Abstract:
An air seeder has two tanks for holding seed or other particulate matter. Each tank has a metering device at the bottom to meter out the contents of the tanks. A panel is positioned to cover and uncover a hole between the two tanks such that it can direct the contents of one tank into the other and also block off the metering device of the one tank. The panel is connected to a handle that extends outside the tanks so the operator can move the panel without entering the tank.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to generally to tanks for distributing particulate matter for agricultural applications. More particularly, it relates to tanks towed by tractors for distributing seed.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Once common method of applying seed is to use an air seeding system or air seeder. Air seeding systems carry seed in one or more tanks that are coupled to manifolds. Each tank typically includes a metering device at the bottom, such as a rotating fluted wheel that transfers the seed or fertilizer from the bottom of the tank into an air-charged passageway just below the tank. Air is blown into the passageways and carries the seed or fertilizer into manifolds downstream that split into individual row seed tubes.  
         [0003]     To provide flexibility, air seeding systems often use two or more tanks that are interconnected such that each can distribute seed or particulate matter separately, in separate air flow paths, or both can deliver seed together to a common air flow path. One common arrangement of such a system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,889.  
         [0004]     In the system of the &#39;889 patent, three tanks 17, 18, and 19 are disposed adjacent to each other on an air seeder cart to feed any one (or all) of three tubes A, B, and C. Air is blown by two fans 1A and 1B into each of these three tubes to carry the seed or other particulate matter down tubes A, B, and C and thence to manifolds on the planter.  
         [0005]     Each tank feeds its own metering auger located at the bottom of the tank. However, center tank 18 can be configured to feed any of the three augers. Seed in center tank 18 always goes straight down into its own auger, since no means is provided to block that flow off. But tank 18 can also feed adjacent tanks 17 and 19 by removing two cover plates 29 located on either side of tank 18 near the bottom. These plates cover openings 27, 28 in the bottom of tank 18. These openings join tank 18 to tanks 17 and 19. Seed that passes through these openings falls into tank 17 and 19 and is then routed through metering augers for tanks 17 and 19. In this manner, two tanks can be joined to a common metering auger and outlet.  
         [0006]     It is not easy to open or close openings 27 and 28, however. The openings 27, 28 are small rectangular holes disposed on either side of tank 18 inside tanks 17 and 19. They are only accessible from inside tanks 17 and 19, respectively.  
         [0007]     Even when the plates 29 are removed, however, seed in tank 18 still travels down to the metering auger for tank  18 . To insure that seed in tank 18 goes through openings 27, 28 to adjacent tanks 17, 19, the metering auger for tank 18 must be disabled.  
         [0008]     What is needed, therefore, is an improved seeding system that permits the operator to shift the flow of seed from one tank with a first metering device to a second tank with a second metering device that does not require the operator to either (1) enter either tank, or (2) disable the first metering auger.  
         [0009]     It is an object of this invention to provide such a seeding system.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, an air seeder is provided that includes a first tank configured to hold particulate matter; a first particulate matter metering device coupled to the bottom of the first tank; a second tank configured to hold particulate matter; a second particulate matter metering device coupled to the bottom of the second tank; a panel disposed within the first tank to block the flow of particulate matter between the first and the second tanks; and an actuator coupled to the panel, wherein the actuator extends outside the first and second tanks, and further wherein the actuator is manipulable to move the panel from a first position in which particulate flow from the first and second tanks are joined and directed to the second metering device, and a second position in which flow from the first tank is directed to the first metering device and particulate flow from the second tank is directed to the second metering device.  
         [0011]     The first and second tanks may share a common wall, and the panel may be configured to cover and uncover an aperture in said common wall when moved between its first and second positions. The actuator may be a manually operable lever extending outside the first and second tanks. The air seeder may further include a hinge fixed to an edge of the panel and to a wall of the first tank. The edge of the panel may be a lower edge of the panel. The panel may be configured to pivot through an angle of between 45 and 135 degrees when moved between its first and second position. The panel may abut an outer wall of the first tank in the first position and abut an inner wall of the second tank in the second position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a left side view of an air system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional left side view of the air system of  FIG. 1  in the vicinity of pivotable panel  150  with handle  152  and left sidewall  138  removed. The cross section is made by a vertical and longitudinally extending cutting plane.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary perspective view of the air system of  FIGS. 1 and 2  showing portions of wall  146  and its opening  148 , portions of wall  156  and its opening  154 , and portions of side wall. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     In the discussion herein, the term “seed” should be understood to include not just seed, but also grain, kernels, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides or other particulate matter that may be applied to the ground for agricultural purposes.  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an air system  100  includes a frame  102  upon which is mounted a tank assembly  104 , a blower  106  and conduits  108 .  
         [0017]     Frame  102  of air system  100  may be mounted on wheels  110  as shown, or it may be mounted directly on an implement such as a tool bar that has ground openers or similar system for receiving the seed distributed by the air seeder.  
         [0018]     Tank assembly  104  defines two tanks, a first tank  112  and a second tank  114 . The tank assembly further includes two metering devices  116 ,  118  that are coupled to the bottom of tanks  112  and  114 , respectively. Each metering device includes a housing  120 . The housing supports and encloses a fluted cylinder or an auger  122  that is driven by a hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or mechanical actuator (not shown), for example a linear actuator or rotary actuator.  
         [0019]     Whenever the actuator rotates the fluted cylinder or auger, seed in the bottom of the tanks that is resting in the flutes of the cylinder at the inlet (i.e. top) of the metering device is drawn around in the housing  120  as the cylinder  122  rotates. When it is rotated through the housing to the outlet (i.e. the bottom) of the housing, it is released into the conduits  108  which are connected to the housing outlet.  
         [0020]     Seed is swept away from the outlet as soon as it falls into conduit  108 , by a stream of air provided by blower  106 . A plenum  124  is coupled to and between blower  106  and metering devices  116  and  118  to direct the flow of blower air into the outlets of the metering devices and thence to conduits  108  carrying the seed at the outlets of the metering devices with it.  
         [0021]     Conduits  108  extend from the outlets of the metering devices toward the ground openers or other components that receive the seeds and place them in the ground. These other components are well known and form no part of the present invention.  
         [0022]     First tank  112  and second tank  114  share a common internal wall  126  that has a lower portion  128  disposed at a 45 degree angle and an upper portion  130  that is vertical. The tanks also share a common top wall  132  that has two hatches  134 ,  136  extending therethrough. Hatch  134  provides seed fill opening in the top of tank  112 . Hatch  136  provides a seed fill opening in the top of tank  114 .  
         [0023]     Tank  112  also has left side wall  138 , right side wall  140  ( FIG. 3 ), and front wall  142 , in addition to its shared common back wall  126  and top wall  132  mentioned in the previous paragraph. Tank  112  also has a lower chute-shaped portion  144  that extends downward from internal panel or wall  146  to the inlet of metering device  116 . Panel  146  has an opening or aperture  148  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) through which seed passes. Opening  148  may be selectively closed or opened by the operator. To close opening  148 , the operator moves pivotable panel  150  counterclockwise (as shown in the FIGURES), until it covers and blocks opening  150 . Panel  150  functions as a door or valve to block the flow of seed from passing through opening  148 .  
         [0024]     Panel (or valve)  150  is pivotally coupled to tank  112  and is fixed to an actuator  152  here shown as a manually operated handle. Panel actuator or handle  152  is disposed on the outside of tank  112  where it can be grasped and rotated by the operator without the operator having to enter the tank. The handle and the panel pivot together over a range of 45 to 135 degrees, and more preferably over a range of about 90 degrees as shown herein.  
         [0025]     Handle  152  has two limits of travel, a clockwise limit  152 A and a counterclockwise limit  152 B. Pivotable panel  150  also has two extreme limits of travel, a clockwise limit  150 A and a counterclockwise limit  150 B. Handle  152  rotates through an angle of 90 degrees when the operator moves it from position  152 A to  152 B (see  FIG. 1 ), and vice versa.  
         [0026]     Since handle  152  is fixed to panel  150 , this handle movement causes panel  150  to rotate through an angle of 90 degrees when it moves from position  150 A to  150 B (see  FIG. 2 ) and vice versa.  
         [0027]     To close opening  148 , the operator grasps handle  152  and rotates it counterclockwise until it reaches position  152 B and stops. Panel  150  moves to position  152 B in which it abuts internal panel  146 .  
         [0028]     When the handle  152  and panel  150  are in this position, seed is prevented from falling down into lower chute portion  144  of tank  112 . This effectively blocks all further flow of seed from the upper portion of tank  112  into metering device  116 .  
         [0029]     To open opening  148 , the operator does just the reverse: he grasps handle  152  and rotates it clockwise until it is in position  152 A ( FIG. 1 ) and panel  150  is in position  150 A ( FIG. 2 ) abutting the lower portion of internal wall  128 .  
         [0030]     Panel  150  serves a second function when it is in position  152 A: closing off opening or aperture  154 , which is disposed in lower portion  128  of internal wall  126 . This opening ( FIGS. 2-3 ) is disposed in the lower portion of wall  126  right where internal panel  146  abuts a front bottom wall  156  of tank  114 . Both panel  146  and wall  156  are disposed at a 45 degree angle.  
         [0031]     When panel  150  is in position  150 B, it closes off opening  148  in panel  146 , preventing seed from entering lower chute portion  144  of tank  112 . With opening  148  closed off, seed can freely flow down panel  146  in tank  112 , across panel  150 , and then through opening  156  and onward into tank  114 . Once in tank  114 , the seed falls down into and is metered by metering device  118  into conduit  108 , thereby bypassing metering device  116  of tank  112  entirely.  
         [0032]     Thus, by rotating external handle  152  counterclockwise, moving it from position  152 A to  152 B, the operator can simultaneously open up a passageway (opening  154 ) between tank  112  and  114  and block off flow to the metering device  116  for tank  112 , thus causing seed in tank  112  to flow into tank  114  and thence into its metering device  118 .  
         [0033]     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the present invention. For example, handle  152  need not be manually operated. Further, there may be additional tanks mounted on the frame having additional metering devices. Yet further, the frame need not be supported by wheels, but can be supported on a tool bar or other structure, or on a planter.  
         [0034]     It will be appreciated that the present disclosure is intended as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.