Pressure equalizer for pneumatic planter

• US 3,885,704 A
• Filed: 05/24/1971
• Issued: 05/27/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Case Corporation (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Daniel Henry, Darlo E. Lienemann
• Inventors: Lienemann, Darlo E., Henry, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kocovsky, Thomas E.
• Application Number:
  US05/146,258
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 222/193,194 221/211
• US Class Current: 221/211
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/006 Hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/044 Pneumatic seed wheels

Abstract

A seed dispenser for planters including a rotatable seed selector drum having peripheral openings, air under pressure is delivered to the interior of the drum to seat and retain seed in said openings, and the seeds are released and discharged from the drum after a predetermined rotation of the drum. Seeds are fed to the drum from a hopper, and to assure the free flow of seed, air under pressure is also introduced into the hopper to equalize the pressure therebetween and the drum.

Claims

1. A seed dispenser assembly for planters comprising, a stationary wall having openings formed therein;

a rotatable seed selector formed of a drum having a closed end and an open end, said rotatable seed selector rotatably mounted such that said open end is adjacent said stationary wall, sealing means between said drum and said stationary wall to prevent escape of air under pressure from the drum;

a seed hopper having a top opening, a lid, sealing means between said top opening and said lid to prevent escape of air under pressure from the seed hopper, and a seed discharge outlet connected to the seed selector for delivering seed thereto;

an air blower for supplying air under pressure to the interior of the seed selector;

said openings connected to said blower and to said hopper respectively to direct air under pressure and seed to the interior of the drum; and

a by-pass opening formed in said stationary wall, said bypass opening being connected to the hopper to direct air under pressure to the latter for equalizing the air pressure in the hopper with the air pressure in the seed selector to facilitate the flow of seed to the seed selector.

2. In a planter having a frame, said frame including a stationary wall having an opening therein, a seed selector formed of a drum having a closed end and an open end rotatably mounted on the frame such that said open end is adjacent to said stationary wall, sealing means between said drum and said stationary wall to prevent the escape of air under pressure from the drum, a seed hopper mounted on the frame having a top opening, a lid, sealing means between said top opening and said lid to prevent escape of air under pressure said hopper, and a seed discharge outlet, connecting means between said outlet and the seed selector for feeding seed thereto, means on the frame including a blower connected to said opening for supplying air under pressure to the interior of the seed selector drum, said stationary wall having another opening therein, at a location removed from said seed discharge outlet, connected to said hopper for directing air under pressure to the hopper from the drum and for supplying air under pressure from the drum to the seed hopper to equalize the air pressure between the hopper and the seed selector.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2, wherein an air pressure gauge is mounted in the upper portion of the hopper to register the air pressure in the hopper.