GB1568749A - Seed separator - Google Patents

Description

(54) SEED SEPARATOR (71) We, FLUID DRILLING LIMITED, a British Company, of Masons Road, Straford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it Is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a method of separating germinated seeds from ungerminated seeds and to apparatus for effecting the separation.

It has been determined that ungerminated seeds tend to be heavier or are subjected to a smaller upthrust in a liquid having a specific gravity substantially the same as the relative density of the seeds and thus have a greater tendency to sink in a liquid of appropriate specific gravity than germinated seeds.

According to the invention, a method of separating germinated seeds from ungerminated seeds consists in the steps of pouring the seeds to be separated into a vessel containing a liquid which will not damage the seeds and which has a specific gravity of such value that the germinated seeds on entering the liquid will be buoyant and tend to float in suspension in the liquid, whereas the ungerminated seeds will sink to the bottom of the vessel, and then after a time sufficient to effect separation, but before the buoyant seeds commence to sink to the bottom of the vessel, running-off that part of the liquid adjacent the bottom of the vessel together with the seeds which have sunk to the bottom of the vessel into a first container and then running-off the remainder of the liquid together with the seeds which are floating therein into a second container.

The seeds in the two containers may then be filtered from the liquid and, if necessary, washed, depending upon the liquid used.

Ungerminated seeds may be allowed to undergo a further period of germination and then the separation by pouring the seeds into the liquid may be repeated in order to separate more germinated seeds from ungermi nated seeds.

It has been found that with reasonable accuracy the seeds which sink to the bottom of the vessel are ungerminated seeds while those which have not sunk by the time the lower portion of liquid has been run-off are germinated seed.

Apparatus for performing the method set out hereinbefore is shown in the accompanying diagrammatic elevation of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, the apparatus comprises a cabinet 1 containing a mixing vessel 2 into which water from a header tank 3 and a liquid soluble in water from a tank 4 are introduced. A paddle 12 may be provided to mix the liquid and water in the vessel 2 to a required specific gravity appropriate for the seeds to be separated. The vessel 2 may be provided with a hydrometer 5 which the strength of the solution in the vessel 4 can be determined and relative adjustment of the water or liquid content can be made as necessary. The vessel 2 has an outlet pipe 6 having a pair of outlet branches positioned to discharge respectively into one or other of a pair of containers 7, 8 each having at their inlet a strainer or filter 9, 10. The outlet pipe has an on/off cock 11. Each outlet branch has a similar on/off cock. The containers 7 and 8 need not be positioned side-by-side as illustrated.First one container can be positioned beneath the outlet pipe 6, having a single outlet to receive a first portion of the solution, as hereinafter described. The container is then removed and a second container is then positioned beneath the outlet pipe 6 to receive a second portion or the remainder of the solution.

When the specific gravity of the solution in the vessel 2 is correct for the seeds to be separated, as determined by prior testing, the seeds to be separated are poured into the vessel 2. The latter is conveniently transpar ent so that the hydrometer can be read. Thus the settling of the seeds in the solution can also be observed. It has been found by the inventor that after a predetermined time, the ungerminated seeds sink to the bottom of the vessel 2 while the germinated seeds will remain floating in suspension in the solution.

The accuracy of the separation has not been found to be 100% but most of the seeds which sink are those which have not become germinated and most of the seeds which do not sink to the bottom are those which have become germinated. When separation in the solution has occurred the cock 11 is opened and the solution at the bottom of the vessel 2 is run-off into the container 7 or the first container, the seeds being filtered from the liquid by the strainer 9. When the seeds which are still floating in suspension reach the bottom of the vessel 2 the outlet pipe 6, or the appropriate outlet branch, open to discharge into the other container 8, or the first container is replaced by a second container, the strainer 10 filtering the germinated seeds from the solution.Experience with the use of the apparatus will determine for how long the seeds should remain in the vessel 2 before the portion of the solution containing the ungerminated seeds at the bottom of the vessel 2 is run-off. There will be a minimum time before an effective separation of the seeds in the vessel has been completed and usually there is a maximum time, after which even the germinated seeds will have sunk and separation will be impossible.

