Agricultural Air Cart Assembly With Individually Controllable Air Flow In The Product Distribution Lines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016192581-A1
Application number	US-201514591304-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 7, 2015
Priority date	Jan 7, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An agricultural air cart assembly is provided with individually controlled product distribution lines which allows for balanced pressures and even dispersal of air through different distribution lines of different lengths running to different sections or row units of a seeder or drill. Rotatable fans are operatively connected to corresponding first and second distribution lines and are configured to generate optimized air flows in the first and second distribution lines which entrain and carry the product downstream toward corresponding row units at balances pressures. A controller is operable to adjust the pressures of the air flows outputted by the first and second fans by adjusting the position of corresponding fan shrouds over the intakes of the first and second fans.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An agricultural air cart assembly for transmitting a controlled volume of product from a storage compartment to a plurality of row units for depositing the product on an agricultural field, comprising;
a first distribution line for receiving a first supply of the product from the storage container therein; a rotatable first fan being operatively connected to the first distribution line, the first fan having an intake and being configured such that rotation of the first fan draws a volume of air into the fan through the intake and outputs an air flow having a pressure into the first distribution line which entrains and carries the first supply of the product downstream toward a first row unit; and a first fan shroud movable between a fully opened position spaced from intake of the first fan and a closed position wherein first fan shroud overlaps the intake of the first fan and prevents the output of the air flow from the first fan.

2 . The assembly of claim I further comprising:
a second distribution line for receiving a second supply of the product from the storage container therein; a rotatable second fan being operatively connected to the second distribution line, the second fan having an intake and being configured such that rotation of the second fan draws a volume of air into the second fan through the intake of the second fan and outputs an air flow having a pressure into the second distribution line which entrains and carries the second supply of the product downstream toward a second row unit; and a second fan shroud movable between a fully opened position spaced from intake of the second fan and a closed position wherein second fan shroud overlaps the intake of the second fan and prevents the output of the air flow from the second fan.

3 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the first and second fans are driven by a common drive mechanism.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first meter wheel adapted for transferring the first supply of the product from the storage container to the first distribution line, the first meter wheel being adjustable to provide a desired rate at which the first supply of product is transferred to the first distribution line.

5 . The assembly of claim 4 further comprising:
a second distribution line for receiving a second supply of the product from the storage container therein;
a rotatable second fan being operatively connected to the second distribution line, the second fan having an intake and being configured such that rotation of the second fan draws a volume of air into the second fan through the intake of the second fan and outputs an air flow having a pressure into the second distribution line which entrains and carries the second supply of the product downstream toward a second row unit;
a second fan shroud movable between a fully opened position spaced from intake of the second fan and a closed position wherein second fan shroud overlaps the intake of the second fan and prevents the output of the air flow from the second fan; and
a second meter wheel adapted for transferring the second supply of the product from the storage container to the second distribution line, the second meter wheel being adjustable to provide a desired rate at which the second supply of product is transferred to the second distribution line.

6 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the first and second meter wheels are independently driven.

7 . The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a controller operatively connected to the first fan shroud for positioning the fan shroud at a location between the fully opened position the closed position; and
a first pressure sensor operatively connected to the controller and being positioned to measure a pressure of the air flow in the first distribution line, the first pressure sensor providing a signal representative of the pressure of the air flow in the first distribution line to the controller.

8 . An agricultural air cart apparatus, comprising:
a storage container holding a product; first and second distribution lines adapted for receiving product from the storage container and transporting the product to corresponding first and second row units; first and second product metering systems communicating with the storage container, the first and second product metering systems regulating flows of product from the product hopper into the first and second distribution lines, respectively; a rotatable first fan being operatively connected to the first distribution line, the first fan having an intake and being configured such that rotation of the first fan draws a volume of air into the fan through the intake and outputs an air flow having a pressure into the first distribution line which entrains and carries the first supply of the product downstream toward a first row unit; and a rotatable second fan being operatively connected to the second distribution line, the second fan having an intake and being configured such that rotation of the second fan draws a volume of air into the second fan through the intake of the second fan and outputs an air flow having a pressure into the second distribution line which entrains and carries the second supply of the product downstream toward a second row unit; and a controller operable to adjust the pressures of the air flows outputted by the first and second fans.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first and second product metering systems operatively connected to the storage container and being configured to regulate the flows of product from the storage container into the first and second distribution lines.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of the first and second product metering systems includes a meter wheel configured to rotate to regulate a rate at which the product flows from the storage container into a corresponding one of the first and second distribution lines to a desired rate.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:
a first distribution manifold having an input coupled to the first distribution line and an output coupled to the first row unit; and
a second distribution manifold having an input coupled to the second distribution line and an output coupled to the second row unit.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:
a first pressure sensor operatively connected to the controller and being positioned within the first distribution manifold to measure a pressure of the air flow therein, the first pressure sensor providing a signal representative of the pressure of the air flow in the first distribution manifold to the controller; and
a second pressure sensor operatively connected to the controller and being positioned with the second distribution manifold to measure a pressure of the air flow in the second distribution manifold, the second pressure sensor providing a signal representative of the pressure of the air flow in the second distribution manifold to the controller;

wherein
the controller adjusts the pressure of the air flow outputted by the first fan in response to the signal received from the first pressure sensor; and
the controller adjusts the pressure of the air flow outputted by the second fan in response to the signal received from the second pressure sensor.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:
a first fan shroud operatively connected to the controller and movable between a fully opened position spaced from intake of the first fan and a closed position wherein first fan shroud overlaps the intake of the first fan and prevents the output of the air flow from the first fan; and
a second fan shroud

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd
• Cnh Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Henry James W

Classifications

• 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

• A01C7/102 Primary

  Regulating or controlling the seed rate · CPC title

• A01C7/081

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• B65G53/16

  Gas pressure systems operating with fluidisation of the materials · CPC title

• B65G53/50

  Pneumatic devices (incorporated in nozzles B65G53/42) · CPC title