Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
FIELD OF T~E INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for treating
agricultural products and, more particularly, relates to a
device for macerating forage products to enhance drying in
a short period of time.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
.
For many agricultural products, it is necessary
that such products be subjec-ted to various treatments,
including in some instances, drylng of the produc-ts. This is
particularly true for forage products, such as hay~ and in the
past, the farmer has been largely dependent upon the weather
during a hay harvest since the hay has heretofore been commonly
left in the field to dry. Obviously, if the weather is
inclement, for any appreciable period of time, drying of the
hay is impaired, and in some cases, the hay is damaged or
lost.
While some attempts have been made to provide devices
to promote fast drying of forage produc-ts, such devices have
not been completely successful in achieving the desired degree
of drying, require undesirably long drying periods, and~or
fail to suggest a device with components that have been shown
to be satisfactory for such a device to accomplish the desired
degree of drying in a short time-period~
-Y.
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32~L~3
-
According to the present invention there is
provided a device for macera-tion of agricultural products
including first and second movable means having substantially
horizontally ex-tending portions with peripheries contiguous
to one another for receiving agricultural products there-
between, -the first movable means being mounted above the
second movable means with one of the movable means moving
at a differen-t rate of speed than the other of the movable
means so that the agricultural products received between
the portions of the movable means are macerated while passing
therebetween.
It is therefore an object of this invention to
provide an improved device for treating agricultural products
to enhance drying.
It is still another object of this invention to
provide an improved device for macerating agricultural products.
It is yet another object of this invention to
provide an improved device for enhancing drying of forage
products by macerating the products.
It is yet another object of this invention to
provide an improved device for treating forage products to
enhance drying of the initial period of time.
It is still another object of this invention tG
provide an improved device for macerating agricultural products
by passing the products be-tween movable elements moving at
different rates of speed.
With these and other object in View~ which will
become
apparent to one skil.led in the art as the description
proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,
combination, and arrangement or parts substantially as
hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by
the appended claims, it being understood that such changes
in the precise embodiments of the herein disclosed invention
are meant to be included as c~ing within the scope of the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings illustrate two complete
embodiments of the invention according to the best mode so
far devised for the practical application of the principles
thereof, and in which:
FIGURE 1 is a side schematic view of the device of
this invention for macerating products in forming the thus
macerated products into a mat;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the device shown
in schematic form in FIGURE 1 with portions cut away to
illustrate elements of the device;
FIGURE 3 is a side schematic view of an alternate
embodiment of thisinvention;
FIGURE 4 is a side schematic view showing a portion of
the macerating rollers to illustrate the tooth formation at
the periphery of the roller;
FIGURE 5 is a side schematic view showing portions
of the macerating rollers to illus-trate an alternate embodiment
of the tooth configuration at the periphery of the rollers;
FIGURE 6 is a graph showing drying time versus
moisture content for various types of devices including the
device of this invention;
E'IGURE 7 is a plot of drying time versus moistur~
content;
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FIGURE 8 is a graph of weather conditions;
FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 are plots of clearance and
speed ratio versus horsepower-hour/ton.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The device 15 of this invention includes a pair of
movable means 17 and 18, shown in the drawings to include a
pair of rotatable cylindrical rollers, at the inlet, or
forward, end 20 of the device. Rollers 17 and 18, as shown
schemati.cally in FIGURE 1, are mounted one above the other
ana rotated in opposite directions with the upper roller 17
being rotated counterclockwise and the lower roller 18 being
rotated clockwise to thus establish a flow of agricultural
products 22 between the rollers to macerate the products while
passing between the rollers.
The products 22 are conveyed rearwardly from
macerating rollers 17 and 18 between conveying belts 24 and
25. Upper conveying belt 24 extends rearwardly from above
roller 17 and is preferably downwardly inclined from front to
rear, as indicated in FIGURE 1, Lower conveyor belt 25 extends
rearwardly from below roller 18 and is preferably horizontal.
~s also indicated in FIGURE lt belts 24 and 25 may both be
endless belts with the lower run of belt 24 and the upper run
of belt 25 moving from the front to the rear of the device to
thus direct produc-ts toward the rear of the device.
A mat forming cylindrical roller 27 is positioned
above the rear end portion 28 of conveyor belt 25. Roller 27
is rotated counterclockwise and in conjunction with rear end
portion 28 of belt 25 forms the macerated products into a
mat 30.
