Baffle retention channel for an inductor box of an agricultural implement

• US 9,974,229 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• 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., Prickel, Marvin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US14/807,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20150327433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 111174, 111175, 111170, 111200, 111 77, 406184, 406188, 406190, 406191, 406125, 406145, 221211, 2851401, 285210, 285901, 222563
• 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 53/46 Gates or sluices, e.g. rotary wheels

Abstract

An agricultural product distribution system is presented includes an inductor box configured to receive agricultural product and conveyed air to combine the conveyed air and the agricultural product. The conveyed air is configured to direct the agricultural product through ports to multiple distribution units. Moreover the inductor box includes a baffle retention channel configured to receive a removable baffle. Furthermore, the removable baffle includes at least one opening configured to control an amount of conveyed air directed through the ports to the multiple distribution units.

Claims

1. A method for conveying agricultural product through an agricultural product distribution system comprising:

receiving a removable baffle into a baffle retention channel of an inductor box, wherein the removable baffle comprises at least one opening, and the removable baffle is removable from the inductor box without disassembling the inductor box;

receiving the agricultural product;

receiving conveyed air configured to direct the agricultural product through one or more ports; and

controlling a seed to air ratio through the one or more ports via the at least one opening in the removable baffle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the seed to air ratio through the one or more ports is based at least in part on a size of the at least one opening.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the seed to air ratio through the one or more ports is based at least in part on a number of openings of the at least one opening.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the removable baffle comprises receiving the removable baffle into the inductor box of the agricultural product distribution system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the agricultural product comprises receiving the agricultural product at the inductor box via an inlet port of the inductor box.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising combining the conveyed air and the agricultural product in the inductor box.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising conveying the combined conveyed air and agricultural product through the one or more ports into a plurality of distribution units.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein conveying the combined conveyed air and agricultural product into the plurality of distribution units comprises conveying the combined conveyed air and agricultural product into an agricultural product hopper, a metering device, or some combination thereof of each distribution unit of the plurality of the distribution units.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the agricultural product comprises receiving the agricultural product from a tank coupled into the inductor box.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the conveyed air is received from an air supply configured to supply the conveyed air to the inductor box.

11. The method of claim 1 comprising removing the removable baffle.