Abstract:
The dust control system is adapted for use with a straw blowing machine. The straw blowing machine typically starts with a bale of straw and utilizes a shredder to loosen the straw from the bale. A blower fan then blows the straw to a throat of a chute and the chute then directs the straw where desired. The dust suppression system includes at least one water inlet applying water to the straw before the straw exits an outlet tip of the chute. Water tanks are preferably provided which feed the water inlets in a controllable fashion to meter an appropriate amount of water to cause dust included with the straw to adhere to the straw and avoid degrading air quality when the straw is ejected out of the chute.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit under Title 35, United States Code §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/774,465 filed on Feb. 17, 2006. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The following invention relates to straw blowers which are typically vehicle mounted machines which receive straw, typically in the form of hay bales, shred the straw and then blow the straw with a blower fan through a chute for dispersion onto a surface. More particularly, this invention relates to dust suppression systems for straw blowers which minimize the amount of dust ejected along with straw by the straw blower, such as to avoid negative impacts on air quality. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Straw blower machines are known in the prior art which take a bale of straw and blow the straw over an area to which straw is to be applied. Straw blowers are used for various purposes, but most typically are used for erosion control where the straw is placed over ground which is subject to erosion, so that rain and water on the surface is slowed and soil erosion is diminished. 
         [0004]    Typical straw blowers include a chute from which the straw is blown, which is often rotatable and otherwise adjustable so that a user can direct the straw where desired. A large blower fan upstream of the chute blows the straw into the chute with sufficient force and with associated air so that the straw entrained within the air is blown out of the chute. Upstream of the fan a bale shredder is typically provided which shreds a bale of straw into loose straw that is then fed into the fan. Often a conveyer belt is provided which feeds a series of bales of straw into the bale shredder. The entire vehicle is often on wheels and either self-propelled or configured to be towed behind a separate vehicle, such as a truck loaded with additional bales of straw. One type of typical prior art straw blower is provided by the Finn Equipment Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. 
         [0005]    One problem with prior art straw blowers is that they blow any dust and dirt associated with the straw (as well as very fine straw particles) in a way which often causes clouds of dust and small particles to be generated. These clouds do not quickly settle to the ground and so can travel to an undesirable location. Also, an air quality problem is generated. In particular, air quality managers evaluate air pollution sources in many ways with one measure being “opacity.” For instance, California air quality regulations require that a source have its emissions not exceed forty percent opacity for more than three minutes in every hour. Some counties in California (i.e. Placer County) are even more strict, with a twenty percent opacity limit. Also, visible emissions of fugitive dust must not cross property boundaries. Accordingly, a need exists to suppress dust emissions from straw blowers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    With this invention, the problem of air quality degradation through utilization of a straw blower is mitigated. In particular, with this invention a source of water or other liquid is provided. Typically, the liquid to be used is water within a tank mounted to the straw blower vehicle itself. The water or other liquid could alternatively be provided from a conduit coupled to some other source of water. 
         [0007]    The water is pressurized either within the tank (or other source) or through utilization of a pump. The water is then sprayed into at least one location between an inlet where the bales of straw enter the bale shredder and an outlet tip of the straw blower chute. In a simplest form of this invention, only one liquid outlet could be provided, coupled to the source of liquid, with this inlet directing water against the straw within the system. Most preferably, the water is directed through a form of spray nozzle so that the water is in the form of a mist and so that maximum coating of the straw with water can occur. Dust particles within the straw then adhere to the straw. 
         [0008]    In a most preferred form of the invention, a series of valves are provided and at least three locations are provided for inlets of water or other liquid at various different locations within the overall straw blower system. For instance, a first inlet can be provided just downstream from the bale shredder. A second inlet can be provided directly upstream of the blower. A third inlet can be provided directly downstream of the blower. Other locations where water could be provided are within various portions of the chute and elsewhere along the straw path. 
         [0009]    The inlets can be provided on multiple sides of the straw pathway, such as on lateral sides and/or the top or bottom of the enclosure through which the straw is passing. In this way, a maximum coating of the straw with water can occur, and so that maximum capture of dust can occur. When the wetted straw is blown out of the chute, it is not so wet that it cannot be blown, but no significant dust and fine particulates are blown into the surrounding atmosphere along with the straw. 
         [0010]    In a most preferred form of this invention, the tank is not pressurized and is filled with water. The pump can be driven by a motor on board the vehicle on which the straw blower is mounted and which motor also powers the various different components of the straw blowing machinery. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to minimize or eliminate an amount of dust ejected along with straw by a straw blowing machine. 
         [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a kit for retrofitting onto an existing straw blowing machine to reduce an amount of dust ejected with straw by the machine. 
         [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for reducing an amount of dust ejected by a straw blowing machine. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to facilitate the utilization of a straw blowing machine in a way which minimizes negative effects upon air quality and which satisfies air quality regulations. 
         [0015]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a straw blowing machine which wets the straw before ejection from the straw blowing machine so that the straw is ejected with a minimum of dust and air quality degradation. 
         [0016]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a dust control system for a straw blower which can be controlled by a user who is manning a chute of a straw blower. 
         [0017]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a straw blower with onboard dust suppression system which has sufficient water capacity so that the water supply lasts as long as a typical straw supply associated with deployment of the straw blower at a job site. 
         [0018]    Other further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the included drawing figures, the claims and detailed description of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the flow of straw through the system, the flow of air through the system, the flow of water into the system and how controls interact with valves at various different locations within the system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of the system of this invention generally in the form of a full sectional view of the entire system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of a straw blower fitted with the dust control system of this invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of that which is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view of the straw blower fitted with the dust control system of this invention and from a viewpoint opposite that of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral  10  ( FIGS. 1-5 ) is directed to a system for control of dust ejection from a straw blowing machine. The invention can be considered to be a kit for inclusion upon an existing straw blowing machine to add dust suppression attributes, or can be considered as a modified form of straw blowing machine which includes dust suppression therein. With this system  10 , water W is added to the straw S ( FIG. 2 ) between an inlet  14  for the straw in the form of bales B, and an outlet tip  54  of a chute  50  which blows straw S out of the overall straw blowing machine. 
         [0025]    In essence, and with particular reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , basic details of the system of this invention are described. A typical prior art straw blowing machine includes a conveyor  20  for delivering bales B to the inlet  14  of the straw blowing machine. After the bales B pass through the inlet  14 , they are carried into a shredder  30 . The shredder  30  has teeth  32  thereon which beat upon and shred the bale B, only allowing the straw S to pass after it has been loosened from the bale B and is ready for blowing. A blower fan  40  is located downstream from the shredder  30 . The blower fan  40  blows air A into the straw S and blows the straw S to a throat  52  of a chute  50 . The chute  50  extends from the throat  52  to an outlet tip  54  which can typically be oriented in various different positions by an operator. Straw S is then blown out of the outlet tip  54  of the chute  50 . 
         [0026]    With this invention, at least one water tank  60  is provided as a preferred form of source of water. Water lines  61  pass out of the water tanks  60  and on to various different inlets, such as inlets  63 ,  65 ,  71  ( FIG. 2 ) and with valves such as the valves  62 ,  64 ,  70  provided to control water flow to these inlets  63 ,  65 ,  71 . These inlets  63 ,  65 ,  71 , or other configurations of inlets, spray the water W against the straw S to wet the straw S to some degree. The water W is applied to the straw S sufficient to cause dust within the straw S to stick to the straw S, rather than being free. Thus, when the straw S is blown out of the chute  50 , the dust is not free, but rather remains entrained to the straw S and air quality is not negatively impacted by operation of the straw blowing machine. 
         [0027]    More specifically, and with particular reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , details of the prior art straw blowing machine to which the system of this invention is adapted, are initially described to the extent necessary to illustrate the function of the dust control system of this invention. The straw blowing machine is typically in the form of a wheeled vehicle  4  that can be self-propelled or towed by another vehicle such as a towing vehicle  2 . In a typical operation, the towing vehicle  2  is in the form of a flatbed truck or other truck which can support a large number of straw bales B thereon. 
         [0028]    The straw blowing machine includes a conveyor  20  which extends from the straw blower vehicle  4  toward the towing vehicle  2 . Operators standing on the towing vehicle  2  can take bales B and place them onto the conveyor  20  ( FIG. 2 ) to be carried into the straw blower machine. The conveyor  20  could be in the form of a smooth trough located at a sloping angle so that gravity merely feeds the bales B into the machine. Alternatively, the conveyor  20  could be in the form of a moving belt to convey the bales B into the straw blowing machine. 
         [0029]    The conveyor  20  leads up to an inlet  14  for the straw blowing machine. Typically, the straw blowing machine has a the shredder  30  and blower  40  contained within a housing  12  extending from the inlet  14  to the chute  50 , and with the chute  50  also being enclosed so that the housing  12  can be considered to extend from the inlet  14  all the way to the outlet tip  54  of the chute  50 . This housing  12  serves the general function of containing the straw S within the straw blowing machine until it is ready to be ejected from the chute  50 . 
         [0030]    The shredder  30  is located downstream from the inlet  14  and downstream from the conveyor  20 . The shredder  30  is typically in the form of a cylinder with a series of teeth extending radially from a central axis of the cylindrical shredder  30 . The shredder  30  is caused to rotate within a housing and with the teeth located close enough to walls of the housing  12  so that the straw S can only pass the shredder  30  in small quantities. Hence, when a bale B of the straw S impacts the shredder  30 , the bale B cannot pass the shredder  30  until the straw S within the bale B is torn off of the bale B and allowed to pass in small and loose quantities of straw S. The shredder  30  could have a variety of different configurations to optimize its effectiveness in loosening the straw S out of the bale B as effectively as possible. 
         [0031]    A blower fan  40  is provided downstream from the shredder  30 . This blower fan  40  typically includes fan blades coupled to a motor and has an air inlet that receives air A from a surrounding environment and blows it into an interior of the housing  12  downstream from the shredder  30 . The blower fan  40  is oriented so that it blows the air A toward a throat  52  of the chute  50 . The loose straw S downstream from the shredder  30  is introduced into the space between the blower fan  40  and the throat  52  of the chute  50 . The straw S is thus entrained in this flow of air A and is blown along with the air A from the blower fan  40  into the throat  52  of the chute  50 . 
         [0032]    The chute  50  is a long tubular conduit that has a hollow interior extending from the throat  52  to an outlet tip  54 . The throat  52  preferably faces downwardly and is generally circular and surrounded by a circular bearing  53 . This bearing  53  allows the entire chute  50  to rotate so that the outlet tip  54  of the chute  50  can be positioned where desired by a user for delivery of the straw S ejected from the chute  50 . Above the throat  52 , the chute  50  has a sharp bend and then extends out to the outlet tip  54 . A steering arm  55  is mounted to the chute  50  to allow a user sitting on the seat  56  to easily adjust a direction in which the chute  50  is pointed. Note for instance in  FIG. 4  how the chute  50  can have its outlet tip  54  oriented in a variety of different positions shown in broken lines in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0033]    The conveyor  20 , shredder  30  and blower fan  40  each require input power to operate. Typically, a motor is provided on the straw blower vehicle  4 , such as the motor  82 . This motor  82  can provide power for the blower fan  40 , shredder  30  and conveyor  20 . In particular, mechanical linkages can be coupled directly to the conveyor  20 , shredder  30  and blower fan  40 . Alternatively, the motor  82  could drive a master hydraulic pump which would then deliver elevated pressure hydraulic fluid to separate hydraulic motors coupled to the conveyor  20 , shredder  30  and blower fan  40 . As another alternative, the motor  82  could be coupled to a generator which charges batteries and the conveyor  20 , shredder  30  and blower fan  40  could have separate electric motors drawing electric power from these batteries charged by the motor  82 . 
         [0034]    With particular reference to  FIG. 1 , the system  10  of this invention is illustrated for adding dust control to a typical prior art straw blowing machine. The general concept of this invention is to wet the straw S somewhere between the inlet  14  and the outlet tip  54  of the chute  50 , so that the straw S will cause dust to either remain within the housing  12  or cling to the straw S, and not be freely discharged out of the chute  50  along with the straw S in a way that would degrade air quality, and otherwise provide a nuisance. 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 1  a broadest array of water inlets and valves are shown, illustrating each of the variety of locations where such inlets and valves can be located. In particular, and with reference to  FIG. 1 , water lines  61  extend out from the water tank  60 . These water lines  61  feed seven inlets through seven valves. A first inlet  63  downstream from a first valve  62  is oriented to apply water W to the straw S before the straw S reaches the shredder  30 . The second inlet  65  downstream from the second valve  64  is oriented to apply water W at the location of the shredder  30 . The third inlet  67  downstream from the third valve  66  is located to apply water W to the straw S between the shredder  30  and the blower fan  40 . 
         [0036]    The fourth inlet  69  is located downstream from the fourth valve  68  and is oriented to apply water W to the straw S just downstream from the blower fan  40 , or within the blower fan  40 . The fifth inlet  71  is located downstream from the fifth valve  70  and is oriented to apply water W to the straw S upstream from an inlet throat  52  of the chute  50 . A sixth inlet  73  is located downstream from a sixth valve  72  and is oriented to apply water W to the straw S within the throat  52  of the chute  50 . A seventh inlet  75  is located downstream from a seventh valve  74  and is oriented to apply water to the straw S downstream from the throat  52  of the chute  50  and somewhere within the chute  50  upstream of the outlet tip  54  of the chute  50 . 
         [0037]    While the water tanks  60  could be elevated pressure water tanks so that no pumping would be required for delivery of the water W through the waterlines  61 , most preferably at least one water pump is located somewhere between the water tank  60  and the various water inlets  63 ,  65 ,  67 ,  69 ,  71 ,  73 ,  75 . Such water pumps can be powered in a similar fashion as the conveyor  20 , shredder  30  and blower fan  40  by receiving power in some form from the motor  82 . 
         [0038]    With particular reference to  FIG. 2 , a particular configuration for the system  10  of this invention is disclosed. In particular,  FIG. 2  most clearly shows that at each location for application of water W to the straw S, more than one water W spray inlet is provided. For instance, adjacent the inlet  14 , the first inlet  63  is actually in the form of multiple inlets  63 ,  63 ′, with one of the inlets shown above the bale B and one of the inlets shown below the bale B. As best shown in  FIG. 4 , in fact side sprayers can also be provided. Hence, each of the inlets  63 ,  65 ,  67 ,  69 ,  71 ,  73 ,  75  could in fact be a large number of separate sprayers, with four separate sprayers being most preferred including sprayers, above, below and on either side of the straw S as it passes between the inlet  14  and the outlet tip  54  of the chute  50 . In this way, water W can best come into contact with all of the dust and lightly wet all of the straw S. 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 2 , only three inlet locations are provided, including the first inlet  63 , second inlet  65  and fifth inlet  71 . A most preferred form of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 3-5  where inlets are not utilized to wet the bale B of straw S, but rather are provided adjacent the shredder  30  through the second inlet  65 , downstream from the blower fan  40  at the third inlet  67  and just upstream of the throat  52  of the chute  50  at the fifth inlet  71 . 
         [0040]    Valves  64 ,  70  and  74  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) are located directly adjacent the seat  56  so that an operator sitting on the seat  56  can easily manipulate the valves  64 ,  70 ,  74 . In particular, a user will typically gauge an amount of dust being distributed by the straw blower. If the straw S does not have a lot of dust associated therewith, perhaps only the first valve need be opened, with the other two valves remaining closed. If the straw S is being distributed with too much dust, the second valve can also be opened with the third valve remaining closed. If the blower is still ejecting too much dust, the third valve can also be opened. 
         [0041]    In this preferred embodiment, an operator can carefully control an amount of water usage to just the amount of water required to eliminate dust ejected from the chute  50 . This is important to avoid having to make stops to refill the water tanks too often, while still maintaining straw S flow without air quality degradation. 
         [0042]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , controls  80  are shown for operating the various different valves  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74 . These controls  80  could be in the form of separate levers coupled to the valves for manual control. As another alternative, dust sensors could be provided at various different locations within the system. The controls  80  could be in the form of automatic controls that would increase water flow when high levels of dust are sensed and decrease water levels when little or no dust is sensed. Preferably, the controls are of a type which allow not only for opening and closing of valves but also for setting valves at midpoints between a substantially opened and a substantially closed position for metering of only a partial flow of water W to various different water inlets if desired. 
         [0043]    This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention disclosure. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified.