Pongamia depodding apparatus and pongamia depodding method

Abstract

NOT VISIBLE DUE TO STATUS OF PATENT

Description

Pongamia seed threshing device and pongamia seed threshing method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a pongamia seed threshing device and a pongamia seed threshing method for detaching seeds from pongamia pods.

[0002] The seeds of legumes, including pongamia, are covered in pods. Patent Document 1 discloses a soybean seed-threshing device for detaching the seeds from the pods.

[0003] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 56-153141

[0004] However, since Pongamia pods are so hard that they must be manually opened using a tool such as pliers, it has been difficult to efficiently and efficiently remove the seeds from the Pongamia pods with a high yield using a soybean threshing device such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a pongamia seed threshing device and a pongamia seed threshing method that can efficiently and highly efficiently detach the seeds inside the pongamia pods.

[0006] The pongamia dehulling device of the present disclosure comprises an input section for supplying pongamia, a rotating shaft, a drive unit for driving the rotating shaft to rotate, and a first rotating body attached to the rotating shaft and positioned below the input section, the first rotating body extending radially outward from the rotating shaft and having a plurality of first blade portions that apply a rotational impact force to the pongamia supplied from the input section.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the multiple first blade portions can apply a rotational impact force to the pongamia, thereby allowing the seeds inside the pongamia pods to be efficiently and highly yieldingly detached.

[0008] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the pongamia seed removal device further includes a second rotating body attached to the rotating shaft and positioned below the first rotating body, the second rotating body having a plurality of second blade portions extending radially outward from the rotating shaft and further applying a rotational impact force to the pongamia falling from the first rotating body.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the multiple second blade portions can further apply rotational impact force to the pongamia seeds that pass through and fall between adjacent first blade portions, thereby improving the yield of pongamia seeds.

[0010] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the number of the second blade portions is less than the number of the first blade portions.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to apply an external force by collision of the second wing portion to the position where the peripheral portion of the Pongamia pod extends, thereby promoting the splitting of the Pongamia.

[0012] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the second angle between adjacent second blade portions is greater than the first angle between adjacent first blade portions.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the pongamia passing between the first blade portions can be efficiently dropped below the second blade portion without being retained between the first blade portion and the second blade portion, thereby allowing the seeds 100b of the pongamia 100 to be efficiently recovered.

[0014] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the mounting structure of the first rotating body and the second rotating body relative to the rotating shaft comprises a cylindrical body fixed to surround a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft and having a flange portion on its outer surface, and a disk arranged and fixed to the flange portion, with the rotating shaft passing through a hole provided in the center and with the multiple blade portions fixed thereto.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the cylindrical body can be disposed at any position on the rotation shaft, and the first or second rotating body can be disposed on the cylindrical body fixed to the rotation shaft, so that the position of the first or second rotating body relative to the axial direction of the rotation shaft can be adjusted to any position. Therefore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the position of the first or second rotating body relative to the axial direction of the rotation shaft can be adjusted so that the seeds inside the pongamia pods can be detached efficiently and with a high yield.

[0016] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the drive device includes a variable speed motor and a control unit that controls characteristics of the motor, including the speed of the motor.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the drive device can control the rotation speed of the rotating shaft and the first and second rotating bodies, so that the rotation speed of the first blade portion or the second blade portion can be easily adjusted so that the seeds inside the pongamia pods can be detached efficiently and with a high yield.

[0018] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the vertical distance between the first rotating body and the second rotating body is variable.

[0019] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the vertical distance between the first rotating body and the second rotating body can be adjusted so that the seeds inside the pongamia pods can be efficiently and highly yieldingly removed.

[0020] The pongamia seed threshing method of the present disclosure also includes a step of applying an impact force to the pongamia by rotating blades to detach the seeds inside the pongamia pods from the pongamia pods.

[0021] According to the present disclosure, an impact force can be applied to the pongamia by rotating the blades, so that the seeds inside the pongamia pods can be efficiently and highly yieldedly detached.

[0022] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a Pongamia seed threshing device and a Pongamia seed threshing method that can efficiently and highly yieldly detach seeds from Pongamia pods.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing pongamia, pongamia pods, and seeds inside the pods. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of the overall and internal structure of a pongamia seed threshing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a schematic structure of the input section and the vicinity of the rotor of the pongamia seed threshing device of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged view of the rotor structure of the pongamia seed threshing device of FIG. 2, viewed from below the second rotor. FIG. 5 is a top view showing a schematic structure of the rotor of the pongamia seed threshing device of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a schematic enlarged view of the rotor mounting structure of the pongamia seed threshing device of FIG. 2, viewed from between the first rotor and the second rotor. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a pongamia seed threshing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] First, the Pongamia 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0025] Pongamia 100 is a plant belonging to the legume family, and its legumes are known as a source of inedible oil with high oil yield efficiency. The inedible oil extracted from the legumes of Pongamia 100 is considered a promising biofuel that can replace fossil fuels. The inedible oil extracted from the legumes of Pongamia 100 is expected to be used, for example, as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) or biodiesel fuel.

[0026] The legume of Pongamia 100 has a pod 100a and a seed 100b therein. The legume of Pongamia 100 is a part generally referred to as a "pod." The pod 100a is also generally referred to as an "epicarp" or "pericarp." The seed 100b is also generally referred to as a "seed," "ovule," or "bean." In this disclosure, unless otherwise specified, the term "Pongamia" refers to the "legume" of Pongamia 100.

[0027] It is known that the pods 100a of Pongamia 100 are so hard that they must be manually opened using a tool such as pliers. On the other hand, the inedible oil extracted from Pongamia 100 is mainly contained in the seeds 100b. Therefore, in order to extract inedible oil from Pongamia 100 in high yield, it is necessary to remove the seeds 100b from the pods 100a.

[0028] In addition, in the present disclosure, the seeds 100b may be in a state where the surface of the seeds 100b is covered with a thin skin, or in a state where some or all of the thin skin has been peeled off. Therefore, the terms "detaching the seeds" or "threshing" in the present disclosure refer to bringing the pods 100a and the seeds 100b into a state where they can be separated, and should not be interpreted in a limited sense as referring to a state where some or all of the thin skin has been further detached from the surface of the seeds 100b.

[0029] Next, the overall structure of the Pongamia seed threshing device 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 2. In Figure 2, identical components or parts, or components or parts having the same function, are given the same reference numerals or the reference numerals are omitted. In addition, the vertical and other positional relationships of the components of the Pongamia seed threshing device 1 are, in principle, the positional relationships when the components are installed in a usable state.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2, the Pongamia threshing device 1 has a stand 2 that forms part of the outer shell of the Pongamia threshing device 1, and a housing 3 that is suspended from the stand 2 at a distance from the floor.

[0031] The gantry 2 has four vertically extending pillars 2a and a frame 2b fixed to the upper ends of each pillar 2a. The frame 2b has a U-shaped or O-shaped outer frame. The inside of the frame 2b is connected to the outer frame, and two or more beams are provided that extend in the same direction as one or two sides of the outer frame and are interconnected. The housing 3 is fixed to the beams with fastening members such as nuts. The gantry 2 is formed as a frame made of, but not limited to, a steel frame made of stainless steel or other steel materials. When the gantry 2 is made of steel, the cross section of the steel material constituting the suspension mechanism may be rectangular, H-shaped, L-shaped, I-shaped, U-shaped, or a combination thereof. The pillars 2a and frame 2b of the gantry 2 may be made of wood such as cedar or cypress. Part or all of the side and top surfaces of the gantry 2 may be covered with steel plates, wooden decorative panels, or other plate materials.

[0032] The housing 3 has a lid 3a, a first body 3b, a second body 3c, a partition 3d, a third body 3e, a fourth body 3f, and a fifth body 3g. The first body 3b is disposed below the lid 3a. The second body 3c is disposed below the first body 3b. The partition 3d is disposed below the second body 3c. The third body 3e is disposed below the partition 3d. The fourth body 3f is disposed below the third body 3e. The fifth body 3g is disposed below the fourth body 3f. The housing 3 is formed from a metal plate such as stainless steel.

[0033] The lid 3a forms the upper surface of the housing 3. The lid 3a is formed into a flat shape from, for example, a rectangular steel plate, although this is not a limitation.

[0034] The first body 3b has a hollow rectangular columnar first tubular portion 3b1 that forms part of the side surface of the housing 3. The first body 3b has a rectangular first upper flange portion 3b2 formed at one axial end of the first tubular portion 3b1. The first body 3b also has a rectangular first lower flange portion 3b3 formed at the other axial end of the first tubular portion 3b1. The first tubular portion 3b1 may also be hollow cylindrical.

[0035] The first upper flange portion 3b2 is connected to the lid portion 3a by fastening members such as bolts. Connecting the first upper flange portion 3b2 to the lid portion 3a by fastening members allows the housing 3 and the first body portion 3b to be detached, facilitating maintenance and inspection, replacement of internal components, cleaning, and the like. If there is no need to detach the housing 3 and the first body portion 3b, the first upper flange portion 3b2 may be connected to the lid portion 3a by welding or brazing, or may be integrally formed with the lid portion 3a. Although not shown, when the first upper flange portion 3b2 is connected to the lid portion 3a by fastening members, a gasket may be sandwiched between the first upper flange portion 3b2 and the lid portion 3a, the gasket being disposed along the outer periphery of the first upper flange portion 3b2.

[0036] The first upper flange portion 3b2 may be integrally formed with the first cylindrical portion 3b1, or may be connected to the first cylindrical portion 3b1 by welding, brazing, or the like, or may be connected with a fastening member such as a bolt. The first lower flange portion 3b3 may be integrally formed with the first cylindrical portion 3b1, or may be connected to the first cylindrical portion 3b1 by welding, brazing, or the like, or may be connected with a fastening member such as a bolt.

[0037] The second body 3c has a second cylindrical portion 3c1 in the shape of a hollow rectangular column that forms part of the side surface of the housing 3. The second body 3c has a rectangular second upper flange portion 3c2 formed at one axial end of the second cylindrical portion 3c1. The second body 3c also has a rectangular second lower flange portion 3c3 formed at the other axial end of the second cylindrical portion 3c1. The second cylindrical portion 3c1 may also be hollow and cylindrical.

