Multi-crop valve for agricultural inter-cropping
A valve for use with an air seeder apparatus to selectively seed one or two crops in a field is provided. The valve can include a first inlet connectable to a first air stream carrying a first crop seed, a second inlet connectable to a second air stream carrying a second crop seed, an outlet connectable to a opener hose running to an opener on the air seeder apparatus, and gate valves selectable to: place the first inlet in fluid communication with the outlet while the second inlet is blocked; and, place the second inlet in fluid communication with the outlet while the first inlet is blocked.
1 . A system for allowing an air seeder to selectively multi-crop and mono-crop, the system comprising:
a first tank for holding a first particulate material;
a first distribution tower operatively connected to the first tank by at least one first transport hose and operative to receive the first particulate material from the first tank in a first air stream;
a second tank for holding a second particulate material;
a second distribution tower operatively connected to the second tank by at least one second transport hose and operative to receive the second particulate material from the second tank in a second air stream;
an opener hose leading to an opener; and
at least one valve comprising:
a first inlet connected to the first distribution tower by a first hose;
a second inlet connectable to the second distribution tower by a second hose;
an outlet connectable to a opener hose running to an opener on the air seeder apparatus; and
wherein the at least one valve is selectable between: a first position, placing the first inlet in fluid communication with the outlet while fluid communication between the second inlet and the outlet is blocked; and, a second position, placing the second inlet in fluid communication with the outlet while fluid communication between the first inlet and the outlet is blocked.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the valve further comprises: the first inlet connected to a first tube; the second inlet connected to a second tube; and the outlet connectable to an outlet tube, wherein the first tube and the second tube lead into the outlet tube.
3 . The system of claim 2 wherein a first gate valve is provided passing through the first tube and a second gate valve is provided passing through the second tube.
4 . The system of claim 2 wherein the first tube and the second tube have an inner diameter of 1.25 inches and wherein an end of the first hose inserted in the first tube of the valve is 3.5 inches from an end of the opener hose inserted in the outlet tube of the valve.
5 . The system of claim 2 wherein the first hose and the second hose and an inner diameter of 1 inch and wherein an end of the first hose inserted in the first tube of the valve is 3.1 inches from an end of the opener hose inserted in the outlet of the valve.
6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first particulate material is a first crop seed and the second particulate material is a second crop seed.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein a valve corresponds to each opener in a first series of openers with each valve connected to an opener hose running to one of the openers in the first series of openers and an opener hose connected to the first distribution tower runs to each opener in a second set of openers.
8 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first set of openers comprises every other opener, and wherein the second set of openers comprises openers adjacent to an opener in the first set of openers.
9 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first set of openers comprises pairs of adjacent openers and wherein the second set of openers comprises pairs of adjacent openers provided between pairs of adjacent openers in the first set of openers.
10 . A multi-valve for use with an air seeder to selectively supply particulate material to openers, the multi-valve comprising:
a first valve comprising:
a first inlet;
a second inlet connectable to a first air stream carrying a first particulate material;
an outlet connectable to a opener hose running to an opener on the air seeder apparatus; and
at least one gate valve selectable between: a first position, placing the first inlet in fluid communication with the outlet while fluid communication between the second inlet and the outlet is blocked; and, a second position, placing the second inlet in fluid communication with the outlet while fluid communication between the first inlet and the outlet is blocked; and
a second valve comprising:
a first inlet connected to the first inlet of the first valve;
a second inlet connectable to an opener hose running to an opener on the air seeder apparatus;
an outlet connected to a second air stream carrying a second particulate material; and
at least one gate valve selectable between: a first position, placing the first inlet in fluid communication with the outlet while fluid communication between the second inlet and the outlet is blocked; and, a second position, placing the second inlet in fluid communication with the outlet while fluid communication between the first inlet and the outlet is blocked.
11 . A system for allowing an air seeder to selectively apply seed and fertilizer, the system comprising:
a first tank for holding a first particulate material;
a first distribution tower operatively connected to the first tank by at least one first transport hose and operative to receive the first particulate material from the first tank in a first air stream;
a second tank for holding a second particulate material;
a second distribution tower operatively connected to the second tank by at least one second transport hose and operative to receive the second particulate material from the second tank in a second air stream;
opener hoses leading to openers; and
a plurality of multi-valves connected to both the first distribution tower by a first hose and the second distribution tower by a second hose, each multi-valve comprising:
a first valve comprising:
a first inlet;
a second inlet connected to a first air stream carrying a first particulate material;
an outlet connectable to a opener hose running to an opener on the air seeder apparatus; and
at least one gate valve selectable between: a first position, placing the first inlet in fluid communication with the outlet while fluid communication between the second inlet and the outlet is blocked; and, a second position, placing the second inlet in fluid communication with the outlet while fluid communication between the first inlet and the outlet is blocked; and
a second valve comprising:
a first inlet connected to the first inlet of the first valve;
a second inlet connectable to an opener hose running to an opener on the air seeder apparatus;
an outlet connected to a second air stream carrying a second particulate material; and
at least one gate valve selectable between: a first position, placing the first inlet in fluid communication with the outlet while fluid communication between the second inlet and the outlet is blocked; and, a second position, placing the second inlet in fluid communication with the outlet while fluid communication between the first inlet and the outlet is blocked.