U.S. patent application number 12/400299 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-02 for tool for calibrating granular dispensers and method incorporating the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION, INC.. Invention is credited to Daniel Kidder, Douglas Arthur Sutton.
Application Number | 20090165529 12/400299 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38531915 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090165529 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sutton; Douglas Arthur ; et
al. |
July 2, 2009 |
TOOL FOR CALIBRATING GRANULAR DISPENSERS AND METHOD INCORPORATING
THE SAME
Abstract
A tool is provided that is adapted to calibrate a dispenser
operative to dispense a selected granular material received from
the interior of a receptacle. The tool may include a handle
extending longitudinally from a first handle end to a second handle
end along a longitudinal axis and a positioning element located
proximately to the second handle end. The positioning element is
adapted to locate the flow control member associated with the
dispenser at a selected position thereby to set a desired delivery
rate of the granular material. The positioning element may be
formed as an elongate projection extending upwardly from a location
proximate to the second handle end or as a flat blade. A set of
tools is also provided such that the dispenser can be set at
alternative desired delivery rates. A method of calibrating the
delivery rate of a dispenser is also provided.
Inventors: |
Sutton; Douglas Arthur;
(Bloomington, IL) ; Kidder; Daniel; (Greensboro,
NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION , INC.;PATENT AND TRADEMARK DEPARTMENT
410 SWING ROAD
GREENSBORO
NC
27409
US
|
Assignee: |
SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION,
INC.
Greensboro
NC
|
Family ID: |
38531915 |
Appl. No.: |
12/400299 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11689183 |
Mar 21, 2007 |
7500377 |
|
|
12400299 |
|
|
|
|
60784184 |
Mar 21, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
73/1.36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25B 13/56 20130101;
B25B 13/48 20130101; B25B 13/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
73/1.36 |
International
Class: |
G01F 25/00 20060101
G01F025/00 |
Claims
1. A tool adapted to calibrate a dispenser operative to dispense a
selected granular material contained in the interior of a
receptacle, said dispenser including a housing having a discharge
aperture formed therethrough in fluid communication with the
interior of said receptacle and a flow control member supported by
said housing and movable relative thereto between a first position
for a maximum flow rate and a second position wherein the flow of
said granular material is minimized, said tool comprising: (A) a
handle extending longitudinally from a first handle end to a second
handle end along a longitudinal axis; and (B) a positioning element
extending from said second handle end along the longitudinal axis
and adapted to locate said flow control member at a selected
position between the first and second positions thereby to set a
desired delivery rate of the granular material.
2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said positioning element has
a length extending between: (A) a first end portion; and (B) a
second end portion that is generally semi-circular in
cross-section.
3. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said positing element is
generally triangular in configuration.
4. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said positioning element is
formed as an elongate projection extending upwardly from a location
proximate to the second handle end.
5. A tool according to claim 1 including a hole formed through said
handle at a location proximate to said first handle end.
6. A tool adapted to calibrate a dispenser operative to dispense a
selected granular material contained in the interior of a
receptacle, said dispenser including a housing having a discharge
aperture formed therethrough in fluid communication with the
interior of said receptacle and a flow control member supported by
said housing and movable relative thereto between a first position
for a maximum flow rate and a second position wherein the flow of
said granular material is minimized, said tool comprising: (A) a
handle extending longitudinally from a first handle end to a second
handle end along a longitudinal axis; (B) a positioning element
located proximately to said second handle end and adapted to locate
said flow control member at a selected position between the first
and second positions thereby to set a desired delivery rate of the
granular material; and (C) wherein said positioning element and
said handle are formed as an integral one-piece construction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
11/689,183 filed Mar. 21, 2007, still pending, which claims the
benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/784,184 filed Mar.
21, 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to agricultural
equipment. In particular, the present invention concerns granular
material dispensers that are associated with large-scale farming
equipment. Specifically, the present invention relates to a tool or
a set of tools useful for calibrating dispensers that dispense, for
example, chemicals formulated as granules from hoppers. The present
invention also concerns a method of calibrating granular chemical
dispensers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Farm equipment has evolved significantly over time to enable
farmers to grow mass quantities of food while making efficient use
of time and agricultural land. Centuries ago, farming was very
labor intensive and families typically lived on small farms using
domesticated animals and simple tools to prepare the land and plant
crops. The long hours in the field during these times generally
resulted in low product yields. Over time, horse powered farming
equipment was replaced by steam powered tractors and ultimately by
gasoline and diesel powered tractors, which are still primarily
used today. Today, farming has advanced into an integrated system
of specialized farming equipment, science, and computers, which has
greatly reduced the amount of labor needed to produce large
quantities of food and other crops on limited land area.
[0004] The marriage of farming and science has enabled farmers to
vastly increase crop yields from fewer acres while reducing labor
requirements. Pesticides, such as herbicides, insecticides,
fungicides, rodentcides, and nematicides are used to control or
destroy unwanted pests such as weeds, insects, disease, rodents,
and nematodes that decrease crop yields. Pesticides are generally
in a liquid, suspension, or solid form. The type of pesticide used
and method of application can vary for any number of reasons, such
as geography, the type of crop grown, time of application, and the
pest to be controlled. For large-scale farming needs, pesticides
that are in liquid form are commonly applied directly onto the
cropland or crops by motorized sprayers mounted on or pulled by a
tractor or an aircraft. Granular pesticides, on the other hand, are
commonly delivered directly onto or into the soil to control pests
living on or underneath the soil surface.
[0005] The proper application of pesticides is critical to ensuring
optimum crop yields. Overapplication of pesticides is not only a
financial loss, but also may result in adverse effects to the soil
and surrounding ecology, and harm to the crops that farmers desire
to protect. Similarly, under application may not sufficiently
protect the crops from pests, resulting in reduced crop yield and
sub-optimum land utilization. Accordingly, it is important that
pesticides be applied using applicators capable of uniformly
delivering the chemical at an accurate rate to insure that the
optimum amount is released to the target area. Consequently, a
variety of liquid and granular applicators, from large power driven
equipment to hand-held equipment, have been designed for applying
the pesticides to meet the needs of farmers.
[0006] At planting time, spreaders are commonly used for applying
granular pesticides such as fungicides, herbicides and insecticides
for large-scale farming needs. Generally, conventional
planter-spreaders are comprised of a plurality of individual
planter units each carrying a hopper having a chemical metering
device for dispensing the granular pesticide. The pesticide
granules are held in the hopper and flow by gravity into the
chemical metering device and then are dispensed through an aperture
in the meter.
[0007] There are a number of variables that affect the rate at
which the granular pesticides are delivered to a target area. For
example, the size of the meter aperture can significantly increase
or decrease the delivery rate. The size that the meter aperture is
set to is also dependent upon the size of the individual granules
of the product. Also, the speed at which the spreader travels
affects total output per unit area. When speed increases, less
material is applied per unit area, and when speed is reduced, more
material is applied.
[0008] Since each granular pesticide has unique flow
characteristics, each chemical meter must be individually
calibrated to ensure that the equipment uniformly applies the
correct amount of the product. Calibration is simply determining
the amount of material dispensed from the spreader over a known
area at a known speed. In an effort to assist the proper
calibration of the granular meters, pesticide manufacturers usually
include charts or tables on the labels of their products that
provide recommended meter settings for specific spreaders at
various speeds. However, the manufacturer's recommended rates are
based on new equipment and farmers strive to improve the accuracy
of the application rates especially since granular pesticides are
becoming more concentrated and expensive in recent years. Further,
since granular products are abrasive, wear and tear on the
equipment can be substantial, causing inaccurate delivery rate
settings as equipment is repeatedly used over time.
[0009] For these reasons, then, many farmers use the recommended
settings as a starting point and calibrate each individual meter
through a common, time consuming trial and error method. This
method typically involves filling the hoppers with a quantity of
product, setting the meter aperture, and then using a collection
device for collecting the product released over a select distance
at a select speed. Thereafter, the product collected by the
collection device is weighed and the amount converted to mass per
acre basis to determine the actual rate of application. If the
spreader applies too much product, the size of the meter aperture
needs to be decreased, and if the spreader applies too little
product, then the size of the meter aperture needs to be increased.
There are several variations of this method that are known and used
to calibrate granular dispensers.
[0010] The calibration methods used today are time consuming and
can be an added farming expense especially if a professional is
hired to perform the calibration. Moreover, these calibration
methods need to be performed each season to account for wear and
tear of the dispensers to ensure accuracy as well as each time a
different chemical formulation or product is dispensed.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method for calibrating
these conventional devices that not only ensures accuracy and is
also less time consuming, but also permits farmers with the
flexibility of calibrating the dispensers for different granular
products and differing application speeds. The present invention is
directed to meeting these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] According to the present invention, then, there is provided
a tool or a set of tools adapted to calibrate a dispenser operative
to dispense a selected granular material contained in the interior
of a receptacle, such as a chemical hopper. The dispensers for
which the tools are used generally include a housing having a
discharge aperture formed therethrough in fluid communication with
the interior of the receptacle, and a flow control member supported
thereby and movable relative thereto between a first position for a
maximum flow rate and a second position wherein the flow of
granular material is prevented.
[0012] An aspect of the tool is a positioning element adapted to
locate the flow control member at a selected position between the
first and second positions thereby to set a desired delivery rate
of the granular material to a designated area so as to calibrate
it. The positioning element may have a length extending between a
first end portion that may be generally rectangular in
cross-section and a second end portion that may be generally
semi-circular in cross-section wherein the length extending
therebetween corresponds to a selected delivery rate. The
positioning element is configured to locate the flow control member
at a selected location so as to achieve the desired delivery rate.
As such, it may be sized and adapted to be at least partially
received in a Y-shaped opening that is formed in the flow control
member so that when received therein, it limits movement thereof at
a selected position between the first and second positions. In an
alternative construction, for example, the positioning element may
be sized and adapted to be at least partially received in the
discharge aperture itself thereby to limit movement of the flow
control member at the selected location.
[0013] The tool may be provided with a handle extending
longitudinally from a first handle end to a second handle end along
a longitudinal axis that is adapted to be grasped by a user. The
positioning element may be configured as a protrusion, elongate
projection or a flat blade, located proximately to the second
handle end and extending upwardly therefrom along the longitudinal
axis. The handle may further include a key hole formed through the
handle at a location proximate to the first handle end. The
positioning element and handle may be formed as an integral
one-piece construction.
[0014] The tool may further be provided with a first flange portion
and a second flange portion flanking either side of the positioning
element and extending outwardly therefrom. Particularly, the flange
portions may be interposed between the positioning element and the
second handle end and extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal
axis.
[0015] As contemplated, a plurality of tools may form a set of
tools used to calibrate a selected dispenser. A ring, such as a key
ring, may be provided through the key ring hole such as may be
formed in the handle of the tools. Preferably the set of tools
includes at least two tools preferably having positioning elements
adapted to calibrate a selected dispenser at different delivery
rates.
[0016] Another aspect of the present invention is a method of
calibrating the delivery rate of a granular chemical applied to a
target area from a granular dispenser having a discharge aperture.
The steps of the method may generally include inserting a
positioning element into an opening associated with the dispenser
wherein the positioning element has a predetermined length. Then,
advancing a flow control member supported by the dispenser and
adapted to adjust the delivery rate thereof until further
advancement is prevented by the positioning element. The opening in
which the positioning element may be inserted may be, for example,
the discharge aperture of the dispenser or may be an opening that
is formed in the flow control member. The method may further
include the step of inserting a second positioning element into the
opening wherein the second positioning element has a different
predetermined length so as to achieve a different delivery
rate.
