IP Library Granted Patent US 9,452,891
Granted Patent B2
US 9,452,891 · App. 14/464,781 · Granted Sep 27, 2016

System for conveying biomass for collection, transport, or processing

Inventors: James M. Geraets (Sioux Falls, SD); Mark D. Stowers (Sioux Falls, SD); Mark David Dilts (Sioux Falls, SD); Mark Herbert Heupel (Sioux Falls, SD)
Assignee: POET Research, Inc.
B65G31/04A01D87/10B65G33/10C05F17/02C05F17/0241Y02P20/145Y02W30/43
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,452,891
App. No.
14/464,781
Granted
Sep 27, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for conveying biomass is disclosed. The system is configured to convey biomass for collection, transport, or processing. The system contains a housing comprising an opening configured for the entry of biomass, at least one shoe skid configured to offset the housing in a vertical orientation, an apparatus at least partially within the housing comprising at least one rotating blade assembly, and a conduit configured to discharge biomass from the housing so that biomass entering into the housing can be projected by the apparatus through the conduit for collection or transport.

Claims (29)

1. A system, comprising:

a housing comprising an opening for entry of biomass;

at least one shoe skid to offset the housing in a vertical orientation;

an apparatus at least partially within the housing comprising at least one rotating blade assembly;

a conduit to discharge the biomass from the housing, the apparatus projects the biomass entering into the housing through the conduit for collection or transport,

wherein the at least one shoe skid comprises a large surface area and projects forward of the housing and wherein the conduit comprises a plurality of articulation segments for vertical orientation or vertical movement of the conduit; and

a camera system attached to the conduit.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rotating blade assembly comprises cups to propel the biomass.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rotating blade assembly comprises removable inserts that comprise one or more surface features that reduce a size of the biomass.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more surface features comprise a plurality of shear surfaces.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises rotating breaker bars to dislodge the biomass from a pile.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises internal surface treatments.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the internal surface treatments comprise low-friction material.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the internal surface treatments comprise plastic material.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a member to dislodge the biomass from a pile for flow into the opening.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the member is a first bar comprising a rotating element.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the rotating element is an auger.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the biomass enters the opening axially and is discharged tangentially from the conduit.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one shoe skid comprises a large surface area and projects forward of the housing.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one shoe skid is configured to provide a configurable offset between the housing and the ground.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is operatively connected to a power take off, the power take off operatively connected to an agricultural power unit.

16. A system, comprising:

a housing comprising an opening for entry of biomass;

at least one shoe skid to offset the housing in a vertical orientation, the at least one shoe skid comprises a large surface area and projects forward of the housing;

an apparatus at least partially within the housing comprising at least one rotating blade assembly;

a conduit to discharge the biomass from the housing, the apparatus to project the biomass entering into the housing through the conduit for collection or transport,

wherein the conduit comprises a plurality of articulation segments for vertical orientation or vertical movement of the conduit; and

a camera system attached to the conduit.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one shoe skid provides a configurable offset between the housing and the ground.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2020
From: POET RESEARCH, INC.
To: COBANK, ACB, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052312/0801 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 035603/0778 Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: POET, LLC; POET RESEARCH, INC.; POET PLANT MANAGEMENT, LLC; POET INVESTMENTS, INC.; POET BIOMASS, LLC; POET DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, INC.; RISK MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.; POET NUTRITION, INC.; POET RESEARCH CENTER, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS POET RESEARCH CENTER, INC.); POET LEASING, LLC; POET NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 052299/0676 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: POET RESEARCH, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052295/0712 →
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 6, 2015
From: POET, LLC; POET RESEARCH, INC.; POET PLANT MANAGEMENT, LLC; POET INVESTMENTS, INC.; POET BIOMASS, LLC; POET DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, INC.; RISK MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.; POET NUTRITION, INC.; POET RESEARCH CENTER, INC.; POET LEASING, LLC; POET NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 035603/0778 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME FROM POET, LLC TO POET RESEARCH, INC PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 033579 FRAME 0367. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNEE NAME FROM POET, LLC TO POET RESEARCH, INC. Recorded Aug 26, 2014
From: GERAETS, JAMES M.; STOWERS, MARK D.; DILTS, MARK DAVID; HEUPEL, MARK HERBERT
To: POET RESEARCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 033625/0178 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2014
From: GERAETS, JAMES M.; STOWERS, MARK D.; DILTS, MARK DAVID; HEUPEL, MARK HERBERT
To: POET, LLC
Reel/Frame 033579/0367 →
Continuity (5)
Division 13936968 · Jul 8, 2013
Division 12701388 · Feb 5, 2010
Provisional Application 61179599 · May 19, 2009
Provisional Application 61150210 · Feb 5, 2009
Related Publication 20140353124A1 · Dec 4, 2014