GB2207495A

GB2207495A - Drying agricultural material

Info

Publication number: GB2207495A
Application number: GB08817313A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Robert Hoare
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-07-28
Filing date: 1988-07-20
Publication date: 1989-02-01
Also published as: GB8817313D0; GB8717901D0

Abstract

A drying tube for drying or ventilating grain comprising separable hollow elongate body parts 1,2 one of which has a closed tapered end portion 3 for insertion into a pile of grain, the other end of the tube being attached to an air pump. The body has slots 10 to permit the passage of air into or out of the grain. When the air is blown into the grain it may be heated so as to improve the drying. The drying tube may be inserted into the pile of grain before the air pump is attached. <IMAGE>

Description

DRYING AGRICULTURAL MATERIAL The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for drying bulk quantities particularly of agricultural material e.g. grain.

It is generally necessary to dry a pile of grain stored in a storage shed to prevent rotting. It is known to provide in a storage shed a fixed array of pipes, onto which the grain is piled. Hot air is then blown over or through the grain by means of blowers attached to the pipes.

However, the present invention seeks to provide a means for drying the grain, which means is easily insertable into and removable from a pile of grain already in situ. Thus the apparatus is not tied up until the grain is used up or removed.

In one aspect the invention provides an air pump (or other source of air pressure or suction) and a drying tube attached or attachable to the pump, the drying tube comprising a hollow elongate body, one end adapted to be coupled to the pump and the other end being closed by a tapered part; the body having lateral apertures for the passage of air.

Preferably, the body is formed of separable tubular parts having means whereby they may be connected in line.

There may be a multiplicity of such parts so that a body of required length can be assembled.

The apertures may suitably be elongate slots parallel to the length of the body, or at an angle thereto. The tube may be of rectangular or square cross-section.

In a second aspect, the invention resides in a method of drying or ventilating a pile of material using the above appartus, wherein the drying tube is inserted into the pile, and air is blown into or sucked from the tube by the air pump. The tube may then be withdrawn and inserted into another pile.

Preferably the air is heated and blown so as to improve the drying of the material.

When the body comprises several separable parts as described above, the part with the tapered portion may be inserted first into the pile of material, and the subsequent part or parts may be fitted successively as the tube is pushed farther in.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a drying tube body for an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the drying tube for a second embodiment of the invention showing angled slots.

Fig. 1 shows a drying tube comprising first and second parts 1,2. The second part 2 has an end closed by a tapered portion 3, shaped so that in use it can easily be driven into a pile of grain.

At the opposite end of this second part 2 is an enlarged collar 4. The first part 1 is joined to the second part 2 for use by locating its end inside the collar 4 so that the ends of the two parts 1,2 abut.

The collar and the end of the first part have holes 5 which are aligned when the two parts 1,2 abut each other, and so enable a pin 6 to be inserted, thereby to fix the two parts 1,2 together. A flange 7 on the pin and a removable split pin 8 located in the pin 6 prevent withdrawal of the pin 6 from the holes when the drying tube is in use.

The first part 1 has a collar 9 at its other end which enables a further part similar to the first part 1 to be attached. By adding the required number of parts, the drying tube can be extended to the required length.

The parts 1,2 of the tube have longitudinal slots 10 in the lateral sides thereof which, in use, allow the passage of air into, or out of the tube interior.

The open end of the drying tube is attached to a compressor, which may be of fan-type, by means of the collar attachment 9. In use, air is blown or sucked through the tube by the compressor. Blown air may be heated, by use of a fan heater.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of a second form of drying tube, differing in that the slots 20 are at an angle to the direction of the length of the tube.

The illustrated apparatus is suitable for drying e.g.

80 tonnes of corn at a depth of about 2 metres, to a moisture content of about 18% by weight with ambient air.

This may be further improved to below 16% by weight by use of heated air.

Among the advantages of the present invention are the simplicity and cheapness of the assembly, and the ease of use. It is particularly advantageous where several piles of corn in storage have to be dried successively, in which case the apparatus can be moved from storage barn to storage barn.

Although the invention has been described principally with reference to the drying or ventilating of corn, it is possible to use it, and enjoy its benefits, or many other materials, particularly those of a granular or fibrous nature e.g. hay stacks.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus comprising air/suction supply means for blowing or sucking air, and a drying tube attached or attachable thereto, the drying tube comprising a hollow elongate body having a tapered end portion distant from the supply means and having lateral apertures to allow the passage of air.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apertures comprise slots.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the slots are at an acute angle to the direction of the length of the tube.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tube is of rectangular or square cross-section.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the body comprises a plurality of separable hollow elongate parts, each having, on at least one end, means for fixing that part to another of the hollow elongate parts.

6. Appratus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A method of drying or ventilating a pile of material comprising: inserting into the pile, the drying tube of the apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, and causing air to pass through the apertures by means of the air/suction supply means.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the drying tube is inserted and subsequently the air/suction supply means is attached to the end thereof.

9. A method according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the air is heated and blown through the drying tube.

10. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the material comprises grains of a cereal crop.

11. A method substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A drying tube for use in apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6 comprising a hollow elongate body having lateral apertures for the passage of air, and one tapered end portion to facilitate insertion into material to be dried; the other end portion being adapted for connection to air/suction supply means.

13. A kit of parts for producing apparatus according to claim 5 or a drying tube according to claim 12 for use in apparatus according to claim 5 comprising a multiplicity of said elongate parts, one having a said tapered end portion and being serially connectable with one or more other ones of said elongate parts to produce a drying tube of a required length.