Inventors:
James L. Hunter - Ankeny IA
Cyrille Precetti - Des Moines IA
Paul Chicoine - Johnston IA
Assignee:
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. - Johnston IA
International Classification:
F26B 300
Abstract:
An automatically controlled seed dryer of the present invention is adapted to efficiently and precisely dry seed by automatically controlling the temperatures directions and air flow rate; of air flow through the seed within the bin. The invention includes an upper plenum for supplying a source of hot airs a lower plenum for supplying a source of ambient air, and a mixing plenum for mixing various proportions of hot and ambient air from the upper and lower plenums. The mixing plenum has upper and lower supply doors formed between the mixing plenum and the bin for supplying the mixed air to the bin either above or below the seed. Upper and lower exhaust doors are formed in the bin above and below the seed such that by controlling the operation of the supply and exhaust doors, the direction and air flow rate of the mixed air through the seed can be precisely controlled by an electronic controller. A plurality of linear actuators control the operation of the doors.