Seed hopper construction with centrifugal blower-filler
First Claim
1. In combination with a rotary drum seed planter, a seed hopper construction comprising:
- a hopper container having a plurality of external walls;
blower means associated with said hopper container and having a positive pressure outlet communicating with said drum and a negative pressure opening;
internal duct means interconnecting the interior of said hopper container with the negative pressure opening of said blower means;
pneumatically operated valve means for controlling flow through said internal duct means;
tube means in said hopper container having an air inlet communicating with said positive pressure outlet of said blower means and a first outlet leading into said hopper and a second outlet connected to said internal duct means; and
valve means on said tube means operable in (1) a first position whereby positive air pressure from said blower means is directed into said hopper container to equalize the internal pressure of said container and said drum, and (2) in a second position to direct positive air pressure from said blower means to said pneumatic valve means to operate said pneumatic valve means to connect said internal duct means with said negative pressure opening of said blower means and thereby creating through said duct means a negative pressure in said container for drawing in seeds from an outside source to refill said container.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seed hopper construction for use in connection with rotary drum seed planter requiring positive pressure for its seed metering operation. The hopper comprises a tapering bottom wall with an opening therein and an internal duct associated with said wall and opening. A deformable tubular diaphragm valve is positioned in the duct and projects from the opening in the bottom wall. A vertical air pressure tube is mounted in the hopper and carries a two-position valve for directing air into the hopper or to the diaphragm valve. The pressure tube also has a bottom air inlet depending from the bottom wall. A centrifugal blower having a positive pressure side outlet communicates with the pressure tube air inlet and the seed drum. The blower has a negative pressure central opening in spaced registry with the diaphragm valve. With the two position valve in one position, equalized positive pressure is maintained in the drum and container for planting; with the valve in the second position, the diaphragm valve rolls a bell-shaped member into seating engagement with the negative pressure opening of the blower to create a negative pressure in the hopper for refilling seeds thereinto.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. In combination with a rotary drum seed planter, a seed hopper construction comprising:
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a hopper container having a plurality of external walls; blower means associated with said hopper container and having a positive pressure outlet communicating with said drum and a negative pressure opening; internal duct means interconnecting the interior of said hopper container with the negative pressure opening of said blower means; pneumatically operated valve means for controlling flow through said internal duct means; tube means in said hopper container having an air inlet communicating with said positive pressure outlet of said blower means and a first outlet leading into said hopper and a second outlet connected to said internal duct means; and valve means on said tube means operable in (1) a first position whereby positive air pressure from said blower means is directed into said hopper container to equalize the internal pressure of said container and said drum, and (2) in a second position to direct positive air pressure from said blower means to said pneumatic valve means to operate said pneumatic valve means to connect said internal duct means with said negative pressure opening of said blower means and thereby creating through said duct means a negative pressure in said container for drawing in seeds from an outside source to refill said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A seed hopper construction for a rotary drum seed planter, comprising:
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a hopper container having side walls and a plurality of downwardly tapering bottom walls; a mounting plate secured to a side wall of said container; a rotary seed drum operationally mounted on said mounting plate; a seed tube connecting the bottom of said container with the interior of said drum through an opening in said mounting plate; an internal duct in said container adjacent one of said tapering bottom walls, said one bottom wall having an annular opening therein communicating with said duct; pneumatic valve means positioned generally in said duct and projecting through said annular opening in said one bottom wall for controlling the flow of air through said duct; a substantially vertical pressure supply tube mounted in said container having a bottom air inlet depending from said one bottom wall; a centrifugal blower mounted to said container in substantial parallelism with said one bottom wall, said blower comprising a scroll having a positive pressure side outlet communicating with said air inlet of said supply tube and the interior of said drum through another opening in said mounting plate, and a central negative pressure opening in spaced apart registry with said internal duct; and a two-position air direction valve mounted on said pressure supply tube for directing air into the container when in a first position and directing air through a connector hose to said pneumatic valve means when in a second position, whereby operation of said air direction valve in the first position creates a condition of equalized positive pressure in said container and drum, and operation of the air direction valve in the second position interconnects the duct with the negative pressure opening of said blower by operating said pneumatic valve means to create a negative pressure through said duct in said container for drawing in seeds from an outside source to refill said container. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification