System and method for metering and distributing agricultural products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016000003-A1
Application number	US-201414325127-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 7, 2014
Priority date	Jul 7, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An agricultural implement includes a first storage container mounted on a frame of the agricultural implement and configured to store a solid particulate agricultural product and a second storage container mounted on the frame and configured to store a liquid. The agricultural implement also includes at least one arm configured to extend laterally outward from the frame, and each of the at least one arms has at least one first nozzle for distributing the solid particulate agricultural product and at least one second nozzle for distributing the liquid. An air metering system includes an auger assembly configured to meter the solid particulate agricultural product from the first storage container into a pneumatic distribution hose, and an air flow in the pneumatic distribution hose is configured to transfer the solid particulate agricultural product toward the at least one first nozzle as the agricultural implement travels across a field.

First claim

1 . An agricultural implement, comprising:
a first storage container mounted on a frame of the agricultural implement and configured to store a solid particulate agricultural product; a second storage container mounted on the frame of the agricultural implement and configured to store a liquid; at least one arm configured to extend laterally outward from the frame of the agricultural implement, each of the at least one arms having at least one first nozzle for distributing the solid particulate agricultural product and at least one second nozzle for distributing the liquid; and an air metering system having an auger assembly configured to meter the solid particulate agricultural product from the first storage container into a pneumatic distribution hose, wherein an air flow in the pneumatic distribution hose is configured to transfer the solid particulate agricultural product toward the at least one first nozzle as the agricultural implement travels across a field.

2 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first nozzle, the at least one second nozzle, or a combination thereof, is positioned to enable the liquid to intersect a flow path of the particulate solid agricultural product between the at least one first nozzle a region above soil or crops in the field.

3 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the air metering system is configured to meter the solid particulate agricultural product at rates of less than 40 kilograms per hour.

4 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein each first nozzle of the at least one first nozzle comprises a first outlet through which the solid particulate agricultural product is configured to be distributed, and the first outlet is directed toward a forward direction of travel of the agricultural implement.

5 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein a position, an orientation, or a combination thereof, of the at least one first nozzle, the at least one second nozzle, or a combination thereof, is adjustable.

6 . The agricultural implement of claim 5 , comprising a controller configured to adjust the position, the orientation, or a combination thereof, of the at least one first nozzle, the at least one second nozzle, or a combination thereof, based on a wind speed, a wind direction, a temperature, a humidity, a ground speed of the agricultural implement, characteristics of the liquid, characteristics of the solid particulate agricultural product, or a combination thereof.

7 . The agricultural implement of claim 5 , comprising a controller configured to adjust the position, the orientation, or a combination thereof, of the at least one second nozzle based on a flow rate of the solid particulate agricultural product, a position of an outlet of the at least one first nozzle, an orientation of the outlet of the at least one first nozzle, or a combination thereof, to facilitate contact between the liquid and the solid particulate agricultural product.

8 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the first storage container and the air metering system are elements of a module that is configured to be removably coupled to the frame.

9 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the solid particulate agricultural product comprises a liquid-activated advanced granule.

10 . An agricultural implement, comprising:
an air metering system configured to meter a solid particulate agricultural product from a solids storage container to at least one solids nozzle; and a pump configured to control a flow rate of a liquid from a liquids storage container to at least one liquids nozzle; wherein the at least one solids nozzle and the at least one liquids nozzle are disposed on a laterally-extending arm of the agricultural implement, and the at least one solids nozzle, the at least one liquids nozzle, or a combination thereof is configured to enable the liquid to intersect a flow path of the solid particulate agricultural product between the at least one solids nozzle and a region above soil or crops in a field.

11 . The agricultural implement of claim 10 , wherein the solids storage container and the liquids storage container are mounted on a frame of the agricultural implement.

12 . The agricultural implement of claim 10 , wherein the air metering system and the at least one solids nozzle are configured to distribute the solid particulate agricultural product to the field at a rate of less than approximately 6 kilograms per hectare.

13 . The agricultural implement of claim 10 , wherein the solid particulate agricultural product comprises a liquid-activated advanced granule.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein a first volume of the solids container is less than a second volume of the liquids container.

15 . A method for applying a solid particulate agricultural product to a field using an agricultural implement, comprising:
transferring the solid particulate agricultural product at a first flow rate from a solids container mounted on a frame of the agricultural implement to at least one solids nozzle coupled to an arm configured to extend laterally outward from the frame of the agricultural implement; transferring a liquid at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate from a liquids container mounted on the frame of the agricultural implement to at least one liquids nozzle coupled to the arm and positioned adjacent to the one or more solids nozzles; and adjusting, using a controller, the first flow rate, the second flow rate, a position of the at least one solids nozzle, a position of the at least one liquids nozzle, or a combination thereof, to facilitate contact between the solid particulate agricultural product and the liquid between the at least one solids nozzle and a region above a surface of the field.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the solids container, the liquids container, or a combination thereof, is an element of a module that is configured to be removably coupled to the frame.

17 . The method of claim 15 , comprising distributing the solid particulate agricultural product to the surface of the field at a rate of less than approximately 6 kilograms per hectare.

18 . The method of claim 15 , comprising distributing the liquid to the surface of the field at a rate of greater than approximately 4.5 liters per hectare.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the solid particulate agricultural product is transferred via an air metering system comprising an auger assembly and an air source.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the solid particulate agricultural product comprises a liquid-activated advanced granule.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Wendte Keith W
• Posselius John H

Classifications

• A01M7/0089

  Regulating or controlling systems (the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06) · CPC title

• A01M7/006

  Mounting of the nozzles · CPC title

• A01C21/00

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

• A01C15/14

  with means for lifting out the fertiliser · CPC title

• A01C15/005

  Undercarriages, tanks, hoppers, stirrers specially adapted for seeders or fertiliser distributors · CPC title