GB386673A - Process and apparatus for the ensilage of green fodder - Google Patents

Abstract

386,673. Storing and preserving crops ; cutting and slicing vegetables; food for animals. HOPPE, H., 14, Luneburgerstrasse, Magdeburg, Germany. July 16, 1931, No. 20380. [Classes 5 (i) and 5 (ii).] A process for the ensilage of green fodder consists in coarsely chopping the fodder to a fragmentary pulp, removing air therefrom and feeding the said pulp in a substantially air-free state to a silo, where it is caused to undergo lactic fermentation in absence of air. Fodder is fed to a chopping machine 1 comprising radial knives 2 provided at their free ends with scoops 6 whereby it is ejected into one of the pipes 7, 36 according to the adjustment of a slide valve 62, and so passes either by way of a compensating container 8, including a conveying worm, or directly, to a second comminuting machine 3. The latter comprises a fixed grinding crown 11 and a toothed grinding disc 13 provided on its periphery with shovels 14 which throw the fodder into a vertical mixing tube 15 whence it passes through a pump 19 to a silo 20. Substances such as sugar, salts, acids, starch, bran, or potato parings are dissolved or macerated in water in a container 21, water being introduced from the container 23, and pass therefrom through a pipe 27 into the comminuting machine 3. Further liquid which may contain lactic acid cultures, may be introduced into the pipe 27 or mixing tube 15 from the container 22. The supplemental materials may, if desired, be fed into the machine 1 or to the machines 1 and 3 simultaneously ; the mixing vessel 15 may then be omitted. A valve 58 in the pipe 27 is automatically controlled by the rising and falling of one of the drawing-in rollers of the machine 1, through links 33, 34. The comminuting machines and mixing tube serve to eliminate air, the residuum of which may be driven out by steam or partial vacuum during or after the filling operation : the air in the silo may, before the introduction of the pulp, be replaced by carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or other inert gas.