초록 ▼

An air seeder has two tanks for holding seed or other particulate matter. Each tank has a metering device at the bottom to meter out the contents of the tanks. A panel is positioned to cover and uncover a hole between the two tanks such that it can direct the contents of one tank into the other and

An air seeder has two tanks for holding seed or other particulate matter. Each tank has a metering device at the bottom to meter out the contents of the tanks. A panel is positioned to cover and uncover a hole between the two tanks such that it can direct the contents of one tank into the other and also block off the metering device of the one tank. The panel is connected to a handle that extends outside the tanks so the operator can move the panel without entering the tank.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An air seeder, comprising: a first means for holding particulate matter; a first means for metering particulate matter that is coupled to the first means for holding; a second means for holding particulate matter; a second means for metering particulate matter coupled t

The invention claimed is: 1. An air seeder, comprising: a first means for holding particulate matter; a first means for metering particulate matter that is coupled to the first means for holding; a second means for holding particulate matter; a second means for metering particulate matter coupled to the second means for holding; a means for directing particulate matter flow that is disposed within the first means for holding; said means for directing comprising an inner panel; and a means for actuating the means for directing, wherein the means for actuating extends outside the first and second holding means, the means for directing being movable between (1) a first position in which flow from the first and second means for holding are joined and directed to the second means for metering; and (2) a second position in which particulate flow from the first means for holding is directed to the first means for metering and particulate flow from the second means for holding is directed to the second means for metering, wherein the first and second means for holding share a common wall having a first aperture therethrough, wherein the first means for holding includes an internal wall having a second aperture therethrough leading to the first means for metering, wherein a means for pivoting the means for directing is located where the internal wall abuts the common wall, wherein the first position is a first limit and the second position is a second limit that the means for directing travels between, wherein the means for directing at the first limit abuts against and blocks particulate flow through the first aperture in the common wall to the second means for metering, and wherein the means for directing at the second limit abuts against and blocks particulate flow through the second aperture in the inner panel to the first means for metering. 2. The air seeder of claim 1, wherein the means for actuating is a manually operable handle extending outside the first and second means for holding. 3. The air seeder of claim 2, wherein the means for pivoting is coupled at a lower edge of the means for directing. 4. An air seeder, comprising: a first tank configured to hold particulate matter; a first particulate matter metering device coupled to the bottom of the first tank; a second tank configured to hold particulate matter; a second particulate matter metering device coupled to the bottom of the second tank; a panel disposed within the first tank and configured to block flow of the particulate matter between the first and the second tanks; and an actuator coupled to the panel, wherein the actuator extends outside the first and second tanks, and further wherein the actuator is manipulable to move the panel between (1) a first position in which particulate flow from the first and second tanks are joined and directed to the second metering device and flow from the first tank to the first metering device is blocked, and (2) a second position in which particulate flow from the first tank is directed to the first metering device and particulate flow from the second tank is directed to the second metering devices wherein the first and second tanks share a common wall having a first aperture therethrough, wherein the first tank includes an internal wall having a second aperture therethrough leading to the first metering device, wherein the internal wall and the common wall abut at a pivot point about which the panel rotates, wherein the first position is a first limit and the second position is a second limit that the panel travels between, wherein the panel at the first limit abuts against and blocks the particulate matter from passing through the first aperture in the common wall to the second metering device, and wherein the panel at the second limit abuts against and blocks the particulate matter from passing through the second aperture in the inner panel of the first tank to the first metering device. 5. The air seeder of claim 4, wherein the actuator is a manually operable handle. 6. The air seeder of claim 5, wherein the panel includes a lower edge about which the panel rotates. 7. The air seeder of claim 6, wherein the panel is configured to pivot through an angle of between 45 and 135 degrees when moved between its first and second positions. 8. An air seeder, comprising: a first particulate tank; a first metering device coupled to the outlet of the first tank; a second particulate tank; a second metering device coupled to the outlet of the second tank; a valve member disposed within the first tank to block the flow of particulate matter between the first and the second tanks; and a valve actuator coupled to the valve member, wherein the actuator extends outside the first and second tanks, and further wherein the actuator is manipulable to move the valve member from (1) a first position in which particulate flow from the first and second tanks are joined and directed to the second metering device, and (2) a second position in which particulate flow from the first tank is directed to the first metering device and particulate flow from the second tank is directed to the second metering devices, wherein the first and second tanks share a common wall having a first aperture therethrough, wherein the first tank includes an internal wall having a second aperture therethrough leading to the first metering device, wherein the internal wall and the common wall abut at a pivot point about which the valve member rotates, wherein the first position is a first limit and the second position is a second limit that the valve member travels between, wherein the valve member at the first limit abuts against and blocks particulate flow through the first aperture in the common wall to the second metering device, and wherein the valve member at the second limit abuts against and blocks particulate flow through the second aperture in the inner panel of the first tank to the first metering device. 9. The air seeder of claim 8, wherein the valve actuator is a manually operable handle extending outside the first and second tanks. 10. The air seeder of claim 9, wherein the valve member is configured to pivot through an angle of between 45 and 135 degrees when moved between its first and second positions. 11. A method of coupling a first tank of an air seeder to a second tank of the air seeder, the first tank having a first metering device disposed at the bottom thereof, and the second tank having a second metering device disposed at the bottom thereof, the method comprising the steps of: rotating a valve element in a first direction from a first limit position of travel; opening a first passageway for particulate flow through the common wall between the first tank and the second tank with the rotating step in the first direction; blocking particulate flow through a second passageway in an inner wall of the first tank to the first metering device with the rotating step in the first direction; limiting travel of the valve element in the first direction abutted against the inner wall of the first tank: rotating the valve element in a second direction opposite the first direction; opening the second passageway in the inner wall of the first tank to allow particulate flow from the first tank to the first metering device with the rotating step in the second direction; blocking particulate flow through a first passageway in the common wall of the first tank with the rotating step in the second direction; and limiting travel of valve element in the second direction at a second limit position of travel abutted against the common wall between the first tank and the second tank. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of opening the first passageway includes the step of moving the valve element to uncover the first passageway. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of opening the first passageway between the first tank and the second tank includes the step of creating a particulate flow path from the first tank to the second metering device. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of rotating the valve element in the first direction and the step of rotating the valve element in the second direction occurs about a pivot located where the inner wall of the first tank abuts the common wall between the first and second tanks.