Allis-chalmers Corporation

Paul H Harrer

Alvin L Cleek

LeRoy Langford

Charles E Adams

Harold E Quackenbush

Le Roy Langford

A resilient air cut-off pad 52 for an air planter is provided with an area of gradually decreasing thickness in the form of a seed discharge ramp 66 which has a rounded bottom 68 aligned with the circular path of the circumferentially spaced seed pockets 47 on the seed singulating disk 33. The seeds in the pockets 47 are relieved of pressure from the resilient pad 52 by their registration with the ramp 66 as they approach the trailing edge 54 of the pad 52. This insures that the seeds drop by gravity at uniform spacing without resilient thrust being imparted thereto by the trailing edge.

Air cut-off pad for an air planter with seed discharge feature

A vertical rotating disc has perforated seed pockets which pick up individual kernels of seed from an air pressurized cavity of a planter housing. Air flowing through the perforated pockets creates a pressure differential which moves a kernel into each pocket as the pocket moves on an arcuate path upwardly through the cavity. The pocket then moves into axially confronting relation with a flat sealing surface of a resilient air cutoff pad which sealingly engages the seed disc to prevent escape of air and holds the seed in the pocket as the disc rotates further to bring the pocket to the lower part of the housing where the seed falls by gravity into the soil. The air cutoff pad is arcuate in shape and is held in place by a pair of screws. Thin sheets of plastic material are bonded to the front and back sides of the pad and stiffening material, such as plastic cement, is added to the radially outer edge of the pad. The added material stiffens the pad so that it substantially retains its shape during planting whereby the lodging of the seed in the seam between the radially outer edge of the pad and the housing is minimized or eliminated.

Air cutoff pad for an air planter

A rotating disc has perforated seed pockets which pick up individual kernels of seed from a cavity of a planter housing. Bulk seed flows by gravity from a hopper to the cavity which is pressurized by a blower. As the disc rotates through the cavity, air flowing through the perforated pockets will move the seeds into the pockets and hold them there as the disc rotates to bring the seed carrying pockets into axially confronting relation with a flat sealing surface. The flat sealing surface holds the seed in the pockets as the disc rotates further to a position wherein the pockets are exposed to an open bottom area of the housing at which point the seeds are free to fall by gravity into the soil.

Compressed air seed planter

A rotating disc has perforated seed pockets which pick up individual kernels of seed from an air pressurized cavity of a planter housing. Air flowing through the perforated pockets creates a pressure differential which moves a kernel into each pocket as the pocket moves on a circular path upwardly through the cavity. The pocket then moves into axially confronting relation with a flat sealing surface. The flat sealing surface holds the seed in the pocket as the disc rotates further to bring the pocket to the lower part of the housing where the seed falls by gravity into the soil. Each of the circumferentially spaced pockets has an opening in its bottom which is large enough to permit air flow therethrough but smaller than the seed kernels to be planted. The pockets are clam shell shaped with the more gentle slope on the side of the pocket toward the direction of rotation of the disc during planting. The opposite side of the pocket has a steep slope whereby the seed in the pocket is mechanically assisted in its assent from the seed cavity. The seed disc for corn includes a camming groove extending from each pocket which cams corn kernels radially outwardly toward the pocket as it passes upwardly through the seed cavity.

Growing community of inventors

La Porte, IN, United States of America

Paul H Harrer