Abstract:
A horizontal rotating drum for mixing and drying treated seed with multiple functional zones separated by one or more dams that are attached to and rotate with the drum. The dam regulates the flow of seed through the drum&#39;s functional zones. The dam has one or more cleanout passages and an overflow passage centrally disposed within the dam to selectively regulate seed flow.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/838,246, filed Jun. 22, 2013. 
     
    
     GOVERNMENT RIGHTS 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO CDS 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       FIELD 
       [0004]    The present invention is in the technical field of treating seeds. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    Agricultural seeds are often treated with insecticides, fungicides, inoculants, and other compositions immediately before planting. The time window for planting—when the weather is warm enough and the fields are dry—is often very short. This means the seed dealer must quickly treat and deliver a high volume of seed to farmers who are ready to plant their fields. These seed treatments are commonly applied by spraying a liquid composition to the surface of seed, which requires a smaller quantity of seed treatment composition than the traditional field application of treatment fluids. 
         [0006]    The last stage of treating seeds involves placing the wet, freshly treated seed in a rotating drum that mixes the treated seed, evenly distributes the treatment coat, and allows the treatment solution to dry. Seed progresses through the rotating drum in three phases: initial seed aggregation, mixing/drying, and cleanout. The initial seed aggregation phase is when wet, partially covered seed begins to enter the drum. The seed accumulates in the interior of the drum to form a seed aggregate in the bottom of the drum. During the mixing/drying phase the drum operates in steady state with seed entering through the inlet and discharging through the discharge end. The interior of the rotating drum lifts the seed up the side of the drum thereby mixing and distributing treatment across the surface of the individual seed. During the cleanout phase, no new seed enters the rotating drum. The drum is generally tilted, allowing gravity to encourage the seed for discharging at the discharge end. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    We recognized that a horizontal mixing drum for mixing and drying seed could mix, dry, and discharge seed more efficiently if the drum could selectively retain seed in separate zones that are optimized for mixing, drying, or discharge while providing passages for rapid seed cleanout. The wet seed would enter the hollow, elongated chamber of the horizontal rotating drum through a hole in the inlet end. That seed accumulates in the interior of the drum to form an aggregate of the seed in the bottom of the drum. 
         [0008]    A dam separates the drum into separate zones. The outside periphery of dam is attached to the interior of the drum so the dam rotates along with the drum. Generally, the dam slows the progression of the wet, freshly treated seed through the drum. The dam has at least two types of passages to selectively allow the seed to progress towards the discharge end of the drum. 
         [0009]    The first type of passage is the cleanout passage, which is a hole in the dam located at the outside edge of the dam and adjacent to the interior surface of the drum. The cleanout passages allow a portion of the seed that is close to the interior surface of the drum to progress past the dam. 
         [0010]    The second type of passage is the overflow passage. The overflow passage is a hole that is centrally located in the dam that prevents an excessive quantity of seed from accumulating in the upstream functional zone. The overflow passage allows the portion of the aggregate that accumulates to the height of the overflow passage to progress toward the discharge end. 
         [0011]    Between the apertures is the impermeable, retaining portion of the dam. The retaining portion of the dam slows the progression of the seed through the mixing and/or drying zones and directs the seed through either the cleanout passage or the overflow passage. 
         [0012]    The dam separates the interior of the drum into zones. The inlet of the drum is the mixing zone. Wet, freshly treated seed enters the mixing zone through the inlet end of the drum. As the seed continues to flow into the drum, the seed forms an aggregate at the bottom of the drum. This seed is then lifted and mixed as the drum rotates. The mixing zone could use flights designed to aggressively mix the wet seed together, spreading the treatment fluid over the surface of the seed. 
         [0013]    The seed then progresses toward the discharge end through either the cleanout passages or the overflow passage. A second dam could separate a distinct drying zone between the mixing zone and the discharge end. The drying zone could use flights designed to lift the seed more gently than the mixing flights. These drying flights would continue to expose the seed to the air to facilitate drying, but would not mix the seed as aggressively to avoid damaging the fragile seed. The second dam could also selectively retain seed in the drying zone prior to discharge. 
         [0014]    It could also be important to prevent the initial deposit of seed from progressing through the drum too quickly. Delaying or ramping up the initial drum rotation speed could slow the progression of the initial seed deposit. The drum should not reach full rotation speed until the height of the seed aggregate has reached or surpassed the height of the cleanout aperture. 
         [0015]    Some advantages of the present invention include an apparatus which provides:
       a. efficient mixing and drying of seed treated with a fluid seed treatment;   b. rapid clean out of seed, reducing the overall treatment time;   c. a rotating drum for mixing and drying seed with two or more internal zones optimized for mixing, drying, and/or discharging seed;   d. a dam for selectively retaining seed within the internal drum zones; and   e. a control system for delaying or ramping the speed of drum rotation during the initial deposit of seed into the drum.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Aspects are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the exterior of the inlet end of the rotating drum. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the exterior of the discharge end of the rotating drum. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the inlet end of the rotating drum with the inlet end wall removed. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a cut-away view of the interior of the rotating drum highlighting the functional zones separated by the first and second dams. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart depicting the progression of seed through the rotating drum during the initial seed aggregation phase. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart depicting the progression of seed through the rotating drum during the mixing/drying phase. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart depicting the progression of seed through the rotating drum during overflow progression. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart depicting the progression of seed through the rotating drum during the cleanout phase. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIGS. 1 and 2  there is shown the exterior of the drum  10 . Freshly treated seed enters the drum  10  through the inlet opening  22  in the inlet end  20 . The seed is mixed within the drum  10  as the motor  14  causes the drum  10  to rotate on the drum frame  12 . The dry, mixed seed is discharged through the discharge opening  32  in the discharge end  30 . Seed progresses from the inlet end  20  to the discharge end  30  under the force of gravity, as the inlet end  20  is elevated relative to the discharge end  30 . As will be described in greater detail below, the flights within the drum  10  cause the seed to be lifted and deposited on the chute  34 . The chute  34  is inserted into the drum through the discharge opening  32 . The chute  34  directs the seed from inside the drum  10  to a discharge conveyor (not shown). 
         [0031]    During the initial seed aggregation phase, the seed enters the drum and begins to form a seed aggregate on the bottom of the interior surface  80  of the drum  10 . The interior of the drum  10  is depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . As illustrated, two dams  100   a,b  separate the drum into separate functional zones: a mixing zone  50 , a drying zone  60 , and a discharge zone  70 . The outside periphery  120   a,b  of the dams  100   a,b  are attached to the interior surface  80  of the drum  10  so that they rotate along with the drum. Generally, the dams  100   a,b  slow the progression of the wet, freshly treated seed through the drum  10 . The dams  100   a,b  have at least two types of passages to selectively allow the seed to progress towards the discharge end of the drum. 
         [0032]    The outside periphery  120   a  of the first dam  100   a  has at least one peripheral aperture that defines a cleanout passage  104   a  through the first dam  100   a . The cleanout passage  104   a  is adjacent to the interior surface  80  of the drum  10 . The cleanout passage  104   a  allows the portion of the aggregate that is shorter than the peripheral apertures—seed that is close to the interior surface  80  of the drum  10 —to progress past the first dam  100   a . The cleanout passages  104   a  allow the drum to go through the cleanout phase quickly and eliminates the need for reversing the rotation direction. 
         [0033]    There is also a central aperture that creates an overflow passage  108   a  within the first dam  100   a  that prevents an excessive quantity of seed from accumulating in the drum. The overflow passage  108   a  allows the portion of the seed aggregate that accumulates to the height of the overflow passage to progress through a central portion of the drum and toward the discharge end  30  of the drum  10 . 
         [0034]    Between the apertures is the retaining portion  110   a,b  of the dams  100   a,b . The retaining portion  110   a,b  slows the progression of the seed through drum  10 , thus retaining the seed toward the inlet end  20 . The progression of the seed aggregate is limited by the retaining portion  110   a,b  when a portion of the seed aggregate is restricted and forced to flow through either the cleanout passage  104  or the overflow passage  108 . The retaining portion  110   a  retains the seed aggregate toward the inlet end  20 , thereby retaining the seed aggregate until the seed is thoroughly mixed and the treatment solution is evenly spread over the seed surface. 
         [0035]    The dams also separate the interior of the drum  10  into multiple zones. The first dam  110   a  separates the inlet end of the drum into a mixing zone  50 . The mixing zone  50  is configured with a plurality of mixing flights  55  that are attached to the interior surface  80  of the drum. As wet, freshly treated seed enters the drum and accumulates into a seed aggregate near the inlet end  20 , the mixing flights  55  rotate and move through the seed aggregate. The mixing flights  55  engage a portion of the seed aggregate, lifting and mixing seed as the drum  10  rotates. The mixing flights  55  are equally spaced about the circumference of the interior surface  80  of the drum  10 . The mixing flights  55  extend approximately perpendicularly from the interior surface  80  of the drum  10  in order to facilitate mixing. 
         [0036]    The retaining portion  110   a  of the first dam  100   a  slows the progression of the seed aggregate, thereby retaining seed in the mixing zone  50 . The increased retention time in the mixing zone  50  ensures that the wet, freshly treated seed is thoroughly mixed prior to progressing toward the discharge end. This efficient mixing is particularly important for the initial deposit of seed, as the initial seed that is discharged from existing treaters is generally unevenly covered with the treatment solution. As the seed aggregate grows, the mixing and distribution of treatment over the surface of the seed becomes more efficient. As the drum continues to rotate, a portion of the seed aggregate progresses toward the discharge end  30  through either the cleanout passages  104  or the overflow passage  108 . 
         [0037]    A second dam  100   b  could separate a distinct drying zone  60  between the mixing zone  50  and the discharge end  70 . The drying zone  60  uses drying flights  65  designed to lift the seed more gently than the mixing flights  55 . These drying flights  65  would continue to expose the seed to the air to facilitate drying, but would not mix the seed as aggressively to avoid damaging the fragile seed. 
         [0038]    The second dam  100   b  selectively retains seed in the drying zone prior to discharge. The second dam  100   b  is configured with one or more cleanout passages  104   b , an overflow passage  108   b , and a retaining portion  110   b  as described above. The size and shape of the retaining portion  110   b  of the second dam  100   b  could be similar to the retaining portion  110   a  of the first dam  100   a . However, the retaining portion  110   b  of the second dam  100   b  may be optimized to retain seed in the drying zone longer—requiring the cleanout passages  104   b  and the overflow passage  108   b  to be smaller. Alternatively, the retaining portion  110   b  of the second dam  100   b  may be optimized to retain seed in the drying zone for a shorter amount of time—requiring the cleanout passages  104   b  or the overflow passage  108   b  to be larger. 
         [0039]    As the drum continues to rotate, a portion of the seed aggregate progresses into the discharge zone  70  through either the cleanout passages  104   b  or the overflow passage  108   b  of the second dam  100   b . The incline of the inlet end  20  of the drum  10  propels the seed toward the discharge end  30  of the drum. The discharge end wall  300  retains the seeds, causing the seed to accumulate at the discharge end of the drum. Once accumulated at the discharge end, the seed is engaged by the discharge flights  75 . The discharge zone  70  is configured with a plurality of discharge flights  75 . The discharge flights  75  are equally spaced about the interior surface  80  at the discharge end  30  of the drum  10 . The discharge flights  75  extend approximately perpendicularly from the interior surface  80  of the drum  10 . This allows the discharge flights  75  to elevate seed independent of the rotation direction. 
         [0040]    The discharge flights  75  move through and engage a portion of the aggregated seed. The rotation of the discharge flights  75  causes the seed to be lifted. As the drum rotates, the discharge flights support the seed, elevating and lifting the seed onto the chute  34 . The discharge flights  75  lift the seed differently than the mixing flights  55  or drying flights  65 . The discharge flights  75  lift and carry the seed as the drum rotates and deposit the seed onto the chute  34 . 
         [0041]    The chute  34  is partially inserted into the discharge opening  32 . The chute  34  can be inserted into the drum  10  as far as the discharge lifting flights extend into the drum so that all of the seed that is lifted and carried may be deposited on the chute. The chute  34  is positioned at an incline so that seed falls on the chute within the drum and gravity encourages the seed to travel downward, outside the drum, and then onto a discharge conveyor (not shown). The elevated discharge chute eliminates the need to elevate the horizontal rotating drum on a raised frame, while still allowing the drum to discharge into a conveyor hopper. 
         [0042]    The motor  14  that rotates the drum is connected to a control system  400 . The control system  400  could control and monitor the speed and direction of drum rotation. The control system  400  could also monitors and controls other components of the treater system such as: seed conveyors, scaling and metering equipment, seed treatment applicators, and seed sensors. In order to prevent the initial deposit of seed from progressing through the drum too quickly, the control system  400  could delay or ramp the initial drum rotation speed from no rotation up to full operating speed. By ramp, we mean that the control system would initially turn the drum slowly and then gradually increase the drum rotation speed as seed enters the drum. The control system  400  could regulate the drum rotation speed until a sufficiently large seed aggregate has formed in the mixing zone  50 . The seed aggregate is sufficiently large when the mixing flights  55  will engage the seed aggregate and adequately mix the seed. In one configuration, the control system  400  will regulate the motor  14  such that the drum does not reach full rotation speed until the height of the seed aggregate has reached or surpassed the height of the retaining portion  110  of the dam  100 . In another configuration, the control system  400  will regulate the motor such that the drum does not reach full rotation speed until a sufficient quantity of seed is present in the drum to form a seed aggregate that mixes and distributes treatment composition efficiently. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 3 and 4  depict the mixing flights  55  in the mixing zone  50  of the drum  10 . The mixing flights  55  are illustrated as flat bars that are lifted away from the interior surface  80 . The mixing flights  55  are configured as flat bars to aggressively mix the wet, freshly treated seed. The flat bars make contact with the seed aggregate across the entire surface area of the bar, dragging a portion of the seed upward as the drum rotates. This seed cascades back down into the seed aggregate, thereby mixing and distributing the treatment composition across the surface of the seed. The mixing flights  55  are lifted away from the interior of the drum in order engage the accumulated seed aggregate. The gap between the mixing flights  55  and the interior surface  80  also allows seed to cleanout at the end of the mixing, drying cycle without seed sticking to the seam between the flight and the interior surface  80 . However, it is also possible for the mixing flights  55  to be flat, rounded, or directly attached to the interior surface  80  of the drum  10  and still effectuate proper mixing in the mixing zone  50 . 
         [0044]    The mixing flights  55  can be positioned are varying heights, with some mixing flights raised higher off of the interior surface  80  of the drum than other mixing flights. As seed is introduced into the mixing zone  50 , the seed aggregate will start small and begin to grow—depending on the rate at which seed is introduced into the mixing zone. The lower mixing flights will engage a smaller seed aggregate that forms initially. As the flow rate continues, the seed aggregate will increase in size. As the seed aggregate grows, the higher mixing flights will begin to engage the seed aggregate while the lower mixing flights continue to engage the seed aggregate. The higher mixing flights will ensure that the entire seed aggregate is mixed. At low flow rates, the seed aggregate may not grow to reach the higher mixing flights, and therefore the lower mixing flights are needed to engage and mix the treated seed. By including both the lower and higher mixing flights, the mixing zone will engage and mix the seed aggregate at both high and low flow rates. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 3 and 4  depict the drying flights  65  in the drying zone  60  of the drum  10 . The drying flights  65  are illustrated as round bars that are lifted away from the interior surface  80 . The drying flights  65  are configured as round bars to continuously lift the seed along the interior surface  80  of the drum  10 . The rounded bars engage the seed more gently than the flat bars used for the mixing flights  55 , which decreases damage to the seed. The drying flights  65  are lifted away from the interior of the drum in order to engage the accumulated seed aggregate. The gap between the drying flights  65  and the interior surface  80  also allows seed to cleanout at the end of the mixing, drying cycle without seed sticking to the flight-interior surface seam. However, it is also possible for the drying flights  65  to be flat, rounded, or directly attached to the interior surface  80  of the drum  10  and still effectuate proper drying in the drying zone  50 . 
         [0046]    As described above, lifting the mixing flights  55  and drying flights  65  above the interior surface  80  limits the potential for seed to stick (or adhere) to the seams between the flight and the drum. However, the discharge flights  75  cannot be lifted off the interior surface  80  as they provide cleanout and lift for the entire quantity of seed. The portion of the discharge flights  75  that makes contact with the interior surface  80  can be sloped, thereby providing lower surface area contact between the seed and the discharge flight  75  and the interior surface  80 . 
         [0047]    In order to achieve complete and rapid discharge of the seed, the drying zone  60  can include cleanout flights  77 . The cleanout flights are attached directly to the interior surface  80  of the drum. The cleanout flights  77  do not have any space or gap underneath. As a result, the cleanout flights engage the lowest portion of the seed aggregate. The cleanout flights  77  will continue to engage a seed aggregate that is only a single layer of seed. The purpose of the cleanout flights  77  is to engage the lowest level of the seed aggregate and encourage that level of the seed aggregate toward the discharge zone  70 . The cleanout flights  77  are attached to the interior surface and extend longitudinally within the drum. While generally longitudinal, the cleanout flights  77  could be straight, angled, or helical. The cleanout flights  77  have a peak, so that the cross section of a cleanout flight is triangular or a semi-circular. The cleanout flights  77  extend longitudinally through the drying zone and can extend all the way to the cleanout passage  104   b  in the dam  100   b.    
         [0048]      FIGS. 5-9  detail the flow of seed through various phases of the mixing and drying cycle. In each of the diagrams, the solid lines indicate an active step in the process and a dotted line indicates an inactive step. 
         [0049]      FIG. 5  depicts the first phase, the Initial Seed Aggregation Phase. Wet, partially coated seed enters the drum from the seed treatment applicator. As the seed enters, a seed aggregate forms in the inlet end  20  of the drum  10 . Generally, the initial seed aggregate does not mix well until a sufficient seed aggregate is formed. In order to maximize the amount of time the initial seed aggregate remains in the mixing zone  50 , the control system  400  can control the rotation of the drum to delay or ramp the drum rotation. As shown, the seed does not yet progress through the dam in the initial seed aggregation phase. 
         [0050]      FIG. 6  depicts the Mixing/Drying Phase. As the aggregate forms and—optionally, the control system  400  causes the drum to rotate at normal operating speeds—the seed aggregate is mixed in the mixing zone  50 . A portion of the seed aggregate passes through the clean out passages  104 . However, at this stage the seed aggregate has not grown sufficiently to reach the overflow passages  108 . This seed begins to accumulate and form a seed aggregate in the discharge zone. A portion of the seed aggregate in the discharge end is engaged by the discharge flights  75 . The discharge flights  75  lift and deposit the seed on the chute  34 , thereby discharging the seed from the drum  10 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 7  depicts the Overflow Progression. As the seed aggregate grows, the mixing and drying process is more efficient. Therefore, minimum retention time is preferred. The overflow passage  108  allows seed in the larger seed aggregate to progress toward the discharge end  30 . During this phase, seed passes through both the cleanout passages  104  and the overflow passages  108 . A portion of the seed aggregate is retained by the retaining portion  110  of the dam  100 . However, by utilizing both the cleanout passages  104  and the overflow passages  108 , a larger portion of the seed aggregate is allowed to progress toward the discharge end than through the cleanout passages  104  alone—as in the Mixing/Drying Phase. 
         [0052]      FIG. 8  depicts the Cleanout Phase. At the end of a treatment cycle, treated seed no longer enters the drum  10 . It is important that the drum is cleaned out rapidly and completely. As the seed aggregate diminishes in size, the retaining portion  110  of the dam  10  no longer retains a portion of the seed. The seed is permitted to flow through the cleanout passages  104  and be discharged. 
         [0053]    One additional problem with existing rotating drums is that wet, freshly treated seed often sticks to the interior surface  80 , which requires the operator to perform a difficult cleaning process. The rotating drum can be more easily cleaned if a portion of the discharge end wall  44  is separate from the drum cylinder  40 . In this embodiment, the discharge end wall  44  is mounted to the drum frame  12  such that the discharge end wall  44  is stationary and does not rotate with the drum. The discharge end wall  44 —or a portion thereof—can be hinged, to allow the operator access to the interior of the drum  10 . Alternatively, the discharge end wall  44 —or a portion thereof—can slide or rotate out of the way, providing the operator greater access to the interior of the drum. In order to provide a tight seal between the rotating drum cylinder  40  and the stationary discharge end wall  44 , a layer of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene would provide a low friction and high durability point of contact. 
         [0054]    The chute  34  can have a chute hinge  36 . The chute hinge  36  allows the portion of the chute that extends past the chute supports  38  to fold upward toward the drum  10 . Folding the chute  34  allows the drum to be stored when not in use. Folding the chute  34  also allows for transporting the drum without damaging the chute. Folding the chute  34  also allows for easier maneuvering the discharge conveyor into the proper position to receive seed discharged from the drum. 
         [0055]    It is understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein described. That although the drawings and specification set forth a preferred embodiment, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a description sense only and embody all such forms as come within the scope of the following claims. 
         [0056]    In the Summary above, the Detailed Description, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features including method steps of the invention. The reader should understand that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. It is understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein described. That although the drawings and specification set forth a preferred embodiment, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a description sense only and embody all such forms as come within the scope of the following claims. 
         [0057]    The term “comprises” and its grammatical equivalents are used in this document to mean that other components, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” or “which comprises” components A, B, and C can consist of components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also one or more other components.