The Hindu : Front Page : Paramakudi duo invents a novel machine

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006
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Paramakudi duo invents a novel machine

C. Jaishankar

INGENIOUS DESIGN: The machine that collects and breaks tree branches.

RAMANATHAPURAM: Two young entrepreneurs from Paramakudi in the district have invented a machine that converts thorny bushes and dry tree branches into small chips, to be used as raw material for producing electricity. This machine, if widely used, is expected to play a major role in making waste thorny branches of `karuvela' tree into a valuable commodity, since installation of wood-based power plants is on the rise in various parts of the country.

As a token of recognition, the Department of Scientific and Industrial

Research (DSIR) of the Union Ministry of Science and Technology has announced an award of Rs.3.44 lakh to the inventors, I. Pannerselvam and RM. Kannappan. The machine, fitted with a tractor, collects thorny small branches and sends them to a cutter section through teeth-framed conveyors. Cutting plates slice the thorny branches into small pieces, following which a blower sucks the smashed materials and empties into another section.

The machine can be operated with a tractor with dual-clutch and power steering. A machine can cut more than five tonnes of thorny bushes / tree branches in a day.

"It's similar to a paddy harvesting machine. But, we designed it in such a way to handle the thorny branches," said Mr. Panneerselvam.

"After several attempts and ideas, we succeeded in collecting the thorny branches using teeth sprocket wheels," said Mr. Kannappan, who is an engineer. The duo has approached the patent office to register their invention.

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