[0038] The second body 3c is preferably connected by, for example, sandwiching a beam (not shown) of the frame body 2b between the second upper flange portion 3c2 and the second lower flange portion 3c3 at all four sides. The second upper flange portion 3c2 is connected to the first lower flange portion 3b3 and the beam (not shown) of the frame body 2b with fastening members such as bolts. By connecting the second upper flange portion 3c2 to the first lower flange portion 3b3 and the beam (not shown) of the frame body 2b with fastening members, the first body 3b and the second body 3c can be detached, facilitating maintenance and inspection, replacement of internal parts, cleaning, and the like. Note that if there is no need to detach the first body 3b and the second body 3c, the second upper flange portion 3c2 may be connected to the first lower flange portion 3b3 by welding or brazing, or may be integrally formed with the first lower flange portion 3b3. Also, although not shown, when the second upper flange portion 3c2 is connected to the first lower flange portion 3b3 by a fastening member, a gasket arranged along the outer periphery of the second upper flange portion 3c2 may be sandwiched between the second upper flange portion 3c2 and the first lower flange portion 3b3.

[0039] The second upper flange portion 3c2 may be integrally formed with the second cylindrical portion 3c1, or may be connected to the second cylindrical portion 3c1 by welding, brazing, or the like, or may be connected with a fastening member such as a bolt. The second lower flange portion 3c3 may be integrally formed with the second cylindrical portion 3c1, or may be connected to the second cylindrical portion 3c1 by welding, brazing, or the like, or may be connected with a fastening member such as a bolt.

[0040] The partition 3d separates the second body 3c from the third body 3e. The partition 3d is formed in a flat shape, for example, from a circular steel plate, although this is not a limitation. The partition 3d has a circular communication hole 3d1 in its center. The partition 3d is connected to the second lower flange 3c3 and a beam (not shown) of the frame 2b by fastening members such as bolts.

[0041] The third body 3e has a hollow cylindrical third tubular portion 3e1 that forms a part of the side surface of the housing 3. For example, one axial end of the third tubular portion 3e1 of the third body 3e is connected to the partition portion 3d by welding, brazing, or the like, and the outer periphery of the partition portion 3d is formed as a third upper flange portion 3e2 of the third body 3e. The third body 3e also has a circular third lower flange portion 3e3 formed at the other axial end of the third tubular portion 3e1.

[0042] The third cylindrical portion 3e1 may be formed integrally with the partition portion 3d, or may be connected to the partition portion 3d by a fastening member such as a bolt. The third lower flange portion 3e3 may be formed integrally with the third cylindrical portion 3e1, or may be connected to the third cylindrical portion 3e1 by welding or brazing, or may be connected by a fastening member such as a bolt.

[0043] The fourth body 3f has a hollow cylindrical fourth tubular portion 3f1 that forms a part of the side surface of the housing 3. The fourth body 3f has a circular fourth upper flange portion 3f2 formed at one axial end of the fourth tubular portion 3f1. The fourth body 3f also has a circular fourth lower flange portion 3f3 formed at the other axial end of the fourth tubular portion 3f1.

[0044] The fourth upper flange portion 3f2 is connected to the third lower flange portion 3e3 by fastening members such as bolts. By connecting the fourth upper flange portion 3f2 to the third lower flange portion 3e3 by fastening members, the fourth upper flange portion 3f2 and the third lower flange portion 3e3 can be detached from each other, facilitating maintenance and inspection, replacement of internal parts, cleaning, and the like. Note that, if there is no need to detach the fourth upper flange portion 3f2 and the third lower flange portion 3e3, the fourth upper flange portion 3f2 may be connected to the third lower flange portion 3e3 by welding or brazing, or may be integrally formed with the third lower flange portion 3e3. Also, although not shown, when the fourth upper flange portion 3f2 is connected to the third lower flange portion 3e3 by a fastening member, a gasket arranged along the outer periphery of the fourth upper flange portion 3f2 may be sandwiched between the fourth upper flange portion 3f2 and the third lower flange portion 3e3.

[0045] Furthermore, one or more hanging fittings 4a are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fourth tubular portion 3f1 of the fourth body 3f, and are connected via a lever 4b provided on the support 2a of the pedestal 2 and a chain 4c. The hanging fittings 4a, lever 4b, and chain 4c constitute the lifting mechanism 4 of the fourth body 3f. The provision of the lifting mechanism 4 for the fourth body 3f makes it possible to easily and safely perform maintenance and inspection, part replacement, cleaning, and the like, inside the third body 3e and the fourth body 3f. If there is no need to detach the fourth upper flange 3f2 and the third lower flange 3e3, the lifting mechanism 4 can be omitted.

[0046] The fourth upper flange portion 3f2 may be integrally formed with the fourth cylindrical portion 3f1, or may be connected to the fourth cylindrical portion 3f1 by welding, brazing, or the like, or may be connected with a fastening member such as a bolt. Moreover, the fourth lower flange portion 3f3 may be integrally formed with the fourth cylindrical portion 3f1, or may be connected to the fourth cylindrical portion 3f1 by welding, brazing, or the like, or may be connected with a fastening member such as a bolt.

[0047] The fifth body 3g has a hollow truncated conical fifth cylinder 3g1 that forms part of the side surface of the housing 3. The fifth body 3g has a circular fifth upper flange 3g2 formed at the larger axial opening end of the fifth cylinder 3g1. The fifth body 3g also has a hollow cylindrical discharge portion 3g3 formed at the smaller axial opening end of the fifth cylinder 3g1.

[0048] The fifth upper flange portion 3g2 is connected to the fourth lower flange portion 3f3 by fastening members such as bolts. By connecting the fifth upper flange portion 3g2 to the fourth lower flange portion 3f3 by fastening members, the fifth upper flange portion 3g2 and the fourth lower flange portion 3f3 can be detached from each other, facilitating maintenance and inspection, replacement of internal parts, cleaning, and the like. Note that if there is no need to detach the fifth upper flange portion 3g2 and the fourth lower flange portion 3f3, the fifth upper flange portion 3g2 may be connected to the fourth lower flange portion 3f3 by welding or brazing, or may be formed integrally with the fourth lower flange portion 3f3. Also, although not shown, when the fifth upper flange portion 3g2 is connected to the fourth lower flange portion 3f3 by a fastening member, a gasket arranged along the outer periphery of the fifth upper flange portion 3g2 may be sandwiched between the fifth upper flange portion 3g2 and the fourth lower flange portion 3f3.

[0049] The fifth upper flange portion 3g2 may be integrally formed with the fifth cylindrical portion 3g1, or may be connected to the fifth cylindrical portion 3g1 by welding, brazing, or the like, or may be connected with a fastening member such as a bolt. Furthermore, the discharge portion 3g3 may be integrally formed with the fifth cylindrical portion 3g1, or may be connected to the fifth cylindrical portion 3g1 by welding, brazing, or the like, or may be connected with a fastening member such as a bolt.

[0050] The Pongamia threshing device 1 has an input section 5. The input section 5 is formed in a hollow rectangular truncated cone shape. The input section 5 is formed as a cylinder that supplies Pongamia 100 (see FIG. 1 ; the same applies below) from outside the Pongamia threshing device 1 and guides them into the housing 3. The larger first open end 5a of the input section 5 in the axial direction is located outside the housing 3. The smaller second open end 5b of the input section 5 in the axial direction is located inside the housing 3. In the axial direction of the input section 5, the outer peripheral portion 5c of the input section 5 extends from outside the housing 3, penetrates the third cylindrical portion 3e1 of the third body 3e, and into the fourth body 3f. The vertical or horizontal position of the second open end 5b located inside the fourth body 3f is not particularly limited, but is adjusted to a position that allows efficient and high-yield threshing of the Pongamia 100. The input section 5 is made of stainless steel or the like. In addition, the input section 5 may be formed integrally with the third body section 3e, or may be connected to the fourth cylindrical section 3f1 by welding or brazing, or may be connected by a fastening member such as a bolt.

[0051] The pongamia threshing device 1 includes a variable speed motor 6a and a control unit 6b electrically connected to the motor 6a. The motor 6a and the control unit 6b form a drive unit 6 of the pongamia threshing device 1.

[0052] The motor 6a is disposed on the upper surface of the lid portion 3a of the housing 3. The tip of the drive shaft 6a1 of the motor 6a passes through the lid portion 3a and is rotatably disposed inside the first cylindrical portion 3b1.

[0053] The variable speed motor 6a may be, but is not limited to, an inverter motor that can change the rotation speed of the drive shaft 6a1 by changing the frequency of the AC voltage, or a direct current (DC) motor that can change the rotation speed of the drive shaft by changing the DC voltage. The inverter motor may be, for example, a three-phase motor. The DC motor may be, for example, a brushless DC motor.

[0054] The motor 6a may be one that can change characteristics other than the rotation speed, for example, one that can change the rotation direction of the drive shaft 6a1.

[0055] The control unit 6b is configured as a computer device or a microcomputer, dedicated hardware, or a combination thereof. If the motor 6a is an inverter motor, the control unit 6b has an inverter circuit. If the motor 6a is a DC motor, the control unit 6b has a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit.

[0056] When the control unit 6b is a computer device or a microcomputer, the control unit 6b has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). When the control unit 6b has a CPU or an MPU, each function executed by the control unit 6b is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software or firmware is written as a program in a programming language. The program is stored in an internal memory (not shown) of the control unit 6b, and the program stored in the internal memory (not shown) is read and executed by the CPU or MPU. The CPU or MPU reads and executes the program stored in the internal memory, thereby realizing each function of the control unit 6b. The internal memory (not shown) is, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM, or an EEPROM.

[0057] When the control unit 6b is a dedicated hardware, the control process in the control unit 6b is realized by, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a circuit that combines these. Each function realized by the control unit 6b may be realized by individual hardware, or all of the functions may be realized by a single hardware.

