Method and system for obtaining a sample of dry product from a receptacle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12498301-B2
Application number	US-202117929343-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2021
Priority date	Apr 30, 2020
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

A sampling system and method are used for extracting a sample of dry product from a receptacle. An extraction tube having a perforated portion is disposed in a product storage volume of the receptacle. A pressurized air source is connected to a first end of the extraction tube. A sample collection device is located outside of the receptacle and serves to separate the sample from an airflow driven by the pressurized air source. An inlet of the sample collection device is connected to a second end of the extraction tube. A sample outlet is adapted to dispense the sample, and an air outlet is provided for venting pressurized air.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A dry product spreader for applying product to a growing crop, the spreader comprising:
a wheeled frame; a first receptacle having a first product storage volume; a second receptacle having a second product storage volume; a product application system adapted to receive a first product stored in the first receptacle and a second product stored in the second receptacle, and dispense the first product and the second product onto a growing crop; a first metering device located under the first receptacle and operable to meter the first product from the first receptacle for delivery to the product application system; a second metering device located under the second receptacle and operable to meter the second product from the second receptacle for delivery to the product application system; and a product sampling system configured to extract a first sample of the first product from the first receptacle or a second sample of the second product from the second receptacle, the sampling system comprising:
a first extraction tube having a perforated portion that is disposed in the first product storage volume above the first metering device;
a first pressurized air source connected to a first end of the first extraction tube; and
a first sample collection device disposed outside of the first receptacle and the second receptacle, and having a first inlet connected to a second end of the first extraction tube, a first sample outlet adapted to dispense the first sample, and a first air outlet for venting pressurized air;
a second extraction tube having a perforated interior portion that is disposed in the second product storage volume above the second metering device and a non-perforated interior portion that is disposed in the first product storage volume;
a second pressurized air source connected to a first end of the second extraction tube; and
a second sample collection device disposed outside of the first receptacle and the second receptacle, and having a second inlet connected to a second end of the second extraction tube, a second sample outlet adapted to dispense the second sample extracted from the second receptacle, and a second air outlet for venting pressurized air.

2 . The dry product spreader of claim 1 , wherein the first sample collection device is configured to generate a cyclone with a pressurized airflow received through the first inlet, wherein the cyclone is disposed to separate the first sample from the airflow.

3 . The dry product spreader of claim 2 , wherein the first sample collection device comprises a housing having a conical-shaped portion with a diameter that narrows from a wide end to a narrow end, wherein the first inlet and first air outlet are disposed toward the wide end, and wherein the narrow end is open to provide the first sample outlet.

4 . The dry product spreader of claim 3 , wherein the first sample outlet is directed downwardly.

5 . The dry product spreader of claim 3 , wherein the first air outlet is disposed in an end wall of the housing at an end remote of the narrow end.

6 . The dry product spreader of claim 3 , wherein the housing further comprises a cylindrical portion contiguous with the wide end of the conical-shaped portion, wherein the first inlet is configured to direct pressurized air tangentially into the cylindrical portion.

7 . The dry product spreader of claim 1 , further comprising a valve between the first pressurized air source and the first end of the extraction tube, the valve being arranged to control a flow of pressurized air into the first extraction tube.

8 . The dry product spreader of claim 7 , wherein the valve is located adjacent to the first sample collection device to allow an operator to operate the valve when obtaining a sample from the first sample collection device.

9 . The dry product spreader of claim 1 ,
wherein second sample collection device is disposed adjacent to the first sample collection device.

10 . The dry product spreader of claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle is disposed between the second sample collection device and the second receptacle.

11 . The dry product spreader of claim 1 , further comprising a valve between the first pressurized air source and the first end of the first extraction tube, the valve being arranged to control a flow of pressurized air into the first extraction tube, wherein the valve is located adjacent to the first sample collection device to allow an operator to operate the valve when obtaining the first sample from the first sample collection device.

12 . The dry product spreader of claim 11 , wherein the first pressurized air source comprises an air compressor mounted to the frame.

13 . The dry product spreader of claim 1 , further comprising a prime mover arranged to deliver a propulsive force to the wheeled frame.

Assignees

• Agco Corp

Inventors

• Smith Evan Thomas

Classifications

• A01M9/003

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