PNEUMATIC DISTRIBUTION MACHINE

Abstract

A pneumatic distribution machine for granular material includes a storage container, a delivery fan for generating a main air/material flow, and a distributor head configured to divide the main air/material flow fed to the distributor head into multiple individual air/material flows, a long main delivery line connecting the delivery fan, the storage container, and the distributor lead, and a return device that includes a movable deflection element that is configured, in a dispensing position, to feed an individual air/material flow flowing into and inflow region of the return device to a dispensing region, connected to a dispensing line, of the return device, and in a shut-off position, to feed an individual air/material flow flowing into the inflow region of the return device to a return region that is connected to a return line of the return device.

Claims

1. A pneumatic distribution machine for granular material, comprising: a storage container for storing the granular material; a delivery fan for generating a main air/material flow; a distributor head dividing the main air/material flow fed to the distributor head into multiple individual air/material flows; a long main delivery line connecting the delivery fan, the storage container, and the distributor head; and a return device comprising a moveable deflection element that is on figured in a dispensing position, to feed an individual air/material flow flowing into an inflow region of the return device to a dispensing region, connected to a dispensing line, of the return device, and in a shut-off position, to feed an individual air/martial flow flowing into the inflow region of the return device to a return region that is connected to a return line of the return device: wherein the return device comprises a bypass line that connects the return region of the return device and the dispensing region of the return device.

2. The distribution machine according to claim 1, wherein the long main delivery line has a cross section with a diameter (d1) through which flow passes, and a length (L) through which flow passes, the ratio of length (L) to diameter (d1) of the main delivery line being at least 30.

3. The distribution machine, according to claim 1, wherein the return line of the return device is connected to a feed region of the main delivery line, the main delivery line having a larger cross section, with a second diameter (d2), between the feed region and the distributor head than upstream from the feed region in the flow direction, and having a larger diameter than in the region of a nozzle that is situated upstream from the feed region in the flow direction and integrated into the main delivery line.

4. The distribution machine according to claim 3, wherein the ratio of the length (L) of the main delivery line to the larger diameter (d2) of the main delivery line between the feed region and the distributor head is at least 25.

5. The distribution machine according to a claim 3, wherein the long main delivery line includes at least two or three, flexible tube elements.

6. The distribution machine according to claim 1, wherein the long main delivery line includes at least two elbow joints with at least a 90-degree curvature.

7. The distribution machine according to claim 1, wherein the deflection element is configured to close off the bypass line in the dispensing position.

8. The distribution machine according to claim 7, wherein the deflection element is configured to open up the bypass line in the shut-off position.

9. The distribution machine according to claim 7, wherein the deflection element is designed as a rocker with two rocker arms the rocker arms in each case extending radially outwardly from a rotational axis of the deflection element.

10. The distribution machine according to claim 9, wherein a rocket arm of the deflection element is configured to close off the bypass line of the return device in the dispensing rotation of the deflection element.

11. The distribution machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main delivery line, has a pressure resistance, the pressure resistance being at least one-third of the pressure difference that is generatable by the delivery fan.

12. The distribution machine according to claim 1, wherein the distribution machine includes a number of return devices, the deflection elements of a first subset of the number of return devices being transferable between the dispensing position and the shut-off position, and the deflection elements of a second subset of the number of return devices, which corresponds to the quantity of remaining return devices, being situated in the shut-off position.

13. The distribution machine according to claim 8, wherein the deflection element is designed as a rocker with two rocker arms, the rocker arms in each case extending radially outwardly from a rotational axis of the deflection element.

14. The distribution machine according to claim 9, wherein a rocker arm of the deflection element is configured to close off a passage between the inflow region of the return device and the return region of the return device in the dispensing position of the deflection element.

15. The distribution machine according to claim 9, wherein at least one rocker arm of the deflection element is configured to close off a passage between the inflow region of the return device and the dispensing region of the return device in the shut-off position of the deflection element.

16. The distribution machine according to claim 13, wherein a rocker arm of the deflection element is configured to close off the bypass line of the return device in the dispensing position of the deflection element;

17. The distribution machine according to claim 13, wherein a rocker arm of the deflection element is configured to close off a passage between the inflow region of the return device and the return region of the return device in the dispensing position of the deflection element.

18. The distribution machine according to claim 13, wherein at least one rocker arm of the deflection element is configured to close off a passage between the inflow region of the return device and the dispensing region of the return device in the shut-off position of the deflection element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Further particulars of the invention are apparent from the description of the example and the drawings. In the drawings:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a distribution machine according to the invention, including a distributor head that is provided with return devices,

[0031] FIG. 2a shows a return device in the dispensing position, in a sectional view, and

[0032] FIG. 2b shows the return device according to FIG. 2a in the shut-off position, in a sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] A distribution machine 1 according to the invention that includes a long main delivery line 2 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. The main delivery line 2 extends over several meters, in particular at least 4 meters, and connects a delivery fan 3, a storage container 4 for granular material, with which a metering device 5 for granular material is associated, and a distributor head 6 of the distribution machine 1. The metering device 5 is configured to dispense granular material such as seed and/or fertilizer from the storage container 4 into the main delivery line 2 in an adjustable quantity. The delivery fan 3 draws in air from the surroundings, compresses the air, and introduces it into the main delivery line 2, thus generating a main air/material flow. The delivery fan 3 is thus configured for generating a pressure difference between the surroundings and the main delivery line 2. The main air/material flow is supplied via the main delivery line 2 to the distributor head 6, which is configured to divide the supplied main air/material flow into multiple individual air/material flows.

[0034] Connected to the distributor head 6 are a plurality of return devices 7, in this case a total of 24 return devices, of which only 12 are visible due to the sectional view, and which in each case include a movable deflection element 8 that is configured, in a dispensing position as shown in FIG. 2a, to feed an individual air/material flow flowing into an inflow region 9 of the return device 7 to a dispensing region 11, connected to a dispensing line 10, of the return device 7, and in a shut-off position as shown FIG. 2b, to feed an individual air/material flow flowing into the inflow region 9 of the return device 7 to a return region 14 that is connected to a return line 12 of the return device 7. The return device 7 is configured, by use of a bypass line 13 that connects the return region 14 of the return device 7 and the dispensing region 11 of the return device 7, to reduce a back pressure in the distributor head 6 and the main delivery line 2, and thus to decrease the pressure loss in the main delivery line 2.

[0035] The main delivery line 2 extends between the delivery fan 3 and the distributor head 6 over a length L through which flow passes, and has a cross section having a diameter d1 through which flow passes. Since the main delivery line 2 extends at least over several meters, the ratio of the length L to the diameter d1 of the main delivery line 2 is at least 30. However, between a feed region 15 that is connected to the return lines 12 of the return devices 7, and the distributor head 6, the main delivery line 2 has a larger cross section, with a second diameter d2, than upstream from the feed region 15 in the flow direction. In this distribution machine 1, the ratio of the length L of the main delivery line 2 to the second, larger diameter d2 of the main delivery line 2 between the feed region 15 and the distributor head 6 is at least 25. Situated upstream from the feed region 15 in the flow direction is a nozzle which is integrated into the main delivery line 2. The nozzle additionally speeds up the main air/material flow prior to entering the section of the main delivery line 2 having the second, larger diameter d2 between the feed region 15 and the distributor head 6.

[0036] Since the delivery fan 3 and the distributor head 6 are supported so as to be movable relative to one another, it is provided that the main delivery line 2 includes multiple flexible tube elements, not illustrated in greater detail. The tube elements flexibly connect two portions of the main delivery line 2 so that these portions are movable relative to one another. In addition, the main delivery line 2 includes at least two elbow joints 16, only one of which is shown in FIG. 1, for suitably feeding the main air/material flow to the distributor head 6. In the shown distribution machine 1, the elbow joint 16 has a curvature of 90 degrees. It is also conceivable to use two elbow joints 16, each having a curvature of 45 degrees. The main delivery line 2 thus has a pressure resistance that is at least one-third of the pressure difference that is generatable by the delivery fan 3.

[0037] FIGS. 2a, 2b respectively show a return device 7 in the dispensing position and in the shut-off position, in a sectional view. As shown in FIG. 2a, the deflection element 8 is configured to close off the bypass line 13 in the dispensing position. In contrast, in the shut-off position shown in FIG. 2b, the deflection element 8 is configured to open up the bypass line 13. For this purpose, the deflection element 8 is designed as a rocker with two rocker arms 8a, 8b. The rocker arms 8a, 8b extend radially outwardly from a rotational axis 17 of the deflection element 8.

[0038] The one rocker arm 8b is configured to close off the bypass line 13 of the return device 7 in the dispensing position of the deflection element 8 according to FIG. 2a. In contrast, the other rocker arm 8a is configured to close off a passage between the inflow region 9 of the return device 7 and the return region 14 of the return device 7 in the dispensing position of the deflection element 8, as shown in FIG. 2a, and to close off a passage between the inflow region 9 of the return device 7 and the dispensing region 11 of the return device 7 in the shut-off position of the deflection element 8 according to FIG. 2b.

[0039] In this distribution machine 1, a total of 24 return devices 7 are connected to the distributor head 6, of which, as explained above, only 12 are visible in the schematic illustration in FIG. 1 due to the sectional view of the distributor head 6 and the section of the main delivery line 2 that is connected to the distributor head 6. The deflection elements 8 of one subset of 18 of the 24 return devices 7 are transferable between the dispensing position according to FIG. 2a and the shut-off position according to FIG. 2b, so that single row switching is implementable at dispensing devices that are connected to the dispensing regions 11 of these return devices 7 via dispensing lines 10. The deflection elements 8 of a second subset, namely, the remaining 6 of the 24 return devices 7, are permanently situated in the shut-off position, so that sufficient opportunity for discharging excess conveying air is provided at all times.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0040] 1 distribution machine [0041] 2 main delivery line [0042] 3 delivery fan [0043] 4 storage container [0044] metering device [0045] 6 distributor head [0046] 7 return device [0047] 8 deflection element [0048] 8a, 8b rocker arm [0049] 9 inflow region [0050] dispensing line [0051] 11 dispensing region [0052] 12 return line [0053] 13 bypass line [0054] 14 return region [0055] feed region [0056] d1 diameter [0057] L length [0058] d2 second diameter [0059] 16 elbow joint [0060] 17 rotational axis