Seed deflector and agitator for an agricultural product distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016120102-A1
Application number	US-201514932082-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 4, 2015
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

One embodiment describes a seed planting system that includes a seed storage tank to store seeds; a seed meter 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; and 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

1 . A seed planting system, comprising:
a seed storage tank configured to store seeds; a seed meter fluidly coupled to the seed storage tank via a flow path, wherein the seed meter is configured to receive seeds from the seed storage tank and to distribute the seeds to ground engaging opener assemblies; and a seed deflector coupled to the seed storage tank directly above the flow path, wherein the seed deflector is configured to guide the seeds from the seed storage tank into the flow path at an angle relative to a vertical axis of the flow path.

2 . The seed planting system of claim 1 , wherein the seed deflector comprises a first flat portion and a second flat portion that each extend longitudinally across the seed storage tank, and the first flat portion and the second flat portion are joined at a point that faces away from the seed meter.

3 . The seed planting system of claim 1 , wherein the seed deflector is configured to establish a seed flow rate from the storage tank into the flow path that is approximately equal to a seed flow rate from the flow path into the seed meter.

4 . The seed planting system of claim 1 , comprising a seed gate assembly disposed between the seed storage tank and the seed meter, wherein the seed gate assembly comprises a gate barrier configured to move between an open position that enables seed flow through the flow path and a closed position that blocks the seed flow through the flow path.

5 . The seed planting system of claim 4 , wherein the seed deflector is configured to establish a seed flow void directly below the seed deflector to facilitate moving the gate barrier to the closed position.

6 . The seed planting system of claim 4 , wherein the seed deflector is configured to reduce seed pressure on the seed gate assembly.

7 . The seed planting system of claim 1 , comprising a motor drive coupled to the seed deflector, wherein the motor drive is configured to actuate the seed deflector to dislodge clumped seeds in the storage tank.

8 . The seed planting system of claim 1 , wherein the seed deflector is configured to reduce seed concentration in the flow path

9 . The seed planting system of claim 1 , comprising:
a sensor coupled within the flow path, wherein the sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of a seed flow rate in the flow path; and a control unit communicatively coupled to the sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to detect presence of clumped seeds based on the signal.

10 . The seed planting system of claim 1 , wherein the seed deflector forms a first angled flow path with a first wall of the seed storage tank and a second angled flow path with a second wall of the seed storage tank, the first angled flow path is configured to guide the seeds from the seed storage tank into the flow path at a first angle relative to the vertical axis of the flow path, and the second angled flow path is configured to guide the seeds from the seed storage tank into the flow path at a second angle relative to the vertical axis of the flow path.

11 . 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; and 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.

12 . The method of claim 11 , 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.

13 . The method of claim 11 , 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.

14 . The method of claim 11 , 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.

15 . The method of claim 11 , comprising 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.

16 . A seed planting system, comprising:
a seed gate assembly configured to be disposed between a seed storage tank and a seed meter, wherein the seed gate assembly comprises:
a gate barrier configured to control seed flow through a flow path from the seed storage tank into the seed meter by moving between an open position and a closed position; and
a first seed agitator extending substantially perpendicularly from a surface of the gate barrier; and
a seed deflector positioned directly above the flow path and coupled to the gate barrier by a cable, wherein the cable is configured to actuate the seed deflector as the gate barrier moves; wherein the seed deflector and the first seed agitator are configured to dislodge clumped seeds in the seed storage tank as the gate barrier moves from the open position toward the closed position.

17 . The seed planting system of claim 16 , comprising a torsional spring coupled to the seed deflector, wherein the torsional spring is configured to store rotational energy as the seed deflector is actuated by the gate barrier, and to release the rotational energy as the gate barrier moves toward the closed position.

18 . The seed planting system of claim 16 , wherein the first seed agitator is configured to extend into the seed storage tank as the gate barrier moves toward the closed position to dislodge the clumped seeds.

19 . The seed planting system of claim 16 , wherein the seed deflector is configured to rotate in a first direction as the gate barrier moves toward the open position, and to rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction, as the gate barrier moves toward the closed position.

20 . The seed planting system of claim 16 , wherein the seed gate assembly comprises a second seed agitator extending substantially perpendicularly from the surface of the gate barrier, and the second seed agitator is configured to extend into the seed storage tank as the gate barrier moves toward the closed position to dislodge the clumped seeds.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Roberge Martin J
• Zacharias Darwin L

Classifications

• A01C7/084 Primary

  Pneumatic distribution heads for seeders · CPC title

• B65G53/4633

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

• B65G53/34

  Details · CPC title

• A01C7/081 Primary

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · 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