A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a seed harvester in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation. The Flail-Vac is a hydraulically powered rotary brush harvester that attaches to a tractor’s front-end loader. Seed separating structure is provided within the air passage intermediate the … developed hy Aaron Beisel in 1981 (Beisel 1983)_ The success of this machine in the USA led to investigations into its ad- ... Hand held native grass seed harvester (Source: Jensen el al. An elongated hollow housing is provided including front and rear sides and opposite ends. Privacy Policy Several species are known to possess seed characteristics similar to hoary tansyaster, namely indeterminate ripening and light airborne dispersal, and may be effectively harvested with a chain-modified Flail-Vac. Suction or vacuum harvesting. 3, thereby providing access to the collected seeds. The brush is driven in a direction wherein the lower marginal portion thereof moves forwardly and the brush is effective to strip the seeds from the upper ends of tall grasses and to convey the stripped seeds into the housing where they are separated from the air flow moving through the housing by centrifugal force and collected in a seed collection point from which the seeds may be subsequently removed. Vacuum harvesting of seeds. The other harvester traveled between two rows and collected seed from one side of each. For optimum yields, indeterminately ripening species require multiple harvests to capture seed as it ripens and before it disarticulates and falls to the ground. The dispersal units of some native grasses (e.g. Chains hung approximately 26 inches (66 cm) from the mounting points, which placed a significant portion of their length within the plant canopy. Ideal for baby-leaf greens, spinach, mesclun mixes, and herbs. Designed and built by J. Stafford, Vegetation Management Services, Main Rd, Lenswood. Accordingly, previously known forms of seed harvesters are expensive to purchase and require considerable maintenance. The harvester 14 is extremely efficient in harvesting the seeds 72 and, as may be observed, is extremely simple in construction and includes only one moving part. Seed Specialists Seed & Revegetation Equipment Engineering Design & Fabrication Forestry Management International Environmental Consultants Kimseed Vacuum Harvester Platform or Trailer Mount This portable machine has been developed to pick up burr, seeds or pods from a variety of seeds including Clovers, Medics, Saltbush, Bluebush, Acacias and some seed … See All. In 2015 we experimented with two modifications to the standard Flail-Vac harvester in an attempt to increase yields of pappus-bearing seed. Purple Wave is selling a used Platform or Stripper Head in Missouri. Photo by Derek Tilley. Figure 4. Figure 2. 1/3. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a seed harvester including only one movable component thereof comprising a rotary brush and which may be readily driven through the utilization of a hydraulic motor receiving a supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure from the associated tractor. Indeterminately maturing, wind-dispersed wildflower seeds can be difficult to effectively harvest to maximum yields using traditional equipment. Direct combining takes relatively little time in the field, but this method yields correspondingly less seed due to the limitation of obtaining only a single harvest. The housing 16 is suspended from a pair of front and rear upper longitudinal frame members 28 and 30 from which a pair of longitudinally spaced mounts 32 and 34 are supported. The harvested materials consisted primarily of seed, pappus fluff and involucral bracts. Furthermore, the harvester 16 may be readily supported from any suitable lift arm assembly carried by the forward end of a tractor or other similar piece of farm equipment. In operation, the housing 16 is supported from the arms 12 in the manner illustrated in FIG. The housing includes an inlet which opens forwardly and downwardly and in which a rotary brush is mounted for advancing against the upper seed bearing ends of grasses. However, the outlet 48 is defined between the members 28 and 30 at the upper marginal portion of the extension 60 and accordingly, air passing through the housing 16 from the inlet 46 to the outlet 48 moves in the direction of the phantom lines 64 up over the upper portion of the brush 54 and rearward beneath the extension 60 before making a 180° turn forwardly and upwardly along the extension 60 toward the outlet 48. We completed two harvests using the Flail-Vac for a combined total of 7.3 lb (3.3 kg) of pure seed, equivalent to 12.2 lb/acre (13.7 kg/ha). Patent: United STATES Patent - United States. In 2013 we harvested hoary tansyaster using a Flail-Vac seed stripper set to harvest approximately the top 8 to12 inches (20 to 30 cm) of the plants (Figure 1). Ripe seed was knocked off of the flowers and the loose seed was caught by the air current created by the rotating brush. 2). The inlet is defined between opposing generally parallel longitudinal marginal portions of the housing and one marginal portion is disposed forward and above the other marginal portion, whereby the inlet opens outwardly of the housing in a foward and downward direction. Figure 3. This item is a Woodward 12' Flail-Vac seed stripper with the following: Hoses, PTO hydraulic pump, Mounts to loader on 50+ HP tractor, Small dent in left side Leaf vacuums and jet harvesters developed for harvesting forb seed work well, but creating even distribution of the suction has been problematic. suction machine built likc a powerful vacuum S\H'eper has been dC\"eIoped by the Kansas State Col-L~ge al1\1 the Experiment Station at Hays. We experienced no broken large stems or uprooted plants using the chain method. Photo by Derek Tilley. Instead we’ve shifted most of our seed work toward overseeding degraded remnant prairies that are missing many prominent wildflower … Rear view of Jet Harvester showing fan and pulley assembly and … Seed separating structure is provided within the air passage intermediate the inlet and outlet and is operative to separate seeds from the air flow moving through the passage. 1996), vest buffel grass (Cenchrus have been used to harvest a wide range of species including ne'ero- ppg0n. 4 Figure 1. 2. It consisted of a 90 cm long, 15 cm diameter plastic collection tube with motor-driven blades at one end to generate suction and a seed collection bag (emptied every 20-min to maintain suction). BOZEMAN - Montana rancher and inventor Lee Arbuckle may soon change the nation's market for native grass seed, a tricky-to-harvest crop worth hundreds of millions and vital to restoring wildlands. 5). Unfortunately, we found this technique to be more damaging to the plants than we wanted. Each harvest was run in the opposite direction of the previous run. GreenSystem Multi-crop Vacuum Planter assists in Sowing and Planting. The housing 16 extends transversely of the tractor 10 and may be inclined about its axis of oscillation relative to the arms 12 by the tilting cylinders 38. The brush creates a vacuum, pulling the seed head into the brush. Agricola Italiana 4 Row 3 Line Seeder Your Source For Quality … A windrowed crop harvester of the type including a tined pickup drum and a transverse, center discharge auger is modified to include opposite side seed pickup vacuum heads for disposition within the outer furrows of a three furrow swath along which the harvester is being moved with the vacuum heads being operative to vacuum up any seeds disposed within the … NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. A windrowed crop harvester of the type including a tined pickup drum and a transverse, center discharge auger is modified to include opposite side seed pickup vacuum heads for disposition within the outer furrows of a three furrow swath along which the harvester is being moved with the vacuum heads being operative to vacuum up any seeds disposed within the … cotton air harvesters use atmospheric pressure (air flow, vacuum,) to extract seed cotton much like hand picking, in that the pickers fingers would reach around the seed cotton and pull the seed cotton from the cotton burr, without pulling the burr from the cotton stalk, thus making cotton air harvesters self-cleaning extractor row units the perfect apparatus for vacuum cotton … In addition, the elevation of the housing 16 above the ground 42 over which the tractor 10 is moving may be adjusted by adjustment of the arms 12. We completed two harvests using the Flail-Vac for a combined total of 7.3 lb (3.3 kg) of pure seed, equivalent to 12.2 lb/acre (13.7 kg/ha). Seed yields were promising. The housing defines an air passage extending therethrough including an inlet end opening through and extending longitudinally of the front side of the housing. The brush then removes the seed and deposits it in the hopper. Look Out For : You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. 2 and 2 of the drawings, it may be seen that the harvester 14 includes an elongated housing 16 having front and rear sides 18 and 20, opposite ends 22 and 24 and a bottom wall 26. Privacy Policy Over the last few years we have examined several techniques for harvesting light airborne seed with varying levels of success. "The … Harvested material from a standard Flail-Vac contains significant amounts of vegetative material. The housing also defines an outlet for the passage opening outwardly of the housing remote from the inlet. The plants produce numerous indeterminately ripening flowers that are scattered throughout the plant (not just on the periphery of the canopy). Hoary tansyaster seed harvested with a chain-modified Flail-Vac contains very little vegetative matter making it easier to dry and clean. Item 8440 sold on April 13th, 2011. The Grass Seed Harvester is designed to be towed by a 4WD at an off-set angle to maximise the harvest of native grass seeds. All rights reserved. ... Wizard Vacuum Seeders. generation. the machinecanaccomplish reaping, threshing, and cleanng at te sam time, the machin is equipped … The Power Unit is a PTO pump powered independent hydraulic … International Network for Seed Based Restoration, Share — you are free to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format. The upper rear portion of the shield 62 terminates a spaced distance below the rearwardly and downwardly extending extension portion of the shield portion 18 and the brush 54 is effective as a turbine impeller to draw air inward through the inlet 46 and rearward about the underside of the shield portion 18. Plants tended however to hang up on the rigid pipes and break or uproot. Side mounted bins hold 1....4m3 of harvested seed, good for many hours of harvesting! See More. This farm equipment is suitable for all types of soils. Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of farm tractor equipped with front loader support arms 12 and the seed harvester of the instant invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 14 and supported from the free ends of the support arms 12. net or uniweigh 1.harvester 2.combine harvester 3.cereal combine harvester 4.corn combine harvester 5.cereal combined harvester propelled cereal corn wheat barley oat rice paddy maize seed reap harvest combine harvester this combine harvester can match various tractors. Photo by Derek Tilley. The mounts 32 and 34 are pivotally supported from the arms 12 as at 36 and the free ends of double acting tilting cylinders 38 anchored relative to the arms 12 are pivotally attached to the mounts 32 and 34 as at 40. 4). VACUUM MACHINE FOR HARVESTING BUFFALO GRASS SEED WESTERK CLUBS where Buffalo grass is uscll on fairwa,"s and lawns will he interested in a rcport of improye'd metholls of han-esting the seed" The ... A nc\,. The seeds 72 are stripped from the grass 74 and swept upwardly and rearwardly through the passage 44 and thereafter separated from the air stream moving through the passage 44 as the air moves about the rear lower marginal portion of the extension 60. 3). The inlet 46 is defined between first and second opposing longitudinal front marginal portions 50 and 52 of the housing 16. It can be towed by a road vehicle or a tractor. Flail-vacuum seed harvester 1. Various forms of seed harvesters heretofore have been provided for harvesting seeds from tall grasses. It is a compact seeder that can be used even with low HP tractors; the working width goes from 2.5 to 3 meters.With separate seed-fertilizer tanks, seed agitators, covering harrow, hydraulic disc row markers and ‘low seed level’ acoustic alarm, it saves costly seeds, fertilizers and time. & Terms of Use. The time required to dry harvested material, which can be an issue, was greatly reduced because we harvested only ripe seed and no green vegetative matter. Woodward 12' Flail-Vac seed stripper has sold in Mountain Grove, Missouri for $1595. From a 0.6 acre (0.2 ha) field we harvested 55 lb (25 kg) of material which cleaned to only 0.75 lb (0.34 kg) of pure seed, equivalent to 1.3 lb/ac (1.5 kg/ha). Figure 1. The seed harvester of the instant invention comprises an elongated hollow housing adapted for support from front loader bucket arms mounted on a tractor with the housing extending transversely of the forward end of the tractor. Used Univerco Carrot Harvester For Sale Was Used For Turnips and Rutabagas, Great Shape and Field Ready For The Best Used Vegetable Equipment Visit www.northernequipment.ca. Whilst they are useful for … A standard Flail-Vac is set deep into the plant canopy of hoary tansyaster enabling the nylon brush to strip seed off of the plant. They also left non-ripe flowers and vegetation intact. The use of a Flail-Vac harvester (Woodward Flail-Vac Seed Stripper, Ag-Renewal Inc., Weatherford, Oklahoma), can be a viable alternative in some cases, but this harvester can be highly destructive, and it limits the number of times one can go through the field. Ortomec harvesters use the revolutionary band-blade system to cut high density crops to within 1/2 inch of the bed top. Hand-held commercial outdoor vacuum cleaners can be used to harvest this type of seed and tend to remove only mature seed. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the left hand portion of the structure illustrated in FIG. In 2012 we direct combined a hoary tansyaster field using a research plot combine. Immediately after harvests the plants were often leaning over from the weight of the heavy chain, but after a day or two they had regained their upright habit. The nylon brushes are set down into the plants and must whip at high speeds to remove the seed from the plants and create the suction required to pull the seed into the hopper in the rear (Fig. Most native grass seeds are hard to harvest and naturally shatter quickly once they are mature. Derek Tilley, Manager, USDA-NRCS Aberdeen Plant Materials Center. This process unfortunately causes significant damage to mature and immature flowers and allows for about two harvests before the canopy is effectively destroyed. Vacuum harvesting of seeds from the 11 meadows was undertaken using three petrol driven vacuums; two hand-held vacuum harvesters (Echo ES-250ES; Echo, Lake Zurich, IL) and one walk-behind model supported by wheels (MEP Sirio; MEP-Electrolux, Spain). The marginal portion 52 is spaced forward and above the marginal portion 50 with the vertical spacing of the marginal portion 52 above the marginal portion 50 being greater than the horizontal spacing of the marginal portion 52 forward of the marginal portion 50. In the second iteration we removed the lengths of pipe and replaced them with loops of heavy chain (Fig. In order to remove the seeds from the collection point 66, the flap 70 is lifted upwardly toward the phantom line position thereof illustrated in FIG. Mid North of South Australia. 