Inline product metering system for fertilizer and seed application system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10485158-B2
Application number	US-201815999217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2018
Priority date	Jul 18, 2017
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an applicator having an agricultural product conveying system which transfers particulate material from one or more source containers to application equipment on demand, and meters the material at the application equipment. The conveying system includes an inline metering system including a number of metering devices associated with each compartment of a particulate material tank on the applicator to meter the particulate material disposed within each compartment. The individual metering devices include gates to initially enable the particulate material from a compartment to enter the metering device, and a rotary metering shaft to meter the flow of the particulate material into the conduits while limiting the passage of pressurized air through the metering device and into the compartment. The individual metering devices also include individual motors to control the operation of the metering devices independently from one another that can allow with sectional control and turning compensation.

First claim

We claim:

1. An agricultural product delivery system, comprising:
a plurality of particulate material supply compartments, each compartment including a plurality of outlets;
a plurality of particle delivery units, each of the plurality of particle delivery units applying particulate material from the plurality of particulate supply compartments;
a plurality of conveying systems operatively connected to each of the plurality of particulate material supply compartments, each of the plurality of conveying systems interconnecting one of plurality of outlets of each of the plurality of particulate material supply compartments to a corresponding one of the plurality of particle delivery units to provide a flow of particulate material from the plurality of particulate material supply compartments to the plurality of particle delivery units; and
a plurality of metering devices operably connected between the plurality of particulate material supply compartments and the plurality of conveying systems, each of the plurality of metering device includes:
a housing connected between the each of the plurality of particulate material supply compartments and a supply line of each of the plurality of conveying systems; and
a shaft disposed within the housing, the shaft including a number of paddles thereon, wherein the clearance between the paddles and the housing limits air flow through the plurality of metering devices.

2. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the paddles are formed with a sleeve disposed around and engaged with the shaft.

3. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the paddles are integrally formed on the sleeve.

4. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 3 , wherein the paddles and sleeve are formed from a moldable material.

5. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the paddles are spaced from one another on the shaft to form pockets between adjacent paddles.

6. An agricultural product delivery system, comprising:
at least one particulate material supply compartment;
at least one particulate delivery unit for applying particulate material from the supply compartment;
a conveying system providing a flow of particulate material from the at least one particulate material supply compartment to the at least one particle delivery unit; and
at least one metering device operably connected between the at least one particulate material supply compartment and the conveying system, wherein the at least one metering device comprises:
a housing connected between the at least one particulate material supply compartment and a supply line of the conveying system; and
a shaft disposed within the housing, the shaft including a number of paddles thereon, wherein the clearance between the paddles and the housing limits air flow through the at least one metering device;

wherein the paddles are separated on the shaft into segments, in which the paddles of each segment are offset from one another.

7. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 6 , further comprising a separator plate disposed between each segment.

8. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of metering devices comprises:
a guide defining an inlet opening disposed in alignment with a discharge aperture in the at least one particulate material supply compartment; and
a gate slidably engaged with the guide to selectively open and close the inlet opening.

9. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the number of paddles are non-metallic forming an interference fit between the paddles and the housing that limits air flow through the plurality of metering devices.

10. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the paddles are disposed at least one angle with regard to a central axis of the shaft.

11. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the paddles are disposed at least one angle of between 5°-55° with regard to the central axis of the shaft.

12. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the paddles are curved.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Roberge Martin J
• Denis Joel
• Ruppert Rex L
• Boily Guillaume C

Classifications

• A01C15/04

  using blowers · CPC title

• A01C7/127

  Cell rollers, wheels, discs or belts · CPC title

• A01C7/124

  with top delivery of the seeds · CPC title

• A01C19/02

  by a motor · CPC title

• A01C7/081 Primary

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title