Seed dispensing mechanism

Claim 2

In a seed dispensing mechanism for a mobile planter, in combination, a framework including a stationary vertically disposed plate, an open-sided cylindrical shell mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and having its open rim disposed in sealing relation with respect to said plate, an end wall secured to and closing the other end of the shell, said shell and end wall, in combination with said fixed plate, defining a seeddistributing drum, means for continuously depositing seeds at a deposit point adjacent said plate within said drum, means for supplying air under pressure to the drum to pressurize the same, said shell being formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced circular rows or circumferentially spaced seed-retaining perforations which, upon rotation of the shell, receive respective unit seeds therein from the tumbling seed mass thereabove, hold the same under the influence of differential air pressure thereon, and transport the same upwardly and circumferentially of the drum for subsequent release in the upper region of the drum, means for receiving and dispensing the released seeds, and means supported by said plate and projecting therefrom, said last named means displaced from said point of deposit in the direction of rotation of said shell such that it is engageable with the seed mass, and effective incident to rotation of the shell for impelling portions of such seed mass along the drum and into overlying relationship with respect to the perforations which move beneath such seed mass in the circular row of depressions furthest from said deposit point.

Claim 3

In a seed dispensing mechanism, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said impelling means comprises an elongated leveling bar disposed in the lower region of the drum, extending at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the drum, overlying and spanning all of said circular rows of perforations, and spaced from the shell substantially equidistantly.

Claim 4

In a seed dispensing mechanism, the combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said leveling bar is formed of flat metal stock the general plane of which is inclined upwardly and forwardly so that the bar exerts a scooping action on the seed mass within the drum.

Claim 5

In a seed dispensing mechanism, the combination set forth in claim 3, wherein the leveling bar is curved in the direction of its length on a relatively long radius.

Claim 6

In a seed dispensing mechanism, the combination set forth in claim 4, wherein the end regions of the leveling bar are turned out of the general curvature of the medial region thereof and in a forward direction.

Claim 7

In a seed dispensing mechanism, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said vertically disposed plate is formed with a seed inlet opening therein, and said means for depositing seed within the drum comprises a seed hopper on said framework above the level of the drum and provided with a seed outlet opening in its lower region, and an inclined seed delivery chute extending between said seed outlet opening and said seed inlet opening in sealed relation with respect thereto, said means for supplying air to the interior of the drum comprises a blower defining a relatively low pressure region and a relatively high pressure region and having an air outlet at each such region, said low pressure region communicating with the interior of the drum through an air inlet opening which is formed in said vertically disposed plate, and said means for supplying air to said hopper comprises a conduit extending between the air outlet in the high pressure region of the blower and the interior of the hopper, whereby the internal pressure in the hopper exceeds the internal pressure in the drum to enhance downward flow of seed through said seed delivery tube.

Claim 8

In a seed dispensing mechanism, the combination set forth in claim 6 including, additionally, a jet-producing nozzle effectively disposed in said seed delivery chute at a region remote from the drum for enhancing the flow of seed through said chute, and means for supplying air under pressure to said nozzle.

Claim 9

In a seed dispensing mechanism, the combination set forth in claim 7, wherein said means for supplying air to said nozzle comprises a seed bypass air delivery chute disposed within said hopper and extending from a region adjacent the upper end of the hopper to said nozzle.

Claim 10

In a seed dispensing mechanism, the combination set forth in claim 8 including, additionally, a seed shield encompassing the upper end of said air delivery chute for preventing entry of seed into the latter.

Claim 11

In a seed dispensing apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 6, wherein said seed delivery chute projects completely through said seed inlet opening in sealed relation and terminates in the vicinity of the foremost circular row of depressions.

Claim 12

In a seed dispensing apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 10, wherein the lower end of the seed delivery chute within the drum is provided with a telescopic extension which, by its extent of projection from the chute, determines the level of seed within the drum, and means are provided for securing said extension in selected positions of projection.

Claim 13

In a seed dispensing apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said vertically disposed plate is provided with a relatively large air inlet opening therein through which the pressurizing air is supplied to the drum, and baffle means are supported on said plate in the vicinity of said air inlet opening for directing a stream of air downwardly over the tumbling seed mass in the drum to spread the portions of the seed mass which are impelled rearwardly by said fixedly secured means into intimate contact with the shell in the vicinity of said rearmost circular row of depressions.

Claim 14

In a seed dispensing apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 12, wherein said baffle means comprises a hood-like structure mounted on said vertically disposed plate, having a substantially horizontal bottom wall, an end wall spaced from and opposing said air inlet opening, a side wall, and a partial top wall, and an out-struck inclined flap on said side wall defining an elongated slot through which air is directed downwardly.

Claim 15

In a seed dispensing mechanism for a mobile planter, in combination, a framework including a stationary vertically disposed plate, an open-sided cylindrical shell mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and having its forward open rim disposed in sealing relation with respect to said plate, a rear end wall secured to and closing the rear end of the shell, said shell and end wall, in combination with said fixed plate, defining a seed-distributing drum, said plate being formed with a seed inlet opening therein, a seed hopper mounted on said framework above the level of the drum and provided with a seed outlet in the lower region thereof, an inclined seed delivery chute extending between said seed outlet and said seed inlet opening, a blower mounted on the framework and defining a relatively low pressure region and a relatively high pressure region, said low pressure region communicating with the interior of the drum through an air inlet opening which is formed in said vertically disposed plate, said high pressure region communicating with the interior of the hopper whereby the pressure maintained in the latter is higher than that which is maintained in the drum to enhance the downward flow of seed through said inclined seed delivery chute, said shell being formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced circular rows of circumferentially spaced seed-retaining perforations which, upon rotation of the shell, receive respective unit seeds therein from the tumbling seed mass thereabove, hold the same under the influence of differential air pressure on the seeds, and transport the samE upwardly and circumferentially of the drum for subsequent release in the upper region of the drum, means for receiving and dispensing the released seeds, a hood-like baffle mounted on said vertically disposed plate, having a substantially horizontal bottom wall, an end wall spaced from and opposing said air inlet opening, a side wall, a partial top wall, and an open side opposite said side wall, and an outstruck inclined flap on the side wall and defining an elongated slot through which air is directed downwardly, said open side of the hood-like baffle serving to direct air from said air inlet opening into the central regions of the drum to equalize the pressure of air against said shell coextensively therewith, and said downwardly directed air serving to spread the seed mass within the drum in a longitudinal direction over the bottom region of the rotating shell.

Claim 16

In a seed dispensing mechanism for a mobile planter, in combination, a framework including a stationary vertically disposed plate, an open-sided cylindrical shell mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and having its forward open rim disposed in sealing relation with respect to said plate, a rear end wall secured to and closing the rear end of the shell, said shell and end wall, in combination with said fixed plate, defining a seed-distributing drum, said plate being formed with a seed inlet opening therein, a seed hopper mounted on said framework above the level of the drum and provided with a seed outlet in the lower region thereof, an inclined seed delivery chute extending between said seed outlet and said seed inlet opening, a blower mounted on the framework and defining a relatively low pressure region and a relatively high pressure region, said low pressure region communicating with the interior of the drum through an air inlet opening which is formed in said vertically disposed plate, said high pressure region communicating with the interior of the hopper whereby the pressure maintained in the latter is higher than that which is maintained in the drum to enhance the downward flow of seed through said inclined seed delivery chute, said shell being formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced circular rows of circumferentially spaced seed-retaining perforations which, upon rotation of the shell, receive respective unit seeds therein from the tumbling seed mass thereabove, hold the same under the influence of differential air pressure on the seeds, and transport the samE upwardly and circumferentially of the drum for subsequent release in the upper region of the drum, means for receiving and dispensing the released seeds, a hood-like baffle mounted on said vertically disposed plate, having a substantially horizontal bottom wall, an end wall spaced from and opposing said air inlet opening, a side wall, a partial top wall, and an open side opposite said side wall, and an outstruck inclined flap on the side wall and defining an elongated slot through which air is directed downwardly, said open side of the hood-like baffle serving to direct air from said air inlet opening into the central regions of the drum to equalize the pressure of air against said shell coextensively therewith, and said downwardly directed air serving to spread the seed mass within the drum in a longitudinal direction over the bottom region of the rotating shell.

Claim 17

In a seed dispensing mechanism, the combination set forth in claim 14, wherein an opening is provided in the forward region of said bottom wall of the hood-like baffle in close proximity to said vertically disposed plate, and an inclined ramp surface is disposed immediately beneath said latter opening for directing air rearwardly and downwardly within the drum.