Conveyor positioning system for an air cart in an agricultural seeder

• US 20070079739A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Meyer, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 7,500,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/200
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/003 Bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/133 Handling device on tractor unit

Abstract

An air cart for use in an agricultural seeder includes a frame; a material tank carried by the frame; an arm pivotally coupled with the frame; a conveyor coupled with the arm for conveying material to the tank; and a hydraulic positioning system coupled with the conveyor for automatically moving the conveyor to a selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

Claims

1. An agricultural implement, comprising:

a frame;

at least one material tank carried by said frame;

a conveyor coupled with said frame for conveying the material; and

a hydraulic positioning system coupled with said conveyor for moving said conveyor in at least two directions to a selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

2. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein said at least two directions include at least two of:

a generally horizontal direction;

a generally vertical direction; and

a rotational direction.

3. The agricultural implement of claim 1, further including at least one arm interconnecting said conveyor with said frame.

4. The agricultural implement of claim 3, wherein said at least one arm includes a first arm coupled with a second arm, and said positioning system includes a first hydraulic cylinder coupled between said first arm and said frame, and a second hydraulic cylinder coupled between said first arm and said second arm.

5. The agricultural implement of claim 4, including a third hydraulic cylinder coupled between said second arm and said conveyor.

6. The agricultural implement of claim 4, wherein said first arm and said second arm are coupled together using a generally vertical pivot pin.

7. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein each said tank has an inlet and said conveyor has an outlet, said positioning system configured for positioning said conveyor outlet relative to a selected tank inlet.

8. The agricultural implement of claim 1, including an outlet associated with at least one said tank, said conveyor having an inlet, said positioning system configured for positioning said conveyor inlet relative to said tank outlet.

9. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein said positioning system includes at least two hydraulic cylinders coupled with said conveyor, and including an electrical processing circuit coupled with each said hydraulic cylinder, said electrical processing circuit actuating at least one said hydraulic cylinder to position said conveyor at one of said plurality of predetermined positions.

10. The agricultural implement of claim 9, wherein said at least one tank includes a first tank and a second tank, each of said first tank and said second tank including an inlet and an outlet, said conveyor including an inlet and an outlet, said one of a plurality of predetermined positions including one of:

a first position in which said conveyor outlet is positioned in association with said first tank inlet;

a second position in which said conveyor outlet is positioned in association with said second tank inlet;

a third position in which said conveyor inlet is positioned in association with at least one of said first tank outlet and said second tank outlet; and

a transport position.

11. The agricultural implement of claim 1, including at least one sensor for sensing a position of said conveyor.

12. The agricultural implement of claim 11, including an indicator for indicating a position of said conveyor.

13. The agricultural implement of claim 12, wherein said indicator comprises a visual display.

14. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises one of an auger and a belt.

15. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein said agricultural material handling implement comprises an air cart.

16. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein each said material tank carries at least one of seed and fertilizer.

17. An air cart for use in an agricultural seeder, said air cart comprising:

a frame;

a material tank carried by said frame;

an arm pivotally coupled with said frame;

a conveyor coupled with said arm for conveying material to said tank; and

a hydraulic positioning system coupled with said conveyor for automatically moving said conveyor to a selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

18. The air cart of claim 17, wherein said hydraulic positioning system moves said conveyor in at least two directions, including at least two of:

a generally horizontal direction;

a generally vertical direction; and

a rotational direction.

19. The air cart of claim 18, wherein said arm is pivotally coupled with a second arm, and said positioning system includes a first hydraulic cylinder coupled between said arm and said frame, and a second hydraulic cylinder coupled between said arm and said second arm.

20. The air cart of claim 17, wherein said positioning system includes at least two hydraulic cylinders, and including an electrical processing circuit coupled with each said hydraulic cylinder, said electrical processing circuit actuating at least one said hydraulic cylinder to position said conveyor at said selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

21. The air cart of claim 20, wherein said electrical processing circuit includes a memory for storing said plurality of predetermined positions.

22. The air cart of claim 20, wherein said tank includes an inlet and an outlet, and said conveyor includes an inlet and an outlet, said one of a plurality of predetermined positions including one of:

a position in which said conveyor outlet is positioned in association with said tank inlet;

a position in which said conveyor inlet is positioned in association with said tank outlet; and

a transport position.

23. The air cart of claim 17, wherein said conveyor comprises one of an auger and a belt.

24. The air cart of claim 17, including an indicator for indicating a position of said conveyor.

25. The air cart of claim 24, wherein said indicator comprises a visual display.

26. A method of operating an agricultural seeder, comprising the steps of:

providing an air cart including a frame, at least one material tank carried by said frame, a conveyor coupled with said frame for conveying the material, and a hydraulic positioning system coupled with said conveyor;

selecting one of a plurality of predetermined positions of said conveyor; and

actuating said hydraulic positioning system to automatically move said conveyor to said selected position.

27. The method of operating an agricultural seeder of claim 26, wherein said actuating step is carried out using an electrical processing circuit.

28. The method of operating an agricultural seeder of claim 27, including the step of storing said plurality of predetermined positions in a memory.

29. The method of operating an agricultural seeder of claim 26, wherein said actuating step comprises moving said conveyor in at least two directions.