Agricultural air cart apparatus
First Claim
1. An agricultural air cart apparatus, comprising:
- a storage container holding a product;
first and second distribution lines adapted for receiving product from the storage container and transporting the product to corresponding first and second row units;
first and second product metering systems communicating with the storage container, the first and second product metering systems regulating flows of product from the product hopper into the first and second distribution lines, respectively;
a rotatable first fan being operatively connected to the first distribution line, the first fan having an intake and being configured such that rotation of the first fan draws a volume of air into the fan through the intake and outputs an air flow having a pressure into the first distribution line which entrains and carries the first supply of the product downstream toward a first row unit; and
a rotatable second fan being operatively connected to the second distribution line, the second fan having an intake and being configured such that rotation of the second fan draws a volume of air into the second fan through the intake of the second fan and outputs an air flow having a pressure into the second distribution line which entrains and carries the second supply of the product downstream toward a second row unit; and
a controller operable to adjust the pressures of the air flows outputted by the first and second fans.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An agricultural air cart assembly includes individually controlled product distribution lines which allows for balanced pressures and even dispersal of air through different distribution lines of different lengths running to different sections or row units of a seeder or drill. Rotatable fans are operatively connected to corresponding first and second distribution lines and are configured to generate optimized air flows in the first and second distribution lines which entrain and carry the product downstream toward corresponding row units at balances pressures. A controller is operable to adjust the pressures of the air flows outputted by the first and second fans by adjusting the position of corresponding fan shrouds over the intakes of the first and second fans.
17 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An agricultural air cart apparatus, comprising:
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a storage container holding a product; first and second distribution lines adapted for receiving product from the storage container and transporting the product to corresponding first and second row units; first and second product metering systems communicating with the storage container, the first and second product metering systems regulating flows of product from the product hopper into the first and second distribution lines, respectively; a rotatable first fan being operatively connected to the first distribution line, the first fan having an intake and being configured such that rotation of the first fan draws a volume of air into the fan through the intake and outputs an air flow having a pressure into the first distribution line which entrains and carries the first supply of the product downstream toward a first row unit; and a rotatable second fan being operatively connected to the second distribution line, the second fan having an intake and being configured such that rotation of the second fan draws a volume of air into the second fan through the intake of the second fan and outputs an air flow having a pressure into the second distribution line which entrains and carries the second supply of the product downstream toward a second row unit; and a controller operable to adjust the pressures of the air flows outputted by the first and second fans. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An agricultural air cart apparatus including a product hopper for holding a product and first and second product metering systems communicating with the product hopper to regulate a flow of product from the product hopper, characterized in that:
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first and second distribution lines are adapted for receiving product from the product hopper and transporting the product to corresponding first and second row units; the first and second product metering systems regulate flows of product from the product hopper into the first and second distribution lines, respectively; a rotatable first fan having an intake and output in communication with the first distribution line, the first fan being configured to draw a volume of air into the first fan through the intake and output an air flow having a pressure into the first distribution line which entrains and carries the first supply of the product downstream toward a first row unit; and a rotatable second fan having an intake and output in communication with the second distribution line, the second fan being configured to draw a volume of air into the second fan through the intake and output an air flow having a pressure into the second distribution line which entrains and carries the second supply of the product downstream toward a second row unit; wherein the pressures of the air flowing in the first and second distribution lines are independently controlled. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification