Air cart automatic fan control calibration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10820486-B2
Application number	US-201816124624-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2018
Priority date	Sep 7, 2018
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, including at least one of seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed and velocity in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material is susceptible to falling out of the air flow to cause a blockage in the system. A control system efficiently determines an optimum operating velocity for an air flow that is above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for distributing particulate material to an agricultural field, comprising:
a meter module configured to dispense particulate material to a product distribution line;
an air source configured to entrain the particulate material in an air flow for transferring the particulate material through the product distribution line;
first and second pressure sensors arranged at first and second locations of the product distribution line, respectively, the first pressure sensor being arranged at a first location proximal to the meter module and the second pressure sensor being arranged at a second location distal to the meter module, wherein each pressure sensor is configured to indicate a pressure at a location in the product distribution line; and
a controller in communication with the air source and the first and second pressure sensors, the controller executing a program stored in a non-transient medium to configure an operating velocity for the air flow by:
controlling the air source to produce the air flow at an initial velocity, wherein the initial velocity is a maximum velocity producible by the air source;
repeatedly determining a pressure gradient in the product distribution line by calculating a difference between first and second pressures indicated by the first and second pressure sensors, respectively, and controlling the air source to lower the velocity of the air flow from the initial velocity, until a minimum velocity for the air flow causing a minimum pressure gradient sufficient to maintain entrained particulate is determined; and
configuring the operating velocity for the air flow to be greater than the minimum velocity by a predetermined margin.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller further executes to store the operating velocity as corresponding to at least one of a given type of particulate material and a given rate for dispensing particulate material in a data structure.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller further executes to determine whether a change has occurred with respect to the at least one of a given type of particulate material and a given rate for dispensing particulate material.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the operating velocity is a first operating velocity, and wherein, upon determining the change, the controller further executes to configure a second operating velocity for the air flow.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the operating velocity is a first operating velocity, and wherein, upon determining the change, the controller further executes to retrieve from the data structure a second operating velocity for the air flow.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one environmental sensor inside of or external to the product distribution line.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one environmental sensor includes a temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient pressure sensor, and a humidity sensor, wherein the at least one environmental sensor provides feedback to the controller, and the controller adjusts the operating velocity in accordance with an environmental condition detected by the at least one environmental sensor by increasing or decreasing the operating velocity.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an air speed sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the air speed sensor is configured to indicate a velocity of the air flow in the product distribution line.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air source comprises a fan, and wherein the controller is operable to increase or decrease the air flow by controlling an increase or decrease of hydraulic fluid to the fan.

10. A method for distributing particulate material to an agricultural field, comprising:
dispensing particulate material from a meter module to a product distribution line;
entraining the particulate material in an air flow produced by an air source for transferring the particulate material through the product distribution line;
controlling the air source to produce the air flow at an initial velocity, wherein the initial velocity is a maximum velocity producible by the air source;
repeatedly determining a pressure gradient in the product distribution line by calculating a difference between first and second pressures arranged at first and second locations of the product distribution line, respectively, with the first location being proximal to the meter module and the second location being distal to the meter module, and controlling the air source to lower the velocity of the air flow from the initial velocity, until a minimum velocity for the air flow causing a minimum pressure gradient sufficient to maintain entrained particulate material is determined; and
configuring the operating velocity for the air flow to be greater than the minimum velocity by a predetermined margin.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising storing the operating velocity as corresponding to at least one of a given type of particulate material and a given rate for dispensing particulate material in a data structure.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining whether a change has occurred with respect to the at least one of a given type of particulate material and a given rate for dispensing particulate material.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the operating velocity is a first operating velocity, and further comprising, upon determining the change, configuring a second operating velocity for the air flow.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the operating velocity is a first operating velocity, and further comprising, upon determining the change, retrieving from the data structure a second operating velocity for the air flow.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing at least one environmental sensor inside of or external to the product distribution line, wherein the at least one environmental sensor includes a temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient pressure sensor, and a humidity sensor, and providing feedback from the at least one environmental sensor to the controller, wherein the controller adjusts the operating velocity in accordance with an environmental condition detected by the at least one environmental sensor by increasing or decreasing the operating velocity.

16. A system for distributing particulate material to an agricultural field, comprising:
an air cart comprising:
a product storage tank configured to store particulate material;
a meter module configured to dispense the particulate material from the product storage tank to a primary product distribution line; and
a fan configured to entrain the particulate material in an air flow for transferring the particulate material through the primary product distribution line;

an agricultural implement comprising:
a product distribution header configured to receive the particulate material from the air cart through the primary product distribution line; and
a plurality of row units, each row unit being configured to receive the particulate material from the product distribution header through a secondary product distribution line and deposit the particulate material to the agricultural field;

first and second pressure sensors arranged at first and second locations of the product distribution line, respectively, the first pressure sensor being arranged at a first location proximal to the meter module and the second pressure sensor being arranged at a second location distal to the meter module, wherein each pressure sensor is configured to indicate a pressure a

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Gervais Joel
• Paulson Ian
• Mittal Lav
• Noble Scott

Classifications

• A01C7/081 Primary

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/20

  Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed · CPC title

• A01C21/002

  Apparatus for sowing fertiliser; Fertiliser drill · CPC title

• A01C21/00

  Methods of fertilising {, sowing or planting} · CPC title

• A01C7/102 Primary

  Regulating or controlling the seed rate · CPC title