Seed dispenser for planters

Claim 2

In a planter, a transversely elongated traveling frame having spaced furrow openers thereon, a seed dispenser assembly comprising a seed hopper centrally mounted on the frame having a seed discharge outlet in its bottom, an air blower mounted on the frame adjacent the hopper, a supporting member carried by said frame and extending below said blower, said supporting member having a first and a second surface, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said supporting member vertically spaced from the blower, and a seed selector drum mounted on said drive shaft adjacent said first surface of said supporting member, said supporting member having openings therein communicating through a chute and a tube protruding from said second surface with said discharge outlet and said blower respectively to direct seed and air under pressure respectively to the interior of the drum.

Claim 3

The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein said drum has a peripheral portion having seed-receiving openings therein and an outer wall secured to said drive shaft, and wherein said first surface of the supporting member forms the inner wall of said drum.

Claim 4

The invention set forth in claim 2, wherein said supporting member is a downward extension of one wall of said blower.

Claim 5

The invention set forth in claim 3, wherein seed guide tubes extend from the interior of the drum to said furrow openers and said inner wall of the drum is apertured to receive said tubes.

Claim 6

The invention set forth in claim 4, wherein said discharge outlet in the hopper is laterally removed from the longitudinal center line of the hopper and wherein said chute is a tubular member extending downwardly and diagonally rearwardly and inwardly for connection to the drum at a location below the axis of the latter.

Claim 7

In a planter, a transversely elongated traveling frame having spaced furrow openers thereon, a seed dispenser assembly comprising a dispenser support structure centrally mounted on the planter frame and extending longitudinally of the direction of travel, a seed hopper carried by said support structure having a seed discharge outlet in its lower portion, an air blower housing mounted on said support structure in generally longitudinal alignment with the hopper and having spaced walls, one of said walls having a vertical extension, an opening formed in said vertical extension, a seed selector drum rotatably mounted on said extension such that said opening is in communication with the interior of said seed selector drum and means providing communication between the discharge outlet in the hopper and the interior of the drum and between the blower and the interior of the drum to direct seed and air under pressure respectively to the drum.

Claim 8

In a planter, a transversely elongated traveling frame having spaced furrow openers thereon, a seed dispenser assembly comprising a dispenser support structure centrally mounted on the planter frame and extending longitudinally of the direction of travel, a seed hopper carried by said support structure having a seed discharge outlet in its lower portion, an air blower housing mounted on said support structure in generally longitudinal alignment with the hopper and having spaced walls, one of said walls having a vertical extension, an opening formed in said vertical extension, a seed selector drum rotatably mounted on said extension such that said opening is in communication with the interior of said seed selector drum and means providing communication between the discharge outlet in the hopper and the interior of the drum and between the blower and the interior of the drum to direct seed and air under pressure respectively to the drum.

Claim 9

The invention set forth in claim 6, wherein said drum has an outer wall and a peripheral portion having seed-receiving openings therein and said vertical extension forms an inner statIonary wall for the drum.

Claim 10

The invention set forth in claim 7, wherein a drive shaft is rotatably mounted in said stationary wall and is secured to the outer wall of the drum.