AIR SEEDING SYSTEM

SYSTEME PNEUMATIQUE D'ENSEMENCEMENT

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The system is designed to be used in conjunction with
conventional tillage equipment such as one-way discers, deep
tillage chisel ploughs, field cultivators and the like and can
be utilized to plant seed and/or apply fertilizer, herbicides
or both. It consists of a separate wheeled trailer carrying
the weight of the seed, fertilizer, herbicides and the like
thereby eliminating any weight change from the seeding machine.
The seed or granular chemicals are entrained in air stream and
conveyed by headers and conduits to the seeding boots or spouts.
Each component is metered from a tank by an upwardly inclined
auger assembly driven by a variable speed orbital motor, and
deposited into the air stream carried by a main conduit. A seal
between the main conduit and the individual tank is usually
effected by the head of material in the inclined auger assembly
but if desired, the tank can be pressurized particularly if very
fine chemical material such as a herbicide, is being used.

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM AS MY INVENTION:
(1) A seeder assembly for use with conventional
tillage equipment such as one-way discers, deep tillage chisel
ploughs, field cultivators and the like and which includes seed
depositing means such as boots and spouts adjacent the ground
engaging tillage components; comprising in combination
(a) at least one tank for containing seed, fertilizer,
herbicide and the like,
(b) a main duct for carrying a conveying air stream
under pressure,
(c) a main header operatively connected to said main
duct,
(d) at least one secondary header operatively connect-
ed to said main header,
(e) conduit means extending from said secondary header
to said seed depositing means,
(f) an upper inclined auger assembly extending from said tank
to said main duct whereby material within said
auger assembly acts as an air seal between said main
duct and said tank,
(g) an a variable speed motor operatively connected to
said auger assembly.
(2) The assembly according to Claim 1 which includes
at least two tanks, one for seed and one for a granular additive
such as fertilizer or herbicide.
(3) The assembly according to Claim 1 which includes
a wheel mounted trailer, pulled by said tillage equipment, said
tank being mounted on said trailer whereby the weight of the seed,
fertilizer, herbicide and the like is carried by said trailer in-
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stead of by said tillage equipment thereby assisting in the
maintenance of constant depth of the seed depositing means.
(4) The assembly according to Claim 2 which includes
a wheel mounted trailer, pulled by said tillage equipment, said
tank being mounted on said trailer whereby the weight of the
seed, fertilizer, herbicide and the like is carried by said
trailer instead of by said tillage equipment thereby assisting
in the maintenance of constant depth of the seed depositing means.
(5) The assembly according to Claim 1 in which said
tank includes a plurality of compartments for the reception of
different materials in each compartment, each compartment having
a hopper bottom, a sealed closure and an upwardly inclined auger
assembly operatively connecting said each compartment with said
main duct.
(6) The assembly according to Claim 2 in which said
tank includes a plurality of compartments for the reception of
different materials in each compartment, each compartment having
a hopper bottom, a sealed closure and an upwardly inclined auger
assembly operatively connecting said each compartment with said
main duct.
(7) The assembly according to Claim 3 in which said
tank includes a plurality of compartments for the reception of
different materials in each compartment, each compartment having
12

a hopper bottom, a sealed closure and an upwardly inclined auger
assembly operatively connecting said each compartment with said
main duct.
(8) The assembly according to Claim 4 in which said
tank includes a plurality of compartments for the reception of
different materials in each compartment, each compartment having
a hopper bottom, a sealed closure and an upwardly inclined auger
assembly operatively connecting said each compartment with said
main duct.
(9) The assembly according to Claim 1 in which said
auger assembly includes an auger tube, an auger flight component
mounted for rotation within said tube, said auger flight component
including a drive shaft extending through the upper end of said
tube and an auger flight on said shaft within said tube, a material
intake at the lower end of said tube, said lower end being situated
adjacent the base of said tank, said auger tube including means
operatively connecting same intermediate the ends thereof, to said
main duct, said auger flight terminating adjacent said means opera-
tively connecting said auger tube with said main duct, said vari-
able speed motor comprising an hydraulically operated orbital mo-
tor operatively connected to the upper end of said shaft externally
of said tube.
(10) The assembly according to Claim 2 in which said
auger assembly includes an auger tube, an auger flight component
mounted for rotation within said tube, said auger flight component
13

including a drive shaft extending through the upper end of said
tube and an auger flight on said shaft within said tube, a
material intake at the lower end of said tube, said lower end
being situated adjacent the base of said tank, said auger tube
including means operatively connecting same intermediate the ends
thereof, to said main duct, said auger flight terminating adja-
cent said means operatively connecting said auger tube with said
main duct, said variable speed motor comprising an hydraulically
operated orbital motor operatively connected to the upper end of
said shaft externally of said tube.
(11) The assembly according to Claim 3 in which said
auger assembly includes an auger tube, an auger flight component
mounted for rotation within said tube, said auger flight component
including a drive shaft extending through the upper end of said
tube and an auger flight on said shaft within said tube, a
material intake at the lower end of said tube, said lower end
being situated adjacent the base of said tank, said auger tube
including means operatively connecting same intermediate the ends
thereof, to said main duct, said auger flight terminating adja-
cent said means operatively connecting said auger tube with said
main duct, said variable speed motor comprising an hydraulically
operated orbital motor operatively connected to the upper end of
said shaft externally of said tube.
(12) The assembly according to Claim 4 in which s aid
auger assembly includes an auger tube, an auger flight component
mounted for rotation within said tube, said auger flight component
including a drive shaft extending through the upper end of said
tube and an auger flight on said shaft within said tube, a
14

material intake at the lower end of said tube, said lower end
being situated adjacent the base of said tank, said auger tube
including means operatively connecting same intermediate the ends
thereof, to said main duct, said auger flight terminating adja-
cent said means operatively connecting said auger tube with said
main duct, said variable speed motor comprising an hydraulically
operated orbital motor operatively connected to the upper end of
said shaft externally of said tube.
(13) The assembly according to Claim 5 in which said
auger assembly includes an auger tube, an auger flight component
mounted for rotation within said tube, said auger flight component
including a drive shaft extending through the upper end of said
tube and an auger flight on said shaft within said tube, a
material intake at the lower end of said tube, said lower end
being situated adjacent the base of said tank, said auger tube
including means operatively connecting same intermediate the ends
thereof, to said main duct, said auger flight terminating adja-
cent said means operatively connecting said auger tube with said
main duct, said variable speed motor comprising an hydraulically
operated orbital motor operatively connected to the upper end of
said shaft externally of said tube.
(14) The assembly according to Claim 6 in which said
auger assembly includes an auger tube, an auger flight component
mounted for rotation within said tube, said auger flight component
including a drive shaft extending through the upper end of said
tube and an auger flight on said shaft within said tube, a
material intake at the lower end of said tube, said lower end

being situated adjacent the base of said tank, said auger tube
including means operatively connecting same intermediate the ends
thereof, to said main duct, said auger flight terminating adja-
cent said means operatively connecting said auger tube with said
main duct, said variable speed motor comprising an hydraulically
operated orbital motor operatively connected to the upper end of
said shaft externally of said tube.
(15) The assembly according to Claim 7 in which said
auger assembly includes an auger tube, an auger flight component
mounted for rotation within said tube, said auger flight component
including a drive shaft extending through the upper end of said
tube and an auger flight on said shaft within said tube, a
material intake at the lower end of said tube, said lower end
being situated adjacent the base of said tank, said auger tube
including means operatively connecting same intermediate the ends
thereof, to said main duct, said auger flight terminating adja-
cent said means operatively connecting said auger tube with said
main duct, said variable speed motor comprising an hydraulically
operated orbital motor operatively connected to the upper end of
said shaft externally of said tube.
(16) The assembly according to Claim 8 in which said
auger assembly includes an auger tube, an auger flight component
mounted for rotation within said tube, said auger flight component
including a drive shaft extending through the upper end of said
tube and an auger flight on said shaft within said tube, a
material intake at the lower end of said tube, said lower end
being situated adjacent the base of said tank, said auger tube
16

including means operatively connecting same intermediate the ends
thereof, to said main duct, said auger flight terminating adja-
cent said means operatively connecting said auger tube with said
main duct, said variable speed motor comprising an hydraulically
operated orbital motor operatively connected to the upper end of
said shaft externally of said tube.
17

