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EP-4741060-A1 - SELF-PROPELLED SHREDDER DEVICE

EP4741060A1EP 4741060 A1EP4741060 A1EP 4741060A1EP-4741060-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-propelled shredder device (1) for shredding dry or wet green waste material, including leaves, woody branches, palm tree prunings, olive tree prunings, bamboo prunings and others. The device (1) comprises a frame (10) supporting a plurality of rotating movement members (8A, 8B) whose rotation causes the advancement on the ground of said device (1). The device (1) further comprises drive means (16A, 16B) connected to said rotating members (8A, 8B) to rotate them. The device includes a shredding chamber (15) in which shredding means (30) of the waste material are housed. This chamber communicates with a loading hopper (13) for loading the material to be shredded and with a discharge conduit (14) for discharging the material. The device is provided with a thermal engine (MT) supported by said frame (10) and mechanically connected to said shredding means (30) for driving them and shredding the material. According to the invention, the drive means (16A, 16B) which cause the advancement on the ground are of an electrical type.

Inventors

  • Becchiati, Manuel

Assignees

  • Agrinova S.r.l.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251105

Claims (14)

  1. Self-propelled shredder device (1) for shredding green waste material, wherein said shredder device (1) comprises: - a frame (10) supporting a plurality of rotating movement members (8A, 8B) whose rotation causes the advancement on the ground of said device (1); - drive means (16A, 16B) connected to said rotating members (8A, 8B) to rotate them; - a shredding chamber (15) in which shredding means (30) of said waste material are housed; - a loading hopper (13) for loading waste material to be shredded and a discharge conduit (14) for discharging shredded waste material, wherein said loading hopper (13) and said discharge conduit (14) are in communication with said shredding chamber (15); - a thermal engine (MT) supported by said frame (10) and mechanically connected to said shredding means (30) for driving them; characterized in that said drive means (16A, 16B) are of an electrical type.
  2. Shredder device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said shredder device (1) comprises feed means (40) for conveying said waste material into said shredding chamber (15) and a drive module (MA) for operating said feed means, wherein said drive module (MA) is of an electrical type.
  3. Shredder device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said shredder device (1) comprises a battery module (B) including one or more power batteries, wherein said battery module (B) is electrically connected to a power supply line (L1) of said drive means (16A, 16B).
  4. Shredder device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said shredder device (1) comprises an electric alternator (AE) which includes a rotor (RO) and a stator (SO), wherein said rotor (RO) is mechanically connected to said thermal engine (MT) and wherein said stator (SO) is electrically connected to a power supply line (L1) of said drive means (16A, 16B).
  5. Shredder device (1) according to claim 3, wherein said shredder device (1) comprises an electric alternator (AE) which includes a rotor (RO) and a stator (SO), wherein said rotor (RO) is mechanically connected to said thermal engine (MT) and wherein said stator (SO) is electrically connected to said power supply line (L1) of said drive means (16A, 16B).
  6. Shredder device (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, when dependent on 2, wherein said drive module (MA) is powered by said power supply line (L1).
  7. Shredder device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said battery module (B) and said stator (SO) of said alternator (AE) are connected in parallel to said power supply line (L1).
  8. Shredder device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said rotating members (8A, 8B) comprise two tracked units, each comprising a drive wheel (81), and wherein said drive means (16A, 16B) comprise a pair of electric engines each connected to a drive wheel of one of said tracked units.
  9. Shredder device (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein said frame (10) comprises a main plate (101) above which said thermal engine (MT) is installed, wherein said battery module (B) is installed below said main plate (101) in a position at least partially below said thermal engine (MT).
  10. Shredder device (1) according to claim 9, wherein said frame (10) comprises a pair of opposing and spaced apart support sidewalls (101A, 101B) emerging above with respect to said main plate (101), wherein said shredding chamber (15) is installed and supported between said support sidewalls (101A, 101B) in a position close to said thermal engine (MT).
  11. Shredder device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein said shredding chamber (15) comprises an inlet section (15A) and an outlet section (15B) respectively communicating with said loading hopper (13) and with said discharge conduit (13), wherein said shredding means (30) comprise a shredding rotor (31) including one or more cutting elements, wherein said shredding rotor (31) is arranged within said shredding chamber (15) in a position close to said inlet section (15A), said feed means (40) comprising a vane rotor (45) arranged outside said shredding chamber (15) in a position close to said inlet section (15A), wherein said vane rotor (45) and said shredding rotor (31) have relative rotation axes (201, 202) parallel to each other.
  12. Shredder device (1) according to claim 11, wherein said shredding rotor (31) is connected to an output shaft of said thermal engine (MT) via a mechanical belt transmission (35) which includes: - an intermediate shaft (38) whose rotation axis is parallel to the rotation axis of said shredding rotor (31) of said shredding means (30) and to the rotation axis of said output shaft of said thermal engine (MT); - a first belt (39A) to transmit motion from said thermal engine (MT) to said intermediate shaft (38), and - a second belt (39B) to transmit motion from said intermediate shaft (38) to said shredding rotor (31) of said shredding means (30), wherein said first belt (39A) and said second belt (39B) are arranged on opposite sides of said frame (10).
  13. Shredder device (1) according to claim 12, wherein said rotor (RO) is mechanically connected to, preferably keyed onto said intermediate shaft (38) of said mechanical transmission (35).
  14. Shredder device (1) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said shredding chamber (15) is transversely delimited by two opposing and spaced apart structural plates (155A, 155B), wherein said shredding rotor (31), said vane rotor (45) and/or said intermediate shaft (38) are supported between facing portions of said structural plates (155A, 155B).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention falls within the scope of the creation of devices and apparatuses for the transformation of green waste materials, such as shrubs, branches or other semi-woody waste. In particular, the present invention relates to a self-propelled shredder device capable of shredding dry or wet green waste, including leaves, woody branches, palm tree prunings, olive tree prunings, bamboo prunings and others. STATE OF THE ART The use of shredders (also called chippers or bio-shredders) to shred green waste of various types and consistencies, such as shrubs, leaves, twigs and more, is widely known. Shredders are typically used in forestry, agriculture or simply for gardening. In their basic configuration, shredders comprise a support structure supporting a shredding chamber in which a drum is arranged, equipped with knives useful for shredding the green material. The shredding chamber, at an inlet section thereof, communicates with a loading hopper fed with the material to be shredded. In some cases, a feeder drum is installed at the bottom of the loading hopper (i.e., in a position adjacent to said inlet section) which conveys the material to be shredded into the shredding chamber in an orderly manner. The shredding chamber is also connected to a discharge mouth into which the shredded material is conveyed to allow a guided discharge thereof into the external environment. Typically, the frame of the shredder device also supports a thermal engine mechanically connected to the shredding drum via a belt transmission. Therefore, the mechanical torque needed to shred the green material is supplied by the thermal engine to the shredding drum. When present, the feeding drum is instead driven via a hydraulic engine whose operation is enabled by a pump. This is driven directly by the same thermal engine used to rotate the shredding drum. In some cases, an electric engine is installed instead of the thermal engine to cause the rotation of the shredding drum. Among the various types available on the market, there is the self-propelled shredder, which comprises movement members (typically wheels or tracked units) through which the shredder rests on the ground. Some of these members are motorized so as to move the shredder on the ground. In some cases, the advancement of the shredder is caused by means of a mechanical transmission that directly connects the thermal engine to at least one pair of movement members keyed onto the same shaft. More frequently, two hydraulic engines are provided, each to cause the rotation of a corresponding wheel or corresponding tracked unit, where the hydraulic engines are powered by a pump. The latter, in turn, is driven by the same thermal engine used to drive the shredding drum. More precisely, a mechanical transmission is provided which operationally connects the shaft of the thermal engine to the shaft of said pump. The Applicant has noted that the self-propelled shredder devices on the market are disadvantageous, especially in terms of environmental impact. In particular, there is a need to improve the movement of the device on the ground, which is currently implemented in an inefficient manner and at the same time has a strong environmental impact. In this regard, the use of hydraulic drives is always accompanied by the risk of environmental contamination which can occur with the loss of part of the oil used in the circuits. The need is therefore felt for new and innovative solutions that allow reducing overall energy consumption. SUMMARY Based on the above considerations, the main task of the present invention is to provide a self-propelled shredder device that allows the above-mentioned disadvantages to be overcome or at least mitigated. Within the scope of this task, a first object of the present invention is to provide a self-propelled shredder device that is effective and has less environmental impact with respect to traditional shredder devices. Yet another object of the present invention, related to the previous one, is to provide a shredder device that allows limiting energy consumption, especially that related to carbon dioxide emissions. Not least, an object of the present invention is to provide a shredder device that is reliable and easy to manufacture at competitive costs. The Applicant has found that the tasks and objects described above can be achieved through a hybrid drive of the shredder device which provides a thermal engine to drive the shredding means and electric drive means (i.e., one or more electric engines) to drive the movement members (wheels or tracked units), i.e., to determine the advancement on the ground of the device. In particular, said electric drive means can be electrically powered through a battery module and/or through the electrical energy generated by an alternator mechanically connected to the thermal engine. In particular, the Applicant has found that the intended task and objects can be achieved via a self-propelled s