Seed control gate for planters

Claim 2

In a delivery chute for a material dispenser, said chute being generally square in cross-section and having a transverse opening formed in one wall thereof, a control gate mounted in the chute for pivoting on a transverse axis, said gate having a cylindrical head portion pivotally seated in said opening, said opening being at least as wide as the gate to accommodate insertion in and withdrawl of the gate from said opening, and actuating means for pivoting the gate between open and closed positions comprising, an arm pivotally mounted on the chute for swinging about a transverse axis, and an elastic member connected at one end to said arm and operatively connected at its other end to said gate, pivoting movement of said gate being influenced solely by said arm through said elastic member, the connection of the elastic member to said arm being movable overcenter with respect to a line through the pivot axis of said gate and said connection of its other end to bias the gate to said open and closed positions.;

Claim 3

The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein said head portion of the gate is hollow and the mounting of said arm on the chute comprises a pivot pin affixed to said arm and rotatably received in said hollow head portion.

Claim 4

The invention set forth in claim 2, wherein a lever is affixed to said head portion exteriorly of the chute and said other end of said elastic member is connected to said lever.

Claim 5

The invention set forth in claim 3, wherein the width of said opening is less than the outer diameter of said cylindrical head portion of the gate and wherein said invention further includes a clamping member removably secured to the chute having a semi-cylindrical bearing portion engaging and confining said head portion in said opening.

Claim 6

The invention set forth in claim 4, wherein said arm is swingable substantially 180* from one side of the pivot axis of said gate to the other and a stop member carried by said arm is engageable with the chute in both positions of the arm.

Claim 7

The invention set forth in claim 5, wherein another stop member is affixed to said lever and is engageable with said arm in each of the positions of the latter to limit the swinging of said gate to approximately 90* between its open and closed positions.

Claim 8

In a material dispenser for seed and the like; a hopper, a chute connected to the hopper for discharging material therefrom, said chute being generally square in cross-section and having an opening therein, a control gate mounted in the chute having a head portion pivotally receivable in said opening to accommodate swinging of the gate between open and closed positions, said opening being a slot extending transversely of the chute to accommodate insertion and withdrawal of the gate, the width of the slot being less than the diameter of said head portion to pivotally seat the latter therein, a lever integral with said head portion exteriorly of the chute and disposed in a plane parallel to the path of swinging movement of the gate, an actuating arm pivotally mounted on the chute and swingable between positions on opposite sides of the pivot axis of the gate, and a biasing member connected at one end to said lever and at its other end to sAid arm and having a bias to hold the gate in either of said positions, pivoting movement of said gate being influenced solely by said arm through said elastic member, said arm and the connection of said biasing member thereto being swingable overcenter with respect to a line through the axis of the gate and said connection of its other end to bias the gate to said open and closed positions.;

Claim 9

In a material dispenser for seed and the like; a hopper, a chute connected to the hopper for discharging material therefrom, said chute being generally square in cross-section and having an opening therein, a control gate mounted in the chute having a head portion pivotally receivable in said opening to accommodate swinging of the gate between open and closed positions, said opening being a slot extending transversely of the chute to accommodate insertion and withdrawal of the gate, the width of the slot being less than the diameter of said head portion to pivotally seat the latter therein, a lever integral with said head portion exteriorly of the chute and disposed in a plane parallel to the path of swinging movement of the gate, an actuating arm pivotally mounted on the chute and swingable between positions on opposite sides of the pivot axis of the gate, and a biasing member connected at one end to said lever and at its other end to sAid arm and having a bias to hold the gate in either of said positions, pivoting movement of said gate being influenced solely by said arm through said elastic member, said arm and the connection of said biasing member thereto being swingable overcenter with respect to a line through the axis of the gate and said connection of its other end to bias the gate to said open and closed positions.;

Claim 10

The invention set forth in claim 7, wherein clamping means are provided on the chute to confine said head portion of the gate in said opening and prevent displacement of the gate from the chute.

Claim 11

The invention set forth in claim 8, wherein said biasing member is elastic and is stretched throughout the arc of swinging movement of said arm to hold the gate in each of said positions thereof.