Air seeder manifold system

• US 10,321,624 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Reich, Adam A., Gelinske, Joshua N., Batcheller, Barry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Testardi, David A
• Application Number:
  US15/431,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20170156258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• 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 7/084 Pneumatic distribution heads for seeders
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/102 Regulating or controlling the seed rate
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/105 Seed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/666 by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/00 Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries

Abstract

A manifold system for balancing particle delivery from multiple discharge outlets includes a diverter subassembly movably mounted in a manifold for balancing discharge from the outlets. The manifold system is disclosed in an agricultural air seeder application, with the particles comprising tubes and the discharge outlets being connected to ground-engaging tools for depositing seeds in space, subsurface locations in a crop field. Automated and manually-adjustable embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. An air seeder system, which comprises:

an agricultural vehicle including a tillage implement;

a seed hopper mounted on the agricultural vehicle;

a primary seed tube with a proximate end connected to the seed hopper and a distal end;

a primary manifold including an inlet connected to the primary seed tube distal end and multiple seed discharge outlets;

said primary seed tube conveying seed from the hopper to the manifold;

a seed flow diverter subassembly mounted on said primary manifold and including;

a generally conical diverter member adjustably positioned within said manifold; and

a diverter actuator connected to said diverter member and configured for repositioning said diverter member by movement of said diverter member generally in a plane to an alternative position within said manifold relative to said seed discharge outlets; and

said diverter actuator including a servo motor mounted on said manifold and including an actuator rod connected to said diverter member, said actuator rod being configured for repositioning said diverter member in said manifold relative to said manifold outlets.

2. The air seeder system according to claim 1, which includes:

said servo motor comprising a first servo motor; and

a second servo motor mounted on said manifold and including an actuator rod connected to said diverter member.

3. The air seeder system according to claim 2, which includes:

said diverter subassembly including first and second anchors each slidably mounted on said manifold and threadably receiving a respective actuator rod; and

each said actuator rod being threadably extendable and retractable through a respective anchor for repositioning said diverter member in a respective first or second direction.

4. The air seeder system according to claim 1, which includes:

multiple secondary seed tubes each including a secondary seed tube proximate end connected to a respective primary manifold discharge outlet and a secondary seed tube distal end;

multiple secondary manifolds mounted on said implement and each including an inlet connected to a respective secondary seed tube distal end and multiple secondary manifold discharge outlets; and

said system distributing seed from said hopper to said primary manifold in a first distribution stage and further distributing seed from said primary manifold to said secondary manifold via said secondary seed tubes in a second distribution stage.

5. The air seeder system according to claim 4, which includes:

multiple final seed tubes each including a proximate end connected to a respective secondary manifold discharge outlet and a distal end;

multiple seed-depositing tools each mounted on said implement and connected to a respective final seed tube distal end; and

each said seed-depositing tool configured for planting seeds subsurface in a crop field.

6. The air seeder system according to claim 1, which includes:

a system controller including a microprocessor and connected to said vehicle and said implement, said system controller programmed for controlling operating parameters of said vehicle and said implement;

a manifold controller including a microprocessor and connected to said system controller and said air seeder manifold; and

said manifold controller programmed for operating said diverter actuator to balance seed discharge among said multiple seed discharge outlets.

7. The air seeder system according to claim 1 wherein said diverter actuator includes:

first and second adjusting screws each connected to said diverter member and configured for repositioning said diverter member in said manifold relative to said manifold outlets;

said diverter subassembly including a plate forming a flange receiver;

said diverter member including;

a generally conical configuration with an apex located in said manifold;

a coaxial internal stem;

a diverter member flange extending radially outwardly from said stem and received in said flange receiver; and

a generally conical elastomeric or rubber shell positioned in said manifold and receiving said internal stem coaxially positioned therein; and

said manifold being configured for seed flow therethrough impacting said diverter member shell.

8. An air seeder system, which comprises:

an agricultural vehicle including a tillage implement;

a seed hopper mounted on the agricultural vehicle;

a primary seed tube with a proximate end connected to the hopper and a distal end;

a secondary manifold including an inlet connected to the primary seed tube distal end and multiple seed discharge outlets;

said primary seed tube conveying seed from the hopper to the secondary manifold;

a seed flow diverter subassembly mounted on said secondary manifold and including;

a diverter member adjustably positioned within said secondary manifold; and

a diverter actuator connected to said diverter member and configured for repositioning said diverter member within said secondary manifold relative to said seed discharge outlets;

multiple secondary seed tubes each including a secondary seed tube proximate end connected to a respective secondary manifold discharge outlet and a secondary seed tube distal end;

multiple tertiary manifolds mounted on said implement and each including an inlet connected to a respective secondary seed tube distal end and multiple tertiary manifold discharge outlets;

said system distributing seeds from said hopper to said secondary manifold in a first distribution stage and further distributing seed from said secondary manifold to said tertiary manifolds via said secondary seed tubes in a second distribution stage;

a system controller including a microprocessor and connected to said vehicle and said implement, said system controller programmed for controlling operating parameters of said vehicle and said implement;

a manifold controller including a microprocessor and connected to said system controller and said secondary manifold; and

said manifold controller programmed for operating said diverter actuator to balance seed discharge among said manifolds.

9. The air seeder system according to claim 8, which includes:

said diverter actuator including a servo motor mounted on said secondary manifold and including an actuator rod connected to said diverter member, said actuator rod being configured for repositioning said diverter member in said secondary manifold relative to said manifold outlets.

10. The air seeder system according to claim 9, which includes:

said servo motor comprising a first servo motor; and

a second servo motor mounted on said secondary manifold and including an actuator rod connected to said diverter member.

11. The air seeder system according to claim 10, which includes:

multiple final seed tubes each including a proximate end connected to a respective tertiary manifold discharge outlet and a distal end;

multiple seed-depositing tools each mounted on said implement and connected to a respective final seed tube distal end; and

each said seed-depositing tool configured for planting seeds subsurface in a crop field.

12. The air seeder system according to claim 8, which includes:

a primary manifold;

multiple secondary manifolds mounted on said implement and each including an inlet connected to the primary manifold and multiple secondary manifold discharge outlets; and

said system distributing seed from said hopper to said primary manifold in a first distribution stage and further distributing seed from said primary manifold to said secondary manifolds in a second distribution stage.

13. The air seeder system according to claim 8, which includes:

said diverter subassembly including first and second anchors each slidably mounted on said secondary manifold and threadably receiving a respective actuator rod; and

each said actuator rod being extendable and retractable through a respective anchor for repositioning said diverter member in a respective first or second direction.

14. The air seeder system according to claim 8 wherein said diverter actuator includes:

first and second adjusting screws each connected to said diverter member and configured for repositioning said diverter member in said secondary manifold relative to said manifold outlets;

said diverter subassembly including a plate forming a flange receiver;

said diverter member including;

a generally conical configuration with an apex located in said secondary manifold;

a coaxial internal stem;

a diverter member flange extending radially outwardly from said stem and received in said flange receiver; and

a generally conical elastomeric or rubber shell positioned in said secondary manifold and receiving said internal stem coaxially positioned therein; and

said secondary manifold being configured for seed flow therethrough impacting said diverter member shell.

15. An air seeder system which comprises:

an agricultural vehicle including a tillage implement;

a seed hopper mounted on the agricultural vehicle;

a primary seed tube with a proximate end connected to the hopper and a distal end;

a secondary manifold including an inlet connected to the primary seed tube distal end and multiple seed discharge outlets;

said primary seed tube conveying seed from the hopper to the secondary manifold;

a seed flow diverter subassembly mounted on said secondary manifold and including a diverter member adjustably positioned within said secondary manifold, said diverter member having;

a generally conical configuration with an apex located in said manifold;

a coaxial internal stem; and

a diverter member flange extending radially outwardly from said stem;

a diverter actuator connected to said diverter member and configured for repositioning said diverter member within said secondary manifold relative to said seed discharge outlets;

said diverter subassembly having a plate mounted on said manifold and movably mounting said diverter member, said diverter subassembly plate forming a flange receiver configured for slidably receiving said diverter member flange for generally planar movement therein;

multiple secondary seed tubes each including a secondary seed tube proximate end connected to a respective secondary manifold discharge outlet and a secondary seed tube distal end;

multiple tertiary manifolds mounted on said implement and each including an inlet connected to a respective secondary seed tube distal end and multiple tertiary manifold discharge outlets; and

said system distributing seeds from said hopper to said secondary manifold in a first distribution stage and further distributing seed from said secondary manifold to said tertiary manifolds via said secondary seed tubes in a second distribution stage.

16. The air seeder system according to claim 15, which includes:

a generally conical-shaped elastomeric or rubber shell positioned in said secondary manifold and receiving said internal stem coaxially positioned therein; and

said secondary manifold being configured for seed flow therethrough impacting said diverter member shell.

17. The air seeder system according to claim 16, which includes:

a first servo motor; and

a second servo motor mounted on said secondary manifold and including an actuator rod connected to said diverter member.

18. The air seeder system according to claim 15, which includes:

a primary manifold;

multiple secondary manifolds mounted on said implement and each including an inlet connected to the primary manifold and multiple secondary manifold discharge outlets;

said system distributing seed from said hopper to said primary manifold in a first distribution stage and further distributing seed from said primary manifold to said secondary manifolds in a second distribution stage;

multiple final seed tubes each including a proximate end connected to a respective tertiary manifold discharge outlet and a distal end;

multiple seed-depositing tools each mounted on said implement and connected to a respective final seed tube distal end; and

each said seed-depositing tool configured for planting seeds subsurface in a crop field.

19. The air seeder system according to claim 15, which includes:

said diverter subassembly including first and second anchors each slidably mounted on a mounting bracket and threadably receiving a respective actuator rod;

each said actuator rod being extendable and retractable through a respective anchor for repositioning said diverter member in a respective first or second direction; and

said diverter actuator including first and second adjusting screws each connected to said diverter member and configured for repositioning said diverter member in said secondary manifold relative to said manifold outlets.

20. The air seeder system according to claim 15, which includes:

a system controller including a microprocessor and connected to said vehicle and said implement, said system controller programmed for controlling operating parameters of said vehicle and said implement;

a manifold controller including a microprocessor and connected to said system controller and said secondary manifold; and

said manifold controller programmed for operating said diverter actuator to balance seed discharge among said manifolds.