Agricultural implement having a feed device for airflow-based feeding of a granular or powder material

• US 9,504,199 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vaderstad holding ab
• Original Assignee: Vaderstad holding ab
• Inventors: Wistrand, Ulf, Fransson, Jorgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US14/382,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20150030420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/006 Hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/04 using blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/081 Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/20 Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed

Abstract

An agricultural implement including at least one container for granular or powder material and a feed device for airflow-based feeding of the granular or powder material. The feed device includes a fan including an impeller accommodated in a fan housing. At least one wall portion of the fan housing is integrated with a wall portion of the container.

Claims

1. An agricultural implement configured to be pulled or supported by a towing vehicle, comprising:

at least one container for granular or powder material; and

at least one feed device for airflow-based feeding of the granular or powder material,

wherein the at least one feed device comprises a fan, comprising an impeller accommodated in a fan housing,

wherein an inlet wall of the fan housing is integrated with an outer wall of the at least one container, and

wherein a wall of the fan housing opposite to the inlet wall is integrated with an inner wall of the at least one container.

2. An agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the fan is configured such that the impeller is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, and wherein an outlet from the fan housing is directed substantially downwards.

3. An agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the fan housing includes at least two outlets, which are arranged to produce an airflow to a respective feeder for the granular or powder material.

4. An agricultural implement according to claim 3, wherein the outlets produce airflows in substantially a same plane.

5. An agricultural implement according to claim 3, wherein the outlets produce substantially parallel airflows.

6. An agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the fan housing comprises at least one guide wall, which, viewed in a plane which is perpendicular to a rotational axis of the impeller, includes at least one free end extending into the fan housing towards a central plane.

7. An agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the fan housing comprises at least one, viewed in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the fan, inwardly convex side wall portion.

8. An agricultural implement according to claim 1, further comprising at least one damper or valve for shutting off or adjusting a flow in respective outlets.

9. An agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the fan is of centrifugal type.

10. An agricultural implement according claim 9, wherein the impeller includes, viewed in the rotational direction of the impeller, backwardly inclined or backwardly curved blades.

11. An agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the agricultural implement comprises at least one of a sowing machine, a precision sowing machine, a fertilizer spreader, or a pesticide spreader.