Diverting valve usable in apparatus for selectively creating tramlines

Valve for diverting passage of material such as seed from an inlet conduit to either first or second outlet conduits comprising, in combination:

• a housing defining an inlet passageway in communication with the inlet conduit and first and second outlet passageways in communication with the first and second outlet conduits, with the housing including a V-shaped outlet wall including first and second outlet surfaces defining the first and second outlet passageways, with the V-shaped outlet wall including a semicylindrical depression at the junction of the first and second outlet surfaces, with the inlet and outlet passageways intersecting in a generally Y configuration;
• and a butterfly element pivotal about a pivot axis between a first position allowing passage from the inlet passageway to the first outlet passageway and preventing passage to the second outlet passageway and a second position allowing passage from the inlet passageway to the second outlet passageway and preventing passage to the first outlet passageway, with the pivot axis being positioned at the junction of the first and second outlet surfaces of the V-shaped outlet wall, wherein the butterfly element is formed of one piece and includes a semicylindrical portion, a generally V-shaped portion having first and second flat walls, and a dividing portion terminating in a free edge and having first and second, flat, parallel divider surfaces, with the V-shaped portion extending outwardly from the first and second divider surfaces to the semicylindrical portion, with the pivot axis located within the semicylindrical portion and the V-shaped portion, with the first and second divider surfaces extending substantially the full length from the free edge to the V-shaped portion, with the V-shaped portion and the semicylindrical portion providing a smooth transition between the divider surfaces of the butterfly element and the first and second outlet surfaces, with the semicylindrical portion of the butterfly element having a size complementary to and for concentric pivotal movement inside of the semicylindrical depression and for providing a linear transition between one of the flat walls of the V-shaped portion of the butterfly element and the corresponding outlet surface of the V-shaped outlet wall.

In a seeding device including at least a first row planter unit located adjacent to a second row planter unit and a third row planter unit located adjacent to the second row planter unit, with the second row planter unit being intermediate the first and third row planter units, first means for delivering metered seed to the first row planter unit, second means for delivering metered seed to the second row planter unit, and third means for delivering metered seed to the third row planter unit, an apparatus for selectively creating a tramline comprising means located in the second means for diverting all of the metered seed of the second means from the second row planter unit to at least one of the first and third row planter units for planting with the metered seed delivered by the first and third means, with the seed diverted from the second means creating higher plant population rows as defined by the first and third row planter units adjacent to the tramline, wherein the diverting means comprises a valve comprising, in combination:

• a housing defining an inlet passageway in communication with the second means, a first outlet passageway in communication with the second row planter unit, a second outlet passageway in communication with at least one of the first and third row planter units, and a V-shaped outlet wall including first and second outlet surfaces defining the first and second outlet passageways, with the V-shaped outlet wall including a semicylindrical depression at the junction of the first and second outlet surfaces, with the inlet and outlet passageways intersecting in a generally Y configuration;
• and a butterfly element pivotal about a pivot axis between a first position allowing passage from the inlet passageway to the first outlet passageway and preventing passage to the second outlet passageway and a second position allowing passage from the inlet passageway to the second outlet passageway and preventing passage to the first outlet passageway, with the butterfly element being formed of one piece and including a semicylindrical portion, a generally V-shaped portion having first and second flat walls, and a dividing portion terminating in a free edge and having first and second, flat, parallel divider surfaces, with the V-shaped portion extending outwardly from the first and second divider surfaces to the semicylindrical portion, with the pivot axis located within the semicylindrical portion and the V-shaped portion, with the first and second divider surfaces extending substantially the full length from the free edge to the V-shaped portion, with the V-shaped portion and the semicylindrical portion providing a smooth transition between the divider surfaces of the butterfly element and the first and second outlet surfaces, with the semicylindrical portion of the butterfly element having a size complementary to and for concentric pivotal movement inside of the semicylindrical depression and for providing a linear transition between one of the flat walls of the V-shaped portion of the butterfly element and the corresponding outlet surface of the V-shaped outlet wall.