Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02565030 2006-10-20
ELECTRONIC PULSING OF CHEMICAL WITH SEED
BACKGROUND
[0001] Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to dispensing seeds and insecticides
and,
more particularly, to electronically releasing chemical granules in close
proximity to a
dispensed seed by sensing the passage of a seed through a tube and releasing a
chemical granule.
[0003] Description of Related Art
[0004] Planting and chemical granular dispensing systems for dispensing seed
and
insecticides, herbicides, fungicides or fertilizers, have made the handling of
seed and
chemical granules less hazardous to the agricultural worker by providing a
closed
container system, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,848 and U.S.
Pat.
No. 4,971,255, incorporated by reference herein and the SmartBox System
marketed
by AMVAC Chemical Corporation. Briefly, as described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,301,848,
access to and from a container in a closed container system is available
through a
single opening in the bottom wall of the container, offering distinct
advantages over an
open-top, non-removable container design in an open container system.
[0005] Closed container systems provide a removable container which is pre-
filled
with the chemical granules of toxic materials such as insecticides,
fertilizers,
herbicides and other pesticides, thereby eliminating the need to open and pour
bags of
chemical granules into storage hoppers. Since the closed container system is
largely
not open to the air, agricultural workers have less opportunity to come into
contact with
the chemical granules, thereby reducing skin and inhalation exposure to the
hazardous chemicals.
[0006] While closed container systems reduce the risk of chemical exposure to
agricultural works and others and still dispense the insecticides, pesticides,
herbicides
or fertilizers based on a desired rate, the amount of chemical granules
dispensed is
often still greater than what is needed to provide a desired effect. For
instance, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,271,343 describes a planter system in which chemical granules are
dispensed along the entire length of the seed furrow, or trench. In this
situation, much
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of the dispensed chemical granules in the seed furrow are not effectively used
due to
the distance from the planted seed, reducing overall efficiency.
[0007] Research has indicated that it is inefficient to use the conventional
method of
dispensing chemical granules, in which chemical granules are dispersed over an
entire
length of the seed furrow in which seed is planted. Instead, dispensing
smaller
amounts of the chemical granules of insecticides and other pesticides in close
proximity to the seed not only obtains the desired effect of eliminating
insects or pests,
but also reduces the amount of chemical agent that is used to obtain such an
effect.
As such, the result is more cost effective, environmentally friendly, and less
hazardous, while maintaining the desired effect of the chemical granules.
[0008] There is a need for a chemical dispensation that more closely regulates
the
amount of chemical dispensed with the seed.
[0009] There is further a need for a chemical dispensation system that
dispenses the
chemical in closer proximity with the seed.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0010] The present disclosure addresses the foregoing deficiencies of the
prior art by
providing a method and system to increase the effectiveness of soil-applied
chemicals
at planting by delivering the chemical granules and a seed in close proximity
with each
other.
[0011] In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system
is
provided for electronically pulsing chemical with seed. The system comprises a
chemical granule tube configured to dispense chemical granules. The system
further
comprises a proximity sensor configured to sense the dispensation of a seed.
The
system also comprises an electrical pulsing valve operably coupled to both the
chemical granule tube and the proximity sensor, the valve being configured to
open so
that chemical granules may be dispensed from the chemical granule tube upon
detection of the presence of a seed by the proximity sensor.
[0012] In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a
system is
provided for eiectronically pulsing chemical with seed. The system comprises a
chemical granule tube configured to dispense chemical granules, and a
proximity
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sensor configured to sense the dispensation of a seed. The system further
comprises
an electrical pulsing valve operably coupled to both the chemical granule tube
and the
proximity sensor, the valve being configured to open so that chemical granules
may be
dispensed from the chemical granule tube upon detection of the presence of a
seed by
the proximity sensor. The system also comprises a chemical granule metering
system
configured to distribute a particular quantity of chemical granules with the
seeds,
according to the ground speed of a vehicle incorporating the system, wherein
the
ground speed is detected by a speed sensing unit on the vehicle.
[0013] In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure a
method is provided for electronically pulsing chemical with the seed. The
method
comprises dispensing at least one seed through a seed dispensing tube, sensing
the
presence of the at least one seed as it exits the seed dispensing tube. The
method
further comprises electronically pulsing chemical granules when the seed's
presence
is detected.
[0014] These, as well as other objects, features and benefits will now become
clear
from a review of the following detailed description of illustrative
embodiments and the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seed and chemical granule dispensing
tube
system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the seed and chemical granule dispensing
tube
system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a distributed control system that includes main
microcontroller unit
having a display and keypad for operator interface.
[0018] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate the metering device and memory unit shown in
FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The present disclosure is directed to an electronically controlled seed
and
chemical dispensing system that includes a seed hopper configured to store
seeds, a
seed dispensing tube configured to dispense seeds; a seed sensing device,
e.g., a
proximity sensor, coupled to the seed to detect the presence of a seed; and an
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electronic pulsing valve configured to pulse chemical when the presence of
seed is
detected.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seed and chemical granule dispensing
tube
system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
Specifically,
system 100 includes a seed compartment and a granule storage compartment for
holding insecticide or other pesticides. System 100 may be disposed on top of
planter
unit 110, and may be removable from planter unit 110. As such, system 100 can
be
returned to the seed and insecticide distributor for refilling.
[0021] Planter unit 110 may follow behind a seed trenching unit (not shown) or
may
include a seed trenching unit (not shown). In either case, a seed furrow A is
trenched
in the soil. As will be discussed below in more detail, the seed and the
chemical
granules may be passed through a seed dispensing tube of planter unit 110,
which
includes an output 120 immediately before depth control wheels 130. Depth
control
wheels 130 may control the seed trench depth. Closing wheels 180 tum the soil
to
cover the seed furrow..
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrated is a schematic view of the seed
and
chemical granule dispensing tube system in accordance with one embodiment of
the
present invention. Although Fig. 2 shows one such system 200, it should be
understood that typical planters includes multiple systems, e.g., twenty-four
(24) of
such systems. As shown in FIG. 2, the system 200 includes seed hopper 210 and
granule storage hopper 215. At the bottom of seed hopper 210 may be a seed
dispensing tube 220 into which seeds may be dispatched from seed hopper 210 in
a
metered fashion.
[0023] More specifically, a meter may be built into the bottom of seed hopper
210
that turns to dispense seed. The manner in which the seed may be metered or
dispensed is similar to the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,848, which
is
incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, a gate or door may be used in
the
meter's stead to electronically open and close to allow a single seed to be
deposited in
a seed furrow.
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[0024] Granule storage hopper 215 has a discharge opening (not shown) which
is connected to chemical tube 250. Granule storage hopper 215 includes a
pulsing electrical valve 260 and/or a gate or door which opens or closes in
order
to permit the flow of chemical granules. It may be desirable for the pulsing
electrical valve to be as close to the seed discharge opening as possible so
the
chemical pulses will not have time to lose their integrity and break down into
a
continuous stream. In order for the pulsing electrical valve to be small
enough to fit
into the area of the seed tube discharge area, a meter design such as in the
5,156,372 will have to be used. Furrow opening wheel 280 may be mounted
between depth control wheels and may be used to open a furrow into which the
seeds and chemical granules are dispensed. Furrow closing wheel 290 may be
used to close a furrow into which the seeds and chemical granules are
dispensed.
[00251 Chemical granules may held within chemical tube 250 and may not be
dispensed until a seed drops through seed dispensing tube 220. A seed sensing
device, e.g., proximity sensor 270, may sense the presence of a seed being
dispensed
through the seed dispensing tube 120. Proximity sensor 270 may be disposed on
the
exterior of seed dispensing tube 120 as shown. Alternatively, proximity sensor
may be
disposed within seed dispensing tube, or within in any location along the
longitude or
cross-section or elsewhere in the seed and chemical granule dispensing system
where
it may sense the presence of a seed that has been dispensed from the seed
dispensing tube for the purpose of timing a dispensation of chemical granules.
[0026] When the proximity sensor 270 senses the presence of a seed in the seed
dispensing tube, it may send a signal via an electrical connection 272 to one
or more
control units which may reside in the cab of a tractor that pushes or pulls
the system
200 for dispensing chemical with seed. The one or more control units may then
send
a signal to the electrical valve 260 via an electrical connection between the
one or
more control units and the electrical valve 260.
[0027] The granule storage hopper 215 may include a "Smart Box" mechanism that
automatically adjusts the quantity of chemical granules that are dispensed
along with
the seeds, taking into account changes in speed of the planting. A
subcontroller 255
may be used to adjust the quantity of chemical granules that are dispensed
along with
the seed. The "Smart Box" subcontroller 255 may be operably coupled via
electrical
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connection 345 to the radar of the vehicle or tractor that is used to move the
system
200 around a field in which seeds and chemicals are to be dispensed. The
"Smart
Box" mechanism is generally described in U.S. Patent No. 5,737,221, which is
incorporated by reference herein.
[00281 The Smart Box mechanism may be used to accomplish a desired chemical
granule dispensing rate, taking into account both the ground speed of the
vehicle used
to dispense the chemical granules and calibration data associated with the
metering of
the granule hopper 215. After the proximity sensor 270 senses the presence of
a
seed, the Smart Box metering mechanism 217 may control the amount of chemical
granule that is dispensed with each seed. For example, the metering mechanism
217
could be controlled to allow for a certain number of milligrams of chemical
per seed.
Alternatively, the metering mechanism may be configured to permit a specified
quantity in terms of pounds per acre of chemical granules to be dispensed
along with
the seed. The electronic pulsing valve 260 determines when this amount should
be
dispensed.
[00291 Referring now to Fig. 3, the Smart Box mechanism may be incorporated
within a distributed control system that includes as the main controller main
microcontroller unit 310 having a display 315 and keypad 320 for operator
interface. A
speed sensing unit, e.g., radar 325, may be connected to the main control unit
310 to
provide ground speed. Ground speed may be used to modify the material
dispensing
rate to account for the planter's speed. The main control unit 310 may be
connected
to a junction box 340 by a high speed serial communications link 345. The main
controller 310 may be in constant communication through the serial
communications
link 345 to a subcontroller 255 located on a planter such as that shown in
Fig. 2.
[00301 The subcontrollers on the planters may allow a method of multiplexing
signals
going to the main controller 310. The main controller 310 may control a 24-row
planter
with only nine wires going to a junction box 340. One pair of wires may be
used for
serial communications, three pairs of wires may be used to power the
subcontroller
255 and metering device 240. One wire may be provided for the lift switch 330.
Three
pairs of wires may be used to more evenly distribute the current requirements.
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[0031] The main controller 310 may also contain a non-volatile memory unit,
typically
known as "flash" memory. Information pertaining to the usage and application
of
pesticides is stored in this nonvolatile memory unit_
[0032] The junction box 340 may be connected by additional portions of the
serial
communications link 345 to a plurality of subcontroller units. Each
subcontroller unit
255 may be associated with one row of the planter. The junction box 340 may
connect
up to eight row control units to the main control unit 310. If the planter 110
has more
than eight rows, additional junction boxes 340 may be connected in series to
the first
junction box 340. A lift switch 330 may be connected to the first junction box
340. The
lift switch 330 may indicate when the planter 110 is not in an operating
position. Other
interfaces to the main control unit 310 may be provided such as serial or
parallel links
for transmitting information to other computer systems or printers. As shown,
the
proximity sensor communication link 272 and valve communication link 262 are
also
interfaced with main control unit 310.
[0033] The subcontroller 255 may have memory devices and logic devices within
to
modify and implement the commands from the main controller 310. The
subcontroller
255 may read information from a container memory circuit 430 attached to the
pesticide container 215 and manipulate the commands from the main controller
310 to
properly operate the metering device 240. For example, if the concentration of
pesticide on a first row is different from the concentration of pesticide on a
second
row, the subcontroller 255 can modify the commands of the main controller 310
to
properly dispense pesticides from all rows. The subcontroller 255 may also
read
metering device 240 calibration data from the container memory circuit 430 and
modify
the main controller 310 commands to account for differences in performance of
different metering devices.
[0034] The subcontroller 255 may allow the operator of the cab to completely
change
the programmed functions of the main controller 310. For example, if a pre-
programmed subcontroller 255 were placed on a liquid herbicide sprayer, the
main
controller 310 might be able to read the dispenser type information and
operate as a
liquid sprayer controller.
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[00351 In the illustrated figures, one subcontroller is used to control one
metering
device and memory unit 240. It should be understood, however, that a
subcontroller
255 may control multiple devices, for example, two metering device and memory
units
240 or one metering device and memory unit 240 and one seed hopper and seed
planting mechanism.
[00361 Referring now to Figs. 4A-4C, illustrated is the metering device and
memory
unit 240 is shown in FIG. 2. The metering apparatus 411, for use with a
pesticide
container, includes a top orifice plate 405 that may be fastened to the bottom
of a
pesticide container. Just above the top orifice plate 405 may be disposed a
screen
403 for screening granular materials to be passed through the metering
apparatus
411. Disposed through top orifice plate 405 may be an inlet aperture that
permits the
introduction of chemical granules from the pesticide container into the
metering
apparatus 411.
[0037] The metering apparatus 411 may be electromechanical and may be attached
to the top orifice plate 405. The metering apparatus 411 may incorporate an
electric
solenoid 410. The solenoid 410 may be in contact with a flow sensor 415 or
other
sensing unit which is, in turn, coupled to outlet aperture 420.
100381 Outlet aperture 420 may include, disposed therein, a calibrated orifice
425.
The maximum flow rating for specified chemicals will be known, and the flow
rating
through the calibrated orifice 425 may reflect the maximum flow rating for
such
materials. When the metering apparatus 411 has material entering its top
orifice plate
405 faster than the maximum flow rating for a particular material, the
material tends to
back up at the outlet aperture 420 and/or calibrated orifice 425 and set off
the flow
sensor 415.
100391 By using the controller rate adjustment, the operator may increase the
flow
rate of the material through the metering apparatus 411 until the flow sensor
415
signals the controller that the material has built up on the flow sensor
orifice. The
operator than compares the flow rate from the controller to the maximum flow
rate for
the orifice. The controller calibration mode may list the calibration number
for each
meter. The operator may then adjust the calibration number for the metering
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apparatus 411 so the controller flow rate agrees with the orifice flow rate.
The
adjustment may also be done manually in ways known to an ordinary skilled
artisan. If
the memory in the controller for the metering apparatus 411 is sufficiently
large. the
controller may be able to check calibration during the planting process, i.e.,
the
process of depositing seed into the furrow.
(004131 Operator access to the calibrated orifice 425 may be desired. In this
connection, the bottom of the metering apparatus 411 may have a connector on
the
flow sensor 415 removed. The connector may be bolted over the flow sensor 415
with four mounting bolts. The calibrated orifice 425 may be disposed on top of
the
connector and may be changed easily by removing the four bolts.
[0041] The meter screen 403 should be as small as possible to prevent plugging
of
the calibrated orifice 425.
[0042] The solenoid 410 may be energized by a subcontroller 255 operably
coupled
to the metering apparatus 411 to allow pesticide to flow by gravity from the
pesticide
container that may be disposed above the metering apparatus 411 or any other
desired location that would permit the metering apparatus 411 to be calibrated
in
accordance with the present disclosure. The solenoid may be electrically
connected to
a motherboard 443 which is, in turn. connected to an electronic memory circuit
430.
[0043] It may be desirable to seal the solenoid 410 from the pesticide or
other
chemical granules that may be introduced into the metering apparatus.
Pesticide
entering the solenoid 410 could cause premature failure of the solenoid 410.
The
solenoid 410 may be sealed by a cover (not shown) to prevent entry of
pesticide or
other chemical granules into the solenoid 410.
[0044] An electronic memory circuit 430 may be connected to the motherboard. A
multi-conductor cable 455, connector 460 and cable or connector 464 may be
used to
connect the electronic memory circuit 430 to a subcontroller 255 for the
solenoid
and/or metering apparatuS 411. In accordance with one embodiment of the
present
disclosure, the subcontroller 255 may directly apply electrical power to the
solenoid
410 through power wires 465. In addition to connecting the subcontroller
solenoid
power to the solenoid 410, the electronic memory circuit 430 may also include
a non-
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volatile memory device 470. The memory device 470 may be an E PROM, a non-
volatile memory device that is electrically erasable programmable memory, also
referred to as EEPROM or E<sup>2</sup> PROM. The flow sensor 415 may also be
electrically connected to the motherboard 443 via wire 463.
[0045] The combination of the electronic memory 470 and the pesticide
container
with attached metering device 411 may create a material container capable of
electronically remembering and storing data important to the container, the
material
dispensing system, and the pesticide. Among the data which could be stored
are: a
serial number unique to that container, pesticide lot number, type of
pesticide,
metering calibration, date of filling, quantity of material in the container,
quantity of
material dispensed including specific rates of application, fields treated.
This stored
data can be recalled and updated as needed. The stored data can also be used
by a
metering controller or pumping system by accessing specific calibration
numbers
unique to the container and make needed adjustments, by sounding alarms when
reaching certain volume of pesticide in a container, or keeping track of usage
of the
container to allow scheduling of maintenance.
[0046] The metering apparatus 411 may also include an in-meter diffuser
configured
to be wrapped around solenoid 410 within meter housing 427.
[0047] Referring now to Fig. 4B, illustrated is an in-meter diffuser 402 in
accordance
with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The in-meter diffuser 402
includes a
main body 412 having sloped sides 422, a level bottom 432 and orifices 442.The
sloped sides 422 may be cut to about a 45 degree angle. The level bottom 432
may
have orifices configured to surround the solenoid of a metering apparatus.
During
operation, the chemical granules or other material flow down the main body 412
of the
diffuser 402 and out of orifices 442. Foreign material and lumps may pass over
the
metering holes and into an overflow space.
[0048] Referring now to Fig. 4C, illustrated is a top view of the in-meter
diffuser 102
shown in Fig. 4B. As illustrated, the main body 412 includes two orikes 442
for
receiving chemical granules. The in-meter diffuser 402 also includes an
overflow
space 452. Overflow space 452 is used to capture high rate flow, lumps and
foreign
material.
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[00491 While the specification describes particular embodiments of the present
invention, those of ordinary skill can devise variations of the present
invention without
departing from the inventive concept.
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