GB2521674A

GB2521674A - Root crop storage apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2521674A
Application number: GB1323149.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marcus Gary Stanley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-12-31
Filing date: 2013-12-31
Publication date: 2015-07-01
Also published as: GB201323149D0

Abstract

An apparatus 10 for storing a root crop in soil comprises a harvester 12 for unearthing root crop distributed in the soil over a first width and a burying element 22, 26. In use the burying element may comprise a plough share 22 which is adapted to open a furrow in the soil over a second width and to receive within the second width the unearthed root crop conveyed into the furrow from the harvester and a furrow closer 26 is adapted to encase the root crop. The root crop may be directed into the furrow via a conveyor 16 and chute 24. Also disclosed is a method for storing a root crop in soil comprising a) providing the apparatus as defined above, b) drawing the harvester through the soil so as to unearth root crop distributed over the first width, c) convey the root crop into a furrow over a second width, and d) encase the root crop in the soil.

Description

ROOT CROP STORAGE APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to agricultural apparatus and in particular apparatus for storing a root crop in soil.

Background to the Invention

After root crops such as carrots or potatoes are harvested they are re-quired to be stored so that the grower can meet the demands of the consumer throughout the year. Potatoes are typically lifted in the autumn and stored in boxes in cold storage. Carrots and parsnips are typically left in the ground until they are required. This prevents the skins from tarnishing. Typically, the crop is covered in straw, plastic and/or soil to protect them from the frost and to stop the crop from becoming diseased or suffering from pest infestation over the win-ter. However, covering in such a manner is time consuming, costs money and damages field soil structure. Furthermore, there is then the problem of what to is do with the straw when the crop is harvested, and when up to 40 bales of straw per hectare are typically used, this is a considerable obstacle.

There has now been developed an apparatus which overcomes or sub-stantially mitigates the above-mentioned and/or disadvantages associated with

the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for storing a root crop in soil, the apparatus comprising a harvester for unearthing root crop distributed in the soil over a first width and a burying element, in use the burying element being adapted to open a furrow in the soil over a second width and to receive within the second width the unearthed root crop conveyed into the fur-row from the harvester and being adapted to encase the root crop in the soil, wherein the second width is substantially less than the first width.

The apparatus according to the invention is advantageous because it dramatically reduces the cost incurred by the grower for over wintering root crops. The estimated savings by not incorporating straw into the system are es-timated to be approximately £2500 to £3500 per hectare alone. Further savings are introduced due to the reduction in machinery required for the harvesting and storing process, whereas conventionally both straw baling and un-baling ma- chines would be required. The unused straw can then be utilised in power sta-tions or the like. A further advantage offered by the apparatus according to the invention is that the gap between the crop can be increased. This is because the harvester unearths root crop distributed over a first width, and the burying element encases the crop within a second width which is substantially smaller than the first width. This creates a gap between harvested rows. Therefore, dur- ing difficult harvesting conditions, for example when the ground is wet, the trac-tor pulling the apparatus can easily be fitted with wide low ground pressure tyres without the risk of damaging neighbouring rows of stored crop.

The apparatus according to the invention is preferably adapted to be pulled by a tractor or the like. When attached to a tractor or the like, the forward position is the position closest to the tractor and the aft position is the position farthest away from the tractor. The forwards direction is in the direction of the tractor when the crop is being harvested. The harvester is positioned forward of the burying element. The harvester is therefore preferably in the forward posi-tion and the burying element in the aft position.

The harvester may be any machine capable of lifting root crops. Used here, the term "lifting", means to dig up a plant for its edible underground parts.

The harvester according to the invention can be any machine capable of ex-tracting root crops from the soil. The harvester is preferably adapted to convey the root crop from the point of extraction of the crop from the soil to the burying element. Examples of suitable harvesters include but are not limited to an AMAC Windrower, or a SALMON Windrower. The harvester may be in commu-nication with or integral with a conveyor. Preferably the root crops are separated from the soil components whilst being conveyed to the burying element. The conveyer can be any type of conveyor. Examples of suitable conveyers include but are not limited to belt or riddle conveyors. The conveyer is preferably adapted to convey the root crop from the point of extraction of the crop from the soil to the burying element. The first width may be substantially equivalent to the width of the harvester.

The burying element is positioned in the aft position, preferably behind the harvester. The burying element may include any apparatus adapted to bury root crops. The burying element preferably comprises a furrow opener and a furrow closer. The furrow opener can be any device adapted to open a furrow in the soil as the apparatus is pulled forwards. Preferably the furrow opener com-prises one or more ploughshares in contact with the soil in use. For example, the furrow opener may be a single plougbshare, or a metal plate pulled through the soil at an angle so as to turn the soil over and create a furrow. The furrow opener may be one or more V' shaped plates. The furrow closer can be any device adapted to close the furrow created in the soil by the furrow opener.

Preferably the furrow closer comprises one or more aft soil guides in contact in use with the soil surrounding and including the furrow created by the furrow opener. The furrow closer may be one or more ploughshares adapted to roll the soil from around the furrow over the top of the furrow. This rolling action pre-vents the crop from being pushed upwards out of the furrow. The furrow opener is positioned forward of the furrow closer. The second width may be substantial-ly equivalent to the width of the furrow.

Between the furrow opener and the furrow closer there may be a crop chute adapted to direct the crop from the harvester into the furrow. Between the furrow opener and the furrow closer there may be a secondary plate adapted to maintain the furrow as open.

In use the root crop is preferably deposited by the harvester or a convey-or in communication with the harvester into a furrow created by the furrow opener. The furrow closer then encases the root crop in soil by gathering the soil from around the furrow and piling it on top of and around the furrow.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for storing root crop in soil, the method comprising a) providing the apparatus as defined above b) drawing the harvester through the soil so as to unearth root crop dis-tributed over the first width, c) convey the root crop into a furrow over a second with, and d) encase the root crop in the soil.

In the above embodiments the apparatus is preferably pulled by a vehi-cle, such as a tractor or the like. The apparatus may be driven by the vehicle, most preferably using a power take-off (PTO) mechanism. The apparatus may also be self-propelled.

The apparatus according to the invention may be linked in multiples of each other. For example, there may be multiple beds either self-propelled or pulled behind a tractor. A bed is the term used in the art to describe a single apparatus according to the invention. This enables the apparatus to harvest and bury multiple widths of root crop at the same time.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of the apparatus according to the invention.

is Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment In an embodiment of the invention there is provided an apparatus for storing a root crop in soil generally designated 1. The apparatus 1 comprises a harvester 10. The harvester 10 is a converted AMAC windrower and is drawn in use by a tractor from a linkage (not shown) at the front of the harvester 10. The harvester 10 is also driven through the PTO of the tractor. The harvester 10 comprises two cutting discs 12 on opposing sides of the harvester, which cut the soil as the harvester 10 is drawn through the soil by the tractor. Between the discs 12 is a set of lifting shares 14 which can be operably raised and lowered depending on the depth of soil/crop to be harvested. Aft of the shares 14 is a sieving web conveyor 16 which is driven through the PTO of the tractor. The whole structure of the harvester 10 is supported on a framework and by wheels 18. The conveyor 16 is shaped so as to transfer the harvested crop over the framework and towards the rear of the harvester 10. In use, as the harvester 10 is pulled forward, the soil and root crop are lifted from the soil onto the conveyor 16. As the soil and root crop travel along the conveyor 16 the soil falls through the mesh of the conveyor 16. The soil that has fallen through the mesh of the conveyor 16 is later parted by the furrow openers 22.

Connected to the rear of the harvester 10 is a burying element 10. The burying element 20 comprises a set of furrow openers 22, a crop chute 24, and a furrow closer 26. The burying element 20 is manufactured from steel and is bolted to the rear of the harvester 10. The set of furrow openers 22 are two conventional shares, for example plough shares, which are angled towards each other so as to open a furrow in the soil as the burying element 20 is pulled by the harvester 10 through the soil. Thus the furrow openers 22 are in contact with the soil, with each share pushing the soil in the opposite direction to the opposing share.

Just aft of the furrow openers 22 is a crop chute 24. The crop chute 24 is adapted to direct the root crop into the centre of the furrow. The crop chute 24 is arranged vertically higher than the furrow openers 22, so as not to interfere with the furrow during use. The crop chute 24 consists of two sheets of metal mounted opposing one another and angled so as to capture all the root crop ex-iting from the conveyor 16 and direct it into the middle part of the furrow. The crop chute 24 is positioned over the furrow that is created when the burying el-ement 20 is pulled through the soil.

Just aft of the crop chute 24 is the furrow closer 26. The furrow closer 26 comprises two opposing soil guides, which in the embodiment described are made from angled steel plates. Each plate is mounted on its edge. The distance between the leading (forward) edges of the two plates is greater than the dis-tance apart at the trailing (aft) edges. The leading edge of the plates is around or underneath the aft part of the crop chute 24. The whole under part of the plates is in contact with the soil surface. Thus in use the furrow closer 26 is dragged along the soil surface. Importantly, the width between the plates at the leading/forward edges is wider than both the furrow created by the furrow open-er 22 and the mound of soil created either side of the furrow.

In use therefore, the furrow opener 22 creates a furrow as the burying el-ement 20 is pulled forwards by the harvester 10. The crop chute 24 guides the root crop which drops off the end of the conveyor 16 attached to the harvester 10, into the centre of the furrow. The furrow closer 26 then pushes the soil from around the furrow into and over the furrow, thereby burying/encasing the root crop in a mound of soil.

The aft end of the furrow closer 26 is shaped so as to maximise the depth of soil surrounding the buried root crop. The crop is thereby encased in soil. In yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided the use of an appa-ratus as described above for the protection of root crops over winter.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus for storing a root crop in soil, the apparatus compris-ing a harvester for unearthing root crop distributed in the soil over a first width and a burying element, in use the burying element being adapted to open a fur-row in the soil over a second width and to receive within the second width the unearthed root crop conveyed into the furrow from the harvester and being adapted to encase the root crop in the soil, wherein the second width is sub-stantially less than the first width.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the harvester is pref- -10 erably adapted to convey the root crop from the point of extraction of the crop from the soil to the burying element.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the harvester is in communication with or integral with a conveyor.
4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the bury-is ing element comprises a furrow opener and a furrow closer.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the furrow opener comprises one or more ploughshares in contact with the soil in use.
6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the furrow closer comprises one or more aft soil guides in contact in use with the soil surrounding and including the furrow created by the furrow opener.
7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a crop chute adapted to direct the root crop into the centre of the furrow.
8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein between the furrow opener and the furrow closer there is a secondary plate adapted to maintain the furrow as open.
9. A method for storing root crop in soil, the method comprising a) providing the apparatus as defined in claim 1, b) drawing the harvester through the soil so as to unearth root crop distributed over the first width, c) convey the root crop into a furrow over a second width, and d) encase the root crop in the soil.
10. An apparatus according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 9, wherein the first width is substantially equivalent to the width of the har-vester.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 9, wherein the second width is substantially equivalent to the width of the furrow.
12. An apparatus, substantially as described, with reference to and/or as shown in the drawings.