[0058] The pongamia grain threshing device 1 has a rotating shaft 7 connected to the drive shaft of the motor 6a. The rotating shaft 7 is connected to the drive shaft of the motor 6a and is thereby driven to rotate by the drive unit 6. The rotating shaft 7 extends vertically through the first body 3b, the second body 3c, the third body 3e, and the fourth body 3f via the communication hole 3d1 of the partition 3d. The rotating shaft 7 is made of, but is not limited to, stainless steel, for example.

[0059] The rotating shaft 7 is disposed inside the first body portion 3b and is supported by a joint 8a that connects the drive shaft 6a1 of the motor 6a and the rotating shaft 7. The rotating shaft 7 is rotatably supported by a first bearing 8b disposed inside the second body portion 3c. The rotating shaft 7 is rotatably supported by a second bearing 8c disposed inside the fourth body portion 3f. In other words, the joint 8a, the first bearing 8b, and the second bearing 8c form a rotating shaft support member 8 that supports the rotating shaft 7. The rotating shaft support member 8 is formed from, but is not limited to, stainless steel, for example.

[0060] The joint 8a has a first connecting portion 8a1 attached to the outer periphery of the tip of the drive shaft 6a1 of the motor 6a by any method such as welding, and a second connecting portion 8a2 attached to the outer periphery of the upper end of the rotating shaft 7 by any method such as welding. By providing the joint 8a, the rotating shaft 7 is connected to the drive shaft of the motor 6a and can be rotated by the drive unit 6. The first connecting portion 8a1 may be connected to the second connecting portion 8a2 by a fastening member such as a bolt, or by welding, brazing, or the like. The first connecting portion 8a1 may also be formed integrally with the second connecting portion 8a2.

[0061] The first bearing 8b is connected to the upper surface of the partition portion 3d by a fastening member such as a bolt, and is rotatably attached to the rotating shaft 7 by any method such as welding.

[0062] The second bearing 8c is connected to a bearing pedestal (not shown) disposed inside the fourth body 3f by fastening members such as bolts, and is rotatably attached to the rotating shaft 7 by any method such as welding. Although not shown, the bearing pedestal is supported on the fourth lower flange 3f3 by a plurality of supports extending radially from the bearing pedestal toward the fourth lower flange 3f3. The number of the supports is preferably three or more to stably support the bearing pedestal, but is preferably small to improve the yield of the Pongamia 100 seeds 100b. Therefore, the preferred number of supports is, but is not limited to, three or four.

[0063] By providing the first bearing 8b and the second bearing 8c, the rotation of the rotating shaft 7 can be stabilized, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the Pongamia grain threshing device 1.

[0064] The Pongamia grain threshing device 1 includes one or more rotors 9 housed in a housing 3. The one or more rotors 9 are detachably attached to the outer periphery of the rotary shaft 7 between a first bearing 8b and a second bearing 8c. The rotors 9 are made of, but not limited to, stainless steel, for example.

[0065] In FIG. 2, the rotor 9 has a first rotor 9a disposed below the input portion 5 and a second rotor 9b disposed below the first rotor 9a.

[0066] The first rotor 9a and the second rotor 9b are detachably attached to the outer periphery of the rotor shaft 7, and the vertical distance between the first rotor 9a and the second rotor 9b is adjustable. By adjusting the vertical distance between the first rotor 9a and the second rotor 9b, the distance can be adjusted to efficiently and with high yields the seeds 100b contained within the pods 100a of the Pongamia 100. For example, if the distance is set to a value close to zero, the Pongamia 100 may become trapped between the first rotor 9a and the second rotor 9b, causing the rotor 9 to rotate improperly, making it impossible to efficiently and with high yields the seeds 100b of the Pongamia 100. Furthermore, if the distance is too narrow, the seeds 100b of the Pongamia 100 may become trapped between the first rotor 9a and the second rotor 9b, potentially resulting in an unsatisfactory yield. On the other hand, if the distance is increased, the size of the Pongamia seed threshing device 1 increases, making it impossible to efficiently detach the seeds 100b of the Pongamia 100. Therefore, in order to enable efficient detachment of the seeds 100b with a high yield, it is preferable to make the vertical distance between the first rotor 9a and the second rotor 9b variable.

[0067] The number of rotating bodies 9 may be one or may be three or more. In the following description of this disclosure, the first rotating body 9a and the second rotating body 9b will be collectively referred to as the rotating body 9 unless there is a particular need to distinguish between them.

[0068] Furthermore, when there are multiple rotating bodies 9, some of the multiple rotating bodies 9 may be attached to a rotating shaft separate from the rotating shaft 7 and may be driven to rotate by a separate motor. The one or more rotating bodies 9 attached to the separate rotating shafts may not rotate at the same rotational speed or in the same rotational direction as the one or more rotating bodies 9 attached to the rotating shaft 7. In other words, the one or more rotating bodies 9 attached to the separate rotating shafts may be controlled to rotate separately and independently from the one or more rotating bodies 9 attached to the rotating shaft 7.

[0069] Next, the structure of the rotor 9 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0070] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first rotor 9a includes a first disk 9a1 and a plurality of first blades 9a2 fixed to the first disk 9a1. The first blades 9a2 are fixed to the upper surface of the first disk 9a1. The second rotor 9b includes a second disk 9b1 and a plurality of second blades 9b2 fixed to the second disk 9b1. The second blades 9b2 are fixed to the upper surface of the second disk 9b1. The first blades 9a2 and the second blades 9b2 extend radially outward from the rotor shaft 7 and apply impact force to the pongamia 100 due to rotation.

