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Title:
A METHOD OF CUTTING SUGAR CANE AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE METHOD
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2006/077464
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
This invention relates to a method of cutting sugar cane and to apparatus for use in the method. The invention provides a method of cutting sugar cane which includes cutting through the stalks (54) of a sugar cane plant (52) with the use of at least one high pressure liquid jet (46). The method is performed using apparatus including a high pressure liquid feed arrangement (14,16,30,32) and at least one jet nozzle (34) connected thereto. The jet nozzle (34) may be mounted on a vehicle (12) or may form part of a handheld device (56). The method may be used for harvesting or topping of sugar cane plants or both.

Inventors:
SIMPSON RICHARD MURRAY (ZA)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2005/003625
Publication Date:
July 27, 2006
Filing Date:
December 01, 2005
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
SIMPSON RICHARD MURRAY (ZA)
International Classes:
A01D45/10; B26F3/00
Domestic Patent References:
WO2004045813A12004-06-03
WO1993009660A11993-05-27
Foreign References:
CA2253676A12000-06-02
GB2093327A1982-09-02
DE19937591A12001-03-01
Other References:
VALCO T D ET AL: "WATER JET CUTTING OF SUGARCANE", TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS. ST.JOSEPH, MI, US, vol. 32, no. 2, 1 March 1989 (1989-03-01), pages 373 - 378, XP000034031, ISSN: 0001-2351
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Rotteveel, Martin (Suite 1 4 The Crescent, PO Box 274, Westway Office Park 3630 Westville, ZA)
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Claims:
CLAIMS
1. A method of cutting sugar cane which includes cutting through the stalks of a sugar cane plant with the use of at least one high pressure liquid jet.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 , which includes cutting the stalks with the jet disposed near ground level, for harvesting the stalks.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2, which includes cutting the stalks with the jet disposed at topping level, for topping the stalks.
4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the liquid includes water.
5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes feeding abrasive particles into the liquid to enhance the abrasive properties of the jet.
6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is performed using apparatus including at least one jet nozzle, for ejecting the at least one jet, and a high pressure liquid feed arrangement connected to the jet nozzle, for feeding to it a liquid under pressure.
7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, in which the high pressure liquid feed arrangement is carried by a vehicle.
8. A method as claimed in Claim 7, in which the vehicle includes a tractor.
9. A method as claimed in Claim 7 or in Claim 8, in which the jet nozzle is mounted on the vehicle in a configuration in which the jet is ejected laterally from the vehicle; and the vehicle is driven alongside a row of sugar cane plants with the jet cutting through the stalks of the plants in succession.
10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, in which the apparatus includes channeling means, mounted on the vehicle, in front of the jet, which channels the stalks towards the jet.
11. A method as claimed in Claim 9 or in Claim 10, in which the apparatus provides for height adjustment of its jet nozzle between heights for harvesting and topping, respectively.
12. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 11 , in which the jet nozzle is one of a pair of alternately operable jet nozzles of the apparatus which are to be operatively disposed for ejecting jets on the same side of a vehicle at heights for topping and harvesting, respectively, with the jet for harvesting trailing the jet for topping.
13. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 12, in which the jet nozzle is one of a pair of alternately operable jet nozzles of the apparatus which are disposed for ejecting jets from opposite sides of the vehicle to provide for alternate cutting on either side of the vehicle.
14. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 13, in which the jet nozzle is one of a pair of jet nozzles which are disposed on opposite sides of the centre line of the row of sugar cane plants, spaced apart from the centre line, and directed towards the centre line, the method including ejecting jets from the nozzles simultaneously to cut through the stalks of the plants from both sides of the centre line.
15. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8, in which the apparatus includes a hand held device which incorporates the jet nozzle and in which the device is manually manipulated to cut through the stalks.
16. Apparatus for performing a method of cutting sugar cane, as claimed in Claim 1 , including at least one jet nozzle for ejecting the at least one jet; and a high pressure liquid feed arrangement connected to the jet nozzle for feeding to it a liquid under pressure.
17. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 16, which includes an abrasive particle feed arrangement for operatively feeding abrasive particles into the liquid prior to exiting the at least one jet nozzle.
18. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 17, in which the high pressure liquid feed arrangement has mounting means for mounting it on a vehicle.
19. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 18, in which the high pressure liquid feed arrangement has mounting means for mounting it on a vehicle including a tractor.
20. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 18 or in Claim 19, in which the jet nozzle has mounting means for mounting it on a vehicle in a configuration in which a jet operatively ejected thereby is ejected laterally from the vehicle in a configuration permitting the vehicle to be driven alongside a row of sugar cane plants with the jet cutting through the stalks of the plants in succession.
21. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 20, which includes channeling means, which has mounting means for mounting it on a vehicle, operatively in front of a jet ejected by the jet nozzle, for operatively channeling the stalks towards the jet.
22. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 20 or in Claim 21 , which provides for operative height adjustment of its jet nozzle between heights for harvesting and topping, respectively.
23. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to 22, in which the jet nozzle is one of a pair of alternately operable jet nozzles of the apparatus which are to be operatively disposed for ejecting jets on the same side of a vehicle at heights for topping and harvesting, respectively, with the jet for harvesting trailing the jet for topping.
24. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to 23, in which the jet nozzle is one of a pair of alternately operable jet nozzles of the apparatus which are to be operatively disposed for ejecting jets on opposite sides of a vehicle to provide for alternate cutting on either side of the vehicle.
25. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to 24, in which the jet nozzle is one of a pair of jet nozzles which are to be operatively disposed on opposite sides of the centre line of a row of sugar cane plants, spaced apart from the centre line, and directed towards the centre line, to provide for operatively ejecting jets from the nozzles simultaneously to cut through the stalks of the plants from both sides of the centre line.
26. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 19, in which the apparatus includes a hand held device which incorporates the jet nozzle and in which the device is manually manipulable to cut through the stalks.
27. A method of cutting sugar cane substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.
28. Apparatus for cutting sugar cane substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.
Description:
A METHOD OF CUTTING SUGAR CANE AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE METHOD

THIS INVENTION relates to a method of cutting sugarcane and to apparatus for use in the method.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of cutting sugar cane which includes cutting through the stalks of a sugar cane plant with the use of at least one high pressure liquid jet.

The method may include cutting the stalks with the jet disposed near ground level, for harvesting the stalks. Alternatively, the method may include cutting the stalks with the jet disposed at topping level, for topping the stalks.

The liquid used in the method may include water.

The method may include feeding abrasive particles into the liquid to enhance the abrasive properties of the jet.

The method may be performed using apparatus including at least one jet nozzle, for ejecting the at least one jet, and a high pressure liquid feed arrangement connected to the jet nozzle, for feeding to it a liquid under pressure.

In a first implementation of the method of the first aspect of the invention, performed using apparatus, as defined, the high pressure liquid feed arrangement of the apparatus is carried by a vehicle. In this implementation, the following may apply:

The vehicle may include a tractor.

The jet nozzle of the apparatus may be mounted on the vehicle in a configuration in which the jet is ejected laterally from the vehicle and the vehicle may be driven alongside a row a sugar cane plants with the jet cutting through the stalks of the plants in succession.

The apparatus may include channeling means, mounted on the vehicle, in front of the jet, which channels the stalks towards the jet.

The apparatus may provide for height adjustment of its jet nozzle between heights for harvesting and topping, respectively.

The jet nozzle may be one of a pair of alternately operable jet nozzles of the apparatus which are to be operatively disposed for ejecting jets on the same side of a vehicle at heights for topping and harvesting, respectively, with the jet for harvesting trailing the jet for topping.

The jet nozzle may be one of a pair of alternately operable jet nozzles of the apparatus which are disposed for ejecting jets from opposite sides of the vehicle to provide for alternate cutting on either side of the vehicle.

The jet nozzle may be one of a pair of jet nozzles which are disposed on opposite sides of the centre line of the row of sugar cane plants, spaced apart from the centre line, and directed towards the centre line, the method including ejecting jets from the nozzles simultaneously to cut through the stalks of the plants from both sides of the centre line.

In a second implementation of the method of the first aspect of the invention, performed using apparatus, as defined, including a jet nozzle and a high pressure liquid feed arrangement, the apparatus includes a hand held device which incorporates the jet nozzle and the device is manually manipulated to cut through the stalks.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for performing a method of cutting sugar cane, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, including

at least one jet nozzle for ejecting the at least one jet; and

a high pressure liquid feed arrangement connected to the jet nozzle for feeding to it a liquid under pressure.

The apparatus may include an abrasive particle feed arrangement for operatively feeding abrasive particles into the liquid prior to exiting the at least one jet nozzle.

The high pressure liquid feed arrangement may have mounting means for mounting it on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor.

In a first embodiment of the apparatus of the second aspect of the invention, the jet nozzle has mounting means for mounting it on a vehicle in a configuration in which a jet operatively ejected thereby is ejected laterally from the vehicle in a configuration permitting the vehicle to be driven alongside a row of sugar cane plants with the jet

cutting through the stalks of the plants in succession. In the first embodiment, the following may apply:

The apparatus may include channeling means, which has mounting means for mounting it on a vehicle, operatively in front of a jet ejected by the jet nozzle, for operatively channeling the stalks towards the jet.

The apparatus may provide for operative height adjustment of its jet nozzle between heights for harvesting and topping, respectively.

The jet nozzle may be one of a pair of alternately operable jet nozzles of the apparatus which are to be operatively disposed for ejecting jets on the same side of a vehicle at heights for harvesting and topping, respectively, with the jet for harvesting trailing the jet for topping.

The jet nozzle may be one of a pair of alternately operable jet nozzles of the apparatus which are to be operatively disposed for ejecting jets on opposite sides of a vehicle to provide for alternate cutting on either side of the vehicle.

The jet nozzle may be one of a pair of jet nozzles which are to be operatively disposed on opposite sides of the centre line of a row of sugar cane plants, spaced apart from the centre line, and directed towards the centre line, to provide for operatively ejecting jets from the nozzles simultaneously to cut through the stalks of the plants from both sides of the centre line.

A second embodiment of apparatus, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, includes a hand held device which incorporates the jet nozzle and which is manually manipulable to cut through stalks.

The invention is described below by way of both an example of an implementation of a method of cutting sugar cane, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, performed using an example of a first embodiment of apparatus, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, and an example of a second embodiment of apparatus, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic plan view of a tractor having mounted thereon a first embodiment of apparatus, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, for performing a first implementation of a method of cutting sugar cane, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic of certain parts of the apparatus of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic view of a hand held device of a second embodiment of apparatus, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.

In Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of apparatus, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, for performing a first implementation of a method of cutting sugar cane, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The apparatus 10 is mounted on a vehicle in the form of a tractor 12 (see Figure 1).

With reference particularly to Figure 2, the apparatus 10 includes a high pressure liquid feed arrangement including a water reservoir 14, a water filter 16, a high pressure water pump 30, a valve 32, and lines interconnecting the various parts, as shown. The feed arrangement operatively feeds water from its reservoir 14 under pressure to four high pressure water jet nozzles 34 connected thereto.

The apparatus 10 may optionally include an abrasive particle feed arrangement for feeding abrasive particles into the jet nozzles 34 and introducing them into the water passing through the jet nozzles. Such an arrangement may include four hoppers 36, shown in broken lines, connected to the respective jet nozzles 34. Such abrasive particles operatively will increase the abrasiveness of jets ejected from the jet nozzle 34.

With reference now particularly to Figure 1 , the jet nozzles 34 are mounted on the tractor 12 via mounting means including a primary frame 38, mounted transversely on the underside of the tractor 12 between its front and rear wheels, and two secondary frames 40. Each frame 40 is mounted on an upright member 42 of the frame 38, providing for manual height adjustment of each of the frames 40 with respect to the frame 38, as will be referred to again herein.

With reference to both Figures 1 and 2, the reservoir 14, the filter 16, and the pump 30 are mounted on a three point linkage 43 of the tractor 12. The pump 30 particularly is powered by the power take off of the tractor 12. The valve 32 is mounted adjacent to the steering wheel of the tractor 12, providing for operation thereof by an operator of the tractor 12. The valve 32 is manually operable into either a first or a second position, in which the pump 30 is in communication with the pair of nozzles 34.1 and 34.3 and the pair of nozzles 34.2 and 34.4, respectively.

The apparatus 10 includes also channeling means including four channeling members 44, mounted on the secondary frames 40 in the configurations shown. The purpose of the channeling members 44 is to channel the stalks of a sugar cane plant together for cutting purposes during forward movement of the tractor 12, as will become apparent from the remainder of this description.

The jet nozzles 34 are mounted on the respective channeling members 44. The jet nozzles 34.3 and 34.4 are directed away from the tractor 12 on opposite sides thereof and are approximately horizontally disposed. The jet nozzle 34.1 approximately opposes

the jet nozzle 34.3, but is offset from the latter jet nozzle in the fore direction of the tractor 12. The exit apertures of the jet nozzles 34.1 and 34.3 are spaced apart by approximately 200mm. The arrangement of the jet nozzles 34.2 and 34.4 mirrors that of the jet nozzles 34.1 and 34.3 with respect to the centre line of the tractor 12. In the operative configuration of the apparatus 10 shown in Figure 1 , the frames 40 have been adjusted to a level at which the channeling members 44 and, accordingly, the jet nozzles 34 are disposed near ground level.

Now follows an example of the operation of the combination of the apparatus 10 and tractor 12, performing a first implementation of the method of the first aspect of the invention.

With the valve 32 in its first position and the pump 30 driven by the tractor 12, the pump feeds water from the reservoir 14 under high pressure to the nozzles 34.1 and 34.3 to eject jets 46 (shown in dotted lines). The filter 16 removes particulate impurities from the water. The tractor 12 now may be driven along a row of sugar cane plants 50.1, including sugar cane plants 52, with the channeling members 44 carrying the nozzles

34.1 and 34.3 disposed on opposite sides of the centre line of the row. Due to their tapered orientation with respect to the direction of travel of the tractor 12, the channeling members 44 channel the stalks 54 of the sugar cane plants 52 towards the jets 46. The jets 46 cut through the stalks 54 from opposite sides, particularly cutting through the stalks of each plant in the row 50.1 in succession.

At the end of the row 50.1 , the tractor 12 may be turned around and the valve 32 operated into its second position, causing water jets to be ejected from the jet nozzles

34.2 and 34.4. These jets may then be used to cut the stalks of the sugar cane plants in a next row of sugar cane plants 50.2. The stalks of the plants in subsequent rows (not shown) may similarly be cut via the apparatus 10 and the tractor 12.

The method described above particularly effects harvesting of sugar cane plants. The harvested stalks may be collected by hand. Alternatively, the apparatus 10 may be used in conjunction with known forms of collection apparatus for collecting the harvested stalks.

Alternatively, by adjusting the frames 40 to a topping level, the apparatus 10 may be used for topping sugar cane plants.

An alternative embodiment of apparatus, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, may include, on the same side of a tractor, at least one jet nozzle at topping level, for topping sugar cane plants, and at least one other jet nozzle, disposed near ground level and trailing the nozzle used for topping, for harvesting the stalks immediately after topping. The apparatus may include two such arrangements, on opposite sides of a tractor.

In Figure 3, a hand held device of a second embodiment of apparatus, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 56. The device 56 includes an arrangement including a carrier tube 57 and two handles 58 and 60 similar to an arrangement found on certain existing grass trimmers. The device 56 includes also a high pressure liquid feed line 61 including a length 62 fixed to the tube 57 and a free length 64, projecting from the handle 58, as shown. The free length 64 terminates in a coupling 66, providing for it to be releasably connected to a liquid feed arrangement such as the liquid feed arrangement forming part of the apparatus 10 of Figures 1 and 2, carried on a tractor. The device 56 includes also a high pressure jet nozzle 68 in which the feed line 61 terminates. The feed line 61 has an inline valve within the handle 58 including a trigger 67 for controlling flow of water through the line.

In use of the device 10, it is carried via its handles 58 and 60 by an operator. The coupling 66 is connected to a liquid feed arrangement, as referred to, feeding pressurized liquid into the line 61. With the trigger 67 released, flow of water to the

nozzle 68 is blocked. With the trigger 67 depressed, a water jet is ejected by the jet nozzle 68. The operator carrying the device 56 directs the jet to cut through the stalks of sugar cane plants in succession. This is an example of a second implementation of a method, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

A plurality of devices such as the device 56 may be used by a corresponding number of operators in conjunction with a single liquid feed arrangement carried on a tractor.

The Applicant envisages that the apparatus and method of the invention may provide effective and/or economic means for cutting sugar cane stalks.