AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR A PNEUMATIC CONVEYING SYSTEM

• US 20160120098A1
• Filed: 11/04/2015
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Hui, Ka Po Catherine, Roberge, Martin J., Thompson, Dennis George
• Granted Patent: US 10,306,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/082 Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders

Abstract

A system for pressurizing a tank of an agricultural air distribution system includes an air source configured to supply pressurized air and a plenum having an inlet fluidly coupled to the air source and configured to receive a flow of pressurized air. The plenum includes a face element positioned opposite from the inlet relative to a direction of flow of the pressurized air through the plenum. Moreover, the face element includes a pressurization port configured to direct the flow of pressurized air to the tank and at least one outlet port configured to couple to at least one hose to supply the pressurized air to an agricultural implement.

Claims

1. A system for pressurizing a tank of an agricultural air distribution system, comprising:

a plenum having an inlet configured to fluidly couple to an air source and to receive a flow of pressurized air from the air source, wherein the plenum comprises;

a face element positioned opposite from the inlet relative to a direction of flow of the pressurized air through the plenum;

a pressurization port extending from the face element and configured to direct the flow of the pressurized air to the tank; and

at least one outlet port extending from the face element and configured to couple to at least one hose to supply the pressurized air to an agricultural implement.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressurization port is laterally centered on the face element.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet port comprises a plurality of outlet ports positioned symmetrically on opposite lateral sides of the pressurization port.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plenum comprises:

a first side, extending from the inlet to the face element, coupled to a top element and a bottom element, the top element being opposite the bottom element, wherein the first side comprises a curved portion; and

a second side, opposite the first side, extending from the inlet to the face element and coupled to the top element and the bottom element, wherein the second side comprises a curved portion substantially symmetrical to the curved portion of the first side.

5. The system of claim 4, comprising a baffle assembly disposed within the plenum, wherein the baffle assembly is configured to extend from the top element to the bottom element.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the baffle assembly is positioned symmetrically about a longitudinal centerline of the plenum.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the baffle assembly is configured to change a property of the flow such that the pressurized air at the pressurization port is at a different velocity than the pressurized air at the at least one outlet port.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plenum comprises:

a flange at the inlet; and

a body extending from the flange, wherein the body comprises the face element;

wherein the body, the flange, the pressurization port, and the at least one outlet port are formed from a single piece of material.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the flange includes a projection extending about a periphery of the flange and configured to stiffen the flange.

10. The system of claim 8, comprising at least one baffle disposed within the body, wherein the at least one baffle, the body, the flange, the pressurization port, and the at least one outlet port are formed from the single piece of material.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the plenum has a first width at the inlet and a second width at the face element, and the first width is smaller than the second width.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the plenum has a first height at the inlet and a second height at the face element, and the first height is smaller than the second height.

13. The system of claim 1, comprising at least one rib integrally formed on a wall of the plenum.

14. The system of claim 1, comprising a barb on the pressurization port or on the at least one outlet port, wherein the barb is configured to facilitate retention of a pressurization hose on the pressurization port or the at least one hose on the at least one outlet port.

15. The system of claim 1, comprising a rounded transition between the face element and the at least one outlet port or the pressurization port.

16. A system for distributing air to an agricultural implement, comprising:

an air source configured to supply a flow of pressurized air;

a tank configured to store an agricultural product for distribution by the agricultural implement, wherein the tank comprises a meter configured to regulate a flow of the agricultural product from the tank; and

a plenum fluidly coupled to the air source and configured to direct the flow of the pressurized air to a plurality of hoses and to the tank via a pressurization line, comprising;

a first side coupled to a top element and a bottom element, the top element being opposite the bottom element;

a second side, opposite the first side, coupled to the top element and the bottom element;

an inlet positioned at a first end and configured to receive the flow of the pressurized air from the air source;

a face element positioned at a second end, opposite the first end;

a pressurization port extending from the face element and configured to couple to the pressurization line; and

a plurality of outlet ports extending from the face element and configured to couple to the plurality of hoses.

17. The system of claim 16, comprising a baffle assembly disposed within the plenum, wherein the baffle assembly is configured to regulate the flow of the pressurized air through the plenum.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the baffle assembly comprises at least one baffle, and wherein an orientation of the at least one baffle, a position of the at least one baffle, or a combination thereof, is adjustable.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the pressurization port is laterally centered on the face element, and the plurality of outlet ports are positioned about the pressurization port.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the first side and the second side each comprises a curved portion configured to direct the flow of the pressurized air toward the face element.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein a first width of the plenum at the inlet is less than a second width of the plenum at the face element.

22. A method of manufacturing a plenum for distributing a flow of air from an air source, comprising:

flowing a material into a mold cavity to form a body and a baffle assembly of the plenum such that the body and the baffle assembly are integrally formed from the material;

wherein the body comprises;

an inlet positioned at a first end of the body and configured receive the flow of air from the air source;

a first side coupled to a top element and a bottom element, wherein the top element is opposite the bottom element;

a second side, opposite the first side, coupled to the top element and the bottom element; and

a face element disposed on a second end of the body, opposite the first end, wherein the face element is configured to support at least one outlet port configured to direct the flow of air out of the plenum; and

wherein the baffle assembly is disposed within the body and configured to control the flow of air through the plenum.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the baffle assembly comprises:

a first baffle positioned at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the plenum; and

a second baffle positioned at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the plenum, wherein the first baffle is opposite the second battle.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first baffle and the second baffle are configured to establish a first passage between the first and second baffles, a second passage between the first baffle and the first side, and a third passage between the second baffle and the second side, wherein a flow characteristic is different in the first passage than in the second and third passages.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first baffle and the second baffle extend from the top element to the bottom element.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein flowing the material into the mold cavity forms the at least one outlet port such that the body, the baffle assembly, and the at least one outlet port are integrally formed from the material.