It has been found that for different types of seed a solution of different specific gravity will be required to effect the separation of germinated and ungerminated seed.

The liquid used in the separation vessel must be one which is non-toxic or does not have any other deleterious effect on the seed.

For example, an aqueous solution of sugar or an aqueous solution of glycerine has been found to be suitable.

After filtering of the germinated and ungerminated seeds from the respective liquid portions, they are washed, if necessary, according to the liquid used for separation. The germinated seeds can then be stored at low temperature until ready for use.

The ungerminated seeds may be subjected to a further germination period and then the separation may be repeated so that any further germinated seeds can be separated from the ungerminated seeds which will presumably be "dead" seeds.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of separating germinated seeds from ungerminated seeds consisting in the steps of pouring the seeds to be separated into a vessel containing a liquid which will not damage the seeds and which has a specific gravity of such value that the germinated seeds on entering the liquid will be buoyant and tend to float in suspension in the liquid, whereas the ungerminated seeds will sink to the bottom of the vessel, and then after a time sufficient to effect separation, but before the buoyant seeds commence to sink to the bottom of the vessel, running-off that part of the liquid adjacent the bottom of the vessel together with the seeds which have sunk to the bottom of the vessel into a first container and then running-off the remainder of the liquid together with the seeds which are floating therein into a second container.

2. The method of separating germinated seeds from ungerminated seeds substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

3. Apparatus, for performing the method according to Claim 2, constructed and arranged substantially as described herein and shown in the accompanying draw ing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ent so that the hydrometer can be read. Thus the settling of the seeds in the solution can also be observed. It has been found by the inventor that after a predetermined time, the ungerminated seeds sink to the bottom of the vessel 2 while the germinated seeds will remain floating in suspension in the solution. The accuracy of the separation has not been found to be 100% but most of the seeds which sink are those which have not become germinated and most of the seeds which do not sink to the bottom are those which have become germinated. When separation in the solution has occurred the cock 11 is opened and the solution at the bottom of the vessel 2 is run-off into the container 7 or the first container, the seeds being filtered from the liquid by the strainer 9. When the seeds which are still floating in suspension reach the bottom of the vessel 2 the outlet pipe 6, or the appropriate outlet branch, open to discharge into the other container 8, or the first container is replaced by a second container, the strainer 10 filtering the germinated seeds from the solution.Experience with the use of the apparatus will determine for how long the seeds should remain in the vessel 2 before the portion of the solution containing the ungerminated seeds at the bottom of the vessel 2 is run-off. There will be a minimum time before an effective separation of the seeds in the vessel has been completed and usually there is a maximum time, after which even the germinated seeds will have sunk and separation will be impossible. It has been found that for different types of seed a solution of different specific gravity will be required to effect the separation of germinated and ungerminated seed. The liquid used in the separation vessel must be one which is non-toxic or does not have any other deleterious effect on the seed. For example, an aqueous solution of sugar or an aqueous solution of glycerine has been found to be suitable. After filtering of the germinated and ungerminated seeds from the respective liquid portions, they are washed, if necessary, according to the liquid used for separation. The germinated seeds can then be stored at low temperature until ready for use. The ungerminated seeds may be subjected to a further germination period and then the separation may be repeated so that any further germinated seeds can be separated from the ungerminated seeds which will presumably be "dead" seeds. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of separating germinated seeds from ungerminated seeds consisting in the steps of pouring the seeds to be separated into a vessel containing a liquid which will not damage the seeds and which has a specific gravity of such value that the germinated seeds on entering the liquid will be buoyant and tend to float in suspension in the liquid, whereas the ungerminated seeds will sink to the bottom of the vessel, and then after a time sufficient to effect separation, but before the buoyant seeds commence to sink to the bottom of the vessel, running-off that part of the liquid adjacent the bottom of the vessel together with the seeds which have sunk to the bottom of the vessel into a first container and then running-off the remainder of the liquid together with the seeds which are floating therein into a second container.

2. The method of separating germinated seeds from ungerminated seeds substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

3. Apparatus, for performing the method according to Claim 2, constructed and arranged substantially as described herein and shown in the accompanying draw ing.