Tank pressurization control for air carts

• US 10,392,202 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2018
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Gervais, Joel John Octave, Henry, James Wayne, Bent, Ethan Curtis Stephen, Millie, Stewart Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Dillon, Jr., Joseph A
• Application Number:
  US15/948,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20180222691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 406 15, 406 30, 406 63, 406128, 406144, 406146, 406195, 406197, 138 45
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/081 Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/102 Regulating or controlling the seed rate
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/22 the systems comprising a reservoir, e.g. a bunker
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/66 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

Abstract

A method for controlling product distribution in an agricultural product distribution system, including monitoring, using a processor, a first static pressure in a storage tank that stores a granular product, monitoring, using the processor, a second static pressure in a meter housing, downstream of a meter roller; and controlling, using the processor, a position of a valve on a secondary line to adjust the first static pressure to a value above the second static pressure by a threshold amount, wherein the secondary line is fluidly coupled between the storage tank and a primary line that pneumatically delivers the granular product to an agricultural implement.

Claims

1. A method for controlling product distribution in an agricultural product distribution system, comprising:

monitoring, using a processor, a first static pressure in a storage tank that stores a granular product;

monitoring, using the processor, a second static pressure in a meter housing, downstream of a meter roller; and

controlling, using the processor, a position of a valve on a secondary line to adjust the first static pressure to a value above the second static pressure by a threshold amount, wherein the secondary line is fluidly coupled between the storage tank and a primary line that pneumatically delivers the granular product to an agricultural implement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the position of the valve comprises sending a signal to the valve indicative of a desired valve position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the first static pressure comprises receiving a signal from a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the storage tank.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the second static pressure comprises receiving a signal from a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the meter housing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold amount is between 0.125 kPa to 0.249 kPa.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold amount is between 0.125 kPa to 0.249 kPa.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the position of the valve comprises opening the valve, enabling an air stream to flow from the primary line into the storage tank, when the first static pressure in the storage tank is less than the second static pressure downstream of a meter roller, plus the threshold amount.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein controlling the position of the valve comprises closing the valve when the first static pressure in the storage tank is greater than the second static pressure by at least the threshold amount.

9. A method for controlling product distribution in an agricultural product distribution system, comprising:

monitoring, using a processor, a first static pressure in a storage tank that stores a granular product;

monitoring, using the processor, a second static pressure in a second section of a primary line, downstream of a meter roller; and

controlling, using the processor, a position of a valve on a secondary line to adjust the first static pressure to a value above the second static pressure by a threshold amount, wherein the secondary line is fluidly coupled between the storage tank and the primary line that pneumatically delivers the granular product to an agricultural implement.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the position of the valve comprises sending a signal to the valve indicative of a desired valve position.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring the first static pressure comprises receiving a signal from a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the storage tank.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring the second static pressure comprises receiving a signal from a pressure sensor disposed in the second section of the primary line, downstream of the meter roller.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the threshold amount is between 0.125 kPa to 0.249 kPa.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the threshold amount is between 0.125 kPa to 0.249 kPa.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the position of the valve comprises opening the valve, enabling an air stream to flow from the primary line into the storage tank, when the first static pressure in the storage tank is less than the second static pressure, plus the threshold amount.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein controlling the position of the valve comprises closing the valve when the first static pressure in the storage tank is greater than the second static pressure by at least the threshold amount.