Internal tank augers for air seeder hoppers

Abstract

An air seeder is provided having at least one container with a trough in the bottom floor. Preferably, the floor is formed with a v-shaped configuration converging at a metering mechanism. An auger is rotatably mounted in the trough to move particulate material to the metering mechanism located at a distal end of the container. The auger is powered by a motor mounted on the distal end of the auger opposite the metering mechanism. A remote fan mechanism is provided to deliver a supply of air to the metering mechanism through a pair of conveying tubes. Optionally, a sensor is provided to control the operation of the auger so that the auger only operates when it is needed.

1 . An air seeder, comprising: 
 a frame;    a pair of ground engaging wheels in support of the frame;    at least one container having an outer end wall, an opposite inner end wall, a pair of side walls connecting the outer end wall and the opposite inner end wall supported on the frame, and a bottom floor having an outlet;    a trough incorporated into the bottom floor of the at least one container, the trough leading to the outlet of the container;    an auger rotatably mounted in said trough for transporting particulate product along said floor to the outlet of the container;    a fan mechanism; and    a metering mechanism coupled to said at least one container proximal said outlet, the metering mechanism configured to receive said particulate product from said auger and a supply of air from the fan mechanism, the metering mechanism operable to dispense said particulate product.    
   
   
       2 . The air seeder recited in  claim 1 , wherein the trough is sloped so as to enable gravity flow of said particulate product toward the outlet.