Air conveying system for filling of air seeder tank

• US 9,738,200 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2014
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Roberge, Martin J., Stuart, Graham Douglas, Hui, Ka Po Catherine
• Primary Examiner(s): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US14/301,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20150360881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 406 92, 406106, 406127, 406144, 406183, 414507, 111174
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/003 Bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/006 Hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/082 Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/00 Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading vehicles for carrying harvested crops with means for self-loading or self-unloading A01D90/00; peculiar to refuse collecting-vehicles B65F; loading or unloading vehicles by means not incorporated therein B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/60 using fluids, e.g. having direct contact between fluid and load for railway wagons B61D5/004
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/14 the gas flow inducing feed of the materials by suction effect
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/4633 the element having pockets, rotated from charging position to discharging position, i.e. discrete flow
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/56 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/00 Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries

Abstract

An air cart for distributing air entrained particulate material from a chamber or tank to a plurality of distribution lines for application to an agricultural field has a tank refilling feature utilizing air flow from the cart distribution system or from a dedicated pneumatic source. The cart conveying system air flow is diverted and passed through an assembly containing multiple venturis which also receives particulate material from a supply source. The air entrained material from the source is conveyed to and gently deposited in the cart tank. Exhaust air from the tank may be directed back into the cart conveying system or vented through an air diffuser located beneath the cart. Exhaust air which is directed back to the cart conveying system may return to a location closely adjacent that from which it was originally diverted.

Claims

1. A pneumatic agricultural product conveying system, comprising:

at least one product supply chamber;

a pneumatic source;

a plenum configured to receive air flow from the pneumatic source and having a plurality of outlets;

a plurality of distribution lines extending from the plenum outlets for applying air entrained product to an agricultural field;

a metering device for supplying product from the supply chamber to the distribution lines;

a refilling system including an elongated conduit having an inlet near one end for receiving product from a supply source and an outlet near the other end for conveying product to the chamber to replenish the product supply in the chamber;

an air flow source comprising a diverter; and

a venturi box having an inlet and at least one venturi coupled to the air flow source, an inlet for receiving product from the supply source, and an outlet coupled to the conduit one end for providing product from the supply source entrained within air flow from the pneumatic source,

wherein the diverter is configured to direct air flow toward the venturi box.

2. The pneumatic agricultural product conveying system of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust air return for providing exhaust air flow from the chamber to be diffused at lower air speed through the product conveying system only when the air flow diverter is directing air flow from the pneumatic source.

3. The pneumatic agricultural product conveying system of claim 2, wherein the exhaust air return couples the product supply chamber to the plenum.

4. The pneumatic agricultural product conveying system of claim 1, wherein the air flow diverter is located intermediate the pneumatic source and the plenum for normally coupling the source and plenum, and occasionally directing air flow away from the plenum and toward the conduit one end.

5. The pneumatic agricultural product conveying system of claim 4, wherein the air flow diverter comprises a two-way valve positioned intermediate the pneumatic source and the plenum and operable in a first position to provide direct air flow from the pneumatic source to only the plenum, and in a second position to prevent air flow from the pneumatic source to the plenum while allowing air flow from the pneumatic source to the refilling system and exhaust air flow from the supply chamber to the plenum.

6. The pneumatic agricultural product conveying system of claim 1, further comprising an air lock for conveying product from the supply source to the venturi box while preventing significant air flow from the venturi box to the supply source.