Air entrainment device for seed delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018271007-A1
Application number	US-201815991177-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 29, 2018
Priority date	Jul 2, 2009
Publication date	Sep 27, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A seed delivery device including a frame defining at least one seed chamber. The frame includes a sidewall and an air permeable floor. Seed can be received and deposited on the air permeable floor through an input port. An air input channel is utilized to introduce an air stream into the seed chamber and direct it through the air permeable floor such that seed is lifted from the air permeable floor to an outlet port. An air bypass channel is configured to separate the air stream into a first stream that is directed through the air permeable floor and a second stream that is directed through the bypass channel and recombined with the first stream, at a point prior to the output port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An agricultural planter, comprising:
an air entrainment assembly comprising a plurality of air entrainment devices, each of said plurality of air entrainment devices comprising:
a. a seed inlet,
b. an air inlet,
c. a first channel wherein seed and air combine,
d. a second channel wherein air from the inlet bypasses the first channel, and
e. an outlet wherein the combination of the seed and air combine with the air from the second channel;
wherein the seed and air are directed from the outlet to at least one of a plurality of row units positioned on a toolbar of the agricultural planter.

2 . The agricultural planter of claim 1 , further comprising one or more hoppers for holding seed, the one or more hoppers providing seed to the plurality of air entrainment devices.

3 . The agricultural planter of claim 2 , further comprising a distribution tray positioned at least partially between the one or more hoppers and the air entrainment assembly.

4 . The agricultural planter of claim 1 , further comprising a fan operatively connected to the air inlets of the plurality of air entrainment devices.

5 . The agricultural planter of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of outlet conduits between the outlets of plurality of air entrainment devices and the at least one of the plurality of row units.

6 . The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of air entrainment devices further comprises a detachable base member to allow for the removal of seed from within the plurality of air entrainment devices.

7 . The agricultural planter of claim 6 , wherein the detachable base member comprises a mechanical fastener connected to a portion of the plurality of air entrainment devices to allow for access to within each of the plurality of air entrainment devices.

8 . The agricultural planter of claim 7 , wherein the detachable base member is rotatably mounted to the plurality of air entrainment devices to allow for rotational opening of the detachable base member.

9 . The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the outlet is substantially normal to the first channel.

10 . The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the outlet is substantially normal to the second channel.

11 . A method for delivering seed from one or more hoppers to a row unit of a planter including a plurality of row units, the method comprising:
delivering seed from the one or more hoppers to an air entrainment device, said air entrainment device comprising a seed inlet, an air inlet, a first channel wherein seed and air combine, a second channel wherein air from the inlet bypasses the first channel, and an outlet wherein the combination of the seed and air combine with the air from the second channel; providing airflow to the air entrainment device such that a first air stream of the airflow is directed towards the first channel and seed, and a second air stream is directed towards the second channel, and wherein the first air stream combines with seed; and recombining the first and second air streams of the airflow and seed at or near the outlet to deliver the seed to one of the row units of the planter.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising lifting at least some of the seed with the first air stream of the airflow before recombining the air streams.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the airflow provided to the air entrainment device is substantially normal to the direction of the first and second airstreams.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising increasing the velocity of the airflow at the air entrainment device before splitting the airflow between the first and second air streams.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first air stream agitates and lifts an amount of seed to direct the combined air stream and seed towards an outlet.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the airflow for the seed delivery device is provided by a fan.

17 . A method for delivering seed from one or more hoppers to a plurality of row units of a planter, the method comprising:
providing an air entrainment device corresponding to each row unit of the planter, said air entrainment device including an air and seed mixing channel and an air bypass channel; adding seed from the one or more hoppers to each of the seed delivery devices, with the seed being positioned adjacent the air and seed mixing channel; providing airflow to the seed delivery device such that a first air stream of the airflow is directed towards the air and seed mixing channel, and a second air stream is directed towards the air bypass channel, and wherein the first air stream combines with seed; and recombining the first and second air streams of the airflow and seed to deliver the seed to one of the row units of the planter.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising recombining the first air stream with the seed and the second air stream at an outlet port for delivering to the row unit associated with the air entrainment device.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising delivering the seed to the row unit via a conduit between the seed delivery device and the row unit, and wherein the seed delivery to the row unit automatically stops when the row unit does not require additional seed delivered.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first air stream and seed and the second air stream combine before leaving the seed delivery device via the outlet.

Assignees

• Kinze Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Wilhelmi Matthew J
• Shoup Kenneth
• Koop Daniel

Classifications

• A01C7/084 Primary

  Pneumatic distribution heads for seeders · CPC title

• A01C7/042

  using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/082

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

• A01C7/081 Primary

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title