Diverter for use with a double shoot air seeding system

• US 6,325,004 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boyd Stanley Smith
• Original Assignee: Boyd Stanley Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Boyd Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US09/842,116
• Time in Patent Office: 222 Days
• Field of Search: 111/174, 111/175, 222/630, 222/290
• US Class Current: 111/174
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/081 Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/00 Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries

Abstract

A diverter is provided for use on an air seeder having fertilizer and seed conduits for conducting respective particulate material fertilizer and seed therethrough. The diverter includes a pair of tubes and coupling means for mounting the tubes in series with the respective fertilizer and seed conduits. A diverter tube is coupled between the pair of tubes for diverting a portion of the fertilizer from the fertilizer conduit into the seed conduit. A starter fertilizer is thus deposited with the seed while a remaining portion of the fertilizer is deposited spaced therefrom. The diverter can be installed in the conduits of an existing air seeder with minimal cost or tooling requirements.

Claims

1. A device for use with an air seeder having first and second conduits for conducting respective first and second particulate materials therethrough, the device comprising:

a first tube having an inlet and an outlet for communication with the first conduit;

a second tube having an inlet and an outlet for communication with the second conduit;

coupling means for coupling the first and second tubes in series with the first and second conduits respectively to communicate the first and second particulate materials respectively therethrough; and

a diverter tube coupled at a first end on the first tube to extend outward therefrom to a second end coupled on the second tube, the diverter tube having a mouth projecting into the first tube for receiving a portion of the first particulate material from the first conduit such that the portion of the first particulate material is diverted through the diverter tube and into the second tube.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first end of the diverter tube is mounted to project through a side wall of the first tube, the mouth comprising an opening in the first end of the diverter tube which at least partially faces the inlet of the first tube.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the diverter tube is circular in cross section.

4. The device according to claim 2 wherein the first end of the diverter tube is oriented to extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first tube.

5. The device according to claim 2 wherein the opening is oriented such that a plane locating the opening therein is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first tube.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the diverter tube extends outwardly from the first tube at an incline towards the outlet of the first tube.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein the diverter tube extends from the first tube at an angle of approximately 45 degrees therefrom.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein a diameter of the diverter tube is approximately one third of the diameter of the first and second tubes respectively.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the diverter includes an end portion which projects into the second tube, the end portion being oriented to extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second tube.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein there is provided adjustable mounting means mounting the mouth within the first tube such that a location of the mouth within a cross sectional area of the first tube is adjustable.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein the adjustable mounting means comprises a collar mounted on an outer wall of the first tube, the collar receiving the diverter tube therethrough and having fastening means for selectively securing the diverter tube on the collar at one of various longitudinal positions of the diverter tube within the collar.

12. A diverter in combination with an air seeder having first and second hoppers for storing respective first and second particulate materials therein and first and second conduits coupled to the first and second hoppers respectively for conducting the first and second particulate materials respectively therethrough to be deposited on the ground, the diverter comprising:

a first tube having an inlet and an outlet for communication with the first conduit;

a second tube having an inlet and an outlet for communication with the second conduit;

coupling means coupling the first and second tubes in series with the first and second conduits respectively to communicate the first and second particulate materials respectively therethrough; and

a diverter tube coupled at a first end on the first tube to extend outward therefrom to a second end coupled on the second tube, the diverter tube having a mouth projecting into the first tube for receiving a portion of the first particulate material from the first conduit such that the portion of the first particulate material is diverted through the diverter tube and into the second tube.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein the first and second conduits each comprise a primary portion connected to the corresponding hopper, a plurality of secondary portions associated with each primary portion and connecting a plurality of respective secondary distributors to the primary portions associated therewith, and a plurality of tertiary portions associated with each secondary distributor and being connected to a plurality of respective shanks.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the first and second tubes are coupled in series to the primary portions of the first and second conduits respectively, the first and second tubes having the diverter tube coupled therebetween.

15. The combination according to claim 13 wherein there is provided a pair of the first and second tubes coupled in series to each pair of secondary portions of the first and second conduits respectively, each pair of the first and second tubes having the diverter tube coupled therebetween.

16. The combination according to claim 13 wherein there is provided a pair of the first and second tubes coupled in series to each pair of tertiary portions of the first and second conduits respectively, each pair of the first and second tubes having the diverter tube coupled therebetween.

17. The combination according to claim 12 wherein there is provided adjustable mounting means mounting the mouth within the first tube such that a location of the mouth within a cross sectional area of the first tube is adjustable.

18. The combination according to claim 17 wherein the adjustable mounting means comprises a collar mounted on an outer wall of the first tube, the collar receiving the diverter tube therethrough and having fastening means for selectively securing the diverter tube on the collar at one of various longitudinal positions of the diverter tube within the collar.

19. The combination according to claim 12 wherein a diameter of the first and second tubes adjacent the respective inlets and outlets thereof is approximately equal to a diameter of the first and second conduits respectively.

20. The combination according to claim 12 wherein the coupling means comprises a plurality of adjustable collars arranged to be secured about an outer diameter of the respective first and second conduits for selectively restricting an end portion of the conduits about the respective inlets and outlets of the first and second tubes.