Flow Control System

Abstract

A flow control system for controlling flow of materials such as seeds or fertilizer as the materials are fed into a manifold and meter unit of an air seeder. The flow control system generally includes a flow controller which is connected between a volume of materials, such as a tank, and a manifold of an air seeder. The flow controller is adapted to control flow of the materials into the manifold to be metered by a meter unit. The flow controller includes a plurality of movable gates; with each gate being adapted to selectively open or close a corresponding opening in the flow controller. The gates may be manually adjusted, such as by a handle, or may be automatically adjusted, such as by actuators. By selectively opening or closing various gates, the volume and speed of flow of materials into the manifold may be easily and efficiently adjusted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A material flow control system, comprising:
 a manifold having an upper end, a lower end, an inlet within the upper end, an outlet within the lower end, and a meter unit between the inlet and the outlet; and   a flow controller connected to the upper end of the manifold, wherein the flow controller surrounds the inlet of the manifold;   wherein the flow controller includes:
 a plurality of openings that are fluidly connected to the inlet of the manifold; 
 a plurality of gates manually movable with respect to a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings into either a closed position or an open position to selectively control the flow of a material into the inlet of the manifold; and 
 a plurality of rods connected to a corresponding gate of the plurality of gates, wherein each of the plurality of rods is adapted to be manually manipulated by a user to selectively position the corresponding gate into either the closed position or the open position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The material flow control system of  claim 1 , further comprising an air seeder including a tank for storing a volume of seed, wherein the inlet of the manifold is fluidly connected to the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The material flow control system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gates are adapted to be maintained in the closed position or the open position until the user manually manipulates one of the plurality of gates. 
     
     
         4 . The material flow control system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rods includes a handle. 
     
     
         5 . The material flow control system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of openings is rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The material flow control system of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of gates is rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The material flow control system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of gates is flat. 
     
     
         8 . The material flow control system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of gates is slidably positioned within the flow controller. 
     
     
         9 . The material flow control system of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet of the manifold includes a plurality of dividers that divide the inlet into a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         10 . The material flow control system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of openings within the flow controller correspond to one of the plurality of openings within the manifold. 
     
     
         11 . The material flow control system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rods are parallel with respect to one another. 
     
     
         12 . A material flow control system, comprising:
 an air seeder including a tank for storing a volume of seed;   a manifold having an upper end, a lower end, an inlet within the upper end, an outlet within the lower end, and a meter unit between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the inlet of the manifold is fluidly connected to the tank; and   a flow controller connected to the upper end of the manifold, wherein the flow controller surrounds the inlet of the manifold;   wherein the flow controller includes:
 a plurality of openings that are fluidly connected to the inlet of the manifold; 
 a plurality of gates manually slidable with respect to a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings into either a closed position or an open position to selectively control the flow of seed from the tank into the inlet of the manifold, wherein the plurality of gates are adapted to be maintained in the closed position or the open position until the user manually manipulates one of the plurality of gates; and 
 a plurality of rods connected to a corresponding gate of the plurality of gates, wherein each of the plurality of rods is adapted to be manually manipulated by a user to selectively position the corresponding gate into either the closed position or the open position. 
   
     
     
         13 . The material flow control system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of rods includes a handle. 
     
     
         14 . The material flow control system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of openings is rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The material flow control system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of gates is rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The material flow control system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of gates is flat. 
     
     
         17 . The material flow control system of  claim 12 , wherein the inlet of the manifold includes a plurality of dividers that divide the inlet into a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         18 . The material flow control system of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of openings within the flow controller correspond to one of the plurality of openings within the manifold. 
     
     
         19 . The material flow control system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of rods are parallel with respect to one another. 
     
     
         20 . A material flow control system, comprising:
 an air seeder including a tank for storing a volume of seed;   a manifold having an upper end, a lower end, an inlet within the upper end, an outlet within the lower end, and a meter unit between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the inlet of the manifold is fluidly connected to the tank; and   a flow controller connected to the upper end of the manifold, wherein the flow controller surrounds the inlet of the manifold;   wherein the flow controller includes:
 a plurality of openings that are fluidly connected to the inlet of the manifold, wherein each of the plurality of openings is rectangular shaped, and wherein the inlet of the manifold includes a plurality of dividers that divide the inlet into a plurality of openings, and wherein each of the plurality of openings within the flow controller correspond to one of the plurality of openings within the manifold; 
 a plurality of gates manually slidable with respect to a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings into either a closed position or an open position to selectively control the flow of seed from the tank into the inlet of the manifold, wherein the plurality of gates are adapted to be maintained in the closed position or the open position until the user manually manipulates one of the plurality of gates, and wherein each of the plurality of gates is rectangular shaped; and 
 a plurality of rods connected to a corresponding gate of the plurality of gates, wherein each of the plurality of rods is adapted to be manually manipulated by a user to selectively position the corresponding gate into either the closed position or the open position, wherein each of the plurality of rods includes a handle, and wherein the plurality of rods are parallel with respect to one another.