Air conveying system for filling of air seeder tank

• US 9,956,899 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• 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:
  US15/657,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20170320421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 406106, 406 92, 406127, 406144, 406183, 406197, 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 method of replenishing a supply of a particulate agricultural material in a tank of a pneumatic agricultural material conveying system, the method comprising:

supplying air from a pneumatic source to an agricultural material reservoir;

providing a valve operatively connected to the pneumatic source and the tank, the valve including a rotor having a transverse passageway providing air flow from the pneumatic source therethrough and to the tank, the rotor also including a first region and a second region which are each configured to permit airflow therethrough;

providing a valve housing which cooperates with the transverse passageway, the first region and the second region of the rotor of the valve in the valve housing to selectively direct air flow through or block air flow in the transverse passageway, the first region, and the second region when the rotor is positioned in a normal operating position and a replenishing position;

positioning the rotor in the replenishing position relative to the valve housing to block air flow through the transverse passageway and to permit air flow in a first direction through the first region and to permit air flow in a second direction through the second region;

passing air in the first direction through the first region of the rotor and through a restriction operatively coupled to the rotor, the agricultural material reservoir, and the tank to create a region of increased air velocity and reduced air pressure for ingesting agricultural material from the agricultural material reservoir and providing an air entrained flow of material;

conveying the flow of air entrained material to the tank;

depositing the material in the tank;

simultaneously moving exhaust air from the tank in the second direction through the second region of the rotor; and

venting exhaust air from the tank.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of supplying air includes diverting at least part of the air flow from a normal material distribution path through the transverse passageway.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of venting includes returning the exhaust air from the tank to the pneumatic agricultural material conveying system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of venting includes returning the exhaust air to a location closely adjacent the location from which it was diverted.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of venting further includes the step of passing a portion of the exhaust air from the tank downward to an air diffuser beneath the tank.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of positioning the rotor in the replenishing position includes rotating the rotor within the valve housing to block airflow within the transverse passageway and open airflow through the first region and the second region.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of positioning the rotor in the normal operating position from the replenishing position to permit airflow only through the transverse passageway by rotating the rotor ninety degrees in either direction within the valve housing to block airflow through the first region and the second region of the rotor.