Lightweight air coupler

• US 6,672,627 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Thiemke, Daniel Bruce, Mariman, Nathan Albert, Deering, Dan Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lugo, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US09/783,651
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 285/124.1, 285/124.3, 285/405, 285/363, 285/293.1, 285/382, 285/222, 285/202, 285/141.1, 295/275
• US Class Current: 285/124.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/082 Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 39/00 Joints or fittings for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/082 Non-disconnectible joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive or caulked joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 5/00 Devices for use where pipes, cables or protective tubing pass through walls or partitions passing insulated pipes through walls F16L59/121; arrangements for leading electric cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings H02G3/22
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/00 Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49988 Metal casting

Abstract

A lightweight detachable air coupler for an air seeder comprises an aluminum frame having two steel sleeves die cast into the frame. The frame is provided with two circular apertures each being defined by a rim having an internal cylindrical surface. The steel cylindrical sleeve has a first end having an exterior surface that is diagonally knurled. Two steel sleeves are mounted in the mold for the aluminum frame and cast aluminum is injected into the mold. The liquid aluminum adheres to the knurled exterior surface of the steel sleeves. The aluminum frame has a front surface from which the rims project and a rear surface from which the sleeves project.

Claims

1. A method of making an air coupler for an air seeder, the method comprising the following steps:

forming a cylindrical steel sleeve having an exterior surface and a first end;

knurling the exterior surface of the steel sleeve at the first end;

placing the cylindrical steel sleeve in a mold for an aluminum frame having a rim with an internal surface;

molding the aluminum frame so that the internal surface of the rim is cast around the knurled exterior surface of the steel sleeve.