IP Library Granted Patent US 11,617,298
Granted Patent B2
US 11,617,298 · App. 16/819,858 · Granted Apr 4, 2023

Agricultural product delivery applicator with a pneumatic conveying system having a distributor assembly

Inventors: Rex LeRoy Ruppert (Benson, MN); Nicholas R. Pederson (Willmar, MN); Charles O'Connell (Willmar, MN); Jeffrey Scot Martin (Benson, MN); John Paul Honermann (Benson, MN)
Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
A01C7/084A01C7/102A01C15/00A01M9/003A01M9/0092B05B7/1486B05B15/60B65G53/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,617,298
App. No.
16/819,858
Granted
Apr 4, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field. The applicator includes a supply compartment to hold the product and a pneumatic conveying system. The system includes an airflow source to provide an airflow, and a delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment. The delivery line includes a supply line and a plurality of distribution lines. The system further includes a distributor coupling the supply line with the plurality of distribution lines, a plurality of distributor outlets providing outlet channels for the distributor, and a motor mount disposed away from the aperture along an axis and supported by one or more of the plurality of distributor outlets. A motor is disposed on a delivery lines side of the distributor and fastened to the motor mount.

Claims (49)

1. An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field, the applicator comprising:

a supply compartment to hold the product;

a pneumatic conveying system comprising:

an airflow source to provide an airflow;

a delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment, the delivery line including a supply line and a plurality of distribution lines;

a distributor coupling the supply line with the plurality of distribution lines, the distributor having an aperture;

a plurality of distributor outlets providing outlet channels for the distributor, each one of the plurality of distributor outlets coupled to a respective one of the plurality of distribution lines;

a motor mount disposed away from the aperture along an axis and supported by one or more of the plurality of distributor outlets;

a motor disposed on a delivery lines side of the distributor and fastened to the motor mount;

a shaft assembly rotatable by the motor and including an agitator portion substantially disposed on a supply line side of the distributor, the shaft assembly extending through the aperture of the distributor; and

a metering system operably connected between the supply compartment and the pneumatic conveying system, the metering system to meter product with the airflow to result in a mixed flow of airflow and product.

2. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic conveying system includes a distributor assembly comprising the distributor, the plurality of distributor outlets, the motor mount, the motor, and the shaft assembly.

3. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of distributor outlets is integrally formed with the distributor.

4. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the motor mount is integrally formed with the one or more of the plurality of distributor outlets.

5. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the motor mount includes a support fin.

6. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the motor mount includes a plurality of mounting platforms, and wherein each one of the plurality of mounting platforms is supported by a respective one of the plurality of distribution lines.

7. The applicator of claim 6 , wherein at least two of the plurality of mounting platforms include an aperture for a fastener and at least one of the plurality of mounting platforms does not include an aperture for a fastener.

8. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the distributor includes wedged-shaped spokes defining in part the outlet channels.

9. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the distributor assembly further comprises a deflector on the supply line side of the distributor.

10. The applicator of claim 9 , wherein the deflector is fastened to the distributor and includes an aperture, wherein the shaft assembly extends through the aperture of the distributor.

11. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the distributor assembly further comprises a mounting plate coupled to the motor mount, and wherein the motor is fastened to the motor mount via the mounting plate.

12. An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field, the applicator comprising:

a supply compartment to hold the product;

a pneumatic conveying system comprising:

an airflow source to provide an airflow;

a delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment, the delivery line including a supply line and a plurality of distribution lines;

a distributor coupling the supply line with the plurality of distribution lines, the distributor including a plurality of wedged-shaped spokes defining in part a plurality of outlet channels;

a motor mount disposed away from the aperture along an axis and supported by one or more of the plurality of distributor outlets;

a motor disposed on a distribution lines side of the distributor and fastened to the motor mount;

a shaft assembly rotatable by the motor and including an agitator portion substantially disposed on a supply line side of the distributor, the shaft assembly extending through an aperture of the distributor; and

a metering system operably connected between the supply compartment and the pneumatic conveying system, the metering system to meter product with the airflow to result in a mixed flow of airflow and product for the plurality of outlets.

13. The applicator of claim 12 , wherein the pneumatic conveying system includes a distributor assembly comprising the distributor, the motor, the motor mount, and the shaft assembly.

14. The applicator of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of distributor outlets is integrally formed with the distributor.

15. The applicator of claim 12 , wherein the motor mount is integrally formed with the one or more of the plurality of distributor outlets.

16. The applicator of claim 12 , wherein the distributor assembly further comprises a deflector on the supply line side of the distributor.

17. The applicator of claim 16 , wherein the deflector is fastened to the distributor and includes an aperture, wherein the shaft assembly extends through the aperture of the distributor.

18. The applicator of claim 12 , wherein the distributor assembly further comprises a mounting plate coupled to the motor mount, and wherein the motor is fastened to the mounter mount via the mounting plate.

19. An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field, the applicator comprising:

a supply compartment to hold the product;

a pneumatic conveying system comprising:

an airflow source to provide an airflow;

a delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment, the delivery line including a supply line and a plurality of distribution lines;

a distributor coupling the supply line with the plurality of distribution lines, the distributor having an aperture, the distributor including a plurality of wedged-shaped spokes defining in part a plurality of outlet channels;

a plurality of distributor outlets providing outlet channels for the distributor, each one of the plurality of distributor outlets coupled to a respective one of the plurality of distribution lines;

a motor mount disposed away from the aperture along an axis and supported by one or more of the plurality of distributor outlets;

a motor disposed on a delivery lines side of the distributor and fastened to the motor mount;

a shaft assembly rotatable by the motor and including an agitator portion substantially disposed on a supply line side of the distributor, the shaft assembly extending through the aperture of the distributor; and

a metering system operably connected between the supply compartment and the pneumatic conveying system, the metering system to meter product with the airflow to result in a mixed flow of airflow and product.

20. The applicator of claim 19 , wherein the motor mount includes a plurality of mounting platforms, wherein each one of the plurality of mounting platforms is supported by a respective one of the plurality of distribution lines, and wherein at least two of the plurality of mounting platforms include an aperture for a fastener and at least one of the plurality of mounting platforms does not include an aperture for a fastener.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2024
From: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
To: BLUE LEAF I.P., INC.
Reel/Frame 066932/0175 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2020
From: RUPPERT, REX LEROY; PEDERSON, NICHOLAS R.; O'CONNELL, CHARLES; MARTIN, JEFFREY SCOT; HONERMANN, JOHN PAUL
To: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 052125/0686 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210282312A1 · Sep 16, 2021
Cited By (1)
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