Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to seeding devices that
can be attached to tillage implements and which utilize air con-
veying for distribution of the seed to furrow openers.
In the prior art various seeding devices which mount
onto tillage implements have been advanced. For example, United
States Patent No. 2,199,755 issued May 7, 1940 to W. R. Pyron
shows a seeder attachment for disc harrows, and United States
Patent No. 3,811,387 illustrates the use of seed tubes relative
to shovel type furrow openers.
U.S. Patent No. 2,812,732 shows a central hopper and a
single impeller fan for distributing seed to individual seed
tubes mounted behind each shovel on the cultivator.
Pneumatic seed coveying also has been known. There are
a large number of corn planter type devices which lift individual
seeds through a vacuum arrangement, and British Patent No.
871,261 shows a type of pneumatic spreader for inorganic fertilizer.
United States Patent No. 3,631,825 shows an all pneumatic seed
conveying and distributing system with central metering and
division of the seeds into individual streams.
U.S. Patent No. 383,224 shows a central hopper arrange- !
ment in a drill plow using gravity type feed without pneumatic
conveying. Another type of seed machine using an auger lateral
conveyer is shown in United States Patent No. 534,750.
In modern day farming tillage implements such as field
cultivators are commonly 30 feet wide and more, and generally
include a center main section and folding wings or outer sections
that fold up for transport. It is desirable from a cost stand-
point to adapt such devices (which may be substantially wider
than 30 feet) for seeding. One of the problems in such adaption
is to get accurate metering and uniform distribution of the seed
to each of the individual furrow openers or shovels that are
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mounted on the cultivator, and at the same time having the seeding
units adaptable for easy mounting onto and removal from such
implement to permit multiple use including its primary purpose of
tilling or cultivating.
A pneumatic seeding device is disclosed which comprises
a plurality of hoppers mounted on a field cultivator. Each of
the hoppers includes means for metering seed and dividing the
seeds after metering into individual seed cups. The cups form
the means for dividing the flow of seed from the metering device.
A pneumatic conveying system is connected to each of the seed cups.
The pneumatic conveying system provides a flow of low pressure air
into a transfer chamber where the seed is entrained in an air
stream. The seeds are conveyed through tubes to individual furrow
openers.
The furrow openers are the shovels (chisel points) of
the conventional field cultivator assembly, and because of the
use of pneumatic conveying the width of the unit is not limited to
width which can be fed through gravity.
Additionally, inorganic fertilizer from separate hoppers
can be metered into the same cups as the seed and conveyed in the
same fluid stream as the seed to each of the individual furrow
openers.
In the form shown, the seed cups are mounted below meter-'l
ing rollers and made so that they can be easily mounted onto the f
seed hoppers, and detached therefrom for cleaning. The seed cups
are open at the top so that if plugging occurs there is a visual
indication of spilling seed at the top of the cup. The fluid-
seed transfer chamber that is in the seed cups through which air
flows is designed specifically to create reliable transfer of the
seed and inorganic fertilizer pellets illtO the individual hoses
leading to each of the respective furrow openers. Swirling and
turbulance is minimized in that swirling and turbulance tend to
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cause the seed to be suspended within the seed cups and to plug
the cup.
Additionally, the seed cups divide the ~low of inorganic ¦
fertilizer which is also provided from metering rolls. The fertil-¦
izer drops into the open top portion of the seed cups for transfer ¦
to the furrow openers.
Fluid under pressure is provided through a simple paddle
type centrifugal fan that can be operated from the pover take-off
of the tractor which tows the seeder. ~ frame member of the seeder
i
attachment itself is utilized as a plenum chamber to distribute
the fluid under low pressure into individual hoses or passageways
leading to each of the seed cups, for providing the air at suffi-
cient volume and at low pressure to prevent irregularities in the
flow of air.
The metering devices for the seed hopper and the fertil-
izer hoppers are pairs of rollers which extend alonq each hopper
section and are power driven and can be varied in speed to meter
properly.
As shown the metering devices are operated through a
variable speed hydraulic motor which can also be powered from the 1i
tractor towing the seeding device. The metering rollers can be
provided with ground drive which would vary the feeding rate in
accordance with the speed of movement over the ground of the seed-
ing device. The rollers are made of elastomeric material (relative-
ly soft) which does not crack or crush the seeds. The rollers are
in contact or closely adjacent and the seeds are metered by com-
pressing the rollers slightly as the seeds move through the rollers.
The soft rollers are close enough to each other to prevent seeds
from shakin~ through when the unit is not being used. The surfaces
30 of the rollers provide enough friction to feed the seed through in
a positive manner and at a proper rate.
The device provides for even feeding to each of the
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furrow openers even for extremely wide units~ The hoppers are
centrally mounted and the conveying tubes or hoses are extended
laterally.
One advantage of usin~J a field cultivator is that the
frame, which comprises a tool bar type ~rame, generally has sub-
stantial ground clearance and thus does not plug easily, and can
go through areas where minimum tillage is desired,
The individual seed and fertili~er hoppers ~or each of
the cultivator sections are mounted on the main or center section
of the cultivator and plastic flexible hoses or tubes lead to each
of the individual seed or furrow openers. The "wings" can thus be
pivoted up for transport in the same manner as the field cultivator.l
Without the seeder attachment, the hoppers and tubes permit attach- ¦
ment or removal of the seeder with relative ease. I
Additionally, if desired, gage wheels that can be ad- ~ ~
justed for controlling the depth of the individual furrow openers
and to provide a type of press wheel for coveriny action is also
shown in the present application.
In a second form of the invention a single tank is used
20 with an adjustable interior divider. The single tank eliminates
possible problems with water dripping into the seed cups. Also,
the second form includes means for easily cleaning the fertilizer
screen as well as permitting the seed cups to be removed easily
for cleaning.
In the Drawings:
Figure 1 is a schematic rear view of a field cultivator
having a seeder attachment made according to the present invention
installed thereon showing schematically the arrangement of the
furrow openers and frame sections;
Figure 2 is a part schematic side view of the seeder
attachment of the present invention shown installed on a schematic-
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ally shown field cultivator assembly, with a fan illustrated in
position rotated 90 from its normal position for illustrative
purposes;
Figure 3 is a side view of the lower portions of the
seeder attachment of Figure 2 as viewed from an opposite side
from Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a
typ~cal metering device and seed cup used with the device of the
present invention;
Figure 5 is a view taken as on line 5--5 in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a schematic top plan view of a frame member
showing plenum chamber action for the fan;
~ igure 7 is a perspective view of typical seed cup in
a pneumatic seeding device of the present invention;
Figure ~ is a side view of an optional gage and press
wheel used with the furrow opener shank assemblies;
Figure 9 is a rear view of the device of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a seed and fertilizer tank made according
to a second form of the invention showing the metering rollers
for seed and fertilizer in relation to seed cups;
Figure 11 is a fragmentary front elevational view of
the device of Figure 10 with parts broken away; and
Figure 12 is a side sectional view of the seed tank of
igure 10 showing an adjustable partition utilized in the second
form of the invention.
Referring to Figure 1, a typical field cultivator
assembly illustrated generally at 10 is used for providing
furrow openers for the seeding device attachment which is illus-
trated generally at 11. The field cultivator assembly as shown
comprises a frame assembly 12, which is an assembly of three indi-
vidual frame sections includin~ a center main section 13 mounted
on suitable depth controllable support wheels 14 in a normal
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manner of field cultiyators of this type, and outer end or wing
sections 15 and 16, at the opposite ends of the frame respectively.
Schematically shown ~s a pivot 15A for pivotally mount-
ing the wing section 15 to the main section 13, and a second
pivot 16A for mounting the wing section 16 to the main frame
section 13. These pivots are shown only schematically because of
the well known use of wing sections on field cultivators, and are
shown to illustrate that in a normal manner the wing sections of
the field cultivator assembly 10 can be folded upwardly as shown
in dotted lines in Figure 1 for road transport. The unit may be
moved to transport position without making structural modifica-
tions to the seeder assembly, as will be explained.
The field cultivator frame is constructed in a normal
manner comprising a plurality of horizontal frame members which
mount individual field cultivator shank assemblies 20. These
shank assemblies 20 can be of any desired type, for example the
spring loaded assembly shown in my own United States Patent No.
3,782,481. The frame sections 13, 15 and 16 include fore and aft
extending frame members 21 as shown in Figure 2, and cross tool
bar frame members 22 on which shank assemblies 20 (which are
furrow opener assemblies for seeding) are mounted.
The shank or furrow opener assemblies 20 are evenly
spaced across the machine as shown. The individual spacing can
be the desired spacing for seedin~ in existing conditions. The
a~semblies 20 have chisel point shovels which engage the ground
which is indicated at 23. The support wheel assemblies 14 are
mounted to a torque tube illustrated generally at 24 which can
be used for raising and lowering the cultivator furrow opener
assemblies 20 into and out of the ground 23. This also is done
30 in a conventional mallner througll the use of hydraulic cylinders. I
For example, a typical field cultivator that finds
icle use is one that has been manufactured by Wil-Rich Corporation,
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Wahpeton, North Dakota, and which is shown in its brochure entitled
"Wil-Rich Field Cultivators" No. FS116.
The seeder attachment illustrated generally at 11
comprises three sets of tandem tan]~s. These sets of tanks are
indicated generally at 25 for the wing section 15, 26 for the
wing section 16, and 27 for the center section 13. These tanks
are mounted onto a common frame 28 which has upright supports 29
that attach in a suitable manner to the cultivator frame members
as shown schematically in Figure 2.
Each of the tandem tank sections 25, 26 and 27 comprise
a first front fertilizer tank 25A, 26A and 27A as shown typically
in Figure 2, the side view of the tank section 25 is illustrated.
The seed tanks are shown at 25B, 26B and 27B. Each set of tandem
tanks includes a seed tank and fertilizer tank.
I'he tanks have suitable hinged covers. The common
frame 28 securely mounts the unit on the center frame section 13
of the field cultivator.
The field cultivator further includes a tubular frame
assembly indicated at 33 at the forward end which is adapted to
be attached to a suitable prime mover such as a tractor (not
shown) which is used for pulling the unit over the ground and
also for powering the various components.
It shoulA be noted that the frame uprights 29 at the
forward ends of the seeder attachment 11 are mounted onto a
large square tube 34. The square tubular cross frame member 34
is sealed at its ends to form a hollow interior chamber 35 as
perhaps best indicated in Figure 6. The chan~er 35 extends
across the width of the seeder attachment and has an inlet
opening 36 at the forward side thereof. A suitable conduit 37
is connected to this opening 36. The conduit 37 leads from the
outlet 38 of a suitable relatively low pressure, high volume
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paddle fan 39. The paddle fan 39 shown in Figure 2 is rotated
90 from its normal operation position. In other words, the
paddle fan which includes a fan member 40 and a drive shaft 41
is normally positioned so that the axis of drive shaft 41 extends
in fore and aft direction. The drive shaft 41 is powered by the
power take-off of the prime mover utilized with the unit.
Each of the tank sections as shown has front and rear
walls which taper together toward the lower portions of the
respective tanks. For example shown in Figure 4, each of the
seed tanks 25A, 26A and 27A has a rear wall 42, and a generally
vertical forward wall 43 defining the compartment in which seed
indicated generally at 44 is contained. The wall 43 has a lip 43A ~~ ~
which extends across each of the tank sections. In the interior
of the tanks at lower portion of the wall 43 there is a diverter
wall 45 and another diverter wall portion 46 is attached to the
wall 42 and forms a continuation of the plane of the sloping wall
portion 41. The lower end of wall 42 terminates in a generally
vertical portion q2A, and this portion 42A is spaced from and
cooperates with the lower portion of the wall 43 to define a
20 chamber in which a pair of transversely extending soft rubber
rollers indicated generally at 47 and 48 are mounted.
As shown, these rollers 47 and 48 have soft elastomeric
outer portions 47A and 48A respectively and as will be explained
they touch or are very closely spaced along their tangent lines
indicated at 49. The rollers are powered and counter rotate in
directions as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4. The rollers
47 and 48 have center shafts~ The shaft for roller 47 is driven
with a hydraulic motor indicated at 52 in Figure 3.
The motor 52 is controlled through a suitable valve 52A
30 controlling fluid under pressure from a pump 52B which in turn is
powered from the prime mover or tractor.
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Motor 52 drives a sprocket and chain indicated generally
at 53 which drives a largc-~ sprockct 5~ that is mo~nted directly
to the shaft of the ro]ler 47. ~t the opposite end of the tank
assembly from sprocket 5~ a pair of gears 55 are utilized for
driving from roller 47 to the other roller 48 to rotate the rollers
in counterrotating directions.
The valve 52A may be a variable output, or a separate
variable valve can be utilized to control the speed of the motor
52 in a known manner and thus control the spped of rotation of
the rollers 47 and ~8, which in turn will control the rate of
dispensing of the seed 44 through the rollers.
It should be noted that the individual rollers 47 and
48 for each of the seed tanks are independently mounted in each
of the tanks and have shafts which extend outwardly from the
tank. Between each of the tank sections a suitable flexible
coupling or engagable drive member can be mounted on the shafts
for the aligning rollers. Couplings would be used between the
rollers in tanks 25 and 27 for example and between tanks 27 and
26 as well so that a drive hydraulic motor at one end of the
tank will drive all dispensing rollers ~7 and 4S through gears
55, Separate rollers are mounted in each of the seed dispensing
tanks. As the rollers rotate seeds are expelled from between
the rollers and are metered by the relative speed of rotation of ,,
the rollers.
Also as shown in Figure 2, each of the fertilizer
tanks is made up of front and rear walls, as well as end walls,
as in the case with the seed tanks. As shown the forward wall
56 of the fertilizer tank is inclined and has a lower portion 56A
that extends vertically. The rear wall 57 is a vertical wall,
and it can also be seen in Figure 2 that spacer blocks 60 may be
utilized between -the seed and fertilizer tanks of each of the tank
sections 25, 26 and 27 to hold them as an assembly. The frame
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members previously described also hold the tanks in an assembly.
The fertilizer tank on each of the tank sets 25, 26
and 27 is identically constructed, and the interior of the front
wall 56 of each of these tanks has an extension guide plate 62
and the rear wall 57 has a guide plate 63 attached thereto as well.
These plates define an opening between their lower ends, and it
can be seen that the wall portion 56~ and the lower portion of
the rear wall 57 form a chamber in which a pair of fertilizer
metering rollers 64,65 are mounted. These rollers are rotatably
mounted on the end walls of each of the tanks in a suitable manner
and are driven through the use of a hydraulic motor 66 (see
Figure 3) operating through a valve 67 from the pump 52B. The
motor 67 is variable in speed throuyh the use of the valve 67,
and drives a sprocket which drives a chain 68 which in turn
drives a sprocket 69 that rotates the center shaft for roller 65.
A set of gears 55 is also utilized on the shafts 65A
and 64A of the rollers so that both rollers are driven through
the gears at the opposite end of the tank assembly from the
hydraulic motor. The shafts are coupled with suitable couplings
between tank sections.
I'he fertilizer dispensing rollers include soft covering
64B and 65B of elastomeric material and are substantially
identical in construction to the seed metering rollers 47 and 48.
The rollers rotate as shown by the arrows on the rollers and
dispense pellets of fertilizer indicated at 71. The pellets pass
through an opening defined by the guide members 62 and 63 which
are tapered a desired amount onto the rollers and then are
dispersed into a guide trough 72 which extends across the lateral
width of each tank section. Thus a continuous guide trough is
used. A screen 72A ic~ used to prevent large lumps of fertilizer
from dropping through the chute. The fertilizer from the trough
72 will drop into individual cups, which will be explained later.
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The guide troughs 72 are held on each respective tank
section with a desired number of suitable small clips 73 that
each fit over a lip 57A at the lower end of the wall 57. A spring
clip 74 on the troughs is shaped to fit over a rib 75 that extends
longitudinally along the lower portion 56A of the front wall of
the fertilizer tanks so that the troughs 72 can be removably
clipped in place on their respPctive tanks.
The rollers 64 and 65 (and rollers 47 and 48) are self-
contained within each of the tanks and mounted in bearings on
the end walls of the respective tanks 25A, 26A, and 27A (or 25B,
26B and 27B for seed metering rollers). ~s stated, between the
tanks 25 and 27 and 26 and 27 suitable interlocking coupling
members between the respective roller shafts are utilized. These
couplings can be flexible couplers, or jaw type couplers that
are used in a known manner so that the hydraulic motors on one
end of the tank assembly will drive all of the rollers in all of
the respective seed and fertilizer tanks through the gear sets
55 at the opposite end. Both rollers in each of the tanks are
power driven.
The rollers 64 and 65 are used for metering fertilizer
through the rollers at a desired rate depending on the speed of
rotation of the hydraulic motor 66 which can be adjustable in
a known manner through a suitable valve 67 or by other flow control
means (these rollers could be connected to a ground drive as well)
and the metered fertilizer is fed out along the entire length of
the rollers. The rollers are continuous inside each of the
tanks and the trou~h 72 is also continuous across the width of
each fertilizer tank and are imrnediately below the rollers.
Likewise, the rollers 47 and 48 act as metering rollers
for seed 44 comillg throuyh the openiny between the guide plates
45 and 46. 'l'he opening between these plates is indicated at 46A,
is continuous across the width of the respective seed tank 25B,
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26B and 27B, and the seed then is discharged in a line continuously
across these rollers. The seed is divided into individual portions
for each furrow opener by having a plurality of side by side seed
cups indicated generally at 80 positioned below the rollers.
Each of the seed cups 80 includes a chamber in which seed and
fertilizer are combined with an air stream for distribution to
the individual furrow openers.
The seed cups are shown in detail Figures 4, 5 and 7,
perhaps best. It can be seen that the seed cups 80 include side
walls 81 which are spaced laterally apart, and which are cut at
an angle adjacent the forward ends along edges indicated at 82,
and each of the walls 81 has an ear 83 positioned adjacent the
forward end, and along the top edge of the walls. The side walls
of the seed cups are joined together by a first forward wall 85
and a rear wall 86, which is also tapered.
The trimmed edges 82 and the upper edge of wall 85
define an opening indicated at 87 that is positioned ahead of the
wall 43, and it can be seen that when the cups are in position on
the respective grain tanks, the bars or clips 83 are mounted on
the flange 43A and are supported relative to the wall 43. The
opening 87 is below the outlet opening from the fertilizer
trough 72.
The side walls 81 of adjacent seed cups are positioned
contiguous to each other at the upper ends where the ears 83
are found. The walls 81 of each cup then taper together and
downwardly as shown in Figure 5. The forward wall 85 has a
substantially vertical lower portion 85 in which an orifice
indicated at 92 is defined. The rear wall 86 of each cup is
parallel to and spaced rearwardly from the lower wall portion
~5~. The lower ends of the side wall portions 81 join the part
circular lower ends of wall portions 85A and 86A to form a part
cylindrical cham~er 90, illtO which seed and fertilizer will drop
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as indicated in Figure 4 after it has been metered through therespective rollers.
A tubular neck portion 91 is fixed to the outer side
of the lower wall portion 85A and is concentric with the orifice
92. The orifice 92 is of smaller diameter than the interior
diameter of the tubular neck 91. An outlet neck 93 is fixed to
the exterior of portion 86A. It can be seen that an outlet '~
opening 93A through the wall portion 86~ leading to the tuba 93
is substantially the same diameter as the interior of the tube.
Opening 93A is larger in diameter than the inlet orifice 92. The
lower wall of the chamber 90 is part cylindrical as previously
explained but is slightly larger in diameter than the interior
of the tube 93. As shown it is approximately the same as the
outside diameter of the tube 93. The axis of orifice 92 and the
axis of opening 93A coincide.
The ears 83, 83 fit over the lip 43A (the lip or flange
43A fits into the slot below the ears) and a spring clip 9S is
attached to t~.e rear wall 86 and extends upwardly. The clip 9S
has a receptacle portion 95A that fits over a rib 96 formed in
the rear wall portion 42A, the rib 96 extends longitudinally
alonc3 wall portion 42A so that the clips 95 of each seed cup
may be positioned any place along the wall. The seed cups
therefore can be placed very close together and no seed will
drop between the adjacent walls 81 of two side by side seed cups.
The plenum chamber 35 as shown in Figure 6 has a
plurality of individual sections of hose or plastic tubing 97
connected thereto and fitting over suitable outlet tubes that
are welded to openings in the tube 34. The plastic tubes 97 in
turn are connected individually to the tubes 91 of each of the
seed CUpS, The outlet tube 93 from the seed cup is connected
to a semi-rigid plastic hose or tube 98, and each of the tubes
98 in turn then leads to one of the individual furrow opener
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assemblies 20. Thus, there is one see~ cup for e~ch of thefurrow openers, one of the tubes 97 for each of the furrow
openers, and one of the tubes 98 for each of the furrow openers
20. There is also one of the chutes 72 for each of the tank
sections.
Typically the tube 98 will lead to a furrow opener
such as that shown in Figure 2. The furrow opener in this case
again is a spring loaded shank having a mounting bracket 100,
and a spring shank and shank holder 101 are pivotally mounted
thereto as at 101A and held in working position with a suitable
tension spring 102. Such shanks are described, as previously
stated in my United States Patent No. 3,782,481. At the lower
end of each of the spring shanks 101 there is a shovel member 102
bolted to the shank in the usual manner (see also Figure 8).
Chisel point or swcep shovels may be used for the types of furrow
openers used in seeding. Usually there are two bolts which
attach the shovels to the shank. In the upper one of the bolts
an angle iron clip 103 is bolted in place, and this clip carries
a metal tube portion 104 extending through and fixed to the clip.
The plastic tube portion 98 then is pushed into the metal tube
104 and the air and seed which is being ejected in a manner that
will be explained is sent out through the lower end of the tube
104. The tube 104 is bent in its midportion so that the axis of
the tube inclines toward the back side of the lower end of the
shovel 102.
The shovel or chisel point 102 goes below the surface
of the ground 23 crcating a furrow indicated at 23A in Figure 8,
and the seed is shot right down into the bottom of the furrow
immediately behind the shovel 102 because of the bent tube 104 that
directs ~he sced clown into this area. Dirt will fall in and cover
the seed sufficiently so that it can germinate. If desired, a
gauge-press wheel may be used to pack dirt over the seed, or a
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spring tooth harrow or other covering device could be pulledbehind the field cultivator unit that is used for seeding.
Referring again to the showing of the seed cups in
Figure 4 and specifically chamber 90, the air flow is indicated
in the arrows through the tube 97 and this air is normally about
1-2 psi, with an adequate volume to maintain this pressure
throughout the length of the tubes down to the individual shovels.i
The orifice 92 forms an opening approximately 11/32
inches in diameter. The air enters chamber 90 through the ori- ¦
~ice 92. The space between the inner surfaces of the walls 85A
and 86A which define the front and rear surfaces of the chamber
9~ forms a throat portion and is approximately 9/16 inch, and
should not exceed 5/8 inch in order to avoid excessive turbulence.¦
~et, the spacing of the surfaces carrying orifice 92 and the
outlet opening 93A has to be large enough for the seed and ferti- ¦
lizer to fall between the surfaces without any substantial tend- !
ency to plug as it passes into the throat of the chamber. The
airstream coming through the orifice 92 expands slightly without i~
substantial turbulence and because of the relatively short dis-
tance between the orifice 92 and the larger outlet opening 93Athere is little tendency for the air to start to swirl or become
turbulent.
The airstream more or less expands slightly to the
size of, or slightly smaller diameter than the outlet opening
93A, as it passes through the throat of chamber 90. At the
same time the airstream creates a vacuum (aspiration action)
near the upper portions of the chamber 90 tending to urge the
seed and fertilizer to be carried into the fluid stream and out
through the opening 93A. Gravity also urges the fertilizer and
seed downwardly into the throat. The use of a larger outlet
opening which permits the fluid stream to expand without turbu-
lence tends to prevent swirling which would provide pockets of
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dead air in which seed and fertilizer could be immobilized andaccumulate causing plugging of the seed cups.
It should be noted that the angle of wall 85 on which
the fertilizer drops isselected to cause the fertilizer sliding
off the wall to project toward the opening 93A. A continuation
of the plane of wall 85 intersects the plane of opening 93A.
The natural trajectory of fertilizer coming down the interior of
the wall 85 is directly into the opening 93A. The airstream
passing through the orifice 92 adds an impetus to this natural
movement to pick up the fertilizer pellets.
The seed which is of lower specific gravity drops
straight down, and as the seed enters the airstream it is carried
in suspension into the opening 93A and thus into the connected
98 and to the respective furrow opener.
A suitable screen indicated at 72A is utilized inside
the fertilizer trough 72 to prevent large clumps of fertilizer
from dropping down into the seed cups 80 and causing plugging
problems in the chamber 90. The fertilizer used presently is
pelleted but occasionally the pellets will clump together. The
rubber rollers usually break up the clumps. The screen 72A will
suspend clumps which get through the rollers.
It should be noted that very large chunks cannot pass
through the rollers in any event, so the screen 72A serves as a
filter to make sure that larger chunks are not dropped through.
The screen may be emptied periodically.
Because the airflow and pressu~e through the chamber 90
is re]atively constant due to the accumulator 32 and the provi-
sion of an adequate volume of air at a low pressure from the blade
type fan, there is no irregularities in feeding through the
nozzle area, and the seed and fertilizer are carried at a uniform
rate as determined by the metering rollers.
It should also be noted that if desired the metering
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rollers can be supported on ~enter bearings in each tank section.The center roller would be mounted relative to the tank walls if
desired.
The tank assembly for seed and fertilizer is mounted on
the center section of a folding wing field cultivator assembly,
and the only portions or parts from the seeding attachment that
go onto the w;ngs (if no gauge wheels are shown) are the hoses 98
and the individual clips 103 and tubes 104 which attach to each
of the furrow openers. Seeding and cultivating can be done in
one trip, promoting fuel conservation and minimum tillage as
practices. Low investment is required by the need to provide only ¦
the tanks, the metering mechanisms and the hoses for obtaining a
large seeding apparatus.
In Figures 8 and 9, a type of gauge wheel that can be
used with the individual spring loaded cultivator shanks that is
shown. The schematic showing illustrates a typical spring shank i,
101 that is utilized. A "U" shaped bracket 114 is mounted in
the midportion of the shank. The U shaped bracket 114 pivotally
mounts an arm 115, which is pivotally mounted as at 116 to the
bracket. The lower end of the arm 115 is laterally offset,
as shown in Figure 9, and carries a wheel spindle 117 that ro-
tatably mounts a suitable wheel 118. The wheel 118 may control
the depth of penetration of the shovel 102 into the ground an~ ¦
at the same time it will pack dirt in around the furrow that is
created by the shovel. The wheel has a semi-pneumatic tire and
it is of relatively wide width to insure that it spans the furrow
created.
A stop screw 120 is threadably mounted into a sleeve
121 at the upper end of the arm 115, and this screw bears against
the rear and upper surface of the shank 101 to provide a stop for
th,e wheel 118 to hold it in a desired position as it moves along
the top surface of the ground.
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When the cultivator frames are raised (lifted out ofthe ground), the wheel 118 can merely drop down so arm 115 rests
against the shank.
This gauge-packing wheel can be used if desired for
added precision in controlling the depths of seeding and also
for additional packing of dirt over the seed.
One of the features of the present device is that the
opening 87 at the top of the seed cups (where fertilizer drops
in) is forward facing and is visible to an operator on the trac-
tor towing the unit~ The tractor would be at the left hand sideof the sheet. The fan assembly, as stated is shown only schema-
tically, and it is in normal position located so that it does not
interfere with visibility of any large number of openings 87 of
the seed cups. If plugging does occur in chamber 90 the ferti-
lizer and seed will build up and will start to spill out the
openings 87 where it can immediately be seen by the operator of
the tractor.
The troughs 72 can also easily be removed if the
screens 72A plug up. L~kewise, the individual seed cups are
easily removed by using the sprin~ clips 95 and just releasing
them from the respective tanks, cleaning them out and then put-
ting them back into place. The tubes 97 and 98 do not have to
be disconnected for this cleaning operation.
In the second form of the invention shown in Figures
10-12, the tank for holding seed and fertilizer is modified in
construction, as are the feed rollers, and also, the seed mount-
ing for the cups is slightly modified. ~s in the previous form
of the invention, one tank section assembly is utilized for each
ten foot width of cultivator. The tanks are mounted on the center
assembly of the cultivator as shown before. The air supply,
plenum chamber, and discharge tubes le~ding to each of the indi-
vidual cultivator shovels are the same as those previously dis-
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11328~4
closed~ Referring to Figures 10, 11 and 12, a seeder tank assem-
bly illustrated generally at 140 is supported on a frame member
141, that comprises an upright member used for supporting the
frame in the usual manner, and attaches to a cultivator frame in-
dicated at 142. The cross tube 143 forms the plenum chamber as
previousl~ indicated.
The tank assembly 144 in this instance comprises a
single tank housing seed and fertilizer. The tank assembly in-
cludes an upper tank section indicated generally at 145 and a
lower roller-feeder assembly or feed control unit 150.
The upper tank section has a rearward wall 146 that 1,
extends across the lateral width of the tank, and a forward wall
147. The walls 146 and 147 have upper edges that define an
opening 148. A suitable rain tight cover member 148A can be
placed over this opening 148 to keep the moisture from the inter-
ior of the tank. The front and rear walls 146 and 147 are con-
nected together with end walls in the usual manner to enclose the
tank. One end wall is indicated at 149.
Adjacent the lower ends of the walls 146 and 147, there
are flanges 146A and 147A, respectively, that are used for at-
taching the lower feed control unit 150 to the upper tank section
145, The feed control unit comprises end plates 151 connected
together with a rear wall 152 and a forward wall 153. The rear
wall 152 has a flange 152A which mates with flange 146A and is
fastened thereto with suitable bolts or screws, and the forward
wall 153 has a flange 153A which mates with the flange 147A and
is removably attached thereto. It should be noted that the lower
feed control unit can be replaced or removed for repair without
changing the upper tank assembly 144. Also, the lower feed con-
trol unit may be a common interchangeable unit used with a number
of different upper tank assemblies.
l~he lower feed control unit includes means for mounting
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~ 3ZB54
the metering ro]ls for feed and fertilizer in the manner previou~ly
described. As shown, the rear wall 152 has a generally vertical
lower section 152B which extends downwardly and a generally hori-
zontal flange 152C is formed at the lower end thereof. Wall 152
is attached to and mounted between the end plates 151 in a normal
manner.
A vertical partition wall 155 is mounted between the
end plates 151. This partition wall 155 is mounted directly be-
low an adjustable partition wall 156 that is attached to the end
10 walls forming the upper tank section 145. The partition wall 156
forms a partition between a seed hopper or compartment indicated
generally at 157 and a fertilizer hopper or compartment indicated
at 158. Wall 156 has end flanges 156~ that are bolted in place to
the end walls 1~9. There are two flanges 156~ one on each end of
the wall 156. The wall 156 can be tilted about its lowermost
mounting screw of bolt 156B to a dotted line position as shown to
change the volume of the fertilizer compartment 158 and the seed
cornpartment 157. The position of wall 156 can be modified to
suit existing conditions without altering the structure of the
tank itself, so that more seed can be carried than fertilizer and
the ratio between seed and fert;li`zer can be changed when different
rates of application of one relative to the other are desired.
Removing the screws from the flanges 156A and tilting the wall 156
to a desired position and then replacing the screws 150 in the
flange 156A to a new set of holes that may be provided in each of
the end walls for the tank is all that is required to change the
size of the compartments.
Immediately below wall 156, there is an inverted U
shaped member 161 which provides a shield over the upper edge of
wall 155. When the lower feed control unit 150 is in place, the
~all 155 forms a continuation of the partition or divider between
the seed and fertilizcr compartments of the upper tank.
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l~ZB54
At the lower end of wall 155 there are a pair of con-
verging wall sections 1~2 supported on the wa~l 155 and wall 152
that guide grain or seed from compartment 157 through an opening
between the wall sections to a pair of feed rollers indicated
generally at 163 which are mounted in the side plates 151,15I
schematically shown at 163A in Figure 11. The feed rollers are
driven in a desired manner. These rolls can be ground driven
through a chain and sprocket assembly, or can be driven with a
hydraulic motor as in the first form of the invention.
The rollers 163 are covered with suitable elastomeric
material and they touch at their tangent lines and when rotated
the rollers meter seed from compartment 157. On the fertilizer
compartment side of the wall 15;, there are a pair of converging
walls 164 which are spaced apart to form an opening above a pair
of fertilizer metering rollers 165, which in turn are also mounted
in bearings on the side plates 151,151 and which are powered to
meter fertilizer out through the rolls. The rolls 165 are con-
structed as previously explained and have elastomeric outer por-
tions.
