Systems and methods for air cart pressurization monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10246274-B2
Application number	US-201514932501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2015
Priority date	Nov 4, 2015
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

In one embodiment, a pneumatic distribution system configured to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement includes a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, and a controller. The first pressure sensor is configured to be fluidly coupled to a storage tank configured to store the granular product and positioned upstream of the meter roller. The first pressure sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of a first static pressure in the storage tank. The second pressure sensor is configured to be fluidly coupled to a component of the pneumatic distribution system, downstream of the meter roller. The second pressure sensor is configured to output a second signal indicative of a second static pressure downstream of the meter roller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and to the second pressure sensor. The controller is configured to determine a pressure differential, wherein the pressure differential is the difference between the first static pressure and the second static pressure. The controller may also be configured to generate a first warning when the first static pressure is below a threshold value and output the first warning to an operator interface, generate a second warning when the pressure differential is below a desired range and output the second warning to the operator interface, and generate a third warning when the pressure differential is above the desired range and output the third warning to the operator interface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pneumatic distribution system configured to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement, wherein the pneumatic distribution system comprises:
a first pressure sensor configured to be fluidly coupled to a storage tank configured to store the granular product and positioned upstream of the meter roller, wherein the first pressure sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of a first static pressure in the storage tank;
a second pressure sensor configured to be fluidly coupled to a component of the pneumatic distribution system, downstream of the meter roller, wherein the second pressure sensor is configured to output a second signal indicative of a second static pressure downstream of the meter roller; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and to the second pressure sensor, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a pressure differential, wherein the pressure differential is the difference between the first static pressure and the second static pressure;
generate a first warning when the first static pressure is below a threshold value, wherein the first warning includes a first recommended action, and output the first warning to an operator interface;
generate a second warning when the pressure differential is below a desired range, wherein the second warning includes a second recommended action, and output the second warning to the operator interface; and
generate a third warning when the pressure differential is above the desired range, wherein the third warning includes a third recommended action, and output the third warning to the operator interface.

2. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the component is a meter housing, and the second static pressure is a static pressure in the meter housing.

3. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the operator interface comprises a display, and the operator interface is configured to display the first, second, and third warnings on the display.

4. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the meter roller is fluidly coupled between the storage tank and a primary line, and the meter roller is configured to adjust output of the granular product from the storage tank into the primary line.

5. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to the storage tank via an adapter fitting.

6. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold value for the first static pressure is between about 0.1 and 1 kPa, and the desired range for the pressure differential is between about 0 and 3.5 kPa.

7. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold value for the first static pressure is about 0.5 kPa, and the desired range for the pressure differential is between about 0 and 2.5 kPa.

8. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the component is a primary line, and the second static pressure is a static pressure in the primary line.

9. A pneumatic distribution system configured to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement, wherein the pneumatic distribution system comprises:
one or more pressure sensors configured to be fluidly coupled to a storage tank configured to store the granular product and to a component of the pneumatic distribution system downstream of a meter roller, wherein the one or more pressure sensors are configured to output one or more signals indicative of a pressure differential across the meter roller; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more pressure sensors, wherein the controller is configured to:
generate a first warning when the pressure differential is below a desired range, wherein the first warning includes a first recommended action, and output the first warning to an operator interface; and
generate a second warning when the pressure differential is above the desired range, wherein the second warning includes a second recommended action, and output the second warning to the operator interface, wherein the operator interface comprises a display, and the operator interface is configured to display the first and second warnings on the display.

10. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 9 , wherein the desired range for the pressure differential is between about 0 and 3.5 kPa.

11. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 9 , wherein the desired range for the pressure differential is between about 0 and 2.5 kPa.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Bent Ethan Curtis Stephen
• Mcknight Benjamin Douglas
• Thompson Dennis George
• Erker Gregory Jacob
• Rapley Anthony Charles

Classifications

• B65G53/04 Primary

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• A01C5/062

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• B65G53/4633

  the element having pockets, rotated from charging position to discharging position, i.e. discrete flow · CPC title

• B65G2203/02

  Control or detection · CPC title

• A01C7/20

  Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed · CPC title