Tank pressurization control for air carts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10329101-B2
Application number	US-201815882495-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2018
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A pneumatic distribution system to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement includes a valve assembly fluidly coupled between a storage tank and a primary line. The storage tank is configured to store the granular product. The primary line is configured to pneumatically deliver the granular product to the agricultural implement by guiding an air stream from a first section of the primary line with a larger cross sectional area to a second section of the primary line with a smaller cross sectional area. The valve assembly selectively enables the air stream to flow from the primary line into the storage tank until a first static pressure in the storage tank is greater than a second static pressure in the second section of the primary line by a threshold amount.

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 primary line configured to pneumatically deliver the granular product to the agricultural implement by guiding an air stream from a first section of the primary line with a larger cross-sectional area to a second section of the primary line with a smaller cross-sectional area;
an air source fluidly coupled to the first section of the primary line, wherein the air source is configured to output the air stream;
a secondary line fluidly coupled between the first section of the primary line and a storage tank configured to store the granular product;
a valve assembly disposed along the secondary line, fluidly coupled between the storage tank and the primary line, wherein the valve assembly comprises:
a fan inlet fluidly coupled to the air source;
a tank outlet fluidly coupled to the storage tank;
a shuttle comprising a shuttle hole;
a control pressure inlet fluidly coupled to a meter housing; and
a diaphragm having a first side and a second side, the first side coupled to the shuttle, wherein the first side of the diaphragm is exposed to a first static pressure in the storage tank through the tank outlet, and the second side of the diaphragm is exposed to a second static pressure in the meter housing through the control pressure inlet, wherein the diaphragm is configured to move toward the tank outlet such that the shuttle hole is aligned with the fan inlet when the first static pressure in the storage tank is not greater than the second static pressure in the meter housing by a threshold amount.

2. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1 , comprising a spring coupled between the second side of the diaphragm and the control pressure inlet, wherein the spring is configured to provide a force that substantially corresponds to the threshold amount.

3. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 2 , comprising a first housing coupled to the first side of the diaphragm and a second housing coupled to the second side of the diaphragm.

4. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1 , comprising a first washer in contact with the first side of the diaphragm, and a second washer in contact with the second side of the diaphragm.

5. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the second section of the primary line is configured to entrain the granular product output from the storage tank into the air stream.

6. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly is fluidly coupled to a secondary line, and wherein the secondary line is fluidly coupled between the first section of the primary line and the storage tank.

7. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1 , comprising a metering assembly fluidly coupled within the meter housing, between the storage tank and the second section of the primary line, wherein the metering assembly is configured to control output of the granular product from the storage tank into the second section of the primary line.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Gervais Joel John Octave
• Henry James Wayne
• Bent Ethan Curtis Stephen
• Millie Stewart Joseph

Classifications

• B65G53/22

  the systems comprising a reservoir, e.g. a bunker · CPC title

• A01C7/102

  Regulating or controlling the seed rate · CPC title

• B65G53/66 Primary

  Use of indicator or control devices, e.g. for controlling gas pressure, for controlling proportions of material and gas, for indicating or preventing jamming of material {(controlling the flow of coal firing systems C21B5/003)} · CPC title

• A01C7/081

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title