Agricultural product delivery applicator with a pneumatic conveying system having a distributor assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11259459-B2
Application number	US-202016819815-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2020
Priority date	Mar 16, 2020
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field. The applicator includes a supply compartment to hold the product and a pneumatic conveying system. The system includes an airflow source to provide an airflow, and a delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment. The delivery line includes a supply line and a plurality of distribution lines. The system further includes a distributor coupling the supply line with the plurality of distribution lines, a motor disposed on the distribution lines side of the distributor, a shaft assembly rotatable by the motor, and a bearing supporting the shaft assembly on the supply line side of the distributor. The applicator further includes a metering system operably connected between the supply compartment and the pneumatic conveying system. The metering system meters product with the airflow to result in a mixed flow of airflow and product.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field, the applicator comprising:
a supply compartment to hold the product;
a pneumatic conveying system comprising:
an airflow source to provide an airflow;
a delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment, the delivery line including a supply line and a plurality of distribution lines;
a distributor coupling the supply line with the plurality of distribution lines, the distributor including an aperture;
a motor disposed on a distribution lines side of the distributor;
a shaft assembly rotatable by the motor and including an agitator portion substantially disposed on a supply line side of the distributor, the shaft assembly extending through the aperture of the distributor; and
a bearing supporting the shaft assembly on the supply line side of the distributor; and

a metering system operably connected between the supply compartment and the pneumatic conveying system, the metering system to meter product with the airflow to result in a mixed flow of airflow and product.

2. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic conveying system includes a distributor assembly comprising the distributor, the motor, the shaft assembly, and the bearing.

3. The applicator of claim 2 , wherein the distributor assembly further comprises a plurality of distributor outlets providing outlet channels for the distributor.

4. The applicator of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of distributor outlets are fastened to the distributor, and wherein at least one of the plurality of distributor outlets includes a mounting flange to mount the motor to the distributor.

5. The applicator of claim 2 , wherein the distributor assembly further comprises a deflector on the supply line side of the distributor.

6. The applicator of claim 5 , wherein the deflector is fastened to the distributor and includes an aperture, wherein the shaft assembly rotatably extends through the aperture of the distributor.

7. The applicator of claim 5 , wherein the deflector includes a conical portion, a scallop portion, and a scallop edge separating the conical portion and the scallop portion.

8. The applicator of claim 7 , wherein the distributor includes a plurality of distributor outlets providing outlet channels for the distributor, wherein the scallop portion includes substantially planer surfaces to conform to an inner portion of the distributor outlets.

9. The applicator of claim 2 , wherein the distributor includes a plurality of distributor outlets providing outlet channels for the distributor, wherein the distributor includes wedged-shaped spokes defining in part the outlet channels.

10. The applicator of claim 2 , wherein the distributor assembly includes an elongated tube disposed on the supply side of the distributor and fastened to the distributor.

11. The applicator of claim 10 , wherein the elongated tube includes a conical portion.

12. The applicator of claim 2 , wherein the bearing includes an arcuate portion, a bearing portion, and a spoke portion connecting the arcuate portion and the bearing portion.

13. The applicator of claim 12 , wherein the bearing is a hanger bearing including the arcuate portion, the spoke portion, and the bearing portion.

14. The applicator of claim 12 , wherein the distributor assembly includes an elongated tube disposed on the supply side of the distributor and fastened to the distributor, and the arcuate portion of the bearing is fastened to the elongated tube.

15. An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field, the applicator comprising:
a supply compartment to hold the product;
a pneumatic conveying system comprising:
an airflow source to provide an airflow;
a delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment, the delivery line including a supply line and a plurality of distribution lines;
a distributor coupling the supply line with the plurality of distribution lines, the distributor including an aperture;
a deflector fastened to the distributor on the supply line side of the distributor, the deflector including an aperture;
a motor disposed on a distribution lines side of the distributor; and
a shaft assembly rotatable by the motor and including an agitator portion substantially disposed on a supply line side of the distributor, the shaft assembly extending through the aperture of the distributor and the aperture of deflector; and

a metering system operably connected between the supply compartment and the pneumatic conveying system, the metering system to meter product with the airflow to result in a mixed flow of airflow and product.

16. The applicator of claim 15 , wherein the deflector includes a conical portion, a scallop portion, and a scallop edge separating the conical portion and the scallop portion.

17. The applicator of claim 16 , wherein the distributor includes a plurality of distributor outlets providing outlet channels for the distributor, wherein the scallop portion includes substantially planer surfaces to conform to an inner portion of the distributor outlets.

18. The applicator of claim 15 , wherein the pneumatic conveying system includes a distributor assembly comprising the distributor, the deflector, the motor, and the shaft assembly.

19. The applicator of claim 15 , wherein the distributor assembly further comprises a bearing supporting the shaft assembly on the supply line side of the distributor.

20. An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field, the applicator comprising:
a supply compartment to hold the product;
a pneumatic conveying system comprising:
an airflow source to provide an airflow;
a delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment, the delivery line including a supply line and a plurality of distribution lines;
a distributor coupling the supply line with the plurality of distribution lines, the distributor including an aperture;
a deflector fastened to the distributor on the supply line side of the distributor, the deflector including an aperture;
a motor disposed on a distribution lines side of the distributor;
a shaft assembly rotatable by the motor and including an agitator portion substantially disposed on a supply line side of the distributor, the shaft assembly extending through the aperture of the distributor; and
a bearing supporting the shaft assembly on the supply line side of the distributor; and

a metering system operably connected between the supply compartment and the pneumatic conveying system, the metering system to meter product with the airflow to result in a mixed flow of airflow and product.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Ruppert Rex Leroy
• Pederson Nicholas R
• O'Connell Charles
• Martin Jeffrey Scot
• Honermann John Paul

Classifications

• A01C15/04 Primary

  using blowers · CPC title

• A01M9/003 Primary

  Pneumatic field dusters, e.g. self-propelled, drawn or tractor-mounted · CPC title

• B65G53/06

  Gas pressure systems operating without fluidisation of the materials · CPC title

• A01C15/006

  Hoppers · CPC title

• A01C15/003

  Bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm · CPC title