Agricultural metering system having multiple sets of meter rollers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11844300-B2
Application number	US-202117245816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2021
Priority date	Mar 10, 2011
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

An agricultural metering system includes independently controllable sets of meter rollers. Each set of meter rollers includes at least one meter roller and is configured to rotate about a respective rotational axis, and the rotational axes are generally parallel to one another and not aligned with one another. The agricultural metering system also includes meter boxes configured to receive agricultural product from a compartment of a storage tank. Each set of meter rollers is disposed within a respective meter box, and each set of meter rollers is configured to meter the agricultural product from the compartment of the storage tank. The agricultural metering system also includes distribution lines. Each distribution line is disposed downstream from a respective set of meter rollers and is configured to receive the agricultural product output from the respective set of meter rollers.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agricultural metering system, comprising:
a plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers, wherein each set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers comprises at least one meter roller and is configured to rotate about a respective rotational axis, and the rotational axes are generally parallel to one another and not aligned with one another;
a plurality of meter boxes configured to receive agricultural product from a storage tank, wherein each set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers is disposed within a respective meter box of the plurality of meter boxes, and each set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers is configured to meter the agricultural product from the storage tank; and
a plurality of independently controllable motors, wherein each independently controllable motor of the plurality of independently controllable motors is coupled to a respective set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers, and each independently controllable motor is configured to drive the respective set of meter rollers to rotate.

2. The agricultural metering system of claim 1 , comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of independently controllable motors, wherein the controller is configured to output signals to the plurality of independently controllable motors to control rotation of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers.

3. The agricultural metering system of claim 1 , wherein at least one independently controllable motor of the plurality of independently controllable motors comprises an electric motor.

4. The agricultural metering system of claim 1 , comprising the storage tank having a compartment configured to hold the agricultural product.

5. The agricultural metering system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers are in fluid communication with the compartment.

6. The agricultural metering system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of distribution lines, wherein each distribution line of the plurality of distribution lines is configured to receive the agricultural product from a respective set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers.

7. The agricultural metering system of claim 6 , wherein each distribution line of the plurality of distribution lines is disposed downstream from the respective set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers.

8. The agricultural metering system of claim 6 , wherein at least one distribution line of the plurality of distribution lines is disposed generally parallel to the rotational axes of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers.

9. The agricultural metering system of claim 1 , wherein each meter roller of the at least one meter roller comprises alternating flutes and ridges, and wherein an aggregate cross sectional area of the flutes increases along a longitudinal axis of the meter roller.

10. The agricultural metering system of claim 1 , wherein each set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers is coupled to a drive shaft that is coupled to a respective independently controllable motor of the plurality of independently controllable motors.

11. The agricultural metering system of claim 10 , wherein each drive shaft has a hexagonal cross section.

12. An agricultural metering system, comprising:
a storage tank comprising a compartment configured to hold agricultural product;
a plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers in fluid communication with the compartment and configured to control output of the agricultural product to a plurality of row units, wherein each set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers comprises at least one meter roller and is configured to rotate about a respective rotational axis, and the rotational axes are generally parallel to one another and not aligned with one another;
a plurality of meter boxes configured to receive the agricultural product from the compartment, wherein each set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers is disposed within a respective meter box of the plurality of meter boxes, and each set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers is configured to meter the agricultural product from the compartment; and
a plurality of independently controllable motors, wherein each independently controllable motor of the plurality of independently controllable motors is coupled to a respective set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers, and each independently controllable motor is configured to drive the respective set of meter rollers to rotate.

13. The agricultural metering system of claim 12 , comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of independently controllable motors, wherein the controller is configured to output signals to the plurality of independently controllable motors to control rotation of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers.

14. The agricultural metering system of claim 12 , wherein at least one independently controllable motor of the plurality of independently controllable motors comprises an electric motor.

15. The agricultural metering system of claim 12 , comprising a plurality of distribution lines, wherein each distribution line of the plurality of distribution lines is configured to receive the agricultural product from a respective set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers.

16. The agricultural metering system of claim 15 , wherein at least one distribution line of the plurality of distribution lines is disposed generally parallel to the rotational axes of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers.

17. The agricultural metering system of claim 12 , wherein each meter roller of the at least one meter roller comprises alternating flutes and ridges, and wherein an aggregate cross sectional area of the flutes increases along a longitudinal axis of the meter roller.

18. The agricultural metering system of claim 12 , wherein each set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers is coupled to a drive shaft that is coupled to a respective independently controllable motor of the plurality of independently controllable motors.

19. The agricultural metering system of claim 18 , wherein each drive shaft has a hexagonal cross section.

20. An agricultural metering system, comprising:
a plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers, wherein each set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers comprises at least one meter roller and is configured to rotate about a respective rotational axis, and the rotational axes are generally parallel to one another and not aligned with one another;
a plurality of meter boxes configured to receive agricultural product from a storage tank, wherein each set of meter rollers of the plurality of independently controllable sets of meter rollers is disposed within a respective meter box of the plurality of meter boxes, and each set of meter

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Kowalchuk Trevor Lawrence
• Turner Jack Donald
• Engel Gordon Anthony

Classifications

• A01C19/02

  by a motor · CPC title

• A01C7/081

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/121 Primary

  for sowing seeds of different sizes · CPC title

• A01C5/062

  Devices for making drills or furrows · CPC title

• A01C7/082

  Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders · CPC title