Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AIR SEEDING SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of mufti-compartment air
seeding systems, where the compartments can be used to selectively supply
different
agricultural materials to specific metering assemblies and air streams based
on
volume considerations and crop requirements. More particularly, the present
invention is directed to a pneumatic distribution system comprising improved
metering assemblies for selectively metering and diverting material to one air
stream
or another.
io BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many agricultural applications, different particulate materials such as
seed,
fertilizer, inoculants and other seed treatments are applied to a field in
controlled
amounts at simultaneous or different times. Strictly controlled rates of
application
are often critical to optimize crop yield and to efficiently make use of the
applied
particulate material. To apply these types of agricultural particulate
materials in
controlled amounts, conventional systems are generally comprised of a tank for
containing the particulate material, and a metering device. In these systems,
the
metering device receives the particulate material from the tank, and meters
and
delivers this material at a controlled rate to the soil.
Air seeders are commonly used to apply agricultural particulate material and
are often comprised of a wheeled seed cart that includes one or more frame-
mounted
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tanks for holding seed or fertilizer or both. This type of seeder also
generally
comprises a metering system used to dispense particulate material from the
tanks
and a pneumatic distribution system for delivering the products from the tanks
to the
soil.
Several different types of air seeders are available, including double shoot
air
seeders and triple shoot air seeders. Double shoot air seeders are often used
to
deposit both fertilizer and seed into the soil in a single pass. Generally,
double shoot
air seeders comprise a lower conduit and an upper conduit to conduct
fertilizer and
seed from respective fertilizer and seed tanks on the seeder to a plurality of
1o furrowing elements. The furrowing elements are arranged to deposit the seed
and
fertilizer into the ground at slightly different locations, to prevent too
much fertilizer
from being in contact with the seed in the early stages of seed growth.
However, difficulties are encountered with currently available seeding
systems when it is desirable to vary not only the amount and the rate at which
the
agricultural particulate material is applied to the growing medium, but also
the type
of material being applied. Currently, seeding systems that include multiple
compartments are often difficult to use, relatively costly and space
consuming.
In many mufti-compartment air seeders, each compartment will have its own
designated air stream, so that the metering device attached to a compartment
will
always deliver particulate material to that specific air stream. This type of
setup is
inconvenient because, in most cases, the volume of seed and fertilizer varies
considerably depending on the type of crop seeded and the amount of fertilizer
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required. Thus, it would be highly desirable to be able to assign a specific
air stream
to a specific compartment depending on the requirements of the crop to be
seeded.
This type of flexibility would allow for each compartment and air stream to be
used
more efficiently by basing the selection on volume considerations. By way of
example, in some instances it might be more efficient for a farmer to use a
larger
compartment with a seed air stream, for example, when the size of the seed is
large.
In another instance, for example, when fertilizer need is high, this larger
compartment might be best used for fertilizer and the user would then want to
direct
the fertilizer to a fertilizer air stream.
10 There are metering assemblies on the market that do provide the ability to
divert product from each compartment into either air stream. However, many of
the
designs require complex multitude of diverter valves with a complex linkage
between valves so that all can be adjusted at once. It is also important for a
farmer to
be able to completely close off one air stream when metering into the other,
to avoid
15 unwanted mixing of products in the air streams. Thus, when using a
multitude of
diverter valves, they all must be aligned properly and linkages adjusted and
set
carefully in order to ensure that one air stream is sealed off from the other.
Consequently, there is a need for a mufti-compartment seeding system,
where each compartment can be assigned to a selected air stream based on the
20 volume, type, etc. of seed and fertilizer required for a specific crop,
which is simple
to operate and avoids unwanted mixing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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The present invention discloses an air seeding system that comprises a tank
having one or more compartments, wherein each compartment has an individual
metering assembly. The air seeding system further comprises a pneumatic
distribution system comprising a plurality of upper conduits and a plurality
of lower
5 conduits, whereby each upper and lower conduit is operably connected to the
metering assembly.
The air seeding system works in cooperation with a seeder having furrowing
elements, typically seed knives and fertilizer knives, for depositing seed
and/or
fertilizer into the soil. The air seeding system can take the form of a cart
that can be
to towed by a variety of agricultural vehicles such as a tractor.
The tank can have a plurality of separate compartments, which can be of the
same or different size, and each compartment can contain a variety of
agricultural
particulate material such as seed, fertilizer, inoculants or other seed
treatments. In
another embodiment, several different interlocking tanks can be used instead
of a
compartmentalized tank.
To distribute the agricultural particulate material from the compartments, a
metering assembly is provided for each compartment, comprising:
wP;
~ a metering house operably positioned beneath the bottom outlet of each
compartment for receiving the material, said metering house comprising a
metering roller for metering the material;
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~ a row of generally upright front material cells, each front material cell
having
an open top and a closed bottom and each open top being in open
communication with said metering house to receive the metered material;
~ a row of generally upright rear material cells, each rear material cell
having
an open top and a closed bottom and each open top being in open
communication with said metering house to receive the metered material;
~ each rear material cell being positioned behind a front material cell such
that
the open tops of each front and rear material cell are essentially aligned and
the closed bottom of each rear material cell extends past the closed bottom of
l0 each front material cell;
~ a row of upper conduits for receiving air, each upper conduit operably
associated with one front material cell to allow air to pass through said
front
material cell;
~ a row of lower conduits for receiving air, each lower conduit operably
associated with one rear material cell to allow air to pass through said rear
material cell;
~ and a diverter member comprising a plurality of diverter plates, each
diverter
plate being operably positioned between the aligned open tops of each front
material cell and rear material cell arid moveable between a forward position
2o and a rearward positions such that when the diverter plate is in the
forward
position the open top of the front material cell is closed and when the
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diverter plate is in the rearward position the open top of the rear material
cell
is closed.
In a preferred embodiment, the diverter member further comprises a rod
operably connecting all of the diverter plates so that each diverter plate
moves in
unison with the others. Rod member further comprises a diverter lever
connected to
one or both ends of the rod. The diverter lever has a first position and a
second
position to move the diverter member into the forward position or rearward
position,
respectively. Depending on the position of the diverter member, metered
material is
directed either to an air stream in an upper conduit or to an air stream in a
lower
l0 conduit. . These conduits then deliver the seeds or fertilizer to the
appropriate
furrowing elements for inserting the material into the soil.
The ability to move the diverter member into two different positions provides
for greater flexibility in making use of the different tanks on the seeding
system.
For example, in one application, the largest tank or compartment may be used
to
contain and deliver seed, whereas, in another application, this tank or
compartment
may be used to contain and deliver fertilizer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation,
may best be understood by reference to the following description, and the
accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the
several views, and in which:
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-compartment air seeding system
according to
this invention.
FIG. 2 is an expanded view of two of the metering assemblies of the air
seeding
system shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an expanded view of one of the metering assemblies shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an overview perspective of a material compartment coupled to a
diverter
assembly of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the metering assembly showing the row of front
material
cells and the row of rear material cells with their respective front walls
removed.
to FIG. 6(a) is a schematic illustration of the metering assembly when the
diverter lever
in an upward position according to the invention.
FIG. 6(b) is a schematic illustration of the metering assembly of FIG. 6(a)
with the
side panel removed showing material being metered through the upper conduit.
FIG. 7(a) is a schematic illustration of the metering assembly when the
diverter lever
in a downward position according to the invention.
FIG. 7(b) is a schematic illustration of the metering assembly of FIG. 7(a)
with the
side panel removed showing material being metered through the lower conduit.
FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a diverter member that can be used in
the
invention.
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FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the metering assembly where the diverter
member is
in the first position.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the metering assembly where the diverter
member is
in the second position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A preferred embodiment of an air seeding system of the invention is
illustrated in perspective views in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. With reference to FIG.
l, air
seeding system 1 comprises a tank 3 having three separate compartments 5, 7
and 9.
It is understood that three individual product tanks could also be used. Each
l0 compartment 5, 7, and 9 is provided with its own metering assembly 11, 13
and 15,
respectively. The air seeding system 1 further comprises a pneumatic
distribution
system (not illustrated), which directs air streams 17 and 21 through a
plurality of
upper conduits 19 and lower conduits 23, respectively. There exists a
horizontal row
of upper conduits and a horizontal row of lowers conduits whereby each of
upper
and lower conduits is operably connected to each metering assembly 11, 13 and
15.
Air seeding system 1 can take the form of a cart that can be pulled or towed
by a variety of different agricultural vehicles such as a tractor. If desired,
air seeding
system 1 can be attached to an agricultural vehicle using frame 35, which can
adopt
a wide variety of different configurations. Frame 35 can be constructed using
a
2o variety of different materials that can be, for example, which are not
intended to be
limiting, steel or polymerics. Frame components can be joined together using a
variety of techniques known in the art that can include welding, bolting, or
screwing.
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Frame 35 should be constructed to be of sufficient strength to support all
components of air seeding system 1, including tank 3, which can be filled with
seed
andlor fertilizer, or both.
Tank 3 can be positioned onto frame 35 using a variety of different methods.
5 For example, which is not meant to be limiting, tank 3 can be welded,
screwed or
bolted to frame 35. Tank 3 can be constructed from a variety of different
materials,
such as different metals or polymerics. To allow for the use of different
agricultural
material to be metered, in this embodiment, tank 3 is divided into
compartments 5, 7
and 9. These compartments may be welded together or comprise a plurality of
to interlocking tanks.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, compartments 5, 7 and 9 can each comprise a hatch
opening 4, through which material can be loaded into the compartments. In one
embodiment, hatch opening 4 can be covered with a hatch cover 6. Moreover,
each
compartment can adopt different sizes, if desired. The use of different sizes
can
allow for a more efficient use of these compartments by providing an operator
with
more flexibility in meeting the requirements for specific crops to be seeded.
For
example, some seeds may be quite large, or others may require large amounts of
fertilizer, thereby requiring larger compartments for either the fertilizer or
the seeds.
Compartments 5, 7, and 9 can be tapered downward to help direct the
2o material into their respective metering assemblies. The material can enter
metering
assemblies 11, 13, and 15 by gravity to be metered into the appropriate upper
or
lower conduit and carned by the appropriate air stream.
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FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower portion of compartment 5 where the
upper portion of compartment has been removed. It can be seen that compartment
5
is positioned to be in open communication with metering assembly 11.
It can be appreciated that upper conduits 19 and lower conduits 23 are
comprised of discontinuous tubing so as to be operably engaged with each of
the
metering assemblies. For example, in FIG. 3, which shows metering assembly 11,
it
can be seen that upper conduit 19 comprises upper tubes 25 and 25', and lower
conduit 23 comprises lower tubes 27 and 27'. Upper tubes 25 and 25', and lower
tubes 27 and 27' are each operably engaged with metering assembly 11, which is
to illustrated more clearly in FIG. 6(b) and FIG. 7(b).
With reference now to FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), 7(a) and 7(b), the metering
assemblies of the invention will be described with further reference to
metering
assembly 11. Metering assembly 11 and its components can be constructed from a
variety of different materials, which can include metals and polymerics.
Metering
assembly 11 comprises metering housing 80, where material discharged from the
individual compartments of tank 3 can collect just prior to being metered
through
metering roller 43. It can be appreciated that metering housing 80 extends
across the
entire length of each metering assembly, which can be seen more clearly in
FIG. 2.
In a preferred embodiment, metering housing 80 can further comprise back wall
42
having a notch 96, and a moveable metering wall 40, which can side forward
such
that one end of moveable metering wall 40 engages notch 96 and closes off
metering
housing 80 to the rest of the metering assembly, in particular, the metering
roller 43.
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This is useful, for example, when a farmer wishes to stop metering product mid
way
through a seeding operation in order to repair, cleanout, etc. the machine.
Metering roller 43, which also can extend the entire length of the metering
assembly, can have a variety of different forms known in the art and can be
used, if
desired, to measure a fixed volume of seed per unit of linear distance. For
example,
which is not meant to be limiting as one skilled in the art will understand
that certain
crops will require specific metering rollers, metering roller 43 can be fluted
to
varying degrees. In one embodiment, a fine metering roller can be used.
However,
one of skill in the art will understand that any other metering roller can be
used to
best meet the needs of a specific crop. Moreover, metering roller 43 can be
made
from a variety of different materials, which will suit specific crops.
Metering assembly 11 further comprises a plurality of front material cells 29,
extending horizontally across the entire length of the metering assembly, and
a
plurality of rear material cells 31, each rear material cell being positioned
behind a
corresponding front material cell. This can be seen more clearly in FIG. 5.
The
front walls of both the front material cell 29 and the rear material cell 31
have been
removed. Each pair of front and rear material cells have a dividing wall 30
which
separates each pair from the next pair to the right.
As can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 6(b) and 7(b), each front material cell
29 is aligned in front of each rear material cell 31. Further, each front
material cell
29 has an open top 90 and a closed bottom 84. Similarly, each rear material
cell 31
has an open top 92 and a closed bottom 86. When the respective tops 90 and 92
are
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essentially aligned, the bottom 86 of rear material cell 31 is in a horizontal
plane
beneath the horizontal plane of bottom 84 of front material cell 29. This
allows
bottom conduit 23 to be positioned essentially directly below upper conduit
23,
thereby conserving space and making the metering assembly more compact.
