AU535112B2 - Grain treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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7797 6/81 L7G APPLICATION FOR A PIA E 2 7 NV 1981 [4

PATENT OFICE 4

ljm/ GPR&M ERNEST FABIAN,

Of T"South Macrooi",,!S. 1V18,.P.M.Bo- 8, Jandowae, in the

State of Queensland, 1410O, Commonwealtlf of Australia, coo*

000

00 hereby apply for the, grant of a Patent 0 V. c 0am. for, an invention entitled:-

GRAIN TREATING APPARATUS

4? #0 0 eta

#0 0 0 which is described in the accompanying, provisional specification. This application is a Divisional application *0 B 0 0 0* 4

0 under the provisions of Section 51 of the Patents Act 00

195a. from application No. 36,671/78 Iiled on 30th May, 1978, 0 4

000000 0 4 in tlhe name of GRAHM IERNEST FABIAN. .4 04 MyI.&z address for service- is: TI. G. AHEARN CO. Patent 00 *0*

0 so 0 0 0 Attorneys, of 85 Eagle Street, Brisbane, in 4 *1

the State of. Queensland, Commonwealth of Australia.

4

,1 Dated this 27th day Of November, 1981. 1 *4~j

1~ GRARAM'ERNEST FABIAN, 4 By his Pa-tent Attorneys T. G. AHEARN CO.

ii. 4 1. i. Ahearn)

~J 1~ 'Commissioner of Patents, To: The

Commnonw'alt fAusfralia.:

T&A~54

aid outlet

One or more persons. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1952

DECLARATION IN, SUPPORT OF.AN2 APPLICATION FOR A PATENT OR PATENT OF ADDITION

ei're In support ci the Application made by 'meof Akpplicant-or GRAHAM EN FABIAN Applicants... RN S

i2)serei for a an invention entitled. ofInetie of Invenion.RAIN TREATING APPARATUS"

of I GflAHAHI ERN\EST FABIAN

3 1 (3)Hrc o~ '"Souxth Macroon. M.S. 118, iP.l4B. 8, Jandaowae, in the

Addres orState of' queenlsland, 4410, Commnonwealth of' Australia

4C do solemnly and sincerely declare as loliows:

e 1 l am the applicant for the patent

u 4 2. 1 mthe actu~al invernor of the invention.

Here Narme(s) and I Inventor(s) if other than

Apliant

ASOL

IFull Naire TActual kXRK I Inventor or I

DECLARED at. 4-

this ~day o 1983-m..

Signature (6 of Applicant or AM Applicants.

To: *THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS.

(12) AUSTRALIAN PATENT ABRIDGMENT (19) AU (11) AU-B-77976/81

(54) GRAIN TREATMENT APPARATUS INCLUDING MAGNET ASSEMBLY, ,i LAMPS AND AN AIR SEPARATOR

(75) GRAHAM ERNEST FABIAN 4 i :1 (21) 77976/81 535112 (22) 27.1 1.81 (24) 30.5.77 (43) 8.4.82 (44) 1.3. .84 :i (51)3 A01C 1/00 B07B 4/04 B07B 11/02 36671/78 i;i (74) AH (56) 57418/75 467271 A01G 7/04, f.O1C 1/00 56680/69 442261 31.-5 37034/68 31.5, 31.4

(57) Claim

le II- dii 1: 1. -Grain treating apparatus- including a housing

providing a flow path for grain to flow gravitationally

therethrough wherein said flow path is provided with;

i at a downstream position, a magnet assembly operable to .:i produce a magnetic field in said flow path; at an upstream

i,. 9;; position relative to said magnetic field, a plurality of -3 lamps directed towards said flow path to illuminate grain

d- flowing along said path; and therebetween, an air

separator by which light material present in the flow path

is isolated from the grain, characterised in that, at the

upstream position provided with said lamps, the flow path i. is downward through an inlet opening into a chamber with 4 i a wider cross-sectional area. than said inlet, an outlet x '.Xi

opening to said separator being provided therebeneath, a it. horizontally disposed deflector plate located beneath /2 i ij n AU 7 3 :isi 4

i :e

a r i: r

77 976/81

1 (11) A-B-77976/81

said inlet extending across said inlet above said outlet

and into said chamber to spread grain flowing from said

inlet thereover to fall down-over the edges thereof for

travel downwardly to said outlet, and said lamps being

arranged around the perimeter of said plate at a position

above said plate and at an angle thereto such that grain

deflected across said plate and over its perimeter is

illuminated by said lamps.

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itfa knownto us

THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS.

THIS INVENTION relates to grain treating

apparatus.

The invention is used to condition grain prior ~I tolplanting. The grain may be caused to fall through

energy fields in such a manner that the grain becomes L

energised with the beneficial effect that growing plants i C. 45R have improved weather resistance, resistance to rain i Ie damage of the ripening seed, and an ability to withstand ::i b 545

higher foliar fertilizer applications. 4 .1 45 45.4 10 With the foregoing in view, the present invention

i resides broadly in grain treating apparatus including a :r #41* 4545 housing providing a flow path for grain to flow i:I J cume'tt contains nts made uzdz* the gravitationally therethrough wherein said flow path is 1~ o 45

45 454 454 45 provided with; at a.downstream position, a magnet assembly 4 454

1 correct ft. pcing. 15 operable to produce a magnetic field in said flow path; at I 45 45 45 4 54

455455 an upstream position relative to said magnetic field, a

4 plurality of lamps directed towards said flow path to

11 45 04500 45 454 4 4 illuinate grain flowing along said path; and therebetween, f31 r

an air separator by which light material present in the I:i ii-I Lation 13(2) 20' flow path is isolated from the grain, characterised in

that, at the upstream position provided with said lamps, i WTITL-ED the flow path is downward through an inlet opening into

Kqcamber with a wider cross-sectional area than Eaid -I: inlet, n outlet opening to said separator being provided

therebeneath, a horizontally disposed deflector plate

located beneath said inlet Extending across said inlet ;I .escription of

performing above said outlet and into said chamber to spread grain 6 flowing from said inlet thereover to fall down over the

edges thereoffor travel downwardly to said outlet,

-2 and i said lamps being arranged around the perimeter of said plate at a position above said plate and at an angle J thereto such that grain deflected.across said plate and over its perimeter is illuminated by said lamps.

In order that the invention.may be more readily

understood and put into practical effect, reference will -J l ws now be made to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a preferred

embodiment of the invention. The illustrated embodiment

is substantially symmetrical about a vertical axis.

IL As shown, the grain treating apparatus 10 is

in the form of a housing 11 providing a flow-through ;i em 0, passage into which grain may be fed through the inlet 12

to pass gravitationally through the housing 11 for

discharge through the outlet 13 after being treated by

the apparatus. is

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~A~A~a~ teter of said The treatment may comprise a cleaning treatment for Lt an angle removing impurities from the grain, in addition to a said plate and conditioning treatment to enhance the grain to be sown. lamps. Grain which passes through the inlet 12 falls be more readily 5 through an elongate inner tube 14 downwardly towards a reference will centrally disposed diffusing plte assembly 15 having a lich is a larger overall diameter than the inlet tube 14 but of i a preferred smaller diameter than the body portion of the outer housing i ited embodiment -9 ft; ft 16 so that grain may pass about the outer edges of the a ft f Lcal axis. 10 diffusing plate assembly 15 for down-flow through the aftC ft

Daratus 10 is f.M~ ft f outlet 13. The outer edge portion 9 of the diffusing aft

Low-through ;i *f plate assembly includes a perforated removable annular :i ft ft ft~f ah the inlet 12 portion 5 and spaced radially extending spikes 8 which a ft

ng 11 for ,~XJ i extend outwardly from the flange 7. ng treated by 15 In use, grain passes about and through the 6 ft diffusing plate assembly 15 against the upwardly rising

air stream introduced from the primary inlet 19 and the p 4 ft secondary inlet 21. The primary inlet injects air upwardly :1. Sftf

into the housing through the nozzle assembly 18 disposed

i ft f

I 20 concentrically within the housing 16 at the outlet from ft *5*

r:1.4~4 -ft S i the primary inlet 19, and the secondary air inlet 21 is

arranged to inject air tangentially into the cylindrical

housing 16 so as to co-act with the upwardly rising air s from the primary inlet 19 to cause same to swirl and thus

'fling the falling@ain towards the outside of the housing 16.

i The amount of air which passes the diffusion 9 plate 16 may be regulated by the number and size of he

apertures 6 in the outer edge portion 9 of the diffusing

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I plIate assembly 15 which is supported by a bracket 22 itment for adapted to be bolted to the lower end of the inlet tube 14. iition to a This bolted connection is adjudstable so that the diffusing Ln to be sown, plate assembly may be raised or lowered to suit the Lnlet.12 falls 5 operating conditions and the particular grain being passed ily towards a through the machine and to suit the particular treatment r 15 having a being -applied to the grain. )e 14 but of As the grain passes the region of the diffusing the outer housing *4

plate assembly 15 the light material content therein, in edges of tlie a

4 0 the form of impurities or the like, is carried upwards through the a **4

44 with the air stream through the separator assembly 23 which Le diffusing a *4 *44

includes an upwardly sloping annular flange*24 disposed -able annular 4 *4 4

4 4

about the Inlet tube '14 and extending outwardly into an ,ikes 8 which enlarged annular chamber 24a as illustrated, integral with

hrough the 4* 15 the housing 16. This arrangement, which provides swirling. 0* *4 *4 air passing through the annular chamber 24a and about the wardly rising a *4

flange 24 forms a cyclone-type separator whereby the et 19 and the a a

ects air upwardly impurities are carried through the separator assembly

ly 18 disposud and out through the side outlets 25 or the bottom outlets **4

E outlet from 20 26,, while upwardly rising whole grain will strike the inwardly directed flanges of the separator assembly 23 and r inlet 21 is

ie cylindrical fall back into the housing 16 for passage through the

Ly rising air outlet 13. 7'

swirl and thus The inner portion 27 of the primary inlet 19 is 44

of the housing 25 supported within a smaller tubular part 28 extending

downwardly from an annular rotary valve or grate assembly 29 j extending outwardly from the upper edge of the tube 28. .e diffusion

size of -fe 4I This. rotary valve assembly comprises a fixed apertured top S1 the diffusing plate 50 and a lower movable plate 51 connected operatively 4Lt

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II Ad acket 22 14-- to the inlet 32, whereby the apertures in the plates inlet tube 14. and 31 may be moved into or but of register to regulate the the diffusing cross-sectional flow area .therethrough. ;uit the Grain passing therethrough passes downwardly n beina passed 5 between the tube 28 and the outer housing 31 for passage Lar treatment through the inlet 15, together-with any grain which may

pass downwardly through the tube 28. The downward flow the diffusing path of the grain is illustrated by the dotted lines b therein, in in the drawings. Furthermore, the secondary air inlet 21 ed upwards 10 which injects air tangentially into the housing 16 is .44 .4( ssembly 23 which also provided with adjustment means whereby its air 24 disposed 4, e inlet direction may be selectively varied. The inlet I 44

rdly into an direction will of course be varied to suit the particular integral with operating conditions and the crop being passed through -ovides swirling. 4*ri~ 15 the apertures 19. If desired, a shut-off gate may be and about the 4

i .4 .4* provided at the side inlet 25 and similar gates may be Lereby the i :d provided at the lower outlets 26. r assembly 25 i While the apparatus has so far been described bottom outlets 'C .4

with reference to the cleaning of grain, ,the invention is r strike the For this *4 20 utilised to condition grain prior to planting. 44 assembly 23 and purpose, the top lid 35 is adapted to support lighting o hrough the assembly 34 in the form of an octagonal shaped housing j i having eight upwardly and inwardly sloping faces 36, each i ary inlet .19 is of which is fitted with a lamp. Thus, there aie eight extending 25 lamps in all. The tubular inlet 12 extends upwardly from grate assembly 29 the housing 35 and the upper deflector plate 37 is sxpported the tube 28. on the housing 35 beneath the inlet 12. The discharge i1 :ed apertured top outlet 13is adapted to be -connected to a tubular extension ected operatively piece 58 by a non-magnetic connector extending between the

;he plates 30 outlet 13 and extension piece 38 which supports therein to regulate the four armatures 39 through which electricity may be passed

to create a magnetic field rnof 'r meott a -'Jo'4 &ting downwardly in the.flow path of grain passing from the discharge outlet 51 for passage 5 13. Alternatively, a light source or other suitable means tin which may may be used to provide the energy field. These electro- lownward flow magnet assemblies may be operatively connected to the power ;ted lines supply through the lights so that the current passing ?y air inlet 21 therethrough may be selectively varied. For this purpose, r' 4~4 ising 16 is 10 the eight lights are divided into two groups of four r its air connected into the armature circuit so that the total current C;I

The inlet C;- passing through the electro-magnets may be either full power the particular or half power, again depending upon the operating conditions I 3sed through and the grain being treated. rate may be The armatures may be mounted in the tubular 15 A i I rates may be B l)s extension piece 38 by being bolted their soft iron cores to er w c rH

the extension piece with a silastic coating applied and the 'I Ii BSln\FY~ en described 4 i; armatures buried in a protective araldite layer. BC(lt ':1 ie invention is b i When the apparatus is arranged to treat the grain Lng. For this b L LIIIIP 20 for planting the grain firstly passes through the high inten- C(r r? ,rt lighting U i' sity light zone about the lid 33 whereafter any remaining Lped housing 35 impurities may be removed prior to the grain falling past the A faces 36, each electro-magnets 39 before planting. The grain is energised ?e aie eight to just under its expansion point or pop size and it is 3 upwardly from 25 believed that the energy imparted to the grain by passing the ;e 37 is supported high intensity lights and/or the electro-magnets is absorbed ie discharge by the grain and this absorbed energy has a lasting beneficial *1 ,ubular extension effect on the growing plants throughout the growing period. ling between the I Treated grain can have improved-weather resistance to drought, rain damage to ripening seed and withstand higher foliar fertilizer applications. Additionally, an insecti- cide nozzle 40 is provided in the secondary inlet 21 for applying insecticide directly to the grain.

Alternatively, housing 31 may be removed and

with movable plate 32 at its closed position the extension

piece 38 may be connected to inner tube 28 via a non-magnetic

connector.

SIt will of course be realised that the above has

S 10 been given by way of illustrative example only, and all

such modifications and variations as would be apparent to

persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the

broad scope and ambit of the invention as is defined in

the appended claims.

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-withstand higher ally, an insecti- ry I'nlet 21 for a. e removed and ion the extension 0 *0

8 via a non-magnetic 00

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Claims (4)

1. THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:- A 1. Grain treating apparatus including a housing

   .providing a flow path for grain to flow gravitationally

   therethrough wherein said flow path is provided with;

   at a downstream position, a magnet assembly operable to

   produce a magnetic field in said flow path; at an upstream (u Id in a a *IYCH position relative'to said magnetic field, a plurality of Ah ~I a arte

   &4~*IC lamps directed towards said flow path to illuminate grain b a n *bi a

   ortL flowing along said path; and therebetween, an air B O BB1L

   V. ca separator by w'ich light material present in the flow path ro a ~cjmc

   is isolated from the grain, characterised in that, at the

   upstream position provided with 'said lamps, the flow path

   is downward through an inlet opening into a chamber with 0a c

   a wider cross-sectional area than said inlet, an outlet 0 0 4 opening to said separator being provided therebeneath, a

   'C. horizontally disposed deflector plate located beneath 0PCR o s'aid inlet extending across said inlet above said outlet 0000

   2 and into said chamber to spread grain flowing from said

   inlet thereover to fall down over the edges thereof for

   travel downwardly to said outlet, and said lamps being

   arranged around the perimeter of said plate at a position

   above said plate and at an ancle thereto such that grain

   deflected across said plate and over its perimeter is

   illuminated by said lamps.
2. 2. Grain treating apparatus according to Claim 1

   wherein said magnet assembly is comprised of electro-

   magnets and the power to the magnets is varied by

   switching it through different numbers of said lamps. Vr
3. 3. A method of treating grain for planting, 'ji 8 1j comprising causing said grain to pass through a grain treating apparatus as claimed in Claim 1.
4. 4. A method of treating grain substantially as

   hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying

   drawings.

   A grain treating apparatus as herein described

   with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   DATED this 28th day of December, .1983.

   GRAHAM ERNEST FABIAN By his Patent Attorneys TG.- AHEARN CO.

   Ahearn) Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia.

   t. ft 1