Seed planter using air propulsion

• US 9,974,228 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2017
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• 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): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US15/822,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20180077855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 176 Days
• Field of Search: 406 38, 406 39, 406 41, 406 96, 406 99, 406110, 406123, 406197
• 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

The present invention describes 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 method of manufacturing a device for planting seeds, comprising:

thermal forming a T-connector from PVC;

thermal forming a sheet of PVC;

inserting the sheet of PVC into the T-connector to form a flow divider;

resizing a plurality of PVC pipes, flow reducers, T-connectors, and elbow connectors and gluing the plurality of PVC pipes, flow reducers, T-connectors, and elbow connectors together to form a hollow horizontal member;

connecting a storage container to a first hollow member via an air propulsion apparatus;

connecting the hollow horizontal member to the first hollow member via the flow divider;

thermal die forming a first end of at least one of a plurality of vertical hollow members to form a baffle;

thermal die forming a second end of each of the plurality of vertical hollow members to form a nozzle; and

inserting the first end of each of the plurality of vertical hollow members into a bottom of the hollow horizontal member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein resizing the plurality of PVC pipes, flow reducers, T-connectors, and elbow connectors comprises cutting and grinding the plurality of PVC pipes, flow reducers, T-connectors, and elbow connectors.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising covering the horizontal hollow member and the plurality of vertical hollow members with a UV-resistant coating.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising enclosing the hollow horizontal member with a PVC pipe with an inner diameter less than or equal to an outer diameter of the hollow horizontal member.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein enclosing the hollow horizontal member with the PVC pipe comprises cutting a slit in a bottom of the PVC pipe and stretching the PVC pipe to enclose the hollow horizontal member.