Abstract:
A vehicle for transporting bulk seed containers and for transferring seed from the bulk seed containers to a seed planting machine includes a frame; a number of bulk seed container supports attached to the frame, each bulk seed container support supporting a bulk seed container; a feed tube connected to each of the bulk seed container supports, each feed tube engaging a bulk seed container; a delivery tube connected to each feed tube; a funnel commonly connected to the delivery tubes; an auger tube connected to the funnel, and an auger to transfer seed to a seed planting machine

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a seed cart, in particular a seed cart for use with agricultural planting machines such as corn planters. The seed cart is configured to discharge seed from multiple bulk seed containers and other agricultural products, and includes an auger off-loading ability to a planter or other agricultural equipment. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Agricultural plating machines have grown considerably in size and complexity. Modern machines are presently configured to store and dispense great quantities of seed to facilitate long periods of operation. However, seed for such machines traditionally is sold and distributed in relatively small quantities. 
         [0003]    In the past, seed was distributed in 50 lb. bags, and more recently larger “jumbo” bags have been used. The bag concept suffers from a number of drawbacks. The smaller bags are too small to efficiently load a modern planting machine. The larger bags are too heavy to by handled without specialized equipment, and even with equipment they are considered dangerous due to the size and nature of the jumbo bags. 
         [0004]    Recently, in part to remedy these problems, seed has been packaged in box like bulk seed containers such as the Pro-Box. While addressing the safety issues, these containers are not easy to handle and a means to deliver the seed in large quantity to the planters still exists. 
         [0005]    A results a number of manufacturers have begun to produce specialized carts for handling this bulk seed, which can transport the seed to the planters often in field. These type of carts, however, for the most part resemble traditional bin type grain carts, which are not particularly well suited for use the bulk seeds containers. For example, the heavy bulk bags must be loaded with a fork lift, or crane, which makes field operation impractical to impossible. In most cases, the seed must be unloaded from the bag or container and dumped into the seed cart bin, which as stated depending on the circumstances can range from difficult to impossible. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, plainly a need exists for an improved bulk seed cart which can eliminate or substantially eliminate the problems in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide a seed cart which provides improved support for a number of bulk seed containers. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a seed cart which allows seed to be readily transported from the seed cart to a seed planter. 
         [0009]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following specification, drawings, and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the seed cart of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the seed cart of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of a talc kit for use with the seed cart of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3   b  is an exploded view of the talc kit of  FIG. 3   a.    
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the seed cart of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of the seed cart of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the seed cart of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a detailed view of the area C of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a detailed view of the area A of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    In the Figures, a seed cart  10  is shown.  FIG. 1  shows the seed cart  10  configured to receive four bulk seed containers (not shown) such as Pro-Box bulk seed containers. The seed cart  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is adapted for mounting to a trailer.  FIG. 2  shows a seed cart  10  also configured to receive four bulk seed containers, and is adapted as a stand-alone trailer with capability of receiving wheels (not shown) and a trailer hitch (not shown).  FIG. 4  shows a seed cart  10  configured to receive six bulk seed containers and a yoke with a hitch pin adapted for connecting to a truck (not shown). 
         [0023]    In particular, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the seed cart  10  includes a lower frame  11  comprised of a plurality of perimeter frame members  12  and a transverse frame member  13 . The lower frame supports an upper frame  16 . Conventionally available weigh bars  14  are located between the lower and upper frames  11 ,  16 . The weigh bars  14  are used to determine the amount of seed remaining in the seed cart  10  bulk seed containers, and include a digital readout for this purpose. 
         [0024]    The upper frame  16  includes a base  17  which is comprised of a plurality of lower perimeter frame members  18  and a lower transverse frame member  19 . Supports  20  extend upward from either side of the seed cart  12  and are connected on their lower end to the lower perimeter frame members  18  of the base  17  and connect on the upper end to upper perimeter frame members  24  of the upper frame  16 . The upper perimeter frame members  24  are joined together to form the upper perimeter of the upper frame  16 . Inner upper support members  25  are joined to the upper perimeter frame members  24  of the upper frame  16  for lateral support and to complete inner perimeters upon which the four bulk seed containers rest. 
         [0025]    Further support to the upper frame  16  is provide by a plurality of corner panel supports  22  located in each corner for the upper frame  16  of the seed cart  12 . The corner panel supports  22  extend between the lower perimeter and upper perimeter frame members  12 ,  24 . 
         [0026]    Seed container support shields  26  are located in the corners of the upper frame  16 , and at the intersection of the upper perimeter frame members  24  and inner upper support members  25 . In this manner, the container support shields  26  support each corner of the four bulk seed containers that rest on the upper support members  24 ,  25 . Further support for the bulk seed containers is provided by rails  28 , which connect between the container support shields  26  to further define the perimeter of the space provided for each for the four bulk seed containers. 
         [0027]    An auger tube  30  is provide to contain an auger (not shown) that will convey and deliver the seed from the bulk seed containers to an agricultural planter (not shown). The auger tube  30  is in two sections by a hinge  31  to allow the auger tube  30  to move between a transport and an operational position. A hinge bracket  32  supports the two sections of the auger tube  30  in the operational position, and a support stand  34  supports the upper section of the auger tube  30  in the transport position. The auger tube  34  terminates at its lower end at auger tube funnel  38 . The auger tube funnel  38  is the low point of the auger assembly and is connect to feed tubes  46  located in each of the four quadrants of the upper frame  16  of the seed cart  10 . In other words, the feed tubes  46  are located in a position to receive seed from the bottom of each of the bulk seed containers, where the seed is gravity feed to the common auger tube funnel  38  for conveyance through the auger tube  30  to the agricultural planter. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the seed cart  10  that differs only in that it includes fenders  44  and a trailer yoke  42 . The seed cart  10  shown in  FIG. 2  is adapted for use as a stand-alone trailer. Wheels and axles can be attached, as well as a trailer hitch, enabling the seed cart  10  to be towed to and from a working location. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows in detail a talc kit  40  of the seed cart  10 . The kit  40  dispenses talc in connection with the operation of the seed cart to allow the seed to release freely, especially if the seed has been coated with substances such as insecticides. The kit  40  includes a front and rear hopper legs  50 ,  52  which mount to a hopper bottom  48 . The hopper bottom  48  is secured to hopper top  56 . A grate  62  secures within the hopper top  56  with brackets  60 . Also, provided is an auger outlet  64  which mounts to the hopper bottom  48  through a hole in the front leg  50 . The talk kit  40  dispenses talc via an auger (not shown) located in the hopper bottom  48  and secured with bearing brackets  58 . The auger delivers talc to the auger tube  30  at its base where the auger funnels  38  join the auger tube  30 . 
         [0030]    An additional embodiment of the seed cart  10  is shown in  FIGS. 4-11 . 
         [0031]    The embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  provides supports for six bulk seed containers (not shown) such as Pro-Box bulk seed containers. 
         [0032]    Starting from the front of the seed cart  10  at the left of  FIG. 4 , a yoke  70  comprises a side support  72  with cross member  74  terminating in a pin  82  for connecting to a matching hitch on a truck (not shown). Additional supporting structure comprises an upright support  76 , a diagonal support  78 , and a gusset  80 . 
         [0033]    The frame  84  of the seed cart  10  comprises a lower frame  86  and an upper frame  88 . The lower frame  86  further comprises a lower frame perimeter member  90  and a lower frame cross member  92 . The upper frame  88  further comprises an upper frame perimeter member  96 , an upper frame cross member  98 , and an upper frame center support  100 . 
         [0034]    One or more horizontal supports  94  are connected between the lower frame  86  and the upper frame  88 . 
         [0035]    Each of the locations supporting a bulk seed container further comprises seed container support plates  102  and seed container support rails  104 . It will be understood that the seed container support plates  102  and seed container support rails  104  cooperate to provide strong support to the seed container (not shown). 
         [0036]    At each location supporting a bulk seed container, a feed tube  106  receives seed from the seed container. As best seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , at the rear of the cart, downward-sloping delivery tubes  107  deliver seed from the feed tubes  106  to a rear auger tube funnel  138 . An auger (not shown) in the rear auger tube tunnel  138  carries seed upwardly and forwardly through an auger tube funnel connector  140  and conjoined auger tube connector  142  to the auger tube  114 . 
         [0037]    The auger tube  114  is in two sections by a hinge  122  to allow the auger tube  114  to move between a transport and an operational position. A hinge bracket  116  supports the two sections of the auger tube  114  in the operational position, and a support stand  118  supports the upper section of the auger tube  114  in the transport position. An auger support  120  and auger bracket  124  provide support to the fixed portion of the auger tube  114 . 
         [0038]    In this manner, the present invention substantially eliminates the problems of previous seed carts. 
         [0039]    Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. 
         [0040]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art that have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.