspective view of the blade shaft for the rear attachment according to 2 and 3 , and

6

another version similar to a paddle shaft figure 5 for the rear attachment according to the 2 and 3 .

A snowcat 1 after 1 has a chain drive 2, which is arranged on a chassis frame, not specified. The running gear frame carries a driver's cab 3 at the front. The chain drive has a revolving chain on opposite sides of the running gear frame, which is made up of a large number of chain bars aligned in the vehicle transverse direction and a number of flexible chain belts extending in the chain running direction. Each grouser has an inward track bracket. By means of the track bracket, the chain is guided over a drive wheel arranged at the rear, a tensioning wheel positioned at the front and several running wheels arranged in alignment between the tensioning wheel and the drive wheel. The chain drive is controlled via a drive system in such a way that the snow groomer 1 can be moved by means of the chain drive in is driven in the forward or reverse direction. Steering and turning movements of the snow groomer 1 are also made possible by different activation of corresponding drive motors of the drive wheels of the opposite chains. In order to propel the snow groomer 1 forward, the chain bars engage in a snowy ground.

A clearing blade 4 is arranged on the front of the chassis frame of the snow groomer 1 and can be adjusted into different positions with the aid of hydraulic adjusting means. At the rear, the snow groomer 1 has an adjustable rear implement carrier which is arranged on the chassis frame and carries a rear attachment 5 in the form of a rear tiller at the end.

The rear attachment 5 according to Figures 2 to 5 has a supporting structure 9 by means of which the rear attachment 5 can be mounted on the rear attachment carrier of the snow groomer 1 . A housing section F, also referred to as a milling box, is held on the supporting structure 9, which is open at the bottom towards a subsoil and in which a milling shaft 6 and a shovel shaft 7 are arranged. The tiller shaft 6 is arranged in front of the shovel shaft 7, viewed in the direction of movement of the rear attachment 5 and thus in the forward direction of travel of the snow groomer 1. The tiller shaft 6 and the blade shaft 7 extend transversely to the direction of movement and thus when the snow groomer 1 is traveling straight ahead in the transverse direction of the vehicle and, in the exemplary embodiment shown, have axes of rotation that are parallel to one another. Both the milling shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7 have at least largely the same length. How based on Figures 2 to 4d As can be seen, the milling shaft 6 has a diameter which is approximately twice the diameter of the blade shaft 7.

Both the milling shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7 are rotatably mounted at their opposite front ends in side sections of the housing section F. At least one side section of the housing section F is assigned a drive motor for both the auger shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7 in a manner not shown in detail, in order to be able to drive the auger shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 14 . The drive motors are controlled in such a way that they can control the milling shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7 in different directions of rotation and at different speeds.

A finisher arrangement 8 is held on the support structure 9 behind the shovel shaft 7 viewed in the direction of movement of the rear attachment 5 and is attached to a rear end region of the housing section F. The finisher arrangement 8 has a flexible finisher, which is used to smooth the surface of the snow runway processed by the milling shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7 . In addition, the finisher assembly 8 is provided with a transversely extending control beam and corresponding hydraulic control means to To be able to press the finisher down against the snow surface or lift it up. An inclination of the finisher can also be adjusted using the adjusting means and using the crossbar.

How based on Figures 3 and 4a to 4d As can be seen, the housing section F has two hood sections 10 and 11 in a partial area of a circumference of the milling shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7, with a front hood section 10 - seen in cross section - being curved in the shape of a circular arc, at least largely coaxially to an axis of rotation of the milling shaft 6. A rear hood section 11 is likewise curved in the shape of a circular arc, as seen in cross section, with the circular arc-shaped curvature being aligned at least largely coaxially with an axis of rotation of the vane shaft 7 . The front hood section 10 surrounds an upper area of the auger shaft 6 over approximately a quarter circle of a circumference of the auger shaft 6. The rear hood section 11 also surrounds the rear blade shaft 7 in an upper area over approximately a quarter circle of a circumference of the blade shaft 7. Both the front hood section 10 and the rear hood section 11 are positioned radially to the respective axis of rotation of the auger shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7 at such a large distance from an outer circumference of the auger shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7 that working elements of the auger shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7 attached to the outer circumference during rotation do not touch the front hood section 10 and the rear hood section 11. As working elements of the milling shaft 6, the milling shaft 6 has a multiplicity of milling teeth 13, which are welded to an outer casing of the milling shaft 6 or permanently fastened in some other way. The vane shaft 7 has vane elements 14 as working elements, which are also permanently fastened to the outer circumference of the vane shaft 7, in the exemplary embodiment shown by welding.

How based on figure 5 As can be seen, the blade elements 14, which are also referred to as blade sections, are designed as V-shaped web elements made of metal, which open in one direction of rotation of the blade shaft 7 and consequently taper like an arrow in the opposite direction of rotation. The blade elements 14 are distributed over the entire outer circumference of the blade shaft 7, with the embodiment according to FIG figure 5 several rows of blade elements 14 seen in the longitudinal direction of the blade shaft 7 are fastened distributed in slight wavy lines over the outer surface of the blade shaft 7 . How based on figure 5 can be seen, the slight wavy lines are designed so that adjacent wavy lines are aligned in opposite directions to each other, so that each valley and crest of the slight wavy lines face each other at the same axial height. Using a dash-dotted representation in figure 5 this arrangement of wavy lines is clarified.

The front hood section 10 and the rear hood section 11 adjoin one another in a wedge-like manner in an intermediate region 12, such as in particular 3 is removable. The wedge-like intermediate area 12 is provided in the area of a geometric funnel which is formed between the front milling shaft 6 and the rear shovel shaft 7 . This geometric funnel is represented by the arrow in 3 recognizable. The wedge-like intermediate region 12 causes a deflection of corresponding snow grain sizes in the Figures 3 and 4a to 4d can be seen, in the direction of the front and / or rear hood section 10, 11, depending on which direction of rotation perform the milling shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7.

At the in 3 The direction of rotation of the auger shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7 shown in the illustration, the auger shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7 rotate in opposite directions to one another, with the representation according to 3 the milling shaft 6 is driven counterclockwise and the bucket shaft 7 is driven clockwise. With such directions of rotation, the geometric funnel described above comes into play. The shovel shaft 7 shovels the snow grain sizes upwards with its clockwise V-shaped, open shovel sections 14 , as a result of which an increased amount of snow is transported forward over the upper region of the auger shaft 6 and under the front hood section 10 . This increased amount of snow can fill up gaps in a particularly good way. In addition, it is prevented that clumps of snow get stuck in the area of the housing section, here in the area of the front hood section 10 and the rear hood section 11 .

The functional representation according to Figure 4a corresponds to the representation described above 3 . Here, too, the milling shaft 6 is driven counterclockwise and the shovel shaft 7 is driven clockwise. In the functional representation according to Figure 4b both the milling shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7 are driven in the same direction as one another, in the present case counterclockwise. Such a control of the milling shaft 6 and the shovel shaft 7 makes sense when snow conditions are present in which, for physical reasons, a lot of snow is thrown forward over the milling shaft 6, so that a further increase in the amount of snow thrown forward is undesirable. The functionality according to Figure 4b is also advantageous when slope conditions are present in which the snow is not to be worked up as much, but rather is to be largely passed through the milling shaft 6 and smoothed over the finisher arrangement 8 .

The based on Figures 4c and 4d The functions shown are basically possible, but are rarely used in normal snow slope processing. When functioning according to Figure 4c rotate both the milling shaft 6 and the Blade shaft 7 in the circumferential direction. When functioning according to Figure 4d the milling shaft 6 rotates in the circumferential direction, whereas the shovel shaft 7 rotates counterclockwise in the opposite direction.

The milling shaft 6 and the bucket shaft 7 can be driven at the same speed or at different speeds. The fact that the rear shovel shaft 7 is driven at a lower speed than the front auger shaft 6 has proven to be advantageous for working on snow slopes.

A blade shaft 7a according to FIG 6 is alternative to the blade shaft 7 according to FIG figure 5 at the rear attachment 1 according to the Figures 1 to 4 usable. The blade shaft 7a has a diameter that corresponds to the diameter of the blade shaft 7 . The essential difference in the blade shaft 7a is that the blade shaft 7a is provided with blade elements 14a on its outer surface, which differ from the blade elements 14 . The blade elements 14a are welded to the outer casing of the blade shaft 7a in the same way as is the case with the blade shaft 7 . However, the blade elements 14a are not designed in a V-shape, but rather as blade teeth with—seen in the longitudinal direction of the blade shaft 7a—a relatively large tooth width. Similar to the blade elements 14, the blade elements 14a are also arranged in a wave-like manner distributed over the outer circumference of the blade shaft 7a. Each blade element 14a is provided with a gable that tapers to a point in the manner of a house roof, with a width of each blade element 14a not changing over its height. Each blade element 14a is aligned with its longitudinal extent in the circumferential direction of the blade shaft 7a and has a blunt end contour protruding approximately at right angles from the outer casing of the blade shaft 7a both in the direction of rotation and counter to the direction of rotation of the blade shaft 7a. Both the front and the rear end contour of each blade element 14a transition radially outward—relative to a central longitudinal axis of the blade shaft 7a—into an orientation that is inclined relative to a radial longitudinal plane of the blade shaft 14a, so that they converge to form a point. The end contours have a relatively large width, which does not taper from the outer surface of the blade shaft 14a to the tip. Depending on the direction of rotation of the blade shaft 7a, the respective end contours consequently define the blade function of the blade elements 14a. The pointed design of the shovel elements 14a also enables an additional crushing function for snow particle sizes, so that the shovel shaft 14a also has a crushing function for the amount of snow and ice to be processed in addition to the shovel function.

Claims (13)

1. Rear-mounted attachment (5) for a tracked piste grooming vehicle (1), comprising at least one driven tilling shaft (6), which is mounted to be rotatable relative to a support structure (9), and comprising a housing portion (F) that is associated with the support structure (9) and surrounds the tilling shaft (6) in portions, characterised in that, when viewed in the forward travel direction of the tracked piste grooming vehicle (1), at least one driven shovel shaft (7) is arranged behind the at least one tilling shaft (6), which shovel shaft is mounted to be rotatable relative to the support structure (9), the axis of rotation of which is oriented at least largely in parallel with an axis of rotation of the tilling shaft (6), and which shovels snow grains that are worked and tilled by the tilling shaft (6) onto the tilling shaft (6) on its rear side again.
2. Rear-mounted attachment (5) according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing portion (F) is designed such that the housing portion (F) additionally surrounds the shovel shaft (7) in part.
3. Rear-mounted attachment (5) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the housing portion (F) comprises a curved front cover portion (10) and a curved rear cover portion (11) adjoining the front cover portion (10) when viewed in the forward travel direction of the tracked piste grooming vehicle (1), wherein the front cover portion (10) is curved at least largely coaxially with the axis of rotation of the tilling shaft (6) and the rear cover portion (11) is curved at least largely coaxially with the axis of rotation of the shovel shaft (7) in the manner of an arc of a circle in each case, when viewed in cross section.
4. Rear-mounted attachment (5) according to claim 3, characterised in that the front and the rear cover portion (10, 11) are connected to one another in the manner of a wedge in an intermediate region (12) between the tilling shaft (6) and the shovel shaft (7).
5. Rear-mounted attachment (5) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a drive system is provided for the tilling shaft (6) and the shovel shaft (7) and provides drive to the tilling shaft (6) and the shovel shaft (7) in a direction identical or opposite to a direction of rotation.
6. Rear-mounted attachment (5) according to claim 5, characterised in that, during operation, the drive system drives the tilling shaft (6) and the shovel shaft (7) at identical or different rotational speeds, preferably at a lower rotational speed for the shovel shaft (7) than for the tilling shaft (6).
7. Rear-mounted attachment (5) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the drive system for the tilling shaft (6) and the shovel shaft (7) comprises a separate drive motor in each case.
8. Rear-mounted attachment (5) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a diameter of the shovel shaft (7) is less than a diameter of the tilling shaft (6).
9. Rear-mounted attachment (5) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tilling shaft (6) is provided with a plurality of tilling teeth (13) arranged to be distributed over its circumference.
10. Rear-mounted attachment (5) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the shovel shaft (7) is provided with a plurality of shovel portions (14), which are distributed over its outer surface, are fixedly arranged on the outer surface and protrude outwards from the outer surface.
11. Rear-mounted attachment (5) according to claim 10, characterised in that the shovel portions (14) are designed as V-shaped or U-shaped fin elements which are open to the outside and in a direction of rotation.
12. Rear-mounted attachment (5) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tilling shaft (6) and/or the shovel shaft (7) are mounted in the support structure in a floating manner.
13. Tracked piste grooming vehicle (1) comprising a rear-mounted attachment (5) according to any of the preceding claims.

Images