WO2005099433A1

WO2005099433A1 - Pneumatic drill seeder with precise venturi principle based seed delivery

Info

Publication number: WO2005099433A1
Application number: PCT/YU2005/000012
Authority: WO
Inventors: Radivoj Matic
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-15
Filing date: 2005-04-14
Publication date: 2005-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2006-10-15

Abstract

Pneumatic sowing machine with exact seed dropwise which works on Venturies principle. A new design solution in agricultural industry. The machine serves for planting of seeds into wide-row rows. It provides precise planting of seeds under all working conditions, without damage to seeds; reliable and safe operation with easy and simple connection to the tractor unit; inexpensive production and easy maintenance. The construction design of the planting machine consists of the following: on the support beam (1) supports are mounted (3) together with the housing with cardan shaft (8) and the transmission belt (9), a compressor (11), which are then fixed to the drive wheels (4) with shafts (13) (17) and chain belts (14) (16), then the already prepared planting units (5) are mounted on the supports (22) and fixed. The planting machine functions in the manner that the supports (3) are attached to the tractor unit, and the housing with the cardan shaft (8) is attached to the outlet shaft of the tractor unit and the compressed air. With the start-up of the tractor and the planting machine, begins the process of planting in the manner that through the wheels (4) chain (15), (20), (48) and the chain belts (14), (16), (19), (21), (49) the transmission is transmitted up to the synchronized planting (23) and placing (24) units, where the separation and pick up of seeds is performed, with a plough simultaneously entering the ground to the planting depth. In the planting unit (23) the compressed air goes into the assembly of two-position valves (52) through which it is conducted into an assembly of vacuum suction nozzles (56) which pick up the seeds (61) and drop it into the three tact placing unit (24), From the placing unit (24) the seeds (61) are planted in the ground.

Description

PNEUMATIC DRILL SEEDER WITH PRECISE VENTURI PRINCIPLE BASED SEED DELIVERY RELATED FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY OF THE INVENTION: The invention relates to the field of agricultural engineering, more precisely, to the category of drill seeders. It is classified according to the international patent classification as MKP (7): A01 C7/08; A01 C7/00. ENGINEERING PROBLEM: How to find engineering solution for the construction of pneumatic drill seeder with precise Venturi principle based seed delivery, that would make it possible for: precise seed delivery under conditions of different moving speeds of the seeder, no damage to the seed, reliable and safe operation, easy and simple connection to the tractor unit, inexpensive manufacturing with easy maintenance and application of the Venturi principle. CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY: Currently available solutions applied with pneumatic drill seeders do not provide for the precise spacing of delivered seeds within a line. Some of the seeders are based on the vacuum principle (under-pressure), and the other on the over-pressure principle. Both types have seeding mechanisms which handle the seed in the irregular and "rough mechanical" manner. The irregularity is especially evident with seeds of irregular geometric shapes, such as maize or sunflower seeds. Seed position in relation to the seed plate opening during operation, can be either correct, or incorrect in which case a seed is positioned within the seed plate opening up to the half of the seed's length with possibility of many seeds being positioned with their tops in the seed plate opening. Seeding mechanisms are equipped with a mechanical, single position seed feeder, which, for the above mentioned reasons, distributes the seeds irregularly. The result is different spacing between planted seeds within a line. Additional disadvantage of such seeders is that they can damage seeds during operation, breaking them until the whole machine is jammed. The most important problem with current seeders is related to the treatment of the seeding procedure as an independent phase in agricultural production, and "no care is taken of the following phase", which means destroying of wild grass - weeds, performed prior to and after the seeding with chemicals - herbicides.

EXPLANATION OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE INVENTION: Pneumatic drill seeder with precise Venturi principle based seed delivery consists of: main beam carrying the supports, drive wheels, air compressor, tractor connection mechanism and seeding hoppers holding the seeds and performing distribution and delivery of seeds. The drill seeder construction consists of the following components mounted to the main beam: supports, Cardan shaft and pulley housing, drive wheels with their axles and chain -pulleys, then the already prepared seeding units are fastened together with seeding mechanism, drill coulter, and seed hopper. The drill seeder operates in the following manner: supports are connected to the tractor unit, Cardan shaft is connected to the tractor shaft, and finally air mechanism is connected. The seeding procedure begins with the start-up of the tractor unit together with the drill seeder. The drive is transmitted over wheels, chains and chain pulleys to the synchronized seeding mechanisms and drill coulter, where separation and distribution of seeds is performed, while the ploughshare is entering the ground (up to the depth of seeding). In the seeding mechanism, the pressure-driven air passes up to and through the dual position valves assembly, into the vacuum suction nozzles assembly, which takes a seed and drop it into the drill coulter which is performing trochoid movement. From the drill coulter, the seed goes into the ground. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES: Figure 1 - Schematic drawing of the drill seeder from the side view and method of connection with the tractor. Figure 2 - Schematic drawing of the drill seeder from the view from above with distribution of seeding and method of connection with the tractor. Figure 3 - Drawing of a seeding unit consisting of seeding mechanism and drill coulter from the rear view and method of connection with the air compressor. Figure 4 - Seeding unit, cut A-A. Figure 5 - Two-parts drill coulter. Figure 6 - Opening of the two- part drill coulter. Figure 7 - Two-part drill coulter in the view from above. Figure 8 - Drill coulter, cut B-B. Figure 9 - Schematic drawing of the chain connection, connecting the chain pulley of the drive wheel with chain pulleys of the drill coulter and seeding mechanism. Figure 10- Valves with seeding mechanism lever, view "B". Figure 11- Preparation and regulation of the seed level in the seeding mechanism, view "C". Figure 12 - Schematic view of the tri-stoke drill coulter movements graph. Figure 13 - Vacuum suction nozzle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: Pneumatic drill seeder with precise Venturi principle based seed delivery (hereinafter referred to as "seeder"), as shown in the pictures 1 through 13, represents a new engineering solution in the field of agricultural machines - seeders, intended for wide row drill seeding, with the following characteristics: precise seed delivery under all operating conditions, under different moving speeds of the seeder, no damage to the seed, reliable and safe operation, easy and simple connection to the tractor unit, inexpensive manufacturing with easy maintenance, etc. The seeder is intended for seeding of seed crops (maize, sunflower, beet, etc.) in wide rows. - The seeder consists of: main beam 1, air compressor 2, supports 3, drive wheels 4 and seeding units 5. The seeder construction consists of the following components mounted to the main beam 1: supports 6 and 7 mounted with fixed joints, box with Cardan shaft 8 and pulley 9. Pulley 9 is connected with belt 10 to pulley 11 which is on the compressor. Supports 12, which are in connection with supports 3, are mounted on the main beam 1, as well as drive wheels 4 which on their axles 13 have a chain-pulley 14 and which are connected with the chain 15 to the chain-pulleys 16 on the transmission shaft 17, which is, over the housing 18, connected to the main beam 1. A group of chain-pulleys 19 is mounted on the transmission shaft and they are connected with a chain 20 to the seeding unit 5 chain-pulley 21. The seeding unit 5 is connected with supports 22 to the main beam 1, and it consists of the seeding mechanism 23 and the drill coulter unit 24 with its supports 25 on which housings 26 are mounted and axles 28 and 29 pass through the housings. On the plates 30 and 31, there are housings with rotating sleeves 33, and the housings are mutually connected with levers 32 on which the two-part drill coulter cups 34 are mounted ("hereinafter referred to as "coulters"). Drill coulter cups 34 are on levers 32 and they consist of a fixed 35 and a movable part 36 on which the lever 37 with opening wheel 38 and the rotating part 39 is connected to axle 40 from the lever 32. The closed position of drill coulter cups 34 is maintained with the pressure spring 41 on the axle 42 which is connected to the rotating part 39 of the movable part of the coulter 36. With detachable joint, support 25 of the drill coulter unit 24 is connected to the ploughshare 44, front wheel 45, rear wheel 46 and disc harrow 47 for ground alignment. The chain-pulley 21 (right side) over the drill coulter unit 24 is connected to the chain-pulley 21 (left side), which connects the chain-pulley 49 and the shaft 50 of the seeding mechanism 23 by means of a chain 48. On the shaft 50, which is in the bearings 51, the assembly of two-position valves 52 is mounted, containing also a two-position valve 53 with a wheel 54 (moving along round-eccentric guide 55) and on which the assembly of vacuum suction nozzles 56 is mounted with a fixed joint containing vacuum suction nozzles 57 distributed with equal spacing between each other. The shaft is connected through the rotating coupling 58 and valve 59 for opening and closing of air with compressor 2. Seed hopper 61, consists of a big hopper 62, a small hopper 63 and a sliding door 64 for seed discharge. In the small hopper 63, from the shaft 50 and the shaft 65 rotating movement of the seed level regulation deflector 71 is performed by means of gears 66, 67, 68, 69 and 70 in the opposite direction. - The seeder operates in such a manner that the supports 6 and 7 on the main beam are connected to the tractor unit, and the Cardan shaft 8 is connected to the outlet shaft of the tractor unit. Then the pulley 9 moves by means of the belt 10 the pulley 11 and the two cylinder compressor for production of compressed air. By mounting of the support 3 the seeder is "united" with the tractor unit resulting in a total stability, parallel position, symmetry and normal position in relation to the longitudinal axis of the tractor units of all seeding units. By movement of drive wheels 4, the axles 13 and chain-pulleys 14 over the chain 15, move the chain-pulley 16 on the transmission shaft 17, which rotates over the housing 18, and at the same time connects to the main beam. The group of chain-pulleys 19 has the possibility of axial movement and fixing to the transmission shaft 17. Upon the fixing, it provides the possibility of selection of the transmission ratio with the chain 20 and chain-pulley 21 of the seeding unit 5. Selection of the higher transmission ratio means higher speed of the seeding mechanism 23 and the drill coulter unit 24, resulting in smaller distance between delivered seeds 61 in a row, and vice versa. Functioning of the seeding mechanism 23 and the drill coulter unit 24 is synchronized, because of the same movement speeds (chain-pulleys 21 and 49 have the same diameters), and the purpose of the synchronization is that the seeds 61 delivered from the seeding mechanism 23 are precisely accepted by the drill coulter cups 34 and drill coulter unit 24. Operation of the drill coulter unit 24 is based on the principle of plates 30 and 31 being shifted by "R" distance. On the plates there are housings with rotating sleeves 33 connected to levers 32, the length of which is equal to "R". So, when the plates 31 and 31 rotate, levers 32 are always in horizontal position, and drill coulter cups 34, which are on the levers, are in vertical position. Opening of the drill coulter cap 34 and discharge of seed 61 will be performed in the cross-section of the trochoid path of the opener 43 situated on the plate 31 and the trochoid path of drill coulter cap 34, which is on the lever 32 (each drill coulter cap has its own opener 43). The cross-section of these curves gives co-ordinates of distance and meeting - "P" openings are always the same regardless of different speeds of the seeder. When the drill coulter cup 34 reaches its lowest point while moving, the opener 43, meets with its movable part 36, i.e. with the opening wheel 38, and applies small, short-lasting pressure which opens the drill coulter cup 34 to the extent which makes it possible for the seed 61, situated at the drill coulter cup 34 bottom, to be delivered into the ground. Upon the performed opening, the pressure spring 41 retunes the movable part 36 of the drill coulter cup 34 into the closed position. During the seeding operation, the seeding unit 5, penetrates the ground up to the seeding depth, by means of the ploughshare 44, and, at different speeds up to the designed maximum speed, performs the precise delivery of seeds 61 into the ground, while the drill coulter cup 34 is not in touch with ground. The seeding mechanism 23 operates in such a manner that the shaft 50, carrying the dual position valves assembly 52 which is connected to the vacuum suction nozzles assembly 56 which receives the rotating movement from the drill coulter unit 24, and the compressed air from the compressor 2 through the rotating coupling 58 and the valve 59, comes into the shaft 50 which is hollow to the certain length. Compressed air from the shaft 50 enters the dual position valve 53, which is closed at its starting position. The dual position valves 53 are equipped with a lever with a wheel 54, and are rotating over a rubber guide 55. When the wheel 54 is pressed (meeting with eccentric short path), the dual position valve 53 releases the compressed air into the vacuum suction nozzle 57, takes a seed 61, carries it shortly and drops it into the drill coulter cup 34 of the drill coulter unit 24. The seed όldrop followed after the dual position valve 53 with a wheel 54 passed the section where the guide path 55 was eccentric. The dual position valve 53 closed along that path, interrupted the pressure and vacuum and caused the seed to drop from the vacuum suction nozzle 57. The vacuum suction nozzle 57 during its movement tends to move (push) the seed 61 into direction of the moving, which has unfavorable effect to operation of the seeding mechanism 23. In order to maintain the seed level 61 in the small hopper 63 constant, the seed 61 must return for which purpose the seed level regulation deflectors 71 are mounted. They are driven from the shaft 50 over gears 66, 67 of the shaft 65 on which gear 68 is mounted, and the gear 68 is connected to intermediate gear 69 and gear 70 which is connected to the pipe support 72, which is fitted over the roller bearings 73, situated on the shaft 50. Movements from shaft 50 are performed in two opposite directions: one direction is performed by the vacuum suction nozzle 57, and the other, opposite direction is performed by the seed level regulation deflector 71, which maintains the constant seed level 61 which is necessary for correct acceptance and easy operation of the seeding mechanism 23, because each vacuum suction nozzle 57 will be taking one seed 61, which will directly improve the quality of operation and minimum consumption of seeds 61. For different types of seeds 61, a corresponding, easily replaceable seed gripper 74 is used for the purpose of more economic seed όlconsumption. Operating principle of the vacuum suction nozzle is based on the Venturi effect (under-pressure). Compressed air is brought to the "P" connection. Due to the reduced passage through which the air is flowing, the air speed is increased during its flow toward "R", producing the effect of under-pressure (the suction effect) in "A" connection and gripper 74. With this method of operation of the system, the channels or "ducts" "A" and "R" remain completely clean. Simultaneous delivery of seeds 61 from all seeding units 5 of the seeder is enabled by the design of the vacuum suction nozzles 57, which are positioned under the same angle at the seeding mechanism 23, and regarding the drill coulter unit 24, the two-part drill coulter cups 34 are positioned also under the same angle. Operation of all seeding units 5 is simultaneous, as they are connected and driven by the same transmission shaft 17. The result of such operation is that planted seeds are in one line which is normal to the longitudinal axis of the tractor unit and the seeder (variant a). Distribution may be such that the 1^st, the 3^rd, the 5^th or the 2^nd, the 4^th, the 6^th row is in one line (variant b), if the seeding units 5 are shifted along the support 22 at L/2 distance. If the seeder is moving in A direction, the drive wheels 4, drill coulter unit 24 and seeding mechanism 23 will be moving in B direction, and the seed level regulation deflector 71 in the opposite C direction, and the delivery (dropping) of seeds from the vacuum suction nozzle 57 into the two-part drill coulter cups 34, in D direction. Design features: Accurate and precise delivery (dropping) of seeds 61 with equal spacing is achieved because the seed from the seeder in not planted into the ground directly form the seeding mechanism 23, but through the drill coulter unit 24 with two-part drill coulter cups 34. If higher operation speed is required, the seeding mechanism 23 can be designed with larger number of dual position valves 53, vacuum suction nozzles 57, and the drill coulter unit 24 with larger number of drill coulter cups 34. The seeding mechanism 23 does not damage the seeds. Seeds are delivered into the seeding rows simultaneously, i.e. they are, in relation to each other, on the straight line forming a geometrical rectangle distribution, the basis of which is a straight line normal to the longitudinal axis of the tractor unit and the seeder. The seeder is designed to operate in combination with Automatic Rotary Electro-Pneumatic Digger with Tractor Self-Navigation, registered with Federal Institute for Intellectual Property under No. 557/04.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMSPneumatic drill seeder with precise Venturi principle based seed delivery:

1. Consists of main beam (1) onto which the following parts are mounted: supports (3), housing with Cardan shaft (8) and pulley (11), compressor (2) for production of compressed air, supports (3) which connect the drill seeder with tractor unit, drive wheels (4) and seeding units (5).

2. Characterized with the seeding mechanism (23) which performs separation of seeds into the drill coulter unit (24) designed for precise delivery of seeds (61) into the ground.

3. Pneumatic drill seeder with precise Venturi principle based seed delivery, characterized with dual position valves assembly (52) and the vacuum suction nozzle assembly (56), for transformation of pressure into vacuum.

4. Pneumatic drill seeder with precise Venturi principle based seed delivery according to the requirement No. 1, characterized with the drill coulter unit (24) with trochoid movement.