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US 11,186,924 B2Granted
Machine and process for decorticating plant matter
OwnerFranklin D Ohrtman, Jr., Konrad F Ohrtmaninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A decorticating machine comprising modular drum assemblies of different tooth and surface patterns that are installed between pairs of left and right lower and upper rails is described. The modular drum assemblies (usually provided in upper and lower drum pairs) and the number thereof can be chosen based on the particulars of the type of stalk being processed.
Claims20
A decorticating machine, the machine comprising:
- left and right upper longitudinal T-rails;
- left and right bottom longitudinal T-rails, each longitudinal T-rail of the left and right upper longitudinal T-rails and the left and right bottom longitudinal T-rails including at least a first longitudinally-extending slot;
- at least a first drum pair assembly and a second drum pair assembly,
- each drum pair assembly of the first and second drum pair assemblies including,
- an upper drum and a lower drum, each drum having an circumferential surface, left and right ends and an axial bore extending longitudinally through the drum,
- one or two upper bearing shafts that are partially received in the axial bore of the upper drum and extending outwardly from each of the left and right ends of the upper drum,
- one or two lower bearing shafts that are partially received in the axial bore of the lower drum and extending outwardly from each of the left and right ends of the lower drum,
- one or more left bearing blocks and one or more right bearing blocks, each of the one or more bearing blocks of the one or more left bearing blocks and one or more right bearing blocks including at least (i) an upper bearing bore having an upper bearing shaft of the one or two upper bearing shafts received therein, (ii) a lower bearing bore having a lower bearing shaft of the one or two lower bearing shafts received therein, (iii) an upper T-shaped protrusion along a top edge, (iv) and (v) an lower T-shaped protrusion along a bottom edge;
- wherein (1) the upper T-shaped protrusion of the one or more left bearing blocks of each drum pair assembly is received in the first longitudinally-extending slot of the left upper longitudinal T-rail, (2) the lower T-shaped protrusion of the one or more left bearing blocks of each drum pair assembly is received in the first longitudinally-extending slot of the left lower longitudinal T-rail, (3) the upper T-shaped protrusion of the one or more right bearing blocks of each drum pair assembly is received in the first longitudinally-extending slot of the right upper longitudinal T-rail, and (4) the lower T-shaped protrusion of the one or more right bearing blocks of each drum pair assembly is received in the first longitudinally-extending slot of the right lower longitudinal T-rail.
6 more elements
A decorticating machine, the machine comprising:
- left and right upper longitudinal T-rails;
- left and right bottom longitudinal T-rails, each longitudinal T-rail of the left and right upper longitudinal T-rails and the left and right bottom longitudinal T-rails including at least a first longitudinally-extending slot;
- at least a first drum pair assembly and a second drum pair assembly,
- each drum pair assembly of the first and second drum pair assemblies including,
- an upper drum and a lower drum, each drum having an circumferential surface, left and right ends and an axial bore extending longitudinally through the drum,
- one or two upper bearing shafts that are partially received in the axial bore of the upper drum and extending outwardly from each of the left and right ends of the upper drum,
- one or two lower bearing shafts that are partially received in the axial bore of the lower drum and extending outwardly from each of the left and right ends of the lower drum,
- a left unitary bearing block and a right unitary bearing block, each unitary bearing block of the left and right unitary bearing blocks including (i) an upper section with an upper bearing bore having an upper bearing shaft of the one or two upper bearing shafts received therein, (ii) a lower section having a lower bearing shaft of the one or two lower bearing shafts received therein, (iii) a biasing section (iv) an upper T-shaped protrusion along a top edge of the upper section, and (iv) a lower T-shaped protrusion along a bottom edge of the lower section,
- wherein (1) the upper T-shaped protrusion of the one or more left bearing blocks of each drum pair assembly is received in the first longitudinally-extending slot of the left upper longitudinal T-rail, (2) the lower T-shaped protrusion of the one or more left bearing blocks of each drum pair assembly is received in the first longitudinally-extending slot of the left lower longitudinal T-rail, (3) the upper T-shaped protrusion of the one or more right bearing blocks of each drum pair assembly is received in the first longitudinally-extending slot of the right upper longitudinal T-rail, and (4) the lower T-shaped protrusion of the one or more right bearing blocks of each drum pair assembly is received in the first longitudinally-extending slot of the right lower longitudinal T-rail.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.