Patent Publication Number: US-10757855-B2

Title: Seed inductor box for an agricultural implement having multiple air paths

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/678,598, entitled “SEED INDUCTOR BOX FOR AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT HAVING MULTIPLE AIR PATHS”, filed Aug. 16, 2017, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/049,958, entitled “SEED INDUCTOR BOX FOR AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT HAVING MULTIPLE AIR PATHS”, filed Feb. 22, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,750,177, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/737,831, entitled “SEED INDUCTOR BOX FOR AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT HAVING MULTIPLE AIR PATHS”, filed Jan. 9, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,265,190. Each of the above-referenced applications is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates generally to ground working equipment, such as agricultural equipment, and more specifically, to an inductor box for a pneumatic distribution system of an agricultural implement. 
     Generally, planting implements (e.g., planters) are towed behind a tractor or other work vehicle via a mounting bracket secured to a rigid frame of the implement. These planting implements typically include multiple row units distributed across the width of the implement. Each row unit is configured to deposit seeds at a desired depth beneath the soil surface, thereby establishing rows of planted seeds. For example, each row unit may include a ground engaging tool or opener (e.g., an opener disc) that forms a seeding path for seed deposition into the soil. In certain configurations, a gauge wheel is positioned a vertical distance above the opener to establish a desired trench depth for seed deposition into the soil. As the implement travels across a field, the opener excavates a trench into the soil, and seeds are deposited into the trench. In certain row units, the opener is followed by a packer wheel that packs the soil on top of the deposited seeds. 
     Certain planting implements include a remote seed tank, and a pneumatic distribution system configured to convey seeds from the tank to each row unit. For example, the pneumatic distribution system may include an inductor box positioned beneath the seed tank. The inductor box is configured to receive seeds from the tank, to fluidize the seeds into an air/seed mixture, and to distribute the air/seed mixture to the row units via a network of pneumatic hoses/conduits. Each row unit, in turn, receives the seeds from the pneumatic hoses/conduits, and directs the seeds to a metering system. The metering system is configured to provide a flow of seeds to a seed tube for deposition into the soil. By operating the metering system at a particular speed, a desired seed spacing may be established as the implement traverses a field. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     In one embodiment, a particulate material delivery system for an agricultural implement including, an inductor box configured to receive particulate material from a tank, the inductor box including, an inductor segment comprising a particulate material supply chamber configured to guide the particulate material toward a fluidization chamber, and an air supply chamber configured to receive airflow from an airflow supply, wherein the inductor box is configured to direct the airflow from the air supply chamber to the particulate material supply chamber through a first airflow path and through a second airflow path remote from the first air path. 
     In another embodiment, a particulate material delivery system for an agricultural implement including, an inductor box configured to receive particulate material, the inductor box including a housing, and an inductor segment disposed within the housing and comprising a particulate material supply chamber, the particulate material supply chamber configured to convey the particulate material with an airflow from a first airflow path and from a second airflow path, wherein the first and second airflow paths are remote from one another. 
     In a further embodiment, a particulate material delivery system for an agricultural implement including, an inductor segment comprising a particulate material supply chamber configured to receive and direct a particulate material from a particulate material tank, an upper airflow path configured to direct airflow from an airflow supply through a first screen from the air supply chamber, and into the particulate material supply chamber; and a lower airflow path configured to direct the airflow from the airflow supply through a second screen, and into the particulate material supply chamber. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an agricultural implement configured to deposit particulate material into a soil surface; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a particulate material tank coupled to an inductor box; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an inductor box; and 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of an inductor box. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an agricultural implement  10  configured to deposit particulate material into a soil surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the implement  10  is configured to be towed along a direction of travel  12  by a work vehicle, such as a tractor or other prime mover. The work vehicle may be coupled to the implement  10  by a hitch assembly  14 . As illustrated, the hitch assembly  14  is coupled to a main frame assembly  16  of the implement  10  to facilitate towing of the implement  10  in the direction of travel  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the frame assembly  16  is coupled to a tool bar  18  that supports multiple row units  20 . Each row unit  20  is configured to deposit particulate material (e.g., seeds) at a desired depth beneath the soil surface, thereby establishing rows of planted seeds. The implement  10  also includes particulate material tanks  22 , and a pneumatic distribution system  24  configured to convey particulate material from the tanks to the row units  20 . In certain embodiments, the pneumatic distribution system includes an inductor box positioned beneath each particulate material tank  22 . Each inductor box is configured to receive particulate material from a respective tank, to fluidize the particulate material into an air-particulate material mixture, and to distribute the air-particulate material mixture to the row units  20  via a network of pneumatic hoses/conduits (i.e., the pneumatic distribution system  24 ). 
     In certain embodiments, each row unit  20  includes a residue manager, an opening assembly, a particulate material tube, closing discs, and a press wheel. The residue manager includes a rotating wheel having multiple tillage points or fingers that break up crop residue, thereby preparing the soil for particulate material deposition. The opening assembly includes a gauge wheel and an opener disc. The gauge wheel may be positioned a vertical distance above the opener disc to establish a desired trench depth for particulate material deposition into the soil. As the row unit travels across a field, the opener disc excavates a trench into the soil for particulate material deposition. The particulate material tube, which may be positioned behind the opening assembly, directs a particulate material from a metering system into the excavated trench. The closing discs then direct the excavated soil into the trench to cover the planted particulate material. Finally, the press wheel packs the soil on top of the particulate material with a desired pressure. 
     While the illustrated implement  10  includes 24 row units  20 , it should be appreciated that alternative implements may include more or fewer row units  20 . For example, certain implements  10  may include 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, or 36 row units, or more. In addition, the spacing between row units may be particularly selected based on the type of crop being planting. For example, the row units may be spaced 30 inches from one another for planting corn, and 15 inches from one another for planting soy beans. 
     As mentioned above, the pneumatic distribution system  24  includes an inductor box configured to receive particulate material (e.g., seeds) from a respective tank. Depending on the desired application, the pneumatic distribution system may distribute a wide variety of seeds (e.g., light seeds, heavy seeds, large seeds, small seeds, etc). The inductor box fluidizes the particulate material from a tank  22  into an air-particulate material mixture, for distribution to the row units  20  through a network of pneumatic hoses/conduits. More specifically, the inductor box includes multiple air pathways for directing airflow through the inductor box. As discussed in detail below the multiple air pathways enable the inductor box to fluidize light particulate material, to reduce updrafts, and to reduce backflow. As a result, the multiple pathways reduce maintenance costs/duration, increase reliability, and improve fluidization of different particulate material. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a particulate material tank  22  coupled to an inductor box  40 . The particulate material tank  22  includes an opening  38  for receiving particulate material (e.g., seeds, etc.) for storage in the tank. The tank  22  secures the particulate material inside using a lid  42  that selectively covers the opening  38 . The lid  42  securely attaches to the tank  22  with multiple fasteners  44 . On the opposite side of the tank  22  from the lid is the inductor box  40 . The inductor box  40  attaches to the bottom of tank  22  and receives gravity fed particulate material for fluidization. The inductor box  40  includes a housing  46  that is coupled to the tank  22  with bolts  48 . Moreover, the inductor box  40  includes an air supply port  50 , and multiple inductor segments  52 . It is through the air supply port  50  that the inductor box  40  receives airflow from an air supply (e.g., a fan, a blower, etc.). The airflow from the air supply enables the inductor box  40  to fluidize the particulate material and to pressurize the tank  22 . In some embodiments, the multiple inductor segments may not be surrounded by a housing  46 . Instead, the multiple inductor segments  52  may be coupled together and to the tank  22 . Furthermore, each of the inductor segments  52  may separately couple to an airflow supply or to an airflow supply manifold, instead of receiving airflow from an airflow supply chamber coupled to the air supply port  50 . The tank  22  may be made of a flexible material that expands when pressurized with airflow from the air supply. As will be explained in greater detail below, the inductor box  40  directs airflow from the air supply through a series of air pathways to the inductor segments  52 , and into the tank  22 . The inductor segments  52  fluidize the particulate material with the airflow for delivery to the row units  20 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an inductor box  40 . As illustrated, the inductor box  40  includes multiple inductor segments  52  disposed within a chamber  60  formed by the inductor box housing  46 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are eight inductor segments  52 . However, other embodiments may include a different number of inductor segments  52  (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more). As mentioned above, the particulate material enters the inductor segments  52  from the tank where the particulate material is fluidized (i.e., mixed with air). Once the particulate material is fluidized, the air-particulate material mixture exits the inductor box  40  through particulate material delivery ports  62  in the inductor segments  52 . The inductor box  40  includes a first screen  64  that is coupled to the inductor segments  52  and the housing  46 . As will be explained in more detail below, the first screen  64  is disposed within an upper airflow path that facilitates light particulate material fluidization, reduces updrafts, and reduces backflow. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of an inductor box  40  coupled to the tank  22 . As illustrated, the inductor box  40  is coupled to the tank  22  with bolts  48 . The inductor box  40  surrounds a particulate material outlet(s)  66  of the tank  22 , thereby enabling particulate material to exit the tank  22  and enter the inductor box  40 . More specifically, as the particulate material exits the tank  22 , in direction  68 , the particulate material enters the inductor segment(s)  52 . As explained above, the inductor box  40  includes an inductor segment  52  disposed within the inductor box chamber  60 . The top of the inductor segment  52  includes two surfaces  70  and  72 . The surfaces  70  and  72  may be angled to facilitate flow of particulate material into the inductor segment  52 . As particulate material travels through the inductor segment  52 , the particulate material passes through a series of chambers before exiting through the particulate material delivery port  62 . The chambers in the inductor segment  52  include a particulate material supply chamber  74 , a fluidization chamber  76 , and a particulate material delivery chamber  78 . The angled surfaces  70  and  72  channel the particulate material from the tank  22  into the particulate material supply chamber  74  through a particulate material supply chamber inlet  80 . The particulate material supply chamber  74  guides the particulate material from the particulate material supply chamber inlet  80  to the particulate material supply chamber outlet  86  via a first wall  82  and a second wall  84 . As illustrated, the walls  82  and  84  may include respective vertical portions  88  and  90 , as well as respective angled portions  92  and  94 . As the particulate material flows through the particulate material supply chamber  74 , the angled portions  92  and  94  of the walls  82  and  84  direct the particulate material toward the particulate material supply chamber outlet  86  at a base  96  of the inductor box  40 . Airflow from the air supply then conveys the particulate material through the particulate material supply chamber outlet  86  and into the fluidization chamber  76 . The fluidization chamber  76  includes a first wall  98  and shares the second wall  84  of the particulate material supply chamber  74 . If the air flow through the fluidization chamber is sufficient, the particulate material will fluidize and a vortex flow is created due to the geometry of the fluidization chamber  76 . The vortex  100  separates and mixes the particulate material with the airflow before the particulate material flows to the particulate material delivery chamber  78 . If the air flow through the fluidization chamber is sufficient the particulate material is conveyed out of the fluidization chamber  76  and into the particulate material delivery chamber  78 . In the particulate material delivery chamber  78 , airflow from the fluidization chamber combines with airflow from a bypass channel  102  to convey the particulate material out of the particulate material delivery chamber  78 , through the particulate material delivery port  62 , and to the row units  20 . 
     As explained above, the inductor box  40  includes the air supply port  50  for receiving airflow from an air supply that pressurizes the tank  22  and conveys particulate material through the inductor segment  52 . The airflow from the air supply passes through the air supply port  50  and enters an air supply chamber  104 . The air supply chamber  104  extends through the inductor box  40  in a generally perpendicular direction to the flow path through the inductor segments  52 , thereby supplying each inductor segment  52  with the airflow. 
     The air supply chamber  104  divides the airflow from the air supply into four airflow paths numbered  106 ,  108 ,  110 , and  112 . The first airflow path  106  passes through the first screen  64  and enters the particulate material supply chamber  74 . As illustrated, the first screen  64  enables airflow to exit the air supply chamber  104 , while simultaneously blocking particulate material from entering the air supply chamber  104 , thus reducing maintenance costs and/or the duration of maintenance operations. As the airflow through the first airflow path  106  enters the particulate material supply chamber  74 , the airflow engages the particulate material and urges the particulate material in direction  68 . For example, when using light particulate material (e.g., sunflower seeds, sweet corn seeds), the airflow through airflow path  106  reduces blockage of the particulate material supply chamber  74  by providing additional force (in addition to gravity) to move the particulate material through the particulate material supply chamber  74 . While the airflow through the first airflow path  106  facilitates urging the particulate material in the direction  68  through the particulate material supply chamber  74 , the airflow through the second airflow path  108  conveys the particulate material out of the particulate material supply chamber  74  and into the fluidization chamber  76 . The airflow through the second airflow path  108  flows through a second screen  114 . The second screen  114  is coupled to the first wall  82  and the base  96  of the inductor box  40 . The second screen  114 , like the first screen  64 , blocks the particulate material from entering the air supply chamber  104 . Thus, the first screen  64  and the second screen  114  reduce maintenance costs/duration by blocking particulate material flow into the air supply chamber  104 . 
     A third airflow path  110  flows through the first screen  64  and into the tank  22 . The airflow in the third airflow path  110  pressurizes and expands the tank  22 . However, in some embodiments, the lid  42  may not create a fluid tight seal with the tank  22 . Accordingly, airflow in the third airflow path  110  may provide continuous airflow into the tank  22  to replace pressurized air lost through leaks in the lid  42 . As a result, airflow from the first airflow path  106  is able to flow through the particulate material supply chamber  74 , and the airflow in the second airflow path  108  is able to convey the particulate material into the fluidization chamber  76 . In other words, the airflow in the third airflow path  110  pressurizes the tank  22 , thus equalizing pressure within the system. As a result, backdrafts (i.e., airflow) from the second airflow path  108  into the tank  22  are substantially reduced or eliminated in direction  115 . Moreover, the airflow through the third airflow path reduces or eliminates backflowing airflow through the inductor segment  52  when the air supply shuts down. As explained above, the airflow through the third airflow path  110  pressurizes and expands the tank  22 . When the air supply shuts down the pressurized air from the tank  22  travels through the path of least resistance to escape the tank  22 . In the present embodiment, airflow venting from the tank  22  passes through the first screen  64  and into the air supply chamber  104 . As a result, the possibility of pressurized air in the tank  22  backflowing through the inductor segment  52  with particulate material, is substantially reduced in three ways. First, airflow through the first screen  64  may reduce or eliminate pressurized airflow from escaping through the second screen  114  and into the air supply chamber  104 . Second, airflow through the first screen  64  may reduce or eliminate pressurized airflow carrying particulate material from passing through the particulate material supply chamber  74 , the fluidization chamber  76 , and the particulate material delivery chamber  78 , before escaping through the air bypass channel  102  into the air supply chamber  104 . Third, airflow through the first screen  64  may reduce or eliminate pressurized air from passing through the inductor segment  52  and exiting through the particulate material delivery port  62 . Accordingly, the third airflow path  110  enables pressurized air to escape the tank  22 , thus substantially reducing or eliminating fluidized particulate material from flowing through the inductor segment(s)  52 . 
     The airflow in the fourth airflow path  112  flows from the air supply chamber  104  through the air bypass channel  102  and into the particulate material delivery chamber  78 . The air bypass channel  102  is disposed within the particulate material supply chamber  74  and extends between the first particulate material supply chamber wall  82  and the second particulate material supply chamber wall  84 . The walls  82  and  84  include respective apertures  116  and  118  that enable the airflow of the fourth airflow path  112  to pass through the air bypass channel  102 . The air bypass channel  102  is oriented in a generally crosswise direction to the particulate material supply chamber inlet  80  and in a generally parallel direction to the particulate material supply chamber outlet  86 . Moreover, the air bypass channel  102  is positioned above the fluidization chamber  76 , thereby enabling the airflow from the fourth airflow path  112  to urge the particulate material exiting the fluidization chamber  76  into the particulate material delivery port  62  for delivery to the row units  20 . 
     While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.