Straw processing system
AssigneeWantech Pty Ltd.
InventorMark Wandel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A straw processing system includes a straw pickup assembly, a straw chopper, and a straw distribution system. The straw pickup assembly picks up straw and passes it to the straw chopper for producing a straw feed stream flowing in a feed direction. The straw distribution system has a chamber with a feed inlet for receiving the straw feed stream, a central outlet, and at least a first outlet. The straw distribution system diverts at least a first fraction of straw from the straw feed into the first outlet in a first direction which is divergent from the feed direction. The central outlet discharges a fraction of the straw feed stream that continues to flow in the feed direction.
Claims30
A straw processing system comprising:
- a straw pickup assembly;
- a straw chopper, the straw pickup assembly operable to pick up windrowed straw from the ground and pass it to the straw chopper for producing a straw feed stream flowing in a feed direction;
- and
- a straw distribution system having:
- a chamber with a feed inlet for receiving the straw feed stream;
- a central outlet located downstream of the feed inlet in the feed direction;
- a first outlet wherein the central outlet is downstream of the first outlet in the feed direction;
- and a first chute selectively moveable between an operational position where the first chute is in communication with the first outlet to enable straw to flow along the first chute to an associated discharge point at which straw is discharged from the straw distribution system;
- and a transport position where a longitudinal axis of the first chute is substantially parallel to the feed direction;
- wherein the straw distribution system is operable to divert at least a first fraction of straw from the straw feed stream received in the feed inlet to flow into the first outlet and through the first chute in a first direction which is divergent from the feed direction, and wherein the central outlet discharges a fraction of the straw feed stream that continues to flow in the feed direction from an associated discharge point.
A straw processing system comprising:
- a straw pickup assembly;
- a straw chopper, the straw pickup assembly operable to pick up windrowed straw from the ground and pass it to the straw chopper for producing a straw feed stream flowing in a feed direction;
- and
- a straw distribution system having:
- a chamber with a feed inlet for receiving the straw feed stream, a central outlet located downstream of the feed inlet in the feed direction, and, first, second, third and fourth outlets, the central outlet being downstream of the first, second, third, and fourth outlets in the feed direction;
- wherein the straw distribution system is operable to divert a first fraction of straw from the straw feed stream received in the feed inlet to flow into the first outlet in a first direction, a second fraction of straw from the straw feed stream received in the feed inlet to flow into the second outlet in a second direction, a third fraction of straw from the straw feed stream received in the feed inlet to flow into the third outlet in a third direction, and a fourth fraction of straw from the straw feed stream received in the feed inlet to flow into the fourth outlet in a fourth direction, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth directions is divergent from the feed direction, and wherein the central outlet discharges a fraction of the straw feed stream that continues to flow in the feed direction;
- and
- a plurality of vacuum sources each in fluid communication with a respective outlet, wherein the vacuum sources are operable to draw a fraction of straw associated with the respective outlet to respective discharge points from where the straw in the straw feed stream is ejected from the straw processing system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.