Granular spreader section control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9580256-B2
Application number	US-201414207889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

This application discusses, among other things, granular spreaders. In an example, a granular spreader can include a blower configured to provide a flow of air, a metering device configured to provide a flow of granular material to the flow of air to provide a hybrid flow of air and granular material, a plurality of sections configured to release the granular material using the flow of air, wherein each section is configured to release an adjustable portion of the hybrid flow and a controller. The controller can be configured to receive control information for each section, to enable or disable each section responsive to the control information, and to adjust a speed of the blower based on the control information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a blower configured to provide a flow of air;
a metering device configured to provide a flow of granular material to the flow of air to provide a hybrid flow of air and granular material;
a plurality of sections configured to release the granular material using the flow of air, wherein each section is configured to release an adjustable portion of the hybrid flow;
a first manifold configured to receive the hybrid flow and provide a plurality of partial hybrid flows to the plurality of sections;
a manifold pressure sensor configured to provide pressure information of the first manifold; and
a controller to receive control information for each section, to enable or disable each section responsive to the control information, and to adjust a speed of the blower using the pressure information and target pressure information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the blower includes one or more fans.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , where in the metering device includes a metering belt.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metering device includes a metering wheel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metering device includes an auger.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes memory configured to store one or more blower profiles, each profile based on a different granular material;
wherein each blower profile is configured to provide a target blower speed as a function of the control signals; and
wherein the controller is configured to adjust the speed of the blower using the target blower speed.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the blower includes a speed sensor configured to provide speed information of the blower, and wherein the controller is configured to regulate the speed of the blower using the speed information.

Assignees

• Raven Ind Inc

Inventors

• Wagers Jesse Lee
• Kocer Jared Ernest
• Michael Nicholas O

Classifications

• A01C7/081 Primary

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/102

  Regulating or controlling the seed rate · CPC title

• B65G53/40 Primary

  Feeding or discharging devices · CPC title