[0071] The first blade portion 9a2 applies a rotational impact force to the Pongamia 100 that is fed from the feed portion 5. The multiple first blade portions 9a2 can apply a rotational impact force to the Pongamia 100, so that the seeds 100b inside the pods 100a of the Pongamia 100 can be detached efficiently and with a high yield.

[0072] The second open end 5b of the input section 5 is preferably positioned near the center of the first rotor 9a, for example, so that the pongamia 100 is supplied toward the first disk 9a1. By supplying the pongamia 100 near the center of the first rotor 9a, the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the first rotor 9a is applied to the pongamia 100, making it possible to move the pongamia 100 evenly in the radial direction of the first rotor 9a. Therefore, the seeds 100b inside the pods 100a of the pongamia 100 can be efficiently and highly yieldedly detached from the pods 100a.

[0073] The second blades 9b2 further apply a rotational impact force to the Pongamia 100 dropping from the first rotor 9a. The multiple second blades 9b2 can apply a rotational impact force to the Pongamia 100 dropping between adjacent first blades 9a2, thereby improving the yield of Pongamia 100 seeds 100b.

[0074] The first disk 9a1 has a first hole 9a3 at its center, through which the rotary shaft 7 passes, and the second disk 9b1 has a second hole 9b3 at its center, through which the rotary shaft 7 passes.

[0075] In the following description of this disclosure, unless there is a particular need to distinguish between them, the first disk 9a1 and the second disk 9b1 will be collectively referred to as disk 10b. The first blade portion 9a2 and the second blade portion 9b2 will be collectively referred to as blade portion 20. The first hole 9a3 and the second hole 9b3 will be collectively referred to as hole 10b1. In the following description of this disclosure, the blade portion 20 will also be referred to as "blade."

[0076] The number of first blade portions 9a2 and second blade portions 9b2 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to make the number of second blade portions 9b2 smaller than the number of first blade portions 9a2, for example. The reason for this will be explained below.

[0077] Like other legumes, the pods 100a of the Pongamia 100 are sealed together along their peripheries (see FIG. 1), making them prone to splitting open when an external force is applied to the position where the peripheries of the pods 100a extend. Furthermore, the Pongamia 100 falls with the peripheries of the pods 100a extending in the direction of gravity.

[0078] On the other hand, because the orientation of the Pongamia 100 supplied from the input unit 5 to the first rotor 9a is random, the Pongamia 100 supplied from the input unit 5 to the first rotor 9a falls between adjacent first blade portions 9a2 while remaining in a random orientation. As the number of first blade portions 9a2 increases, the time from when the Pongamia 100 is supplied to the first rotor 9a to when the first blade portion 9a2 collides with the Pongamia 100 (hereinafter referred to as the "first time") becomes shorter. Therefore, the first blade portion 9a2 may collide before the direction in which the peripheral portion of the pod 100a extends faces the direction of gravity, and the pod 100a may not fully split open.

[0079] On the other hand, if the number of second blades 9b2 is made smaller than the number of first blades 9a2, the time from when the Pongamia 100 is supplied to the second rotor 9b until the second blades 9b2 collide with the Pongamia 100 (hereinafter referred to as the "second time") becomes longer than the first time. Therefore, in the second rotor 9b, it is possible to ensure that the direction in which the peripheral portion of the pod 100a extends faces the direction of gravity during the second time, and therefore it is possible to apply an external force due to the collision of the second blades 9b2 to the position where the peripheral portion of the pod 100a extends.

[0080] Therefore, by making the number of second wing portions 9b2 less than the number of first wing portions 9a2, it is possible to apply external force by the collision of the second wing portions 9b2 to the position where the peripheral portion of the pod 100a extends, thereby promoting the splitting of the pongamia 100.

[0081] In addition, since the rotation speed of the blade portion 20 can be controlled by the drive device 6 in accordance with the rotation speed of the rotating shaft 7 and the rotating body 9, the rotation speed of the blade portion 20 can be easily adjusted so that the seeds 100b inside the pods 100a of the Pongamia 100 can be detached efficiently and with a high yield.

[0082] The blade portion 20 may be fixed to the disk 10b by welding or brazing or may be formed integrally with the disk 10b.

[0083] 5, the blades 20 are fixed substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the disk 10b, but this is not limiting. For example, the upper ends of the blades 20 may be inclined toward the upper surface of the disk 10b and in the direction of rotation of the blades 20.

[0084] 3 to 5, the cross section of the blade portion 20 with respect to a plane perpendicular to the upper surface of the disk 10b is generally rectangular, but this is not limited thereto as long as the seeds 100b inside the pods 100a of the Pongamia 100 can be efficiently and with a high yield detached from the pods 100a. For example, the rotational direction surface of the blade portion 20 may be a curved surface that is convex in the rotational direction, or a curved surface that is concave in the rotational direction. Furthermore, the rotational direction surface of the blade portion 20 may be a surface having numerous irregularities, or a surface having numerous tapered protrusions at the tip. Furthermore, the upper end of the blade portion 20 may be tapered so that the pods 100a of the Pongamia 100 collide with the upper end, thereby promoting the splitting of the pods 100a.

[0085] 3 to 5, the blade portions 20 are formed to extend radially outward from the rotary shaft 7 in the radial direction of the rotary shaft 7, but this is not limited thereto. The blade portions 20 can have any shape as long as they extend radially outward from the rotary shaft 7, as long as they can efficiently and with high yield detach the seeds 100b inside the pods 100a of the Pongamia 100. For example, the tip of the blade portion 20 in the radial direction of the rotary shaft 7 may be spaced apart in the rotational direction or in the opposite direction from the straight line extending radially outward from the rotary shaft 7 in the radial direction of the rotary shaft 7.

[0086] Furthermore, the blade portion 20 may be connected to the rotary shaft 7 by welding or brazing, or may be formed integrally with the rotary shaft 7 .

[0087] As shown in Figure 5, the radius R1 of the disk 10b is preferably shorter than the length R2 from the center of the disk 10b to the radial tip of the blade portion 20. By making the radius R1 shorter than the length R2, the amount of Pongamia 100 or seeds 100b that fall between adjacent blade portions 20 can be increased, thereby preventing the Pongamia 100 or seeds 100b from remaining in the rotor 9. Note that the first radius R1a of the first disk 9a1 of the first rotor 9a may be the same as or different from the second radius R1b of the second disk 9b1 of the second rotor 9b. Furthermore, the first length R2a from the center of the first disk 9a1 to the radial tip of the first blade portion 9a2 of the first rotor 9a may be the same as or different from the second length R2b from the center of the second disk 9b1 to the radial tip of the second blade portion 9b2 of the second rotor 9b. However, even in this case, it goes without saying that it is preferable that the first radius R1a be shorter than the first length R2a and the second radius R1b be shorter than the second length R2b. Furthermore, as is clear from the above description and the description of Figure 5, the radius Ra in this disclosure is a general term for the first radius R1a and the second radius R1b, and the length Rb in this disclosure is a general term for the first length R2a and the second length R2b.

[0088] In addition, the angle θ between adjacent blade portions 20 in the circumferential direction of the disk 10b can be set to any value so that the seeds 100b inside the pods 100a of the Pongamia 100 can be detached efficiently and with a high yield.

[0089] Furthermore, the second angle θb between adjacent second blade portions 9b2 is preferably larger than the first angle θa between adjacent first blade portions 9a2. By making the second angle θb larger than the first angle θa, the Pongamia 100 passing between the first blade portions 9a2 can be dropped below the second blade portion 9b2 without being retained between the first blade portion 9a2 and the second blade portion 9b2. Therefore, by making the second angle θb larger than the first angle θa, the seeds 100b of the Pongamia 100 can be efficiently collected.

[0090] 5, the blades 20 preferably extend radially outward from the center of the disk 10b and are arranged at equal intervals around the circumference of the disk 10b. However, the angle θ between adjacent blades does not have to be equal, as long as it does not affect the rotation of the blades 20. The first angle θa is the average value of the angle θ between adjacent first blades 9a2, and the second angle θb is the average value of the angle θ between adjacent second blades 9b2.

[0091] Next, referring to FIG. 6, a mounting structure 10 for the rotating body 9 will be described.

[0092] The mounting structure 10 is fixed to surround a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 7 and has a cylindrical body 10a having a flange portion 10a1 on its outer surface. The cylindrical body 10a is made of, for example, stainless steel. The cylindrical body 10a is positioned at any position on the rotating shaft 7 by a fastening member such as a screw and is detachably fixed.

[0093] The mounting structure 10 for the rotor 9 has a disk 10b that is disposed on and fixed to the flange portion 10a1, has a hole 10b1 provided in the center thereof through which the rotary shaft 7 passes, and has a plurality of blade portions 20 fixed thereto. The disk 10b is detachably fixed to the flange portion 10a1 by fastening members such as bolts.

[0094] Since the cylindrical body 10a can be removably arranged on the rotating shaft 7, the position of the rotating body 9 relative to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 7 can be adjusted to any position, and therefore the position of the rotating body 9 relative to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 7 can be easily adjusted so that the seeds 100b inside the pods 100a of the Pongamia 100 can be efficiently and highly yieldably detached from the pods 100a.

[0095] Furthermore, as described above, since the disk 10b is part of the rotor 9, rotors 9 having different total numbers of blades 20 can be prepared and easily replaced. Therefore, by providing the mounting structure 10, it becomes possible to easily select and adopt a rotor 9 that can efficiently and highly efficiently detach the seeds contained therein from the pongamia pods.

[0096] Next, the Pongamia seed threshing method according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0097] In step S1, the pongamia 100 is dried as a preliminary step to the threshing process of the pongamia 100. Step S1 is a step of drying in the sun or in a drying device to make the pods 100a of the pongamia 100 more likely to split open. In legume plants including the pongamia 100, the legumes dry naturally and then fall to the ground, causing the pericarp to split open and the seeds to naturally detach from the pericarp to the outside.

[0098] Therefore, it is a suitable step to dry the Pongamia 100 to such an extent that the pods 100a can be split open as a preliminary step to the threshing process of the Pongamia 100. However, in the Pongamia threshing method according to the embodiment, an artificial and physical impact force is applied to the Pongamia 100 by the rotation of the blades, for example, the rotation of the blade portion 20 of the Pongamia threshing device 1, so step S1 can be omitted.

[0099] In step S2, the pongamia 100 to be threshed is fed into the feeding section 5 of the pongamia threshing device 1. In step S2, a fixed amount may be fed into the feeding section 5 by a belt conveyor or the like, or the pongamia may be fed into the feeding section 5 manually.

[0100] In step S3, an impact force is applied to the Pongamia 100 supplied from the input section 5 by rotating the blades, for example, by rotating the blade section 20 of the Pongamia seed threshing device 1, to detach the seeds 100b inside the pods 100a of the Pongamia 100. As described above, the threshing of the Pongamia 100 can be suitably adjusted by adjusting various parameters including the total number of blade sections 20, the total number of rotors 9, the rotation speed of the rotors 9, etc.

[0101] Step S3 allows the rotation of the blades to apply an impact force to the pongamia 100, thereby allowing the seeds 100b inside the pods 100a of the pongamia 100 to be detached from the pods 100a efficiently and with a high yield.

[0102] Step S4 is a step of selecting seeds 100b of the pongamia 100 from the threshed pongamia 100. Step S4 is achieved by, for example, applying wind force to the threshed pongamia 100 using a fan to remove the pods 100a of the pongamia 100 by wind force. Step S4 is also carried out by screening the threshed pongamia 100 using a sieve such as a vibrating screen to select the seeds 100b. The seeds 100b selected in step S4 are used as a raw material for inedible oil.

[0103] 1 Pongamia seed threshing device, 2 Stand, 2a Support, 2b Frame, 3 Housing, 3a Lid, 3b First body, 3b1 First cylindrical portion, 3b2 First upper flange portion, 3b3 First lower flange portion, 3c Second body, 3c1 Second cylindrical portion, 3c2 Second upper flange portion, 3c3 Second lower flange portion, 3d Partition portion, 3d1 Communication hole, 3e Third body, 3e1 Third cylindrical portion, 3e2 Third upper flange portion, 3e3 Third lower flange portion, 3f Fourth body, 3f1 Fourth cylindrical portion, 3f2 Fourth upper flange portion, 3f3 Fourth lower flange portion, 3g Fifth body, 3g1 Fifth cylindrical portion, 3g2 Fifth upper flange portion, 3g3 Discharge portion, 4 Lifting mechanism, 4a Hanging hardware, 4b Lever, 4c Chain, 5: Input portion, 5a: First opening end, 5b: Second opening end, 5c: Outer periphery, 6: Drive device, 6a: Motor, 6a1: Drive shaft, 6b: Control unit, 7: Rotating shaft, 8: Rotating shaft support member, 8a: Joint, 8a1: First connecting portion, 8a2: Second connecting portion, 8b: First bearing, 8c: Second bearing, 9: Rotating body, 9a: First rotating body, 9a1: First disk, 9a2: First blade portion, 9a3: First hole, 9b: Second rotating body, 9b1: Second disk, 9b2: Second blade portion, 9b3: Second hole, 10: Mounting structure, 10a: Cylindrical body, 10a1: Flange portion, 10b: Disk, 10b1: Hole, 20: Blade portion, 100: Pongamia, 100a: Pod, 100b: Seed.

Claims

1. A pongamia dehulling device comprising: an input section for supplying pongamia; a rotating shaft; a drive unit for rotating the rotating shaft; and a first rotor attached to the rotating shaft and positioned below the input section, wherein the first rotor has a plurality of first blade portions extending radially outward from the rotating shaft and applying an impact force due to rotation to the pongamia supplied from the input section.

2. A pongamia seed dehulling device as described in claim 1, further comprising a second rotating body attached to the rotating shaft and positioned below the first rotating body, the second rotating body having a plurality of second blade portions extending radially outward from the rotating shaft and further applying a rotational impact force to the pongamia falling from the first rotating body.

3. The pongamia seed threshing device according to claim 2, wherein the number of the second blade portions is less than the number of the first blade portions.

4. A pongamia seed threshing device as described in claim 2 or 3, wherein the second angle between adjacent second blade portions is greater than the first angle between adjacent first blade portions.

5. A pongamia seed dehulling device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the mounting structure of the first rotating body and the second rotating body relative to the rotating shaft comprises: a cylindrical body fixed so as to surround a part of the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft and having a flange portion on its outer surface; and a disk arranged and fixed to the flange portion, having a hole provided in the center through which the rotating shaft passes and to which the plurality of blade portions are fixed.

6. A pongamia seed threshing device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the vertical distance between the first rotating body and the second rotating body is variable.

7. A pongamia seed threshing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drive device comprises a variable speed motor and a control unit that controls characteristics including the motor speed.

8. A method for threshing Pongamia seeds, comprising the step of applying an impact force to the Pongamia by rotating a blade to detach the seeds therein from the Pongamia pods.