Planting – Drilling – Having depositor feature
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-26
2001-12-04
Novosad, Christopher J. (Department: 3671)
Planting
Drilling
Having depositor feature
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325004
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a diverter for use in a double shoot air seeding system having first and second particulate material conduits wherein the diverter is arranged to divert a portion of the particulate material from the first conduit into the second conduit.
BACKGROUND
It is a known agricultural practice to make use of a double shoot air seeder when seeding a field for depositing both fertilizer and seed into the ground in a single pass over the ground. A double shoot air seeder generally comprises a fertilizer conduit and a seed conduit for conducting fertilizer and seed from respective fertilizer and seed hoppers on the seeder to a plurality of furrowing elements. The furrowing elements are arranged to deposit the seed and fertilizer into the ground at spaced apart locations. This is desirable so as not to provide too much fertilizer to the seed in the early stages of seed growth. It is however desirable to deposit a small amount of starter fertilizer with the seed to assist in the early stages of growth without burning the seed. This is accomplished when using a triple shoot air seeder which is arranged to deposit a small amount of fertilizer with the seed and a further amount of fertilizer spaced from the seed. The replacement of a double shoot air seeder with a triple shoot seeder however is very costly and preferably avoidable.
Canadian Patent No. 1,297,735 to Neumeyer provides a fertilizer divider for dual air seeder systems. The divider comprises an adjustable divider plate which is coupled to the fertilizer metering system such that adjustment of the plate will redirect a portion of the fertilizer into the seed tube in a double shoot air seeder. The divider however includes a complex arrangement of parts which requires tedious installation directly adjacent the metering system as well as some replacement of parts of the seeder. Furthermore, the metering system requires separate adjustment of the amount of fertilizer being deposited into the seed tube and the amount of fertilizer being deposited into the fertilizer tube. This is inconvenient when it is desirable to increase the overall flow rate of both the seed and fertilizer while preserving a constant ratio of fertilizer which is to be diverted into the seed tube.
SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for use with an air seeder having first and second conduits for conducting respective first and second particulate materials therethrough, the device comprising:
a first tube having an inlet and an outlet for communication with the first conduit;
a second tube having an inlet and an outlet for communication with the second conduit;
coupling means for coupling the first and second tubes in series with the first and second conduits respectively to communicate the first and second particulate materials respectively therethrough; and
a diverter tube coupled at a first end on the first tube to extend outward therefrom to a second end coupled on the second tube, the diverter tube having a mouth projecting into the first tube for receiving a portion of the first particulate material from the first conduit such that the portion of the first particulate material is diverted through the diverter tube and into the second tube.
The device of the present invention can be installed on a double shoot air seeder having fertilizer and seed conduits to divert a portion of the fertilizer from the fertilizer conduit into the seed conduit. The portion of fertilizer is thus deposited with the seed to act as starter fertilizer while the remaining fertilizer is deposited by the fertilizer conduit in the ground at a location spaced from the seed. The diverter of the present invention thus allows simple conversion of a double shoot air seeder to act as triple shoot air seeder at minimal cost and with minimal effort of installation.
The first end of the diverter tube is preferably mounted to project through a side wall of the first tube wherein the mouth comprises an opening in the first end of the diverter tube which at least partially faces the inlet of the first tube. The diverter tube is thus located directly within the flow of particulate material through the first tube to effectively collect a portion of the particulate material flowing therethrough.
The diverter tube is preferably circular in cross section. The tube projecting into the first tube thus provides less of an obstruction to the particulate material which is not collected and flows around the tube.
The first end of the diverter tube is preferably oriented to extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first tube. The flow of particulate material at the mouth of the diverter tube is thus not restricted or redirected until the particulate material has already passed through the mouth. The opening is preferably oriented such that a plane locating the opening therein is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first tube to further reduce restriction of flow into the diverter tube.
The diverter tube may extend outwardly from the first tube at an incline towards the outlet of the first tube. The diverter tube preferably extends from the first tube at an angle of approximately 45 degrees therefrom. The flow of particulate material through the diverter tube is thus minimally redirected at each end thereof.
Preferably a diameter of the diverter tube is approximately one third of the diameter of the first and second tubes respectively. The resulting ratio of fertilizer diverted provides a useful amount of starter fertilizer.
The diverter preferably includes an end portion which projects into the second tube, the end portion being oriented to extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second tube. The redirection of the particulate material into the second tube is thus gradually introduced into the flow of particulate material in the second tube.
There may be provided adjustable mounting means mounting the mouth within the first tube such that a location of the mouth within a cross sectional area of the first tube is adjustable. This allows the mouth to be located within the flow of particulate material through the first tube regardless of the orientation of the first tube.
The adjustable mounting means preferably comprises a collar mounted on an outer wall of the first tube, the collar receiving the diverter tube therethrough and having fastening means for selectively securing the diverter tube on the collar at one of various longitudinal positions of the diverter tube within the collar.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a diverter in combination with an air seeder having first and second hoppers for storing respective first and second particulate materials therein and first and second conduits coupled to the first and second hoppers respectively for conducting the first and second particulate materials respectively therethrough to be deposited on the ground, the diverter comprising:
a first tube having an inlet and an outlet for communication with the first conduit;
a second tube having an inlet and an outlet for communication with the second conduit;
coupling means coupling the first and second tubes in series with the first and second conduits respectively to communicate the first and second particulate materials respectively therethrough; and
a diverter tube coupled at a first end on the first tube to extend outward therefrom to a second end coupled on the second tube, the diverter tube having a mouth projecting into the first tube for receiving a portion of the first particulate material from the first conduit such that the portion of the first particulate material is diverted through the diverter tube and into the second tube.
The first and second conduits preferably each comprise a primary portion connected to the corresponding hopper, a plurality of secondary portions associated with each primary portion and connecting a plurality of respective secondary distributors to the primary portion associated therewith, and a
Battison Adrian D.
Dupuis Ryan W.
Novosad Christopher J.
Williams Michael R.
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