,0 As shown in FIGURE 2, the device 15 is preferably
mounted as a par-t of a self~propelled machine 32. As shown,
roller 17 is mounted on shaft 34 which shaft has a pulley 35
--4--
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mounted thereon for rotating the shaft and roller. Roller 18
is mounted on shaft 37 below roller 17 and shaft 37 has a
pulley 38 thereon for rotating the shaft and roller.
A prime mover 40 (such as a diesel engine, for
example) provides power for the device (although other power
sources can be utilized, of course, such as the power takeoff
of a tractor or the like), Drive shaft 42 (by belts not shown)
drives pulley 35 to rotate shaft 34 (and hence roller 17), and
drives pulley 38 to rotate shaft 37 (and hence roller 18).
The sizes of the pulleys are chosen to obtain the speed of
rotation differentiation between rollers 17 and 18 as desired
(speed differential gearing could also be utilized, if desired).
Endless conveyor belt 25 is mounted on shafts 50 and
51 with shaft 50 having a pulley 53 mounted thereon. Drive
shaft 42 drives pulley 53 by a belt (not shown) to rotate
shaft 50 (and hence propel conveyor belt 24)~ Endless
conveyor belt 24 is mounted on shafts 56 and 57 with shaft 56
having a pulley 59 mounted thereon. Pulley 45 is mounted on
drive shaft 42 and drive belt 60 extends to pulley 59 to
rotate shaft 56 (and hence propel conveyor belt 25).
Matting roller 27 is mounted on shaft 62~ which shaft
has a pulley 63 mounted thereon. Roller 27 is also driven by
drive shaft 42 by`an interconnected drive belt (not shown).
In FIGURE 3, an alternate embodiment of the invention
is shown in schematic form. In this embodiment~ macerating
rollers 17 and 18 are utilized at the inlet portion of the
device. In this embodiment, however, the agricultural products
66 are severed and fed to the inlet (i,e., between rollers 17
and 18) by flail intake 67 rotating about a shaft 68 (and
propelled by prime mover 40 although not specifically shown
in FIGURE 3). The severed products are thrown rearwardly to
the inlet and hence fed he-tween the rollers as indicated in
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FIGURE 3 where the produc-ts are macera-ted.
- The macerated products are thrown rearwardly from
the rollers past a pair of fluffer brushes 70 and 71 rotating
in opposite directions about mounting shafts 73 and 74. Shafts
73 and 74 are rotatively driven by prime mover 40 although not
specifically shown in FIGURE 3. Belt 24 is moun-ted behind the
fluffer brushes to direct macerated products 22 downwardly to
belt 25. The rear portion 28 of belt 25 and matting roller
27 form the products into the mat 30 that is discharged from the
device.
As indicated in FIGURE 3, belt 25 also acts as a
juice collector with the juice being collected at container 76
located below belt 25.
The rollers 17 and 18 are preferably serrated with
the tooth pattern either as shown in FIGURE 4, or preferably,
as shown in FIGURE 5. In either case, the tooth pattern
preferably extends entirely across the face of the periphery
78 of the cylindrical rollers. As sho~n in FIGURE 4, the teeth
79 are spaced about five degrees with the depth of the teeth
being about 0.15 inches. The tooth pattern, as shown in
FIGURE 4, is formed by legs 80 and 81 of each tooth with the
legs being joined to substantially form a right angle. However,
the angle of leg intexsection is a matter of design choice only,
and the roller may even have raised ribs across its face with
the ribs being either parallel with the axis of the roller or
at an angle with it. As shown in FIGURE 5, the depth of the
teeth is about 0.05 inches with the teeth again being spaced
about five degrees. The tooth pattern, as shown in FIGURE 5,
provides a large smooth curved area 83 at the periphery 78 of
roller with each tooth 84 having a first leg 85 ex~ending
substantially along a radius line of the roller and a second
leg 85 that forms an acute angle with the first leg and extends
--6--
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to the curved area 82 (thus, a sharp notched tooth is formed).
~hile it is preferred that the rollers both have a tooth
configuration, one roller may be smooth and still function.
By increasing the amount of peripheral surface area 78, an
increase in maceration rate is re~lized.
Two sets of rollers with different tooth configurations
were utilized (as shown in FIGU~ES 4 and 5~. Both rollers in
a set used identical tooth patterns, although runs with
combinations of each type and with a smooth roller were run
for observationt Each roller had a 12.75 inch outside
diameter, and the top roller was rotated faster than ~he
lower, with both being rotated in a direction to draw material
into the de~Tice. The differential peripheral velocities create
a shearing action on hay stems. At initial startup, it was
observed that dry rollers tend to build up some juice which
appears to help in a self clearing operation, and a test of
protein losses due to roller maceration was performed by
collecting all through-put material with the results showing a
0.7~ difference between an input material of 24.9% to 24.2%
output material. This difference is possibly due to the buildup
of juices on the roller as they approach a steady state juicy
condition. Utilization of a pair of smooth rollers was tried
but such rollers, while macerating hay, would not feed materiaL,
and this led to development of the rollers shown in FIGURE 5
with a large surface area at the periphery along ~ith feeding
grooves. As shown, the grooves have a relative right angle
shear edge which oppose each other providing excellent shearing
action along with differential peripheral velocities.
The device thus includes a macerating section where
the product is macerated as is necessary for fast drying. A
matting section may also be included to form a mat of the
macerated products, and a section can be included to gather
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the macerated produc-ts prior to mat formation.
The device is primarily intended for use with
agricultural products such as forage products, and the
embodiments shown are particularly useful for hay with the
device improving hay quality by increasing the drying rate to
achieve a fast dry harvest. With serrated rollers rotating
at different speeds and with close spacing between the periphery
of the rollers, as brought out hereinafter, the forae stems
are sheared exposing more surface area and thus providing fast
drying times as shown by the graph of FIGURE 6 where other
types of shearing are also graphically depicted. For a one
foot wide cylindrical roller, the flow rate is: 100 pounds/
minute or 3 tons/hour of wet material C75%). Assuming a fiye
foo,t width of the rollers and a ten foot header cut, this
device can therefore process fifteen tons of material per hour.
~ay yielding two tons per acre dry or six tons per
acre wet could then be mowed at a rate of fifteen tons per
! hour times one acre per six~tons equals 2.5 acres per hour.
The speed of this device is then calculated as '2.5 ac'r'es x
'8'.25 = 2.2 mph (twice the roller width would double the
10 ft
~ound speed).
The horsepower required for rollers with a design as
shown in FIGURE 4 with high yielding hay and a machine
capacity of five acres per hour would be 5 'acres X
hour
acre 30 t,ons which is' 30 tons X 3 hp-hr = go hp.
hour hour ton
The horsepower required for rollers with tooth design as
shown in FIGURE S (and thus providing high maceration~ would
be 3h tons X 5- thpnhr = 150 hp.
The device tests were comp]ete factorial experiments,
that is, of the treatments applied, all were replicated with
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at least one observation at all the levels or at all the
other treatments. The tests were also completely randomized
designs and because the alfalfa used was regarded as being
uniform in quality (size, moisture cotent, and all other
factors that may effect observations) it was thought
unnecessary to make random assignments of quantities of alfalfa
to specific treatments.
A two-way analysis of variance was computed. First,
a two-way analysis of a variance was computed to investigate
the effect of speed ratio and clearance on horesepower/hour
per ton.
A three-way analysis of variance was also computed
to test whether speed ratio, clearance and mass feed rate
significantly affects net power~ The results of this analysis
of variance indicates:
1. The main effects of clearance and mass feed
rates significan-tly affects net power (one can be 96.9~ and
95.9% sure of this), speed ratio alone does not affect net
power (with 52.6~ certainty), and clearance and mass feed rate
along affect net power;
2. Although speed ratio alone does not affect net
power, speed ratio together with clearance affects net power,
while all the other interactions do not appear to be important;
and
3. Speed ratio, clearance and mass feed rate
altogether do not seem to affect net power (i.e., the three-
way interaction does not seem important~.
It can be concluded from this analysis of variance
that:
1. Clearance and mass speed rate alone affect net
power while speed ratio alone does not;
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, .
2. While speed ratio alone does not affect net
power, speed ratio does combine with the effect of clearance
to effect net power; and
3. The effect of speed ratio together with the
effect of clearance and mass flow rate does not affect net
power in a three way interaction statistical analysis.
Thus the combination of factors which maximize net
power are the mass feed rate and the combination of speed
ratio and clearance.
