Product conveyance system for an agricultural implement

• US 8,534,208 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Canada Limited (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Georgison, Ryan R., Singh, Samrendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US13/544,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20120272880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 111/176, 111/174, 138/44, 138/40, 138/42, 138/37
• US Class Current: 111/176
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/081 Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means

Abstract

An inductor assembly is configured to be attached in flow communication to receive a flow of product from a storage hopper of a product conveyance system. The product conveyance system includes a forced fluid source mounted thereon and operable to provide a forced fluid stream to the inductor assembly. The inductor housing includes an inlet configured to direct a first portion of the forced fluid stream in a path to engage the flow of product so as to generate the combined stream of forced fluid and product. The inductor assembly further includes multiple inductor segments, wherein each inductor segments defines at least one conduit having an inlet and an outlet. One or more of the inlets may be configured to restrict air and product flow therethrough.

Claims

1. A product conveyance system for use with an agricultural implement, the system comprising:

a hopper configured to contain a supply of product;

a forced fluid source operable to provide a force fluid stream;

a planting unit configured to apply the product to a planting surface; and

an inductor box including an inductor housing defining an interior and being operable to provide a combined stream of forced fluid and product to the planting unit, the inductor box including;

a plurality of inductor segments in fluid communication with the forced fluid source and the hopper to receive the combined stream of forced fluid and product, wherein each inductor segment comprises a first product tube arranged at least partially within the interior of the inductor housing defining a first inlet and a first outlet and a second product tube arranged at least partially within the interior of the inductor housing and defining a second inlet and a second outlet;

a set of first conduits including a first distribution line flow coupled to the first outlet of the first product tube and a set of a second conduits including a second distribution line flow coupled to the second outlet of the second product tube, wherein the first distribution line has a first length and the second distribution line has a second length different from the first length; and

wherein one of the first inlet and the second inlet has an orifice insert arranged within the interior of the inductor housing that affects a flow rate therethrough such that flow rate through the first and the second distribution lines is substantially similar despite a difference in length between the first and the second distribution lines.

2. The product system of claim 1 wherein the first distribution line is longer than the second distribution line and wherein the second inlet has the orifice insert and wherein the orifice insert is defined by an orifice plate defining an opening for restricting airflow through the second product tube.

3. The product conveyance system of claim 1 wherein the first and second product tubes define openings of different sizes to counteract differences in airflow through the first and second distribution lines for providing uniformity in flow rates therebetween.

4. The product conveyance system of claim 3 wherein the orifice insert is integrally formed with the second inlet.

5. The product conveyance system of claim 1 wherein the inductor box has an upper air inlet and a lower air inlet in fluid communication with the forced fluid stream.

6. The product conveyance system of claim 5 further comprising a restrictor plate removably mounted to the inductor box generally adjacent the lower air inlet and configured to create a non-uniform air flow distribution across the lower air inlet.

7. The mobile air cart of claim 6 wherein the orifice insert is removably secured to a respective inlet of a respective product tube.