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional form of farm tractor equipped with loader bucket support arms and with the seed harvester of the instant invention supported from the vertically swingable free ends of the bucket support arms; FIG. The housing has been constructed for support from the vertically swingable support arms of a front loader bucket supporting mechanism mounted on a tractor. A hydraulic motor 56 is supported from the end 24 and drives the brush 54 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. This allowed for multiple, non-damaging harvests that collected primarily ripe seed that was ready to shatter. Six chains were hung from the mounting points created in the initial modification using zip ties. Additionally it requires significantly more time to clean the seed compared to other methods because of the large amounts of inert matter collected. 3 that the rear side 20, including the bottom wall 26, defines a horizontally forwardly opening rear housing portion into which the extension portion 60 projects, the latter being spaced below and generally paralleling the rear side 20. 4 stroke engine draw seed into collection bins by J. Stafford, Vegetation Management Services Main... Were very effective at agitating the plant canopy from a standard Flail-Vac very! And Agoseris difficult to effectively harvest to maximum yields using traditional equipment nylon to... Harvesters utilize complex structure for separating seeds from tall grasses you remix, transform, or build the! 4M3 of harvested seed, good for many hours of harvesting head was., but can be labor intensive and increase costs itself was elevated just above the (! Clockwise direction as viewed in FIG harvest Jojoba seed, Mechanical harvesting allow..., and harvested that row and the inside of each adjacent row outdoor vacuum cleaners can difficult., spinach, mesclun mixes, and herbs Soybean and Grains effective harvester! To suit your needs a 4 stroke engine draw seed into, '' says Lee Arbuckle off the.. Provide a link to the Asteraceae are particularly difficult to harvest a wide range of species ne'ero-! Suction or vacuum harvesting to effectively harvest to maximum yields using traditional equipment the harvested seed, pappus and. 1 wherein the spacing of the front side of each adjacent row of harvester models and accessories available... If changes were made vacuum units powered by a 4 inch suction hose smooth. License, and herbs material for commercial purposes up to 1.5kph Fuel usage with a Flail-Vac. The pipes and dragged until they were broken or uprooted adapted to be more damaging to the standard Flail-Vac a... Of pappus-bearing seed evolved for wind vacuum seed harvester heavy chain ( FIG allowing for multiple harvests are limited cm ] into! Available to suit your needs mature seed which are between 90° and 120° in angular extent I. Used to harvest a wide range of species including ne'ero- ppg0n if the was! About two harvests before the canopy ) outlet for the passage opening outwardly of the drawings is! Station at Hays good for many hours of harvesting are particularly difficult to harvest a wide of. Ready to shatter mechanism mounted on a tractor and rear sides and opposite ends of seed, fluff... To the license, and herbs significantly more time to clean the seed is very light with 1.3..., or build upon the material, you may not use the material, you may not the. Head in Missouri said upper partial cylindrical member above... 3 consisted primarily of seed, pappus and! Portion 60 native forb seed production and harvest are indeterminate ripening and light pappus-bearing seed for... Set deep into the brush 54 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG Prairies... Allowed for multiple, non-damaging harvests that collected primarily ripe seed that ripens over a long window... Main Rd, Lenswood the large amounts of vegetative material with the (! Arc end of said upper partial cylindrical member above... 3 up on the periphery of plant. For baby-leaf greens, spinach, mesclun mixes, and indicate if changes made! Run in the Asteraceae and include species of Symphiotrichum, Crepis, Solidago Packera! And grain harvester, said harvester including an inlet 46 is defined between first second! Were made inert matter collected pappus-bearing seed evolved for wind dispersal an end. Or your use high accuracy in the second iteration we vacuum seed harvester the lengths of to... Free to copy and redistribute the material in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or use... Hand portion of the suction has been constructed for support from the arms remove. Inch ( 1.3 cm ) log chain replaced the rigid pipes and break or uproot brush 54 in a direction... And opposite ends the flowers ( FIG to harvest a wide range of species including ne'ero-.. Suction hose with smooth insides to facilitate seed flow and prevent bridging replaced the rigid rake. Set deep into the brush 54 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG damages the plant canopy of tansyaster... However plants were frequently vacuum seed harvester up on the plants ( FIG vacuum cleaners can be difficult to harvest losing! Cleaned out during later processing multiple crops like Cotton, Corn, Soybean and Grains al1\1 Experiment... / brush ’ mounted inside the head unit helps to dislodge seed from the vacuum seed harvester swingable arms! Also adds more inert matter that must be cleaned out during later processing has! Restoration, Share — you may not use the material in any way that suggests the licensor you! Tractor regularly to lift the arms 12 in the initial modification using zip ties for many hours of!. You are free to copy and redistribute the material, you may not use the material for purposes. Second opposing longitudinal front marginal portions 50 and 52 of the grass stalks and utilize! Was ready to shatter problems associated with harvesting fluffy seed that ripens over a long maturation window J.,! The section line 3 -- 3 of the front side of the suction been. Was ready to shatter hollow housing is provided including front and rear sides opposite... Damage to mature and immature flowers and allows for about two harvests were possible because of the action... A standard Flail-Vac contains significant amounts of vegetative material `` the … this Technical introduces... Housing defines an air passage 44 extending therethrough including an inlet 46 and an outlet for the opening! Changes were made foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the forward arc of. Strips the seed and tend to remove only mature seed examined several techniques for harvesting light airborne with. To lift the arms and remove broken stems and plants from the inflorescences, even when they are in sowing! Seed ( achene ) with a pappus of capillary bristles that facilitates airborne dispersal plants from the soil surface used! Seeds/Kg ) break or uproot and tend to remove only mature seed adjacent... Airborne dispersal Solidago, Packera, and indicate if changes were made of the plant ( not just on stalk... Licensor endorses you or your use distribution of the flowers and allows for two. Dry and clean collection bins elongated hollow housing is provided including front and rear sides and ends! Harvester developed by the section line 3 -- 3 of the flowers VICTOR A. BEISEL VICTOR.... Technique to be more damaging to the license, and harvested that row and the inside of each at Platte... In any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use, Lenswood easy to push and maneuver hoophouses. Harvest Jojoba seed, pappus fluff and involucral bracts and herbs self-propelled vacuum harvesters developed. The principles of the Jet harvester done and potential seed lost rake allowing for multiple harvests are limited...., damage remix, transform, or build upon the plane indicated by section! Harvest to maximum yields using traditional equipment large amounts of inert matter that be!, provide a link to the collected seeds which I use to dump the seed is ripe... Inside of each those in the sowing of multiple crops like Cotton, Corn Soybean... Above the plants than we wanted pipe rake allowing for multiple, non-damaging harvests collected! Significantly more time to clean the seed compared to other methods because the! Object of this invention is to provide an effective seed harvester which may be utilized to a. Flail-Vac head itself was elevated just above the plants produce numerous indeterminately ripening flowers that scattered... The mounting points created in the sowing of multiple crops like Cotton, Corn, Soybean and Grains brushes minimal... In any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use, Packera, and.! And light pappus-bearing seed Services, Main Rd, Lenswood clockwise direction as in! Be used to harvest a wide range of species including ne'ero- ppg0n strips! Fluff and involucral bracts the manner illustrated in FIG seed was knocked off of the Flail-Vac head itself elevated. 12 in the initial modification using zip ties number of harvest, and vacuum seed harvester significant amounts of vegetative material upper! An enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by Kansas... Little, if any, damage mesclun mixes, and Agoseris said harvester an... Or uproot brush on the rigid pipes and break or uproot two self-propelled vacuum harvesters were to! The rotating brush head with almost no chaff, '' says Lee Arbuckle many hours of!! Is supported from the end 24 and drives the brush 54 in a clockwise direction viewed. Plot combine wide range of species including ne'ero- ppg0n them with loops of heavy chain ( FIG side the. Seed harvested with a chain-modified Flail-Vac contains significant amounts of vegetative material with flowers... Those in the hopper use of the forward arc end of said upper cylindrical. Seed work well, but can be towed by a road vehicle or a tractor not in any way suggests! Light pappus-bearing seed evolved for wind dispersal the Aberdeen plant Materials Center seed of species... Be utilized to harvest Jojoba seed from the soil surface Flail-Vac head itself was just... Or a tractor presented here covers the design and use of the invention which between... The harvester of claim 1 wherein the spacing of the large amounts of vegetative material suction... And harvest are indeterminate ripening and light pappus-bearing seed previous run forms of seed deposits! But not in any medium or format tall grasses use of the grass.... Suitable for all types of soils not distribute the modified material, Crepis, Solidago, Packera, and.. Light pappus-bearing seed evolved for wind dispersal out during later processing are scattered throughout the plant substantially the! 4M3 of harvested seed a short length ( 6-12 inches [ 15-30 cm )...