To maximiæe hp-hr/ton, a choice is made of the
clearance which seems to maximize hp-hr/ton and the choice of
speed ratio should be important to hp hr/ton. FIGURES 9, 10
and 11 are plots of clearance and speed ratio versus hp-hr/ton
and bear out the above resul~s of the analysis of variance.
The determination of optimum machine conditions for
macerated hay thus included horsepower measurement and
actual observations. Mass flow rate was varied by changing
the input speeds. Other variables evaluated included a
plurality of speed ratios (2.5:1, 6:1, and 10:1), roller
speeds, xoller clearances, and roller types.
Using the device as depicted in FIGU~E 3~ a number of
runs were conducted and the xesults achieved were as follows:
Net HP-HR/
Mas~ Power/ TON/
Speed No Load Rate Cleax- Ft. of Ft. of Type
Date Run # Ratio RPM lb/min ance Width Width Material
8/17 81719 2.5:1 200043 .013 2.08 1.612403 ~second
cxop)
_ _ ~lfalEa
" 81720 " "69.5 " 2.79 1.338129 "
.
" 81721 " " 74 " 3.2 1.441441 "
" 81722 " ''50 _'' 2 1.333333 "
" 81723 " " 9~ " 4 1.433692 "
" 8171 10:1 " 45 .013 7.82 5.792593 Gxass
.
" 8172 " " 35 " 4.83 4.83333 "
--10--
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~ass Net ~-HR/
Feed Power/ '~
Speed No Load Rate Clear- Ft, of Ft~ oE '~ype
Date Run# Ratio RPM Ib/mln ance Width ~idth ~qaterial
7~ 8173 " 2350 40.5 " 5.58 4,592593 (second
crop
Alfalfa
. _ .
" 8174 " " 63 " 7.83 4.142857 "
" &175 " " 94 " 9.34 3.312057 "
_ _ . . . . _ _ . . _ _ . _ . . . _
" 8176 " " 55 " 3.28 1.987874(second
crop)
' Alfalfa
Sec.'time
. _ . .
" 8177 " 1850 29 ., 3~12 3S586207 (second
- crop)
Alfalfa
" 8178 " " 60 " 7~82 4.34444 - i
- - - - .
" 8179 " " 65 " 7.83 4,015385 "
_ .. _ _ . ... . .. . _ . _ . ... . . _
8/12 81,21 10:1 2000 71 .013 7.76 3,643198 (second
_ _ crop) al-falfa
" 8124 " " 42,5 " 5,02 3.g37255 "
. . . _ _ . . . ~ . _ ~ .
' " 8125 " " 48 " -5.3~ 3,694444 It
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ . . . . _ _ _ _ _
8/18 8181 10:1 ~000 57 .013' 8.51 4.976608 "
_ . . .. . ~ . .. .. ~ , . . . . . _ _ _ _
8/17 81710 " 1850 61 " 8.55 4.672131 "
.. . .
~8171~ " " 39.5 " 5.08 4.286~2
_ . . _ _ _ _ _ ~ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"81712 " " 50.5 " 3,54 2.336634 (second
crop) alfalfa
Sec. time
. . ~ . _ .
' " 81713 6:1 2000 39.5 " 3~62 3.0548S2 (second
'' _ crop) alfalfa _
--11--
hn: . ,
Mass Net ~]P-HR/
Feed Power/ '~ON/
Speed No Load Rate Clear- Ft. of Ft. of 'Iype
Date Run~ Ratio RPM lb/min ance Width Width Material
" 81714 " " 25.5 " 2.22 2.901961 "
" 81715 " " 56.5 " 4.86 2 867257 "
" 81716 " " 39.5 " 3.19 2.691983 "
" 81717 " " 80 " 7.31 3.045833 "
" 81718 " " 90 " 8.31 3.077778 "
8/16 816110:1 1700 36 0.13 5.81 5.37963 "
" 8162 " " 32.5 " 5.4 5.538462 "
" 8163 " _ " 19.5 " 2.52 4.307692 "
" 8164 " " 37 " 6.34 5.711712 "
8/16 816510:1 2300 51 0.13 7.64 5.026144 (second
cro~) alfalfa
.
" 8166 " " 77 " 9 45 4 090909
" 8167 " " 49 " 8.42 5.727891 "
" 8168 " '' 26.5 " 3.33 4.927858 "
8/8 8820 " 2000 56.5.005 5.04 1.982301 (second
crop) alfalfa
Sec. time
" 881 " " 29 " 3.31 3.804598 (second
crop) alfalfa
" 882 " " 33.5 " 4.61 4.587065 "
883, " " 40 " 5.65 4.708333
~' B/8 884 10:1 2000 52.5.005 6.76 4.292063 (second
croP) alfalfa
-
" 885 " " 59.5 " 7.13 3.994398 "
.
" 886 " " 59 " 7_35 4.152542 "
" 887 " " 46 ~ 5.39 3.905797 "
" 889 " " 52.5 " 8.53 5 415873 second
,
~ time thro~h
-
" 8810 " " 43.5 " 3.77 1.925926 "
8/9 8910 " " 60 ,0'l2 3.21 1.?83333 (second
crop)alEalfa
- 8911 " " 69.5 " 4.74 2.~73381 "
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l~ass Net HP-~R/
Feed Pcwer/ TCN/
Speed No Load ~ate Clear- Ft. of Ft. of Iype
Date Run ~ Ratio RPM lb/min ance Wi.dth Width Material
Il 8912 1l ~1 91. Ii 5.7I2.091575 ~
.
1~ 8913 ll ll 92 ll 5.662~ 050725 ll
.
Il 8914 ll Ir 8~ ll 5~ 842 ~ 212121 ll
8/22 82212.5 ~ 35 ll ~ 68~ 647619 (second
_ crop) alfalfa
8222 ll ~I 60 ll 1.65~ 9166667 ll
.
8223 _ _ 78 n 2.21~ 9444444
8224 ll ~I 56.5 ll 1~ 3~ 7669617
ll 8225 ll ll 74,5 ll 1.94~ 8680089
8/23 8231 6:1 ~ 30 ~ 75 1~944444
8232 ~ 45 ll 3.842~ 844444
8233 ~ 60 ll - - 5.0~82.8222222
8234 ll 1~ 75 ll 6~362.826667
8235 ll ll 72,5 ll 6.312.401149
8236 ll - 1~ 31 005 A. 835.1935466
,
Il 8237 ll ll 51 t 5 11 ' 7 ~ 4 4.78964~ ll
.
8238 ll ll 68 ll 7s81 3.82831 1~ ~
8239 ll ll 71~5 l~ 8!423.925408 (second
_ crop) alfal~
8_310Il ll 68 ~ 5 ll 8 ~ 43 4 ~ 10219
~I 82311 2S5 1 _ 1~ 29 ll 2t61 3 1~
8/23 82312 2.5:1 20Q0 50 .Q05 3~54 2.36 ~second
cro~) alfalfa
82313 ll ll 68.5 ll4 ~ 44 2 ~ 16Q584 _
82314 ll ll 70 _ 1l 3,87 1.595238
82315 ll ll 41.5 ll _1 ~ 98 1.590361 ~I
It was further -Eound that plugged ~uns were encountered
as follows:
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~ ~2~
. .
Run ~ Mass Feed Ra-te RPM Clearance
~166 154 2300 .005
884 92 2000 .005
~123 105 2000 .042
8126 206 2000 .013
A harvesting energy comparison for various degrees
of maceration (machine device settings~ is as follows:
.- Cutting Only
Corn Silage tchopper) 1/4" cut .8 - 1.7 TON
Haylage (chopper) 1~4" cut 1 - 2.8 TON
Wis. Extruder-macerated material -HP HR
Purdue Macerator .7 5.9 TON -
Cardboard 1840 ~o~lR
Driving tests were standardized using a wire screen
(1.7 square feet~ containing a 3QQ g sample similar to 2.7
ton/acre dry matter yield was used~ Drying rates were plotted
as shown in FIGURE 7, with daily ~eath~er conditions being ~s
shown in FIGURE 8.
From the foregoingr a number of conclusions can be
drawn:
Rollers with teet~ on the peripher~ as s~own ~n either
FIGURES 4 or 5 running a~ differential speeds~ t2.S:l or larger .
ratios) with clearances less than .a50 inche~ will macerate
hay to give near optimum drying rates (a test on 6/29/77 with
first crop hay required 2 1/2 hours to dry in to 25% moisture
with relative humidity 35, while a higher relative humidity
day of 53 had a dry down of 4 l/Z hours);
Additional energy input can only decrease drying time
(slightly) about 15 minutes;
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Where a 12.75 inch diameter roller is used, minimum
top roller speed sh~uld be at least 1500 RPM and preferably
at least 1750 RPM (because of the system's mass moment of
inertia) to assure no plugging conditions for wet mass feed
rates of about 3 lb~min;
The speed ratio between rollers has no appreciable
effect on HP-~R/ton (as shown by the plot of FIGURES 3 and 10
and by three-way analysis of variance);
Clearance does affect net power (as shown by the plot
of FIGURE 11 and the three-way analysis of variance~;
Little nutrient loss ~0.7% protein) was observed if
all roller through-put is collected; and
~ollers with teeth designed as shown in FIGURE 5 with
large curved areas give greater maceration providing a fine
fibrous material that tends to interweave together in a mat;
Faster rotation of rollers does allow greater mass
flow rates;
Higher mass flow requires more horsepower;
~ower speed ratios give less net power and less
shearing action;
Greater clearances allow more material flow-through
and less shearing action;
: . Tight clearances (0.005 inches or less) between rollers
are the best for providing a macerated mat~ (some juices are
left on the rollers during a high degree of maceration);
After some degree of maceration, drying rates are
fairly fast;
Second passes through the device required only about
1/2 of the original horsepower;
The use of serrated rollers shows more torn leaves and
white stem stalk;
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Rollers with a tooth design as shown in EIGURE 4
had ~5% greater capacity for some settings;
G.rasses require higher horsepower than alfalfa;
Rollers with a tooth design as shown in FIGURE 4 with
a 2.5:1 ratio between rollers and 0.013 inches clearance ha.d
a through-put of 94 lb/min with an energy input of 1.4 hp-hr/
. ton/foot of width;
Rollers with a tooth design as shown in FIGURE 5 with
a 0.013 inches clearance and a through-put of 94 lb/min but
with a 10:1 ratio between rollers required 3.3 hp-hr/ton/foot
of width;
The belt conveyor system required about 0.1 hp/foot
when passing materials through the mat roller;
Mat density greater than about 300 g/1.7 sq ft
reduced drying rates;
Rollers with the tooth design of FIGURE 4 appear to
be better for crimping operation while rollers with tooth design
. of FIGURE 5 appear to macerate well and show promise toward
the theoretical paper-making type process;
Rollers rotating at speeds as shown in the tests above
are self-cleaningi
Energy requirements for first-crop hay should exceed
those of second-crop at similar feed and ~etting conditions;
With rough hand mat formation, material sticks
together on stubble (field trial~, after a rain, and during a
baler pickup;
Rollers o~ ratios of 6:1 and 10:1 show little change
in degree of maceration; and
Brushes mostly plugged in all conditions~
Using the concept of cylindrical rollers running at
high differential speeds to shread and separate forage and
other agricultural products, many possible applications are
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available. This roller concept could, for example, be applied
on a windroller-conditioner machine and improve drying rates
with negligible damage to the materials, protein and other
food value qualities of the macera,ted products. By changing
the ratio, roller speeds, roller teeth, material flow rate,
type of material, and clearances, minimum energy can be
expended to achieve the degree of maceration needed.
In addition, this concept could be used on any type
of forage crop or food process that needs to be shedded.
Again, various degrees of maceration require specific settinys,
and for some products higher ratios (and a m~ximum of 10:1)
might be beneficial
While particular embodiments of the invèntion are
shown, the invention,is not meant to be limited thereto. For
example~ while the device is shown with rollers and conveyor
belts, other configurations and/or positioning might be u~ilized,
as might other brush and/or flail configurations, or even
elimination of the brushes and/or flail.
In operation, the hay or other product is self-fed
between the rollers and, as the product passes between the
rollers, the stalk and leaf portions are sheared and shredded
into short fiber segments. The tl~us macerated products are
then yathered into a mass which is conveyed rear~ardly to the
matting roller ~if u-tilized) where a mat is formed (to provide
strength through stiffening sections via the matting roller)
and the resulting mat is discharged from the device. Because
the mat has had a greater percentage of the plant cells ruptured,
its exposed surface area for drying rate by natural sun radiation
and convection is increased so that the hay can be dryed in
a short period of time (for example, about 3 hours or so).
From the foregoing, it can be app~eciated that this
invention provides an improved device for improving produc~
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quali~y by xeducing drying time. r~here hay is the product,
the ha~r can be cut, processed and dried in one day.
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