Seed gate assembly for an agricultural product distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016121284-A1
Application number	US-201514932030-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 gate assembly disposed between a seed storage tank and a seed meter. The seed gate assembly includes a gate barrier that controls seed flow from the seed storage tank into the seed meter by moving to an open position that enables seed flow from the storage tank into the seed meter and by moving to a closed position that blocks seed flow from the storage tank into the seed meter; and a first seed agitator extending substantially perpendicularly from a surface of the gate barrier, in which the first seed agitator extends into the seed storage tank as the gate barrier moves toward the closed position to dislodge clumped seeds in the seed storage tank.

First claim

1 . 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 from the seed storage tank into the seed meter by moving to an open position that enables seed flow from the storage tank into the seed meter and by moving to a closed position that blocks seed flow from the storage tank into the seed meter; and a first seed agitator extending substantially perpendicularly from a surface of the gate barrier, 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 clumped seeds in the seed storage tank.

2 . The seed gate assembly of claim 1 , comprising a main seed deflector configured to form a flow path with the gate barrier while the gate barrier is in the open position, wherein the flow path is configured to enable seed flow from the storage tank into the seed meter, and the main seed deflector is configured to form a junction with the gate barrier while the gate barrier is in the closed position, and the junction is configured to block seed flow from the storage tank into the seed meter.

3 . The seed gate assembly of claim 2 , wherein the main seed deflector is oriented at a first downward sloping angle relative to the seed meter, the gate barrier is configured to be oriented at a second downward sloping angle relative to the seed meter while the gate barrier is in the open position, and the gate barrier is configured to be oriented at a third downward sloping angle relative to the seed meter while the gate barrier is in the closed position, and the second downward sloping angle is different from the third downward sloping angle.

4 . The seed gate assembly of claim 2 , wherein the main seed deflector and the gate barrier are configured to guide seeds toward the flow path while the gate barrier is in the open position and to guide seeds toward the junction while the gate barrier is in the closed position.

5 . The seed gate assembly of claim 2 , wherein the gate barrier is configured to move seeds in the flow path to a region behind the main seed deflector s the gate barrier moves toward the closed position.

6 . The seed gate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seed agitator is configured to facilitate movement of the gate barrier toward the closed position by displacing seeds in the seed storage tank.

7 . The seed gate assembly of claim 1 , comprising a second seed agitator extending substantially perpendicularly from the surface of the gate barrier, wherein 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 in the seed storage tank.

8 . The seed gate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first seed agitator is secured to the surface of the gate barrier by a nut, and the nut is configured to establish a gap behind the gate barrier while the gate barrier is in the open position to enable seeds behind the gate barrier to move into the seed meter.

9 . The seed gate assembly of claim 1 , comprising:
a hinge coupled to the gate barrier, wherein the gate barrier is configured to rotate about the hinge to move from the open position to the closed position; and a hinge seed deflector positioned above the hinge, wherein the hinge seed deflector is configured to guide seeds from the seed storage tank away from the hinge.

10 . The seed gate assembly of claim 1 , comprising a lever coupled to the gate barrier, wherein the lever is configured to move the gate barrier between the open position and the closed position.

11 . The seed gate assembly of claim 10 , wherein the lever comprises:
a gate connector coupled to the gate barrier; a linkage coupled to the gate connector, and a handle connected to the linkage, wherein the handle is configured to enable an operator to rotate the lever; wherein the linkage is configured to self-lock the seed gate assembly while the gate barrier is in the closed position by moving to an over-center position relative to the gate connector and the handle.

12 . The seed gate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gate barrier is configured to:
enable the seed meter to distribute seeds to a plurality of ground engaging opener assemblies on an agricultural implement while the gate barrier is in the open position; and facilitate maintenance on the seed meter while the gate barrier is in the closed position.

13 . 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 from the seed storage tank into the seed meter by moving to an open position that enables seed flow from the storage tank into the seed meter and by moving to a closed position that blocks seed flow from the storage tank into the seed meter; and a lever configured to move the gate barrier between the open position and the closed position, wherein the lever comprises:
a gate connector coupled to the gate barrier;
a handle configured to enable actuation of the lever; and
a linkage coupled between the gate connector and the handle, wherein the linkage is configured to self-lock the seed gate assembly while the gate barrier is in the closed position by rotating to an over-center position relative to the gate connector and the handle.

14 . The seed gate assembly of claim 13 , wherein the handle and the linkage are configured to rotate around a first pivot, and the linkage and the gate connector are configured to rotate around a second pivot;
wherein the linkage is configured to rotate to the over-center position by rotating past a center line extending between the first pivot and the second pivot as the gate barrier moves to the closed position.

15 . The seed gate assembly of claim 13 , wherein the linkage is configured to exert a torque on the handle in a direction that the handle is actuated to move the gate barrier into the closed position.

16 . The seed gate assembly of claim 13 , comprising a pin configured to lock the handle in a first orientation when the gate barrier is in the open position and to lock the handle in a second orientation when the gate barrier is in the closed position.

17 . A method for dislodging clumped seeds in a seed storage tank, comprising:
determining a seed flow rate through a seed gate assembly to a seed meter using at least one sensor, wherein the seed gate assembly is disposed between the seed storage tank and the seed meter, detecting clumped seeds in the seed storage tank based on the seed flow; and closing a gate barrier of the seed gate assembly such that a plurality of seed agitators extending substantially perpendicularly from a surface of the gate barrier extends into the seed storage tank to dislodge the clumped seeds.

18 . The method of claim 17 , comprising repeatedly opening and closing the gate barrier until the seed clumped seeds are dislodged.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein closing the gate barrier blocks seed flow from the seed storage tank to the seed meter.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one sensor is disposed in the seed storage tank, the seed gate assembly, the seed meter, or any combination thereof.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Roberge Martin J
• Zacharias Darwin L

Classifications

• A01C7/00

  Sowing · CPC title

• F16K31/602 Primary

  Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided (F16K31/605 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B01F3/12

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F15/0216

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F15/026 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic