Seed inductor box for an agricultural implement having multiple air paths

• US 10,709,056 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2019
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Chad M., Prickel, Marvin A., MacDonald, Grant T., Connors, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dillon, Jr., Joseph A
• Application Number:
  US16/386,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20190239422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 406 86, 406 90, 406 91, 406 94, 406 95, 406117, 406118, 406119, 406120, 406121, 406137, 406138, 406144, 406146, 406153, 111174, 111175, 111176, 56 133, 56 134
• 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

Abstract

A particulate material delivery system for an agricultural implement includes an inductor box configured to receive particulate material from a tank. The inductor box includes an inductor segment comprising a particulate material supply chamber configured to guide the particulate material toward a fluidization chamber, and an air supply chamber configured to receive airflow from an airflow supply. The inductor box is configured to direct the airflow from the air supply chamber to the particulate material supply chamber through a first airflow path and through a second airflow path remote from the first air path.

Claims

1. A particulate material delivery system for an agricultural implement comprising:

an inductor segment including a housing comprising a particulate material supply chamber configured to receive a particulate material from a particulate material tank;

an upper airflow path configured to direct an airflow from an airflow supply into the particulate material supply chamber;

a first screen positioned in an upper portion of the housing, wherein air moves through the first screen and particulate material moves over the first screen;

a lower airflow path configured to direct the airflow from the airflow supply into the particulate material supply chamber;

a second screen positioned in a lower portion of the housing, wherein air moves through the second screen and particulate material moves over the second screen; and

a tank airflow path configured to direct the airflow from the airflow supply to the particulate material tank, and

wherein the housing of the inductor segment comprises at least one inlet and an outlet, the at least one inlet configured to receive the particulate material from the particulate material tank, the outlet configured to expel the particulate material.

2. The particulate material delivery system of claim 1, wherein the at least one inlet and the outlet of the particulate material supply chamber are substantially perpendicular to one another.

3. The particulate material delivery system of claim 1, wherein the upper airflow path is non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the inlet of the particulate material supply chamber.

4. The particulate material delivery system of claim 1, wherein the lower airflow path is substantially parallel to the outlet of the particulate material supply chamber.

5. The particulate material delivery system of claim 1, wherein the upper airflow path and the lower airflow path are remote from one another.

6. The particulate material delivery system of claim 1, wherein the inductor segment comprises a fluidization chamber configured to receive the particulate material from the particulate material supply chamber.

7. The particulate material delivery system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the upper airflow path comprises a first airflow and a third airflow, both of which pass through the first screen, and wherein at least a portion of the lower air flow path comprises a second airflow and a fourth airflow, the second airflow passing through the second screen and the fourth airflow passing through an air bypass channel and into the particulate material delivery chamber.