GB2528149A

GB2528149A - Root crop washing container

Info

Publication number: GB2528149A
Application number: GB1504013.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Campion
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-10
Filing date: 2015-03-09
Publication date: 2016-01-13
Also published as: IE86782B1; GB201504013D0; IE20140145A1; GB201504099D0

Abstract

A root crop washing container comprising two angled walls 3 that meet at a curved apex that contains a hinged grill 8 that acts as a trap door, two side walls that support a rotating shaft 4 upon which paddles 6 are attached, a hydraulic motor to power said shaft 4 and hydraulic arms 10 to operate the hinged grill 8, and mounting means 7 to attach the container to a vehicle such as a tractor. Preferably the shaft can be split into two for maintenance, and the paddles are attached at an angle between 0 800, preferably 25o, and alternatively angled at +20o/-20o, with rubber pads (15, fig 4a) adjustably attached to the paddles 6 to minimise damage to the root crop. In use the rotating paddles agitate the crop within the container during dry spinning of the crop and/or whilst the container is partially submerged in water, resulting in the adhered dirt falling through the grill(s). Once the crop has been cleaned, the cleaned root crop is unloaded via the hinged trap door. Preferably the container has an additional fixed grill fixed to the container adjacent to the hinged grill 8.

Description

I

ROOT CROP WASHING CONTAINER

The invention relates to a root-crop washing container mounted to a traetor/tekportej/jncljtstnal S loader and the like. l1e root crop washing container facilitates the cleaning/washing of root crops by means of internal rotating paddles within the washing container which agitates the roots to remo e adhering soil and other unwanted material while the root crop washing container is partly submerged in water. The root crop washing container also allows the unloading of the cleaned root Crop via a hinged trap-door in the lower apex of the root crop washing container.

ickndtnyjpn A nx4 crop washing container is used to wash and clean root crops after said crops have been harvested to remove remaining soil and unwanted materials. A root crop can he defined as a crop cultivated lbr the thud value of its roots such as beet or turnips. For example. a beet is normally a dome-like shape and measures approximately 180mm diameter on top and measures down to approximately 20mm and usually grows 200mm beneath the soil. When a root crop is harvested, it holds on to a considerable amount of soil and even more so if harvested when weather conditions arc moist and svet. It is important to remove this soil from the root by means of washing before animal consumption. If an animal consumes an unwashed rout, soil can remain in the animal's stumach tbr a long period of time and possibly leading to ill health and loss of appetite thus leading to a reduction of profit margin for the producer of the root crop.

typical root crop washing machinery. e.g. diet feeders and the like. are very expensive to purchase and operate due to high maintenance costs and arc very wasteful of resources such as lüel and the high volume of water needed to wash the root crops. Other root washing machinery use a rotating drum mounted to an industrial Ioader/ teleporter. This type of root crop washing machine has a very high purchase price and is extremely heavy and very high maintenance this type of root crop washing machine requires expensive alterations to the hydraulic system of' the industrial loader/ tekporter that the root crop washing machine is attached to.

Ihe present invention attempts to overcome these problems.

Statement of Invention

the invention provides Ihr a root crop washing container comprising: A frame with two angled walls meeting at a curved apext Two side walls: A main rotating shall with paddles attached perpendicular to said shaft running from one side wall to the other side wall: A hydraulic motor to power the rotating shaft with paddles attached: A hinged grill in the curved apex of the device: iwo hydraulic rams for opening and closing the curved grill and holding said grill in an opened or closed position: S Adjustable mounting attachments on one face of the washer so as to allow the washer to he attached to standard vehicles on which it is mounted: and A solenoid diverter valve to divert power between the hydraulic motor powering the rotary shaft and the hydraulic rams for opciilng and closing the grill.

In one embodiment, the shaft is in two pieces with flange couplings to allow one or both parts of the shaft to be removed lhr maintenance, In one embodiment, part ol'the grill is lixed to the washer and part nioveable in a hinge mounting to allow unloading of washed root crop.

In one embodiment, the washer is used to wash root crops for animal consumption.

in one embodiment, the paddles are angled between 0 and 800.

In a preferred embodiment, the paddles are angled between 15 and 30°.

