Abstract:
An air diverting system for a seed dryer bin having a duct connected to and in communication with openings in the seed bin and a fan. An airflow diverter assembly rotatably mounted within the duct and having a handle for rotating the assembly to a desired position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention is directed to an air diverting system and more particularly an improved air diverting system for a seed drying bin. 
         [0002]    Seed drying bins are well-known in the art. Typically, seed drying bins have an air flow plenum constructed of steel panels that is positioned between a fan and a seed drying chamber. To divert air flow between the top and bottom of the seed chamber a complex device of cables and trap doors is presently used. Not only are the steel panels expensive, but the cables are subject to wear and the device is difficult to install, remove, and replace when a cable breaks. Thus a need exists in the art for a system that addresses these deficiencies. 
         [0003]    An objective of the present invention is to provide an air diverting system that is more economical to manufacture. 
         [0004]    A further objective of the present invention is to provide an air diverting system that has fewer parts and is easier to install. 
         [0005]    These and other objectives will be apparent to one skilled in the art based upon the following written description, drawings, and claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An air diverting system for a seed dryer bin having a duct connected to and in communication with openings in a seed bin and a fan. Rotatably mounted within the duct is an air diverter assembly that is operatively connected to a handle for moving the assembly to a desired position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side sectional view of an air diverting system; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side sectional view of an air diverting system; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an air diverting assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    Referring to the Figures, a seed dryer  10  has opposing bins  12  and  14  that are separated by an upper plenum  16  and a lower plenum  18 . Each bin  12  and  14  has an outside wall  20 , an inside wall  22  and a top door  24  used to fill the bins with seed  26 . Within each bin  12  and  14  is slanted air permeable floor  28  that are perforated/grated such that seed  26  will not pass through but air will. 
         [0011]    On the inside wall  22  of each bin  12  and  14  is an upper and a lower opening  30  and  32  that are connected to and in communication with a duct  34 . On the side opposite the inside wall  22 , the duct has an intake opening  36  that is connected to and in communication with fans  38  and  40 . As an example only, bin  12  is connected to fan  38 , which resides in lower plenum  18 , by duct  34  and bin  14  is connected to fan  40  which resides in upper plenum  16  by duct  34 . 
         [0012]    Disposed within and mounted to duct  34  is an air flow diverter assembly  42 . Preferably, the diverter assembly is positioned adjacent to intake opening  36 . The diverter assembly  42  has an air diverting wall  44  and a pair of sidewalls  46 . The air diverting wall  44  is of any shape and preferably has a generally concave arcuate shape. The sidewalls  46  are pivotally mounted to walls  48  in duct  34  by a stub shaft  50  that extends through a pivot bearing  52  mounted in openings  54  in walls  48 . A handle  56  is connected to at least one stub shaft  50  outside of duct  34 . Alternatively, a motor (not shown) is connected to the stub shaft  50 . Mounted to wall  48  adjacent handle  56  is a locking mechanism  58  that retains handle  56  in a desired position. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, mounted to the interior of the duct  34  is a first stop  60 , a strike bar  62 , and a second stop  64 . Each of the stops  60  and  64  and the strike bar  62  have seals  66  attached thereto. In addition, on the interior of wall  48  and on a corner edge  68  of the diverter assembly  42  are aligned strips  70  of slidable material such as UHMW polyethylene that allows the diverter assembly  42  to slide in relation to wall  48 . 
         [0014]    In operation, when fans  38  and  40  are activated, air is blown through intake opening  36  to the diverter assembly  42 . When the diverter assembly  42  is in a raised or first position, air flows through lower opening  30  into bin  12  and through upper opening  32  into bin  14 . When in the raised position, back edge  72  of diverter wall  44  engages second stop  64  while front edge  74  engages strike bar  62  to seal duct  34 . 
         [0015]    To change the direction of air flow the diverter assembly  42  is rotated by handle  56  or motor to a lowered or second position. In the second position air flow is diverted from fan  68  through opening  30  and into bin  12  and from fan  70  through opening  32  into bin  14 . When in the second position the front edge  74  of wall  44  engages first stop  60  and the back edge  72  engages strike bar  62  to seal duct  34 . 
         [0016]    Accordingly an air flow diverter for a seed bin dryer has been disclosed that, at the very least, meets all of the stated objectives.