FR2469111A1 - Maize-harvesting store with natural drying - uses short mobile mesh cribs transportable on public roads with removable base - Google Patents

Abstract

The maize-harvester uses natural drying, and employs short mobile cribs (1) dimensioned to allow transport on public roads. The cribs can be placed at the ends of the field being harvested, the contents of the harvester being dumped directly into them, after which they are transported to the drying position and then to the machine stripping the grains from the cobs. They can be discharged into a trench adjacent to the latter machine. Each crib used can consist of a rectangular meshwork container, with a removable bottom and skids (8).

Description

 The present invention relates to a method for harvesting corn.

 In the current state of the art, two methods are used to harvest corn.

 The first consists in picking the mals on the cob, shelling it immediately and then ensiling it for forced drying. This process requires little labor but requires large quantities of hydrocarbon during drying.

 The second process always consists of picking the corn on the cob but these are left as they are and placed in drying cages or "cribs". The ears are left for several months in the cribs and we therefore realize. a natural drying which gives a very good quality blank. Naturally, after drying it is necessary to take the ears out of the "cribs and to shell them. This process which requires little energy is relatively expensive because it requires a significant labor in because of the handling to which the ears are subjected.

 In fact, as soon as the ears are harvested, they must be dumped into a bucket to transport them to the crib which, in general, is installed on the edge of a carriage road close to the farm buildings.

In addition, when the corn is dried, it is necessary to bring the machine close to the crib, to empty it section by section by moving the ginner step by step along the crib.

It should also be noted that the crib is difficult to empty because the ears block each other.

 The method of the invention, which overcomes these drawbacks, consists in using short cribs, which are easily manipulated, in placing these cribs at the ends of the field to be harvested, in directly pouring the contents of the harvesting machine into the cribs, take them to the natural drying place and then to the ginning machine.

This process differs from the classic one by the fact that the crib is designed so that it can be moved easily; thus, if the height and the width are substantially the same as those of a usual crib, the length is considerably reduced and is on the order of three meters.

In general, the length of the crib must be compatible with the regulations concerning road transport.

Moving the cribs is not a problem and can be done using a trailer of a known type with a tilting platform so as to form a ramp on which the cribs are hauled using a winch .

 This process does not eliminate the manipulations but simplifies them so that they can be spread out over time.

 Thus, unlike the conventional process, the harvest is not ensiled for drying on the place where it will be carried out; the mobile cribs can be moved several days after they are filled, therefore by the same person as the one who drove the harvester, resulting in a substantial saving in labor.

Furthermore, during ginning, the ginning machine can be placed in a fixed place, well sheltered and its performance is optimal since it is not necessary to move it. In addition, it is possible to empty the mobile cribs in a pit located near the gin, this operation being faster than the fractional emptying of the current process.

 In general, it follows from the explanations above that the method of the invention makes it possible to reduce the labor required and even if it is admitted that the cost price of the linear meter of movable crib is slightly higher than that of 'a fixed crib, this additional expenditure of equipment will be very quickly amortized by the saving realized on the cost of the labor.

By way of nonlimiting example we will now describe a crib according to the invention such as that shown in the attached drawing in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crib;
Figure 2 is a partial view showing the assembly of the crib;
Figure 3 is a partial perspective view showing the possibility of locking the crib on the trailer;
Figure 4 is a partial view on a larger scale showing a detail of embodiment.

 Referring to the drawing, it can be seen that the crib is constituted by a container whose height and width are substantially those of a usual crib while its length is of the order of three meters.

 It should be noted that, as the crib has a short length, an air circulation can be established between its ends by improving the drying. Therefore, it is possible to increase the width of the crib compared to the usual ones.

According to one embodiment, the crib is constituted by the assembly of two pairs of identical panels, side panels 1 and end panels 2
These panels have tubular frames on which are fixed mesh panels.

 Each panel 2 is constituted by a rectangular frame having perpendicular to its plane tubular end pieces 3 in which the ends 4 of the side members 5 of the panels 1 can be engaged and fixed, screws 6 ensuring locking as shown in FIG. 4.

As can be seen from the drawing, the grid of the panels 1 does not extend to the lower spar 5a but leaves between it and the latter a certain space allowing the passage of planks 7 or the like constituting the removable bottom of the crib.

 Under the beams Sa is disposed a frame 8, in the form of a flattened U, constituting a shoe allowing the displacement of the crib and this, in two ways, either using a forklift when it is empty. in particular, using a trailer on which the crib is placed.

 For this purpose and according to the invention, a trailer of a known type (and therefore not shown) is used comprising a plate, the rear edge of which can be brought, by pivoting into contact with the ground. This platform has two rails such as that 9 in FIG. 3 to allow, during hauling, the guidance of the skids 8.

It should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 3, the pads 8 also have the function of cooperating in the locking of the crib on the trailer using pins 10 for example.

 The mobile crib which has just been described is a new product which has the double function of constituting a silage member allowing the drying of the idiot and a handling member.

Claims (6)

 1-Niais harvesting process, of the kind according to which drying takes place naturally, consisting in using mobile cribs of short length whose dimensions are compatible with the rules of road transport 2-A method for harvesting the niais, according to claim 1, consisting in placing cribs at the ends of the field to be harvested, in directly pouring therein the content of the harvesting machine, in transporting them to the place of drying then after drying in the bring to the gin. 3- A method of harvesting corn, according to claim 1, comprising providing a pit near 19 gin and pouring cribs into said pit. 4- Crib, for the implementation of the method according to any one of claims I to 3, characterized in that it is constituted by a rectangular mesh tank provided with a removable bottom and pads.  5- Crib according to claim 4, characterized in that it is constituted by the assembly of two pairs of identical panels respectively with sides and ends. 6- Crib according to claim 4, characterized in that each end panel is constituted by a rectangular frame closed by a screen surface, comprising perpendicular to its plane of the tubular ends in which are engaged and maintained the ends of the side panels.