CA2297320A1 - Dryer for forage crops - Google Patents
Dryer for forage crops Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2297320A1 CA2297320A1 CA 2297320 CA2297320A CA2297320A1 CA 2297320 A1 CA2297320 A1 CA 2297320A1 CA 2297320 CA2297320 CA 2297320 CA 2297320 A CA2297320 A CA 2297320A CA 2297320 A1 CA2297320 A1 CA 2297320A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- drum
- crop
- dryer according
- fan
- forage
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Landscapes
- Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
Abstract
A dryer for forage crops is mounted on a wheeled vehicle and includes a drum, a feed conveyor and pick-up for carrying forage crop into an opening at the bottom front the drum for movement around the drum and a discharge opening for discharging the forage crop from the drum after movement within the drum. A
fan generates an air flow through the forage crop while in the drum and a radiator at the back of the drum heats the air flow. The drum includes an inner rotating drum with outer paddles and fingers which co-operate with a helical flight on the inside of the drum such that the inner drum carries the forage crop around and the flight moves the crop through the drum while the air is passed outwardly through perforated walls of the drums and through the forage crop to effect drying of the forage crop.
The forage crop can be discharged from the drum in dried condition.
fan generates an air flow through the forage crop while in the drum and a radiator at the back of the drum heats the air flow. The drum includes an inner rotating drum with outer paddles and fingers which co-operate with a helical flight on the inside of the drum such that the inner drum carries the forage crop around and the flight moves the crop through the drum while the air is passed outwardly through perforated walls of the drums and through the forage crop to effect drying of the forage crop.
The forage crop can be discharged from the drum in dried condition.
Description
DRYER FOR FORAGE CROPS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a dryer for forage crops.
Considerable attention is being given at this time to techniques for improving the drying of forage crops so that they can be harvested more rapidly to avoid the conventional necessary time that the crop remains in a swath in the field for natural drying. The longer the crop remains exposed, the more damage that can occur leading to loss of valuable nutrients.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has been known in Europe to provide a dryer which is a stationary construction so that it is necessary to transport the crop from the field in a suitable wagon upon which the crop is injected into what is in effect a massive tumble dryer in which the crop is tumbled while heated air is blown through the crop to effect drying. This is disadvantageous in that it is necessary to transport the crop to the dryer and in addition the tumbling effect can cause damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved crop dryer.
According to the present invention there is provided dryer for forage crops comprising:
a wheeled vehicle arranged for movement across the ground;
a drum mounted on the vehicle;
a feed conveyor for carrying forage crop into the drum for movement around the drum;
a discharge opening for discharging the forage crop from the drum after movement within the drum;
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a dryer for forage crops.
Considerable attention is being given at this time to techniques for improving the drying of forage crops so that they can be harvested more rapidly to avoid the conventional necessary time that the crop remains in a swath in the field for natural drying. The longer the crop remains exposed, the more damage that can occur leading to loss of valuable nutrients.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has been known in Europe to provide a dryer which is a stationary construction so that it is necessary to transport the crop from the field in a suitable wagon upon which the crop is injected into what is in effect a massive tumble dryer in which the crop is tumbled while heated air is blown through the crop to effect drying. This is disadvantageous in that it is necessary to transport the crop to the dryer and in addition the tumbling effect can cause damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved crop dryer.
According to the present invention there is provided dryer for forage crops comprising:
a wheeled vehicle arranged for movement across the ground;
a drum mounted on the vehicle;
a feed conveyor for carrying forage crop into the drum for movement around the drum;
a discharge opening for discharging the forage crop from the drum after movement within the drum;
a fan for generating an air flow through the forage crop while in the drum;
and a heat source for heating the air flow prior to passage through the forage crop;
the drum being arranged such that forage crop moves around and through the drum while the air is passed through the forage crop to effect drying of the forage crop. The forage crop can be discharged from the drum in dried condition.
Preferably the drum is stationary and there is provided a rotating body within the drum for moving the forage crop around and through the drum.
Preferably the rotating body comprises a cylinder coaxial with the drum.
Preferably the drum and the cylinder are horizontal.
Preferably the rotating body is ground-driven.
Preferably the cylindrical rotating body is formed from a screen such that the air passes through the screen and into a space between the rotating body and the drum.
Preferably the drum carries a flight on the inner surface.
Preferably the rotating inner body comprises a cylinder having longitudinal bars thereon acting to sweep the crop around the axis of the drum such that the flight carries the crop longitudinally of the drum.
Preferably the fan is a cylindrical fan inside the drum and extending longitudinally of the drum.
Preferably the fan is inside the inner drum and defines a space therebetween such that air pumped by the fan escapes outwardly of the cylindrical fan into the inside of the inner drum, the fan acting to draw air axially from one end of the drum.
Preferably the heat source comprises a radiator.
Preferably the heat source comprises a radiator mounted at one end of the drum exteriorly of the drum such that air is drawn through the radiator into the interior of the drum by the fan.
Preferably there are two radiators axially spaced.
Preferably the radiators carry a liquid which is heated by a fuelled heat source such as propane.
Preferably the conveyor comprises a platform having a plurality of conveyor chains thereon, a rear portion of the platform being pivotal about a horizontal transverse axis so as to allow the rear portion to move upwardly and downwardly in dependence upon the volume of crop.
Preferably the drum includes a hole at the bottom at one end into which the crop is directed by the conveyor.
Preferably the discharge opening is arranged at an end of the drum opposite to the conveyor at the bottom of the drum and wherein the flight is arranged such that the crop is carried from the inlet opening around the drum a plurality of times to the discharge opening for discharge therefrom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the dryer according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the dryer of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the dryer of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 3 on an enlarged scale and showing more detail.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the dryer.
Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the conveyor feeding into the drum.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a hay dryer designed to be pulled behind any make or model of mower conditioner.
The apparatus as therefore shown initially in Figures 3, 4 and 5 comprises and outer stationary drum 10, an inner drum 11 and a fan 12. The fan is mounted on bearings at each end and rotates around the center axis of the outer drum 10. The fan is of the squirrel cage type with fan blades 13 which drive air outwardly into a space 14 between the fan and the inner drum. The fan is driven by a shaft 15 at the front end of the structure which is driven by a hydraulic motor 16 through a chain and sprocket arrangement 17.
The outer drum, the inner drum and the fan are mounted within an outer housing 18 having a top wall 19 and two side walls 20. The outer housing includes a front wall 21 on which the bearings for the fan and the rotating inner drum are mounted together with a rear wall 22 similar to the wall 21. The rear wall 22 has an opening communicating with the interior of the fan so that air is drawn by the fan through the opening in the rear wall 22.
At the opening in the rear wall 22 is provided a heating system generally indicated at 23 including a first radiator assembly 24 and a second radiator assembly 25. Each radiator assembly comprises a radiator core of conventional construction having openings through which air can pass and having radiator plates through which or between which a heating fluid such as glycol can pass. The radiator includes a top header 26 and a bottom header 27. Each header is split at a centre line and each header portion 27A, 27B is fed by a hose 28. The upper header 26 is similarly fed by hoses 29. Thus each header defines a circuit with a coil 30 mounted in a burner housing 31. A propane tank 32 supplies propane to a burner 33 of conventional construction which burns the propane within the housing 31 to effect heating of the fluid within the coil 30. A suitable pump can be provided to circulate the fluid around through the headers 26 and 27 thus passing through the coil of the radiator and providing a heating source for heating air drawn through the radiator by the fan. The first radiator 25 effects a first heating of the air as it is drawn from the exterior towards the interior of the drum. The second radiator 24 applies additional heat to the air as previously described. Thus the air drawn into the interior of the fan is heated to a required temperature. The air from the interior of the fan is driven through the blades of the fan to pressurize the area 14 inside the inner drum.
The inner drum 11 is formed from a screen wall 35 with a plurality of longitudinal angle irons 36 carried on the outside of the screen wall with base flange 37 and an upstanding longitudinal flange 38. Stiffening bands 39 which are annular are provided on the interior of the screen so as to stiffen the screen and hold the structure in cylindrical shape. Air pressurized within the area 14 is thus free to pass outwardly through the full cylindrical wall of the inner drum into the space between the inner drum and the outer drum.
The outer drum 10 includes a plurality of longitudinally extending panels 41 and 42 which are arranged alternately around the periphery. The panels 42 are imperforate. The panels 41 are formed of a screen allowing the escape of air from the outer drum into the housing 18. The housing 18 has an opening 43 in the rear wall 22 so that the air pumped into the inner drum from the fan passes through the outer drum and into the housing and escapes from the dryer carrying moisture therewith.
and a heat source for heating the air flow prior to passage through the forage crop;
the drum being arranged such that forage crop moves around and through the drum while the air is passed through the forage crop to effect drying of the forage crop. The forage crop can be discharged from the drum in dried condition.
Preferably the drum is stationary and there is provided a rotating body within the drum for moving the forage crop around and through the drum.
Preferably the rotating body comprises a cylinder coaxial with the drum.
Preferably the drum and the cylinder are horizontal.
Preferably the rotating body is ground-driven.
Preferably the cylindrical rotating body is formed from a screen such that the air passes through the screen and into a space between the rotating body and the drum.
Preferably the drum carries a flight on the inner surface.
Preferably the rotating inner body comprises a cylinder having longitudinal bars thereon acting to sweep the crop around the axis of the drum such that the flight carries the crop longitudinally of the drum.
Preferably the fan is a cylindrical fan inside the drum and extending longitudinally of the drum.
Preferably the fan is inside the inner drum and defines a space therebetween such that air pumped by the fan escapes outwardly of the cylindrical fan into the inside of the inner drum, the fan acting to draw air axially from one end of the drum.
Preferably the heat source comprises a radiator.
Preferably the heat source comprises a radiator mounted at one end of the drum exteriorly of the drum such that air is drawn through the radiator into the interior of the drum by the fan.
Preferably there are two radiators axially spaced.
Preferably the radiators carry a liquid which is heated by a fuelled heat source such as propane.
Preferably the conveyor comprises a platform having a plurality of conveyor chains thereon, a rear portion of the platform being pivotal about a horizontal transverse axis so as to allow the rear portion to move upwardly and downwardly in dependence upon the volume of crop.
Preferably the drum includes a hole at the bottom at one end into which the crop is directed by the conveyor.
Preferably the discharge opening is arranged at an end of the drum opposite to the conveyor at the bottom of the drum and wherein the flight is arranged such that the crop is carried from the inlet opening around the drum a plurality of times to the discharge opening for discharge therefrom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the dryer according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the dryer of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the dryer of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 3 on an enlarged scale and showing more detail.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the dryer.
Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the conveyor feeding into the drum.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a hay dryer designed to be pulled behind any make or model of mower conditioner.
The apparatus as therefore shown initially in Figures 3, 4 and 5 comprises and outer stationary drum 10, an inner drum 11 and a fan 12. The fan is mounted on bearings at each end and rotates around the center axis of the outer drum 10. The fan is of the squirrel cage type with fan blades 13 which drive air outwardly into a space 14 between the fan and the inner drum. The fan is driven by a shaft 15 at the front end of the structure which is driven by a hydraulic motor 16 through a chain and sprocket arrangement 17.
The outer drum, the inner drum and the fan are mounted within an outer housing 18 having a top wall 19 and two side walls 20. The outer housing includes a front wall 21 on which the bearings for the fan and the rotating inner drum are mounted together with a rear wall 22 similar to the wall 21. The rear wall 22 has an opening communicating with the interior of the fan so that air is drawn by the fan through the opening in the rear wall 22.
At the opening in the rear wall 22 is provided a heating system generally indicated at 23 including a first radiator assembly 24 and a second radiator assembly 25. Each radiator assembly comprises a radiator core of conventional construction having openings through which air can pass and having radiator plates through which or between which a heating fluid such as glycol can pass. The radiator includes a top header 26 and a bottom header 27. Each header is split at a centre line and each header portion 27A, 27B is fed by a hose 28. The upper header 26 is similarly fed by hoses 29. Thus each header defines a circuit with a coil 30 mounted in a burner housing 31. A propane tank 32 supplies propane to a burner 33 of conventional construction which burns the propane within the housing 31 to effect heating of the fluid within the coil 30. A suitable pump can be provided to circulate the fluid around through the headers 26 and 27 thus passing through the coil of the radiator and providing a heating source for heating air drawn through the radiator by the fan. The first radiator 25 effects a first heating of the air as it is drawn from the exterior towards the interior of the drum. The second radiator 24 applies additional heat to the air as previously described. Thus the air drawn into the interior of the fan is heated to a required temperature. The air from the interior of the fan is driven through the blades of the fan to pressurize the area 14 inside the inner drum.
The inner drum 11 is formed from a screen wall 35 with a plurality of longitudinal angle irons 36 carried on the outside of the screen wall with base flange 37 and an upstanding longitudinal flange 38. Stiffening bands 39 which are annular are provided on the interior of the screen so as to stiffen the screen and hold the structure in cylindrical shape. Air pressurized within the area 14 is thus free to pass outwardly through the full cylindrical wall of the inner drum into the space between the inner drum and the outer drum.
The outer drum 10 includes a plurality of longitudinally extending panels 41 and 42 which are arranged alternately around the periphery. The panels 42 are imperforate. The panels 41 are formed of a screen allowing the escape of air from the outer drum into the housing 18. The housing 18 has an opening 43 in the rear wall 22 so that the air pumped into the inner drum from the fan passes through the outer drum and into the housing and escapes from the dryer carrying moisture therewith.
The number and width of the panels 41, 42 can be varied in accordance with requirements.
On the inside surface of the outer drum 10 is provided a helical flight 44 which has 13 spirals in 20 feet of the length of the drum so the space between the helical flight sections is of the order of 18 inches.
The upstanding flanges 38 on the outer drum sweep closely adjacent the inner edge 45 of the helical flight 44 so that the material is carried in the area between the inner and the outer drum with that material being swept around the inner drum by the flanges 38 on the inner drum and at the same time the material is moved longitudinally in a screw thread pattern around the outer drum by the flight 44.
In practice, the height of the flight and the height of the flanges is such that there is a space of about 12 inches between the outside surface of the inner drum and the inside surface of the outer drum. In order to ensure that no crop can lodge in this area and cause a blockage, fingers 38A are arranged at angularly spaced positions around the drum. Thus the fingers are very much less in number than the flanges so that there may be only five fingers around the drum. The fingers are arranged at spaced radial planes 38B so that there may be six such spaced planes each containing five fingers. This is sufficient to ensure that the crop cannot lodge. The fingers curve forwardly and have a length so that they almost but not quite reach the inside surface of the outer drum. The fingers can be mounted on selected ones of the flanges.
A conveyor 50 at the forward end of the dryer includes a front section 51 which is arranged to receive the crop material from the conditioner rolls of a mower/conditioner. Alternatively the front section 51 can be replaced by a pickup in the event that the device is used separately from the mower/conditioner.
On the inside surface of the outer drum 10 is provided a helical flight 44 which has 13 spirals in 20 feet of the length of the drum so the space between the helical flight sections is of the order of 18 inches.
The upstanding flanges 38 on the outer drum sweep closely adjacent the inner edge 45 of the helical flight 44 so that the material is carried in the area between the inner and the outer drum with that material being swept around the inner drum by the flanges 38 on the inner drum and at the same time the material is moved longitudinally in a screw thread pattern around the outer drum by the flight 44.
In practice, the height of the flight and the height of the flanges is such that there is a space of about 12 inches between the outside surface of the inner drum and the inside surface of the outer drum. In order to ensure that no crop can lodge in this area and cause a blockage, fingers 38A are arranged at angularly spaced positions around the drum. Thus the fingers are very much less in number than the flanges so that there may be only five fingers around the drum. The fingers are arranged at spaced radial planes 38B so that there may be six such spaced planes each containing five fingers. This is sufficient to ensure that the crop cannot lodge. The fingers curve forwardly and have a length so that they almost but not quite reach the inside surface of the outer drum. The fingers can be mounted on selected ones of the flanges.
A conveyor 50 at the forward end of the dryer includes a front section 51 which is arranged to receive the crop material from the conditioner rolls of a mower/conditioner. Alternatively the front section 51 can be replaced by a pickup in the event that the device is used separately from the mower/conditioner.
A rear section 52 of the conveyor is mounted for pivotal movement upwardly and downwardly as indicated at 53 so as to accommodate varying qualities of crop material carried on the conveyor. The conveyor includes a plurality of chains 54 with spring teeth 55 which carry the crop material rearwardly along the conveyor.
Pivotal movement of the rear section 52 takes place about a pivot mounting 55 so the rear end 56 of the rear section 52 moves upwardly and downwardly.
As best shown in Figure 6, a bottom wall section of the drum 10 has an opening 57 allowing the crop material to be inserted through the opening 57 into the area between the outer drum 10 and the inner drum 11. The opening is provided between the endmost flange 44 of the flight and the next adjacent flange 44A
of the flight. The material is picked up by the rotating flanges 38 of the inner drum and carried around the outer drum for movement along the dryer. A discharge opening 60 similar to the opening 57 is positioned at the rear end of the outer drum so as to allow the material to fall from the rear end of the drum at the rearmost end of the screw flight so the material can be discharged onto the ground or onto a suitable collection conveyor for transportation.
The dryer housing 18 is mounted on ground wheels 65 for transportation across the ground. The inner drum 11 is mounted on a hub 66 which is driven by a drive coupling 67 from the ground wheels so the speed of the inner drum is controlled by the forwarding speed of the dryer across the ground. The inside drum is ground driven has a diameter of 8 feet and a circumference of 25 feet.
The outside drum has 13 spirals in its 20 feet of length. This would mean that the material being dried would have to travel 325 feet before it leaves the dryer.
Based on the measurements, you could travel at 3'/2 miles per hour and have 1 full minute of drying time in the dryer and maintain and continuous flow of material being dried.
The heat source used to heat the intake air is a two-stage heat _$_ exchanger and can produce 1.6 million BTU, producing a temperature of 240 degrees. The temperature can be increased by pressurising the system. A large squirrel cage fan inside the dryer crates the airflow through the radiators as it forces air outward through the dryer and creates a vacuum behind the radiators. This means that the radiators would have even airflow over the entire surface allowing reduced air speeds and hotter air entering the dryer. Because the fan is hydraulically driven, the outward airflow in the dryer can be changed to meet drying requirements. The outward air pressure can be increased without changing the CFM of air that is being heated, making temperature easier to control.
The outer cylinder of the hay dryer is preferably 8'/2 feet inside diameter and has venting panels placed around the circumference. The panels cause the direction of airflow to change as the material passes from the vented area.
The continual movement of the material being dried and the changes should help to ensure that all the material gets even coverage. The outer cylinder is made in tow parts, allowing removal of the top half if repairs are required. This cylinder causes the material being dried to continuously move toward the end of the dryer.
The inner drum rotates at ground speed. The drum is covered with perforated metal and has bars running lengthways. The perforated metal allows the heated air to go through into the material being dried. The bars that run lengthways down the outside of this drum cause the material to turn with the drum and follow the direction of the spiral.
The fan is a squirrel cage fan that runs in the opposite direction of rotation of the inner drum. A squirrel cage fan is being used because it can create air pressure in the area without requiring large amounts of power. This type of fan can at the same time create enough vacuum to pull the required amount of air through the air heating chamber. This in turn allows even airflow over the entire air _g_ heating surface and makes it considerably more efficient. A hydraulic motor fed by the tractor hydraulics can run this fan.
The heated air is pulled from outside the dryer through the air heater and forced outward from the centre of the fan.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
Pivotal movement of the rear section 52 takes place about a pivot mounting 55 so the rear end 56 of the rear section 52 moves upwardly and downwardly.
As best shown in Figure 6, a bottom wall section of the drum 10 has an opening 57 allowing the crop material to be inserted through the opening 57 into the area between the outer drum 10 and the inner drum 11. The opening is provided between the endmost flange 44 of the flight and the next adjacent flange 44A
of the flight. The material is picked up by the rotating flanges 38 of the inner drum and carried around the outer drum for movement along the dryer. A discharge opening 60 similar to the opening 57 is positioned at the rear end of the outer drum so as to allow the material to fall from the rear end of the drum at the rearmost end of the screw flight so the material can be discharged onto the ground or onto a suitable collection conveyor for transportation.
The dryer housing 18 is mounted on ground wheels 65 for transportation across the ground. The inner drum 11 is mounted on a hub 66 which is driven by a drive coupling 67 from the ground wheels so the speed of the inner drum is controlled by the forwarding speed of the dryer across the ground. The inside drum is ground driven has a diameter of 8 feet and a circumference of 25 feet.
The outside drum has 13 spirals in its 20 feet of length. This would mean that the material being dried would have to travel 325 feet before it leaves the dryer.
Based on the measurements, you could travel at 3'/2 miles per hour and have 1 full minute of drying time in the dryer and maintain and continuous flow of material being dried.
The heat source used to heat the intake air is a two-stage heat _$_ exchanger and can produce 1.6 million BTU, producing a temperature of 240 degrees. The temperature can be increased by pressurising the system. A large squirrel cage fan inside the dryer crates the airflow through the radiators as it forces air outward through the dryer and creates a vacuum behind the radiators. This means that the radiators would have even airflow over the entire surface allowing reduced air speeds and hotter air entering the dryer. Because the fan is hydraulically driven, the outward airflow in the dryer can be changed to meet drying requirements. The outward air pressure can be increased without changing the CFM of air that is being heated, making temperature easier to control.
The outer cylinder of the hay dryer is preferably 8'/2 feet inside diameter and has venting panels placed around the circumference. The panels cause the direction of airflow to change as the material passes from the vented area.
The continual movement of the material being dried and the changes should help to ensure that all the material gets even coverage. The outer cylinder is made in tow parts, allowing removal of the top half if repairs are required. This cylinder causes the material being dried to continuously move toward the end of the dryer.
The inner drum rotates at ground speed. The drum is covered with perforated metal and has bars running lengthways. The perforated metal allows the heated air to go through into the material being dried. The bars that run lengthways down the outside of this drum cause the material to turn with the drum and follow the direction of the spiral.
The fan is a squirrel cage fan that runs in the opposite direction of rotation of the inner drum. A squirrel cage fan is being used because it can create air pressure in the area without requiring large amounts of power. This type of fan can at the same time create enough vacuum to pull the required amount of air through the air heating chamber. This in turn allows even airflow over the entire air _g_ heating surface and makes it considerably more efficient. A hydraulic motor fed by the tractor hydraulics can run this fan.
The heated air is pulled from outside the dryer through the air heater and forced outward from the centre of the fan.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (19)
1. A dryer for forage crops comprising:
a wheeled vehicle arranged for movement across the ground;
a drum mounted on the vehicle;
a feed conveyor for carrying forage crop into a feed opening of the drum for movement around the drum;
a discharge opening for discharging the forage crop from the drum after movement within the drum;
a fan for generating an air flow through the forage crop while in the drum;
and a heat source for heating the air flow prior to passage through the forage crop;
the drum being arranged such that forage crop moves around and through the drum while the air is passed through the forage crop to effect drying of the forage crop.
a wheeled vehicle arranged for movement across the ground;
a drum mounted on the vehicle;
a feed conveyor for carrying forage crop into a feed opening of the drum for movement around the drum;
a discharge opening for discharging the forage crop from the drum after movement within the drum;
a fan for generating an air flow through the forage crop while in the drum;
and a heat source for heating the air flow prior to passage through the forage crop;
the drum being arranged such that forage crop moves around and through the drum while the air is passed through the forage crop to effect drying of the forage crop.
2. The dryer according to Claim 1 wherein the drum is stationary and there is provided a rotating body within the drum for moving the forage crop around and through the drum.
3. The dryer according to Claim 2 wherein the rotating body comprises an inner drum coaxial with the drum.
4. The dryer according to Claim 3 wherein the drum and the inner drum are horizontal.
5. The dryer according to Claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the rotating body is ground-driven.
6. The dryer according to Claim 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein the rotating body is formed from a screen such that the air passes through the screen and into a space between the rotating body and the drum.
7. The dryer according to Claim 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein the drum carries a helical flight on its inner surface for engaging the crop and moving the crop longitudinally.
8. The dryer according to Claim 7 wherein the rotating inner body has longitudinal bars thereon acting to sweep the crop around the axis of the drum such that the flight carries the crop longitudinally of the drum.
9. The dryer according to Claim 7 or 8 wherein the rotating inner body carries a plurality of fingers thereon at positions spaced axially and radially acting to sweep the crop around the axis of the drum such that the fingers prevent any lodging of the crop in the drum.
10. The dryer according to Claim 9 wherein the fingers are arranged in radial planes at axially spaced positions along the drum.
11. The dryer according to Claim 7, 8, 9 or 10 wherein the discharge opening is arranged at the bottom of the drum and at an end of the drum opposite to the feed opening and wherein the flight is arranged such that the crop is carried from the feed opening around the drum a plurality of times to the discharge opening for discharge therefrom.
12. The dryer according to any preceding claim wherein the fan is a cylindrical fan inside the drum and extending longitudinally of the drum.
13. The dryer according to any one of Claims 2 to 11 wherein the fan is a cylindrical fan inside the rotating body and defines a space therebetween such that air pumped by the fan escapes outwardly of the cylindrical fan into the inside of the rotating body, the fan acting to draw air axially from one end of the drum.
14. The dryer according to any preceding claim wherein the heat source comprises a radiator.
15. The dryer according to Claim 14 wherein the radiator is mounted at one end of the drum exteriorly of the drum such that air is drawn through the radiator into the interior of the drum by the fan.
16. The dryer according to Claim 14 or 15 wherein there are two radiators axially spaced.
17. The dryer according to Claim 14, 15 or 16 wherein the radiator carries a liquid which is heated by a fuelled heat source.
18. The dryer according to any preceding claim wherein the feed conveyor comprises a platform having a plurality of conveyor chains thereon, a rear portion of the platform being pivotal about a horizontal transverse axis so as to allow the rear portion to move upwardly and downwardly in dependence upon the volume of crop.
19. The dryer according to Claim 18 wherein the inlet opening comprises a hole at the bottom at a forward end of the drum into which the crop is directed by the conveyor.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US11840299P | 1999-02-02 | 1999-02-02 | |
| US60/118,402 | 1999-02-02 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2297320A1 true CA2297320A1 (en) | 2000-08-02 |
Family
ID=31886283
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2297320 Abandoned CA2297320A1 (en) | 1999-02-02 | 2000-01-27 | Dryer for forage crops |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2297320A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109090655A (en) * | 2017-06-21 | 2018-12-28 | 德清德盛宠物用品有限公司 | A kind of spheric granules feed drying case and its application method |
| CN115191626A (en) * | 2022-07-27 | 2022-10-18 | 宁波长荣酿造设备有限公司 | Roasting machine |
-
2000
- 2000-01-27 CA CA 2297320 patent/CA2297320A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109090655A (en) * | 2017-06-21 | 2018-12-28 | 德清德盛宠物用品有限公司 | A kind of spheric granules feed drying case and its application method |
| CN115191626A (en) * | 2022-07-27 | 2022-10-18 | 宁波长荣酿造设备有限公司 | Roasting machine |
| CN115191626B (en) * | 2022-07-27 | 2024-04-05 | 宁波长荣酿造设备有限公司 | Roasting machine |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4038021A (en) | Continuous grain drier and method | |
| US4010552A (en) | Grain drier | |
| US3703802A (en) | Combine apparatus | |
| US2756554A (en) | Forage gatherer and drier | |
| US10426093B2 (en) | Conical rotor discharge housing with adjustable vanes | |
| CN105379831A (en) | Grain drier | |
| CN107152859A (en) | A kind of high-power grain-drying mechanism | |
| US6032384A (en) | Method of drying moist organic material | |
| CN107677106A (en) | A kind of drying unit for flowering cherry seed | |
| WO1999035456A1 (en) | Agricultural crop drier | |
| EP0831287B1 (en) | Aeration type rotary drying machine | |
| CA2297320A1 (en) | Dryer for forage crops | |
| CN108592607A (en) | A kind of paddy microwave dryer | |
| US3776242A (en) | Combination threshing and separating machine | |
| US3410065A (en) | Harvester for alfalfa and other forage crops | |
| US4597737A (en) | Method and apparatus for drying or heat treating granular material | |
| US3572663A (en) | Crop driers | |
| US3333348A (en) | Grain drying apparatus | |
| US2683594A (en) | Grain drying machine | |
| US1358313A (en) | Machine for drying foodstuffs | |
| AU2021101411A4 (en) | Improved Seed Destroying Impact Mill Assemblies | |
| US3545734A (en) | Crop driers and methods of drying crop | |
| CN208059457U (en) | Shrimp material wind-heat drying drum | |
| USRE25230E (en) | pierpoint | |
| US3402476A (en) | Crop-drying method |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |