Seed deflector and agitator for an agricultural product distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10667459-B2
Application number	US-201815874086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2018
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

A seed planting system includes a seed storage tank to store seeds. The seed planting system also includes a seed meter which is fluidly coupled to the seed storage tank via a flow path, in which the seed meter receives seeds from the seed storage tank and distributes the seeds to ground engaging opener assemblies. The seed planting system further includes a seed deflector coupled to the seed storage tank directly above the flow path, in which the seed deflector guides the seeds from the seed storage tank into the flow path at an angle relative to a vertical axis of the flow path.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for controlling actuation of a seed deflector in a seed planting system, comprising:
determining, using a control system, that clumped seeds are at least partially obstructing a flow path between a seed storage tank and a seed meter;
instructing, using the control system, a motor drive to actuate the seed deflector to dislodge the clumped seeds, wherein the seed deflector is positioned directly above the flow path;
determining, using the control system, that a seed gate assembly disposed in the flow path is moving from an open position to a closed position;
instructing, using the control system, the motor drive to position the seed deflector in an upright orientation to establish a seed void above the seed gate assembly that facilitates moving the seed gate assembly to the closed position; and
determining a seed flow rate in the flow path using a sensor, wherein determining that clumped seeds are obstructing the flow path comprises determining that the seed flow rate is lower than expected.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein instructing the motor drive to position the seed deflector in the upright orientation comprises instructing the motor drive to actuate the seed deflector until a point of the seed deflector faces away from the seed meter, wherein the point is a junction between a first flat portion and a second flat portion that each extend longitudinally across the seed storage tank.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein instructing the motor drive to position the seed deflector in the upright orientation comprises instructing the motor drive to actuate the seed deflector until the seed deflector forms the seed void directly below the seed deflector, wherein seeds are displaced into the seed void as the seed gate assembly moves toward the closed position.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the seed gate assembly is moving toward the closed position comprises detecting motion of a seed gate barrier in the seed gate assembly toward the closed position using a sensor.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Roberge Martin J
• Zacharias Darwin L

Classifications

• A01C7/081 Primary

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• B65G53/4633

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

• A01C7/084 Primary

  Pneumatic distribution heads for seeders · CPC title

• B65G53/66

  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

• B65G53/34

  Details · CPC title