Air flow control of a distribution head for agricultural products
First Claim
1. A control system for an agricultural product delivery system including a fan for generating an air flow, a primary distribution manifold in communication with the fan, a secondary distribution manifold in communication with the primary distribution manifold, and a plurality of row units in communication with the secondary distribution manifold, the control system comprising:
- a sensor disposed in the secondary distribution manifold for measuring an air flow pressure in the secondary distribution manifold and generating a signal in response to the air flow pressure in the secondary distribution manifold; and
a controller operatively connected to the sensor and configured to receive the signal and to adjust the air flow pressure in the secondary distribution manifold in response to the signal,wherein the secondary distribution manifold includes a distribution head having a cover and a retainer for retaining the cover on the distribution head, and wherein the sensor is positioned within the distribution head in axial alignment with at least a portion of the retainer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air flow control system for an agricultural product delivery system includes a sensor. The sensor is disposed within, along, or just before a secondary distribution manifold for measuring an air flow pressure therein. The sensor generates a signal in response to the air flow pressure in the secondary distribution manifold. The air flow control system also includes a controller which is operatively connected to the sensor. The controller is configured to receive the signal and to adjust the air flow pressure to the secondary distribution manifold in response to the signal.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A control system for an agricultural product delivery system including a fan for generating an air flow, a primary distribution manifold in communication with the fan, a secondary distribution manifold in communication with the primary distribution manifold, and a plurality of row units in communication with the secondary distribution manifold, the control system comprising:
-
a sensor disposed in the secondary distribution manifold for measuring an air flow pressure in the secondary distribution manifold and generating a signal in response to the air flow pressure in the secondary distribution manifold; and a controller operatively connected to the sensor and configured to receive the signal and to adjust the air flow pressure in the secondary distribution manifold in response to the signal, wherein the secondary distribution manifold includes a distribution head having a cover and a retainer for retaining the cover on the distribution head, and wherein the sensor is positioned within the distribution head in axial alignment with at least a portion of the retainer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An agricultural product delivery system, comprising:
-
a storage container holding a product; a first distribution line adapted for receiving product from the storage container; a first fan in communication with the first distribution line, the first fan being configured such that rotation of the first fan generates an air flow in the first distribution line which entrains and carries the product downstream in the first distribution line; a primary distribution manifold having an inlet in communication with the first distribution line and a plurality of outlets, the primary distribution manifold configured to receive the product entrained in the air flow at the inlet and to divide the product entrained in the air flow into portions of product entrained in the air flow at the outlets of the primary distribution manifold; a first secondary distribution manifold having an inlet in communication with a first outlet of the plurality of outlets of the primary distribution manifold for receiving a first portion of product entrained in the air flow and an outlet in communication with a row unit; a first sensor disposed in the first secondary distribution manifold for measuring an air flow pressure in the first secondary distribution manifold and generating a first signal in response to the air flow pressure in the first secondary distribution manifold; and a controller operatively connected to the first sensor and configured to receive the first signal and to adjust the air flow pressure in the first secondary distribution manifold in response to the first signal, wherein the first secondary distribution manifold includes a distribution head, a cover and a retainer for retaining the cover on the distribution head, and wherein the first sensor is positioned adjacent to the cover and in axial alignment with at least a portion of the retainer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An agricultural product delivery system, comprising:
-
a storage container holding a product; a primary distribution manifold having an inlet in communication with the storage container and product via a first distribution line and including at least a first outlet and a second outlet, the primary distribution manifold configured to receive the product from the storage container via the first distribution line; a fan in communication with the first distribution line, the fan being configured such that rotation of the fan generates an air flow in the first distribution line which entrains and carries the product downstream in the first distribution line to the primary distribution manifold, the product entrained in the air flow at the inlet of the primary distribution manifold and divided into portions of product entrained in the air flow at first and second outlets of the primary distribution manifold; a first restriction element in communication with the first outlet of the primary distribution manifold and a second restriction element in communication with the second outlet of the primary distribution manifold, each first and second restriction elements being selectively adjustable to adjust the volume of air flow entraining a first portion of product exiting from the first outlet and a second portion of product exiting from the second outlet; at least a pair of secondary distribution manifolds, each secondary manifold having an inlet in communication with one of the first outlet or the second outlet of the primary distribution manifold for receiving one of a first portion or a second portion of product entrained in the air flow via primary manifold distribution lines, one line positioned between one of the first outlet and the second outlet of the primary distribution manifold and one inlet of one of the secondary distribution manifolds, each secondary distribution manifold including an outlet in communication with a row unit, wherein each secondary distribution manifold includes a distribution head having a cover and a retainer for retaining the cover on the distribution head; a sensor system disposed in each of the secondary distribution manifolds for measuring an air flow pressure in each secondary distribution manifold and generating a signal in response to the air flow pressure in each secondary distribution manifold, wherein the sensor is positioned within the distribution head of each secondary distribution manifold and in axial alignment with at least a portion of the retainer; and a controller operatively connected to each sensor, the first and second restriction elements and the fan, the controller configured to receive each signal from each secondary distribution manifold and to adjust the air flow pressures in each secondary distribution manifold in response to each signal therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification