Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080282951 | SEED HOPPER AND ROUTING STRUCTURE FOR VARYING MATERIAL DELIVERY TO ROW UNITS - Left and right main hoppers offset laterally from each other on opposite sides of the centerline of a seeding machine provide an operator access area between the hoppers. A third hopper located forwardly of and between the two main hoppers has a capacity less than that of each of the main hoppers for refuge or male seed. The hoppers are sized to maximize productivity. In one embodiment, first and second hoppers communicate with downstream conduit structure, and valve structure selects one or the other of the first and second hoppers for delivery of the material. The valve structure can be operated remotely and can be map based. Alternatively, selectively blockable nozzle structure is located in the first and second hoppers. Easily changeable connector structure facilitates row pattern selection and hose routing. | 11-20-2008 |
20090050035 | DUAL FUNCTION SEED METER - A seed meter comprises a plastic casing defining a volumetric compartment and a singling compartment. The casing has three basic parts including the singling side, the volumetric side and the center portion. The basic parts are held together by integrally molded fastening assemblies. A slidable gate is mounted to two channels in the center portion for selectively directing seed into one of the two compartments. A metering drum having a volumetric section located in the volumetric compartment and a singling section located in the singling compartment is rotationally mounted to the casing. The metering drum is also plastic with each section comprising two identical pieces that can be mounted around a drive shaft. | 02-26-2009 |
20100101469 | SEED HOPPER AND ROUTING STRUCTURE FOR VARYING MATERIAL DELIVERY TO ROW UNITS - Left and right main hoppers offset laterally from each other on opposite sides of the centerline of a seeding machine provide an operator access area between the hoppers. A third hopper located forwardly of and between the two main hoppers has a capacity less than that of each of the main hoppers for refuge or male seed. The hoppers are sized to maximize productivity. In one embodiment, first and second hoppers communicate with downstream conduit structure, and valve structure selects one or the other of the first and second hoppers for delivery of the material. The valve structure can be operated remotely and can be map based. Alternatviely, selectively blockable nozzle structure is located in the first and second hoppers. Easily changeable connector structure facilitates row pattern selection and hose routing. | 04-29-2010 |
20110035163 | PARTICULATE FLOW SENSING FOR AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT - An impact sensor is located in a distribution tower which divides the seed and/or nutrient flow into individual rows, and a second sensor provides a compensation signal dependent upon one or more variables such as the velocity of the air in the conveying system, implement vibrations. As the seed/fertilizer bounces off of the impact sensor and flows into the individual row air streams, the impact sensor provides a force signal to a processor which calculates the total particulate mass flow rate from the force signal and the air velocity signal. To determine individual seed and fertilizer rates, a rate controller temporarily changes the metering rate of one of the materials, and the processor then calculates the desired information from the mass flow change and meter speed change. Another embodiment includes seed sensor structure at the meter output for achieving or confirming accuracy. | 02-10-2011 |