Seed entraining systems, methods and apparatus

• US 10,070,576 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: Swanson, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US14/894,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20160135361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 406123, 111174, 111175
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/044 Pneumatic seed wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/081 Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/082 Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/088 Sectional seeding
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/124 with top delivery of the seeds
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/163 Gravity distributors

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for entraining seed into a plurality of seed supply lines. Some embodiments enable selective prevention of seeds from entering a subset of seed supply lines. Some embodiments enable improved flow of seed through an entrainer by angled surfaces provided on blocking members disposed to selectively block seed from entering seed supply lines.

Claims

1. An agricultural planter, comprising:

a bulk seed hopper;

an entrainer disposed beneath said bulk seed hopper, said entrainer receiving seed by gravity from said bulk seed hopper, said entrainer including a plurality of entrainer modules, each of said plurality of entrainer modules having a seed inlet disposed at a seed inlet height and a seed outlet;

a plurality of row unit auxiliary hoppers, each said auxiliary hopper in fluid communication with one of said module outlets; and

a plurality of blocking members corresponding to a subset of said plurality of entrainer modules, wherein each seed inlet of said subset of said plurality of entrainer modules removably receiving one of said plurality of blocking members such that each of said plurality of blocking members is disposed to block said seed inlet of one of said subset of said plurality of entrainer modules, each of said plurality of blocking members having an upper surface disposed at an upper surface height, said upper surface height being vertically higher than said seed inlet height.

2. The agricultural planter of claim 1, wherein said upper surface comprises an angled surface, whereby seed passing over said angled surface into said entrainer is guided toward said seed inlet of a neighboring one of said plurality of entrainer modules.

3. The agricultural planter of claim 2, wherein outboard ones of said subset of said plurality of entrainer modules have said angled surface facing inboard, whereby seed entering said entrainer is guided toward a transverse center of said entrainer.

13. The agricultural planter of claim 1, wherein said upper surface comprises an angled surface, whereby seed passing over said angled surface into said entrainer flows by gravity over said angled surface into said seed inlet of a neighboring one of said plurality of entrainer modules.

14. The agricultural planter of claim 1, wherein said upper surface comprises an angled surface, whereby seed passing over said angled surface into said entrainer is guided toward one side of said blocking member.

4. An agricultural seed entrainer for an agricultural planter, comprising:

a bulk seed hopper;

a seed entrainer disposed beneath said bulk seed hopper and receiving seed by gravity from said bulk seed hopper, said seed entrainer comprising a plurality of entrainer modules, each of said plurality of entrainer modules having a module inlet and a module outlet, said module inlet having an upper end, said upper end disposed at an inlet height; and

a plurality of blocking members corresponding to a subset of said plurality of entrainer modules, wherein each module inlet of said subset of said plurality of entrainer modules removably receiving one of said plurality of blocking members such that each of said plurality of blocking members is disposed to block said module inlet of one of said subset of said plurality of entrainer modules, each of said plurality of blocking members having an upper surface, said upper surface disposed at an upper surface height, said upper surface height being vertically higher than said inlet height.

5. The agricultural seed entrainer of claim 4, wherein said upper surface comprises an angled surface, whereby seed passing over said angled surface into said seed entrainer flows by gravity over said angled surface into said module inlet of a neighboring one of said plurality of entrainer modules.

6. The agricultural seed entrainer of claim 4, wherein said upper surface comprises an angled surface, whereby seed passing over said angled surface into said seed entrainer is guided toward one side of said blocking member.

11. The agricultural seed entrainer of claim 4, wherein outboard ones of said subset of said plurality of entrainer modules have said angled surface facing inboard, whereby seed entering said seed entrainer is guided toward a transverse center of said seed entrainer.

12. The agricultural seed entrainer of claim 4, wherein said upper surface comprises an angled surface, whereby seed passing over said angled surface into said seed entrainer is guided toward said module inlet of a neighboring one of said plurality of entrainer modules.

7. A method of entraining seed into an air-seed mixture in an agricultural seed entrainer, the seed entrainer positioned beneath a bulk seed hopper, the seed entrainer comprising a plurality of entrainer modules, each of the plurality of entrainer modules having a module inlet, a module outlet and a seed entraining area in pneumatic communication with an air inlet and an air outlet, the module inlet of each of the plurality of entrainer modules disposed to permit seed from the bulk seed hopper to flow by gravity through the module inlet of each of the plurality of entrainer modules and into the entrainer module'"'"'s entraining area, the method comprising:

inserting a first removable blocking member into the module inlet of a first module of the plurality of entrainer modules;

whereby said first removable blocking member blocks seed from flowing by gravity from the bulk hopper into said module inlet, said first removable blocking member having an upper surface disposed vertically higher than said module inlet of an adjacent second module of the plurality of entrainer modules.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said upper surface of said first blocking member inserted into the module inlet of said first module guides seed to one side of said first removable blocking member into said second module.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said upper surface of said first removable blocking member inserted into said module inlet of said first module is angled, causing seed to move by gravity across said upper surface of said first removable blocking member toward said module inlet of said adjacent second module.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said first blocking member includes ridges and said module inlet of said first module includes corresponding notches, whereby when said first removable blocking member is inserted into said module inlet of said first module, said notches receive said ridges, thereby removably securing said first removable blocking member within said module inlet of said first module.