Description

BACKGROUi\lD OF Tlli~: INVE:NTION
~his invention relates to new and us-ful improvements
air
in/seeding systems, particularly adapted for uae wi.h convention
al tillage equipment such as one-wav discerj, _eep tillage
chisel ploughs, field cutlivators and the li~e so that the unit
can be utilized to plant or fertilize or applv Aerbicide or do
all three things at the same time or in comblr.ation~
Conventionally, a seed box is mountec on conver~ional
tillage equipment and seed sometimes mixed wit:-. fertilizer, in
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1060720
the box, is metered and fed to the planting boots or spouts.
This system suffers from several disadvantages, the
principal one of which is the fact that with wide tillage equip-
ment normally used, the weight of seed when the box is filled,
is considerable and as the seed is used, this weight lessens so -
that great difficulty is experienced in maintaining a constant
depth of the cultivators and consequently the planting depth of
the seed.
,
Furthermore it is difficult to mix accurately, the
required amount of herbicide and/or fertilizer with the seed and
to maintain this mixture in the bulk of the seed as movement over
the field often vibrates the contents of the seed box so that
; separation occurs and uneven mixing of the various components
takes place. ~-
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes these disadvantages
firstly by mounting the seed, fertilizer, herbicide and the like
on a separate wheeled trailer pulled behind the tillage equipment
~' so that the weight of the material does not effect the load on
the cultivating equipment thereby facilitating the maintenance
! of a constant depth of cultivation and subsequently a co.. stant
depth of the placement of the seed, fertilizer, herb cide and the
- like~
~ Another advantage of the present system is the separa-
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106V720
tion of the various components such as seed, fertilizer, herbi-
cides and the like into separate tanks on the trailer so that
accurate proportions of the various components can be metered
into the air stream which conveys the components to the boots
or spouts of the tillage equipment.
One aspect of the invention is therefore to provide
a seeding assembly for use with conventional equipment such as
one-way discers, deep tillage chisel ploughs, field cultivators
and the like and which includes seed depositing means such as
boots and spouts adjacent the ground engaging tillage components;
comprising in combination at least one tank for containing seed,
fertilizer, herbicide and the like, a main duct for carryin~ a
conveying air stream under pressure, a main header operatively
connected to said main duct, at least one secondary header opera-
tively connected to said main header, conduit means extending
from said secondary header to said seed depositing means, an
upper inclined auger assembly extending from said tank to said
:. main duct whereby material within said auger assembly acts as an
air seal between said main duct and said tank, an a variable
speed motor operatively connected to said auger assembly.
.; .
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a.device
of the character herewithin described which is simple in construc-
tion, economical in manufacture and which can readily be changed
from one machine to the other with the minimum of labour~
With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as
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1060720
will become apparent to those skilled in the arts to which this
invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention
consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of
parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings in which: ~ `
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS -. _ :
Figure 1 is a schematic view of the system.
' ,
` Figure ~ is a schematic view of one of the compart-
ments of the tank together with the auger assembly~
.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of one of the
headers.
'
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of another embodi-
ment of the header.
, i
Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation showing the
assembly in conjunction with a conventional tillage machine and
a tractor.
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In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the different figures.

10~i0720
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
. _ . .
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in de-
tail reference should first be made to Figure 1 in which reference
character 10 illustrates generally, conventional tillage equip-
` as
ment such/a one-way discer, deep tillage chisel plough, field
cultivator and the like all of which are conventional.
normally
This conventional equipment is/provided with boots or
spouts 11, depending upon the type of equipment, through which
or
seed /fertilizer, is deposited into the ground immediately behind
the ground engaging tillage component (not illustrated) and which
of course may take the form of a disc, plough point, or the like.
In air seeding equipment, it is usual to provide a
source of power 12 driving a fan assembly 13 which supplies air
;~ under pressure to a main duct or conduit 14 and which in turn
leads to a main header assembly collectively designated 15.
From there, secondary ducts or lines 16 extend to secondary
,c headers collectively designated 17 from which extend boot or spout
lines or conduits 18, to the aforementioned boots or spouts 1i.
. :
The main and secondary headers may take the form of
- 20 the headers shown in Figure 3 for example in which the main duct
14 (or secondary duct 16) connect to the lower end of the header
tube 19 which extends vertically upwardly to the distribution head
20 from which the secondary lines 16 (or boot lines 18), extend
in a radial fashion. The inner surface of the header tube 19 is
preferably corrugated as indicated at 21 in order to maintain the
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11~)6~720
entrained material in the air stream, centrally of this
- tube particularly when side hill seeding is taking place,
thereby ensuring even distribution of the entrained mate-
rial, through the secondary lines 16 (or boot lines 18) as
the case may be.
Figure 4 shows an alternative header construc-
tion in which the header tube l9A also extends vertically
but narrows in diameter from the lower end 21, towards the
upper end 22.
This particular construction is provided with a
domed upper end 23 to which the secondary lines 16 (or boot
lines 18) are connected, the dome assisting in the even dis-
tribution of the entrained material to the secondary lines.
, '
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The inner surface of this particular embodiment
is provided with a plurality of spaced and parallel annular
ribs 24 having upwardly and inwardly curved inner surfaces
25 and concave upper surfaces 26 all of which assist in the
maintenance of the entrained material centrally of the tube
l9A regardless of the attitude of the headers due to sloping
ground surfaces and the like.
,
However, any form of header or secondary header
can be used as desired.
. .
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A tank collectively designated 27 is mounted on a
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10607Z0
wheeled trailer 28 pulled behind a tractor 29 as shown in
Figure 5 with the tillage equipment 10 being connected behind
` the trailer 28.
Alternatively of course an depending upon the tillage
equipment, the tillage equipment can be connected to the tractor
29 with the trailer 28 being linked behind the tillage equipment.
It will also be noted from Figure 5 that the main and
secondary headers are located on the tillage equipment. It will
of course be appreciated that, if desired, this part-of the struc-
ture may be mounted on the trailer 28 if desired.
The tank 27, in this embodiment, consists of three
individual compartments 28, 29 and 30 one of which may contain
two ---
grain to be seeded, the other/of which may contain granulated
fertilizer and herbicide respectively.
~.
. 15 Each container 28, 29 and 30 is provided with indownward- ~-
; ly and inwardly sloping wall portions 31 forming what is conven-
tionally known as hopper bottomed compartments and each compartment
is provided with an auger assembly collectively designated 32.
., .
The auger assembly includes an auger tube 33 having an
auger flight component collectively designated 34 journalled for
rotation within the tube. This auger flight component includes
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1060720
an auger shaft 35 extending lengthwise through the tube and ex-
tending through the upper end to be connected to a source of
power 36 as will hereinafter be described.
An auger flighting 37 is secured to the shaft 35 and
extends from the lower intake end 38 of the tube, to adjacent a
point of connection of the auger tube to the aforementioned main
line or duct 14.
It will of course be appreciated that the auger tube
33 extends into the compartment through the side wall thereof
with the lower intake end 38 being adjacent the base 39 of the
'. compartment 28, 29 or 30.
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In this embodiment, the connection between the auger
tube 33 and the main duct 14 is by opening out of the tube through.
the wall of the duct.as shown schematically in Figure 2 but of
course it will be appreciated that individual downwardly extending
conduits can be provided between the exit 40 from the tube 33 and
the main duct 14 which is of course carrying air under pressure
from ihe fan 13.
.
.
With the auger flighting 37 terminating adjacent the
duct 14, material from the tank is augered upwardly and deposited
by gravity into the air stream carried by the duct 14 and is en-
trained thereby.

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Under normal circumstances, the material within the
auger assembly below the duct 14 acts as an air seal between
the main duct 14 and the interior of the compartment 28, 29 and
30 and prevents blow-back from occurring.
However under certain circumstances, particularly when
used with very fine granular material such as is often found in
herbicides, it desirable to pressurize the compartments above
the material as shown schematically by the dotted line 41 extend-
ing between the fan and the other side of the compartments. Under
these circumstances, the closure 42 through which the compartments
are filled, should be sealed.
Referring back to the source of power 36 for the auger
assemblies, this preferably consists of an hydraulic orbital
motor driven by hydraulic fluid provided by a pump 42 and hydrau-
lic lines 43 together with reservoir 44 in the usual way. -In
Figure 2, a valve 45 is shown for varying the speed of the orbital
motor but the orbital motor may be controlled by a flow divider
or variable displacement pump (not illustrated) and a solenoid on-of
switch (also not illustrated) operated from the tractor seat.
Being able to vary the speed of the orbital motors, not
only enables the operator to select the desired seed rate but also~~~ -
enables him accurately to control the amount of fertilizer and/or
herbicide being mixed with the seed entrained in the air stream
carried by the main duct 14.

1060720
: Since various modifications can be made in my inven-
tion as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely dif-
ferent embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of
the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is
intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specifi-
cation shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a
limiting sense.
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