IP Library Granted Patent US 10,750,660
Granted Patent B2
US 10,750,660 · App. 15/960,220 · Granted Aug 25, 2020

Baffle retention channel for an inductor box of an agricultural implement

Inventors: Chad M. Johnson (Arlington Heights, IL); Michael J. Connors (Lockport, IL); Marvin A. Prickel (Homer Glen, IL)
Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
A01C7/084A01C7/081A01C7/082B65G53/46
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,750,660
App. No.
15/960,220
Granted
Aug 25, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An agricultural product distribution system includes an inductor box configured to receive agricultural product and conveyed air to combine the conveyed air and the agricultural product. The conveyed air is configured to direct the agricultural product through ports to multiple distribution units. Moreover the inductor box includes a baffle retention channel configured to receive a removable baffle. Furthermore, the removable baffle includes at least one opening configured to control an amount of conveyed air directed through the ports to the multiple distribution units.

Claims (30)

1. A method for conveying agricultural product through an agricultural product distribution system comprising:

receiving a removable baffle into a baffle retention channel, wherein the removable baffle comprises a plate having at least one opening;

receiving agricultural product;

receiving conveyed air configured to direct the agricultural product through one or more ports; and

controlling a seed-to-air ratio through the one or more ports via the at least one opening in the removable baffle, wherein controlling the seed-to-air ratio through the one or more ports is based at least in part on a size and number of the at least one opening.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising evacuating debris via a breach of the baffle retention channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising selecting the number and the size of the at least on opening based at least in part on a type of the agricultural product, a size of the agricultural product, or some combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is arranged in a baffle configuration based at least in part according to a distance between a plurality of distribution units distributing the agricultural product and an inductor box where the conveyed air and agricultural product are combined.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the removable baffle into the baffle retention channel comprises receiving the removable baffle into an upper channel of the baffle retention channel that is configured to receive an upper edge of the removable baffle.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein receiving the removable baffle into the baffle retention channel comprises receiving the removable baffle into a lower channel of the baffle retention channel that is configured to receive a lower edge of the removable baffle.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the removable baffle comprises a plate having the at least one opening.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the removable baffle comprises receiving the removable baffle into an inductor box of the agricultural product distribution system.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein receiving the agricultural product comprises receiving the agricultural product from a tank coupled into the inductor box.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein receiving the agricultural product comprises receiving the agricultural product at the inductor box via an inlet port of the inductor box.

11. The method of claim 10 , comprising combining the conveyed air and the agricultural product in the inductor box.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising conveying the combined conveyed air and agricultural product through the one or more ports into a plurality of distribution units.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein conveying the combined conveyed air and agricultural product into the plurality of distribution units comprises conveying the combined conveyed air and agricultural product into an agricultural product hopper, a metering device, or some combination thereof of each distribution unit of the plurality of the distribution units.

14. An agricultural product distribution system comprising:

a removable baffle comprising a plate having at least one opening;

an inductor box comprising a baffle retention channel configured to receive the removable baffle, wherein the removable baffle comprises at least one opening, wherein the inductor box is configured to:

receive an agricultural product;

receive conveyed air configured to direct the agricultural product through one or more ports; and

control a seed-to-air ratio through the one or more ports via the at least one opening in the removable baffle, wherein controlling the seed-to-air ratio through the one or more ports is based at least in part on a size and number of the at least one opening.

15. The agricultural product distribution system of claim 14 , comprising an air supply configured to supply the conveyed air to the inductor box.

16. The agricultural product distribution system of claim 14 , comprising a plurality of baffle retention channels each having a respective at least one opening, wherein the number and the size of the at least one opening is based at least in part on a type of the agricultural product to be delivered while using the removable baffle, a size of the agricultural product to be delivered while using the removable baffle, or some combination thereof.

17. A method for conveying agricultural product through an agricultural product distribution system comprising:

receiving a removable baffle into a baffle retention channel, wherein the removable baffle comprises a plate having at least one opening in a configuration that is based at least in part on a size of agricultural product to be delivered;

receiving the agricultural product;

receiving conveyed air configured to direct the agricultural product through one or more ports; and

controlling a seed-to-air ratio through the one or more ports via the at least one opening in the removable baffle, wherein controlling the seed-to-air ratio through the one or more ports is based at least in part on the configuration of the at least one opening.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2020
From: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
To: BLUE LEAF I.P., INC.
Reel/Frame 054302/0368 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2018
From: JOHNSON, CHAD M.; CONNORS, MICHAEL J.; PRICKEL, MARVIN
To: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 046021/0570 →
Continuity (3)
Division 14807675 · Jul 23, 2015
Division 13737792 · Jan 9, 2013
Related Publication 20180235141A1 · Aug 23, 2018