Air entrainment device for seed delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9980425-B2
Application number	US-201514984595-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Jul 2, 2009
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

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. 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 a seed delivery device, said seed delivery device including an air permeable surface and an air bypass channel;
wherein said seed is delivered to an area adjacent said air permeable surface;
providing airflow to the seed delivery device such that a first air stream of the airflow is directed towards the permeable surface and seed, 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.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising lifting at least some of the seed with the first air stream of the airflow before recombining the air streams.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising recombining the first air stream with the seed and the second air stream at an outlet port for delivering to one of the row units.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the airflow provided to the seed delivery device is substantially normal to the direction of the first and second airstreams.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing the velocity of the airflow at the seed delivery device before splitting the airflow between the first and second air streams.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first air stream agitates and lifts an amount of seed to direct the combined air stream and seed towards an outlet.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the seed delivery device comprises a seed and air mixing chamber that directs the combined seed and first air stream towards the outlet.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first air stream and seed and the second air stream combine before leaving the seed delivery device via the outlet.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the airflow for the seed delivery device is provided by a fan.

10. A method for delivering seed from one or more hoppers to a plurality of row units of a planter, the method comprising:
providing a seed delivery device corresponding to each row unit of the planter, said seed delivery device including an air permeable surface 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 permeable surface thereof;
providing airflow to the seed delivery device such that a first air stream of the airflow is directed towards the permeable surface and seed, 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.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising lifting at least some of the seed with the first air stream of the airflow before recombining the air streams.

12. The method of claim 11 , 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 seed delivery device.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising delivering the seed to the row unit via a conduit between the seed delivery device and the row unit.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the seed delivery to the row unit automatically stops when the row unit does not require additional seed delivered.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the seed delivery device comprises a seed and air mixing chamber that directs the combined seed and first air stream towards the outlet.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first air stream and seed and the second air stream combine before leaving the seed delivery device via the outlet.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first air stream and the seed and the second air stream combine after leaving the seed delivery device via the outlet.

18. A method of delivering seed to a row unit of a planter, the method comprising:
providing a seed delivery device comprising a seed chamber having at least one air permeable surface, a bypass channel, and an outlet;
adding seed to the seed chamber of the seed delivery device;
providing air to the seed delivery device, said air separating into a first stream passing through the permeable surface to combine with seed, and a second stream passing through the bypass channel;
combining the first stream and seed with the second stream at the outlet; and
delivering the air and seed combination to one of the row units of the planter.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein each of the row units of the planter is associated with one of the seed delivery devices of the planter.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the seed delivery to the row unit is automatically stopped when the row unit has enough seed.

Assignees

• Kinze Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Wilhelmi Matthew J
• Shoup Kenneth E
• Koop Daniel

Classifications

• A01C7/084 Primary

  Pneumatic distribution heads for seeders · CPC title

• A01C7/042

  using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/081 Primary

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/082

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