Forage harvester material applicator system and related method

A method of using an agricultural forage treatment applicator system to deliver a granular treatment material to forage during harvesting, the method comprising:

• harvesting forage from a field with a motorized forage harvester as the motorized forage harvester moves in the field under power provided by a motor of the motorized forage harvester;
• conveying harvested forage through a chute and along a pathway, the motorized forage harvester having an operator cab, within which an operator is located, disposed above the chute;
• providing a bin mounted on the motorized forage harvester;
• providing a tube extending laterally away from the bin toward the pathway and including a distal tube end in communication with the pathway;
• rotating a helical, flexible auger in a bottom of the bin, the auger having a linear portion disposed in the bottom of the bin and a curvilinear portion extending at least six inches into the tube, the linear portion and the curvilinear portion rotating simultaneously with one another to convey a granular treatment material in the bin and in the tube;
• and
• moving the granular treatment material through the tube at least partially with the rotating auger so that the granular treatment material mixes with the harvested forage moving along the pathway,
• wherein the auger includes a helical blade that wraps around an internal auger passageway,
• wherein a portion of the granulated treatment material is conveyed along the internal auger passageway during the rotating,
• wherein the internal auger passageway is substantially cylindrical in the linear portion of the auger,
• wherein the internal auger passageway extends along a curvilinear axis having a radius of curvature in the curvilinear portion of the auger,
• wherein the curvilinear axis lays in a horizontal plane.

A method of using an agricultural forage treatment applicator system to deliver a granular treatment material to forage during harvesting, the method comprising:

• harvesting forage from a field with a motorized forage harvester as the motorized forage harvester moves in the field under power provided by a motor of the motorized forage harvester;
• conveying harvested forage through a chute and along a pathway, the motorized forage harvester having an operator cab, within which an operator is located, disposed above the chute;
• providing a bin mounted on the motorized forage harvester;
• providing a tube extending laterally away from the bin toward the pathway and including a distal tube end in communication with the pathway;
• rotating a helical, flexible auger in a bottom of the bin, the auger having a linear portion disposed in the bottom of the bin and a curvilinear portion extending at least six inches into the tube, the linear portion and the curvilinear portion rotating simultaneously with one another to convey a granular treatment material in the bin and in the tube;
• moving the granular treatment material through the tube at least partially with the rotating auger so that the granular treatment material mixes with the harvested forage moving along the pathway;
• providing a longitudinal axis of the forage harvester;
• conveying the granular treatment material with the linear portion of the auger;
• conveying the granular treatment material with the curvilinear portion of the auger toward the longitudinal axis rearward of the bin;
• and
• conveying the granular treatment material in the tube through a side panel of the motorized forage harvester and toward the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the granular treatment material travels through the tube from the bin and toward the chute.

A method of using an agricultural forage treatment applicator system to deliver a granular treatment material to forage during harvesting, the method comprising:

• harvesting forage from a field with a forage harvester as the harvester moves;
• rotating an auger in a bin, the auger having a length and a curvilinear portion along the length, the curvilinear portion having a curvilinear axis along the length, the curvilinear axis laying in a horizontal plane;
• and
• moving the granular treatment material through a tube, with the curvilinear portion of the auger, toward a harvested forage moving along a pathway so that the granular treatment material mixes with the harvested forage as the harvested forage moves along the pathway.

An agricultural forage treatment applicator system for delivering a granular treatment material to forage during harvesting, the system comprising:

• a gravity fed bin having at least one sidewall extending toward a bottom, the bin configured to store a supply of granular treatment material, the bin configured to be mounted on a motorized forage harvester;
• a tube extending from the gravity fed bin;
• a helical, flexible auger disposed in the bottom of the bin, the auger having a blade that extends around an auger central passageway, the auger configured to rotate and auger the granular treatment material with the blade out an opening of the bin;
• and
• a motor joined with the auger and configured to rotate the auger at one or more RPMs
• wherein the granular treatment material travels through the tube and toward a pathway along which a harvested forage moves so that the granular treatment material mixes with the harvested forage,
• wherein the tube includes a distal end,
• wherein the distal end includes a drop tube having an ejection opening through which the granular treatment travels toward the pathway, and a vent distal from the drop tube and including a vent opening configured to allow air to enter the tube.

A method of using an agricultural forage treatment applicator system to deliver a granular treatment material to forage during harvesting, the method comprising:

• harvesting forage from a field with a forage harvester as the harvester moves;
• rotating an auger in a bin, the auger having a length and a curvilinear portion along the length, the curvilinear portion having a curvilinear axis along the length;
• and
• moving the granular treatment material through a tube, with the curvilinear portion of the auger, toward a harvested forage moving along a pathway so that the granular treatment material mixes with the harvested forage as the harvested forage moves along the pathway,
• wherein the tube includes a curved tube portion,
• wherein the auger extends into the curved tube portion at least six inches,
• wherein the auger extends rearward of the bin,
• wherein the tube extends through a side panel of the forage harvester toward the pathway along which the forage material travels.