Single particulate metering system with variable rate controls

• US 9,681,602 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2015
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Montag Investments, LLC
• Original Assignee: Montag Investments, LLC
• Inventors: Montag, Roger A., Fehr, Jason, Mogler, Isaac
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US14/600,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20160205867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/003 Bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/006 Hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/04 using blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/12 with movable parts of the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/16 with means for pushing out the fertiliser, e.g. by a roller
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 19/02 by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/081 Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/082 Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/102 Regulating or controlling the seed rate
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/16 Seeders with other distributing devices, e.g. brushes, discs, screws or slides
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/08 the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/005 comprising a screw conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/132 by controlling the flow of the individual components G05D11/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/00 Control of flow level control G05D9/00; control of flow ratio G05D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0605 specially adapted for solid materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Abstract

An improved particulate metering system is provided. The system includes an air flow origin and a plurality of particulate accelerators. A single particulate source is in communication with the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of operated conveyances can be in operable communication with the single particulate source and one of the particulate accelerators. The system includes a confluence of the air flow and the particulate within the mixing area of each of the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of discharges can be associated with the particulate accelerators. The operated conveyances can operate at different rates. The system can include one or more gearboxes adapted to be inverted and controlled by a second drive system. The improved system and controls provide variable application rates of particulate across rows in a field.

Claims

1. A particulate metering system, the system comprising:

an air flow origin;

a plurality of particulate accelerators, each of the plurality of particulate accelerators having;

a. an air input;

b. an air-particulate interface;

c. a mixing area;

d. an air-particulate output;

a single particulate source in communication with the plurality of particulate accelerators;

a plurality of operated conveyances, each of the plurality of operated conveyances being in operable communication with the single particulate source and the air-particulate interface of one of the plurality of particulate accelerators, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of operated conveyances is enclosed from the single particulate source and the air particulate interface;

a confluence of the air flow and the particulate within the mixing area of each of the plurality of particulate accelerators; and

a plurality of discharges, each of the plurality of discharges associated with the air-particulate output of one of the plurality of particulate accelerators.

2. The particulate metering system of claim 1 wherein two or more of the plurality of operated conveyances operate at a different rate.

3. The particulate metering system of claim 1 wherein the air input of each of the plurality of particulate accelerators receives an air flow from the air flow origin.

4. The particulate metering system of claim 3 further comprising:

at least one directional bend in the air flow within each of the plurality of particulate accelerators.

5. The particulate metering system of claim 3 wherein the air flow suspends the particulate within the plurality of discharges.

6. The particulate metering system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of metering controls in operable communication with the plurality of operated conveyances to control a rate of the particulate conveyed to the confluence.

7. The particulate metering system of claim 6 wherein one of the plurality of metering controls operates:

a. independently;

b. dependent upon another one of the plurality of metering controls.

8. The particulate metering system of claim 1 wherein the particulate conveyed to the plurality of particulate accelerators is:

a. equally distributed across the air-particulate interface of each of the plurality of particulate accelerators;

b. unequally distributed across the air-particulate interface of each of the plurality of particulate accelerators.

9. A particulate metering system, the system comprising:

a particulate flow path comprising;

a. a particulate storage area;

b. a plurality of particulate accelerators, each of the plurality of particulate accelerators having an air-particulate output and a mixing area;

c. a plurality of operated conveyances in operable communication with the particulate storage area, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of operated conveyances is enclosed from the particulate storage area and the air-particulate outlet;

d. a discharge line connected to the air-particulate output of each of the plurality of particulate accelerators;

wherein the plurality of operated conveyances conveys particulate from the particulate storage areas to each of the plurality of particulate accelerators,

wherein the particulate descends vertically within the plurality of particulate accelerators into the mixing area,

wherein the particulate mixes with and is suspended by air in the mixing area,

wherein an air-particulate mixture moves through the air-particulate output into the discharge line.

10. The particulate metering system of claim 9, further comprising:

one or more drive systems in operable control of the plurality of operated conveyances.

11. The particulate metering system of claim 10, further comprising:

one or more rate controllers in operable control of the one or more drive systems.

12. The particulate metering system of claim 9, further comprising:

a first subset of the plurality of operated conveyances in operable communication with the particulate storage area;

a second subset of the plurality of operated conveyances in operable communication with the particulate storage area;

a first drive system in operable control of the first subset of the plurality of operated conveyances; and

a second drive system in operable control of the second subset of the plurality of operated conveyances;

wherein the first subset of the plurality of operated conveyances conveys one of the plurality of types of particulate into an air flow path,

wherein the second subset of the plurality of operated conveyances conveys the particulate into the air flow path,

wherein the first drive system and the second drive system operate independently.

13. The particulate metering system of claim 12 wherein the first drive system and the second drive system operate at varied speeds.

14. The particulate metering system of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of accelerators has a common source of the air.

15. A particulate metering system for particulate, the system comprising:

a particulate storage area containing one or more types of particulate;

a plurality of particulate accelerators in communication with the particulate storage area, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of operated conveyances is enclosed from the particulate storage area and the plurality of particulate accelerators;

a first configuration of a plurality of gearboxes in operable communication with the particulate storage area and the plurality of particulate accelerators;

a second configuration of the plurality of gearboxes in operable communication with the particulate storage area and the plurality of particulate accelerators;

a drive shaft in operable communication with the first configuration of gearboxes or the second configuration of gearboxes; and

a motor in operable control of the drive shaft,

wherein the plurality of gearboxes conveys the one or more types of particulate from the particulate storage area to the plurality of particulate accelerators.

16. The particulate metering system of claim 15 wherein a quantity of the plurality of gearboxes in the first configuration is more or less than a quantity of the plurality of gearboxes in the second configuration.

17. The particulate metering system of claim 16, further comprising:

a plurality of cartridges, each of the plurality of cartridges in operably connected to the plurality of gearboxes and in communication with the particulate storage area.

18. The particulate metering system of claim 15 wherein one or more of the plurality of gearboxes is adapted to be inverted, wherein an inverted plurality of gearboxes is not in operable communication with the drive shaft.

19. The particulate metering system of claim 18, further comprising:

a second drive shaft in operable control of the inverted plurality of gearboxes; and

a second motor in operable control of the second drive shaft.

20. The particulate metering system of claim 15, further comprising:

a plurality of motors, each of the plurality of motors operatively connected to one of the plurality of gearboxes, wherein each of the plurality of motors is independently controllable.