Biomass harvester compressor system

A biomass harvester compressor system for efficiently harvesting and compacting biomass. The biomass harvester compressor system generally includes a harvester for harvesting a biomass crop and a compressor following behind the harvester for being fed the harvested biomass crop. The compressor includes at least one compacting device for compacting the biomass, at least one freezing assembly for freezing the biomass and at least one cutting mechanism for cutting the biomass after the freezing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable to this application.

Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to harvesters and more specifically it relates to a biomass harvester compressor system for efficiently harvesting and compacting biomass.

2. Description of the Related Art

Harvesters have been in use for years. Biomass products generally require a large degree of compaction when harvesting in order to efficiently transport the biomass in a cost and time effective manner.

Prior compactors have failed to provide an efficient manner in which to compact the biomass for various reasons, such as the great expense in purchasing and operating the compactors, as well as their inability to fully compact the biomass. The inefficiency in prior compactors can be especially noticeable to farmers who may be struggling due to increased fuel costs and/or below average crop yields. Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved biomass harvester compressor system for efficiently harvesting and compacting biomass.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system for efficiently harvesting and compacting biomass. The invention generally relates to a harvester which includes a harvester for harvesting a biomass crop and a compressor following behind the harvester for being fed the harvested biomass crop. The compressor includes at least one compacting device for compacting the biomass, at least one freezing assembly for freezing the biomass and at least one cutting mechanism for cutting the biomass after the freezing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,FIGS. 1 through 10illustrate a biomass harvester compressor system10, which comprises a harvester20for harvesting biomass15and a compressor30following behind the harvester20for being fed the harvested biomass15. The compressor30includes at least one compacting device48,49for compacting the biomass15, at least one freezing assembly50for freezing the biomass15and at least one cutting mechanism60for cutting the biomass15after the freezing.

It is appreciated that the biomass15may be comprised of alternate types of compressible material similar to or different from biomass15. Other types of compressible material may include other agricultural products or any other type of material. The compressor30thus may be used with or without a harvester20, wherein the compressible material may be fed within the compressor30from various types of machinery.

The harvester20is utilized to harvest the biomass15or other type of crop as illustrated inFIG. 1. The harvester20may be comprised of a combine or other type of harvesting mechanism and performs various functions (e.g. harvesting crops, threshing crops, cleaning crops, etc.) common in the art of combines and harvesting biomass15or crops. The harvester20may be comprised of a drivable configuration including an engine and a plurality of wheels27or may be pulled behind another tractor12or combine type agricultural vehicle.

The head23of the harvester20is also preferably comprised of a grain combine head common in the art of harvesting grain, an “all crop head” commonly utilized for the harvest of sunflower and corn seed and biomass15, a stalk chopper, a chopping and suction head, or the like. In the preferred embodiment, the harvester20includes a tongue21to be attached to a hitch28of a tractor12, wheels27(wherein the harvester20is a pull behind type) and a hitch28to secure the wagon70behind thereof. However, various types of harvesters20may be appreciated with the present invention rather than those described and illustrated. The harvester20may also be a self-propelled unit with the head23in front of the harvester20.

The harvester20includes a conveyor24in communication with the head23to transfer the harvested biomass15or other crops to the compressor30. The conveyor24may be comprised of various types, such as an auger, belt, or the like, all which efficiently transfer the biomass15to the compressor30. The conveyor24and harvester20may further be powered through various sources, such as through the tractor12or an independent power supply.

The compressor30is used to compress or compact the biomass15so that the biomass15may be more efficiently stored, transported or measured. The compressor30may be comprised of various sizes to accommodate the respective amount of biomass15that must be harvested and compressed as well as the speed in which the biomass15must be harvested and compressed. Various supports or power supplies common in the art of agricultural machinery may be used to support or secure the compressor30as needed. Also, various power supplies may be used to provide power to the compressor30.

The preferred embodiment of the compressor30includes a manifold31that is in communication with the conveyor24of the harvester20. The manifold31includes a primary inflow portion32to receive the loose biomass15from the conveyor24. The primary inflow portion32connects with a plurality of secondary inflow portions41at a Y-shaped or other shaped intersection.

A valve34is used to divert the biomass15from the primary inflow portion32to a respective secondary inflow portion41as illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10. The valve34may be comprised of a flap, gate or various other configurations that are capable of efficiently diverting the biomass15. The valve34may be powered by a standalone motor35or through various other power supplies. The valve34may be controlled via the operator of the compressor30, set on a timer to alternate positions in a periodic manner, or may be in communication with the compressor30to move when a particular secondary inflow portion41is ready to receive the biomass15.

Each secondary inflow portion41leads to a different compression tube40of the compressor30. The compression tubes40of the compressor30are all preferably comprised of similar configurations and are present to increase the speed of the compressing of the biomass15. The compression tubes40further work in parallel and are generally positioned side-by-side as illustrated inFIG. 2. It is appreciated that two compression tubes40are illustrated inFIG. 2; however more or less compression tubes40may be used with the compressor30depending upon how large of a compressor30is desired. Likewise the number of secondary inflow portions41varies along with the number of compression tubes40of the compressor30.

Each compression tube40, pair or group of compression tubes40also preferably work in an alternating or offset manner, wherein the compression tubes40will be operating at different stages of a compression cycle (i.e. compacting, freezing, or cutting) so that at least one of the compression tubes40will be able to continually fed biomass15from the conveyor24and manifold31. The compression tubes40will herein be described in a singular manner; however it is appreciated that each compression tube40includes identical components and is capable of operating each step of the compression cycle.

The compression tube40includes a first segment42in communication with the respective secondary inflow portion41. The first segment42is preferably oriented in a vertical manner and perpendicular with the horizontally positioned secondary inflow portion41. The secondary inflow portion41preferably connects with the first segment42near an upper end of the first segment42so that the first segment42may be filled more completely with the loose biomass15.

A first compacting device48is preferably located above the first segment42and aligned with the first segment42. The first compacting device48may be comprised of various configurations, such as but not limited to a hydraulic cylinder and operates to extend within the first segment42to compact the biomass15towards the second segment43.

The second segment43is in communication with the first segment42. The second segment43is preferably oriented in a horizontal manner and perpendicular with the vertically positioned first segment42. The first segment42tube preferably connects with the second segment43near an inner end of the second segment43so that the second segment43may be filled more completely with the biomass15. The first segment42and the second segment43are also generally comprised of structures of a uniform diameter in portions in which the first compacting device48and the second compacting device49extend.

A second compacting device49is preferably located behind the second segment43(in a flow of the biomass15through the compressor30) and aligned with the second segment43. The second compacting device49may be comprised of various configurations, such as but not limited to a hydraulic cylinder and operates to extend within the second segment43to compact the biomass15towards the third segment45.

A tapered portion44extends from the second segment43opposite the second compacting device49to further compact the biomass15, wherein the biomass15is forced within the inwardly tapered portion44by the second compacting device49. Extending from the tapered portion44is the third segment45.

The inlet of the third segment45extends in a horizontal manner to concentrically align with the tapered portion44. The third segment45is subsequently comprised of a smaller diameter than both the first segment42and the second segment43. It is appreciated that the first segment42and the second segment43are comprised of similar diameters (minus the tapered portion44).

The third segment45extends in a snake-like manner from a horizontal direction near the tapered portion44to a vertical alignment so that the biomass15within the third segment45can extend sufficiently high above ground to be able to drop within the wagon70′ following behind. Extending from the vertical portion of the third segment45is a horizontal portion that leads to the outlet46of the third segment45and compressor30. It is appreciated that the first segment42, the second segment43and the third segment45are preferably comprised of an integral structure.

A freezing assembly50operates while the biomass15travels through the third segment45. The freezing assembly50generally includes a tank52that is shared between the compression tubes40. The tank52is filled with a coolant57that is fed within the third segment45via a hose53and nozzle55. The coolant57is generally fed at the vertical portion of the third segment45and acts to further compress the biomass15. The coolant57may be comprised of various types, such as but not limited to anhydrous, liquid nitrogen or various others. The coolant57may be various compositions, such as a liquid or a gas.

Located near the outlet46of the compressor30and third segment45is the cutting mechanism60. The cutting mechanism60acts to cut the compressed biomass15into smaller sized pieces or pellets. The cutting mechanism60generally includes a support61extending from the third segment45near the outlet46that secures a vertically positioned actuator63. The actuator63, comprised of a hydraulic cylinder or various other configurations, acts to force a connected blade65across the outlet46and thus through a portion of the compressed biomass15. The blade65thus includes a cutting surface66positioned along a lower end of the blade65, wherein the blade65acts in a reciprocating manner in cutting the compressed biomass15that is passing through the outlet46.

The wagon70may be comprised of various configurations all which efficiently catch and carry the compressed biomass15from the compressor30. The wagon70preferably includes wheels73and a tongue71, wherein the tongue71attaches to the hitch28of the harvester20via a pin or ball. It is appreciated that the wagon70may also attach to the compressor30via the tongue71and hitch28or may be fixedly attached to the compressor30or the harvester20.

E. Operation of Preferred Embodiment

In use, the harvester20first harvests the biomass15and directs the biomass15to the conveyor24where the biomass15is transferred to the compressor30. The manifold31of the compressor30then receives the biomass15and the valve34operates to direct the loose biomass15into a chosen compression tube40of the compressor30that is ready to receive the biomass15. The biomass15is then directed into the first segment42and continually fed into the first segment42as the first segment42and the second segment43fill with the loose biomass15as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4.

Once the first segment42and the second segment43are substantially filled with the loose biomass15a compacting stage of the compression cycle begins and the first compacting device48activates to compress the loose biomass15within the first segment42toward the second segment43thus compacting the loose biomass15. The first compacting device48preferably extends throughout the first segment42all the way to the second segment43.

While the first compacting device48remains in an extended position to secure the biomass15in the second segment43, the second compacting device49extends outwards to the push the compacted biomass15into the tapered portion44to further compact the biomass15and then into the third segment45as illustrated inFIG. 6. Once the compacted biomass15is within the tapered portion44and third segment45, the compacting stage of the cycle ends and the compacting devices retract so that additional amounts of loose biomass15may be received within the first segment42and the second segment43.

The freezing or cooling stage of the cycle begins and the coolant57from the tank52of the freezing assembly50is directed within the third segment45to contact the compacted biomass15. The coolant57freezes the biomass15in the short term which acts to further hold the biomass15together in a compressed and dense form long enough to handle. The amount of liquid sprayed or deposited within the third segment45onto the biomass15may vary with the amount of biomass15within the third segment45.

As the frozen and compacted biomass15passes through the outlet46of the compressor30, the cutting mechanism60acts to chop the biomass15into smaller sized pieces as illustrated inFIG. 6so that the biomass15may be more efficiently deposited within the wagon70and handled when transporting, storing, selling, or measuring. Each of the pieces of compressed biomass15cut by the cutting mechanism60are preferably of a similar size which may be determined by the rate of flow of the biomass15through the compressor30or various other types of sensors. It is appreciated that the biomass15is pushed through the third segment45and through the outlet46via further amounts of biomass15compacted via the compacting devices48,49.