Mobile platform biomass harvester and processor

• US 9,648,808 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jason Force
• Original Assignee: Jason Force
• Inventors: Force, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Fbin-Kovcs, rpd
• Application Number:
  US14/866,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 597 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/04 with cutters at the front
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/00 Mowers combined with apparatus performing additional operations while mowing A01D37/00, A01D39/00, A01D41/00, take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/003 with devices for drying or burning
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/006 with devices for pressing or compacting
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/06 with means for collecting, gathering or loading mown material A01D43/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/063 in or into a container carried by the mower; Containers therefor A01D43/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/0633 with compacting means
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/08 with means for cutting up the mown crop , e.g. forage harvesters
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/086 and means for collecting, gathering or loading mown material
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/10 with means for crushing or bruising the mown crop
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 61/008 for longitudinal conveying, especially for combines
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2201/303 Burning pyrogases
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2203/601 carried by a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2206/202 with an internal combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2206/203 with a power/heat generating installation
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2209/262 Agricultural waste
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/027 pyrolising or gasifying stage pyrolisation of sludge C02F11/00; destructive distillation of carbonaceous materials C10B53/00
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/40 Portable or mobile incinerators
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 7/10 of field or garden waste or biomasses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/12 : Heat utilisation in combustion or incineration of waste
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 : Mobile robot

Abstract

A mobile platform biomass harvester has a header, a biomass processor, a storage container, a guidance system, an engine, an electric generator, and a guidance system. The header harvests biomass. The biomass processor includes a shredder, a press, a dryer, and a densifier. The densifier compacts the biomass into a multitude of compressed biomass pieces. The storage container receives compressed biomass pieces from the biomass processor. The guidance system guides the mobile platform at a speed determined by the operating capacity of the mobile platform. The engine generates shaft power. The electrical generator converts the shaft power to electricity to power the guidance system.

Claims

1. A mobile platform comprising:

a) a cutter to cut grass;

b) a grass processor comprising;

i) a shredder to convert the cut grass into shredded grass;

ii) a press to extract water from the shredded grass to produce pressed grass;

iii) a dryer to generate dried grass from the pressed grass; and

iv) a pelletizer to compact the dried grass into a multitude of grass pellets;

c) an storage container to store the grass pellets;

d) a guidance system configured to guide the mobile platform at a speed determined by the operating capacity of the mobile platform;

e) an engine configured to generate shaft power; and

f) an electrical generator powered by the shaft power and configured to power at least the guidance system.

2. The mobile platform of claim 1, further including a heat transfer element to transport heat from the engine to the dryer and storage container.

3. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the dryer is a rotary dryer.

4. A mobile platform comprising:

a) a header to harvest biomass;

b) a biomass processor comprising;

i) a shredder to shred the biomass;

ii) a press to extract water from the biomass;

iii) a dryer to dry the biomass; and

iv) a densifier to compact the biomass into a multitude of compressed biomass pieces;

c) an storage container to receive compressed biomass pieces from the biomass processor;

d) a guidance system configured to guide the mobile platform at a speed determined by the operating capacity of the mobile platform;

e) an engine configured to generate shaft power; and

f) an electrical generator powered by the shaft power and configured to power at least the guidance system.

5. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the densifier is one of the following:

a) a pelletizer;

b) a briquetter; and

c) an extruder.

6. The mobile platform of claim 4, further including a battery.

7. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the header includes at least one of the following:

a) a frame;

b) a cutter bar;

c) a crushing roll;

d) a pickup cylinder;

e) a pickup reel;

f) a conveyer;

g) an auger;

h) a vacuum;

i) a slicer;

j) tines;

k) a rake bar;

l) an impeller; and

m) a pickup device.

8. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the biomass includes at least one of the following:

a) grass;

b) weeds;

c) crops;

d) algae;

e) biological material derived from living organisms;

f) biological material derived from recently living organisms; and

g) man-made waste materials.

9. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the dryer is a rotary dryer.

10. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the shredder is configured to reduce the size of the biomass to be compatible with the densifier.

11. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the press is configured to press biomass with a moisture content greater than 7% of mass.

12. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the dryer comprises at least one of the following:

a) an electric heating element;

b) a syngas burner;

c) a heat exchanger configured to transport at least one of the following into the rotary dryer;

i) the first source of heat; and

ii) the second source of heat.

13. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the rotary dryer is configured to rotate the biomass using an auger.

14. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the rotary dryer is configured to move the biomass from a dryer entrance to a dryer exit.

15. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the densifer is configured to compact the shredded biomass at a rate that generates more compressed biomass pieces than required to operate the mobile platform.

16. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the densifer extrudes the shredded biomass into the pellets.

17. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the storage container comprises at least one of the following:

a) a container with insulated walls;

b) one or more gas ports;

c) a handle for carrying the heated storage container;

d) a latching mechanism to attach the container to the mobile platform; and

e) a release mechanism to disconnect the container from the mobile platform.

18. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the storage container is configured to store excess compressed biomass pieces.

19. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein the storage container comprises a release mechanism to remove compressed biomass pieces from the mobile platform.

20. The mobile platform of claim 4, further including a remote controlled control system.