Independently controlled meter rollers and air conveyance components system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10051779-B2
Application number	US-201715695898-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2017
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

The present disclosure includes an agricultural system having first and second product meters configured to meter product to first and second lines, respectively. First and second motors are coupled to the first and second product meters and configured to drive them at first and second metering rates, respectively. An air source is configured to provide first and second airflows to the first and second lines, respectively. A controller electrically coupled to the first and second motors is configured to receive first and second inputs indicative of first and second numbers of first and second outlets fluidly coupled to the first and second lines, respectively. The controller is configured to instruct the first and second motors to drive the first and second product meters at the first and second metering rates, respectively, based on the first and second inputs, and to instruct the air source to provide the first and second airflows with first and second dynamic pressures or first and second velocities.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a product distribution system of an agricultural implement, comprising:
receiving, at a processor, a first signal indicative of a first number of first outlets fluidly coupled to a first meter that meters product from a product tank;
receiving, at the processor, a second signal indicative of a second number of second outlets fluidly coupled to a second meter that meters product from the product tank;
determining, via the processor, a first target metering rate for the first meter and a second target metering rate for the second meter based on the first and the second numbers; and
outputting, via the processor, a third signal to the first meter and a fourth signal to the second meter, wherein the third and fourth signals are indicative of instructions to enable the first meter to provide the first target metering rate and the second meter to provide the second target metering rate, respectively; and
outputting, via the processor, at least a fifth signal to an air source of the product distribution system, wherein the fifth signal is indicative of instructions to enable delivery, via the air source, of a first airflow having a first velocity to a first primary distribution line fluidly coupled to the first meter and a second airflow having a second velocity to a second primary distribution line fluidly coupled to the second meter, wherein the first and second velocities are based on the first and second target metering rates.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the first signal and the second signal comprises receiving a first manual input and a second manual input, respectively, from an operator.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth signals are output to a first motor coupled to the first meter and a second motor coupled to the second meter to drive the first and second meters at the first and second target metering rates, respectively.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising receiving the product from the product tank at the first and the second meters and using the first and second meters to meter the product at the first target metering rate and the second target metering rate, respectively.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the air source comprises a fan configured to deliver the first airflow to the first primary distribution line and the second airflow to the second primary distribution line, wherein outputting, via the processor, at least the fifth signal to the air source of the product distribution system comprises outputting the fifth signal to a first flow regulating device configured to enable a first pressure of the first airflow and outputting a sixth signal to a second flow regulating device configured to enable a second pressure of the second airflow.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the air source comprises a fan configured to deliver the first airflow to the first primary distribution line and the second airflow to the second primary distribution line, wherein outputting, via the processor, at least the fifth signal to the air source of the product distribution system comprises outputting the fifth signal to a first flow regulating device configured to enable the first velocity of the first airflow and outputting a sixth signal to a second flow regulating device configured to enable the second velocity of the second airflow.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Chahley Dennis W
• Engel Gordon Anthony
• Turner Jack Donald
• Thompson Dennis George
• Erker Gregory Jacob
• Kowalchuk Trevor Lawrence
• Rapley Anthony Charles

Classifications

• G06F21/575

  Secure boot · CPC title

• G06F21/73

  by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers · CPC title

• H04L63/062

  for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819) · CPC title

• A01C7/081 Primary

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/102

  Regulating or controlling the seed rate · CPC title