Abstract:
Disclosed is an air filtration module for seed planters. The filtration module includes a filter cartridge with a filter media disposed therein. The cartridge is sized and shaped to fit into the stock seed hopper. The filter media is configured to filter out and contain particles of seed coating materials that contain neonicotinoids and/or other airborne contaminants. The filter cartridge can replace the porous seed container wall through which compressed air is discharged out the seed hopper air discharge vent.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/273,101, filed on May 8, 2014, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/835,868, filed on Jun. 17, 2013, and both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to the planting of coated seeds, and more particularly to, filtering and containment of particulates that rub off insecticide-treated seeds that become airborne when discharged from an agricultural production planting unit such as a seed planter. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In the past, insecticides and other chemicals were applied by foliar and ground application on top of the soil. This method of application resulted in the expensive insecticides, herbicides and fungicides which exposed farmers to hazardous chemicals, and encouraged over application. Certain compounds became airborne and detrimental to the habitat, including beneficial insects, like bees, that are needed to pollinate corn, soybeans and other agriculturally grown food products. 
         [0004]    More recently, over 90% of the corn and 80% of the seeds planted to grow soybeans are being directly treated with a coating of insecticide and fungicide that extend the time that the seeds can be in the ground before insects and fungus keeps them from germinating. One common component of these conventional seed chemical coatings is a neonicotinoid insecticide. 
         [0005]    These current seed coating products have reduced the amount of crop protection products that need to be spray applied to a crop. In addition, this has reduced the amount of labor that is needed which has encouraged aggressive growers to farm more land. Seed coating treatments have increased soybean and corn yields, reduced costs and produced more abundant and cheaper food. 
         [0006]    There is now a belief by some that the neonicotinoids in the current widely used seed coatings are causing bee colony collapse disorder when the coating chemical compounds form particulates and become airborne during the planting process due to the utilization of forced air to move the seeds through the planting apparatus. This is an important concern since bees are necessary to pollinate many crops. The European Union became so concerned about the detrimental effects of neonicotinoid insecticide particulates becoming airborne that they have enacted a 2 year ban on seed treatment products that contain three pesticides belonging to the neonicotinoids family (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam). 
         [0007]      FIGS. 1 through 4  illustrate a conventional wheeled seed planter apparatus  10 . Coated seeds are usually loaded into a bulk seed tank. From the main bulk seed tank the seed is forced by air through a series of flexible tubes before it enters the seed hopper box  12 . The seed hopper box  12  also includes a cover  14 . A compressed air discharge head  16  is coupled to the hopper box  12 . Seed is moved from the bulk seed tank to the seed hopper box  12  via the compressed air discharge head  16 . A porous seed container wall or screen  18  is disposed inside of the main hopper  12  to allow the compressed air to move through the bulk seed tank and vibrate the seeds in the seed hopper box  12  forward to the seed tube and discharge chute  24 . The compressed air discharge chute  20  portion of the seed hopper  12  allows the forced air to escape. A planter may have multiple laterally-disposed seed hoppers  12  for planting several rows of seeds at one time. 
         [0008]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , a film of seed coating material (including neonicotinoids, fungicides, etc.)  22  will typically form all over the seed hopper  12  and the air discharge chute  24 . Due to the large number of seed hoppers that a given modern planter may have (e.g.  24  or  36  hoppers) a considerable volume of suspected poisonous material is introduced into the surrounding atmosphere due the particulates of seed coating escaping from the seed hopper  12  on every row of the planter. 
         [0009]    There is, thus, a need for a product that greatly reduces the air contamination caused by neonicotinoids/other chemical dust vibrating off seeds, becoming airborne and blowing into the environment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    Disclosed is an air filtration module for seed planters. The filtration module includes a filter cartridge with a filter media disposed therein. The cartridge is sized and shaped to fit into the stock seed hopper. The filter media is configured to filter out and contain particles of seed coating materials that contain neonicotinoids and/or other contaminates from entering the air. The filter cartridge can replace the porous seed container wall or screen through which compressed air is discharged out the seed hopper air discharge vent. 
         [0011]    The disclosure also includes an air filter assembly for seed hoppers of seed planters. The assembly comprises a filter cartridge and a filter media disposed within the interior space of the cartridge. The filter cartridge comprises a front wall defining a plurality of apertures defined therein, a rear wall defining a plurality of apertures defined therein, a first solid end wall spanning between the front wall and the rear wall, a second solid end wall opposing the first solid end wall and spanning between the rear wall and the front wall and a solid bottom side spanning between the front wall, the rear wall, the first solid end and the second solid end. The top end is located opposite the solid bottom side by the intersection of the front wall, the rear wall, the first solid end and the second solid end. The interior space is defined by the intersections of the front wall, the rear wall, the first solid end, the second solid end, the solid bottom side and the top end. A first channel is defined in the first solid end wall which intersects the bottom side and extends towards the top end. A second channel is defined in the second solid end wall which intersects the bottom side and extends towards the top end. 
         [0012]    The disclosure further includes an air filter assembly for seed hoppers of seed planters, comprising a filter cartridge and a filter media disposed within the interior space of the filter cartridge. The filter cartridge comprises a bottom surface including a plurality of apertures defined therein, a solid and continuous side wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface around a perimeter of the bottom surface, and a top side defined opposite the bottom surface by the side wall. An interior space is defined by the intersections of the bottom surface, side wall and the top side. A first flange extends outwardly horizontally from a portion of the side wall where the side wall intersects with the top side. 
         [0013]    The disclosure also includes a method of reducing neonicotinoid emissions from seed planters. The method comprises removing a top cover of a seed hopper of a seed planter. A filter cartridge is inserted into a portion of the interior of the seed hopper. The cartridge is configured to direct airflow within the hopper through the cartridge. The original airflow in the seed box is not diverted in anyway, it just passes through the cartridge that contains the media. A filter media is inserted within an interior space of the filter cartridge where the airflow within the hopper traverses the filter media. The top cover of the seed hopper is replaced. The seed hopper is operated to plant seeds. Particles of seed coating containing neonicotinoids are captured by the filter media from the airstream within the hopper. 
         [0014]    The above summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, or describe each embodiment, aspect, implementation, feature or advantage of the invention. The detailed technology and preferred embodiments for the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention. It is understood that the features mentioned hereinbefore and those to be commented on hereinafter may be used not only in the specified combinations, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a conventional wheeled seed planter showing certain details thereof. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an opened seed box showing the hopper air discharge chute contaminated with seed coating particulates that have vibrated off the seeds. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view of an opened seed box showing the hopper air discharge vent contaminated with seed coating particulates that have vibrated off the seeds. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the underside of the seed hopper showing contamination with seed coating particulates that have vibrated off the seeds. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a filter cartridge according to certain embodiments. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is another perspective view of a filter cartridge according to certain embodiments. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7A  is a bottom view of a filter cartridge according to certain embodiments. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7B  is a front view of a filter cartridge according to certain embodiments. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7C  is a side view of a filter cartridge according to certain embodiments. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7D  is a perspective view of a filter cartridge according to certain embodiments. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a filter cartridge with a filter media partially inserted into the cartridge according to certain embodiments. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is another perspective view of a filter cartridge with a filter media partially inserted into the cartridge according to certain embodiments. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a top view of a conventional seed hopper. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the seed hopper of  FIG. 10  with the top cover removed. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the seed hopper with top cover removed of  FIG. 11  with a filter cartridge disposed in the hopper according to certain embodiments. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a filter cartridge according to certain embodiments. 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is another perspective view of a filter cartridge according to certain embodiments. 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is a further perspective view of a filter cartridge according to certain embodiments. 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a filter cartridge with filter media disposed therein according to certain embodiments. 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  is a side view of a conventional seed hopper. 
           [0035]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the seed hopper of  FIG. 17  with the top cover removed and the separator screen partially removed. 
           [0036]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the seed hopper of  FIG. 18  with a filter cartridge partially disposed in the hopper according to certain embodiments. 
           [0037]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the seed hopper of  FIG. 18  with a filter cartridge fully disposed in the hopper according to certain embodiments. 
           [0038]      FIG. 21  is a top view of the seed hopper with a filter cartridge of  FIG. 20  with the top cover partially replaced according to certain embodiments. 
           [0039]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a filter cartridge according to certain embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0040]    In the following descriptions, the present invention will be explained with reference to various example embodiments. Nevertheless, these example embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to any specific example, environment, application, or particular implementation described herein. Therefore, descriptions of these example embodiments are only provided for purpose of illustration rather than to limit the present invention. The invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Dimensions and proportions of the various components can be varied without departing from the scope of the invention, unless specifically recited as limiting in a given claim. 
         [0041]    This invention reduces the potential harmful environmental impact that neonicotinoid containing particulates, and other particulated substances, have by filtering out the seed coating particulates from the planter&#39;s discharge airstream. The invention can be applied to conventional seed planter devices that use an air-driven seed delivery system. 
         [0042]    One object and advantage of the present invention is that substantially all seed coating particulates, including the harmful neonicotinoids, are filtered out and contained in the cartridge rather than being discharged into the atmosphere. An object and advantage of certain embodiments is that the filter cartridge can be disposed in existing seed planter apparatuses. An object and advantage of certain embodiments is that a seed box includes a filter cartridge to remove seed coating particulates. Another object and advantage of certain embodiments is that the filter cartridge, or the filter media in the cartridge, is easily replaceable in the field. Another object and advantage of the present invention is that chemicals that are effective for growing crops, but potentially harmful to the environment and wildlife, can continue to be used because the particulates containing the harmful chemicals are not released into the environment. Another objective is to allow growers to maintain their current management practices which is vital because of a shortage of labor in rural America. Finally, the invention helps farmers continue to produce abundant food crops. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 5-9  and  12 - 16 , the filter module  100  comprises a filter housing or cartridge  102  and a filter media  104  disposed in the cartridge. The filter cartridge  102  is configured to fit inside of various shapes and sizes of existing seed hoppers without the need to modify the hopper. 
         [0044]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 5-9 , the conventional separation screen  18  shown in  FIGS. 3-4  is replaced with the filter cartridge  102 . In this embodiment, the cartridge  102  generally comprises a rectangular box with an open top side. The front  106  and rear  108  walls define a plurality of apertures  110  therein to permit air to flow into and through the cartridge  102 . The end walls  112 ,  114  and the bottom side  116  are each solid surfaces. An interior space  118  is defined by the front, rear, bottom and end walls. 
         [0045]    The filter media  104  is sized and shaped to be disposed within the interior space  118  via the open top side. The open top permits the filter media to be easily accessed and replaced. The top cover of the hopper adequately covers the open top side of the cartridge  102  and media  104  so that the filter media  104  is retained in place. The cartridge  102  can include a retaining lip  119  extending horizontally inward from one or more top edges to help hold the filter media  102  in place. 
         [0046]    In alternative embodiments, the top side of the cartridge is permanently closed, or can have a removable cartridge cover. If closed, the entire cartridge is to be swapped out, rather than being able to just change the filter media. 
         [0047]    This arrangement of solid walls and apertures as described herein causes the air to flow across the filter media, thereby removing particulates from the air stream. The air exiting the hopper include has been found to achieve a substantial (e.g. 67%) reduction in neonicotinoid containing particles that would otherwise have become airborne without the present invention. The filter media meets ASHARE standards. In certain embodiments, the filter media can be MERV 8 media that satisfies the standard ASHARE 52.2.2007 and is UL rated 900. 
         [0048]    In order to secure the cartridge in place within the hopper in this embodiment, the end walls  112 ,  114  and the bottom side  116  each define a recessed channel  120 . The protruding flange  21  inside of the hopper (shown in  FIGS. 2-3 ) that previously held the screen  18  in place is now inserted into the respective portions of the channel  120  of the cartridge  102  as the cartridge is disposed into the hopper with a vertical motion. The screen  18  is no longer used. The hopper top cover  14  is replaced and then the seed planter is ready to be used to plant seeds. 
         [0049]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 12-16 , the filter cartridge  102  is shaped differently because it is adapted to the particular seed hopper  12  configuration shown. In the previous embodiment, the airflow direction was horizontal. However, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 10-16 , the airflow is vertical. Here, the top cover  14  of the hopper  12  in  FIG. 10  (the lower right rectangular structure) is removed to expose the hopper interior as shown in  FIG. 11 . The cartridge  102  is set down into the open top of the hopper  12  as shown in  FIG. 12  and the filter media  104  is disposed in the cartridge  102  as shown in  FIG. 16 . Then the normal hopper lid  14  is then put back into place to seal the hopper  12 . 
         [0050]    The cartridge in this embodiment comprises a bottom surface  122  defining a plurality of apertures  124 . The apertures  124  permit the vertical flow of air across the filter media. The four side walls  126 ,  128 ,  130 , and  132  are solid and define a continuous wall to prevent air from flowing in the horizontal direction. The top side of the cartridge is open. The walls and bottom surface together define an interior region  133  for receiving the filter media. 
         [0051]    A first flange  134  extends horizontally from the top edge of one of the side walls to enclose any remaining opening in the top of the hopper so that air cannot flow around the filter media; the air must flow through the filter media. A support rib  136  (or a plurality of support ribs) can run under the flange  134  to provide rigidity or support to the flange  134 . 
         [0052]    A second flange  138  extends from a top edge of an opposing side wall to engage a top perimeter of the hopper. The first  134  and second  138  flanges maintain the cartridge inside of the hopper in a suspended position adjacent the top cover. Additional suspending flanges can be provided to the other side walls as well. The side wall perimeter shape of the cartridge and the first flange can be configured to conform to the interior shape of the particular hopper into which the cartridge will be installed. Likewise, the filter media  104  can be shaped to fit within the interior  133  of the cartridge  102 . 
         [0053]    The cartridge can be formed of any suitable material, such as paper, plastic, rubber or metal, or a combination of materials. In one embodiment, the cartridge can be formed of rigid plastic by a molding operation. 
         [0054]    When the filter media  104  becomes sufficiently loaded or clogged with seed coating particulates, the whole cartridge  102  (with media  104  still in the cartridge) can be easily replaced in the field by taking out the current cartridge and replacing it with a new cartridge. Alternatively, the filter media itself can be replaced in the field and the cartridge re-used. 
         [0055]    Referring now to  FIGS. 17-21 , another variation of hopper  12  is shown. Like that of  FIGS. 2-4 , the conventional screen  18  is in a vertical orientation and the airflow is in a horizontal direction across the screen. The replacement filter cartridge assembly  100 , comprising the cartridge  102  with media  104  disposed therein, replaces the screen  18 , and the hopper  12  is otherwise unaltered. 
         [0056]    The top cover  14  of the hopper  12 , is removed as shown and the screen  18  is removed by sliding it vertically upwards. Then, the filter assembly  100  is slid downwards vertically with the flanges  21  following the grooves in the cartridge as discussed previously herein. After the cartridge assembly  100  is fully seated in the hopper  12 , the cover  14  is secured over the hopper and the seed planter is again ready for use. 
         [0057]      FIG. 22  illustrates the additional feature of certain embodiments of the cartridge  102  where a top cover  140  is disposed over the open end of the cartridge  102 . The cover  140  ensures that the filter media  104  stays secured within the interior space of the cartridge  102 . The cover  140  can be latched on one side and hinged on another, or can be a press-friction fit. The cover can be a card plastic or a softer rubber material with flexibility to snugly conform to the cartridge. 
         [0058]    While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and equivalent arrangements can be made thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, such scope to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products. Moreover, features or aspects of various example embodiments may be mixed and matched (even if such combination is not explicitly described herein) without departing from the scope of the invention.