Patent US3693833A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3693833A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sowing device with pneumatic seed separator
Assignee: AJ Troester GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1970-12-10
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1990-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle-mounted sowing device includes a continuously rotating drum, centered on a horizontal shaft, axially divided into a pick-up chamber and a distributing chamber, the latter being peripherally subdivided into a multiplicity of outwardly open compartments which communicate with the pick-up chamber at the zenith of the drum and with an outlet at the nadir thereof. The peripheral wall of the pick-up chamber has a multiplicity of generally radial bores leading to a suction manifold via an arcuate slot which surrounds the drum over about half its circumference, terminating at the zenith where seeds or kernels introduced into this chamber at its bottom and carried by the suction in respective bores to the top are released from their seats to drop through a connecting chute into respective compartments of the pick-up chamber. Stationary strippers sweep the peripheral wall of the pick-up chamber in the vicinity of the bores just ahead of the point of release to dislodge supernumerary kernels; a brush and/or a scraper beyond the zenith serve to detach seed fragments from their seats or push them deeper into the bores which preferably widen toward the suction manifold. The slot of this manifold is formed on a beveled peripheral face of the drum housing juxtaposed with a similar face on the drum provided with the inlets to the seat-forming bores of the pick-up chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Otto Weitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:07
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01C; A01C7/00; A01C7/04; A01C7/042; A01C7/044; A01C7/0445; A01C7/0443
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
A sowing device comprising: a transportable housing provided with a bottom outlet for kernels to be individually deposited in the soil; a drum journaled in said housing for rotation about a horizontal axis; drive means for unidirectionally rotating said drum; stationary partition means anchored to said housing and dividing the interior of said drum into a first chamber and a second chamber axially juxtaposed therewith, said partition means being provided with a cutout above the level of said axis for establishing communication between said chambers, said first chamber being provided with a multiplicity of peripherally spaced bores forming seats for kernels to be deposited, said second chamber being peripherally subdivided into a like multiplicity of compartments respectively aligned with said bores for individually communicating therewith in an elevated position by way of said cutout; a source of partial vacuum including a suction channel in said housing communicating with each of said bores on an ascending side of said drum between a bottom position and said elevated position; inlet means for introducing a mass of kernels into the bottom of said first chamber for individual entrainment by said bores on said ascending side and release therefrom in said elevated position; and guide means traversing said cutout for directing each released kernel into a respective compartment of said second chamber, said second chamber having a rotatable end wall and generally radial internal walls connected therewith and projecting therefrom to said stationary partition means for substantially guiding an individual kernel during rotation of the drum and delivering the kernel to an outlet at the bottom of said second chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
266 words
A sowing device comprising: a transportable housing provided with a bottom outlet for kernels to be individually deposited in the soil; a drum journaled in said housing for rotation about a horizontal axis; drive means for unidirectionally rotating said drum; stationary partition means anchored to said housing and dividing the interior of said drum into a first chamber and a second chamber axially juxtaposed therewith, said partition means being provided with a cutout above the level of said axis for establishing communication between said chambers, said first chamber being provided with a multiplicity of peripherally spaced bores forming seats for kernels to be deposited, said second chamber being peripherally subdivided into a like multiplicity of compartments respectively aligned with said bores for individually communicating therewith in an elevated position by way of said cutout; a source of partial vacuum including a suction channel in said housing communicating with each of said bores on an ascending side of said drum between a bottom position and said elevated position; inlet means for introducing a mass of kernels into the bottom of said first chamber for individual entrainment by said bores on said ascending side and release therefrom in said elevated position; and guide means traversing said cutout for directing each released kernel into a respective compartment of said second chamber, said second chamber having a rotatable end wall and generally radial internal walls connected therewith and projecting therefrom to said stationary partition means for substantially guiding an individual kernel during rotation of the drum and delivering the kernel to an outlet at the bottom of said second chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a chute integral with said partition means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said partition means comprises a plate of sheet material formed with an apron rising from a bottom edge of said cutout toward the top of said first chamber at an angle of less than 45* to the vertical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said compartments are outwardly open and said generally radial internal walls are substantially J-shaped with the foot of the ''''J'''' proximal to said axis and with the stem of the ''''J'''' terminating at the periphery of said second chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 4 wherein said stem is curved with a convex side facing in the direction of rotation of said drum and with a radial tangent at an intermediate point of its length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first chamber has a peripheral wall surface provided with said bores, further comprising stationAry stripping means engaging said wall surface in the vicinity of said bores.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 6 wherein said drum is provided with a shaft and wherein said housing forms bearing means for said shaft, said stripping means being mounted on said bearing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 6 wherein said stripping means comprises at least one rod contacting said wall surface ahead of said elevated position for detaching adhering supernumerary kernels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 6 wherein said stripping means comprises at least one sweeping member contacting said wall surface beyond said elevated position for dislodging residual matter from said bores.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 9 wherein said sweeping member comprises a brush.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 9 wherein said sweeping member comprises a scraper with a cutting edge in the path of said bores.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 9 wherein said stripping means comprises a brush and a scraper beyond said brush both disposed on the descending side of said wall surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 6 wherein said wall surface is provided with recesses alternating with said bores for carrying individual kernels to said ascending side.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 13 wherein said recesses are of substantially larger diameter than said bores.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 6 wherein said seats are restricted terminal portions of said bores.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 15 wherein said suction channel is substantially wider than said bores, each bore having an exit portion opening into said channel with a diameter substantially exceeding both the diameter and the depth of its restricted terminal portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 16 wherein said bores widen progressively from said terminal portions to said exit portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 15 wherein said terminal portions are formed by a perforated ring overlying said wall surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said suction channel is curved about said axis and is provided with an entrance slot on a tapered inner peripheral housing surface, said slot extending over at least part of the ascending side of said first chamber, said bores opening onto a tapered outer drum surface closely juxtaposed with said inner housing surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 19 wherein said drum is provided with a shaft and wherein said housing forms bearing means for said shaft, said drum having a hub axially slidable on said shaft, further comprising biasing means urging said drum in a position of closest approach of said tapered surfaces, said hub and said shaft being provided with coacting stop means for preventing high-pressure contact between said tapered surfaces.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 20 wherein said hub forms an end cap around said shaft, said stop means comprising a bolt adjustably screwed into said cap and bearing upon a proximal end of said shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 20, further comprising a stationary end wall bounding said first chamber, said end wall and said partition means being spacedly supported on said bearing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 22 wherein said end wall is provided near its bottom with an opening forming part of said inlet means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
238 words
A sowing device comprising: a transportable housing provided with an outlet for kernels to be individually deposited in the soil, said housing having a tapered inner peripheral surface centered on a horizontal axis; bearing means rigid with said housing centered on said axis; a shaft journaled in said bearing means; a drum mounted on said shaft for rotation about said axis and limited axial displacement relative to said housing, said drum having a tapered outer peripheral surface juxtaposed with said inner peripheral surface and furthEr having an inner peripheral wall surface provided with a multiplicity of peripherally spaced bores forming seats for kernels to be deposited, said bores opening onto said outer peripheral surface; drive means for unidirectionally rotating said drum; a source of partial vacuum including a suction channel in said housing provided with an entrance slot on said inner peripheral surface communicating with said surface on an ascending side of said outer peripheral surface; inlet means for introducing a mass of kernels into the bottom of said drum for individual entrainment by said bores on said ascending side and release therefrom in an elevated position at an upper end of said slot; guide means in said drum for directing each released kernel to said outlet; biasing means bearing axially upon said drum for urging same into a position of closest approach of said tapered surfaces; and stop means for preventing high-pressure contact between said tapered surfaces.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
238 words
A sowing device comprising: a transportable housing provided with an outlet for kernels to be individually deposited in the soil, said housing having a tapered inner peripheral surface centered on a horizontal axis; bearing means rigid with said housing centered on said axis; a shaft journaled in said bearing means; a drum mounted on said shaft for rotation about said axis and limited axial displacement relative to said housing, said drum having a tapered outer peripheral surface juxtaposed with said inner peripheral surface and furthEr having an inner peripheral wall surface provided with a multiplicity of peripherally spaced bores forming seats for kernels to be deposited, said bores opening onto said outer peripheral surface; drive means for unidirectionally rotating said drum; a source of partial vacuum including a suction channel in said housing provided with an entrance slot on said inner peripheral surface communicating with said surface on an ascending side of said outer peripheral surface; inlet means for introducing a mass of kernels into the bottom of said drum for individual entrainment by said bores on said ascending side and release therefrom in an elevated position at an upper end of said slot; guide means in said drum for directing each released kernel to said outlet; biasing means bearing axially upon said drum for urging same into a position of closest approach of said tapered surfaces; and stop means for preventing high-pressure contact between said tapered surfaces.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 24 wherein said drum has a hub slidable on said shaft and coupled therewith for joint rotation, said stop means engaging said hub and said shaft.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
A sowing device as defined in claim 25 wherein said shaft is provided with a transverse pin received with axial play by said hub to form a rotary coupling therebetween, said biasing means including a spring bearing upon said hub and said pin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |