Specification
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
AND
The Patents Rules, 2003
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A manually-operated pulse threshing machine
APPLICANT(S):
Suratiya Gopalbhai, residing at At. & Po. Katholi, Taluka: Sankheda, Dist. Baroda- 391145, Gujarat, India; an Indian National.
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to the field of agricultural equipment.
Particularly, this invention relates to agricultural equipment for threshing.
Still particularly, this invention relates to a pulse thresher.
More particularly, this invention relates to a manual pulse thresher.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Threshing is a part of the harvesting system which is a process of loosening the edible part of cereal grain (or other crop) from the scaly, inedible chaff that surrounds it. It is the step in grain preparation after harvesting and before winnowing, which separates the loosened chaff from the grain. Threshing involves separating the grains from the straw either by impact, friction or combing action. Generally threshing is achieved manually by tossing the grain into the air on a breezy day so that clean grain falls in a pile and chaff blows away.
Thresher is a machine to separate grains from the harvested crop and provide clean grain without much loss and damage. During threshing, grain loss in terms of broken grain, unthreshed grain, blown grain, spilled grain etc. should be minimum. Clean unbruised grain fetch good price in the market as well as it has long storage life.
Any delay between cutting and threshing causes rapid deterioration of the grains, especially during field drying or when the crop is stacked in the field. More
threshing effort is required for threshing high moisture crop, which causes more internal grain damage and thus affects viability. Present day grain growers generally wants to substitute at least some machine power for the manual labor and general messiness of the older way, to reduce the chance of losing seeds during the cutting and windrowing process. Improper threshing can also cause high threshing and scattering losses.
The commonly practiced threshing methods are:
Foot threshing or trampling: Use of bare feet or animals to thresh the crop which is spread on the floor. In some regions animals have been replaced by tractors. The use of flails to beat stalks or driving oxen or equines over stalks laid on a paved surface to loosen the grain is a common practice in the agricultural community. Tractor in many places is now used in place of animals for treading. Introduction of animal drawn olpad thresher reduced the drudgery of the operator and gave comparatively higher output per unit time.
Beating against a threshing rack: The grains are separated from the straw by impact when the crop is beaten against a slatted bamboo, wooden platform or any other hard object such as a steel oil drum.
Machine threshing: Because of the high labor requirement of manual threshing, mechanical threshers of different types and sizes are increasingly being used.
This threshing machine was developed to address labour shortages when harvesting wheat and other small grains in a smallholder situation. The machine
may also be suitable for small-scale (market garden) vegetable growers who would like to grow wheat as a break crop in their rotation and use the straw for mulching. Dependence on power is always an impediment for machines in areas plagued with intermittent power supply. If power supply is cut, productivity is affected.
There is a need for a pulse thresher which provides higher output per unit time and reduces drudgery.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
An object of the invention is to provide a pulse thresher which does not rely on electricity.
Another object of the invention is to provide a non-labour intensive manual pulse thresher machine.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a relatively faster pulse thresher machine as compared to manual foot threshing.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a relatively easier manual pulse thresher machine.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a relatively safe manual pulse thresher machine.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a pulse thresher which eliminates drudgery involved in manual threshing.
Yet another additional object of the invention is to provide a pulse thresher which is low cost and time saving.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
According to this invention, there is provided a manually-operated pulse threshing machine adapted to thresh pulse from crop, said machine comprises:
a. meshed operating platform raised above ground level to place crop material;
b. at least one beater adapted to be angularly displaced from an operative
upwards position to an operative downward position in order to perform
hitting/beating action on said crop material;
c. at least one shaft adapted to angularly displace said sat least one beater, said
shaft being located along an operative lateral edge of said meshed operating
platform; and
d. handle to impart drive/motion to said pulse threshing machine by causing
angular displacement of said at least one shaft, said angular displacement
being about a longitudinal axis of said at least one shaft.
Typically, said operating platform is a cot with a meshed platform adapted to allow threshed pulse to fall through the interspaces of said mesh while retaining crop straw on said meshed platform.
Preferably, said operating platform is an iron cot with a meshed platform adapted to allow threshed pulse to fall through the interspaces of said mesh while retaining crop straw on said meshed platform.
Typically, said at least one shaft is a width-wise located shaft on said meshed operating platform.
Typically, said at least one shaft is connected orthogonally to said at least one beater.
Typically, said at least one beater comprises an operative proximal end connected to said at least one shaft.
Typically, said at least one beater comprises an operative distal end adapted to define a locus of points in relation to an arc of a circle.
Typically, said machine comprises a T-shaped coupling between said transverse beater and said laterally located shaft such that, when the laterally located shaft angularly displaces about its longitudinal axis, said transverse beater is angularly displaced about said coupling, thereby causing said transverse beater to rise and fall as said laterally located shaft is angularly displaced along its axis.
Preferably, said machine comprises two width-wise shaft placed at either lateral ends of said meshed operating platform.
Typically, said machine comprises a pair of transverse beaters connected to each of said at least one shaft.
Typically, said machine comprises T-shaped couplings on said laterally located at least one shaft, said T-shaped couplings being secured with nuts and bolts on both lateral ends of said meshed operating platform.