In the metering of the fertilizer, the fertilizer will
drop downwardly from the rolls as shown onto a relatively rigid
mesh screen indicated generally at 166 which is mounted onto a
wall 167 forming guide pans for the fertilizer. The wall 167
extends all the way between the side plates 151,151 and is mounted
onto a rod 168 at its upper end. It is held in the position as
shown in solid lines in Figure 10 through the use of a pair of
pins 169, which can be latched into the side plates lSl and then
pulled out to permit the lower end of wall 167 to swing downwardly
against stop ins indicated at 170, as shown in dotted lines.
The screen 166 can be cleaned of any lumps, and the wall provides
a shield to prevent rain from falling into the seed cups which
are positioned below the wall 167.
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~132~S4
In this form of thc inver-~ion, the individual seed
cups indicated generally at 175 are constructed in the same manner
as in the first form o~ the invention insofar as the interior
construction is concerned, including a forward wall which has an
incline down along which the fertilizer will slide as shown, an
interior inlet orifice leading to the lower chamber in the seed
cup, and the output nozzle which is larger than ~e inlet orifice.
The seed cups 175 are each connected through a separate tube 176
to an outlet connection 177 on the plenum chamber 143. The tube
176 is connected to an inlet 178 that leads through th~ inlet ori-
fice to the interior chamber in which the stream of fertilizsr
and seed (which is metered by and drops down from the rollers 163)
are carried to an outlet nozzle 179 and through suitable tubes
180 to the respective furrow openers.
The upper portions of the seed cups 175 are constructed
somewhat diffcrently from the first form of the invention, and at
the rear of the seed cups, suitable notches 175A are provided in
the side walls 175B. The notices fit onto the flange 152C. The
seed cups are thus held on this flange 152C through the inter-
locking function of the notch and flange. The forward ends of
the seed cups 175 are held in position with a pair of tension
springs 181 that attach to the respective side plates 151,151.
One such spring is shown in Figure 11. The springs 181 connect
to opposite ends of a cross bar 182 that engages the inclined
forward walls 175C of all or the seed cups in each l~wer unit.
The bar 182 contacts all of the seed cups in the unit. The
springs 181 keep the bar up tight against the seed cups and the
side walls of the seed cups engage a suitable stop rod 183 that
extends between the side plates 151.
It can be seen that the upper opening 184 of the seed
cups 175 is visible from an operators platform in the same manner
as in the previous form of the invention, and thus plugging would
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~13Z8~4
cause a visual indication by spilla~e from the openings 184. In
this manner the operator can determine when plugying occurs.
If a seed cup 175 plugs, it can be removed from the
assembly by pulling it out so notches 175A clear flange 153C.
The bar 182 will move as springs 181 expand until the notch
clears the flange. Then the seed cup can be tilted downwardly
and out of its position without disturbing the other seed cups.
This makes the device not only very secure through the use of
the springs 181, but also easily removed for cleaning.
Thus, in the second form of the invention a standard
lower feed control unit can be utilized with different size upper
tanks if desired, and the compartments in the upper tank can be
varied as to the ratio between fertilizer and seed which is stored.
The roller assemblies 163 and 165 retain the seed and fertilizer
in the tanks, and prevent it from escaping.
If something should happen to the rollers, if they
need to be replaced, or if they have to be adjusted in any manner,
the entire lower unit can be removed by taking out the bolts
which connect the flanges 152A and 153A to the flanges 146A and
20 147A.
Further, the entire assembly of seed cups is shielded
from rain and the like so there is no problem with water standing
in the lower portion of the seed cups causing delays in getting
started.
The feed rollers can be driven, as stated previously,
by a suitable ground drive driving from one of the gauge wheels
or other ground engaging wheels of the seeder unit or the field
cultivator. Further, when the pan or wall 167 is swung down to
its position against the stop member 170 by pulling out the pins
169, it provides a complete shield against any rain coming in
through the openings 184 of the seed cups.
The fan used for air pressure is the same as in the
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11~28~4
first form of the invention. If desired, the vacuum side of thefan can be used as a source of vacuum to clean out the tanks and
lower feed control unit. A barrel can be mounted on the cultivator
frame as a collector plenum or tank, and one hose connected to the
vacuum side of the fan. A second hose leading from the tank is
used for the actual cleaning.
The semi-rigid plastic hoses 98 are forced into the
respective tubes 104 sufficiently far so that the hoses 98 are
frictionally gripped at the bend portions of tubes 104 and are
retained without clips or the like. The seed is directed by tubes
104 into the moist earth immediately behind the respective furrow
openers.
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