Grain box insert for seeding implement

Details Grain box insert for seeding implement Grain box insert for seeding implement

1999-09-23

2001-03-27

Novosad, Christopher J. (Department: 3671)

Planting

Drilling

Having depositor feature

C111S200000, C222S462000, C222S610000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06205938

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seeding implement, such as a grain drill, and in particular to an insert for the grain box that assures complete emptying of the seed from the grain box.
2. Description of the Related Art
The grain box of a grain drill typically has a flat bottom wall extending between the opposite ends of the grain box. Front and rear walls slope down to the bottom wall so that the seed will flow to the bottom wall. The bottom wall is provided with a plurality of openings spaced apart from one another between the opposite end walls of the grain box. A seed meter is associated with each one of the openings to meter seed that drops from the grain box through the openings.
A problem associated with the flat bottom wall is that seed will collect on the bottom wall between the openings, and will not fall through the openings. This results in incomplete emptying of the seed from the grain box. This requires the operator to use a hand broom to sweep the seed off the bottom wall and into the adjacent openings.
One solution to the problem of incomplete emptying the grain box is to add individual metal inserts between each of the openings. The metal inserts are inverted V-shaped and cover the bottom wall between openings. The inserts create sloping walls between each of the openings, thereby ensuring that the tank will completely empty with the seed falling through one of the openings. The metal inserts are separately attached to the grain box by a plurality of clips bolted to the grain box. While the inserts are adequate to completely empty the grain box, a significant amount of assembly labor and time is required to install the inserts in the grain box. In addition, to seal the box, a silicon bead is placed around the edges of each insert, thereby further increasing the assembly labor and material cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified structure that ensures complete emptying of the grain box without excessive assembly labor and cost.
The grain box of the present invention is provided with a one or two piece molded plastic insert extending from end-to-end of the grain box. The insert forms an array of funnel sections each having open lower ends that align with the openings in the grain box bottom wall. The funnel sections have sloping walls between each bottom wall opening to cover the flat portions of the bottom wall between the openings. By molding the insert as a one or two pieces for the entire grain box, significant assembly labor savings is achieved. In addition, far less silicon is required to seal the one-piece insert to the box around the periphery of the insert.


REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 31374 (1983-09-01), Dell
patent: 4715515 (1987-12-01), Steilen
Great Plains Advertisement, p. 14 (date unknown).

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