Technical Note: Clean-Out Device for Silage Compactor

Abstract

Silage conservation experiments using silo bags require that the tunnel of the silage compactor be cleaned between treatments and that compaction be maintained in the closing-end of the silo bag. Over one tonne of forage, compacted to a density of approximately 700 kg/m3 (0.025 lb/in.3), remains in the tunnel after loading the silo bag. This material is normally discarded, or manually loaded into available storage space at the closing end of the silo bag. A mechanical clean-out device for removing forage remaining in the tunnel of a silage compactor and placing it in the silo bag was designed and tested. The design of the clean-out device consisted of a blade fitted inside the compactor tunnel without interfering with it's operation. At the completion of the filling operation, two hydraulic cylinders powered by tractor hydraulics swing the blade through the tunnel thereby moving the forage into the silo bag. The clean-out device reduced dry matter losses due to spoilage at the closing-end, and the time and labour required to close a bag.