Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
PARTICULATE MATERIAL DELIVERY SYSTEM
FOR VARIABLE RATE SECTIONAL CONTROL
[0001]
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to agricultural systems and, in
particular, to particulate
material delivery systems that use an air cart-type implement(s) for
pneumatically distributing
product such as fertilizer and small grains.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Modern large acreage seeding implements pneumatically deliver seed,
fertilizer, and/or other
product to fields. An example is an air cart and an air drill that are pulled
together behind a tractor to
deliver product. Different seeding styles can be implemented by using
different openers on the air
drills. Knife, ribbon band, ribbon band sweep, double-shoot, and disk openers
can be used for
different seeding styles that can open correspondingly different styles of
furrows to receive the seed.
The air cart pneumatically conveys seed to the air drill for delivery into the
furrow(s). Air carts
include one or more storage compartments that hold product(s), each of which
has an associated
metering box. The metering box divides product(s) from the associated storage
compartment(s) into
equal sections for delivery of equal product volumes. The equally divided
product(s) is entrained in
an airflow established by a fan and delivered through manifolds and
distribution lines that direct the
product from the air cart, to the air drill, and to the field being planted
with seed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is directed to a particulate material delivery
system that allows for
variable rate sectional control while delivering particulate material to an
agricultural field. The
system may be incorporated with air carts and air drills, and that includes a
metering system having
multiple metering units that are independently controllable. This may allow
for individual
controlling product delivery rates through metering units so as to
independently control the delivery
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rate(s) to each of multiple secondary distribution headers or manifolds, which
may allow for
sectional control of product delivery from the air drill.
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a particulate
material delivery system is
provided that may include an air cart and a planter that are towable behind a
tractor. A metering
system of the particulate material delivery system receives a product from the
air cart and delivers
the product to the planter for distribution to the ground, such as an
agricultural field. The metering
system may include multiple metering units that receive separate portions of
the product from the air
cart. Multiple prime movers may drive the multiple metering units. A
controller is connected to and
individually controls the multiple prime movers such that distribution rates
of the multiple metering
units can be varied independently of each other. The multiple prime movers may
be electric motors.
[0006] According to another aspect, each of the multiple metering units may
include a metering
roller, and a shaft that supports and rotates the metering roller. The
electric motors may directly
drive ends of the shafts that support the metering roller.
[0007] According to another aspect, each of the multiple metering units may
include a metering
roller having an external gear at an outer circumferential surface thereof.
Each electric motor may
directly drive the external gear of a respective metering roller.
[0008] According to another aspect, each of the multiple metering units may
include a metering
roller having an internal gear at an inner circumferential surface thereof.
Each electric motor may
directly drive the internal gear of a respective metering roller.
[0009] According to another aspect, an airflow characteristic of an airflow
that entrains the product
may be controlled based on a delivery rate of at least one of the multiple
metering units for
pneumatically conveying product from the multiple metering units toward
multiple opener units of
the drill. The delivery rate of the product to multiple locations of the
agricultural field may be
individually controlled by controlling the delivery rate of product through
each of the multiple
metering units and controlling the airflow characteristic. This may allow for
providing a particulate
material delivery system that provides delivery consistency and control
without requiring
singulation-type equipment such as row-unit planters, which may provide a
relatively simple and
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cost-effective air-seeder-type particulate material delivery system with a
high amount of delivery
accuracy. This may allow for delivery rate variability at secondary headers or
manifolds of a single
drill which allows for site specific precision farming. This may also allow
for relatively more
application precision by way of variable rate sectional control of a drill as
compared to typical drills
that each typically allows for delivery rate variability of only the whole
drill.
[0010] Other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the invention
will become apparent to
those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and
accompanying drawings. It should
be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples,
while indicating
preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of
illustration and not of
limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the
present invention
without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such
modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in
the accompanying
drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a simplified pictorial view of a particulate material
delivery system in accordance
with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a portion of a variant of the
particulate material delivery
system of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a metering system used in the
particulate material delivery
system of FIG. 2 with the metering cartridge partially removed;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a metering unit of the metering system
of FIG. 3;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a variant of the metering unit of FIG.
4;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional representation of a metering system
incorporating the
metering unit of FIG. 5;
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[0018] FIG. 7 is schematic representation of another variant of the
metering unit of FIG. 4;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a metering system according to
another embodiment of the
invention;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a variant of the metering system of
FIG. 8; and
[0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another variant of the metering
system of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, an agricultural particulate material delivery
system 5 is shown that
includes a tractor 8, an air cart 10 that may define a seed cart and which is
shown as an air cart such
as a PRECISION AIR cart available from the Case IH company, and a drill 12,
which is shown as
an air drill such as an ATX700 air hoe drill available from the Case IH
company. The air cart 10 and
the drill 12 are hitched to the tractor 8 and/or each other in a conventional
manner. A pneumatic
distribution system 14 is arranged with respect to the air cart 10 and the
drill 12 for pneumatically
delivering product 16 from the air cart 10 to the drill 12 for pneumatic
distribution of the product to
an agricultural field. The product 16 is a particulate material that may be
seed such as small grains
and/or fertilizer such as dry granular fertilizer. Referring now to FIG. 2,
the pneumatic distribution
system 14 includes a fan(s) 18, which may be a centrifugal fan, for generating
an airflow(s) that is
directed through the pneumatic distribution system 14 to entrain product 16
for pneumatic delivery
to the agricultural field.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the air cart 10 includes a frame 20 to
which storage
compartments 22 and wheels 24 are mounted. Each storage compartment 22 has an
associated
metering system 26 (FIG. 2) arranged at its lower end for receiving product 16
from the storage
compartment 22. Each metering system 26 is configured for segmented control
thereof to allow for
controlled feeding of product 16 into the airflow(s) generated by the fan(s)
18 so that product 16
may be distributed at different delivery rates to different portions of the
drill 12 by way of
controlling how much product 16 is delivered into separate segments of or in
fluid communication
with the primary distribution manifold 30 for controlled variation of delivery
rate of the product 16
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to different locations on the agricultural field. The airflow(s) from the
fan(s) 18 is directed by a
plenum 28 to a primary distribution manifold 30 that includes individual
passages which divide the
airflow into separate airflows or airflow segments that are each connected by
a first distribution
line(s), shown as primary distribution lines 32 that extend toward the drill
12.
[0024] The drill 12 includes a frame 34 to which a set of opener units 36
is coupled. FIG. 1 shows
disc-style opener units 36, whereas FIG. 2 shows tip-type opener units 36. The
opener units 36 are
configured to cut a furrow into the soil. A secondary distribution manifold(s)
38 is arranged on the
drill 12 and is respectively connected to the primary distribution line(s) 32.
A second distribution
line(s), shown as secondary distribution lines 40, connects the secondary
distribution manifold 38 to
individual outlets for delivery of seed at each furrow created in the
agricultural field by each opener
unit 36, allowing the pneumatic distribution system 14 to pneumatically
deliver the product 16 from
the air cart 10 into the furrows cut by the opener units 36. Seed row
finishing equipment such as
wheel packers or closing wheels 42 may be arranged on the drill 12, such as
the embodiment shown
in FIG. 2 foreclosing the furrow(s).
[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 8, each metering system 26 includes a
housing 44 in
communication with the storage compartment 22. Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 8,
product 16 (FIG.
1) from the storage compartment 22 is directed to the housing 44 where it is
divided between and
delivered to multiple individually controlled metering units 46, explained in
greater detail elsewhere
herein. The metering units 46 are individually driven by separate prime movers
48 so that individual
metering rollers 50 of the individual metering units 46 can each be rotated at
variable speeds. Each
prime mover 48 may be, for example, a hydraulic motor, but is preferably an
electric motor and,
more preferably, a 12V DC electric motor. Conductors 52 operatively connect
each prime mover 48
to a controller 54 and a power supply 56 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 6) which can be
electrically connected to
the 12V DC electrical system of the tractor 8. The controller 54 is further
operatively connected, in a
conventional manner, to any of a variety of suitable sensors for sensing,
e.g., travel velocity of the
air cart 10, and/or other operating characteristics and which allows for
automatic control of the
system 5 by way of the controller 54 for variable rate sectional control while
delivering the product
16 to the agricultural field. The controller 54 can include an industrial
computer or, e.g., a
programmable logic controller (PLC), along with corresponding software and
suitable memory for
CA 3008864 2018-06-19
storing such software and hardware, including interconnecting conductors for
power and signal
transmission for controlling electronic, electro-mechanical, or other
components of the pneumatic
distribution system 14 and/or metering system 26. The controller 54 can
evaluate the operating
characteristics of the particulate material delivery system 5 or its
components to determine the
desired delivery rate of product from each of the metering units 46 and, thus,
product delivery rate
from each of multiple portions of the drill 12. The controller 54 controls the
particular speed at
which each metering roller 50 is driven and, thus, rates at which product is
delivered may be varied
as a function of the operating conditions including, but not limited to, the
ground speed or travel
velocity of the air cart 10, the length of the distribution lines 32 or 40, or
the topology of the field,
such as a curved row. In one embodiment, the controller 54 controls the fan 18
to vary the fan
rotational speed, e.g., increase or decrease, and correspondingly vary the air
flow characteristics such
as mass flow rate or volume based on the delivery rate variation of the
metering units 46, so as to,
for example, match air flow rate with product delivery rate. In another
embodiment, the controller
54 varies the air flow rate by actuating a damper 58 (FIG. 6) that regulates
flow rate in each of the
plenums 28 in addition to or in lieu of varying the fan speed of fan 18.
Controller 54 can
individually control actuation of the dampers 58 by, for example, energizing
respective actuators 60
so that different airflow rates can be provided through the different plenums
28 while all being
supplied from a single fan 18. Regardless of the particular controlling
parameters, each metering unit
46 of the metering system 26 may be directly driven by the prime mover 48 by
way of one of an
internal drive arrangement with respect to the metering roller 50, and
external drive arrangement
with respect to the metering roller 50, or an end-shaft driving arrangement
with respect to the roller
50, as explained in greater detail elsewhere herein.
[00261
Referring now to FIG. 3, the metering system 26 of this embodiment defines
a cartridge-type
configuration, represented as a cartridge 62 that is defined by multiple
adjacent metering units 46.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each metering unit 46 is mounted adjacent to
another metering unit 46
via bolts 64 passing through opening 66 in each metering unit 46. Within the
cartridge 62, each
metering unit 46 may release product 16 (FIG. 1) for delivery to an individual
row of the drill 12 or
each metering unit 46 may release product 16 for delivery to multiple rows of
the drill 12. Referring
again to FIG. 3, the housing 44 in which the cartridge 62 is arranged in this
embodiment has an
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upper surface 68 coupled to the storage compartment 22 (FIG. 2) and a lower
surface 70 coupled to
the primary distribution manifold 30 (FIG. 2). An inlet passage 72 is defined
in the upper surface 68
through which product 16 (FIG. 1) is received from the storage compartment 22
into the housing 44.
[0027] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, each metering unit 46 includes a
housing 47 with an intake
74 in communication with the housing inlet passage 72 and an exit 76 through
which the product 16
passes to the primary distribution manifold 30. The metering roller 50 of each
metering unit 46 is
arranged between the intake 74 and exit 76 and may be supported by a shaft 78
extending
concentrically through the metering roller 50. The metering roller 50 defines
a drum-like shape and
includes multiple compartments 80 arranged at an outer circumferential surface
of the metering
roller 50, shown as extending into the outer circumferential surface. The
compartments 80 are sized
to convey and control the volume and rate of product transferred through the
metering unit 46 for
delivery out of the exit 76 to be entrained in the airflow of and carried
through the primary
distribution lines 32 toward the drill 12 for delivery to the agricultural
field.
[0028] Referring next to FIG. 4, an embodiment of the metering unit 46 in
which the metering roller
50 is internally driven is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, a
single metering unit 46 is
shown with the prime mover 48 that is aligned with and mounted directly to the
shaft 78. An output
shaft 82 of the prime mover 48 extends through an axial bore of the shaft 78.
The shaft 78 may
further include a retaining member within the shaft 78, such as a clip or a
hole extending through the
shaft 78 through which a retaining member, such as a screw or bolt, may be
passed, securing the
prime mover output shaft 82 within the shaft 78. The prime mover output shaft
82 may be oriented
within the shaft 78 such that an output shaft end 84 extends beyond the shaft
78. An output gear 86
is then mounted on the output shaft end 84, external to the shaft 78. A
metering gear 88 is arranged
within the metering roller 50 and defines a tooth inner circumferential
surface of a flange 90 at an
end of the metering roller 50 which is driven by rotation of the output gear
86. The output gear 86
may occupy the entire space within the metering gear 88 such that the output
and metering gears 86,
88 define a splined¨type engagement for a one-to-one drive ratio, or the
output gear 86 may be
smaller than the metering gear 88 to provide other drive ratios. In one
embodiment, an intermediate
gear(s) may be arranged between the output gear 86 and metering gear 88 to
provide the desired
drive ratio. The conductors 52 may extend out the end of the shaft 78 opposite
the end from which
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the output shaft end 84 extends and operatively connect the prime mover 48 to
the controller 54 and
the power supply 56.
[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, in this embodiment, an embodiment of
the metering unit 46
in which the metering roller 50 is externally driven is illustrated. The
metering unit 46 and its
components are substantially identical as that described with respect to FIG.
4. Accordingly, those
descriptions are applicable here with respect to the metering unit 46 shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6. The
difference is that instead of being internally driven, the metering roller 50
of FIGS. 5 and 6 is
externally driven. Accordingly, the metering gear 88 is provided outside of or
at an outer
circumferential surface of the flange 90 at the end of the metering roller 50.
The prime mover 48 is
not axially aligned with the shaft 78 but is instead transversely spaced from
the shaft 78. The output
gear 86 of the prime mover 48 is radially aligned with the metering gear 88.
As illustrated, the
output gear 86 can directly engage the metering gear 88; optionally, an
intermediate gear(s) may be
provided therebetween.
[0030] Referring next to FIG. 7, in this embodiment, an embodiment of the
metering unit 46 in
which the metering roller 50 is end-shaft driven is illustrated. The metering
unit 46 and its
components are substantially identical as that described with respect to FIG.
4. Accordingly, those
descriptions are applicable here with respect to the metering unit 46 shown in
FIG. 7, although being
shown in a more simplified and schematic representation. The difference is
that instead of being
internally driven, the metering roller 50 of FIG. 7 is driven directly by an
end of the output shaft of
the prime mover 48. Accordingly, a metering gear 88 is not required in this
embodiment. Instead,
the output shaft 82 of the prime mover 48 is axially aligned with and
connected to the center of the
flange 90, shown as being circular, at an end of the metering roller 50. In
another embodiment of the
end-shaft driven arrangement, the shaft 78 is fixed to the metering roller 50
so that the shaft 78 and
metering roller 50 rotate in unison with each other. In such embodiment, the
output shaft 82 of the
prime mover 48 may be coupled to and rotates an end of the shaft 78 of the
metering roller 50, either
as an end-to-end axial coupling or through one or radially intermediate gears.
[0031] Referring next to FIG. 8, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 3, in this
embodiment, the housing
44 of the metering system 26 is constructed in multiple housing segments 92.
Each housing segment
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92 of this embodiment includes, for example, an upper portion 94 to receive
product 16 (FIG. 1)
from the storage compartment 22 and a lower portion 96 that extends between
and connects the
upper portion 94 and a primary distribution line 32. The metering units 46 in
FIG. 8 are substantially
identical to metering units 46 described above with respect to FIGS. 3-7.
Accordingly, the
description of such metering units 46 and their components in FIGS. 3-7 is
applicable here with
respect to the metering units 46 shown in FIG. 8. However, unlike the metering
units 46 of FIGS. 3-
7, the metering units 46 of FIG. 8 are not interconnected with each other to
define a cartridge 62.
Instead, the metering units of 46 of FIG. 8 are separately arranged in
respective ones of the housing
segments 92, shown here as arranged in the upper portions 94 of the segments
92. This arrangement
permits access to individual metering units 46 for repair and/or exchange
without removing all of the
metering units 46 from their respective individual mountings with the other
housing segments 92.
[0032] Still referring to FIG. 8, the metering units 46 separately receive
product 16 through the
upper portions 94 of the housing segments 92 and meter out the product 16
through the lower
portions 96 by rotating the metering rollers 50 to deliver the product 16 into
the airflows flowing
through the primary distribution line 32 in a controlled manner. Three
different exemplary
arrangements for driving the metering rollers 50 of the metering units 46 with
the prime movers 48
are shown in FIG. 8. These are (i) an external driving arrangement shown at
the left-most metering
unit 46, (ii) an end-shaft driving arrangement shown at the middle metering
unit 46, and (iii) an
internal driving arrangement shown at the right-most metering unit 46.
[0033] Still referring to FIG. 8, the external driving arrangement at the
left-most metering unit 46
may be a substantially identical arrangement to that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
whereby the description
of the metering unit 46 in FIGS. 5 and 6 is applicable here with respect to
the left-most metering unit
46 of FIG. 8. The left-most metering unit 46 of FIG. 8 and with reference to
FIGS. 5 and 6, the
prime mover 48 is transversely spaced with the central axis of the metering
roller 50. Such metering
unit 46 is arranged with the prime mover 48 driving an outer rim, for example,
a metering gear 88, of
the metering roller 50 by engaging teeth at the outer circumferential surfaces
of the metering roller
50 and output gear 86 of the prime mover 48.
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[00341 Referring again to FIG. 8, the end-shaft driving arrangement of the
metering unit 46 shown
in the middle may be a substantially identical arrangement to that shown in
FIG. 7, whereby the
description of the metering unit 46 in FIG. 7 is applicable here with respect
to the middle metering
unit 46 of FIG. 8. The middle metering unit 46 of FIG. 8 and with reference to
FIG. 7 includes an
output shaft 82 that is generally axially aligned with and coupled to the
flange 90 at an end of the
metering roller 50, or a shaft 78 extending concentrically through for
rotating the metering roller 50.
[0035] Referring again to FIG. 8, the internal driving arrangement at the
right-most metering unit 46
may be a substantially identical arrangement to that shown in FIG. 4, whereby
the description of the
metering unit 46 in FIG. 4 is applicable here with respect to the right-most
metering unit 46 of FIG.
8. The right-most metering unit 46 of FIG. 8 and with reference to FIG. 4 is
arranged so that the
output gear 86 of the prime mover 48 engages and drives an inner
circumferential surface of a
metering gear 88 of the metering roller 50.
[0036] Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, like the embodiment of FIG. 8, the
housing 44 of the
metering system 26 in each of these embodiments includes multiple housing
segments 92 that
individually deliver product 16 to the individual metering units 46. Referring
to FIG. 9, the housing
44 has housing segments 92 that are transversely aligned with and adjacent to
each other and the
metering roller(s) 50 may be arranged parallel to the primary distribution
line(s) 32, only one shown
schematically, that receives the product 16 (FIG. 1) from the metering unit.
Referring to FIG. 10, the
housing 44 has housing segments 92 that are generally longitudinally aligned
with each other and
transversely staggered. In this way, the prime mover 48 of one metering unit
46 may extend under a
housing segment 92 of an adjacent metering unit 46, and the metering roller(s)
50 may be arranged
perpendicular to the primary distribution line(s) 32.
[0037] In light of the above, during use, the product 16 (FIG. 1) is
received from the storage
compartment(s) 22, through the inlet passage 72, into the housing 44 of the
metering system 26.
Simultaneously, an opener unit 36 opens a trough or furrow in the agricultural
field to receive the
product 16. The prime mover 48 rotates the metering roller 50 at each of the
metering units 46. As
the metering roller 50 rotates past the intake 74 of the metering unit 46,
product fills each
compartment 80. As the metering roller 50 rotates past the exit 76 of the
metering unit 46, the
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product empties from each compartment 80 into the primary distribution
manifold 30 or a primary
distribution line(s) 32 of the pneumatic distribution system 14 to be
distributed to each of the
furrows opened by the opener units 36. As the drill 12 advances further, the
closing wheels 42 close
each furrow with the product therein.
[0038] All the while, the controller 54 monitors numerous operating
conditions to determine the
proper rotational speed of each metering roller 50, optionally, to determine
the proper fan rotational
speed of fan 18 and/or position of damper 58 (FIG. 6) to achieve a proper
airflow rate for each of the
metering units 46. In this way, the controller 54 may individually control
delivery rates of the
multiple metering units 46, independently of each other, as well as
individually control an airflow
characteristic of an airflow for each of the multiple metering units 46. The
controller 54 may be
configured to automatically control the multiple metering units 46
independently of each other
and/or airflow characteristics so as to provide variable rate sectional
control while delivering the
product 16 to the agricultural field. This allows the controller 54 to
separately control delivery rate
of product 16 to at least some of the multiple locations of the agricultural
field, for example,
corresponding to locations of the opener units 36, which may be done
automatically. This may be
done by the controller 54 individually controlling the delivery rate of
product 16 through each of the
multiple metering units 46, and which may include individually controlling an
airflow characteristic
of an airflow for each of the multiple metering units 46 such that airflows
entraining product from
the multiple metering units 46 are each controlled based on the delivery rate
of the respective one of
the multiple metering units 46. In one embodiment, the airflow
characteristic(s) may be controlled
based on a delivery rate of more than one of the metering units 46.
Furthermore, the airflow
characteristic(s) may be controlled based on a delivery rate of a metering
unit 46 that has a greatest
delivery rate when compared to the other metering units 46. In one embodiment,
the rotational speed
may be a function of the ground speed or travel speed of the drill 12 and a
desired seed depositing
rate from the seed metering system 26. Thus, as the tractor 8 and,
consequently, the drill 12
increases or decreases speed, the controller 54 may correspondingly increase
or decrease the
commanded rotational speed of each of the output shafts 82 of the prime movers
48 and, thus, the
metering rollers 50. optionally, air flow rate by way of damper 58 and/or
rotational speed of fan 18,
to maintain a consistent seed depositing rate. Similarly, certain ground
conditions may require an
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increase or a decrease in the seed depositing rate of the metering rollers 50.
Therefore, even if the
tractor 8 maintains a uniform speed, the controller 54 may monitor the ground
conditions, for
example, via sensors or from a preprogrammed map and a global positioning
system (GPS)
coordinate, to adjust the rotational speed of the drive mechanisms as a
function of the ground
conditions. Accordingly, the seed metering system 26 receives commands for
each metering unit 46,
preferably, at a variable rate and, more preferably, at an infinitely variable
rate, based at least in part
on the ground speed or the drill 12 or the ground conditions.
[0039] Furthermore, in one embodiment, a single controller 54 controls all
of the metering units 46.
Doing so can ensure that each metering unit 46 receives the same control
signals, whereby the
resultant output responses should be substantially analogous, when that is
desired. This can enhance
uniformity of seed placement between the individual rows and other operating
characteristics.
[0040] However, controller 54 can also provide separate rotational speed
commands to each
individual metering unit 46 independently of the other speed commands and
other metering unit(s)
46. In such configuration, each metering unit 46 can be activated and
deactivated independently of
each other, whereby overplanting can be managed and minimized. Accordingly,
when using row
crop planting techniques such as, e.g., planting point rows, turn rows,
headland rows, or end rows, or
in other situations which could lead to double planting or other overplanting
conditions, the operator
or controller 54 can de-energize and thus disengage any one or more of the
individual metering units
46, as desired. This enables the user and/or controller 54 to comprehensively
manage the application
of seed, on a per-row planting unit and, thus, per-row basis. As still another
option, multiple
controllers 54 may monitor conditions and provide rotational speed or other
commands to a portion
of the metering units 46.
[0041] It is further contemplated that varying rotational speed commands
may be provided to
metering units 46 according to which row on the drill 12 the respective
metering unit(s) 46 is
connected. For example, outer rows require longer secondary distribution lines
40 than central rows.
Thus, the time required for product to travel from the metering system 26 to
the outlet of each row
on the drill 12 varies. Further, air pressure variation as a function of the
length of the distribution
lines, 32 and 40, may result in varying dispersal rates at the outlet of each
row. Thus, the controller
12
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54 may provide varying rotational speed commands to metering units 46 at
particular rows on the
drill 12 to produce a uniform output at the outlets of each row on the drill
12 and a uniform
dispersion to the ground.
[0042] In addition, the controller 54 may vary, for example, automatically
vary, the rotational speed
commands to each metering unit 46 during a turn. As the tractor 8 and,
subsequently, the drill 12,
turn a corner, those rows along the inner radius of the turn travel a shorter
distance than those rows
along the outer radius of the turn. Thus, the controller 54 may increase the
rotational speed
command to prime movers 48 of metering units 46 supplying product to outer
rows, decrease the
rotational speed command to drive the prime movers 48 of metering units 46
supplying product to
inner rows, or a combination thereof. Controller 54 may vary the rotational
speed of fan 18 and/or
the position of the damper 58 so as to vary the air flow characteristic(s)
accordingly.
[0043] It should be understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details of
construction and arrangements of the components set forth herein. The
invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Variations
and modifications of
the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It also being
understood that the
invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations
of two or more of the
individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of
these different
combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention.
The embodiments
described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and
will enable others
skilled in the art to utilize the invention.
13
CA 3008864 2018-06-19