Typically, said laterally located at least one shaft is supported on said meshed operating platform by means of bearings.
Typically, said machine comprises at least two connectors; each connected to the proximal end of each shaft, such that angular displacement of a first shaft located at a first lateral edge is out of phase with respect to a second shaft located at a second opposite lateral edge.
Typically, said machine comprises at least two connectors with one end of both connectors being attached with their respective shaft such that their other end is attached to a connecting strip.
Typically, said machine comprises a connecting strip adapted to engage a proximal end of each of said shaft by way of a connector, each of said proximal ends being located on the same side of said meshed operating platform.
Typically, said machine comprises at least two connectors with one end of both connectors being attached with their respective shaft such that their other end is attached to a connecting strip, said connecting strip being engaged to a length-wise shaft by nuts and bolts.
Typically, said machine comprises two connecting strip adapted to engage to each end of a length-wise shaft, said length-wise shaft being attached in such a way that, as it is operated axially forward and backward, the connection between said length-wise shaft and said laterally located shaft causes the translation of movement to angularly displace said laterally located shaft, thereby causing raising and falling action of each of the transverse beaters.
Alternatively, said handle is power driven.
Alternatively, said handle is connected to a foot pedal adapted to receive manual foot drive to operate said handle.
Additionally, said machine comprising fan blowing mechanism to facilitate further threshing.
According to this invention, there is provided a method of pulse threshing using a
manually-operated pulse threshing machine, said method comprisesthe steps of:
i. placing crop material having pulse on a meshed platform;
ii. pulling and pushing a handle;
iii. transmitting motion from said handle to a connector through connecting
strips and a length-wise shaft; iv. transmitting motion of said connector to a transverse beater attached to a
width-wise shaft which gives hitting action on the crop, causing pulse to be
threshed out from said crop; v. pulses being filtered through the interspaces of the meshes on said meshed
platform; and vi. collecting said pulses from the underside of said meshed platform.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
The invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the manual pulse threshing machine (100);
Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the manual pulse threshing machine; and
Figure 3 illustrates a lateral view of the manual pulse threshing machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
According to this invention, there is provided a manual pulse thresher.
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the manually-operated pulse threshing machine (100).
In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, there is provided an iron cot (1) upon which the dried crop material is placed from which the pulse is to be threshed out. The iron cot (1) has a meshed base (7) which allows the threshed pulse to fall through the interspaces of the mesh while retaining the straw.
In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, there is provided at least one width-wise shaft (5) adapted to be angularly displaced about its axis. There are provided at least one transverse beater (8) extending orthogonally from each width-wise shaft (5) so as to cover maximum area on the meshed base (7). The T-shaped coupling (10) between the transverse beater (8) and width-wise shaft (5) is such that, when the width-wise shaft (5) rotates, the transverse beater (8) are angularly displaced about the coupling. Thus, the transverse beater (8) rise and fall as the width-wise shaft (5) is angularly displaced along its axis. Preferably, there are two width-wise shaft (5) placed at either lateral ends of the iron cot (1). More preferably, there are a pair of transverse beaters (8) connected to the each width-wise shaft (5). These two transverse beaters (8) are attached with the help of T-shaped coupling (10) on width-wise shaft (5) secured with nuts and bolts on both lateral ends of the iron cot (1).
Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the manually-operated pulse threshing machine.
In accordance with still another embodiment of this invention, the width-wise shafts (5) are supported on the iron cot (1) by means of bearings (6) on at least one lateral end of the said iron cot (1). One end of both the connectors (9) is attached with their respective width-wise shaft (5) such that their other end is attached to the connecting strip (3).
In accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, there is also provided a connecting strip (3) adapted to engage a proximal end of each of said width-wise shaft (5) by way of a connector (9), each of said proximal end being located on the same side of the iron cot (1). The connecting strip (3) is engaged to the length-wise shaft (4) by nuts and bolts. Preferably, there are two connecting strip (3) engaged to each end of the length-wise shaft (4). The length-wise shaft (4) is attached in such a way that, as it is operated axially forward and backward, the connection between the length-wise shaft (4) and the width-wise shaft (5) causes the translation of movement to angularly displace the width-wise shaft (5), thereby causing raising and falling action of each of the transverse beaters (8).
Figure 3 illustrates a lateral view of the manually-operated pulse threshing machine.
In a preferred embodiment, there are two connectors (9); each connected to the proximal end of each width-wise shaft (5), such that the angular displacement of first width-wise shaft is out of phase with respect to the other width-wise shaft. Thus, the raising of a first pair of transverse beater at the first width-wise shaft causes the falling of a second pair of transverse beater at the second width-wise
shaft, and the raising of a second pair of transverse beater at the second width-wise shaft causes the falling of a first pair transverse beater at the first width-wise shaft.
In accordance with still another embodiment of this invention, there is provided a handle (2) adapted to cause the motion of said length-wise shaft (4). This handle is operable manually. When the handle is pushed or pulled, a beating action, caused by the transverse beater (8) is achieved which is used to thresh the crop material put on the iron cot (1).
Alternatively, the lever may be power driven.
Thus, an efficient device, to thresh the pulses without damage to the grains, is achieved.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the crop material is placed on iron cot and the person pushes or pulls the handle. This motion is transmitted to the connector through the connecting strips and the length-wise shaft. This motion of connector is in-turn transmitted to the transverse beater attached to the width-wise shaft which gives hitting action on the crop. Because of hitting action of the transverse beater, the grains of crop fall down below the iron cot through the meshed base. This results in threshing of major amount of grains and breaking of stalks into pieces. Thus the grains of crop are collected from the underside of the iron cot.
According to another exemplary embodiment, on threshing of 50kg of crop using the said manually-operated pulse threshing machine, the output achieved was 47 kg of threshed grains per hour, thus saving threshing time by about 50 % as
compared to manual threshing. Drudgery involved in manual threshing of pulse crop is eliminated. Thresher can be operated by sitting on a chair.
In accordance with an additional embodiment of this invention, an electric fan blowing mechanism can be incorporated to facilitate further threshing. After incorporating the blowing mechanism, the machine can be used by farmers growing various varieties of pulses.
In accordance with yet an additional embodiment of this invention, the handle may be replaced by a pedal (driven by legs).
Its significance to women, handicapped and other marginalized sections adds to the inventive step with respect to the ease of use and very low amount of strength required to operate the machine.
While this detailed description has disclosed certain specific embodiments of the present invention for illustrative purposes, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, and it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.
I claim,
1. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine adapted to thresh pulse from crop, said machine comprising:
a. meshed operating platform raised above ground level to place crop
material;
b. at least one beater adapted to be angularly displaced from an operative
upwards position to an operative downward position in order to perform
hitting/beating action on said crop material;
c. at least one shaft adapted to angularly displace said sat least one beater,
said shaft being located along an operative lateral edge of said meshed
operating platform; and
d. handle to impart drive/motion to said pulse threshing machine by
causing angular displacement of said at least one shaft, said angular
displacement being about a longitudinal axis of said at least one shaft.
2. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating platform is a cot with a meshed platform adapted to allow threshed pulse to fall through the interspaces of said mesh while retaining crop straw on said meshed platform.
3. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating platform is an iron cot with a meshed platform adapted to allow threshed pulse to fall through the interspaces of said mesh while retaining crop straw on said meshed platform.
4. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one shaft is a width-wise located shaft on said meshed operating platform.
5. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one shaft being connected orthogonally to said at least one beater.
6. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one beater comprising an operative proximal end connected to said at least one shaft.
7. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one beater comprising an operative distal end adapted to define a locus of points in relation to an arc of a circle.
8. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine comprising a T-shaped coupling between said transverse beater and said laterally located shaft such that, when the laterally located shaft angularly displaces about its longitudinal axis, said transverse beater is angularly displaced about said coupling, thereby causing said
transverse beater to rise and fall as said laterally located shaft is angularly displaced along its axis.
9. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said machine comprising two width-wise shaft placed at either
lateral ends of said meshed operating platform.
10. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine comprising a pair of transverse beaters connected to each of said at least one shaft.
11. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine comprising T-shaped couplings on said laterally located at least one shaft, said T-shaped couplings being secured with nuts and bolts on both lateral ends of said meshed operating platform.
12. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said laterally located at least one shaft being supported on said meshed operating platform by means of bearings.
13. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine comprising at least two connectors; each connected to the proximal end of each shaft, such that angular displacement of a first shaft located at a first lateral edge is out of phase with respect to a second shaft located at a second opposite lateral edge.
14. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine comprising at least two connectors with one end of both connectors being attached with their respective shaft such that their other end is attached to a connecting strip.
15. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine comprising a connecting strip adapted to engage a
proximal end of each of said shaft by way of a connector, each of said proximal ends being located on the same side of said meshed operating platform.
16. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine comprising at least two connectors with one end of both connectors being attached with their respective shaft such that their other end is attached to a connecting strip, said connecting strip being engaged to a length-wise shaft by nuts and bolts.
17. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine comprising two connecting strip adapted to engage to each end of a length-wise shaft, said length-wise shaft being attached in such a way that, as it is operated axially forward and backward, the connection between said length-wise shaft and said laterally located shaft causes the translation of movement to angularly displace said laterally located shaft, thereby causing raising and falling action of each of the transverse beaters.
18. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle is power driven.
19. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle is connected to a foot pedal adapted to receive manual foot drive to operate said handle.
20. A manually-operated pulse threshing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine comprising fan blowing mechanism to facilitate further threshing.
21. A method of pulse threshing using a manually-operated pulse threshing machine, said method comprising the steps of:
i. placing crop material having pulse on a meshed platform;
ii. pulling and pushing a handle;
hi. transmitting motion from said handle to a connector through
connecting strips and a length-wise shaft; iv. transmitting motion of said connector to a transverse beater attached to
a width-wise shaft which gives hitting action on the crop, causing pulse
to be threshed out from said crop; v. pulses being filtered through the interspaces of the meshes on said
meshed platform; and vi. collecting said pulses from the underside of said meshed platform.
