Commodity delivery system for work vehicle with rotary manifold regulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10694660-B2
Application number	US-201816013679-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2018
Priority date	Jun 20, 2018
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A work vehicle includes a delivery system that distributes commodity from the source between a plurality of delivery runs. The delivery system includes at least one commodity manifold. The commodity manifold includes a first run structure with a first run passage, a second run with a second run passage, and a manifold regulator with a body that is rotatable about a rotation axis between a first position and a second position. The body at least partly defines a channel configured to receive and distribute the commodity. The channel has an inlet and an outlet. The outlet is in communication with the first run passage and disconnected from the second run passage in the first position. The outlet is in communication with the second run passage and disconnected from the first run passage in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A work vehicle comprising:
a commodity source;
a delivery system configured to receive a commodity from the commodity source and distribute the commodity between a plurality of delivery runs, the delivery system including at least one commodity manifold that includes:
a first run structure with a first run passage;
a second run structure with a second run passage; and
a manifold regulator with a body that is rotatable about a rotation axis between a first position and a second position, the body at least partly defining a channel configured to receive and distribute the commodity, the channel having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in communication with the commodity source in the first position and the second position, the outlet in communication with the first run passage and disconnected from the second run passage in the first position, the outlet in communication with the second run passage and disconnected from the first run passage in the second position;
wherein the body is rotatable about the axis between the first position, the second position, and a shut-off position;
wherein the inlet is in communication with the commodity source in the first, second, and shut-off positions; and
wherein the outlet, in the shut-off position, is disconnected from the first and second run.

2. The work vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a third run structure with a third run passage; and
wherein the body is rotatable about the rotation axis between the first position, the second position, and a third position;
wherein the inlet is in communication with the commodity source in the first, second, and third positions;
wherein the outlet, in the first position, is in communication with the first run passage and is disconnected from the second and third run passage;
wherein the outlet, in the second position, is in communication with the second run passage and is disconnected from the first and third run passage; and
wherein the outlet, in the third position, is in communication with the third run passage and is disconnected from the first and second run passage.

3. The work vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first run passage extends along a first run axis;
wherein the second run passage extends along a second run axis;
wherein the third run passage extends along a third run axis;
wherein the first, second, and third run axes are substantially parallel.

4. The work vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the rotation axis is substantially normal to the first, second, and third run axes.

5. The work vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the first run structure is spaced apart at a first vertical distance above the second run; and
wherein the third run structure is spaced apart at a second vertical distance below the second run structure.

6. A work vehicle comprising:
a commodity source;
a delivery system configured to receive a commodity from the commodity source and distribute the commodity between a plurality of delivery runs, the delivery system including at least one commodity manifold that includes:
a first run structure with a first run passage;
a second run structure with a second run passage;
a third run structure with a third run passage; and
a manifold regulator with a body that is rotatable about a rotation axis between a first position and a second position, the body at least partly defining a channel configured to receive and distribute the commodity, the channel having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in communication with the commodity source in the first position and the second position, the outlet in communication with the first run passage and disconnected from the second run passage in the first position, the outlet in communication with the second run passage and disconnected from the first run passage in the second position;
wherein the body is rotatable about the rotation axis between the first position, the second position, and a third position;
wherein the inlet is in communication with the commodity source in the first, second, and third positions;
wherein the outlet, in the first position, is in communication with the first run passage and is disconnected from the second and third run passage;
wherein the outlet, in the second position, is in communication with the second run passage and is disconnected from the first and third run passage;
wherein the outlet, in the third position, is in communication with the third run passage and is disconnected from the first and second run passage;
wherein the first run passage extends along a first run axis;
wherein the second run passage extends along a second run axis;
wherein the third run passage extends along a third run axis;
wherein the first, second, and third run axes are substantially parallel;
wherein the at least one commodity manifold includes a plurality of commodity manifolds;
wherein the first run structures of the plurality of commodity manifolds are arranged in a first horizontal row;
wherein the second run structures of the plurality of commodity manifolds are arranged in a second horizontal row;
wherein the third run structures of the plurality of commodity manifolds are arranged in a third horizontal row;
wherein the first horizontal row is spaced apart at the first vertical distance above the second horizontal row; and
wherein the third horizontal row is spaced apart at the second vertical distance below the second horizontal row.

7. The work vehicle of claim 3 , wherein at least two of the first run structure, the second run structure, and the third run structure are spaced apart at a horizontal distance.

8. A work vehicle comprising:
a commodity source;
a delivery system configured to receive a commodity from the commodity source and distribute the commodity between a plurality of delivery runs, the delivery system including at least one commodity manifold that includes:
a first run structure with a first run passage;
a second run structure with a second run passage;
a third run structure with a third run passage; and
a manifold regulator with a body that is rotatable about a rotation axis between a first position and a second position, the body at least partly defining a channel configured to receive and distribute the commodity, the channel having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in communication with the commodity source in the first position and the second position, the outlet in communication with the first run passage and disconnected from the second run passage in the first position, the outlet in communication with the second run passage and disconnected from the first run passage in the second position;
wherein the body is rotatable about the rotation axis between the first position, the second position, and a third position;
wherein the inlet is in communication with the commodity source in the first, second, and third positions;
wherein the outlet, in the first position, is in communication with the first run passage and is disconnected from the second and third run passage;
wherein the outlet, in the second position, is in communication with the second run passage and is disconnected from the first and third run passage;
wherein the outlet, in the third position, is in communication with the third run passage and is disconnected from the first and second run passage;
wherein the first run passage extends along a first run axis;
wherein the second run passage extends along a second run axis;
wherein the third run passage extends along a third run axis;
wherein the first, second, and third run axes are substantially parallel; and
wherein at least two of the first run structure, the second run structure, and the third run structure are spaced apart at a horizontal distance;
further compr

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Harmon Andrew W

Classifications

• A01C7/082 Primary

  Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders · CPC title

• B65G53/56

  Switches · CPC title

• A01C7/102

  Regulating or controlling the seed rate · CPC title

• A01C7/081

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/20 Primary

  Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed · CPC title