[0017] These and other aspects of the present invention will become
more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the
following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments when
taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional planter;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a chemical hopper
and a first type of granular dispenser associated therewith;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the granular dispenser shown in
FIG. 2 without the roller;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the granular
dispenser shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tool according to a first
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which includes a
positioning element of a selected length;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a side view in elevation of the tool shown in FIG.
5;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tool according to a second
exemplary embodiment of the present invention wherein the
positioning element has a different selected length than that of
the tool shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a side view of the tool shown in FIG. 7;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-section of the dispenser shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 being calibrated by the tool shown in FIGS. 5 and
6;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the dispenser showing the
effective discharge area of the discharge aperture after
calibration by the tool shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-section of the dispenser shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 being calibrated by the tool shown in FIGS. 7 and
8;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the dispenser showing the
effective discharge area of the discharge aperture after
calibration by the tool shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;
[0030] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a third exemplary
embodiment of the tool according to the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 14 is a side view in elevation of the tool shown in
FIG. 13;
[0032] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a fourth exemplary
embodiment of the tool according to the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 16 is a set of tools each having a positioning element
of a different length and each joined together by a key ring;
[0034] FIG. 17 is a perspective exploded view of a second type of
granular dispenser;
[0035] FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the granular dispenser shown
in FIG. 17 without the roller;
[0036] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a tool according to a
fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention wherein the
positioning element is in the form of a blade having a selected
length;
[0037] FIG. 20 is a side view in elevation of the tool shown in
FIG. 19;
[0038] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a tool according to a fifth
exemplary embodiment of the present invention wherein the
positioning element is in the form of a blade having a different
selected length than that of the tool shown in FIGS. 19 and 20;
[0039] FIG. 22 is a side view in elevation of the tool shown in
FIG. 20;
[0040] FIG. 23 is a bottom view in elevation of the second type of
dispenser showing the effective discharge area of the discharge
aperture after calibration by the tool shown in FIGS. 19 and 20;
and
[0041] FIG. 24 is a bottom view in elevation of the second type of
dispenser showing the effective discharge area of the discharge
aperture after calibration by the tool shown in FIGS. 21 and
22.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0042] The present invention broadly concerns tools for calibrating
granule dispensers, but has a particular applicability for
calibrating granule dispensers commonly associated with large-scale
agricultural equipment. These dispensers are typically used for
dispensing chemicals formulated as granules, such as fertilizers,
herbicides, fungicides insecticides, nematicides, and rodenticides.
The tools shown and described provide an alternative way of
calibrating these chemical dispensers that is more time efficient
and cost efficient than the conventional trial and error method.
The present invention also concerns a method of calibrating
chemical dispensers using the tools.
[0043] In order to understand the way in which the tools of the
present invention calibrate dispensers, reference is first made to
FIG. 1, which shows a conventional planter unit 10 that is a
component of a spreader used for planting seeds. Typically,
spreaders can include 4, 6, 8, 12, and even 16 planter units, which
are drawn across fields by tractors. Planter unit 10 includes frame
11 movably supported by coulter 12, which breaks or loosens the
soil, furrow forming discs 14, and closing wheels 16 to close the
furrow. Planter unit 10 further includes parallel coupling bars 13,
which connect the unit to the spreader (not shown). Frame 11
supports two receptacles in the form of seed hopper 20, which
contains the seeds to be planted, and chemical hopper 22, which
contains granular chemicals, such as fertilizers, herbicides,
fungicides, and insecticides. The seeds and the granular chemicals
contained in hoppers 20 and 22 are simultaneously delivered into
the soil via seed discharge tube 17 and chemical discharge tube 19,
respectively.