In a user preferred embodiment, the paddles are angled at 25°.

in another user prclbrred embodiment, the paddles are alternatively angled at +20° / -20°.

In one embodiment, the paddies are fitted with an adjustable rubber pad to minimise damage to the root crop and increase emciency of the washing cycle.

In one embodiment, the paddles. consisting of a shaft protruding perpendicular from the main rotating shaft and which also iucorpoittes a flat base surface at a4iacent end onto which a rubber pad is attached.

In one etnbodimetu, the side wall of the paddle base comprises holes for bolts to attach the rubber pad.

In one embodiment, the rubber pads comprise slots into which the securing bolts tliay be threaded to allow the pad to be height adjustable with respect to the paddle base to define a tolerance to the inner surlhce of the crop washing container.

I3ricf description of the_drawin,g

The inentmon will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment theree given by way of example only. with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure Ia. lb. Ic and Id show a side view, a front view, a top view and an isometric view of the root crop washing container according to the invention: l:igtire 2 shows a 31) view of the root crop washing container showing the hinged grill in the open POfliofl: Figure 3 shows a 3!) view of the root crop washing container showing the hinged grill in the open position and the rotating shaft with mounted paddles Figure 4a. 4h and 4c shows a side view, a top view and an isometric view of the rotating shall with mounted paddles: and l:igure Sa and Sb shows a side view of' the root crop washing container in an upright position illustrating hinged grill in its open and closed positions.

Detailed description

Referring to the drawings. there is illustrated a vehicle mountable root crop washing container according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference number 1.

Referring to Figures Ia, lb. Ic and Id. figures Ia. lb. le and ld show a frame (3) comprising two S angled walls (3) meeting at a curved apes (8). two side waIls (2) attached to either ends of the angled wall (3) and a hinged grill in the curved apex of the device (8).

A rotating shall (4) with paddles (6) attached perpendicular to rotating shall (4).

The end surfaces of the rotating shafl (4) protrude externally through the side walls (2) to engage bearings (I I) mounted to the external face ot'tlie side walls (2).

Referring to Figure 2. figure 2 shows the curved grill (8) in the apex of the two angled wulls (3) is in a linge mounting and can be moved to an open or closed position using hydraulic rams (10) to flicilitale unloading of washed root crop.

A hydraulic motor (12) is used to power the rotating shaft (4) via a chain and sprocket mechanism (14).

A solenoid diverter valve (9) is used to divert power between the hydraulic motor (12) powering the rotating shall (4) and the hydraulic rams (IC) for opening and closing the grill (8) in a situation where the vehicle used to operate the root crop washing container (I) can only supply one hydraulic power supply.

Adjustable mounting brackets (7) are used to allow the washing container (1) to be attached to tnndard vehicles.

the adjustable mounting brackets (7) are attached to a fixed mounting bracket (13) in a user defined position: the fixed mounting bracket (13) is permanently secured to angled wall (3).

Referring to Figure 4. this shows the main rotating shaft (4) consisting of multiple segments secured together by means oVa flange coupling (5). This is to facilitate the removal of bearings (Il) and rotating shaft (4) for maintenance or adjustment.

The paddles (6) consist of a shaft protruding perpendicular from the main rotating shaft (4) incorporating a fiat base surthee at adjacent end onto which an adjustable rubber pad (15) may be attached if prekrred by the operator.

RelCrring to Figures 5a and Sb. figure 5a shows a side view of the root crop washing container (I) illustrating the hinged grill (8) in a closed position.

Figure Sb shows a side view of the root crop washing container (I) illustrating the hinged grill (8) in an open position.

One of the advantages ol' this invention is the affordability litetor lb even the stuallest of root crop producers. Normally producers would have to hire a contractor adding an avoidable cost to their business. Profit margins are thus increased.

Another advantage is the very tow maintenance cost. There arc only two heavy duty bcarinMs on the paddle shaft. ft. bearing allows the wear-free movement of the paddle shall. These bearings can be greased with ease by two external grease nipples. The paddle shaft can be spiit in two parts allowing the operator to replace a hearing afler a Long period of use without the expense of a S mechanic, Another advantage is a Jilted 12 volt solenoid diverter value (this valve allows the flow of oil to he diverted in a difFerent direction with the flick of an electronic switch) mounted on the washer which eliminates the expense of putting a second auxiliary (hydraulic pipes and value splice) on the machine operating the washing container.

Another advantage is that you can use this washer to do a "thy spiti" of the root crop helbre it is submerged in water, Uis assists in the removal of any heavy soil and small stones which will fall out through the grill in the base of the washing container. This also helps keep the water cleaner for a longer usage period.

Another advantage is the low water usage to wash a large amount of root crop compared to other is methods of washing nmt crop already on the market. With water charges in force in many countries, this is a very attractive feature of the machine, Another advantage is the paddles which are used to rotate/tumble the root crop to give a maximum washing ciThet. (he paddles are rubber faced with a bolt-on adjustable rubber to minimise root crop damage during washing/dry spinning. Each paddle is also angled to maximise root crop rotation/tumbling.

Another advantage is safety. ibis is a one man washing system which only requires one pen3on to operate this rool crop washing container from the safety of the cab of the tractor/industrial loader.

All the drive chains (chain that drives the paddles) and hydraulic rams (used to open the trap door) arc covered b a steel safely guard.

Another advantage is the position at' the adjustable mounting brackets. The mounting brackets are bolted on to the washing container and this is the attachment point to the vehicle. e.g. tractor loader/industrial loader. l'hese brackets are mounted in a higher position than normal to allow the base of the washing container to be submerged deeper in water thus aiding the speed and etThctiveness of washing.

Another advantage is the trap doer system, l3ecause the mounting brackets mentioned above are mounted in a higher position than normal, the trap door facilitates the easy unloading of washed root crop into a high trailer. This is an essential requirement for my invention and will be one ot' the key selling Ibatures of this washing container.

Claims

Claims 1. A root crop washing container comprIsing a frame with two angled walls meeting ai a curved icx two side walls, a main shall with paddles attached perpendicular to said main shall being rotatably mounted in and extending from one side wall to the other side wall, an hydraulic motor to power the main shaft, a hinged grill in the curved apex of the container, two hydraulic rams for S opeidng and closing the hinged grill and holding said grill in an opened or closed position.adjustable mounting attachments on one face of the container so as to allow the container to be attached to a standard vehicle, and a solenoid diverter valve to divert power between the hydraulic motor and the hydraulic rains for opening and closing the grill.
2. A root crop washing container as claimed in Claim I in which a non-moveable grill fixed to the contamer is located adjacent the hinged grill,
3. A root crop washing container as claimed in Claim I or 2 in which the main shaft is in two pieces with flange couplings to allow one or both parts of the main shall to be removed 1kw maintenance,
4. A root crop washing container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the paddles are angled between (fond 80°.
5. A root crop washing container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the paddles are angled hdwecn 15° and 300,
6. A root crop washing container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the paddles are angled at 25°.
7. A root crop washing container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the paddles are alternatively angled at 3200 / -20°.
8. A root crop washing container as claimed in any preceding claim in which each paddle comprises a shaft protruding perpendicularly from the main shaft.
9. A root crop washing container as claimed in Claim 8 in which each paddle comprises a flat base a4jaceni the end of the corresponding protruding shaft thereof
10. A root crop washing container as claimed in Claim 9 in which the base of each paddle defines a side wall having holes extending into the side wall for receiving securing bolts.
I 1. A rout crop washing container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the paddles arc fiteed with respective adjustable rubber pads to minimise damage to the root crap.
12. A root crop washing container as claimed in Claim 11 in which the rubber pads comprise slots for accommodattng securing bolts for securing the rubber pads to the paddies.
13. A root crop washing container as claimed in Claim 12 when dependent on Claim 10 in which the rubber pads are secured to the bases of the respective paddles by bolts extending through the slots in the rubber pads and engaged in the holes extending into the side walls of the corresponding paddle bases.
14. A root crop washing container as claimed in any of Claims II to 13 in which the rubber pads are adapted for a4justment relaLive to the paddle base.
15. A root crop washing container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the washing container is adapted thr washing root crops for animal consumption.
16. A root crop washing container substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.