Apparatus and method for heating and using air in pneumatic conveyor implement

• US 4,529,104 A
• Filed: 06/16/1983
• Issued: 07/16/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lor-Al Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal
• Inventors: Tyler, Loren E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUPPERT, MICHEAL
• Application Number:
  US06/504,881
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 222/57, 222/146.1, 222/146.2, 222/146.5, 222/608, 222/610, 222/617, 222/626, 222/627, 222/630, 222/636, 222/637, 222/318, 239/130, 239/135, 239/654, 239/655
• US Class Current: 222/146.2
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/04 using blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 9/003 Pneumatic field dusters, e.g. self-propelled, drawn or tractor-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/205 the material being spread by means of a gaseous current
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 10/007 Mobile apparatus specially adapted for preparing or applying liquid or semi-liquid thawing material or spreading granular material on wintry roads

Abstract

An apparatus for heating air for a pneumatic conveyor implement is disclosed. Air is heated in a variety of fashions including passing input air to fan (26) through radiator (53) of fan drive motor (54). Air is also heated by mixing it with the exhaust gases from exhaust pipes (66), (72) from the propulsion engine of vehicle 16 or the fan drive engine (54). The heated air enhances distribution uniformity of substance 20 at the outputs (28) of the implement.

Claims

1. A farm implement for applying a substance onto farmland, comprising:

a self-propelled vehicle, said vehicle including a propulsion engine with a first exhaust pipe;

a container carried by said vehicle for holding a bulk quantity of said substance;

means for distributing said substance, said distributing means including a fan, said fan having an intake for receiving intake gaseous fluid and an outlet for delivering pressurized gaseous fluid, said distributing means further including means for conveying said substance with said pressurized fluid along at least a portion of a path from said container to a distribution ejection device, the pressurized gaseous fluid flowing from said fan outlet to said conveying means;

a source of heat, said source of heat being an engine for driving said fan, said fan engine creating heat, said fan engine having a second exhaust pipe, said fan having an intake portion; and

means for heating one of said intake fluid and said pressurized fluid using said heat from said heat source, said heating means including a radiator for cooling water circulating through said engine, said radiator being located adjacent to said fan such that said intake fluid passes through said radiator to get to said fan, said heating means further including one of said first and second exhaust pipes directing heated exhaust gases to an output end located near said intake portion of said fan, whereby said intake gaseous fluid is mixed with and heated by said exhaust gases.

2. A farm implement for applying a substance onto farmland, comprising:

a vehicle;

a container carried by said vehicle for holding a bulk quantity of said substance;

means for distributing said substance, said distributing means including a fan, said fan having an intake for receiving intake gaseous fluid and an outlet for delivering pressurized gaseous fluid, the pressurized gaseous fluid flowing through connecting means from said fan outlet to said conveying means, said distrubuting means further including means for conveying said substance with said pressurized fluid along at least a portion of a path from said container to a distribution ejection device, the pressurized gaseous fluid flowing from said fan outlet to said conveying means;

a source of heat;

means for heating one of said intake fluid and said pressurized fluid using said heat from said heat source, said heating means including a heat exchanger located within said connecting means such that said pressurized gaseous fluid is heated by said heat exchanger as said fluid flows to said conveying means; and

means for bypassing said heat exchanger, said connecting means including valve means for directing the pressurized gaseous fluid through one of said heat exchanger and said bypassing means;

whereby the heated fluid aids substance conveyance.

3. A farm implement in accordance with claim 2 wherein said vehicle includes power takeoff means for driving said fan, said implement further including means for actuating said valve means on engagement of said power takeoff means to drive said fan whereby said bypassing means is automatically closed when said fan is operating allowing said pressurized gaseous fluid to flow past said heat exchanger.

4. A farm implement for applying a substance onto farmland, comprising:

a vehicle;

a container carried by said vehicle for holding a bulk quantity of said substance;

means for distributing said substance, said distributing means including a fan, said fan having an intake for receiving intake gaseous fluid and an outlet for delivering pressurized gaseous fluid, said distributing means further including means for conveying said substance with said pressurized fluid along at least a portion of a path from said container to a distribution ejection device, the pressurized gaseous fluid flowing from said fan outlet to said conveying means;

a source of heat including an engine which exhausts hot gases, said engine driving at least one of said vehicle and said fan;

an exhaust pipe for the hot exhaust gases and a branch pipe connected at a first end to said exhaust pipe;

valve means for directing said exhaust gases through one of said exhaust pipe and said branch pipe;

means for heating one of said intake fluid and said pressurized fluid using said heat from said heat source, said heating means including a heat exchanger located to heat one of said intake fluid and said pressurized fluid, said branch pipe being connected at a second end to said heat exchanger, whereby said exhaust gases may be directed through said heat exchanger.

5. A farm implement for applying a substance onto farmland, comprising:

a vehicle;

a container carried by said vehicle for holding a bulk quantity of said substance;

means for distributing said substance, said distributing means including a fan, said fan having an intake for receiving intake gaseous fluid and an outlet for delivering pressurized gaseous fluid, said distributing means further including means for conveying said substance with said pressurized fluid along at least a portion of a path from said container to a distribution ejection device, the pressurized gaseous fluid flowing from said fan outlet to said conveying means;

a source of heat including an engine and an exhaust pipe for hot exhaust gases from said engine, said engine driving at least one of said vehicle and said fan; and

means for heating one of said intake fluid and said pressurized fluid using said heat from said heat source, said heating means including a heat exchanger located to heat one of said intake fluid and said pressurized fluid, said heat exchanger being in fluid communication between first and second portions of said exhaust pipe;

whereby the heated fluid aids substance conveyance.

6. A farm implement for applying a substance onto farmland, comprising:

a vehicle;

a container carried by said vehicle for holding a bulk quantity of said substance;

means for distributing said substance, said distributing means including a fan, said fan having an intake for receiving intake gaseous fluid and an outlet for delivering pressurized gaseous fluid, said distributing means further including means for conveying said substance with said pressurized fluid along at least a portion of a path from said container to a distribution ejection device, the pressurized gaseous fluid flowing from said fan outlet to said conveying means;

a source of heat including an engine which exhausts hot gases, said engine driving at least one of said vehicle and said fan;

an exhaust pipe for the hot exhaust gases; and

means for heating one of said intake fluid and said pressurized fluid using said heat from said heat source, said heating means including a branch pipe connected at a first end to said exhaust pipe and valve means for directing said exhaust gases through one of said exhaust pipe and said branch pipe, said branch pipe being connected at a second end to said distributing means thereby mixing hot exhaust gases with the pressurized gaseous fluid, said valve means including a cylinder and piston assembly for operating a flapper, said flapper closing one of said exhaust pipe and said branch pipe, said assembly being operated by said pressurized gaseous fluid from said fan;

whereby the heated fluid aids substance conveyance.