[0044] With reference now to FIG. 2, chemical hopper 22 is shown
here in the form of a dual hopper having partition wall 26, which
separates the interior 21 of the hopper into two compartments so as
to be able to receive and simultaneously dispense two different
granular chemical products. The granular chemicals are dispensed
from each compartment by means of two dispensers each releasably
attached to bottom wall 24 of hopper 22. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a
representative dispenser 30 which is in the form of a conventional
chemical meter associated with John Deere equipment, the features
of which are more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,565, which
issued on Dec. 31, 1982 to Wolf et al. (the '565 patent) and
incorporated herein by reference.
[0045] With continued reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, dispenser 30
generally includes housing 32 having an interior 34 and roller 36
disposed therein between two oppositely facing interior walls 36
and 38, which converge toward discharge aperture 40. As mentioned
above, dispenser 30 is releasably secured to bottom wall 24 of
hopper 22 and is in fluid communication with interior 21 through
opening 27 formed therethrough. With additional reference now to
FIG. 4, dispenser 30 includes flow control member 42, which
includes panel 45 having Y-shaped opening 44 formed therethrough,
and base plate 46 having passageway 48. As shown, Y-shaped opening
extends between a first end portion 41 and narrower second end
portion 43. Flow control member 42 is received in housing 32 and
movable relative thereto between base plate 44 and the housing,
again as more fully described in the '565 patent.
[0046] With this description in mind, when dispenser 30 is
assembled, passageway 48 and discharge opening 40 are aligned with
each other while flow control member 42 can be moved in the
direction of either arrow "A" or arrow "B" (FIG. 4) using knobs 31
and 33 (FIGS. 2 and 3) between a first position, which is a fully
open position to achieve maximum delivery rate, and a second
position, which is a closed position wherein the flow of granular
materials is minimized or even prevented. Generally, the widest end
portion 41 of the Y-shaped opening is aligned with both passageway
48 and discharge opening 40 when flow control member 42 is in the
first position. Then, when in the second position, panel 45 is
positioned between passageway 48 and discharge opening 40 at a
location proximate to the narrower second end portion 43 of the
Y-shaped opening such that passageway 48 and discharge opening 40
are not in fluid communication with one another. As should be
understood, flow control member 42 is movable between the first and
second positions to selectively locate Y-shaped opening 44 anywhere
between the widest portion 41 and narrowest portion 43, thereby to
adjust the delivery rate of the dispenser.
[0047] Now that the components of dispenser 30 have been generally
described, aspects of the tools according to a first and second
exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be introduced
with reference to FIGS. 5-8. Tools 50 and 150 each include handle
52, 152, which extend between first handle end 54, 154 and second
handle end 56, 156 along longitudinal axis "L". Handles 52, 152 may
be provided with key ring hole 58, 158 located proximate to the
second handle end 54, 154, respectively. As will be discussed in
more detail herein key ring hole 58, 158 may be received by a key
ring or other connector adapted to connect two or more tools
together.
[0048] Each tool 50, 150 includes positioning element 60, 160
located proximate to second handle end and may further be provided
with first flange portions 62, 162 and second flange portions 64,
164, which extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis "L",
flanking both sides of the positioning element. Positioning
elements 60, 160 are generally configured as triangular, or
Y-shaped protrusions that protrude upwardly from the flange
portions and extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis "L".
More particularly, positioning element 60 of tool 50 extends from
first end portion 66 to second end portion 68, having a first
selected length "d.sub.1", while positioning element 160 of tool
150 extends between first end portion 166 and second end portion
168, having a second selected length "d.sub.2", which is less than
length "d.sub.1". Preferably, the second end portions 68, 168 are
generally semi-circular in cross-section and are similar in size to
the semi-circular narrowest portion of Y-shaped opening.
[0049] Tools 50 and 150 may be formed as an integral one-piece
construction of a mixture containing 40% glass polypropylene and
formed using production technology such as injection molding, blow
molding or similar process. However, the tools of the present
invention are not limited to this construction and it is
contemplated that these tools may be formed from other suitable
materials such as wood, plastics, metal, or a combination thereof.
It should further be appreciated that the handle, flange portions,
and positioning elements of each tool is not limited to an integral
one-piece construction, but may alternatively be constructed as
separate, connectable pieces.
[0050] As described above with reference to FIGS. 5-8, tools 50 and
150 are similar in structure, the difference between them being the
length, d.sub.1 and d.sub.2, of the respective positioning
elements. As will now be understood, the length of the positioning
elements dictates the delivery rate of the dispenser. Turning then
to FIGS. 9 and 10, tool 50 is used to calibrate dispenser 30 (shown
without roller). As assembled, interior walls 36 and 38 converge
toward discharge aperture 40, which is aligned with passageway 48
of base plate 46. Flow control member 42 is located between housing
32 and base plate 46 and movable therebetween in the direction of
either arrow "A" or arrow "B".
[0051] Calibrating dispenser 30 to achieve a desired delivery rate
requires specifically locating Y-shaped opening 44 between the
first and second positions thereby to manipulate the size of the
corridor between discharge aperture 40 and passageway 48 formed
when aligned. To calibrate dispenser 30, tool 50 is inserted
through passageway 48 in the base plate. When properly inserted,
flange portions, such as flange portion 64, confront both sides of
passageway 48, positioning element 60 is received at least partly
by Y-shaped opening 44, with first end portion 66 facing wide
portion 41 of Y-shaped opening 44 and second end portion 68 facing
narrow end portion 43. Once tool 50 is inserted, flow control
member 42 is advanced using knob 31 until second end portion 68 of
positioning element 60 confronts narrowest portion 43 of the
Y-shaped opening, which are of similar size and geometry as
described above. Subsequently, tool 50 is removed from dispenser
30, leaving flow control member 42 at the selected location. As
perhaps best shown in FIG. 10, discharge aperture 40 is, in
essence, reduced in size by the location of the Y-shaped
opening.
[0052] Turning to FIGS. 11 and 12, tool 150 is next used to
calibrate dispenser 30. Since the size of positioning element 160
is shorter in length (d.sub.2 shown in FIG. 8) than that of tool 50
(d.sub.1 shown in FIG. 6), flow control member 42 will necessarily
be located at a different location between the first and second
positions thereby to calibrate the dispenser at a different desired
delivery rate. As shown, tool 150 is inserted through passageway 48
such that flange portions, such as flange portion 164, confronts
both sides thereof and positioning element 160 is at least partly
received in Y-shaped opening 44, with first end portion 166 facing
wide portion 41 of Y-shaped opening 44 and second end portion 168
facing narrow end portion 43. Flow control member 42 is advanced by
turning knob 31 until second end portion 168 of positioning element
160 confronts narrowest portion 43 of the Y-shaped opening thereby
locating flow control member 42 at a location that, as perhaps best
shown in FIG. 12, reduces the size of discharge opening 40.
[0053] When FIGS. 10 and 12 are compared, it should now be
appreciated that it is the length of the positioning element of
tools 50 and 150, respectively, which determines the location of
the flow control member, and ultimately the size of discharge
opening 40. For the purposes of determining the appropriate length
of the positioning element for use with a particular dispenser, it
needs to be calibrated, for example, by any known technique such as
the trial and error method discussed above in the Background of the
Invention section of the application. Once calibrated, the size of
the opening is measured, which corresponds to the length of the
positioning element.
[0054] The positioning element need not be limited to the
triangular protrusion shown and described above with respect to
FIGS. 5-8 to calibrate the dispenser having a flow control member
with a Y-shaped opening. An alternative construction of a
positioning element for this type of dispenser may be in the form
of nub-like projection 260 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. With the
exception of positioning element 260, tool 250 has the same
construction as tool 150 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Positioning
element 260 extends upwardly from flange portions 262 and 264
sufficient to be at least partly received by the Y-shaped opening
and be stopped thereby when the flow control member is advanced.
Positioning element 260 is spaced a select distance d.sub.3 from
back side 261 of tool 250 such that when inserted into an assembled
dispenser in the manner shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, flange members 262
and 264 will confront either side of the passageway in the base
plate and positioning element 260 will be at least partly received
by the Y-shaped opening in the flow control member. As the flow
control member is moved between the base plate, it will be stopped
by positioning element 260 at the desired location between the
first and second positions to achieve the desired delivery
rate.
[0055] FIG. 15 shows another possible positioning element
configuration. Again, positioning element 360 is located proximate
to second handle end 356 and is flanked by first flange portion 362
and second flange portion 364. Here, positioning element 360 is
configured as an elongated protrusion that protrudes upwardly from
the flange portions and extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal
axis "L". The first end portion 366 is generally rectangular in
cross-section while second end portion 368 is generally
semi-circular in cross-section. The length of positioning element
determines the location of the flow control member, and ultimately
the delivery rate of the dispenser. Other suitable configurations,
which are capable of locating the Y-shaped opening at a selected
location to attain a desired delivery rate are also
contemplated.
[0056] Set of tools 70 as shown in FIG. 16 is also contemplated by
the present invention. Preferably, a set of tools would include at
least two tools adapted to calibrate a selected dispenser at
different delivery rates. As shown here, set of tools 70 includes
three (3) tools 50, 150 and 450, each having positioning element
60, 160, and 460, respectively, of different lengths that are
joined together by key ring 72. Key ring 72 is inserted through the
key holes formed in the tool handles such as discussed above with
respect to FIGS. 5-8. Set of tools 70 allows the user to calibrate
the dispenser for a particular granular chemical product at a
selected speed. For example, tool 50 may be the appropriate tool
for calibrating the dispenser for a speed of 7.5 mph while tool 450
is the appropriate tool for calibrating the dispenser for a tractor
speed of 6.0 mph. Further, appropriate indicia could be written or
otherwise placed on the handles or any other portion of the tool to
identify the delivery rate that corresponds to the tools as well as
the selected dispenser. Alternatively, the use of colors on any
portion of the tools could be used so that the appropriate tool is
used for the selected dispenser at the desired delivery rate.
[0057] An alternative conventional dispenser 130 is shown in FIGS.
17 and 18, which is also operative to dispense granular chemical
materials from a hopper at selected delivery rates. Dispenser 130
generally includes housing 132 having an interior 134 adapted to be
in fluid communication with the interior of a hopper and sized to
receive a roller (not shown) therein. Housing 132 includes two
oppositely facing interior walls 136 and 138 that converge toward
discharge aperture 140 formed through end wall 131. Discharge
aperture 140 is generally Y-shaped in configuration and narrowing
from a relatively wide portion 141 to a rounded end portion
143.
[0058] Flow control member 142 is supported by housing 132 and
movable relative thereto by grasping handle end 145 and moving it
in the direction of either arrow "A" or arrow "B" between a first
position wherein the dispenser is set at a maximum delivery rate
and a second position wherein the flow of the granular materials is
prevented. Flow control member 142 can be selectively located
between the first and second positions to set a desired delivery
rate of granular materials. In essence, flow control member 142 is
sized and adapted to cover a select area of the discharge aperture,
which ultimately affects the size of the discharge aperture
available for the passage of the granules. Accordingly, as more
area is covered by the flow control member, the size of the
discharge aperture decreases. Similarly, as less area is covered by
the flow control member, the larger the size of the discharge
aperture.
[0059] Turning then to FIGS. 19-22 additional exemplary embodiments
of the tools according to the present invention are shown. Tools
550 and 650 are configured to set different desired delivery rates
for a granular chemical dispenser having the construction generally
shown and described above with respect to FIGS. 17 and 18. Tools
550 and 650 have several structural features in common. Each
include respective handles 552, 652, which extend between first
handle ends 554, 654 and second handle ends 556, 656 along
longitudinal axis "L". Handles 552, 652 may, if desired, be
provided with key ring hole 558, 658 located proximate to the
second handle end 554, 654, respectively, which serve the same
purpose described above.
