Protective wear cover for metering unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9944473-B2
Application number	US-201615195256-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2016
Priority date	Jun 28, 2016
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

The present invention provides a protective wear cover which may be utilized in a metering device housing to protect the housing in an area which may be subjected to high impact by product flow. The protective wear cover may be installed inside the metering device housing at the venturi induction zone. The protective wear cover may be manufactured from a highly wear resistant material. The shape of the protective wear cover may be suited to conform to the metering device housing in the protected area to ensure a tight fit and negligible effect on air flow. This protective wear cover may therefore serve as a sacrificial barrier which prevents wear on the metering device housing and may be periodically replaced when worn. Replacing the protective wear cover negates the need to replace the whole metering device housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatic agricultural product delivery system, comprising:
at least one product supply hopper;
a pneumatic source;
at least one product conveyance tube receiving air flow from the pneumatic source for supplying air entrained product to a utilization implement;
a metering device for supplying product from the supply hopper to a product conveyance tube;
an elongated drop chute of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having a front wall, a rear wall, and first and second sidewalls extending downwardly from the metering device to the product conveyance tube, the chop chute cross-sectional configuration having a varying width between the first and second sidewalls beginning near the metering device and diminishing to an intermediate lesser width which continues downwardly to an abrupt increase in width near the product conveyance tube, the abrupt increase followed by a gradual further increase in width formed by an arcuate region extending downwardly and terminating adjacent to the product delivery tube; and
a protective wear cover in contact with an interior portion of the elongated drop chute.

2. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the protective wear cover is in contact with the arcuate region extending downwardly.

3. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the elongated drop chute includes a boss for receiving a fastener, and wherein the protective wear cover includes a fastener housing in communication with the boss.

4. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 3 , further comprising a screw installed in the boss and the fastener housing, wherein the screw securely holds the protective wear cover to the interior portion of the elongated drop chute.

5. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the protective wear cover is manufactured from polyurethane.

6. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate width becomes essentially constant beginning about one-third the way from the metering device to the conveyance tube.

7. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the product conveyance tube is of a generally hollow cylindrical cross-section and the intermediate width increases abruptly at a distance approximately one-half the outer diameter of the product conveyance tube from the tube.

8. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the gradual further increase in width causes a small strong vortex to be formed adjacent thereto for accelerating product in a circular motion to facilitate the direction change from vertically downward to horizontal through the product conveyance tube.

9. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the varying width beginning near the metering device induces a large low-speed vortex below the metering device and functions to funnel product toward the center of the metering device.

10. An air cart having a pneumatic source for supplying a flow of air entrained agricultural product from a product hopper to be applied by a utilization implement to an agricultural field, including:
a metering device for supplying product from the hopper to a product conveyance tube;
an elongated drop chute of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having a front wall, a rear wall, and first and second sidewalls extending downwardly from the metering device to the product conveyance tube, the drop chute cross-sectional configuration having a varying width between the first and second sidewalls beginning near the metering device and diminishing to an intermediate lesser width which continues downwardly to an abrupt increase in width near the product conveyance tube, the abrupt increase followed by a gradual further increase in width formed by an arcuate region extending downwardly and terminating adjacent to the product conveyance tube; and
a protective wear cover in contact with an interior portion of the elongated drop chute.

11. The air cart of claim 10 , wherein the protective wear cover is in contact with the arcuate region extending downwardly.

12. The air cart of claim 10 , wherein the elongated drop chute includes a boss for receiving a fastener, and wherein the protective wear cover includes a fastener housing in communication with the boss.

13. The air cart of claim 12 , further comprising a screw installed in the boss and the fastener housing, wherein the screw securely holds the protective wear cover to the interior portion of the elongated drop chute.

14. The air cart of claim 10 , wherein the protective wear cover is manufactured from polyurethane.

15. An air cart having a pneumatic source for supplying a flow of air entrained agricultural product downstream in a conveyance tube from a product hopper to be applied by a utilization implement to an agricultural field, including:
a metering device for supplying product from the hopper to the product conveyance tube;
an elongated drop chute of a variable generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having a front wall, a rear wall, an upstream sidewall and a downstream sidewall extending downwardly from the metering device to the product conveyance tube, the rear wall and upstream sidewall remaining essentially flat from the metering device to the product conveyance tube, the downstream sidewall having an inward sloping region reducing the drop chute width beginning closely adjacent the metering device and continuing down about one-third the way from the metering device to the conveyance tube, and an abrupt corner causing an increase in drop chute width near the product conveyance tube followed by a curved region creating a gradual further increase in width formed by an arcuate region extending downwardly and terminating adjacent to the product delivery tube; and
a protective wear cover in contact with an interior portion of the elongated drop chute.

16. The air cart of claim 15 , wherein the protective wear cover is in contact with the arcuate region extending downwardly.

17. The air cart of claim 15 , wherein the elongated drop chute includes a boss for receiving a fastener, and wherein the protective wear cover includes, a fastener housing in communication with the boss.

18. The air cart of claim 17 , further comprising a screw installed in the boss and the fastener housing, wherein the screw securely holds the protective wear cover to the interior portion of the elongated drop chute.

19. The air cart of claim 15 , wherein the protective wear cover is manufactured from polyurethane.

20. The pneumatic agricultural product deli very system of claim 1 , wherein the rear wall and one sidewall remain essentially flat from the metering device to the product conveyance tube.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Bent Ethan Curtis Stephen
• Roberge Martin J
• Thompson Dennis George

Classifications

• B65G53/14

  the gas flow inducing feed of the materials by suction effect · CPC title

• A01C7/12

  Seeders with feeding wheels · CPC title

• A01C7/082

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

• B65G53/34 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• B65G2207/48

  Wear protection or indication features · CPC title