Pneumatic seeder comprising means for damping and/or diverting the flow of extracted air coming from the suction fan

• US 9,119,339 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIBOULEAU MONOSEM
• Original Assignee: RIBOULEAU MONOSEM
• Inventors: Bergere, Caroline
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRES, ALICIA M
• Application Number:
  US13/913,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20130327261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 111/170, 111174-185, 111/200, 454/67
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/081 Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/082 Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders

Abstract

A pneumatic seeder is provided, which is configured to be fixedly attached to a farming machine. The seeder includes an element for contacting with the ground, an element for storing a product to be sown, a pneumatic distributor of said product, a suction fan having at least one air inlet connected to the pneumatic for distributor and at least one air discharge outlet, an air extractor connected to the discharge outlet, the end of the air extractor leading out to face the ground. The seeder includes a damper and/or diverter for damping and/or diverting the flow of air coming from the air extractor. The damper and/or diverter is placed downstream from the end of the air extractor.

Claims

1. A pneumatic seeder configured to be fixedly attached to a farming machine, said seeder comprising:

linking means to the ground,

means for storing a product to be sown,

means for pneumatic distribution of said product,

a suction fan comprising at least one air inlet connected to said means for distribution and at least one air discharge outlet,

means for extracting air connected to said discharge outlet, wherein an end of said means for extracting air leads out to face the ground, and

a flexible flap forming an obstacle between the end of said means for extracting air and the surface of the ground along which the flap is designed to rub, which dampens and/or diverts the flow of air coming from said means for extracting, said flexible flap being placed downstream from the end of said means for extracting air.

2. The seeder according to claim 1, wherein said flexible flap comprise a first wall extending essentially in parallel to the ground downstream from said end.

3. The seeder according to claim 1, wherein said flexible flap has a wall that is configured to rest at least partly on the surface of the ground.

4. The seeder according to claim 2, wherein the flexible flap has an essentially L-shaped section, said first wall being constituted by one arm of said element.

5. The seeder according to claim 1, wherein said flexible flap is made out of a flexible material that belongs to the group consisting of:

elastomers;

foams;

woven or non-woven materials.

6. The seeder according to claim 1, wherein said means for damping and/or diverting comprise a superimposition of a plurality of screens extending essentially in parallel to the ground downstream from said end.

7. The seeder according to claim 6, wherein said screens have a mesh size that decreases from the screen closest to said end up to the screen closest to said ground.

8. The seeder according to claim 6, wherein said screens have a mesh size that increases from the screen closest to said end up to the screen closest to said ground.

9. The seeder according to claim 1, wherein the end of said means for extracting opens out at a distance D from the ground ranging from 20 to 30 centimeters.

10. A pneumatic seeder configured to be fixedly attached to a farming machine, said seeder comprising:

at least one wheel for linking to ground,

a reservoir for storing a product to be sown,

a pneumatic distributor of said product,

suction fan comprising at least one air inlet connected to said pneumatic distributor and at least one air discharge outlet,

an air extractor configured to extract air connected to said discharge outlet, wherein an end of said air extractor leads out to face the ground, and

at least one flexible flap forming an obstacle between the end of said air extractor and the surface of the ground along which the flap is designed to rub, which forms a damper or diverter configured to dampen and/or divert a flow of air coming from said air extractor and which is placed downstream from the end of said air extractor.