Operation monitor for air pressure type seed planter

Claim 2

In combination with a seed dispenser including a revolving drum containing superatmospheric air and a supply of seeds and the receiving ends of stationary discharge tubes located out of the seed supply and in confronting relation to peripheral apertures in which the seeds are carried until released at the discharge tubes through which the superatmospheric air sweeps the seeds for discharge from the drum, an air flow a combined, continuously acting obstruction detector and indicator for such discharge tubes comprising a reservoir of liquid, a sight glass with its lower end in liquid flow communication with the reservoir of liquid to equalize the liquid level in the glass and reservoir, the sight glass having a closed top, and a pressure transfer tube communicating with the sight glass through the closed top thereof, and the transfer tube also being connected to one of the seed discharge tubes in air pressure communicating relation to apply the air pressure from the discharge tube with the sight glass for application against the liquid therein and produce a liquid level which will subsequently change in response to pressure changes in the discharge tube caused by obstructed air flow therethrough.

Claim 3

The invention set forth in claim 1 and the pressure transfer tube being connected to the seed discharge tube at a location intermediate the ends of the seed discharge tube whereby to increase the air pressure in the transfer tube and in the sight glass to the superatmospheric pressure in the drum and reduce the height of the liquid in the sight glass in response to an obstruction in the discharge end of the discharge tube, and whereby to decrease the air pressure in the transfer tube and sight glass to nearly atmospheric pressure and to thereby increase the height of liquid in the sight glass in response to an obstruction in the discharge tube adjacent the drum.

Claim 4

The invention set forth in claim 1 and the reservoir having a vent to maintain atmospheric air pressure therein.

Claim 5

The invention set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of sight glasses, and a plurality of pressure transfer tubes each connecting one of the sight glasses with a respective seed discharge tube.

Claim 6

In combination with a seed dispenser including a revolving drum with apertures through the periphery thereof, the drum containing superatmospheric air and a supply of seeds, the air holding a seed in each of the revolving drum apertures, and seed release and discharge means at a location above the seed supply in the drum whereby at opposite peripheral portions of the drum the apertures are normally respectively closed by seeds and open, an air flow detector and indicator to indicate flow of air through the peripheral drum apertures comprising a sight glass containing a quantity Of liquid, and a pressure transfer tube having one end connected to the sight glass, the pressure transfer tube also extending to the drum with the second end of the tube confronting the periphery of the drum and an aperture thereof whereby to receive a jet of air from an open aperture of the revolving drum and produce a change in the level of liquid in the sight glass.

Claim 7

In combination with a seed dispenser including a revolving drum with apertures through the periphery thereof, the drum containing superatmospheric air and a supply of seeds, the air holding a seed in each of the revolving drum apertures, and seed release and discharge means at a location above the seed supply in the drum whereby at opposite peripheral portions of the drum the apertures are normally respectively closed by seeds and open, an air flow detector and indicator to indicate flow of air through the peripheral drum apertures comprising a sight glass containing a quantity Of liquid, and a pressure transfer tube having one end connected to the sight glass, the pressure transfer tube also extending to the drum with the second end of the tube confronting the periphery of the drum and an aperture thereof whereby to receive a jet of air from an open aperture of the revolving drum and produce a change in the level of liquid in the sight glass.

Claim 8

The invention set forth in claim 5 and the second end of the transfer tube being located adjacent the side of the drum periphery wherein the apertures are normally closed by seeds carried therein, whereby change of liquid level in the sight glass will normally indicate depletion of the seed supply within the drum.

Claim 9

The invention set forth in claim 5 and the second end of the transfer tube being located adjacent the side of the drum periphery wherein the apertures are normally open, whereby the liquid level in the sight glass will normally oscillate and a stationary liquid level will normally indicate the drum to be stationary.

Claim 10

The invention set forth in claim 6 and a second glass and a second transfer tube, both constructed and arranged with respect to each other and with respect to the drum as set forth in claim 5, and the second end of the second transfer tube being located adjacent the side of the drum periphery wherein the apertures are normally open, whereby the liquid level in the second sight glass will normally oscillate and a stationary liquid level will normally indicate the drum to be stationary.

Claim 11

In combination with a seed dispenser including a revolving drum with apertures through the periphery thereof, the drum containing superatmospheric air and a supply of seeds and the receiving ends of stationary discharge tubes located out of the seed supply and in confronting relation with the peripheral apertures in which the seeds are carried, seed release means operative adjacent the receiving ends of the discharge tubes to cause the superatmospheric air to sweep seeds into the discharge tubes, the drum apertures being normally open after seeds have been released therefrom and swept out of the discharge tubes, an air flow and obstruction detecting and indicating means for such discharge tubes and the revolving drum and comprising a reservoir of liquid, a plurality of obstruction indicating sight glasses each having its lower end in liquid flow communication with the reservoir of liquid to equalize the liquid level in the glasses and reservoir, the sight glasses having closed tops, a plurality of obstruction pressure communicating tubes each being connected with a respective sight glass through the closed top thereof and also being connected to one of the seed discharge tubes at a location intermediate the seedreceiving and discharge ends thereof for communicating the air pressure within the seed discharge tubes to the sight glass for applying the air pressure to the liquid therein and changing the level of the liquid in the sight glass accordingly, a pair of drum air escape indicating sight glasses having closed bottoms and vented tops and containing a visible level of liquid therein, and a pair of pressure transfer tubes each having one end extending into a respective sight glass and into the liquid therein and adjacent the bottom thereof, and each of said transfer tubes also extending to the drum with the second end of the tube confronting the periphery of the drum and an aperture thereof whereby to receive a jet of air from the aperture when open, and produce a change in the level of liquid in the corresponding sight glass, the second air jet receiving ends of said pressure transfer tubes being respectively located adjacent the opposite sides of the drum periphery wherein the apertures are respectively normally open and closed whereby one of the pressure transfer tubes will regularly receive jets of pressurized air from the drum apertures as the drum is revolved and the other of the pressure transfer tubes will normally be prevented from receiving jets of air from the apertures by seeds obstructing the apertures, said obstruction detecting and indicating sight glasses indicating the presence or absence and location of obstructions in the seed discharge tubes and the drum air escape indicating sight glasses indicating the rate of rotation of the drum and the presence or absence of a supply of seeds within the drum and all of said sight glasses cooperating to indicate continued presence of air pressure within the drum for proper operation.

Claim 12

In combination with a seed dispenser including a revolving drum with apertures through the periphery thereof, the drum containing superatmospheric air and a supply of seeds and the receiving ends of stationary discharge tubes located out of the seed supply and in confronting relation with the peripheral apertures in which the seeds are carried, seed release means operative adjacent the receiving ends of the discharge tubes to cause the superatmospheric air to sweep seeds into the discharge tubes, the drum apertures being normally open after seeds have been released therefrom and swept out of the discharge tubes, an air flow and obstruction detecting and indicating means for such discharge tubes and the revolving drum and comprising a reservoir of liquid, a plurality of obstruction indicating sight glasses each having its lower end in liquid flow communication with the reservoir of liquid to equalize the liquid level in the glasses and reservoir, the sight glasses having closed tops, a plurality of obstruction pressure communicating tubes each being connected with a respective sight glass through the closed top thereof and also being connected to one of the seed discharge tubes at a location intermediate the seedreceiving and discharge ends thereof for communicating the air pressure within the seed discharge tubes to the sight glass for applying the air pressure to the liquid therein and changing the level of the liquid in the sight glass accordingly, a pair of drum air escape indicating sight glasses having closed bottoms and vented tops and containing a visible level of liquid therein, and a pair of pressure transfer tubes each having one end extending into a respective sight glass and into the liquid therein and adjacent the bottom thereof, and each of said transfer tubes also extending to the drum with the second end of the tube confronting the periphery of the drum and an aperture thereof whereby to receive a jet of air from the aperture when open, and produce a change in the level of liquid in the corresponding sight glass, the second air jet receiving ends of said pressure transfer tubes being respectively located adjacent the opposite sides of the drum periphery wherein the apertures are respectively normally open and closed whereby one of the pressure transfer tubes will regularly receive jets of pressurized air from the drum apertures as the drum is revolved and the other of the pressure transfer tubes will normally be prevented from receiving jets of air from the apertures by seeds obstructing the apertures, said obstruction detecting and indicating sight glasses indicating the presence or absence and location of obstructions in the seed discharge tubes and the drum air escape indicating sight glasses indicating the rate of rotation of the drum and the presence or absence of a supply of seeds within the drum and all of said sight glasses cooperating to indicate continued presence of air pressure within the drum for proper operation.

Claim 13

In combination with a seed dispenser including a revolving drum containing superatmospheric air and a supply of seeds and the receiving ends of stationary discharge tubes located out of the seed supply and in confronting relation to peripheral apertures in which the seeds are carried until released at the discharge tubes through which the superatmospheric air sweeps the seeds for discharge from the drum. a combined, continuously acting operation monitoring and detecting apparatus comprising a reservoir of liquid, a sight glass containing a quantity of the liquid capable of rising and lowering in response to various air pressures applied thereagainst, and a pressure transfer tube with one end connected to the sight glass and having a second end at the seed dispenser and exposed to such superatmospheric air pressure, the tube applying air pressure against the liquid in the sight glass and producing a change in the level of liquid therein according to the magnitude of the air pressure.

Claim 14

In combination with a seed dispenser including a revolving drum containing superatmospheric air and a supply of seeds and the receiving ends of stationary discharge tubes located out of the seed supply and in confronting relation to peripheral apertures in which the seeds are carried until released at the discharge tubes through which the superatmospheric air sweeps the seeds for discharge from the drum. a combined, continuously acting operation monitoring and detecting apparatus comprising a reservoir of liquid, a sight glass containing a quantity of the liquid capable of rising and lowering in response to various air pressures applied thereagainst, and a pressure transfer tube with one end connected to the sight glass and having a second end at the seed dispenser and exposed to such superatmospheric air pressure, the tube applying air pressure against the liquid in the sight glass and producing a change in the level of liquid therein according to the magnitude of the air pressure.

Claim 15

In combination with a seed dispenser including a revolving drum containing superatmospheric air and a supply of seeds and the receiving ends of stationary discharge tubes located out of the seed supply and in confronting relation to peripheral apertures in which the seeds are carried until released at the discharge tubes through which the superatmospheric air sweeps the seeds for discharge from the drum, the superatmospheric air escaping through such apertures after removal of seeds therefrom; an air pressure detector and indicator for such seed dispenser comprising a reservoir of liquid, said detector and indicator including a plurality of air pressure transfer tubes having air pressure receiving ends at the seed dispenser and in sensing relation with superatmospheric air at a plurality of locations; and sight glasses connected to the delivery ends of such transfer tubes and containing liquid with variable surface elevations varying according to the air pressures delivered from the transfer tubes.

Claim 16

In combination with a seed dispenser including a revolving drum containing superatmospheric air and a supply of seeds and the receiving ends of stationary discharge tubes located out of the seed supply and in confronting relation to peripheral apertures in which the seeds are carried until released at the discharge tubes through which the superatmospheric air sweeps the seeds for discharge from the drum, the superatmospheric air escaping through such apertures after removal of seeds therefrom; an air pressure detector and indicator for such seed dispenser comprising a reservoir of liquid, said detector and indicator including a plurality of air pressure transfer tubes having air pressure receiving ends at the seed dispenser and in sensing relation with superatmospheric air at a plurality of locations; and sight glasses connected to the delivery ends of such transfer tubes and containing liquid with variable surface elevations varying according to the air pressures delivered from the transfer tubes.

Claim 17

In combination with a seed dispenser including a revolving drum containing superatmospheric air and a supply of seeds and the receiving ends of stationary discharge tubes located out of the seed supply and in confronting relation to peripheral apertures in which the seeds are carried until released at the discharge tubes through which the superatmospheric air sweeps the seeds for discharge from the drum, the superatmospheric air escaping through such apertures after removal of seeds therefrom; a continuously acting air pressure detector and indicator for such seed dispenser comprising a reservoir of liquid, said detector and indicator including a plurality of air pressure transfer tubes having air pressure delivery ends and also having air pressure receiving end at the seed dispenser and in sensing relation with superatmospheric air at a plurality of locations; and sight glasses connected to the delivery ends of such transfer tubes subject to the air pressures delivered from the transfer tubes and movable in the sight glasses to produce position indications according to the air pressures delivered, said sight glasses and reservoir being integrally combined in a transparent block of clear plastic having a reservoir cavity and a plurality of upright sight glass cavities, each of the latter connected at its top to the delivery end of a respective transfer tube and each communicating with the reservoir cavity.

Claim 18

In combination with a seed dispenser including a revolving drum containing superatmospheric air and a supply of seeds and the receiving ends of stationary discharge tubes located out of the seed supply and in confronting relation to peripheral apertures in which the seeds are carried until released at the discharge tubes through which the superatmospheric air sweeps the seeds for discharge from the drum, the superatmospheric air escaping through such apertures after removal of seeds therefrom; a continuously acting air pressure detector and indicator for such seed dispenser comprising a reservoir of liquid, said detector and indicator including a plurality of air pressure transfer tubes having air pressure delivery ends and also having air pressure receiving end at the seed dispenser and in sensing relation with superatmospheric air at a plurality of locations; and sight glasses connected to the delivery ends of such transfer tubes subject to the air pressures delivered from the transfer tubes and movable in the sight glasses to produce position indications according to the air pressures delivered, said sight glasses and reservoir being integrally combined in a transparent block of clear plastic having a reservoir cavity and a plurality of upright sight glass cavities, each of the latter connected at its top to the delivery end of a respective transfer tube and each communicating with the reservoir cavity.