Abstract: A pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, including at least one of a seed or a fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed and velocity in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material is susceptible to falling out of the air flow to potentially cause a blockage in the system. A control system efficiently determines an optimum operating velocity for an air flow that is above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation. The control system retains the air flow setting in a data structure for later retrieval.

Abstract: A pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, including at least one of seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed and velocity in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material is susceptible to falling out of the air flow to cause a blockage in the system. A control system efficiently determines an optimum operating velocity for an air flow that is above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation.

Abstract: A pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, including at least one of seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed and velocity in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material may become susceptible to falling out of the air flow to potentially cause a blockage in the system. Accordingly, pressure sensors arranged in the product distribution line can be used to generate an air flow at an optimum velocity above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation. The air flow can be adjusted to maintain the optimum velocity despite changes in at least one of a type of particulate material or a rate at which the particulate material is metered.

Abstract: A pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, including at least one of seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed and velocity in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material is susceptible to falling out of the air flow to cause a blockage in the system. Pressure sensors arranged in the product distribution line are monitored for effectively controlling an air source producing the air flow. A diameter of the product distribution line increases between upstream and downstream locations for monitoring with greater sensitivity.

Abstract: A row unit of an agricultural seeding implement has a hoe opener assembly that may engage soil to form a trench in the soil and to deposit one or more agricultural products in the trench. The hoe opener assembly has a base structure having a mount and a nose removeably coupled to the base structure. The nose may form the trench in the soil. The hoe opener assembly also has a double shoot attachment removeably coupled to the mount. The double shoot attachment may separately deposit the fertilizer and the seeds into the trench. The hoe opener assembly also has a first conduit that may deliver the fertilizer to the double shoot attachment and a second conduit that may deliver the seeds to the double shoot attachment.

Abstract: The present inventors have recognized that a pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, such as seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed (velocity) in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material may become susceptible to falling out of the air flow to potentially cause a blockage in the system. Accordingly, a control system can implement a process for efficiently determining an optimum operating velocity for an air flow that is above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation. In one aspect, the optimum operating velocity can be stored as a value corresponding, for example, to the type of particulate material and/or rate at which the particulate material is metered for subsequent use.

Abstract: The present inventors have recognized that a pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, such as seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed (velocity) in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material may become susceptible to falling out of the air flow and potentially causing a blockage in the system. Accordingly, a control system can retrieve from a data structure a predetermined air flow setting indicating an optimum operating velocity above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation. In one aspect, the predetermined air flow setting can be retrieved based on the type of particulate material and/or rate at which the particulate material is metered.

Abstract: The present inventors have recognized that a pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, such as seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed (velocity) in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material may become susceptible to falling out of the air flow to potentially cause a blockage in the system. Accordingly, pressure sensors arranged in the product distribution line can be monitored for effectively controlling an air source producing the air flow. In one aspect, a diameter of the product distribution line can increase between upstream and downstream locations for monitoring with even greater sensitivity.

Abstract: The present inventors have recognized that a pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, such as seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed (velocity) in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material may become susceptible to falling out of the air flow to potentially cause a blockage in the system. Accordingly, pressure sensors arranged in the product distribution line can be used to generate an air flow at an optimum operating velocity above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation. In one aspect, the air flow can be adjusted to maintain an optimum operating velocity despite changes in the type of particulate material and/or rate at which the particulate material is metered.

Abstract: An agricultural air seeding system, comprising: an agricultural planting implement including at least one section at least one secondary header removably attached to the at least one section, at least one attachment bar attached to the at least one section, and a plurality of application tools removably attached to the at least one attachment bar and fluidly coupled to the at least one secondary header; an agricultural air cart coupled to the agricultural planting implement; and a pneumatic distribution system fluidly coupled to the agricultural planting implement and the agricultural air cart, the pneumatic distribution system including a plurality of conduits capable of transporting agricultural product, at least one of the plurality of conduits including at least one flow obstruction such that a substantially equal air pressure is delivered to the plurality of application tools.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for quantifying a degree of discontinuity of material flow from a meter roller. A flowable particulate material is fed into a meter roller rotated at a constant speed while a camera takes pictures or images of the product dispensed from the roller. The images of the product taken by the camera are analyzed to determine the area of the image represented by the product. The areas of product within the images are then compared with one another to determine how continuous the area of product is in the respective frames. The area measurement for each image is calculated at a frame rate for the camera that, when compared to the flute frequency range of the roller, provides a frame per flute ratio that ensures all particles of product dispensed from the roller are captured in an image without overlap of product between frames.

Abstract: An agricultural air seeding system, comprising: an agricultural planting implement including at least one section at least one secondary header removably attached to the at least one section, at least one attachment bar attached to the at least one section, and a plurality of application tools removably attached to the at least one attachment bar and fluidly coupled to the at least one secondary header; an agricultural air cart coupled to the agricultural planting implement; and a pneumatic distribution system fluidly coupled to the agricultural planting implement and the agricultural air cart, the pneumatic distribution system including a plurality of conduits capable of transporting agricultural product, at least one of the plurality of conduits including at least one flow obstruction such that a substantially equal air pressure is delivered to the plurality of application tools.

Abstract: A material distribution system includes: a chassis; a material tank carried by the chassis and configured to hold a material; and a header configured to receive and distribute material from the material tank entrained in an air flow. The header includes: a header body having a pair of sidewalls, an inlet configured to receive entrained material from the material tank and a plurality of outlets, the sidewalls defining a width therebetween that increases from the inlet toward the plurality of outlets; a valve associated with an outlet that is configured to switch between a distributing position and a purging position, the valve blocking its outlet in the purging position; and a plenum having a volume of air that is selectively in fluid communication with the plurality of outlets to provide a purging air flow to the outlet with the associated valve when the valve is in the purging position.

Abstract: Data is collected from sensors related to the opener assembly for seeders, such as for discs and hoe drills, in order to better determine how the opener assembly reacts while operating in various conditions and to more precisely control operation of the opener assembly. Accordingly, a control system and a sensor array are utilized to provide automatic and continuous down pressure adjustments (according to a certain user specified range) at various speeds to substantially maintain a relatively constant seed depth. The sensor array could also be monitored and controlled by an operator to control settings (such as with respect to seed depth and/or opener down pressure) of the seeding implement from the cab to provide manual down pressure adjustments at various speeds. In various aspects, seeding speed and/or tractor speed may also be parameters controlled via the sensor feedback according to a certain user specified range of sensor variation.

Abstract: A material distribution system includes: a chassis; a material tank carried by the chassis and configured to hold a material; and a header configured to receive and distribute material from the material tank entrained in an air flow. The header includes: a header body having a pair of sidewalls, an inlet configured to receive entrained material from the material tank and a plurality of outlets, the sidewalls defining a width therebetween that increases from the inlet toward the plurality of outlets; a valve associated with an outlet that is configured to switch between a distributing position and a purging position, the valve blocking its outlet in the purging position; and a plenum having a volume of air that is selectively in fluid communication with the plurality of outlets to provide a purging air flow to the outlet with the associated valve when the valve is in the purging position.

Abstract: A material distribution system includes: a chassis; a material tank carried by the chassis and configured to hold a material; and a header configured to receive and distribute material from the material tank entrained in an air flow. The header includes: a header body having a pair of sidewalls, an inlet configured to receive entrained material from the material tank and a plurality of outlets, the sidewalls defining a width therebetween that increases from the inlet toward the plurality of outlets; a valve associated with an outlet that is configured to switch between a distributing position and a purging position, the valve blocking its outlet in the purging position; and a plenum having a volume of air that is selectively in fluid communication with the plurality of outlets to provide a purging air flow to the outlet with the associated valve when the valve is in the purging position.

Abstract: By varying the agricultural product application rates when a product delivery system travels through predetermined overlap areas, the drawbacks of over seeding such overlap areas may be substantially reduced. As a result, a product delivery system may travel without stopping meter sections and without dragging a seeding tool through a completely seeded region.

Abstract: Data is collected from sensors related to the opener assembly for seeders, such as for discs and hoe drills, in order to better determine how the opener assembly reacts while operating in various conditions and to more precisely control operation of the opener assembly. Accordingly, a control system and a sensor array are utilized to provide automatic and continuous down pressure adjustments (according to a certain user specified range) at various speeds to substantially maintain a relatively constant seed depth. The sensor array could also be monitored and controlled by an operator to control settings (such as with respect to seed depth and/or opener down pressure) of the seeding implement from the cab to provide manual down pressure adjustments at various speeds. In various aspects, seeding speed and/or tractor speed may also be parameters controlled via the sensor feedback according to a certain user specified range of sensor variation.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for quantifying a degree of discontinuity of material flow from a meter roller. A flowable particulate material is fed into a meter roller rotated at a constant speed while a camera takes pictures or images of the product dispensed from the roller. The images of the product taken by the camera are analyzed to determine the area of the image represented by the product. The areas of product within the images are then compared with one another to determine how continuous the area of product is in the respective frames. The area measurement for each image is calculated at a frame rate for the camera that, when compared to the flute frequency range of the roller, provides a frame per flute ratio that ensures all particles of product dispensed from the roller are captured in an image without overlap of product between frames.

Abstract: A material distribution system includes: a chassis; a material tank carried by the chassis and configured to hold a material; and a header configured to receive and distribute material from the material tank entrained in an air flow. The header includes: a header body having a pair of sidewalls, an inlet configured to receive entrained material from the material tank and a plurality of outlets, the sidewalls defining a width therebetween that increases from the inlet toward the plurality of outlets; a valve associated with an outlet that is configured to switch between a distributing position and a purging position, the valve blocking its outlet in the purging position; and a plenum having a volume of air that is selectively in fluid communication with the plurality of outlets to provide a purging air flow to the outlet with the associated valve when the valve is in the purging position.