Pneumatic delivery system for application implement using multiple metering devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028429-B2
Application number	US-201715711234-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2017
Priority date	Oct 2, 2014
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A pneumatic delivery system for particulate agricultural products includes one or more compartment for containing and supplying one or more particulate product. An inductor assembly separately receives and fluidizes the particulate products and conveys the fluidized products to a metering assembly. The metering assembly separately meters each of the product flows and transfers the metered flows to one or more delivery units for applying the products. The pneumatic delivery system can be used on various implements, including planters and applicators for applying seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and other products.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatic agricultural product delivery system, comprising:
a plurality of particulate material supply compartments;
a plurality of particle delivery units for applying particulate material from the plurality of particulate material supply compartments;
a plurality of metering devices positioned near the plurality of particle delivery units, each metering device providing a metered flow of particulate material from selected particulate material supply compartments to one of the plurality of particle delivery units; and
a plurality of inductor assemblies, each inductor assembly having a pneumatic source, a flow connection provided to each of the plurality of particulate material supply compartments for receiving particulate material from each of the plurality of particulate material supply compartments, and each inductor assembly having an outlet conduit providing an entrained flow of air and particulate material to each of the plurality of metering devices,
wherein each metering device of the plurality of metering devices is axially aligned with and connected to its respective conduit and each of the plurality of metering devices is positioned near at least one of the plurality of particle delivery units such that an outlet of each of the plurality of metering devices is positioned over the at least one particle delivery unit for delivering particulate material thereto, and
wherein at least a first metering device of the plurality of metering devices is positioned next to the at least one particle delivery unit, and the first metering device includes an outlet conduit which extends through the first metering device and into an axially aligned and spaced-apart second metering device to deliver particulate material through the outlet conduit to the second metering device, the second metering device positioned next to the at least one particle delivery unit to deliver particulate material thereto.

2. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the outlet conduit which extends through the first metering device to the second metering device is positioned above and extends across the at least one particle delivery unit.

3. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the first metering device and the second metering device are parallel to each other.

4. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 3 , wherein at least a third metering device is positioned near the first metering device and the second metering device.

5. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 4 , wherein at least a fourth metering device is positioned opposite to and spaced-apart from the third metering device.

6. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 5 , wherein the third metering device and the fourth metering device are parallel to each other and the third metering device and the fourth metering device each deliver particulate material to the at least one particle delivery unit.

7. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , including an on-demand connection between each metering device of the plurality of metering devices and its associated inductor assembly connected thereto.

8. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , including an on-demand connection between at least some of the plurality of metering devices and each inductor assembly connected thereto.

9. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of particle delivery units includes a rotary spreader.

10. An agricultural applicator implement for applying particulate material in an agricultural field, comprising:
a tank for containing the particulate material, the tank including a plurality of particulate material supply compartments;
a plurality of inductor assemblies, each inductor assembly of the plurality of inductor assemblies having a pneumatic source, a flow connection provided to each of the plurality of particulate material supply compartments for receiving particulate material from each of the plurality of particulate material supply compartments in the tank;
a plurality of outlet conduits, one of each of the plurality of outlet conduits extending from one of each of the plurality of inductor assemblies, each outlet conduit providing an entrained flow of air and particulate material;
a plurality of metering devices, one of each of the plurality of metering devices connected to one of each of the plurality of outlet conduits downstream from the plurality of inductor assemblies and receiving the entrained flow of air and particulate material therefrom, each metering device and its associated inductor assembly connected thereto providing an on-demand connection therebetween; and
a plurality of particulate delivery units, each particulate delivery unit positioned near at least one of the plurality of metering devices, each particulate delivery unit receiving a metered flow of particulate material from the at least one of the plurality of metering devices via an outlet formed in each of the plurality of metering devices, and each particulate delivery unit applying the particulate material in an agricultural field,
wherein each metering device of the plurality of metering devices is axially aligned with and connected to its respective outlet conduit, and wherein at least a first metering device of the plurality of metering devices is positioned near at least one particle delivery unit of the plurality of particle delivery units, the first metering device including an outlet conduit which extends through the first metering device and into an axially aligned and spaced-apart second metering device to deliver particulate material through the outlet conduit to the second metering device, the second metering device positioned near the at least one particle delivery unit to deliver particulate material thereto.

11. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 10 , wherein the outlet conduit which extends through the first metering device to the second metering device is positioned above and extends across the particle delivery unit.

12. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 10 , wherein the first metering device and the second metering device are parallel to each other.

13. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 12 , wherein at least a third metering device is positioned near the first metering device and the second metering device.

14. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 13 , wherein at least a fourth metering device is positioned opposite to and spaced-apart from the third metering device.

15. The pneumatic agricultural product delivery system of claim 14 , wherein the third metering device and the fourth metering device are parallel to each other and the third metering device and the fourth metering device each deliver particulate material to the at least one particle delivery unit.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Roberge Martin J
• Ruppert Rex L

Classifications

• A01C17/001

  Centrifugal throwing devices with a vertical axis · CPC title

• A01C7/122

  using more than one feeding wheel; using double-run feeding wheels · CPC title

• A01C21/00

  Methods of fertilising {, sowing or planting} · CPC title

• A01C7/081

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/082

  Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders · CPC title