Air induction apparatus for seed drill tube

Claim 2

In combination with a material hopper of the type including a metered gravity outlet to which the upper inlet end of an upstanding discharge tube is operatively connected for receiving material gravity dispensed from said outlet, a source of air under pressure, conduit means including an inlet end communicated with said source and an outlet end, one side wall portion of an intermediate portion of said conduit means having an opening formed therein, the lower outlet end of said discharge tube extending through said opening in at least reasonably fluid-tight sealed engagement with said conduit means and including a terminal end generally centered in said conduit means and opening toward the outlet end thereof, said intermediate portion of said conduit means being internally transversely enlarged relative to the internal transverse dimensions of the outlet end portion of said conduit means, the downstream end of the inside of said intermediate portion of said conduit means smoothly tapering toward said outlet end portion of said conduit means, the terminal end of said outlet end of said discharge tube being in the form of an outlet nozzle generally centered and opening in a downstream direction within the tapering downstream end of said intermediate portion of said conduit means, whereby an unobstructed annular zone of the interior of said conduit means extends 360* about said terminal end.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion of said conduit means is generally horizontally disposed and said wall portion comprises an upper wall portion of said conduit means.

Claim 4

In combination, a seed drill including an upper frame portion, a seed hopper supported from said frame portion and including a metered gravity outlet to which the upper end of an upstanding discharge tube is secured, a source of air under pressure, conduit means including an inlet end communicated with said source and an outlet end, one side wall portion of an intermediate portion of said conduit means having an opening formed therein, the lower outlet end of said discharge tube extending through said opening in at least reasonably fluid-tight sealed engagement with said conduit means and including a terminal end generally centered in said conduit means and opening toward the outlet end thereof, said intermediate portion of said conduit means being internally transversely enlarged relative to the internal transverse dimensions of the outlet end portion of said conduit means, the downstream end of the inside of said intermediate portion of said conduit means smoothly tapering toward said outlet end portion of said conduit means, the terminal end of said outlet end of said discharge tube being in the form of an outlet nozzle generally centered and opening in a downstream direction within the tapering downstream end of said intermediate portion of said conduit means, whereby an unobstructed annular zone of the interior of said conduit means extends 360* about said terminal end, said outlet end of said conduit opening in a downward direction for depositing seed on the ground over which said frame portion is being moved.

Claim 5

In combination, a seed drill including an upper frame portion, a seed hopper supported from said frame portion and including a metered gravity outlet to which the upper end of an upstanding discharge tube is secured, a source of air under pressure, conduit means including an inlet end communicated with said source and an outlet end, one side wall portion of an intermediate portion of said conduit means having an opening formed therein, the lower outlet end of said discharge tube extending through said opening in at least reasonably fluid-tight sealed engagement with said conduit means and including a terminal end generally centered in said conduit means and opening toward the outlet end thereof, said intermediate portion of said conduit means being internally transversely enlarged relative to the internal transverse dimensions of the outlet end portion of said conduit means, the downstream end of the inside of said intermediate portion of said conduit means smoothly tapering toward said outlet end portion of said conduit means, the terminal end of said outlet end of said discharge tube being in the form of an outlet nozzle generally centered and opening in a downstream direction within the tapering downstream end of said intermediate portion of said conduit means, whereby an unobstructed annular zone of the interior of said conduit means extends 360* about said terminal end, said outlet end of said conduit opening in a downward direction for depositing seed on the ground over which said frame portion is being moved.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 3 wherein said draft implement includes a plurality of depending ground-engageable furrow openIng means, said material hopper including a plurality of metered gravity outlets, a plurality of upstanding discharge tubes operatively connected to said outlets, a plurality of said conduit means communicated with said source of air under pressure, the outlet ends of said discharge tubes each opening into the intermediate portion of a corresponding conduit means.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 3 wherein said intermediate portion of said conduit means is generally horizontally disposed and said wall portion comprises an upper wall portion of said conduit means.

Claim 8

In combination with a material hopper of the type including a metered gravity outlet to which the upper inlet end of an upstanding discharge tube is operatively connected for receiving material gravity dispensed from said outlet, a source of air under pressure, conduit means including an inlet end communicated with said source and an outlet end, one side wall portion of an intermediate portion of said conduit means having an opening formed therein, the lower outlet end of said discharge tube extending through said opening in at least reasonably fluid-tight sealed engagement with said conduit means and including a terminal end generally centered in said conduit means and opening toward the outlet end thereof, a draft implement of the type having an upper frame portion and depending ground-engageable furrow opening means, said hopper being supported from said upper frame portion, and the outlet end of said conduit means opening outwardly in a downward direction closely behind said furrow opening means, said intermediate portion of said conduit means being generally horizontally disposed and said wall portion comprising an upper wall portion of said conduit means, said intermediate portion of said conduit means being internally transversely enlarged relative to the internal transverse dimensions of the outlet end portion of said conduit means, the downstream end of the inside of said intermediate portion of said conduit means smoothly tapering toward said outlet end portion of said conduit means, the terminal end of said outlet end of said discharge tube being in the form of an outlet nozzle generally centered and opening in a downstream direction within the tapering downstream end of said intermediate portion of said conduit means, whereby an unobstructed annular zone of the interior of said conduit means extends 360* about said terminal end.

Claim 9

In combination with a material hopper of the type including a metered gravity outlet to which the upper inlet end of an upstanding discharge tube is operatively connected for receiving material gravity dispensed from said outlet, a source of air under pressure, conduit means including an inlet end communicated with said source and an outlet end, one side wall portion of an intermediate portion of said conduit means having an opening formed therein, the lower outlet end of said discharge tube extending through said opening in at least reasonably fluid-tight sealed engagement with said conduit means and including a terminal end generally centered in said conduit means and opening toward the outlet end thereof, a draft implement of the type having an upper frame portion and depending ground-engageable furrow opening means, said hopper being supported from said upper frame portion, and the outlet end of said conduit means opening outwardly in a downward direction closely behind said furrow opening means, said intermediate portion of said conduit means being generally horizontally disposed and said wall portion comprising an upper wall portion of said conduit means, said intermediate portion of said conduit means being internally transversely enlarged relative to the internal transverse dimensions of the outlet end portion of said conduit means, the downstream end of the inside of said intermediate portion of said conduit means smoothly tapering toward said outlet end portion of said conduit means, the terminal end of said outlet end of said discharge tube being in the form of an outlet nozzle generally centered and opening in a downstream direction within the tapering downstream end of said intermediate portion of said conduit means, whereby an unobstructed annular zone of the interior of said conduit means extends 360* about said terminal end.