Patent Application
20190257457
Not applicable to this application.
Not applicable to this application.
Example embodiments in general relate to a seed cart coupler system for providing efficient connection of air seeder hoses between a seed cart and air seeder with a corrosion resistant coupler.
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Air seeders are agricultural implements pulled by a tractor to apply seed and/or fertilizer to a field. Air seeders typically have a seed cart (a.k.a. air cart) that is pulled behind the air seeder. The seed cart stores a volume of seed to be planted and fertilizer. Seed hoses connected to the seed cart transport the seed and fertilizer to the air seeder which distributes the seed and fertilizer to seeder units for planting in a field. The seed cart is detachable from the air seeder which requires disconnecting the seed hoses from the air seeder. U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,627 to Mariman discloses a Lightweight Air Coupler for use in removably connecting the seed hoses of the seed cart with the air seeder. One of the problems with conventional air couplers is they are constructed of materials that corrode (e.g. mild steel, aluminum).
An example embodiment is directed to a seed cart coupler system. The seed cart coupler system includes a first connector adapted to be removably connected to a second connector. The first connector includes a plurality of tubes that fluidly connect to corresponding seed hoses of a seed cart and the second connector includes a plurality of tubes that fluidly connect to corresponding seed hoses of an air seeder. The first connector and the second connector fluidly connect the seed tubes of the seed cart and the air seeder when connected together. The first connector and the second connector are preferably constructed of a material that is not corroded by fertilizer.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the embodiments of the seed cart coupler system in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional embodiments of the seed cart coupler system that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the seed cart coupler system in detail, it is to be understood that the seed cart coupler system is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The seed cart coupler system is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference characters, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein.
An example seed cart coupler system generally comprises a first connector 30 adapted to be removably connected to a second connector 50. The first connector 30 includes a plurality of tubes that fluidly connect to corresponding seed hoses of a seed cart 10 and the second connector 50 includes a plurality of tubes that fluidly connect to corresponding seed hoses of an air seeder 20. The first connector 30 and the second connector 50 fluidly connect the seed tubes of the seed cart 10 and the air seeder 20 when connected together. The first connector 30 and the second connector 50 are preferably constructed of a material that is not corroded by fertilizer. The various embodiments of the present invention may be used to removably connect a single hose, two hoses, three hoses, four hoses or more between the seed cart 10 and the air seeder 20.
The first connector 30 includes a first frame 32, a first tube 40 extending outwardly from the first frame 32 and a second tube 46 extending outwardly from the first frame 32 as illustrated in
The first frame 32 is preferably rectangular shaped but may have various other shapes (e.g. oval, square, etc.). The first frame 32 may be comprised of a flat base portion and a perimeter lip that extends outwardly from the perimeter of the flat base portion as shown in
The first connector 30 includes a lip member 34 that is removably attachable to a first end 54 of the second connector 50 as illustrated in
The first connector 30 also includes a clamping device attached to an end portion of the first connector 30 opposite of the lip or alternatively connected to the second end 56 of the second connector 50. The clamping device is used to secure the ends of the first connector 30 and second connector 50 together that are opposite of the lip member 34 as shown in
The second connector 50 is adapted to be removably connected to the first connector 30 as shown in
The second frame 52 is preferably rectangular shaped but may have various other shapes (e.g. oval, square, etc.). The second frame 52 may be comprised of a flat base portion and a perimeter lip that extends outwardly from the perimeter of the flat base portion as shown in
The distal ends of the first tube 40, the second tube 46 and the fifth tube 74 are adapted to connect to a first hose 12, a second hose 14 and a third hose 22 of a seed cart 10 respectively. The distal ends of the third tube 60, the fourth tube 66 and sixth tube 70 are adapted to connect to a third hose 22, a fourth hose 24 and a fifth hose of an air seeder 20 respectively. Hose clamps 13, 15, 23, 25 may be used to secure the hoses to the tubes as illustrated in
When the first connector 30 and the second connector 50 are connected together as shown in
When the first connector 30 and the second connector 50 not connected together as shown in
The first tube 40, the second tube 46 and the fifth tube 74 preferably extend in a direction away from the third tube 60, the fourth tube 66 and the sixth tube 70. The first tube 40, the second tube 46 and fifth tube 74 are also preferably parallel to one another. The third tube 60, the fourth tube 66 and sixth tube 70 are also preferably parallel to one another.
The first tube 40 is preferably concentric with the third tube 60, the second tube 46 is preferably concentric with the fourth tube 66 and the fifth tube 74 is preferably concentric with the sixth tube 70 when the first connector 30 is connected to the second connector 50. The first tube 40, the second tube 46, the third tube 60, the fourth tube 66, the fifth tube 74 and the sixth tube 70 each preferably have a circular cross sectional shape though different shapes may be used.
The first connector 30 preferably includes a first tapered inlet 42 extending into an interior side of the first connector 30 that is fluidly connected to the first tube 40. The first connector 30 also preferably includes a second tapered inlet 48 extending into the interior side of the first connector 30 that is fluidly connected to the second tube 46. The first connector 30 also preferably includes a third tapered inlet 76 extending into the interior side of the first connector 30 that is fluidly connected to the fifth tube 74 in the alternative embodiment shown in
The second connector 50 preferably includes a first connector tube 62 extending from an interior side of the second connector 50 that is fluidly connected to the third tube 60. The second connector 50 also preferably includes a second connector tube 68 extending from the interior side of the second connector 50 that is fluidly connected to the fourth tube 66. The second connector 50 also preferably includes a third connector tube 72 extending from the interior side of the second connector 50 that is fluidly connected to the fifth tube 74 in the alternative embodiment shown in
It is preferable that a first seal 63 is connected to the distal end or near the distal end of the first connector 30 tube to seal with the corresponding first tapered inlet 42 when the first connector 30 and second connector 50 are connected together. It is preferable that a second seal 69 is connected to the distal end or near the distal end of the second connector 50 tube to seal with the corresponding second tapered inlet 48 when the first connector 30 and second connector 50 are connected together. It is further preferable that a third seal is connected to the distal end or near the distal end of the third connector tube to seal with the corresponding third tapered inlet 76 when the first connector 30 and second connector 50 are connected together in the alternative embodiment shown in
The first tube 40, the second tube 46 and the fifth tube 74 extend outwardly from an exterior side of the first connector 30, and the third tube 60, the fourth tube 66 and the sixth tube 70 extend outwardly from an exterior side of the second connector 50 as shown in
The first connector 30 is preferably constructed of the same material. The first connector 30 is further preferably constructed of a corrosion resistant material that is resistant to corrosion by fertilizer commonly used in agriculture such as, but not limited to, stainless steel. While the various components of the first connector 30 may be constructed of different materials, it is preferable that a substantial portion of the components are constructed of the corrosion resistant material that is resistant to corrosion to fertilizer. It is further preferable that the entire first connector 30 is constructed of the corrosion resistant material to reduce down time in the field during seeding. Furthermore, it is preferable that the entire first connector 30 is constructed of stainless steel which is resistant to most forms of fertilizer used in agriculture. In particular, it is preferable that the first frame 32, the lip member 34, the clamp device 36, the first tube 40, the second tube 46 and the fifth tube 74 are all constructed of stainless steel in one of the preferred embodiments of the invention.
The second connector 50 is preferably constructed of the same material. The second connector 50 is further preferably constructed of a corrosion resistant material that is resistant to corrosion by fertilizer commonly used in agriculture such as, but not limited to, stainless steel. While the various components of the second connector 50 may be constructed of different materials, it is preferable that a substantial portion of the components are constructed of the corrosion resistant material that is resistant to corrosion to fertilizer. It is further preferable that the entire second connector 50 is constructed of the corrosion resistant material to reduce down time in the field during seeding. Furthermore, it is preferable that the entire second connector 50 is constructed of stainless steel which is resistant to most forms of fertilizer used in agriculture. In particular, it is preferable that the second frame 52, the third tube 60, the fourth tube 66 and the sixth tube 70 are all constructed of stainless steel in one of the preferred embodiments of the invention.
In use, the user connects the hoses 13, 15, 23, 25 to the respective tubes 40, 46, 60, 66 of the connectors 30, 50 as shown in
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the seed cart coupler system, suitable methods and materials are described above. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. The seed cart coupler system may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.
