GB2100108A - Root crop harvester - Google Patents

Abstract

A root crop harvester 8 includes a preliminary topping device 13 followed by a topping assembly 11. Assembly 11 comprises a transversely-disposed crown-engaging rotary device 18 for removing skin from the crowns of crop partially topped by device 13. The harvester suitably incorporates a crown-sensing member of generally circular cross-section adapted to engage the crown so as to optimise the position of device 18 vis-a-vis these crowns. The rotary device 18 may take the form of an abrasion brush, a cage-like device incorporating a cutter bar or an elliptical cutting member. Topping may occur before or after the crop has been lifted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Root crop harvesters The present invention relates to root crop harvesters and to a root crop topping assembly for use in such harvesters.

Sugar beet grows with its crown and foliage protruding upwardly from the soil and this means that it can be topped in situ to remove the objectionable parts of the beet immediately prior to harvesting. In the past this has been done simply by chopping the exposed beet just below the lower leaf scar so as to remove both the foliage and the crown of the beet with its unacceptable outer layer. However, because the severed crowns also contain useful material, a sugar beet topping assembly was proposed in UK Patent Specification 1 603098 which aimed to remove from the beet substantially only the unacceptable material present in the crown of the beet together, of course, with the foliage.This known assembly operates after, a light preliminary topping, to remove the outer 3 to 5 mm and any residual leaf petiole from the remaining portion of the crown by abrasion using a pair of elongate contra-rotating brushes spaced apart in the direction of travel of the harvester and contra-rotating about axes which are generally aligned with this direction to engage opposite sides of the beet crowns.

Although it represented a significant improvement over previous arrangements, the brushes in the assembly of UK Patent Specification 1 603098 were subject to excessive rates of wear caused by the heavy bending stresses induced in the brush filaments in response to successive crown profiles.

According to the present invention, a root crop topping assembly adapted for translational movement over soil containing a row of root crop comprises a rotary device mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis which is substantially (e.g. within 5 ) transverse to said translational movement with material-removing portions of the device adapted to engage the crop in situ to remove surface material from the exposed crowns of the crop and leave on each crown a generally domed residue. According to another aspect of the present invention, the rotation axis may be within 20 of said transverse direction and the various optional features discussed below apply also to this other aspect of the invention.

Typical root crops for which the assembly is suited include sugar beet and other root crops in which the greater part is below the surface, e.g. parsnips and some fodder beet varieties.

In the case of sugar beet, for example, the assembly can be used to remove the green outer layer of a few millimetres thick, typically 3 to 5 mm, which covers the interior part of the sugar beet crown suitable for processing to produce juice for sugar refining.

Conveniently, the rotary device may incorporate a crown-sensing member of generally circular cross-section adapted to engage the crowns of the crop thereby to optimise the vertical position of the skin-removing portions of the device vis-a-vis these crowns.

The term "generally circular cross-section" is to be widely interpreted as referring to any member so shaped as to be able to roll over the crown of the crop in the manner of a wheel, disc or cylinder etc. The term includes a spoked or similar item lacking an uninterrupted circular or annular periphery but yet able to roll over the crop crowns as above described.

Conveniently, the material-removing portions of the device comprise a number of skewed and/or shaped cutter bars symmetrically disposed about the rotation axis of the device and adapted on rotation of the device to sweep out a generally cylindrical shape having a concave wall portion.

Conveniently, the cutter bars are substantially straight-edged bars skewed at between 30 and 60 to an imaginary reference plane lying perpendicular to the rotation axis of the device. Preferably, the skew angle is about 45 .

Alternatively, the cutter bars may lie substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the device and have their cutting edges shaped so as on rotation of the device to lie on said concave wall portion.

In another alternative, the cutter bars are skewed and the cutting edges of the bars are shaped so as on rotation of the device to lie on said concave wall portion.

Conveniently, the cutter bars are mounted between two circular end plates of the device.

Typically, the diameter of the end plates might be about 300 mm for example and there might be six said cutter bars mounted between the end plates.

Advantages of rotary devices using cutter bars to provide the material removing portions are that they are relatively cheap to manufacture and the wearing surfaces provided by the bars and, if present, the end plates, can easily be "made good" by anyone reasonably proficient in the use of welding equipment. If desired, the bars could also be removable to enable a worn bar to be replaced.

As an alternative to cutter bars, the material-removing portions of the device may instead comprise a brush. In these cases, the device might also be suitable for use with carrots.

Conveniently, the brush is provided with one or more restraint members to prevent undue deflection of the brush filaments in the rotation plane of the brush. This encourages engagement of the crowns of the crop by the end faces of the filaments when the assembly is in use rather than by side surfaces of the filaments.

Conveniently, the brush is in the form of two coaxial brush sections separated by a number of cutter bars, the cutter bars being adapted to cut surface material from the upper regions of the crop crowns and the brush sections being adapted to abrade skin from the lower regions of the crop crowns.

In another alternative, the material-removing portions o 'Lhe device comprise a rigid generally cylindrical cagelike structure comprising a number of cutter bars interconnected by one or more circular cross-section crownsensing members. In this case, the structure may be flanked on either side by brush sections.

In yet another alternative, the device includes a circular cross-section crown-sensing member as already described above and a generally elliptical cutting member which is inclined to the crown-sensing member with the minor axis of its ellipse coincident and coterminous with a diameter of the crownsensing member. In operation of this embodiment, the cutting member will sweep out a generally cylindrical shape having a crown embracing hemispherical or similar concave shape centred about the rotation plane of the crown-sensing member.

Conveniently, in this latter embodiment, the crown-sensing and cutting members are flanked on either side by brush sections.

The invention also includes a root crop harvester incorporating an assembly according to the present invention.

Conveniently, the topping assembly in the harvester is mounted on the frame of the harvester by means of a leading arm arrangement adapted to urge the assembly into the desired optimum crop topping relationship.

Conveniently, the said topping assembly is preceded by leaf removal means for removing leaf material from the crop prior to engagement by said assembly.

Conveniently, the crop is partially topped prior to engagement by the assembly by removing the bulk of the foliage with a preliminary topping device but, in an alternative arrangement, the crop is partially topped prior to engagement by the assembly be removing the bulk of the foliage and also the uppermost region of the exposed crown with a preliminary topping device. In this latter case, the preliminary topping device should not remove more than the top 7 mm (values in the range 2 to 5 mm being preferred).

There may also be occasions where it is desirable or even necessary to lift the root crop, e.g. sugar beet, without topping or after only the preliminary topping stage and subsequently to remove the outer surface material at a topping station after the lifting operation.

It will be appreciated that some at least of the teachings of the present Inveiion have application to the removal of material from such lifted root crop. Accordingly, and in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a root crop topping assembly comprising conveying means for conveying harvested root crop through a topping station and a rotary device at said station mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis which is substantially (e.g.

within 5 ) transverse to the direction of rnove- ment of crop through the topping station, material-engaging portions of the device being adapted to engage the crop to remove surface material from the crowns of the crop and to leave on each crown a generally dorned residue. According to another aspect of the invention, the rotation axis of the device may be within 20 of said transverse direction to crop movement. The previous description of the various preferred forms of rotary device etc.

applies also to these last two aspects of the present invention.

It is also envisage that the various forms of rotary device described above and below as being suitable for use in the assembly of the present invention, may also be useful for other purposes when the device includes means identical or analogous to the generally circular cross-section crown-sensing means.

Thus according to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a rotary device for removing a surface region of an object to be operated on, which device includes an object sensing member of generally circular cross-section adapted to engage the object thereby to optimise the position of the remainder of the device vis-a-vis the object.

Conveniently, the device may be adapted for use as a power tool attachment e.g. it might incorporate a wire brush suitable for use as a power tool attachment.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figures 1, la and ib show perspective views of rotary devices for use in a topping assembly; Figures 2 and 3 are schematic perspective and plan views of a harvester according to the present invention with only those elements pertinent to the present invention being illustrated; Figure 3a is a schematic plan view of an alternative arrangement to that of Figs. 2 and 3; Figure 4 shows a leading arm arrangement for mounting the topping assembly on a single row root crop harvester such as that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3; Figure 5 shows in simplified plan view the mounting arrangement for a multirow harvester; ; Figure 6 shows a harvested beet which has been topper Itì sltu "y .tll LOppiil9 assemb! of Figs. 1 to 5; Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a simple abrasion brush adpated to serve as a rotary device in the topping assembly; Figure 8 is a side view of part of the device shown in Fig. 7; Figure 9 shows a rotary device comprising a brush and restraint members; Figure 10 shows a rotary device comprising a brush and a crown-sensing member; Figure 11 shows a rotary device comprising a brush, restraint members and a crownsensing member; .Figure 1 lea shows a modification of the Fig.

10 and Fig. 11 designs; Figure 12 shows a rotary device comprising a brush divided into two sections which are separated by a number of cutter bars; Figure 13 shows a rotary device in the form of a cagelike structure incorporating a number of cutting bars interconnected by end plates and by three crown-sensing members; Figures 14 and 15 show end and side views respectively of a rotary device comprising an elliptical cutting member and a circular cross-section crown-sensing member; and Figure 16 shows a harvested beet which has been topped in situ by the topping assembly of Figs. 7 to 15.

Referring first to Figs. 2 and 3, a single row root crop harvester 4 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a wheeled frame 10 supporting a beet topping assembly 11 and a beet lifting device 1 2. Reference numeral 1 8 indicates the crown-engaging rotary device of assembly 11.

The topping device 11 is preceded by a preliminary topping device in the form of a flail 1 3 positioned at the forward end of the device to remove leaf material from the beet 7. Ideally, it will leave about 50 mm of leaf stalk on the crowns.

The lifting device 1 2 is of conventional construction and comprises Maynard-type lifting wheels 1 4 adapted to lift the topped beet from the soil and deposit it on a conveyor 1 5.

The beet is then passed to a conveyor 1 6 which conveys it to a hopper 1 7 for subsequent discharge from the harvester.

In the illustrated embodiments, device 18 and flail 1 3 are driven hydraulically but if desired they can instead be driven mechanically from the power take-off 8 of the towing vehicle 9.

As will be seen from Fig. 1, the device 18, shown diagrammatically in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises two circular end plates 1 9 interconnected by a support tube 104 through which the threaded end of the shaft can be passed to carry a retaining nut acting on the inner face of the end plate concerned. Conveniently the tube 104 is also keyed to the shaft to help to prevent any relative motion between the two items. As the unit is symmetrical, it can be mounted from either side so that wear on the cutter bars can be evened out.

In the embodiment illustrated, the diameter of end plates 1 9 is 300 mm and the crownengaging part of the device is provided by the six cutter bars 108 welded at 45 to the end plates 1 9 and equally spaced about the rotation axis of the devices as shown. The centre points of the bars are interconnected by a smaller diameter crown-sensing plate 110, e.g. 260 mm diameter.

Fig. 4 shows the preferred method of mounting a rotary device (18) on the frame 40 of a single row harvester using a leading arm arrangement. Thus referring now to Fig.

4, it will be seen that a bracket member 43 depending from the harvester frame 40 provides a pivotal support for the rear end of a leading arm 45 which is secured at its front end to an apertured mounting plate 41 for a hydraulic motor 42. On the other side of plate 41 is a rotary device 1 8 secured to the shaft of motor 42 in the manner above described with reference to Fig. 1. Reference numeral 46 indicates an optional angle adjustment plate for the arm 45. In addition, vertical adjustment of the support pivot 100 is provided at 101 so that the position of the pivot can be set to correspond to the working depth of the lifting wheels 14.

The motion of arm 45 may be controlled by a damper 47 acting between arm 45 and the harvester frame 40 and/or by a compression spring 48 acting between stops 49, 50 on the two parts of the damper and embracing the damper 47. The purpose of spring 48 is to urge the rotary device 1 8 downwardly into skin-abrading engagement with the root crop crowns while that of damper 47 is to discourage "bounce" when the device rolls over the root crop crowns and similar irregularities in the soil profile. The arrangement is completed by a limit chain 55 provided to limit downward movement of the arm 45 to prevent device 1 8 digging itself into the ground. The advantage of a leading arm arrangement over a trailing arm arrangement is that it is an inherently stable configuration.

As already indicated, Figs. 1 a and 1 b illustrate alternative forms of rotary device to that shown in Fig. 1 in so far as the skewed straight-edged cutter bars 108 of the Fig. 1 embodiment are replaced by less skewed (Fig.

1 b) or axially parallel (Fig. 1 a) cutter bars having their cutting edges correspondingly shaped so as in each case, on rotation of the device, to lie on the same concave wall portion as that swept out by the cutting edges of bars 108 in the Fig. 1 embodiment.

Other designs of rotary devices are shown in Figs. 7 to 15. Thus Fig. 7 shows by way of example a simple wire brush 20 comprising a bank of annular brush elements clamped between end plates 1 9. One such brush element (100) is shown in simplified side view in Fig.

8 from which it will be seen that each individual filament of the brush element is bent back on itself to provide a root portion which is anchored by two turns of retaining wire 106. The brush element is completed by an annular collar 102 folded to embrace the root portions of the filaments on both sides of the element 1 00.

To assemble the complete brush, the individual elements 100 are mounted on eight tie rods 103 which are later welded into place to give the assembly the desired rigidity. For clarity, the position of these tie rods has also been shown in Fig. 8.

To facilitate the mounting of the brush on an appropriate drive shaft, at least one of the end plates 1 9 preferably carries a support plate 105 through which the threaded end of the shaft can be passed to carry a retaining nut acting on the inner face of the end plate concerned. Conveniently the plate 105 is also keyed to the shaft to help prevent any relative motion between the two items.

The brush 21 of Fig. 9 is basically the same as brush 20 except that restraint members 22 have been fitted to restrict the deflection of the brush filaments and encourage engagement of the exposed crowns of the crop by end faces of the filaments rather than by side surfaces of the filaments.

Fig. 10 shows a brush device 23 of generally similar configuration to brush 20 but with a crown-sensing member 24 of generally circular cross-section adapted to engage the crowns of the crop to optimise the vertical position of the skin-abrading filaments via-avis the beet crowns.

Fig. 11 shows a preferred design of brush device 25 having both the restraint members 22 of Fig. 9 and the crown-sensing member 24 of Fig. 10. In a typical case, e.g. for sugar beet topping, the diameter of end plates 1 9 and crown-sensing member 24 would be 275 mm and 290 mm respectively. The outside brush diameter would be 300 mm and the radial depth of members 22 would be 20 mm of which some 5 mm would project radially outwardly beyond the end plates 1 9. Typical thickness for members 22 and 24 would be 5 mm and 3 mm for end plates 1 9. The end to end axial dimension of the device is typically in the range 1 50 to 225 mm. Similar dimensions apply to the corresponding items in the embodiments of Figs. 7 to 10.

Fig. 11 a shows a modification of the Fig.

10 and 11 designs in which restraint members 22 are restricted to the area of load/fatigue rather than span the full width of the device as before. This reduces construction costs.

Fig. 12 shows a brush device 26 in which the brush has been divided into two sections 27, 28 separated by a number of cutter bars 29. In operation, the bars 29 will cut material from the upper regions of the root crop crowns and the brush sections 27, 28 will abrade skin from the lower regions of the crowns.

Fig. 1 3 shows a rigid generally cylindrical cagelike structure 30 comprising a number of cutter bars 31 interconnected by crown-sensing members 32. Clearly this particular design of rotary device will operate almost wholly by cutting rather than by abrasion. The same is true of the device 33 of Figs. 1 4 and 1 5 which has a generally elliptical cutting member 34 which is inclined to a circular crownsensing member 35 with the minor axis B-B of its ellipse coincident and co-terminous with a diameter B-B of member 35. As will be seen from Fig. 14, in this embodiment the cutting member 34 will sweep out a crownembracing hemispherical or similar volume 36 centred about the rotation plane of member 35.

In variations of these last two embodiments, the illustrated structures are flanked on either side by two brush sections in a similar fashion to the embodiment of Fig. 12, the central portions of the resulting devices then being effective to cut material from the upper regions of the root crop crowns and the flanking brush sections being effective to abrade skin from the lower regions of the crowns.

In modifications (not shown) of the devices of Figs. 7 to 13, the tie rods 103 are replaced by a support tube such as the tube 104 used in the embodiments of 1, 1 a and 1 b. Alternatively, if desired, tube 104 in the last mentioned embodiments could be replaced by the tie rods 103 of Figs. 7 to 13.

In use of the assembly above described for in-line sugar beet topping, say, the harvester 4 is towed in direction A (Figs. 2 and 3) over the sugar beet rows so that the flail 13, topping assembly 11 and lifting device 1 2 operate in succession as shown.

In the alternative embodiment of Fig. 3a, the topping assembly 11 and lifting device 1 2 are spaced laterally apart from the flail 1 3 by an appropriate amount e.g. 500 mm, so that the flail and topping assembly operate on the preceding row (6) to that being topped and lifted by device 12.

The speed of rotation of the rotary device 1 8 in each case will be chosen, having regard to the translational speed of the harvester, to leave a dome core of acceptable interior material. Typically, where the rotary device is a device 1 8 of about 300 mm diameter it would rotate at 750 to 800 rpm for a harvester moving at 3 to 5 km per hour. Higher rotational speeds of up to 1100 rpm can be used for greater harvester speeds of 6 to 8 km per hour.

Fig. 5 shows one way of mounting a number of single row rotary devices 18 on the harvester frame 40 to provide a multi-row arrangement 62. Once again a leading arm assembly is used, this time with the arms 64 pivotally supported on bearings 66 from a common frame-supported shaft 68.

Each arm 64 takes the form of a hollow casing which houses a chain and sprocket connection 70, 71, 72 between shaft 68 and drive shafts 74 for the individual rotary devices 1 8. The end plates 1 9 of each rotary device are in this case welded to a drum 76 supported on a bearing 78 on the associated arm 64. Each drum 76 has an end plate 80 presenting a key way 82 arranged to register with a corresponding key 84 on the shaft 74.

A retention nut (not shown) on the end of shaft 75 abuts with end plate 80 to hold the device 18 in place.

As before, each leading arm has provision for a damper and/or spring and limit chain associated with it, though for clarity only the damper 47 and chain 55 for one of the arms has been shown and the spring mounted on that damper has been omitted.

Figs. 6 and 1 6 show beet topped by the topping assembly of Figs. 1, 1 a, 1 b, and Figs. 7 to 1 5 respectively. As will be observed, the beet will typically be of a generally domed shape as opposed to the flat top shape produced by the prior art devices.

It will be appreciated that the harvesters according to the present invention are not restricted to the details particularly described above with reference to the drawings. In particular, flail 1 3 could be omitted or replaced by an alternative preliminary topper, such as a knife rotating about a substantially vertical axis. Similarly, an alternative lifting device could be employed.

The broader aspects of the invention, e.g.

including a stationary crop topping assembly and including rotary devices for use as power tool attachments etc., have also been indicated above. It is to be understood, that whether in the context of a root crop harvester or a topping assembly or a power tool attachment, the rotary device can generally be of any of the designs illustrated in Figs. 1, 1 a, 1 band 7 to 15.

Claims (35)

1. A root crop topping assembly adapted for translational movement over soil containing a row of root crop, the assembly comprising a rotary device mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis which is substantially transverse to said translational movement with material-removing portions of the device adapted to engage the crop in situ to remove surface material from the exposed crowns of the crop and leave on each crown a generally domed residue.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 in which the rotary device incorporates a crownsensing member of generally circular crosssection adapted to engage the crowns of the crop thereby to optimise the vertical position of the material-removing portions of the device vis-a-vis these crowns.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the material-removing portions of the device comprise a number of skewed and/or shaped cutter bars symmetrically disposed about the rotation axis of the device and adapted on rotation of the device to sweep out a generally cylindrical shape having a concave wall portion.

4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3 in which the cutter bars are substantially straight-edged bars skewed at between 30 and 60 to an imaginary reference plane lying perpendicular to the rotation axis of the device.

5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4 in which the skew angle is about 45 .

6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3 in which the cutter bars lie substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the device and have their cutting edges shaped so as on rotation of the device to lie on said concave wall portion.

7. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3 in which the cutter bars are skewed and the cutting edges of the bars are shaped so as on rotation of the device to lie on said concave wall portion.

8. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 7 in which the cutter bars are mounted between two circular end plates of the device.

9. An assembly as claimed in Claim 8 in which the diameter of the end plates is about 300 mm and there are six said cutter bars mounted between the end plates.

10. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the material-removing portions of the device comprise a brush.

11. An assembly as claimed in Claim 10 in which the brush is provided with one or more restraint members to prevent undue deflection of the brush filaments in the rotation plane of the brush.

12. An assembly as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11 in which the brush is in the form of two coaxial brush sections separated by a number of cutter bars, the cutter bars being adapted to cut surface material from the upper regions of the crop crowns and the brush sections being adapted to abrade skin from the lower regions of the crop crowns.

1 3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the material-removing portions of the device comprise a rigid generally cylindrical cagelike structure comprising a number of cutter bars interconnected by one or more circular cross-section crown-sensing members.

14. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 3 in which the structure is flanked on either side by brush sections.

1 5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 comprising a generally elliptical cutting member which is inclined to the crown-sensing member with the minor axis of its ellipse coincident and co-terminous with a diameter of the crown-sensing member.

1 6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 5 in which the crown-sensing and cutting members are flanked on either side by brush sections.

1 7. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 having a rotary device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, Fig. 1, Fig. 1 a, or Fig. 1 b of the accompanying drawings

18. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 having a rotary device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, Fig. 11 a, Fig. 12, Fig. 13 or Figs.

14 and 1 5 of the accompanying drawings.

1 9. A root crop harvester incorporating a topping assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 18.

20. A root crop harvester as claimed in Claim 1 9 in which the topping assembly is mounted on the frame of the harvester by means of a leading arm arrangement adapted to urge the assembly into the desired optimum crop-topping relationship.

21. A root crop harvester as claimed in Claim 1 9 or Claim 20 in which said topping assembly is preceded by leaf removal means for removing leaf material from the crop prior to engagement by said assembly.

22. A root crop harvester as claimed in Claim 21 in which the crop is partially topped prior to engagement by the assembly by removing the bulk of the foliage with a preliminary topping device.

23. A root crop harvester as claimed in Claim 21 in which the crop is partially topped prior to engagement by the assembly by removing the bulk of the foliage and also the uppermost region of the exposed crown with a preliminary topping device.

24. A root crop harvester as claimed in Claim 1 9 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, Figs. 2 and 3 or Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A root crop harvester as claimed in Claim 1 9 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A root crop harvester as claimed in Claim 1 9 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in, Fig. 3a or Figs. 3a and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A root crop topping assembly comprising conveying means for conveying harvested root crop through a topping station and a rotary device at said station mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis which is substantially transverse to the direction of movement of crop through the topping station, material-engaging portions of the device being adapted to engage the crop to remove surface material from the crowns of the crop and to leave on each crown a generally domed residue.

28. A rotary device for use in an assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18 or Claim 27 or for use in the root crop harvester as claimed in any of Claims 19 to 26.

29. A rotary device for removing a surface region of an object to be operated on, which device includes an object sensing member of generally circular cross-section adapted to engage the object thereby to optimise the position of the remainder of the device vis-a-vis the object.

30. A rotary device as claimed in Claim 29 adapted for use as a power tool attachment.

31. A device as claimed in Claim 30 incorporating a wire brush suitable for use as a power tool attachment.

32. A rotary device substantially as herein before described with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, Fig. 1, fig. 1 a or Fig. 1 b of the accompanying drawings.

33. A rotary device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, Figs. 7 and 8, Fig. 9. Fig.

10, Fig. 11, Fig. 11a, Fig. 12, Fig. 13 or Figs. 1 4 and 1 5 of the accompanying drawings.

34. A root crop topping assembly adapted for translational movement over soil containing a row of root crop, the assembly comprising a rotary device mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis which is within 20 of said transverse direction with material removing portions of the device adapted to engage the crop in situ to remove surface material from the exposed crowns of the crop and leave on each crown a generally domed residue.

35. A root crop toping assembly comprising conveying means for conveying harvested crop through a topping station and a roar, device at said station mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis which is within 20 of said transverse direction to crop movement through the topping station, material engaging portions of the device being adapted to engage the crop to remove surface material from the crowns of the crop and t leave on each crown a generally domed residue.