Distribution manifold for air seeder

Details Distribution manifold for air seeder Distribution manifold for air seeder

2000-11-02

2001-09-04

Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)

Conveyors: fluid current

With means to control conveying fluid or movement of load in...

Control of conveying fluid

C111S175000, C137S595000, C406S127000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06283679

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an improved primary air distribution manifold for use on air seeder, wherein the manifold is provided with a selector valve for directing product to different ranks of venturis.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Air seeders and other seeding devices are commonly towed by tractors to apply seed or fertilizer, or both simultaneously, to a field. As an example, an air seeder may be towed in combination with a tilling implement, one behind the other, to place seed and fertilizer under the surface of the soil. An air seeder has as its central component a wheeled seed cart which comprises one or more frame-mounted product tanks for holding product, generally seed or fertilizer or both. Air seeders also generally comprise a metering system for dispensing product from the tanks and a pneumatic distribution system for delivering the product from tank to soil.
It is known to provide an air seeder with volumetric meters which measure a fixed volume of seed per unit of linear distance. These volumetric meters typically comprise either augers or fluted cylinders (meter rollers) which rotate through a product reservoir to measure granular product. The meters rotate to feed product into a pneumatic distribution system. The pneumatic distribution system of an air seeder generally utilizes a blower to provide at least one airstream which flows through the pneumatic distribution system to seed boots where product is deposited in the soil. Metered product is introduced into the air stream at a primary air distribution manifold located below the product meter. Product is carried by the air stream through distribution lines to a series of secondary distribution manifolds (“headers”), which in turn distribute product through individual lines to seed boots mounted behind ground openers on the tilling implement.
Operators of conventional seeding equipment have problems configuring distribution manifolds for accepting metered product from multiple tanks entering into the pneumatic distribution systems. When an operator wants to switch tank applications or the setup of the tilling implement, the operator must reconfigure downstream distribution lines to ensure that product is applied in the proper location on the tilling implement. One possible solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,303.
SUMMARY
It is an object of the present invention to provide a primary air distribution manifold having a selector valve to easily direct metered product from the product meter to a selected rank of venturis.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a primary air distribution manifold wherein the selector valve automatically directs a clean air stream to the product tanks for tank pressurization.
It is a feature of the present invention that the position of the selector valve is readily apparent to an operator.
A primary air distribution manifold for an air seeder's pneumatic distribution system, wherein the primary air distribution manifold is provided with a top rank of venturis and a bottom rank of venturis for receiving an air stream from a blower. A selector valve is located above the top rank of venturis immediately below a product meter. The selector valve selectively directs metered product to either the top rank of venturis or the bottom rank of venturis. The selector valve comprises two transversely extending rods with valve members extending longitudinally between the rods. In a first position the selector valve directs metered product to the top rank of venturis, in its second position the selector valve directs metered product to the bottom rank of venturis. Both ends of the selector valve are provided with handles for positioning the selector valve.
Each selector valve is also provided with first and second air valves. The air valves are positioned at the ends of the selector valve between the handle and the valve members. In the selector valve's first position, the first air valve is open and directs air tapped from the top rank air stream to the product tank immediately above the primary air distribution manifold. The second air valve is closed as it taps air from the bottom rank air stream. Similarly if the selector valve is in its second position the first air valve is closed and the second air valve opened so that bottom rank air is directed to the product tank. In this way the same air stream rank is tapped for pressurizing the tank from which the metered product is received.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3302904 (1967-02-01), Buchwald
patent: 3621877 (1971-11-01), Hickmann
patent: 4717289 (1988-01-01), Popowich et al.
patent: 4779765 (1988-10-01), Neumeyer
patent: 4834004 (1989-05-01), Butuk et al.
patent: 5855303 (1999-01-01), Gregor
patent: 5979343 (1999-11-01), Gregor et al.
Deere & Company Marketing Information Bulletin, Number 97-7-10, titled “1900 Commodity Cart”, pp. 1 and 3, published in the U.S.A.
Advertisement titled “Flexi-Coil Air Cart Advantages”, p. 10.

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