CA2249872A1 - Method and apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms Download PDFInfo
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- CA2249872A1 CA2249872A1 CA002249872A CA2249872A CA2249872A1 CA 2249872 A1 CA2249872 A1 CA 2249872A1 CA 002249872 A CA002249872 A CA 002249872A CA 2249872 A CA2249872 A CA 2249872A CA 2249872 A1 CA2249872 A1 CA 2249872A1
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01H—NEW PLANTS OR NON-TRANSGENIC PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING THEM; PLANT REPRODUCTION BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES
- A01H1/00—Processes for modifying genotypes ; Plants characterised by associated natural traits
- A01H1/02—Methods or apparatus for hybridisation; Artificial pollination ; Fertility
- A01H1/027—Apparatus for pollination
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- Developmental Biology & Embryology (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Apparatuses For Bulk Treatment Of Fruits And Vegetables And Apparatuses For Preparing Feeds (AREA)
Abstract
A method and apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms, including a body with a multitude of finger like protrusions each having a secured end secured to the body and a remote unsecured vibrating end. An oscillation device is mounted to the body. The oscillation device oscillates the body, thereby providing vibrations to the protrusions. A transportable frame supports the body for movement through legume crops. The transportable frame is isolated from oscillations of the oscillation device. The apparatus is moved through a crop of legume blossoms with the vibrating protrusions serve to trip and pollinate the legume blossoms.
Description
TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
method and apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms NAME ( S ) OF INVENTOR ( S ) Arnold Webber FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms, of the flowering leguminosae family. The invention has particular application in farming operations where legume crops are grown for the production of legume seeds under conditions where natural methods of tripping and pollinating these crops are insufficient to provide acceptable seed quantities for profitable harvest.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Legume field crops include most varieties of Alfalfa, Clovers and certain flowering varieties of Forage crops grown for seed. The common method of fertilizing legume crops depends on the natural fertilization often aided by Apian insects such as the Bumblebee or the Leafcutter bee. It is well known in the profession that the bees enter the flower to extract nectar for honey production and in doing so "trip" open the sticky female part of the blossom which is called the pistil. Once tripped open, the pistil is ready to accept the male parts (gametes) in the pollen produced by the male reproductive organ on the plant called the stamen. Pollen, being a sticky substance, is carried from the stamen to the pistil by the activity of the bees, other insects, or from direct contact of the blossoms from wind blowing the plants together, in order to complete the fertilization process. Some legume plant flowers such as alfalfa have pistils, which are hard to trip open and require the use of Leafcutting bees for effective pollination. If these bees are not available in sufficient quantity during the flowering stage of plant development, fertilization does not take place and the plant does not produce seed.
Weather conditions are also considered very important to the fertilization process. It is common knowledge that bees are unable to function under cool or cold conditions due to a natural metabolic slow down under these conditions, consequently the blossoms will not be tripped open or fertilized. Lack of wind after blossom tripping can also reduce fertilization rates due to little or no direct blossom contact.
In the past some methods of mechanical tripping and fertilizing these crops were performed with limited success.
Chains or bars were dragged through the fields at blossom height to "trip" the blossoms and transfer some of the pollen.
These methods damaged many of the plants and resulted in low fertilization rates.
A preferred method of mechanically tripping and pollinating legume plants is to contact the plant blossom with a finger like protrusion that is moved from one blossom to another. Early apparatus employing a vibrating protrusion were limited to a single protrusion and an oscillating mechanism comprised of a small electric motor driving a crank mechanism.
This is a slow and tedious procedure that would be impractical in large fields.
SUI~iARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is an alternative method and apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms, including a body with a multitude of finger like protrusions each having a secured end secured to the body and a remote unsecured vibrating end. An oscillation device is mounted to the body. The oscillation device oscillates the body, thereby providing vibrations to the protrusions. A
transportable frame supports the body for movement through legume crops. The transportable frame is isolated from oscillations of the oscillation device.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms . A f first step of the method involves providing an apparatus substantially as described above. A second step of the method involves moving the apparatus through a crop of legume blossoms of the flowering leguminosae family. The vibrating protrusions serve to trip and pollinate the legume blossoms.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the invention, as described above, even more beneficial results may be obtained when the body that the protrusions are secured to is a rotating drum. The rotating drum is better able to move through the crop without causing damage. The vibrating protrusions from the drum tend to have a longer period of contact during the time duration of rotation of the drum. The pollinating of the legume blossoms is more effective, as the protrusions sequentially come in contact with the legume blossoms.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the invention, as described above, even more beneficial results may be obtained when means is provided for varying the vertical position of said body to provide maximum contact of the unsupported vibrating ends of the protrusions with blossoms.
The invention provides an effective mechanical tripping and cross-pollinating device for use in large legume field crops. The preferred embodiment, as will hereinafter be further described, includes a pivotal frame that is transportable systematically throughout the field; a rotating vibratory drum, attached pivotally to the frame with isolation mounts and bearings; a vibrating mechanism inside the drum to vibrate the drum and any appendages; and a multitude of long thin protrusions affixed perpendicularly to the outer circumference of the drum. The long thin protrusions may take the form of small gauge stiff wires of a length equal to or longer than the diameter of the rotatable drum. The small gauge stiff wires are affixed in rows around the circumference of the drum with each wire and row generally spaced apart a distance of 6 to 8 times the wire diameter.
Brief description of the drawings Embodiments of the invention shall now be described with reference to the following drawings, which should not be used to limit the scope of the invention in any way, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus mounted on wheels;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rotatable drum with attached wires thereof, and Figure 3 is an isometric exploded view with hidden lines, showing the rotating portion of the device with eccentric inner shaft, which is an embodiment of the invention thereof.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, in use in accordance with the teachings of the preferred method.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment As shown in figure 1, the tripping and pollinating device I preferably consists of a multitude of wires 8 attached perpendicularly, in rows and equally spaced, around a drum 9.
In a typical tripping and pollinating device embodied by the invention the drum 9 may be, for example, fifty centimetres in diameter and two meters in length. Wires 8 may be, for example, five millimetres in diameter by sixty centimetres long and inserted into the outer surface of the drum 9 by drilling holes, of a size slightly larger than the diameter of the wires, every two centimetres apart over the entire surface of the drum 9. The wires 8 may be fixed to the drum 9, for example, by welding.
Referring to Figure 3, the drum and wire assembly 1 5 preferably contains an unbalanced or eccentric shaft 10 with bearings 11 on both ends mounted to webs 12 (shown partially by hidden lines) fixed to the inside of the drum 9. The axis of the eccentric shaft 10 preferably is the same as the axis of drum 9, which makes it concentric with the drum. The bearings 11 and shaft 10 are held in place by the fit between the bearings 11 and the mounting plates 12 and retained from horizontal movements by bearing caps 13 and 15 and clamped in place by bolts 14. Bearing cap 15 typically is centerless and sealed allowing eccentric shaft 10 to extend through the bearing cap into drive coupling 16. Drive coupling 16 typically provides a means to connect a drive source to rotate the eccentric shaft 10 independent of the drum 9. The eccentric shaft 10 preferably is rotated in a controlled manner by any suitable drive means such as a hydraulic motor (not shown). Rotating the unbalanced eccentric shaft 10 will set up oscillations causing drum 9 and it's appendages, wires 8 to vibrate. Maximum vibration typically occurs at the unsupported end of wires 8 by transfer of energy. It is also a known concept in rotating shaft vibratory equipment that frictional forces caused by rotating an eccentric shaft such as 10 inside a drum such as 9 will impart a rotational force to the drum 9 through bearings 11. This force will create a tendency for the drum assembly 1 to rotate in the same direction as the eccentric shaft 10 but at reduced rate.
The drum assembly 1 is isolated from the frame by resilient polymer rubber isolation mount assembly's 6 which serve as vibration isolators between the drum and wire assembly 1 of figure 2, and the support arms 5 which are pivotally mounted to the frame 4. The isolation mount assembly's 6 in a typical tripping and pollinating device may be, for example, an inflatable rubber tire 17 with attached inner mounting rim 18 and a deflated outer diameter marginally less than the inner diameter of the drum 9. The tires 17, if inserted into the ends of the drum 9 and inflated with air pressure, for example, will expand and grip the drum 9. Rotating the drum 9 will cause rotation of the mount assembly 6.
The isolation mount assembly 6 preferably supports the drum assembly 1 through threaded mechanical fasteners 20 which are threaded through the inner mounting rim 18 clamping it to the bearing and shaft arrangement 19 which is clamped to the free end of support arm 5. The rotating drum assembly 1 of figure 3 is stayed from horizontal movements by pivotal frame assembly(s) 5. Frame assembly 5 preferably is pivotal about a fixed axis parallel to the axis through the center of the drum assembly 1 and at an elevation more or less equal to the elevation of the longitudinal horizontal axis of the drum 9.
The said pivotal axis are preferably separated by a distance of slightly more than one half the diameter of the drum 9 plus the length of the wires 8. The drum assembly 1, attached isolation mount assembly 6 and bearing and shaft arrangement 19 preferably are supported vertically by actuators 2 which are attached pivotally between the horizontal support frame 5 and horizontal frame member 4a of the main transport frame 4 which is more or less directly above the horizontal axis of the drum assembly 1. The actuators 2, by their vertical positioning, and preferably by their ability to extend and retract in a vertical plane upon being filled or emptied with a fluid medium such as hydraulic oil, for example from a controllable pressure source, may be used to vary the height of the vibratory drum and wire assembly 1 in order to place the vibrating wire ends 8, more of less, at the height of the flowering blossoms as the Blossom tripping and pollinating device is transporting systematically throughout the crop.
Referring to FIGURE 4, the blossom tripping and pollinating device preferably is transported through out the crop in such a manner that the drum assembly 1 remains perpendicular to the direction of motion to provide maximum blossom contact. As the blossom tripping and pollinating device is transported systematically through out the crop, the drum assembly 1 and isolation mount assembly 6 of figure 2 are rotated about the bearing and shaft assembly 19 allowing the vibratory, tripping, and pollinating wires 8 to enter the blossoms gently without tearing or otherwise damaging the crop.
The blossom tripping and pollinating rotating assembly 1 of figure 3, being balanced and free turning about its horizontal axis, typically may be rotated by contact of the rods 8 with the crop assisted by the rotation force imparted to the drum 9 by rotating the eccentric shaft 10.
It can immediately be appreciated that many variations in the preferred embodiment of the invention which has been described above are possible without departing from the broad scope of the invention. For example while it may be practical to transport the drum assembly 1 by attaching it to a frame 4, as shown, many other types of transport systems could be used to carry the drum assembly 1 above the crop. For example, the Drum assembly 1 of figure 3 may also be pivotally attached to a powered transportation means such as a tractor of a custom carrier instead of the pull type frame 4 shown in figure 1.
While it may be considered effective to use hydraulic cylinders 2 to control the height above the crop and the penetration depth into the crop of the tripping and pollinating wires 8, other actuators or devices could be used to suspend and vary the vertical height of the drum assembly 1, such as mechanical actuators, electric actuators, air cylinders, pulleys with ropes or cables, as well as many known types of levers. In some variations of the design, wires 8 could be shorter or longer and the size, number and spacing of the wires 8 changed to facilitate manufacture or certain crop conditions without detracting from the scope of the invention. The precise means of attaching the wires 8 may be varied in many known ways. In some applications they may be attached to the drum 9 by bolting, wedging or threading into the drum with a locking nut arrangement. The vibratory eccentric shaft 10 could be modified by adding weights or offsetting the bearing surfaces without changing the vibratory nature of the shaft when rotated. The eccentric shaft 10 may be rotated by many accepted means of providing rotary power. A simple belt driven shaft for example could be inserted through the hollow center of the support shaft and bearing arrangement 19 and coupled to the eccentric shaft 10. The eccentric shaft 10 may also, for example, be mounted in a plane other than on an axis through the center of the drum as shown in the example. The scope of the invention should not be limited to the use of one rotating shaft 10 to provide vibration. Other methods of providing vibration such as oscillating discs or hydraulic stroke type vibrations would prove equally effective. The drum 9 as shown may be of a different physical size or thickness that is commonly available or able to be manufactured. Many means of providing vibration isolation mounting and drive means are known, such as pad or round type shock absorber mounts. An example is shock absorber part number 34 52 15 used on a Dynapac model CC10 road packer used to drive the drum and provide vibration isolation between the drum and the hydraulic drive motor. Rotation control of the Drum assembly 1 of the invention may be accomplished by many known means and should not limit the scope of the invention in any way. A mechanical ground drive from the transport wheels 3 may be used to regulated the drum and wire rotation to provide precise wire tip ground speed to prevent damage to plant blossoms. Other commonly accepted controllable rotation means in use are hydraulic, air or electric devices or combinations thereof.
It can be readily appreciated to those skilled in the art of this invention that it has some advantages over natural and prior art for the purpose of tripping and pollination large fields of legume crops to insure adequate seed production under a variety of conditions. Firstly, the device may be used as a substitute for the Leafcutting bees and other natural forces as a blossom tripper. Once the blossom is tripped the honey bee, which is a very poor blossom tripper, yet a very good pollinator, now has ready access to a field of blossoms.
Secondly, the vibrating wires 8 will assist in the transfer of the sticky pollen from one flower to another, providing some of the cross pollination, as they are rotated in and out of the plant blossoms and the device is transported throughout the crop. Thirdly, the device is not dependent upon weather conditions for the most part. Fourthly, the device will minimize damage to the plants or blossoms due to the preferred controlled synchronization of the drum rotation with the forward movement of the frame allowing the vibrating wires 8 to mesh with the blossoms rather than drag through the crop.
Because of the said synchronizing requirement the many long vibrating fingers 8 enter and exit the blossoms more or less at ground speed as the drum 9 rotates above the crop. Fifthly, the invention is an improvement over prior art as the device is designed mainly for, but not limited to, use in large crops grown in uncovered areas rather than covered crops such as those grown in controlled environments such as green houses.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice or application of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
method and apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms NAME ( S ) OF INVENTOR ( S ) Arnold Webber FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms, of the flowering leguminosae family. The invention has particular application in farming operations where legume crops are grown for the production of legume seeds under conditions where natural methods of tripping and pollinating these crops are insufficient to provide acceptable seed quantities for profitable harvest.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Legume field crops include most varieties of Alfalfa, Clovers and certain flowering varieties of Forage crops grown for seed. The common method of fertilizing legume crops depends on the natural fertilization often aided by Apian insects such as the Bumblebee or the Leafcutter bee. It is well known in the profession that the bees enter the flower to extract nectar for honey production and in doing so "trip" open the sticky female part of the blossom which is called the pistil. Once tripped open, the pistil is ready to accept the male parts (gametes) in the pollen produced by the male reproductive organ on the plant called the stamen. Pollen, being a sticky substance, is carried from the stamen to the pistil by the activity of the bees, other insects, or from direct contact of the blossoms from wind blowing the plants together, in order to complete the fertilization process. Some legume plant flowers such as alfalfa have pistils, which are hard to trip open and require the use of Leafcutting bees for effective pollination. If these bees are not available in sufficient quantity during the flowering stage of plant development, fertilization does not take place and the plant does not produce seed.
Weather conditions are also considered very important to the fertilization process. It is common knowledge that bees are unable to function under cool or cold conditions due to a natural metabolic slow down under these conditions, consequently the blossoms will not be tripped open or fertilized. Lack of wind after blossom tripping can also reduce fertilization rates due to little or no direct blossom contact.
In the past some methods of mechanical tripping and fertilizing these crops were performed with limited success.
Chains or bars were dragged through the fields at blossom height to "trip" the blossoms and transfer some of the pollen.
These methods damaged many of the plants and resulted in low fertilization rates.
A preferred method of mechanically tripping and pollinating legume plants is to contact the plant blossom with a finger like protrusion that is moved from one blossom to another. Early apparatus employing a vibrating protrusion were limited to a single protrusion and an oscillating mechanism comprised of a small electric motor driving a crank mechanism.
This is a slow and tedious procedure that would be impractical in large fields.
SUI~iARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is an alternative method and apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms, including a body with a multitude of finger like protrusions each having a secured end secured to the body and a remote unsecured vibrating end. An oscillation device is mounted to the body. The oscillation device oscillates the body, thereby providing vibrations to the protrusions. A
transportable frame supports the body for movement through legume crops. The transportable frame is isolated from oscillations of the oscillation device.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms . A f first step of the method involves providing an apparatus substantially as described above. A second step of the method involves moving the apparatus through a crop of legume blossoms of the flowering leguminosae family. The vibrating protrusions serve to trip and pollinate the legume blossoms.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the invention, as described above, even more beneficial results may be obtained when the body that the protrusions are secured to is a rotating drum. The rotating drum is better able to move through the crop without causing damage. The vibrating protrusions from the drum tend to have a longer period of contact during the time duration of rotation of the drum. The pollinating of the legume blossoms is more effective, as the protrusions sequentially come in contact with the legume blossoms.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the invention, as described above, even more beneficial results may be obtained when means is provided for varying the vertical position of said body to provide maximum contact of the unsupported vibrating ends of the protrusions with blossoms.
The invention provides an effective mechanical tripping and cross-pollinating device for use in large legume field crops. The preferred embodiment, as will hereinafter be further described, includes a pivotal frame that is transportable systematically throughout the field; a rotating vibratory drum, attached pivotally to the frame with isolation mounts and bearings; a vibrating mechanism inside the drum to vibrate the drum and any appendages; and a multitude of long thin protrusions affixed perpendicularly to the outer circumference of the drum. The long thin protrusions may take the form of small gauge stiff wires of a length equal to or longer than the diameter of the rotatable drum. The small gauge stiff wires are affixed in rows around the circumference of the drum with each wire and row generally spaced apart a distance of 6 to 8 times the wire diameter.
Brief description of the drawings Embodiments of the invention shall now be described with reference to the following drawings, which should not be used to limit the scope of the invention in any way, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus mounted on wheels;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rotatable drum with attached wires thereof, and Figure 3 is an isometric exploded view with hidden lines, showing the rotating portion of the device with eccentric inner shaft, which is an embodiment of the invention thereof.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, in use in accordance with the teachings of the preferred method.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment As shown in figure 1, the tripping and pollinating device I preferably consists of a multitude of wires 8 attached perpendicularly, in rows and equally spaced, around a drum 9.
In a typical tripping and pollinating device embodied by the invention the drum 9 may be, for example, fifty centimetres in diameter and two meters in length. Wires 8 may be, for example, five millimetres in diameter by sixty centimetres long and inserted into the outer surface of the drum 9 by drilling holes, of a size slightly larger than the diameter of the wires, every two centimetres apart over the entire surface of the drum 9. The wires 8 may be fixed to the drum 9, for example, by welding.
Referring to Figure 3, the drum and wire assembly 1 5 preferably contains an unbalanced or eccentric shaft 10 with bearings 11 on both ends mounted to webs 12 (shown partially by hidden lines) fixed to the inside of the drum 9. The axis of the eccentric shaft 10 preferably is the same as the axis of drum 9, which makes it concentric with the drum. The bearings 11 and shaft 10 are held in place by the fit between the bearings 11 and the mounting plates 12 and retained from horizontal movements by bearing caps 13 and 15 and clamped in place by bolts 14. Bearing cap 15 typically is centerless and sealed allowing eccentric shaft 10 to extend through the bearing cap into drive coupling 16. Drive coupling 16 typically provides a means to connect a drive source to rotate the eccentric shaft 10 independent of the drum 9. The eccentric shaft 10 preferably is rotated in a controlled manner by any suitable drive means such as a hydraulic motor (not shown). Rotating the unbalanced eccentric shaft 10 will set up oscillations causing drum 9 and it's appendages, wires 8 to vibrate. Maximum vibration typically occurs at the unsupported end of wires 8 by transfer of energy. It is also a known concept in rotating shaft vibratory equipment that frictional forces caused by rotating an eccentric shaft such as 10 inside a drum such as 9 will impart a rotational force to the drum 9 through bearings 11. This force will create a tendency for the drum assembly 1 to rotate in the same direction as the eccentric shaft 10 but at reduced rate.
The drum assembly 1 is isolated from the frame by resilient polymer rubber isolation mount assembly's 6 which serve as vibration isolators between the drum and wire assembly 1 of figure 2, and the support arms 5 which are pivotally mounted to the frame 4. The isolation mount assembly's 6 in a typical tripping and pollinating device may be, for example, an inflatable rubber tire 17 with attached inner mounting rim 18 and a deflated outer diameter marginally less than the inner diameter of the drum 9. The tires 17, if inserted into the ends of the drum 9 and inflated with air pressure, for example, will expand and grip the drum 9. Rotating the drum 9 will cause rotation of the mount assembly 6.
The isolation mount assembly 6 preferably supports the drum assembly 1 through threaded mechanical fasteners 20 which are threaded through the inner mounting rim 18 clamping it to the bearing and shaft arrangement 19 which is clamped to the free end of support arm 5. The rotating drum assembly 1 of figure 3 is stayed from horizontal movements by pivotal frame assembly(s) 5. Frame assembly 5 preferably is pivotal about a fixed axis parallel to the axis through the center of the drum assembly 1 and at an elevation more or less equal to the elevation of the longitudinal horizontal axis of the drum 9.
