Device and method for spraying hot water in a fine mist to windrowed alfalfa hay to simulate the effect of dew
AssigneeHarvest Tec, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey S. Roberts, Ryan P. Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for simulating the effects of dew are disclosed. The apparatus includes a moveable platform; a rotatable base, the rotatable base being connected to the platform; and a plurality of elongated rods for penetrating and spraying beneath the surface of a windrow. The rods radiate from a longitudinal axis of the rotatable base.
Claims13
An apparatus for adding heated water to hay in windrows and simulating the effects of dew thereto, comprising:
- a. a moveable platform;
- wherein the platform supports the following sub-parts:
- i. a reservoir which holds water;
- ii. a pressurizer, connected to the reservoir, which pressurizes the water to between 200 and 700 psi;
- and
- iii. a heater, connected to the pressurizer, which heats the pressurized water to between 140 and 280 degrees Fahrenheit, to generate liquid pressurized heated water without generating steam;
- b. a rotatable base, the rotatable base being connected to the platform and communicatively connected to the heater to receive the liquid pressurized heated water without steam;
- and
- c. a plurality of elongated rods radiating from a rotational axis of the rotatable base, the rods being communicatively connected to the rotatable base to receive the liquid pressurized heated water without steam, the rods penetrating a top surface of a windrow and spraying the liquid pressurized heated water, without steam, from the rods beneath a top surface of the windrow.
A mechanical spraying apparatus for spraying heated liquid water directly on alfalfa hay in windrows, simulating the effects of dew on the hay windrow, in varying evaporation conditions, prior to baling, comprising:
- a. a moveable platform;
- wherein the platform supports the following sub-parts:
- i. a reservoir which holds water;
- ii. a pump communicatively connected to the reservoir and which pressurizes water to a predetermined pressure between 200 and 700 psi;
- and
- iii. a heater communicatively connected to the pump which heats the pressurized water to a predetermined temperature between 180 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit to generate pressurized heated liquid water, without generating steam;
- b. a rotatable base, the rotatable base being connected to the platform and communicatively connected to the heater to receive the liquid pressurized heated water without steam;
- wherein the rotatable base includes the following sub-parts:
- i. a plurality of cross-shafts arranged in parallel with each other and in a cylindrical configuration about a central axis;
- ii. a pair of hubs disposed at opposite ends of the central axis;
- and
- iii. a cam mechanism communicatively connected to the cross-shafts;
- wherein the rotatable base rotates around the central axis which is adapted to be oriented parallel to the surface of a hay field over which the apparatus is to be used, the rotatable base further being constructed and arranged to be vertically pivotally coupled to the platform whereby a depth of penetration of a top surface of the windrow is controllable;
- and
- c. a plurality of elongated rods communicatively connected to the heater and the rotatable base to receive the liquid pressurized heated water without steam, for penetrating a top surface of a windrow and spraying the pressurized heated liquid water, without steam, from the rods beneath a top surface of the windrow, the rods radiating from the central axis of the rotatable base and being communicatively connected to the heater, to rotationally move the elongated rods.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.