Abstract: The present invention is directed to an applicator having an agricultural product mechanical and/or pneumatic conveying system which transfers particulate material from one or more source containers to application equipment on demand, and meters the material at the application equipment. The conveying system includes a static distributor interconnecting the supply lines of the conveying system with the distribution lines connected to the individual nozzles. The static distributor includes internal structures that effectively divert the incoming particulate material evenly across the interior of the static distributor such that the particulate material is evenly distributed into each of the distribution lines. The static distributor accomplishes this without the need for any moving parts or control systems/devices.

Abstract: A plenum of distributing a flow of air from an air source includes ports extending from a face element of a body. The ports are configured to direct the flow of air out of the plenum, and the ports are arranged on the face element in a first row having first length, a second row having a second length, and a third row having a third length. The first row is positioned proximate to the top element, the third row is positioned proximate to the bottom element, and the second row is positioned between the first row and the third row. In addition, the second length is greater than the first length and the third length, and a shape of the face element is configured to accommodate the first length of the first row, the second length of the second row, and the third length of the third row.

Abstract: A system for pressurizing a tank of an agricultural air distribution system includes an air source configured to supply pressurized air and a plenum having an inlet fluidly coupled to the air source and configured to receive a flow of pressurized air. The plenum includes a face element positioned opposite from the inlet relative to a direction of flow of the pressurized air through the plenum. Moreover, the face element includes a pressurization port configured to direct the flow of pressurized air to the tank and at least one outlet port configured to couple to at least one hose to supply the pressurized air to an agricultural implement.

Abstract: An air system for supplying product to the product tank of an agricultural implement has an air supply and at least one elongated conduit for delivering air entrained product to the tank. There is at least one outlet in the tank formed as a hollow elbow having a generally downwardly directed outlet, a generally upwardly directed outlet and a transverse inlet coupled to the conduit. The elbow includes an upper generally cylindrical region comprising a cyclone chamber for swirling the incoming air entrained product directing at least a portion of the air flow upwardly toward the upwardly directed outlet while allowing the product to fall in a generally helical pattern through a generally frusto-conical region, whereby material migrates downwardly and air upwardly releasing the material to fall in a gentle spiral and air to exit from the upper region of the tank.

Abstract: An air cart system includes a container assembly mounted on wheels and including a primary product container and an air distribution network including a product conduit that delivers a first agricultural product and a second agricultural product to an agricultural implement. The air cart system includes a first metering device to meter the first agricultural product from the primary product container to the product conduit. A fill hopper mounts on a side of the container assembly, and a secondary product container mounts beneath a portion of the primary product container. The secondary product container receives the second agricultural product from the fill hopper, which receives the second agricultural product at an opening and conveys the second agricultural product to the secondary product container. The air cart system includes a second metering device to meter the second agricultural product from the secondary product container to the product conduit.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a feedback assembly for a harvester useful for providing feedback regarding operation of one or more blade assemblies of the harvester. The feedback assembly comprises a chassis, one or more rods coupled to the chassis, and one or more tines rotatably coupled to the one or more rods. Each of the one or more tines defines an elongated body including a linear section extending from the one or more rods, and an angled section extending at an angle from the linear section. Each of the one or more tines is configured to hang substantially perpendicularly relative to a direction of travel of the harvester when in a non-actuated position. The one or more tines are configured to rotate away from the direction of travel of the harvester when in an actuated position.

Abstract: An airflow system that has a fan spacer within a fan assembly is provided for use with equipment such as work vehicles, which may include agricultural implements or other agricultural equipment. The fan spacer influences a width dimension of a fan housing interior and airflow characteristics of the fan assembly, such as output pressure and flow rate, to optimize fan performance for a particular implementation. In this way, the fan spacer allows for highly customizable fan performances by using housing spacers to modify fan housing dimensions and provide performance characteristics that correspond to what is needed for particular implementations while using common fan housing segments.

Abstract: A system for pressurizing a tank of an agricultural air distribution system includes an air source configured to supply pressurized air and a plenum having an inlet fluidly coupled to the air source and configured to receive a flow of pressurized air. The plenum includes a face element positioned opposite from the inlet relative to a direction of flow of the pressurized air through the plenum. Moreover, the face element includes a pressurization port configured to direct the flow of pressurized air to the tank and at least one outlet port configured to couple to at least one hose to supply the pressurized air to an agricultural implement.

Abstract: One embodiment describes a seed gate assembly disposed between a seed storage tank and a seed meter. The seed gate assembly includes a gate barrier that controls seed flow from the seed storage tank into the seed meter by moving to an open position that enables seed flow from the storage tank into the seed meter and by moving to a closed position that blocks seed flow from the storage tank into the seed meter; and a first seed agitator extending substantially perpendicularly from a surface of the gate barrier, in which the first seed agitator extends into the seed storage tank as the gate barrier moves toward the closed position to dislodge clumped seeds in the seed storage tank.

Abstract: A system processes seeds that are present in crop material. The system includes a first shearing surface, a second shearing surface arranged opposite the first shearing surface, and a clearance between the first shearing surface and the second shearing surface. The system passes crop material between the first and second shearing surfaces, where the crop material contacts the shearing surfaces as it passes through the shearing surfaces. Contact with the first and second shearing surfaces damages seeds that are present in the crop material. The system can be installed in an agricultural harvester to damage seeds that are present in crop residue to prevent the seeds from germinating after the crop residue is discharged from the agricultural harvester back into the field.

Abstract: A system for pressurizing a tank of an agricultural air distribution system includes an air source configured to supply pressurized air and a plenum having an inlet fluidly coupled to the air source and configured to receive a flow of pressurized air. The plenum includes a face element positioned opposite from the inlet relative to a direction of flow of the pressurized air through the plenum. Moreover, the face element includes a pressurization port configured to direct the flow of pressurized air to the tank and at least one outlet port configured to couple to at least one hose to supply the pressurized air to an agricultural implement.

Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement has a vertical tillage section and an aerating section behind the vertical tillage section, each extending substantially perpendicular to the pull direction of the implement. Individual vertical tillage elements, such as disc blades, can be indexed with individual rotary tine assemblies of the aerator section so that discrete holes formed by the aerator section are positioned between substantially continuous slits formed by the vertical tillage section. A ground deposit system is provided for depositing a component on the ground and may be configured for conducting and depositing a granular component, such as seeds, fertilizers, minerals or the like, or liquid components, such as liquid manure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an applicator having an agricultural product pneumatic conveying system which meters particulate material from one or more source containers at the application equipment and transports the particulate material to evenly distribute the particulate material from the applicator. The pneumatic conveying system employs large diameter supply lines connected between the metering devices at the source containers and delivery nozzles, where the supply lines operate to move and mix the particulate material from the source containers to the nozzles. The particulate material is metered from the source containers into the supply lines via a number of airlocks that can be operated without allowing airflow from the large diameter supply lines to enter the source containers through the airlocks. In addition, the metering devices can b e operated in collective or independent variable manners to allow for sectional control and turning compensation.

Abstract: A row crop planter has a pneumatic system for conveying seeds to individual row units employing three-way splitters above certain master row units for supplying seed to each master row unit and a pair of associated slave row units. Each three-row splitter has an upper inlet chamber of annular shape with an offset inlet coupled to a conveying hose for receiving an air entrained seed flow, and an annular passageway extending downwardly from the inlet chamber to an outlet for delivering seeds to the master unit below. A pair of laterally extending slave outlet conduits extend obliquely upward and each has a jumper hose connecting with an adjacent slave unit. The flow circulating within the annular region allows seeds to fall downwardly and air to spiral upwardly into a supplemental air conduit. An air bypass passageway conveys air flow from the supplemental air conduit toward the slave outlet conduits.

Abstract: A flow splitter for distributing agricultural products may include a splitter body defining an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports. The flow splitter may also include at least two baffle plates positioned within the splitter body so as to divide an internal flow chamber of the splitter body into a plurality of downstream flow channels. Additionally, the flow splitter may include a divider plate positioned within the splitter body upstream of the baffle plates such that the divider plate is spaced apart from upstream edges of the baffle plates in a direction of the inlet port of the splitter body. The divider plate may be configured to initially divide an input flow of agricultural product received at the input port into two separate product flows for subsequently delivery into the plurality of downstream flow channels.

Abstract: A seed planting system includes a seed storage tank to store seeds. A seed meter is fluidly coupled to the seed storage tank via a flow path, in which the seed meter receives seeds from the seed storage tank and distributes the seeds to ground engaging opener assemblies. A seed deflector is coupled to the seed storage tank directly above the flow path. The seed deflector guides the seeds from the seed storage tank into the flow path at an angle relative to a vertical axis of the flow path.

Abstract: A flow splitter for distributing agricultural products may include a splitter body defining an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports. The flow splitter may also include at least two baffle plates positioned within the splitter body so as to divide an internal flow chamber of the splitter body into a plurality of downstream flow channels. Additionally, the flow splitter may include a divider plate positioned within the splitter body upstream of the baffle plates such that the divider plate is spaced apart from upstream edges of the baffle plates in a direction of the inlet port of the splitter body. The divider plate may be configured to initially divide an input flow of agricultural product received at the input port into two separate product flows for subsequently delivery into the plurality of downstream flow channels.

Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement has a vertical tillage section and an aerating section behind the vertical tillage section, each extending substantially perpendicular to the pull direction of the implement. Individual vertical tillage elements, such as disc blades, can be indexed with individual rotary tine assemblies of the aerator section so that discrete holes formed by the aerator section are positioned between substantially continuous slits formed by the vertical tillage section. A ground deposit system deposits a component on the ground and may be configured for conducting and depositing a granular component, such as seeds, fertilizers, minerals or the like, or liquid components, such as liquid manure.

Abstract: An agricultural implement has a product supply chamber, and a pair of transversely extending product delivering booms, each with a plurality of conduits of varying lengths terminating in product distributing nozzles. A fan supplies air to a mixing chamber which also receives product from the supply chamber providing an air entrained flow of product to each conduit. A controller monitors product delivery and controls implement operation. Each conduit has a pressure tap near the nozzle for providing the controller with a pressure differential indication. The controller initiates a corrective action modifying the operation of the delivery system when a predetermined pressure differential threshold is exceeded. The corrective action may include an increased air flow volume, an additional burst of higher pressure air into the conduit, a temporary increase in air flow from the air flow source, or a reduction in the rate of product flow from the supply chamber.

Abstract: A double-shoot disc-opener row unit for use with agricultural implements includes two discs that form two separate trenches in a planting surface of a field. The mechanical connection between the two discs provides an adjustable longitudinal separation between the discs to prevent an overlap between the discs from a point view perpendicular to the direction of travel of the row unit. The longitudinal separation may reduce the interference of the flow of soil from one disc from interfering with the formations of trenches by the other disc. An adjustable lateral separation between the discs may also provide for a separation between the trenches produced by the different discs.