Seed planter using air propulsion

• US 9,854,729 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brooklyn Bridge to Cambodia, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brooklyn Bridge to Cambodia, Inc.
• Inventors: Hyman, Todd M., San, Bunika
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRES, ALICIA M
• Application Number:
  US14/926,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20170118904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 239 76, 239664, 239655, 239566, 172378, 172379
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/00 Fertiliser distributors combined with seeders A01C7/06
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/04 using blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/00 Methods of fertilising , sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/02 Hand sowing implements
• 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: B65G 53/04 Conveying materials in bulk pneumatically through pipes or tubes; Air slides

Abstract

An air-powered device that propels seed from a storage container and distributes seeds from a horizontal tube into a series of vertical tubes, and shoots the seeds from those vertical tubes into the ground. The device can be carried by a human user or mounted on a cart having wheels or skis, and towed through a field while being used to plant seed. The different methods of carrying and operating the device enable farmers to utilize the device in different types of terrain and during different condition. The device can be manufactured from common, affordable materials, such as PVC, and offers rural farmers a portable solution for planting their crops that is efficient and low-cost.

Claims

1. A device for planting seeds, comprising:

a storage container;

an air propulsion apparatus connected to the storage container;

a first hollow member;

a hollow horizontal member connected to the first hollow member; and

a plurality of hollow vertical members connected to a bottom of the hollow horizontal member,

wherein a first end of each of the plurality of hollow vertical members is connected to the bottom of the hollow horizontal member, and

wherein the diameter of the first end of at least one of the plurality of hollow vertical members is equal to or less than a diameter of a midpoint of the at least one of the plurality of hollow vertical members, and the first end of the at least one of the plurality of hollow vertical members comprises;

a) a baffle; and

b) a notch.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the storage container stores seeds.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the storage container is capable of holding at least 10 kilograms of seeds.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the storage container capable of holding at least 20 kilograms of seeds.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the air propulsion apparatus is connected to the hollow horizontal member via the first hollow member.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first hollow member is a hose.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the air propulsion apparatus is a broadcast planter.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the broadcast planter is a gasoline-powered broadcast planter.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the broadcast planter is an electric-powered broadcast planter.

10. The device of claim 9, the electric-powered broadcast planter comprises a battery.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the hollow horizontal member comprises a plurality of pipes and flow reducers connected by T-connectors.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising elbow connectors connected to a first and a second end of the hollow horizontal member, and a flow reducer connected to each of the elbow connectors.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of pipes, fin reducers, T-connectors, and elbow connectors are comprised of PVC.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein a diameter of the hollow horizontal member at a center of the hollow horizontal member is greater than both:

a) a diameter of the hollow horizontal member at a first end of the hollow horizontal member; and

b) a diameter of the hollow horizontal member at a second end of the hollow horizontal member.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the diameter of the hollow horizontal member at the first end is equal to the diameter of the hollow horizontal member at the second end.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the first hollow member is connected to the hollow horizontal member by a T-connector at a center of the hollow horizontal member.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the first hollow member is connected to the hollow horizontal member at a top of the hollow horizontal member.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the T-connector comprises a protrusion that divides a perpendicular inlet of the T-connector in half.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the protrusion comprises a sheet of material.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of hollow vertical members is connected to the bottom of the hollow horizontal member by either a T-connector or an elbow connector.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of hollow vertical members comprises a PVC pipe.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein a diameter of the first end of each of the plurality of hollow vertical members is larger than a diameter of a second end of each of the plurality of hollow vertical members.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of hollow vertical members is located within the T-connector or elbow connector connecting the hollow vertical member to the hollow horizontal member.

24. The device of claim 20, wherein a diameter of the first end of the at least one hollow vertical member above the notch is smaller than a diameter of the first end of the at least one hollow vertical member below the notch.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the hollow horizontal member is engaged with the notch in the first end of the at least one hollow vertical member.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein the second end of each of the plurality of hollow vertical members comprises a nozzle.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the second end of each of plurality of hollow vertical members further comprises a nozzle cover.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the nozzle cover comprises a flexible hose.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hollow vertical members comprises between 3 hollow vertical members and 30 hollow vertical members.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the plurality of hollow vertical members comprises between 10 hollow vertical members and 20 hollow vertical members.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the plurality of hollow vertical members comprises between 15 hollow vertical members and 17 hollow vertical members.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vertical members are evenly spaced along the hollow horizontal member.

33. A method for planting seeds, comprising:

filling a storage container with seeds;

emptying the seeds from the storage container into an air propulsion apparatus; and

propelling the seeds through the air propulsion apparatus, through a first hollow member, through a horizontal hollow member, through a plurality of vertical hollow members, and into the ground,

wherein a first end of at least one of the plurality of vertical hollow members comprises a half-pipe located inside the hollow horizontal member, and an equal volume of seeds is propelled into each of the plurality of vertical horizontal members.

34. The method of claim 33, comprising soaking the seeds in water for a period of time and then drying the seeds before filling the storage container with the seeds.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein a second end of each of the plurality of vertical hollow members comprises a nozzle, and the velocity of the seeds exiting the nozzle of the vertical hollow member is greater than or equal to the velocity of the seeds entering the first end of the vertical hollow member.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein filling the storage container with seeds comprises filling the storage container with both seeds and fertilizer.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the fertilizer mixes with the seeds to create a mixture of seeds and fertilizer, and the mixture empties from the storage container into the air propulsion apparatus, which propels the mixture through the air propulsion apparatus, through the first hollow member, through the horizontal hollow member, and through the plurality of vertical hollow members and into the ground.