Pneumatic seed delivery system

A pneumatic seed delivery system comprising:

• a bin adapted to contain seed;
• a plenum disposed at a lower end of the bin;
• a semi-permeable membrane disposed between the plenum and the bin to permit the upward flow of air from the plenum into the bin;
• a first seed distribution tube extending through a side wall of the bin to provide fluid communication from an outer surface of the bin to an inner surface of the bin, wherein a first open end of the first seed distribution tube is disposed inside the bin and immediately adjacent to the membrane, and a second open end of the first seed distribution tube is disposed outside the bin, wherein the first open end of the first seed distribution tube defines a first plane substantially parallel to the screen.

In a pneumatic distribution system for distributing particulate matter, the system including a bin having sloping internal side walls, a housing disposed at a lower end of the bin and coupled to the side walls of the bin to permit the passage of particulate matter from the bin into the housing, the housing having an opening in a side wall thereof, a removable insert comprising:

• a partition having an inner and an outer surface, a first opening configured to receive a particulate matter distribution tube and a second opening adapted to conduct an air flow through the partition from the outer surface to the inner surface;
• a first panel coupled to and extending from the inner surface between the first and second openings and configured to be received in the housing opening and to abut an inner surface of the housing;
• and
• a membrane coupled to the panel and covering an opening in the panel.

In a pneumatic distribution system for distributing particulate matter, the system including a bin having sloping internal side walls, a housing disposed at a lower end of the bin and coupled to the side walls of the bin to permit the passage of particulate matter from the bin into the housing, the housing having an opening in a side wall thereof, a removable insert comprising:

• a partition having an inner and an outer surface, a first opening configured to receive a particulate matter distribution tube and a second opening adapted to conduct an air flow through the partition from the outer surface to the inner surface;
• a first panel coupled to and extending from the inner surface between the first and second openings and configured to be received in the housing opening and to abut an inner surface of the housing;
• and
• a membrane coupled to the panel and covering an opening in the panel, further comprising a latch for locking the insert into the housing opening.

A method of modifying a particulate matter distribution system having a bin, a housing coupled to a lower end of the bin, a cover covering an opening in the housing, and a metering device disposed within the housing, the method comprising the steps of:

• removing the cover;
• removing the metering device from the housing through the opening;
• inserting into the opening a plenum having a membrane in a surface thereof;
• and
• providing in the housing a first end of a particulate matter distribution tube such that a first end of the distribution tube is disposed above the membrane.

A particulate matter distribution system comprising:

• a first bin having sloping internal side walls and a first particulate matter outlet;
• a rotating metering device having a meter outlet and disposed to receive grain passing out of the particulate matter outlet;
• a second bin having sloping internal side walls and a second particulate matter outlet;
• a first seed distribution tube having an open end disposed adjacent the first particulate matter outlet;
• a fan disposed to provide a flow of air both to the meter outlet to move particulate matter from the first bin away from the meter outlet and to the open end of the distribution tube to carry particulate matter from the second bin through the distribution tube.