Patent ID: 8690488

Claim:
An air distribution apparatus comprising: a manifold body, and a plurality of ports defined through a wall of the manifold body; a delivery conduit connected to each the port; on at least one port; a port valve configured such that when the port valve is open a corresponding delivery conduit is connected to an interior of the manifold body through the at least one port, and such that when the port valve is closed, the corresponding delivery conduit is disconnected from the interior of the manifold body; a supply conduit connected at an output end thereof to the interior of the manifold body, and connected at an input end thereof to receive a product air stream with agricultural products entrained therein; wherein the supply conduit extends substantially vertically up from the manifold body to a curved elbow and then extends substantially horizontally from the elbow; an exhaust orifice defined in the elbow at an inner radius of the elbow, and an exhaust valve configured such that when the exhaust valve is open, a selected flow of pressurized air flows from an interior of the supply conduit through the exhaust orifice, and such that when the exhaust valve is closed, pressurized air from the interior of the supply conduit is prevented from flowing through the exhaust orifice; wherein the port valve and exhaust valve are controlled such that when the port valve closes, the exhaust valve opens.