TANK PRESSURIZATION CONTROL FOR AIR CARTS

• US 20160120103A1
• Filed: 11/04/2015
• Published: 05/05/2016
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,963,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 pneumatic distribution system to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement includes a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, a valve, and a controller. The first pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to a granular product storage tank and outputs a first signal indicative of a first static pressure in the storage tank. The second pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to a primary line that pneumatically delivers the granular product to the agricultural implement by guiding an air stream from a first section with a larger cross-sectional area to a second section with a smaller cross-sectional area. The second pressure sensor outputs a signal indicative of the static pressure in the second section of the primary line. The valve is fluidly coupled between the storage tank and the primary line and selectively enables the air stream to flow from the primary line to the storage tank. The controller, which is communicatively coupled to both pressure sensors and the valve, instructs the valve to enable the air stream to flow from the primary line to the storage tank until the first static pressure is greater than the second static pressure by a threshold amount.

Claims

1. A pneumatic distribution system configured to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement, wherein the pneumatic distribution system comprises:

a first pressure sensor configured to be fluidly coupled to a storage tank configured to store the granular product, wherein the first pressure sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of a first static pressure in the storage tank;

a second pressure sensor configured to be fluidly coupled to a primary line configured to pneumatically deliver the granular product to the agricultural implement by guiding an air stream from a first section with a larger cross-sectional area to a second section with a smaller cross-sectional area, wherein the second pressure sensor is configured to output a second signal indicative of a second static pressure in the second section of the primary line;

a valve configured to be fluidly coupled between the storage tank and the primary line, wherein the valve is configured to selectively enable the air stream to flow from the primary line to the storage tank; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the first pressure sensor, to the second pressure sensor, and to the valve, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the valve to enable the air stream to flow from the primary line into the storage tank until the first static pressure is greater than the second static pressure by a threshold amount.

2. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the second section of the primary line is configured to entrain the granular product output from the storage tank into the air stream.

3. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the valve is fluidly coupled to a secondary line, and the secondary line is fluidly coupled between the first section of the primary line and the storage tank.

4. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises an electronically actuated valve, and the controller is configured to control the valve using an electronic solenoid.

5. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, comprising a metering assembly configured to be fluidly coupled between the storage tank and the second section of the primary line, wherein the metering assembly is configured to control output of the granular product from the storage tank into the second section of the primary line.

6. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, comprising an air source fluidly coupled to the first section of the primary line, wherein the air source is configured to generate the air stream.

7. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the controller is a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller.

8. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the threshold amount is between 0.125 kPa to 1.246 kPa.

9. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the threshold amount is between 0.125 kPa to 0.249 kPa.

10. A pneumatic valve for an agricultural product distribution system, comprising:

a fan inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to an air source configured to supply an air stream into a primary line, wherein the primary line is configured to facilitate distributing a granular product to an agricultural implement by guiding the air stream from a first section of the primary line to a second section of the primary line, wherein the first section has a larger cross-sectional area than the second section;

a tank outlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a storage tank, wherein the storage tank is configured to store the granular product and to facilitate flow of the granular product to the second section of the primary line;

a shuttle comprising a shuttle hole; and

a control pressure inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to the second section of the primary line or to a meter housing; and

a diaphragm having a first side and a second side, the first side coupled to the shuttle, wherein the first side of the diaphragm is exposed to static pressure in the storage tank through the tank outlet, and the second side of the diaphragm is exposed to the static pressure in the second section of the primary line or the meter housing through the control pressure inlet, wherein the diaphragm is configured to move toward the tank outlet such that the shuttle hole is aligned with the fan inlet when the static pressure in the storage tank is not greater than the static pressure in the second section of the primary line or the meter housing by a threshold amount.

11. The pneumatic valve of claim 10, comprising a spring coupled between the second side of the diaphragm and the control pressure inlet, wherein the spring is configured to provide a force that substantially corresponds to the threshold amount.

12. The pneumatic valve of claim 10, wherein the shuttle is configured to enable the air stream to flow into the storage tank to increase the static pressure in the storage tank.

13. The pneumatic valve of claim 11, comprising a first housing coupled to the first side of the diaphragm and a second housing coupled to the second side of the diaphragm.

14. The pneumatic valve of claim 10, comprising a first washer in contact with the first side of the diaphragm, and a second washer in contact with the second side of the diaphragm.

15. 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.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein controlling the position of the valve comprises sending a signal to the valve indicative of a desired valve position.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein monitoring the first static pressure comprises receiving a signal from a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the storage tank.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein monitoring the second static pressure comprises receiving a signal from a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the meter housing.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the threshold amount is between 0.125 kPa to 0.249 kPa.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the threshold amount is between 0.125 kPa to 0.249 kPa.

23. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 20, comprising a metering assembly having the meter housing, and configured to be fluidly coupled between the storage tank and the second section of the primary line, wherein the metering assembly is configured to control output of the granular product from the storage tank into the second section of the primary line.

24. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 20, wherein the valve comprises an electronically actuated valve, and the controller is configured to control the valve using an electronic solenoid.

25. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 20, comprising an air source fluidly coupled to the first section of the primary line, wherein the air source is configured to generate the air stream.

21. A pneumatic distribution system configured to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement, wherein the pneumatic distribution system comprises:

a first pressure sensor configured to be fluidly coupled to a storage tank configured to store the granular product, wherein the first pressure sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of a first static pressure in the storage tank;

a second pressure sensor configured to be fluidly coupled to a meter housing, wherein the second pressure sensor is configured to output a second signal indicative of a second static pressure in the meter housing;

a valve configured to be fluidly coupled between the storage tank and the primary line, wherein the valve is configured to selectively enable the air stream to flow from the primary line to the storage tank; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the first pressure sensor, to the second pressure sensor, and to the valve, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the valve to enable the air stream to flow from the primary line into the storage tank until the first static pressure is greater than the second static pressure by a threshold amount.

22. The pneumatic distribution system of claim 21, wherein the valve is fluidly coupled to a secondary line, and the secondary line is fluidly coupled between the first section of the primary line and the storage tank.