Active system for optimization and plugging avoidance of seed/fertilizer in transport conducts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10123524-B2
Application number	US-201414309102-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2014
Priority date	Jun 19, 2014
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

An agricultural implement has a product supply chamber, and a pair of transversely extending product delivering booms, each with a plurality of conduits of varying lengths terminating in product distributing nozzles. A fan supplies air to a mixing chamber which also receives product from the supply chamber providing an air entrained flow of product to each conduit. A controller monitors product delivery and controls implement operation. Each conduit has a pressure tap near the nozzle for providing the controller with a pressure differential indication. The controller initiates a corrective action modifying the operation of the delivery system when a predetermined pressure differential threshold is exceeded. The corrective action may include an increased air flow volume, an additional burst of higher pressure air into the conduit, a temporary increase in air flow from the air flow source, or a reduction in the rate of product flow from the supply chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural implement for distributing an agricultural particulate material as part of a crop production process having a pneumatic product delivery system, the agricultural implement comprising: a transport unit movable on an agricultural field in a longitudinal direction; at least one product supply chamber supported on and movable with the transport unit; a pair of product delivering booms extendable transversely, one to each unit side, each boom including a plurality of transversely extending conduits of varying lengths terminating in a product distributing outlet nozzle; an air flow source; a mixing chamber for receiving air from the air flow source and product from the supply chamber to provide an air entrained flow of particles to each transversely extending conduit; a pneumatic pressure source in fluid communication with at least one conduit of the plurality of conduits at a location downstream of the mixing chamber; a controller for monitoring product delivery and controlling implement operation; at least one inlet pressure tap for determining a first pressure in at least one of the plurality of conduits; each conduit including an outlet pressure tap providing the controller with a pressure differential indication for the conduit based on the first pressure at the at least one inlet pressure tap and a second pressure at the outlet pressure tap; and the controller initiating a corrective action based on the pressure differential indication to slow the ground speed of the implement when a predetermined pressure differential threshold indicative of imminent conduit blockage in one or more conduits is reached.

2. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the ground speed of the transport unit is slowed by reducing engine speed.

3. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the ground speed of the transport unit is slowed by varying the implement transmission ratio.

4. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the particulate material is a fertilizer.

5. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the particulate material is seeds.

6. An agricultural implement pneumatic product delivery system, comprising; an implement supported product supply chamber; a pair of product delivering booms extendable transversely, one to each unit side, each boom including a plurality of transversely extending conduits of varying lengths, each conduit terminating in a product distributing outlet nozzle; an air flow source; and a mixing chamber for receiving air from the air flow source and product from the supply chamber to provide an air entrained flow of product particles to each transversely extending conduit; a pneumatic pressure source in fluid communication with at least one conduit of the plurality of conduits at a location downstream of the mixing chamber; a controller for monitoring product delivery and controlling implement operation; at least one inlet pressure tap for determining a first pressure in at least one of the plurality of conduits; each conduit including an outlet pressure tap providing the controller with a pressure differential indication for the conduit based on the first pressure at the at least one inlet pressure tap and a second pressure at the outlet pressure tap; and the controller initiating a corrective action based on the pressure differential indication to slow the ground speed of the implement when a predetermined pressure differential threshold in one or more conduit is reached.

7. The pneumatic product delivery system of claim 6 , wherein the ground speed of the transport unit is slowed by reducing engine speed.

8. The pneumatic product delivery system of claim 6 , wherein the ground speed of the transport unit is slowed by varying the implement transmission ratio.

9. An agricultural implement pneumatic product delivery system, comprising: a plurality of transversely extending conduits; an air flow source; a product supply chamber; a mixing chamber for receiving air from the air flow source and product from the supply chamber to provide an air entrained flow of particles to each transversely extending conduit; a pneumatic pressure source in fluid communication with at least one conduit of the plurality of conduits at a location downstream of the mixing chamber; a controller for monitoring product delivery through the plurality of conduits; the controller being configured to initiate a corrective action to slow the ground speed of an associated implement when a predetermined pressure differential threshold indicative of imminent conduit blockage is reached, wherein the pressure differential is measured with at least one inlet pressure tap and at least one outlet pressure tap located in at least one of said conduits.

10. The agricultural implement pneumatic product delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the ground speed of the transport unit is slowed by reducing engine speed.

11. The agricultural implement pneumatic product delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the ground speed of the transport unit is slowed by varying the implement transmission ratio.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Roberge Martin J
• Ruppert Rex L
• Hansen Bradley D

Classifications

• A01C7/081 Primary

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01M7/0003

  Atomisers or mist blowers (single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use B05B11/00) · CPC title

• A01C15/04

  using blowers · CPC title

• A01M7/00 Primary

  Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass · CPC title