Patents by Inventor Gerald Funck

Gerald Funck has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190174668
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device (01) for distributing granular material to multiple lines (02). According to the method, a mixture flow is first produced by adding a granular material comprising grains to an air flow which is used as a carrier medium. Subsequently, the mixture flow enters a hollow cylindrical distribution chamber (03) with at least one opening (11) in a transfer cross-section (10). In the process, the mixture flow is converted into a bundle, which rotates about a rotational axis (100) that matches the hollow cylindrical axis of the distribution chamber, of a number or a whole-number multiple thereof of sub-flows, each of which is flowing towards the opening (11), said number corresponding to the number of the lines (02) and/or the number of groups of multiple lines (02). Each sub-flow has a sub-flow inlet cross-section in the transfer cross-section, each said sub-flow inlet cross-section passing over the transfer cross-section during a rotation about the rotational axis (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventor: Gerald Funck
  • Patent number: 9999174
    Abstract: A method for metering granular material, such as seeds, fertilizer, or the like. By way of the method, the granular material being carried and conveyed by an airflow is directed through a feed tube into a metering unit, and guided therein along an approximately circular arc path and tangentially directed into an outlet tube, which is adjacent to the metering unit. The airflow being guided through the outlet tube and carrying and conveying the granular material, which is being conveyed in approximately equal spacing, is conveyed and/or accelerated within the metering unit by means of at least one conveyor disk or fan disk, which is electromotively driven at a regulatable rotational speed and which rotates approximately concentrically within the metering unit. The drive speed is increased or reduced based on a detected torque of the electromotive drive of the at least one rotating conveyor disk or fan disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Horsch Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Funck
  • Patent number: 9968029
    Abstract: In a method for metering granular material, and in a corresponding metering apparatus, the granular material is carried and conveyed by an airflow and/or by its own kinetic energy and directed through a feed tube into a metering unit, where it is guided along an approximately circular arc path and tangentially directed into an outlet tube, which is adjacent to the metering unit and which runs, at least in a section, slightly curved. The granular material is approximately evenly spaced or evenly metered and conveyed in an outer area of the curved outlet tube and is at least partially carried by the airflow being discharged and exiting the metering unit through the outlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: HORSCH MASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventor: Gerald Funck
  • Patent number: 9596802
    Abstract: The invention relates to a distribution unit (10) for a granular commodity such as grains (34), fertilizer or the like, in particular a sowing unit (12) of a distribution or sowing machine. The unit (10, 12) comprises a housing (14) having an approximately circular and/or circle-segment shaped inner lateral surface (16), at least one inlet opening (18) for conveyed granular commodities or conveyed grains (34), a conveying device (22) rotating concentrically in the housing (14) for the conveyed granular commodity or the conveyed grains (34) and at least one outlet opening (24) which connects approximately tangentially to the inner lateral surface (16). The conveying device (22) has one or more openings and/or steps on the outer region thereof, which, in a first housing and/or conveying region, form a pocket with the housing inner lateral surface (16) in which the grains (34) are compacted and conveyed circularly by centrifugal forces, supported by the conveying device (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: HORSCH MASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventor: Gerald Funck
  • Publication number: 20160205866
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for metering granular material, such as seeds, fertilizer, or the like. By way of the method, the granular material being carried and conveyed by an airflow is directed through a feed tube into a metering unit, and guided therein along an approximately circular arc path and tangentially directed into an outlet tube, which is adjacent to the metering unit. The airflow being guided through the outlet tube and carrying and conveying the granular material, which is being conveyed in approximately equal spacing, is conveyed and/or accelerated within the metering unit by means of at least one conveyor disk or fan disk, which is electromotively driven at a regulatable rotational speed and which rotates approximately concentrically within the metering unit. The drive speed is increased or reduced based on a detected torque of the electromotive drive of the at least one rotating conveyor disk or fan disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: Horsch Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Funck
  • Publication number: 20160157417
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for metering granular material, such as seeds, fertilizer, or the like, in particular within a distribution unit or sowing unit of a distribution machine or sowing machine as well as a corresponding metering apparatus. By way of the method, the granular material being carried and conveyed by an airflow and/or by its own kinetic energy is directed through a feed tube into a metering unit, where it is guided along an approximately circular arc path and tangentially directed into an outlet tube, which is adjacent to the metering unit and which runs, at least in a section, slightly curved. The granular material being approximately evenly spaced and/or evenly metered and conveyed in an outer area of the curved outlet tube is at least partially carried by the airflow being discharged and exiting the metering unit through the outlet tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Horsch Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Funck
  • Publication number: 20150163991
    Abstract: The invention relates to a distribution unit (10) for a granular commodity such as grains (34), fertilizer or the like, in particular a sowing unit (12) of a distribution or sowing machine. The unit (10, 12) comprises a housing (14) having an approximately circular and/or circle-segment shaped inner lateral surface (16), at least one inlet opening (18) for conveyed granular commodities or conveyed grains (34), a conveying device (22) rotating concentrically in the housing (14) for the conveyed granular commodity or the conveyed grains (34) and at least one outlet opening (24) which connects approximately tangentially to the inner lateral surface (16). The conveying device (22) has one or more openings and/or steps on the outer region thereof, which, in a first housing and/or conveying region, form a pocket with the housing inner lateral surface (16) in which the grains (34) are compacted and conveyed circularly by centrifugal forces, supported by the conveying device (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Horsch Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Funck