5 Each of the upper tubes 25 and 25' of upper conduit 19 are operably
connected to front material cell 29 such that air stream 17 can flow through
upper
tube 25', into, through and out of upper cell 29 through upper tube 25. In
particular,
upper tube 25' is operably connected to rear wall 88 of the front material
cell 29 and
upper tube 25 is operably connected to front wall 33 of front material cell
29. Of
10 course, it is understood that both front wall 33 and rear wall 88 must have
openings
aligned with the openings of upper tubes 25 and 25' to allow for the operation
of the
presentinvention.
Similarly, each of lower tubes 27 and 27' of lower conduit 23 are operably
connected to rear material cell 31 such that air stream 21 can flow through
lower
15 tube 27', into, through and out of rear material cell 31 through lower tube
27. In
particular, lower tube 27' is operably connected to rear wall 37 of the rear
material
cell 31 and lower tube 27 is operably connected to front wall 94 of rear
material cell
31. Of course, it is understood that both front wall 94 and rear wall 37 must
have
openings aligned with the openings of lower tubes 27 and 27' to allow for the
20 operation of the present invention.
Thus, any seed or fertilizer material that is loaded into front material cell
29
would be carried by air stream 17 and any seed or fertilizer material that is
loaded
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into rear material cell 31 would be carried by air stream 21. It is understood
that
upper tube 25' must also pass through rear wall 37 of rear material cell 31,
due to
rear material cell 31 being positioned directly behind front material cell 29.
Metering assembly 11 further comprises diverter member 41, which
functions to direct material to a certain air stream, i.e., it functions to
close off the
open top of either front material cell 29 or rear material cell 31 so that
material can
not be loaded in one or the other, respectively. Diverter member 41 is
comprised of
a plurality of individual diverter plates. Because material cells of the
invention are
positioned front to back, this allows one to use a very simple diverting means
l0 whereby individual diverter plates can very simply act in unison, as
described in
more detail below.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, each diverter plate 49 of diverter member 41 is
connected to rod 51 using a variety of methods, which can include but are not
limited to, welding, soldering, gluing, screwing and/or bolting. Diverter
plates 49
can be connected together or, if desired, only connected to rod 51. The
diverter
plates and the rod can be made from a variety of different materials, which
can
include but are not limited to, steel and reinforced polymerics. It can also
be
appreciated that diverter member 41 could be laser cut out of a single sheet
of metal
or the like.
As shown in FIGS. 6(b) and FIG. 7(b), diverter member 41 is operably
connected to the back wall 88 of front material cell by means of rod 51 such
that
each diverter plate 49 is positioned between a front material cell and a rear
material
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cell. By operably connected is meant that diverter member 41, and hence each
diverter plate 49, can now pivot in a forward and rearward direction with all
of the
diverter plates 49 moving in unison. FIG. 7(b) illustrates the diverter member
41,
and hence each diverter plate 49, in the forward position and FIG. 6(b)
illustrates the
5 diverter member, and hence each diverter plate 49, in the rearward position.
Each
diverter plate 49 is approximately the same width as the width of both front
material
cell 29 and rear material cell 31 so that each diverter plate can be
relatively snuggly
situated between front material cell 29 and rear material cell 31 without
restricting
the forward or rearward movement of each diverter plate 49.
l0 Diverter member 41 can be pivoted along an axis parallel to rod 51 by lever
47, which is operably connected at one or the other or both ends of rod 51. By
using
an upward or downward motion on lever 47, diverter member 41 can be positioned
in the rearward position or the frontward position, respectively, to allow for
diversion of material from metering housing 80, which is metered by metering
roller
15 43, to be deposited into either front material cell 29 or rear material
cell 31,
respectively, by essentially closing off the flow of material through the top
of one or
the other.
As illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), when lever 47 is pulled in
the upward position, this, in turn, pivots diverter member 41 and each
individual
20 diverter plate 49 to the rearward position thereby closing off top 92 of
rear material
cell 31. Thus, all of the metered material follows path 53 into front material
cell 29
to be carned into air stream 17. Hence, metered material travels through upper
conduit 19. FIG. 9 is a perspective view looking down on the metering assembly
11
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when lever 47 is in the upward position and diverter plates 49 are in a
rearward
position.
As illustrated in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), when level 47 is pulled in the
downward position, this, in turn, pivots diverter member 41 to the forward
position
thereby closing off top 90 of front material cell 29. Thus, all of the metered
material
follows path 55 into rear material cell 31 to be carried by air stream 21.
Hence,
metered material travels through lower conduit 23. FIG. 10 is a perspective
view
looking down on the metering assembly 11 when lever 47 is in the downward
position and diverter plates 49 are in the forward position.
to In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, diverter plates 49 can take the
shape
of a rectangle. As is apparent, any other shape that would provide diversion
could
also be used. Alternately or in addition, the length of diverter member 41 can
be
such that it can function along the whole length of metering assembly 11 and
divert
material into the appropriate conduits for delivery into a plurality of rows
in the soil.
By way of example, in one operation, compartment 5 may be loaded with
seed. In this instance, it may be desirable to have the seed directed by air
stream 17
through upper conduit 19. For this to occur, diverter member 41 is positioned
in a
rearward position by lifting lever 47 to the most upright position (the upward
position). In the rearward position, diverter member 41 allows the seed to
follow
path 53 and enter into front material cell 29 located between tubes 25 and
25', where
the seed can enter air stream 17 and thus flow through upper conduit 19.
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Upper conduit 19 can be connected to a secondary distribution manifold
mounted on the seeding tool (not illustrated). In one embodiment, four to
eight
secondary distribution manifolds can be present. Of course, one of skill in
the art
will understand that a smaller or greater number of secondary distribution
manifolds
can be used. The secondary distribution manifolds distribute the seed through
a
plurality of secondary conduits (not illustrated) to seed knives (not
illustrated). The
number of secondary conduits can vary widely, and, in one embodiment, can vary
from seven to twelve. In one embodiment, seven to twelve seed knives can be
used.
Of course, one of skill in the art will appreciate that a smaller or greater
number of
1o seed knives and secondary conduits can be used.
In another operation, compartment 5 may be loaded with fertilizer. In this
instance, lever 47 is positioned in the downward position. Diverter member 41
is
now in the forward position thereby allowing fertilizer to follow path 55 and
travel
in air stream 21 through lower conduit 23, while denying entry into air stream
17.
To allow for the denial of entry of fertilizer into air stream 17, diverter
member 41 is
pivoted by lever 47 in such a way that diverter plate 49 closes off top 90 of
front
material cell 29, thereby preventing the fertilizer from entering into front
material
cell 29. Entry into front material cell 29 would allow the fertilizer to gain
access to
air stream 17 flowing through upper conduit 19. Instead, the fertilizer can
fall on
and around seed tube 25' via path 55 and gain entry into the lower portion of
rear
material cell 31, located between tubes 27 and 27'. The fertilizer can now
gain
access to air stream 21 flowing through lower conduit 23. As with the
operation
described above, lower conduit 23 can be connected to secondary distribution
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manifolds, which deliver through secondary conduits, the fertilizer to
fertilizer
knives (not illustrated).
The ability to direct metered material from any compartment or tank either
through air stream 17 or air stream 21 can greatly enhance the efficiency with
which
individual compartments can be used. For example, an operator may want to use
the
larger compartment for seeds in one application, while, in another
application, this
compartment could be used to hold fertilizer. In this manner, a specific
compartment is not limited to a specific air stream.
The plurality of air streams can be generated by a pneumatic distribution
l0 system (not illustrated). As is apparent, pneumatic distribution system can
take
many different forms. Such systems generally comprise a positive air
displacement
unit, which generates a flow of air, or air stream. This positive air
displacement unit
can take the form of a fan or blower, for example. The resulting air streams
can
flow through a plurality of upper or lower conduits, which can be responsible
for
directing the respective seeds and fertilizer to a plurality of furrowing
elements (not
illustrated). As previously mentioned, furrowing elements can take various
forms,
and, in one embodiment, can be fertilizer and seed knives that create furrows
in the
soil to accept the seed and fertilizer.
Upper conduits 19 and lower conduits 23, which are each comprised of upper
tubes 25 and 25' and lower tubes 27 and 27', respectively, can be tubular
members
having a longitudinal axis and a diameter that can be of various sizes. In one
embodiment, their diameter can be approximately 2.5 inches. Of course, smaller
or
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larger diameters can also be used. These conduits can adopt various different
cross-
sectional shapes if desired.
It is understood that each of the front material cells 29 and rear material
cells
31 are adapted to receive a variety of different sizes of upper tubes 25 and
25', and
lower tubes 27 and 27', respectively. The upper and lower conduits can be
constructed from a variety of materials, including, for example, which are not
meant
to be limiting, different metals and polymerics. These conduits can also be
mounted
on conduit support members 33, having a plurality of slots for holding upper
conduits 19 and lower conduits 23 in a parallel fashion and can function to
deliver
1o the metered material to the appropriate furrowing elements through the
secondary
distribution manifolds (not illustrated). The seeds and fertilizer are thus
deposited in
the soil at specific locations.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with the disclosed
embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not intended to be
limited to
these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover
alternatives,
modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and
scope of
the invention. Various modifications will remain readily apparent to those
skilled in
the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been
defined herein
specifically to describe air seeding systems.
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