US 11,751,502 B2
Seed-flow adjustment system
Jacob R. Riffel, Salina, KS (US); Gregory W. Arnett, Solomon, KS (US); and Verne A. Hubalek, Lindsborg, KS (US)
Assigned to Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc., Salina, KS (US)
Filed by Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc., Salina, KS (US)
Filed on Aug. 9, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/536,877.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/717,103, filed on Aug. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0045877 A1, Feb. 13, 2020
Int. Cl. A01C 7/08 (2006.01); A01C 7/10 (2006.01)
CPC A01C 7/105 (2013.01) [A01C 7/082 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A distribution tower for conveying particulate material, said distribution tower comprising:
an upright conduit for pneumatically conveying particulate material in a primary stream toward an upper end of said conduit;
a distribution head at the upper end of said conduit, wherein said distribution head comprises a plenum chamber for receiving the primary stream of particulate material from said conduit, and wherein said distribution head further comprises a plurality of discharge outlets for directing particulate material out of said plenum chamber, wherein said distribution head is configured to split the primary stream into a plurality of secondary streams, wherein each of the secondary streams is discharged from said distribution head via one of said discharge outlets;
a flow adjustment system configured to adjust a distribution of particulate material between the secondary streams without completely restricting the flow of any of the secondary streams through their respective discharge outlet; and
a control system for controlling operation of said flow adjustment system,
wherein said flow adjustment system comprises a shiftable deflection assembly, and wherein a positional shifting of said deflection assembly is configured to adjust the distribution of particulate between the secondary streams,
wherein said deflection assembly comprises a transition cone, wherein said distribution head includes an upper wall, and wherein said transition cone extends from a bottom side of said top wall so as to extend into said plenum chamber,
wherein said deflection assembly includes an actuator for shifting a position of said transition cone with respect to said conduit,
wherein said actuator comprises a rotary actuator.