Seed dispensing device and system

• US 10,137,817 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lyle Wheeler
• Original Assignee: Lyle Wheeler
• Inventors: Wheeler, Lyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Snelting, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US14/957,428
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 414502, 414526
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/003 Bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/18 with endless chains , i.e. side transporting elements, e.g. auger or screw conveyors, swash plates

Abstract

The dispensing device and system pivotally attach to a hopper bottom trailer to deliver seed from the trailer to planters located throughout the farm. A main conduit inserts into a housing installed at the hopper of the trailer. A gate opens that allows seed to flow through the hopper into the housing. A main conduit inserts into the housing to collect seed and lift the seed both vertically and horizontally. An auger directs the seed upwards through the main conduit towards the dispensing conduit. The seed then gravitationally feeds downward from the dispensing conduit. A flexible conduit enables the user to direct the seed to different planters without moving the trailer.

Claims

1. A seed dispensing system for delivering seed to a planter from a hopper bottom trailer, the system comprising:

a main conduit that accepts the seed;

an auger within the main conduit, the auger transporting the seed through the main conduit;

a housing accepting seed from the trailer wherein the housing slidingly mounts onto the trailer;

a hopper of the trailer wherein the housing attaches to the trailer at the hopper below the trailer;

an attachment arm extending laterally outwards from the housing;

a trailer arm extending vertically below an opening in the trailer at the hopper wherein the trailer arm vertically supports the attachment arm of the housing, the attachment arm slidingly mounts above the trailer arm to secure the housing to the trailer wherein the attachment arm contacts the trailer arm below the opening;

a housing aperture of the housing that accepts seed from the trailer through the hopper;

an insertion aperture of the housing that accepts the auger, the auger transferring seed from the housing into the main conduit;

a dispensing conduit attached to the main conduit, the auger transporting the seed from the main conduit to the dispensing conduit, the seed exiting through the dispensing conduit.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a flexible conduit between the dispensing conduit and the main conduit, the auger transporting the seed from the main conduit to the flexible conduit, the flexible conduit enabling adjustment of the dispensing conduit.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a support arm pivotally attached to the trailer wherein the support arm enables horizontal positioning of the main conduit radially outwards from the pivotal attachment of the support arm to the trailer.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a first pivot securing the main conduit to the support arm, the first pivot enabling rotation of the main conduit around a vertical axis;

a second pivot securing the main conduit to the support arm, the second pivot enabling rotation of the main conduit around a horizontal axis.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a pivot arm to which the first pivot and second pivot attach;

a third pivot that pivotally attaches the support arm to the pivot arm.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the pivot arm adjusts the position of the first pivot and the second pivot radially outward from the third pivot.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a guide conduit of the housing that accepts at least a portion of a first end of the main conduit wherein the auger is at least partially exposed outside the first end of the main conduit.

8. A seed dispensing system for delivering seed to a planter from a hopper bottom trailer, the system comprising:

a main conduit that accepts the seed;

an auger within the main conduit, the auger transporting the seed through the main conduit, the auger at least partially exposed from the main conduit;

a housing accepting seed from the trailer;

a hopper of the trailer wherein the housing attaches to the trailer at the hopper;

a trailer aperture located within the trailer wherein seed flows through the trailer aperture at the hopper;

a housing aperture that accepts seed from the trailer through the hopper wherein the attachment of the hopper to the trailer at the hopper aligns the housing aperture with the trailer aperture;

a first attachment arm and a second attachment arm of the housing, the attachment arms extending laterally outward from the housing wherein the housing aperture is located between the first attachment arm and the second arm, the first attachment arm and the second attachment arm extending away from the housing aperture;

a first trailer arm and a second trailer extending vertically below the trailer aperture wherein the trailer arms vertically support the attachment arms of the housing by sliding the attachment arms over the trailer arms;

an insertion aperture of the housing that accepts the auger, the auger transferring seed from the housing into the main conduit;

a guide conduit of the housing that accepts at least a portion of the main conduit wherein the auger inserts into the housing to transfer the seed from the housing into the main conduit;

a dispensing conduit attached to the main conduit, the seed flowing from the main conduit into the dispensing conduit, the seed exiting through the dispensing conduit;

a support arm pivotally attached to the trailer wherein the support arm enables horizontal positioning of the main conduit radially outwards from the pivotal attachment of the support arm to the trailer.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first trailer arm and the second trailer extend towards each other.