Baffle orientation device for an inductor box of an agricultural implement

• US 9,775,280 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Chad M., Connors, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US14/808,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20150327434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 111170, 111174-188, 221211
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/084 Pneumatic distribution heads for seeders
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/00 Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/46 Gates or sluices, e.g. rotary wheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]

Abstract

An agricultural product distribution system that includes an inductor box configured to receive agricultural product and conveyed air to combine the agricultural product and the conveyed air. The agricultural product distribution system also includes a removable baffle configured to control an amount of the conveyed air that flows into each port of the plurality of ports. Furthermore, the inductor box is configured to enable the removable baffle to be slidingly inserted into the inductor box, and the removable baffle comprises a tang configured to at least partially block insertion of the removable baffle into the inductor box while the removable baffle is oriented at an undesirable orientation.

Claims

1. A method for assembling an inductor box of an agricultural product distribution system, comprising:

receiving a baffle having a tang into the inductor box, wherein receiving the baffle into the inductor box comprises;

fully receiving insertion of the baffle in a first orientation in which one or more ports of a plurality of ports of the baffle align with one or more air channels of the inductor box, wherein the tang enables full insertion of the baffle when the baffle is oriented in the first orientation; and

at least partially blocking insertion of the baffle into the inductor box using the tang when the baffle is oriented in a second orientation in which the plurality of ports do not align with the one or more air channels.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising at least partially blocking seating of an air inlet of the inductor box while the baffle is oriented in the second orientation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the air inlet is configured to couple to an air intake port of the inductor box when the baffle is oriented in the first orientation.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising coupling the one or more of the plurality of ports to the one or more air channels.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising coupling each of a plurality of distribution units to the one or more air channels.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the baffle comprises a number of the plurality of ports that is based at least in part on a length through which the agricultural product is to travel through a respective distribution unit.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising coupling an air inlet to an air intake port of the inductor box, wherein the air intake port is configured to receive conveyed air via the air inlet.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising coupling the air inlet to a fan configured to provide the conveyed air to the inductor box via the air intake port.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising at least partially blocking the air inlet from coupling fully with the air intake port of the inductor box while the removable baffle is inserted into the inductor box in the second orientation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the tang comprises at least one tang each comprising a protrusion extending from at least one lateral edge of the baffle.

11. A method for assembling an inductor box of an agricultural product distribution system, comprising:

receiving a baffle having a tang into the inductor box, wherein receiving the baffle into the inductor box comprises;

at least partially blocking insertion of the baffle into the inductor box using the tang when the baffle is oriented in a first orientation in which a plurality of ports of the baffle do not align with the one or more air channels of the inductor box, wherein one or more ports of the plurality of ports are configured to facilitate air flow to the one or more air channels while the one or more ports are aligned with the one or more air channels.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising fully receiving insertion of the baffle in a second orientation in which one or more ports of a plurality of ports of the baffle align with one or more air channels of the inductor box, wherein the tang enables full insertion of the baffle when the baffle is oriented in the second orientation.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising at least partially blocking seating of an air inlet with an air intake port of the inductor box while the baffle is oriented in the first orientation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the air inlet is configured to couple to the air intake port of the inductor box when the baffle is oriented in the second orientation.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one tang comprises a protrusion extending from a lateral edge of the removable baffle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one tang is positioned vertically below the removable baffle while the removable baffle is oriented in the second orientation.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one tang is positioned vertically above the removable baffle while the removable baffle is oriented in the first orientation.

18. A method for assembling an inductor box of an agricultural product distribution system, comprising:

receiving a baffle having a tang into the inductor box, wherein receiving the baffle into the inductor box comprises;

at least partially blocking insertion of the baffle into the inductor box using the tang when the baffle is oriented in a first orientation in which a plurality of ports of the baffle do not align with the one or more air channels of the inductor box, wherein one or more ports of the plurality of ports are configured to facilitate air flow to the one or more air channels while the one or more ports are aligned with the one or more air channels;

at least partially coupling an air inlet with an air intake port of the inductor box; and

coupling each of a plurality of distribution units to one or more air channels.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the baffle comprises a number of the plurality of ports that is based at least in part on a length through which the agricultural product is to travel through a respective distribution unit.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the baffle comprises a number of the plurality of ports that is based at least in part on a number of respective distribution units.