[0060] Each tool 550, 650 also includes positioning element 560,
660 located proximate to respective second handle ends 556 and 656
having first flange portions 562, 662 and second flange portions
564, 664, which extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis
"L", flanking both sides of the positioning element. Both
positioning elements 560, 660 are configured as flat blades that
extend upwardly from the second handle portion along longitudinal
axis "L" and have a length extending between two end portions,
wherein the first end portion is rectangular in cross-section and
the second end portion is semi-circular in cross-section.
[0061] The difference between tools 550 and 650 is the length of
the respective positioning elements, which ultimately dictates the
delivery rate of the dispenser when used for calibration. Taking
each tool in turn, positioning element 560 of tool 550 extends a
length of "d.sub.1" perpendicularly to longitudinal axis "L"
between first end portion 566 and second end portion 568.
Positioning element 660 of tool 650, on the other hand, extends a
length "d.sub.2" between first end portion 666 and second end
portion 668. Length "d.sub.2" is less than the length
"d.sub.1".
[0062] Tools 550 and 650 were used to calibrate dispenser 130 shown
in FIGS. 23 and 24, respectively. With reference to FIG. 23 and
additional reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, dispenser 130 was
calibrated by inserting positioning element 560 at least partially
into discharge aperture 140 and oriented so that semi-circular
shaped second end portion 568 confronts rounded end portion 143.
Once positioning element is inserted, handle end 145 is moved in
the direction of arrow "A", causing flow control member 142 to move
along arcuate path "C" from the wide portion of the aperture toward
the rounded end portion 143 until movement is stopped by the
positioning element. Once tool 550 is removed from discharge
aperture 140, the area thereof that is not covered by flow control
member 142 is the length d.sub.1, which is the length of
positioning member 560 and corresponds to a specific delivery
rate.
[0063] Dispenser 130 shown in FIG. 24 was calibrated with tool 650
in the same manner as that described with reference to FIG. 23.
First, positioning element 660 is inserted into discharge aperture
140 and oriented therein so that second end portion 668 confronts
rounded end portion 143 of the aperture. Handle end 145 is then
moved in the direction of arrow "A" causing flow control member 142
to move along arcuate path "C" from the wide portion of the
aperture toward the rounded end portion 143 until stopped by the
positioning element so that when removed, the area of the aperture
that is not covered by flow control member 142 has a length
d.sub.2, which is equal in length to positioning element 660.
[0064] The calibration tools are not limited to the configurations
herein described or limited to use with the granular dispensers
shown and discussed above. Rather, it is contemplated that tools
can be appropriately configured for any chemical granular
dispenser, or even non-chemical granular dispensers such as seed
dispensers. As contemplated, then, calibration tools would be
provided with appropriately configured positioning elements used to
set the dispenser at a desired delivery rate. A set of tools
corresponding to different delivery rates and different speeds
could also be formed for a particular dispenser so as to permit the
calibration of the dispenser at various delivery rates.
[0065] From the foregoing, also, it should be appreciated that the
present invention also contemplates a method of calibrating the
delivery rate of a granular dispenser such as the two types shown
and described above. This method may include inserting a
positioning element of a predetermined length into an opening
associated with the dispenser, such as the discharge aperture
itself, or an opening formed in the flow control member, and,
subsequently, advancing the flow control member until it is stopped
by the positioning element. The method may further include the step
of calibrating the dispenser at a second delivery rate by inserting
a second positioning element of a different length into the
opening.
[0066] Accordingly, the present invention has been described with
some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments
of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that
the present invention is defined by the following claims construed
in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be
made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without
departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.
* * * * *