Specification
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to a processing implement for threshing crops.
Particularly, it relates to a processing implement for threshing cash crops of members of the family Euphorbiaceae, particularly that of Ricinus communis.
More particularly, this invention relates to a crop thresher.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Ricinus communis (commonly known as castor), is a species of flowering plant of the Euphorbiaceae family. The pericarp of castor bean shows central nervous system effects. At lower doses, the extract of castor improves memory consolidation. Castor oil is obtained from the castor seeds which have a plethora of applications. Castor oil is also used as bio-based polyol in the polyurethane industry. It also finds application in the food industry. The food grade castor oil is used in food additives, flavorings, candies such as chocolate, as a mold inhibitor, and in packaging. It is also used in skin disorders or skin problems. It is anti-inflammatory in nature. It is also useful in reducing pain.
It is needless to mention that the exploitation of this agricultural material to manufacture industrial products will enhance the development of rural agro-based economy. However, the full potential of the Ricinus communis seeds has not been fully exploited due to the labourious task of threshing the seeds.
Traditionally, castor is shelled manually after drying under sunlight. However, this method is uneconomical, time consuming and labour intensive. Furthermore, there is high damage to the seeds and the output is comparatively low and energy demand is high.
RU 2415552 provides a combine comprising a harvesting part with an output window, an intermediate beater and an inclined chamber with transporting elements in the form of serially installed beaters. An auger of narrowing type is installed in front of the output window with a finger mechanism with turns of opposite direction, ends of which are arranged in front of the output window. Each beater of the inclined chamber is arranged in the form of a driving shaft, the section of which is shaped as the right polyhedron, where spacing collars and discs are serially arranged with alternation. Axis of the disc symmetry is displaced from the axis of the driving shaft rotation. A threshing-transporting element is mounted on the peripheral section of each disc. On the first beater the specified element is arranged from a rod of round section and is oval-shaped with opened ends. Its rounded section and ends are fixed in slots at the end of disc. At the second beater the threshing-transporting element of round section has zigzag shape. Its ends and the middle section are mounted in slots at the end of disc. At the third beater the threshing-transporting element of round section has ellipse shape. Its rounded section is mounted in the disc hole, and open ends are mounted in slots at the disc end.
CN 2448076 relates to a castor bean hulling machine, composed of a machine frame, a blower, a hulling chamber, a feeding hopper, a discharge opening, etc. Working parts arranged inside the hulling chamber are made of
rubber, so that the utility model can hull the castor bean clean without damaging seed husk.
CN 201192644 relates to an automatic castor huller which comprises a main machine and a driving part, wherein the main machine comprises a chassis; a feeding hole is formed at the upper part of the chassis; and a hulling drum mechanism is arranged below the feeding hole. The castor huller is characterized in that a separating air duct is arranged below the hulling drum mechanism; a fan is arranged at one end of the separating air duct, and a skin outlet is arranged at the other end thereof; a blanking opening is formed at the bottom of the separating air duct; and a vibration mesh screen is arranged below the blanking opening.
CN 1084370 discloses an ultrasonic hulling machine comprising feeder, huller and collector, and it features its hulling ultrasonator, which has a gas-accumulating cavity and hulling cavity with ultrasonator rotor and generates ultrasonic wave with frequency greater than 20 KHz. By means of ultrasonic wave, the said hulling machine can hull sunflower seed, castor bean, pine nut, hazelnut, lotus seed, peanut and other nuts with high efficiency.
JP 2011097857 provides a thresher having improved threshing performance by smoothly conveying grain culms directed to a threshing cylinder side and preventing cutting of grain culms by threshing teeth in the thresher in which the threshing teeth forming a comb-like shape along in the axial direction of the threshing cylinder are arranged at the outer circumference side of the threshing cylinder.
JP 2011097962 describes a thresher which removes free grain over rack from threshed waste straw, so as to prevent of the grain from being discharged outside of a thresher together with the waste straw.
CN 87216785 relates to a processing implement regarding striping the hull of castor seed to prepare for the oil manufacture, comprising a machine frame driving part, a feeding device, a striping device arid a separation device, which is suitable for the processing after harvesting and before handing in to be purchased in countryside.
GB 366227 describes a combined harvesting and thrashing machine of the type in which the harvesting part extends laterally from the thrashing part and may be swung in a horizontal plane from its extended operative position to a position alongside the thrashing devices for transport, has the harvester capable of being tilted in a vertical direction to fold substantially flat against the thrasher. The thrashing frame is mounted on a main axle carried by a stubble wheel and a grain wheel.
There is, hence, an unmet need for a processing implement for threshing crops. More particularly, there is need for a processing implement that will have better threshing performance parameters. There is need in the art of a processing implement that overcomes the manual threshing of the seeds which is uneconomical, time consuming, associated with drudgery and low output capacity. There is also need in the art of a processing implement that will provide clean unbruised seeds that will have a longer storage capacity and thus increase the profit margin significantly.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a processing implement for threshing crop that has higher performance efficiency.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a processing implement for threshing crop that has minimal seed loss.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a processing implement for threshing crop that reduces consumption of time and drudgery associated with the threshing process.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a processing implement for threshing crop that provides proper clearance between beaters and is concave for restricting damage of seeds due to their spreading.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
According to this invention, there is provided a crop thresher adapted to separate seed from straw, said thresher comprises:
a. at least one feeding device adapted to be communicably coupled to a
threshing chamber, said feeding device adapted to feed crop(s) into said
chamber;
b. at least one beater, adapted to rotate at a pre-determined speed, said at
least one beater adapted to beat said crop(s) in order to obtain threshed
seed(s);
c. at least one concave mesh being concealed at an operative bottom up to a pre-defined length along said at least one concave mesh while its
remaining portion being left uncovered so that threshed seed(s) pass through an uncovered portion of said at least one concave mesh;
d. at least one aspirator/blower adapted to suck out relatively lighter
material from said at least one sieve shaker and further adapted to throw
out said relatively lighted material from an outlet of said at least one
blower;
e. at least one sieve shaker adapted to have reciprocating motion; and
f. drive elements adapted to drive components of said thresher by
providing power.
Typically, said at least one feeding device is a tray adapted to be inclined at a pre-defined angle for feeding said crop(s) into said at least one beater for threshing.
Typically, said at least one feeding device is a tray having a base angle adapted to be tangential to said at least one beater for maximum feed rate and minimum physical effort.
Typically, said at least one feeding device is a tray adapted to be inclined at a pre-defined angle at the entrance of said at least one beater.
Typically, said beater speed is selected from a speed consisting of speeds ranging from about 120 rpm to about 180 rpm so that it prevents seeds from said crop(s) from getting damaged.
Preferably, said beater speed is about 150 rpm.
Typically, concealed distance of said concave mesh ranges from one end of said at least one concave mesh along its length up to the centre of said at least one concave mesh.
Typically, concealed distance of said concave mesh ranges from one end of said at least one concave mesh up to a distance greater than the centre of said at least one concave mesh.
Typically, said drive element comprising a shaft adapted to be engaged with a tractor shaft for receiving power drive.
Typically, said drive element comprising a first shaft with a first pulley engaged to a second pulley via a first belt drive, said first shaft adapted to be engaged with a tractor shaft.
Typically, said drive element comprising a third pulley engaged to a fourth pulley via a second belt drive, and a second pulley adapted to transmit drive to said third pulley via a second shaft.
Typically, said drive element comprising a fourth pulley adapted to transmit drive to a third shaft.
Typically, said threshing chamber, said blower, and a flywheel are adapted to be mounted on a second shaft.
Typically, said shaking sieve adapted to receive drive through a second shaft.
Typically, said shaking sieve adapted to receive reciprocating drive from a third shaft.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
The invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a side sectional view of the crop thresher; and Figure 2 illustrates a top sectional view of the crop thresher.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
The present invention relates to a processing implement for threshing crops.
Particularly, it relates to a processing implement for threshing cash crops of members of the family Euphorbiaceae, particularly that of Ricinus communis. More particularly, this invention relates to a castor crop thresher.
In the present invention, a processing implement refers to a machine for separating seeds from harvested crops and providing clean seed without much loss and damage.
Figure 1 illustrates a side sectional view of the crop thresher; and
Figure 2 illustrates a top sectional view of the crop thresher.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a processing implement
for threshing Ricinus communis comprising at least one feeding device, at
least one beater, at least one concave mesh, at least one blower/aspirator and at least one sieve shaker.
In the present embodiment, the at least one feeding device (25) is a container for holding the harvested crops before its entry into the at least one beater. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one feeding device is a tray that is inclined at a particular angle for feeding the castor beans into the at least one beater for threshing. Since the base angle of the at least one feeding device affects the feed rate, it should be tangential to the at least one beater for maximum feed rate and minimum physical effort. Consequently, the at least one feeding device is arranged in a manner such that it creates a particular angle at the entrance of the at least one beater.
The at least one beater (26) of the present invention rotates at a specific speed that prevents the seeds from getting damaged. The specific speed preferably ranges from 120 rpm - 180 rpm at which the processing implement functions at its maximum efficiency. Specifically, the speed is about 150 rpm. The effect of speed of the at least one beater on threshing performance is highly significant at all machine settings. There is a significant increase in the power consumption and broken seeds with the increase in the at least one beater speed. Thus the total seed losses increase with the increase in the at least one beater speed. Hence, in the present invention, the beater speed has been kept at a lower speed (in order to avoid seed damage) compared to conventional threshers.
In one embodiment of the subject invention, the at least one concave mesh (27) is concealed at the bottom up to a particular length along the at least one concave mesh while the remaining portion is left uncovered. Preferably, the
distance that is concealed ranges from one end of the at least one concave mesh along its length up to the centre of the at least one concave mesh. More preferably, the concealed distance ranges from the one end of the at least one concave mesh up to a distance greater than the centre of the at least one concave mesh. The threshed seeds pass through the uncovered portion of the at least one concave mesh. This arrangement helps in the proper clearance of the threshed seeds between the at least one beater and the at least one concave mesh. Moreover, it also restricts the spread of the threshed seeds to adjoining areas.
The crop is fed from the at least one feeding device into the at least one beater. It rotates at the specific speed and thus the crop is threshed and the entire or a portion of threshed material falls from the at least one concave mesh onto the at least one sieve shaker (24). Due to reciprocating motion of the at least one sieve shaker, lighter material accumulate at the top and seed falls onto the bottom sieve. The at least one aspirator/blower (22) sucks out the lighter material from the at least one sieve shaker and throws it out from the at least one blower outlet. The said processing implement has the provision of being operated when attached with a tractor also.
According to a working embodiment of the crop thresher, the following description elaborates the same. Drive is taken from PTO shaft (11) of tractor. Power is transmitted from the PTO shaft (11) to a first shaft (12) over which a first pulley (13) is attached. From this first pulley (13), power is transmitted to a second pulley (14) via a first belt (15). Then, the second pulley (14) is adapted to transmit drive to a third pulley (16) via a second shaft (17). Third pulley (16) is adapted to transmit drive to a fourth pulley
(18) via a second belt (19). The fourth pulley (18) transmits drive to a third shaft (20). Threshing chamber (21), Blower (22), and fly wheel (23) is mounted on the second shaft (17) and they are adapted to transmit drive through this second shaft (17). Shaking sieve (24) is adapted to receive reciprocating drive from the third shaft (20). Inlet of harvested crops is through the feeding device which is an inclined tray (25). Threshing process is carried out in the threshing chamber (21). Threshing process is carried out between beaters (26) and concave mesh (27). A pre-defined clearance is provided between beaters (26) and concave mesh (27) for restricting the damage of seeds due to their spreading. After threshing, seeds and straws fall on shaking sieve (24). Due to operation of shaking, seeds fall on the bottom sieve (24). Blower (22) sucks the straws and throws it out. Straws are lighter in weight then seeds. Therefore, seeds are separated and gathered.
The processing implement of the present invention overcomes the drawbacks associated with the conventional threshers such as low feed rate, high labour rate, high energy consumption and high percentage of broken seeds which contribute to high qualitative cost of operation.
While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been described. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
I claim :
1. A crop thresher adapted to separate seed from straw, said thresher
comprising:
a. at least one feeding device adapted to be communicably coupled to
a threshing chamber, said feeding device adapted to feed crop(s)
into said chamber;
b. at least one beater, adapted to rotate at a pre-determined speed, said
at least one beater adapted to beat said crop(s) in order to obtain
threshed seed(s);
c. at least one concave mesh being concealed at an operative bottom
up to a pre-defined length along said at least one concave mesh
while its remaining portion being left uncovered so that threshed
seed(s) pass through an uncovered portion of said at least one
concave mesh;
d. at least one aspirator/blower adapted to suck out relatively lighter
material from said at least one sieve shaker and further adapted to
throw out said relatively lighted material from an outlet of said at
least one blower;
e. at least one sieve shaker adapted to have reciprocating motion; and
f. drive elements adapted to drive components of said thresher by
providing power.
2. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one feeding device is a tray adapted to be inclined at a pre-defined angle for feeding said crop(s) into said at least one beater for threshing.
3. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one feeding device is a tray having a base angle adapted to be tangential to said at least one beater for maximum feed rate and minimum physical effort.
4. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one feeding device is a tray adapted to be inclined at a pre-defined angle at the entrance of said at least one beater.
5. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said beater speed is selected from a speed consisting of speeds ranging from about 120 rpm to about 180 rpm so that it prevents seeds from said crop(s) from getting damaged.
6. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said beater speed is about 150 rpm.
7. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein concealed distance of said concave mesh ranges from one end of said at least one concave mesh along its length up to the centre of said at least one concave mesh.
8. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein concealed distance of said concave mesh ranges from one end of said at least one concave mesh up to a distance greater than the centre of said at least one concave mesh.
9. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive element comprising a shaft adapted to be engaged with a tractor shaft for receiving power drive.
10. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive element comprising a first shaft with a first pulley engaged to a second pulley via a first belt drive, said first shaft adapted to be engaged with a tractor shaft.
11. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive element comprising a third pulley engaged to a fourth pulley via a second belt drive, and a second pulley adapted to transmit drive to said third pulley via a second shaft.
12. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive element comprising a fourth pulley adapted to transmit drive to a third shaft.
13. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said threshing chamber, said blower, and a flywheel are adapted to be mounted on a second shaft.
14. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shaking sieve adapted to receive drive through a second shaft.
15. The crop thresher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shaking sieve adapted to receive reciprocating drive from a third shaft.
