The present invention relates to agricultural particulate-conveying equipment, and, more particularly, to pneumatic distribution systems used with such agricultural particulate-conveying equipment.
Air seeders are one type of particulate-conveying equipment that are commonly used in agricultural applications. They are towed behind agricultural vehicles such as tractors, for example, to apply agricultural products such as seed, fertilizer, and/or herbicide to a field. Air seeders include two primary components: an air cart and an agricultural seeding/fertilizing implement.
Air carts are often towed behind the agricultural seeding/fertilizing implement, which in turn is towed behind the agricultural vehicle. Alternatively, air carts can be towed directly by an agricultural vehicle, the air cart then tows an agricultural seeding/fertilizing implement behind it. Air carts generally include a metering system for dispensing material from one or more tanks and a pneumatic distribution system for delivering the material from the tank or tanks to the soil prepared by the seeding/fertilizing implement. In the case of multiple tanks, the tanks can be separate tanks, or a single tank with internal compartments. A centrifugal fan provides at least one airstream which flows through the pneumatic distribution system. Material is first introduced to the air stream by the metering system at a primary distribution manifold located either below or above the metering system. Material is carried by the air stream through distribution lines to a series of secondary distribution manifolds, which in turn distribute the material through distribution lines to ground openers on the seeding/fertilizing implement so that the product may be evenly delivered to the soil.
For initial hookup of the air seeder, the agricultural vehicle is typically backed up to and coupled with the seeding/fertilizing implement, which in turn is backed up to and coupled with the air cart (e.g., by using respective hitch pins or the like, and assuming that the air cart is behind rather than in front of the seeding/fertilizing implement). All necessary fluid lines and electrical harnesses are then connected between the agricultural vehicle, seeding/fertilizing implement and air cart. For example, it may be necessary to connect hydraulic lines, air lines, electrical power lines and/or electronic harnesses between the pieces of equipment.
With seeding/fertilizing implements associated with air seeders becoming ever larger, the number and various lengths of air lines between the seeding/fertilizing implement and the air cart increase, thereby resulting in variations in pressure drop at different sections of the pneumatic distribution system. For example, shorter air lines are required between the air cart and the middle sections of the seeding/fertilizing implement, while longer air lines are required between the air cart and the outer wing sections of the seeding/fertilizing implement. The pressure drop at the longer air line areas (wing sections) is greater than the pressure drop at the shorter air line areas (middle sections), which can result in an uneven agricultural product delivery and distribution, which in turn may adversely affect seed germination or fertilizer application rate.
What is needed in the art is an air seeder with a pneumatic distribution system capable of evenly distributing material in very large tillage implements.
The present invention provides an improved pneumatic distribution system for agricultural particulate-conveying equipment which includes conduit for transporting agricultural material, the conduit having flow obstructions to equalize the air pressures delivered to secondary headers.
The present invention also provides a way of equalizing the air pressure in air/product delivery lines of agricultural implements by varying the lengthwise bend radius prior to being fluidly connected to secondary headers.
The present invention in one form is directed to an agricultural air seeding system, comprising an agricultural planting implement including at least one section, at least one secondary header removably attached to the at least one section, at least one attachment bar attached to the at least one section, and a plurality of application tools removably attached to the at least one attachment bar and fluidly coupled to the at least one secondary header; an agricultural air cart coupled to the agricultural planting implement; and a pneumatic distribution system fluidly coupled to the agricultural planting implement and the agricultural air cart, the pneumatic distribution system including a plurality of conduits capable of transporting agricultural product, at least one of the plurality of conduits including at least one flow obstruction such that a substantially equal air pressure is delivered to the plurality of application tools.
The present invention in another form is directed to a pneumatic distribution system fluidly coupled to an agricultural planting implement with a plurality of application tools and an agricultural air cart, the pneumatic distribution system including a plurality of conduits capable of transporting agricultural product, at least one of the plurality of conduits including at least one flow obstruction such that a substantially equal air pressure is delivered to the plurality of application tools.
The present invention in another form is directed to a method of equalizing air/product flow in agricultural air seeding systems, comprising: providing an agricultural planting implement including at least one section, at least one secondary header removably attached to the at least one section, at least one attachment bar attached to the at least one section, and a plurality of application tools removably attached to the at least one attachment bar and fluidly coupled to the at least one secondary header; providing an agricultural air cart coupled to the agricultural planting implement; providing a pneumatic distribution system fluidly coupled to the agricultural planting implement and the agricultural air cart, the pneumatic distribution system including a plurality of conduits capable of transporting agricultural product, at least one of the plurality of conduits including at least one flow obstruction; and arranging the plurality of conduits such that a substantially equal air pressure is delivered to the plurality of application tools.
An advantage of the present invention is that it is both simple to install and maintain.
Another advantage of the present invention is it helps eliminate excess hose currently used on air seeders, which improves maneuverability of the equipment while reducing cost and potential hose wear.
Another advantage of the present invention is that seeds are more evenly seeded into the soil independent of the location of air lines in the implement.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring now to
Agricultural conveyance vehicle 12 can be any vehicle designed for agricultural use to carry, push, or tow one or more implements. The most common example of agricultural conveyance vehicle 12 is a tractor.
Agricultural planting implement 14 can be any implement designed for agricultural use to prepare soil, and plant seeds or distribute fertilizers. They are commonly known as “planters”, “air drills”, “floaters”, “fertilizer applicators”, or “fertilizer application equipment”. Agricultural planting implement 14 is described in detail further in this specification.
Now referring to
Agricultural air cart 16 further includes pneumatic distribution system 32 for delivering the agricultural material to the trenches in the soil formed by agricultural planting implement 14. Pneumatic distribution system 32 includes a metering system 34 (not specifically shown), blower fan 26, and a plurality of air line conduits 36. In the illustrated embodiment, three primary air line conduits 36 are shown, one from each tank compartment 24A, 24B and 24C. However, the number of air lines conduits 36 can vary, depending upon the application.
Air line conduits 36 extend to and terminate at a convenient location for coupling with air lines conduits 38 associated with agricultural planting implement 14. In the embodiment shown, air line conduits 36 are supported at the forward end of agricultural air cart 16 with a support 40. Each air line conduit 36 terminates at a respective fluid (air) line connection 42. In the embodiment shown, each fluid line connection 42 includes a female connector 44 associated with each air line conduit 36 and a male connector 46 associated with an end of each air line conduit 38. However, the orientation of each fluid line connection 42 may be reversed such that each female connector 44 is associated with a corresponding air line conduit 38 of agricultural planting implement 14. Each male connector 46 is received within and fluidly seals with a respective female connector 44.
During use, agricultural conveyance vehicle 12 is backed up to agricultural planting implement 14 and mechanically hitched together; the two then back up to agricultural air cart 16, and are mechanically hitched together. Fluid line connections 42 between mating air line conduits 36, 38 are made by inserting male connectors 46 into respective female connectors 44. Each fluid line connection 42 is then latched together using a suitable latch. Other appropriate connections are also made between agricultural planting implement 14 and agricultural air cart 16, such as hydraulic, electronic and/or electrical connections (not shown). Agricultural seeding system 10 may then be used to deposit material into the trenches formed by agricultural planting implement 14.
Now referring to
The radius of the curved air line conduits 38 increase in dimension in proportion to the distance of their respective secondary header 48 from the midline axis X-X, which is parallel to the travel direction T. Specifically, the greater the perpendicular distance, the greater the radius. As illustrated for the three sections shown, each with their own secondary header 48, radius 58C is greater than radius 58B, which in turn is greater than radius 58A. As an example, the lengthwise radii of curvature shown in
It is to be understood that curved air line conduits 36 on agricultural air cart 16 may also include differing lengthwise radii of curvature as described above in order to provide flow obstructions to air line conduits 38 of agricultural planting implement 14, thereby equalizing air pressures delivered to the secondary headers 48.
Air line conduits 36 and 38 may be comprised of flexible materials and/or steel (or other non-flexible material). It may be preferential to have the curved sections comprised of steel or other non-flexible material so that wear is reduced and to facilitate fabrication, installation, and maintenance.
Now referring to
It should be understood that while inventive agricultural seeding apparatuses have been described, the invention can be applied to similar agricultural particulate-conveying equipment such as “planters”, “floaters”, “fertilizer applicators”, or “fertilizer application equipment”.
While an improved pneumatic distribution system has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180054957 A1 | Mar 2018 | US |