Seed entraining systems, methods and apparatus
First Claim
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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.
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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.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An agricultural planter, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 13, 14)
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4. An agricultural seed entrainer for an agricultural planter, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 11, 12)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification