METHOD FOR METERING GRANULAR MATERIAL AND APPARATUS FOR METERING GRANULAR MATERIAL

• US 20160157417A1
• Filed: 08/01/2014
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Horsch Maschinen GmbH (Horsch Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Horsch Maschinen GmbH (Horsch Holding AG)
• Inventors: Funck, Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 9,968,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/04 using blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/002 Apparatus for sowing fertiliser; Fertiliser drill
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/04 Single-grain seeders with or without suction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/046 with perforated seeding discs
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/081 Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/166 Centrifugal distributors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/206 Seed pipes

Abstract

Disclosed are a method for metering granular material, such as seeds, fertilizer, or the like, in particular within a distribution unit or sowing unit of a distribution machine or sowing machine as well as a corresponding metering apparatus. By way of the method, the granular material being carried and conveyed by an airflow and/or by its own kinetic energy is directed through a feed tube into a metering unit, where it is guided along an approximately circular arc path and tangentially directed into an outlet tube, which is adjacent to the metering unit and which runs, at least in a section, slightly curved. The granular material being approximately evenly spaced and/or evenly metered and conveyed in an outer area of the curved outlet tube is at least partially carried by the airflow being discharged and exiting the metering unit through the outlet tube.

Claims

1. A method for metering granular material, such as seeds, fertilizer, or the like, in particular within a distribution unit or sowing unit of a distribution machine or sowing machine, in which the granular material being carried and conveyed by an airflow and/or by its kinetic energy is directed through a feed tube into a metering unit, guided therein along an approximately circular arc path and tangentially directed into an outlet tube, which is adjacent to the metering unit and which runs slightly curved at least along a section.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, in which the granular material being approximately evenly spaced and/or evenly metered and conveyed in an outer area of the curved outlet tube is at least partially carried by the airflow being discharged and exiting the metering unit through the outlet tube.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, in which the granular material being approximately evenly spaced and/or evenly metered and conveyed in an outer area of the curved outlet tube is conveyed by its own kinetic energy through the outlet tube after leaving the metering unit.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, in which the circular arcs of the outlet tube and the inner cover surface of the metering unit tangentially abut and the air-guiding path and the grain-guiding path steplessly or seamlessly, merge into each other.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, in which a radius of curvature of the outlet tube increases continuously or discontinuously with increasing distance from the metering unit.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, in which a radius of curvature of the outlet tube is approximately constant, at least in a section abutting the metering unit.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, in which the granular material is guided largely collision-free and/or swirl-free in the outlet tube.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, in which the granular material approximately follows the path of the outlet tube in its path of movement.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, in which a velocity gradient of the airflow being guided in the outlet tube increases from the inner radius to the outer radius.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, in which the granular material is guided within the metering unit with mechanical support and/or under at least partial separation from the carrying airflow along an inner cover surface or inner wall, wherein approximately equal spacing from one another is imposed on the individual grains approaching the outlet tube.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, in which an airflow carrying the granular material is guided uninterruptedly from the feed tube through the metering unit, and to the outlet tube.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, in which the airflow being guided through the outlet tube and carrying and conveying the granular material, which is being conveyed in approximately equal spacing, is accelerated within the metering unit.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, in which the airflow, which is accelerated in the metering unit, enters into and exits from the outlet tube at a speed that is greater than a feed speed at which the airflow enters into the feed tube.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, in which the speed of the airflow being guided in the outlet tube increases as the distance from the metering unit increases and as the cross section of the outlet tube decreases.

15. A metering apparatus for granular material, such as seeds, fertilizer, or the like, which is, in particular, a component of a distribution unit or a sowing unit of a distribution machine or a sowing machine, with a metering unit, into which a feed tube leads for receiving an airflow and conveying it into the metering unit, which airflow at least partly carries and conveys the granular material, wherein the airflow is guidable within the metering unit along an approximately circular arc path and is tangentially directed into an outlet tube, which is adjacent to the metering unit and which runs slightly curved, at least in sections, wherein the circular arcs of the outlet tube and the inner cover surface of the metering unit tangentially abut and the air-guiding path and the grain-guiding path steplessly or seamlessly merge into each other, and wherein a radius of curvature of the outlet tube is approximately constant, at least in a section abutting the metering unit.

16. The metering apparatus as recited in claim 15, in which a radius of curvature of the outlet tube increases continuously or discontinuously with increasing distance from the metering unit.

17. The metering apparatus as recited in claim 15, in which the radius of curvature of the outlet tube decreases in the direction toward the side of the outlet exit.

18. The metering apparatus as recited in claim 15, in which the granular material is guided within the metering unit with mechanical support and/or under at least partial separation from the carrying airflow along an inner cover surface or inner wall, wherein approximately equal spacing from one another is imposable on the individual grains approaching the outlet tube.

19. The metering apparatus as recited in claim 15, in which an airflow carrying the granular material is guided uninterruptedly from the feed tube through the metering unit, and to the outlet tube.

20. The metering apparatus as recited in claim 19, in which the airflow being guided through the outlet tube and carrying and conveying the granular material, which is being conveyed in approximately equal spacing, is accelerated within the metering unit.

21. The metering apparatus as recited in claim 15, in which a cross section of the outlet tube is continuously or discontinuously reduced, at least along sections, as the distance from the metering unit increases.

22. A metering apparatus for granular material which is a component of a distribution unit or a sowing unit of a distribution machine or a sowing machine, including a metering unit, into which a feed tube leads for receiving an airflow and conveying the airflow into the metering unit with the airflow at least partly carrying and conveying the granular material, wherein the airflow is guided within the metering unit along an approximately circular arc path and is directed into an outlet tube which extends adjacent to the metering unit and is curved, at least along a section of the outlet tube abutting the metering unit

23. The metering apparatus as in claim 22 wherein the outlet tube and the inner cover surface of the metering unit abut and a radius of curvature of the outlet tube is approximately constant, at least along the section abutting the metering unit.

24. The metering apparatus as in claim 22 in which circular arcs of the outlet tube and the inner cover surface of the metering unit tangentially abut and steplessly or seamlessly, merge into each other.

25. The metering apparatus as in claim 22 in which a radius of curvature of the outlet tube increases continuously or discontinuously with increasing distance from the metering unit.

26. The metering apparatus as in claim 22, in which a radius of curvature of the outlet tube is approximately constant, at least in a section abutting the metering unit.

27. The metering apparatus as in claim 22 in which a cross section of the outlet tube is continuously or discontinuously reduced, at least along sections, as the distance from the metering unit increases.