The said pivotal axis are preferably separated by a distance of slightly more than one half the diameter of the drum 9 plus the length of the wires 8. The drum assembly 1, attached isolation mount assembly 6 and bearing and shaft arrangement 19 preferably are supported vertically by actuators 2 which are attached pivotally between the horizontal support frame 5 and horizontal frame member 4a of the main transport frame 4 which is more or less directly above the horizontal axis of the drum assembly 1. The actuators 2, by their vertical positioning, and preferably by their ability to extend and retract in a vertical plane upon being filled or emptied with a fluid medium such as hydraulic oil, for example from a controllable pressure source, may be used to vary the height of the vibratory drum and wire assembly 1 in order to place the vibrating wire ends 8, more of less, at the height of the flowering blossoms as the Blossom tripping and pollinating device is transporting systematically throughout the crop.
Referring to FIGURE 4, the blossom tripping and pollinating device preferably is transported through out the crop in such a manner that the drum assembly 1 remains perpendicular to the direction of motion to provide maximum blossom contact. As the blossom tripping and pollinating device is transported systematically through out the crop, the drum assembly 1 and isolation mount assembly 6 of figure 2 are rotated about the bearing and shaft assembly 19 allowing the vibratory, tripping, and pollinating wires 8 to enter the blossoms gently without tearing or otherwise damaging the crop.
The blossom tripping and pollinating rotating assembly 1 of figure 3, being balanced and free turning about its horizontal axis, typically may be rotated by contact of the rods 8 with the crop assisted by the rotation force imparted to the drum 9 by rotating the eccentric shaft 10.
It can immediately be appreciated that many variations in the preferred embodiment of the invention which has been described above are possible without departing from the broad scope of the invention. For example while it may be practical to transport the drum assembly 1 by attaching it to a frame 4, as shown, many other types of transport systems could be used to carry the drum assembly 1 above the crop. For example, the Drum assembly 1 of figure 3 may also be pivotally attached to a powered transportation means such as a tractor of a custom carrier instead of the pull type frame 4 shown in figure 1.
While it may be considered effective to use hydraulic cylinders 2 to control the height above the crop and the penetration depth into the crop of the tripping and pollinating wires 8, other actuators or devices could be used to suspend and vary the vertical height of the drum assembly 1, such as mechanical actuators, electric actuators, air cylinders, pulleys with ropes or cables, as well as many known types of levers. In some variations of the design, wires 8 could be shorter or longer and the size, number and spacing of the wires 8 changed to facilitate manufacture or certain crop conditions without detracting from the scope of the invention. The precise means of attaching the wires 8 may be varied in many known ways. In some applications they may be attached to the drum 9 by bolting, wedging or threading into the drum with a locking nut arrangement. The vibratory eccentric shaft 10 could be modified by adding weights or offsetting the bearing surfaces without changing the vibratory nature of the shaft when rotated. The eccentric shaft 10 may be rotated by many accepted means of providing rotary power. A simple belt driven shaft for example could be inserted through the hollow center of the support shaft and bearing arrangement 19 and coupled to the eccentric shaft 10. The eccentric shaft 10 may also, for example, be mounted in a plane other than on an axis through the center of the drum as shown in the example. The scope of the invention should not be limited to the use of one rotating shaft 10 to provide vibration. Other methods of providing vibration such as oscillating discs or hydraulic stroke type vibrations would prove equally effective. The drum 9 as shown may be of a different physical size or thickness that is commonly available or able to be manufactured. Many means of providing vibration isolation mounting and drive means are known, such as pad or round type shock absorber mounts. An example is shock absorber part number 34 52 15 used on a Dynapac model CC10 road packer used to drive the drum and provide vibration isolation between the drum and the hydraulic drive motor. Rotation control of the Drum assembly 1 of the invention may be accomplished by many known means and should not limit the scope of the invention in any way. A mechanical ground drive from the transport wheels 3 may be used to regulated the drum and wire rotation to provide precise wire tip ground speed to prevent damage to plant blossoms. Other commonly accepted controllable rotation means in use are hydraulic, air or electric devices or combinations thereof.
It can be readily appreciated to those skilled in the art of this invention that it has some advantages over natural and prior art for the purpose of tripping and pollination large fields of legume crops to insure adequate seed production under a variety of conditions. Firstly, the device may be used as a substitute for the Leafcutting bees and other natural forces as a blossom tripper. Once the blossom is tripped the honey bee, which is a very poor blossom tripper, yet a very good pollinator, now has ready access to a field of blossoms.
Secondly, the vibrating wires 8 will assist in the transfer of the sticky pollen from one flower to another, providing some of the cross pollination, as they are rotated in and out of the plant blossoms and the device is transported throughout the crop. Thirdly, the device is not dependent upon weather conditions for the most part. Fourthly, the device will minimize damage to the plants or blossoms due to the preferred controlled synchronization of the drum rotation with the forward movement of the frame allowing the vibrating wires 8 to mesh with the blossoms rather than drag through the crop.
Because of the said synchronizing requirement the many long vibrating fingers 8 enter and exit the blossoms more or less at ground speed as the drum 9 rotates above the crop. Fifthly, the invention is an improvement over prior art as the device is designed mainly for, but not limited to, use in large crops grown in uncovered areas rather than covered crops such as those grown in controlled environments such as green houses.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice or application of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
Claims (26)
1. An apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms, comprising;
a body;
a multitude of finger like protrusions each having a secured end secured to the body and a remote unsecured vibrating end;
an oscillation device mounted to the body, the oscillation device oscillating the body, thereby providing vibrations to said protrusions; and a transportable frame supporting the body, the transportable frame being isolated from oscillations of the oscillation device.
a body;
a multitude of finger like protrusions each having a secured end secured to the body and a remote unsecured vibrating end;
an oscillation device mounted to the body, the oscillation device oscillating the body, thereby providing vibrations to said protrusions; and a transportable frame supporting the body, the transportable frame being isolated from oscillations of the oscillation device.
2. The Apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein the body is a drum rotatably mounted to the transportable frame.
3. The Apparatus as defined in Claim 2, wherein the protrusions are spaced apart and rigidly attached, substantially perpendicularly, to an outer surface of said rotatable drum.
4. The Apparatus as defined in Claim 3, wherein the protrusions are spaced apart more than three times and less than nine times a diameter of said protrusions.
5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein means is provided for varying the vertical position of said body to provide maximum contact of the unsupported vibrating ends of said protrusions with blossoms.
6. The apparatus as defined in Claim l, wherein said protrusions comprise long thin stiff wires.
7. The apparatus as defined in Claim 5, wherein said positioning means is a linear actuator.
8. The apparatus as defined in Claim 5, wherein the body is positioned between two pivotally mounted arms, with telescopically extendible actuators secured between said arms and the transportable frame, such that telescopic extension and contraction of the actuators alters the positioning of the arms and the body positioned between the arms.
9. The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein the transportable frame has support wheels and a tow bar, such that the transportable frame is supported by the support wheels and towed behind a motor vehicle by the tow bar.
10. The apparatus as defined in Claim 2, wherein the oscillating device is an eccentric oscillator positioned within the drum.
11. An apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms, comprising;
a drum having an outer surface;
a multitude of long stiff finger like wire protrusions each having a secured end rigidly secured in spaced apart relation to the outer surface of the drum and a remote unsecured vibrating end;
an oscillation device mounted to the drum, the oscillation device oscillating the drum, thereby providing vibrations to said protrusions; and a transportable frame rotatably supporting the drum, the transportable frame being isolated from oscillations of the oscillation device.
a drum having an outer surface;
a multitude of long stiff finger like wire protrusions each having a secured end rigidly secured in spaced apart relation to the outer surface of the drum and a remote unsecured vibrating end;
an oscillation device mounted to the drum, the oscillation device oscillating the drum, thereby providing vibrations to said protrusions; and a transportable frame rotatably supporting the drum, the transportable frame being isolated from oscillations of the oscillation device.
12. The Apparatus as defined in Claim 11, wherein the protrusions are spaced apart more than three times and less than nine times a diameter of said protrusions.
13. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein means is provided for varying the vertical position of said drum to provide maximum contact of the unsupported vibrating ends of said protrusions with blossoms.
14. The apparatus as defined in Claim 13, wherein said positioning means is a linear actuator.
15. The apparatus as defined in Claim 13, wherein the body is positioned between two pivotally mounted arms, with telescopically extendible actuators secured between said arms and the transportable frame, such that telescopic extension and contraction of the actuators alters the positioning of the arms and the body positioned between the arms.
16. The apparatus as defined in Claim 11, wherein the transportable frame has support wheels and a tow bar, such that the transportable frame is supported by the support wheels and towed behind a motor vehicle by the tow bar.
17. The apparatus as defined in Claim 11, wherein the oscillating device is an eccentric oscillator positioned within the drum.
18. A method for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms, comprising;
firstly, providing an apparatus having:
a body;
a multitude of finger like protrusions each having a secured end secured to the body and a remote unsecured vibrating end;
an oscillation device mounted to the body, the oscillation device oscillating the body, thereby providing vibrations to said protrusions; and a transportable frame supporting the body, the transportable frame being isolated from oscillations of the oscillation device;
secondly, moving the apparatus through a crop of legume blossoms of the flowering leguminosae family, such that the vibrating protrusions serve to trip and pollinate said legume blossoms.
firstly, providing an apparatus having:
a body;
a multitude of finger like protrusions each having a secured end secured to the body and a remote unsecured vibrating end;
an oscillation device mounted to the body, the oscillation device oscillating the body, thereby providing vibrations to said protrusions; and a transportable frame supporting the body, the transportable frame being isolated from oscillations of the oscillation device;
secondly, moving the apparatus through a crop of legume blossoms of the flowering leguminosae family, such that the vibrating protrusions serve to trip and pollinate said legume blossoms.
19. The Method as defined in Claim 18, the body being a drum rotatably mounted to the transportable frame.
20. The Method as defined in Claim 19, the protrusions being spaced apart and rigidly attached, substantially perpendicularly, to an outer surface of said rotatable drum.
21. The Method as defined in claim 18, means being provided for varying the vertical position of said body to provide maximum contact of the unsupported vibrating ends of said protrusions with blossoms.
22. The Method as defined in Claim 18, the protrusions being long thin stiff wires.
23. The Method as defined in Claim 21, said positioning means being a linear actuator.
24. The Method as defined in Claim 21, the body being positioned between two pivotally mounted arms, with telescopically extendible actuators secured between said arms and the transportable frame, such that telescopic extension and contraction of the actuators alters the positioning of the arms and the body positioned between the arms.
25. The Method as defined in Claim 1, the transportable frame having support wheels and a tow bar, such that the transportable frame is supported by the support wheels and towed behind a motor vehicle by the tow bar.
26. The Method as defined in Claim 19, the oscillating device being an eccentric oscillator positioned within the drum.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002249872A CA2249872A1 (en) | 1998-10-08 | 1998-10-08 | Method and apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002249872A CA2249872A1 (en) | 1998-10-08 | 1998-10-08 | Method and apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2249872A1 true CA2249872A1 (en) | 2000-04-08 |
Family
ID=29425451
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002249872A Abandoned CA2249872A1 (en) | 1998-10-08 | 1998-10-08 | Method and apparatus for mechanically tripping and pollinating legume blossoms |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2249872A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN1326450C (en) * | 2005-07-13 | 2007-07-18 | 哈尔滨工业大学 | Pollen isolating device of crosspollination crops |
| CN101803563A (en) * | 2010-04-24 | 2010-08-18 | 侯国强 | Hybrid rice seed producing and pollinating tool and pollinating method |
| CN106171959A (en) * | 2016-07-18 | 2016-12-07 | 中国农业大学 | A kind of pollination sprays equipment and system |
| CN115226624A (en) * | 2022-07-15 | 2022-10-25 | 贵溪欧绿多肉植物有限公司 | Supplementary pollination equipment for flower planting |
-
1998
- 1998-10-08 CA CA002249872A patent/CA2249872A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN1326450C (en) * | 2005-07-13 | 2007-07-18 | 哈尔滨工业大学 | Pollen isolating device of crosspollination crops |
| CN101803563A (en) * | 2010-04-24 | 2010-08-18 | 侯国强 | Hybrid rice seed producing and pollinating tool and pollinating method |
| CN101803563B (en) * | 2010-04-24 | 2013-02-20 | 侯国强 | Hybrid rice seed producing and pollinating tool and pollinating method |
| CN106171959A (en) * | 2016-07-18 | 2016-12-07 | 中国农业大学 | A kind of pollination sprays equipment and system |
| CN106171959B (en) * | 2016-07-18 | 2018-03-02 | 中国农业大学 | One kind pollination sprays equipment and system |
| CN115226624A (en) * | 2022-07-15 | 2022-10-25 | 贵溪欧绿多肉植物有限公司 | Supplementary pollination equipment for flower planting |
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