Abstract: The present invention is directed to an applicator having an agricultural product 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 an inline metering system including a number of metering devices associated with each compartment of a particulate material tank on the applicator to meter the particulate material disposed within each compartment. The individual metering devices include gates to initially enable the particulate material from a compartment to enter the metering device, and a rotary metering shaft to meter the flow of the particulate material into the conduits while limiting the passage of pressurized air through the metering device and into the compartment.

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: The present invention is directed to an applicator having an agricultural product mechanical 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 pneumatic agitation system operably connected to the tanks of the applicator to agitate the particulate material disposed within the tanks in order to reduce the formation of agglomerations and/or bridges of particles within the tanks. The pneumatic agitation system includes a number of nozzle connected to each tank that are in turn connected to a pressurized air source and a controller. The controller is operable to selectively cause pressurized air to flow into the tanks through the nozzles to agitate the particulate material positioned therein, thereby breaking up and agglomerations of material within the tanks.

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 supply lines connected between the metering devices at the source containers and delivery nozzles. The conveying system also includes a dynamic baffle system that directs the air flow towards a supply line detected as having increased resistance to the air flow in order to equalize the air flow into each of the supply lines. The baffle system accomplishes this by obstructing a portion of the air flow towards a supply line having less resistance to the air flow and concurrently re-directing the obstructed portion of the air flow into the supply line with higher air flow resistance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an applicator having an agricultural product 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 an inline metering system including a number of metering devices associated with each compartment of a particulate material tank on the applicator to meter the particulate material disposed within each compartment. The individual metering devices include gates to initially enable the particulate material from a compartment to enter the metering device, and a rotary metering shaft to meter the flow of the particulate material into the conduits while limiting the passage of pressurized air through the metering device and into the compartment.

Abstract: A pneumatic system of an agricultural implement includes a radial fan coupled with a plenum. The plenum contains outlets which distribute the airflow into a plurality of product distribution lines for application to a field. An airflow deflector plate has a back face fixed on a sidewall of a region interconnecting the fan outlet and plenum inlet to modify the airflow pattern and obtain an airflow that is at a uniform pressure and flow rate for each product distribution line. The deflector plate is tapered with a narrow edge pointed upstream and includes front face having at least one generally rectangular groove with a bottom surface extending generally parallel to the deflector back face.

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: An agricultural product application system for an agricultural vehicle includes a belt, a drive roll, and a flow control system, wherein the flow control system includes a gates and actuators, each gate controls a respective flow of the agricultural product to a respective output of the agricultural product application system based at least in part on a position of the gate relative to the belt, and each actuator is coupled to at least one respective gate to control the position of the at least one respective gate relative to the belt. The agricultural product application system also includes a controller that instructs each actuator to control the position of the at least one respective gate relative to the belt based at least in part on a speed of the agricultural vehicle, a turning radius of the agricultural vehicle, a prescription map, a field map, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A disc-opener implement for use with an agricultural implement includes a disc configured to form a trench in a surface of a field and a scraper adjacent to the disc. The disc-opener implement also includes a knife that is configured to form a furrow next to or into a sidewall of the trench, wherein the knife comprises a leading edge, and a portion of the leading edge is aligned with a trailing edge of the scraper along a lateral axis of the disc-opener implement.

Abstract: A pneumatic system of an agricultural implement includes a radial fan coupled with a plenum. The plenum contains outlets which distribute the airflow into a plurality of product distribution lines for application to a field. An airflow deflector plate has a back face fixed on a sidewall of a region interconnecting the fan outlet and plenum inlet to modify the airflow pattern and obtain an airflow that is at a uniform pressure and flow rate for each product distribution line. The deflector plate is tapered with a narrow edge pointed upstream and includes front face having at least one generally rectangular groove with a bottom surface extending generally parallel to the deflector back face.

Abstract: A method for reducing material accumulation relative to ground-engaging tools of a tillage implement may include monitoring, with a computing device, an accumulation parameter as a tillage operation is being performed, wherein the accumulation parameter provides an indication of material accumulation relative to a plurality of ground-engaging tools of the tillage implement. The method may also include comparing, with the computing device, the accumulation parameter to a material accumulation threshold, wherein the material accumulation threshold is indicative of a given degree of material accumulation relative to the plurality ground-engaging tools.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an applicator having an agricultural product mechanical conveying system which transfers particulate material metered into the mechanical conveying system from one or more source containers to the application equipment on demand, and meters the material at the application equipment. The mechanical conveying system employs longitudinal mechanical distributors that operate to move and mix the particulate material from one of the source containers or tanks along the mechanical distributor to a plenum. At the plenum the different types of particulate materials are further blended, such as within a particle injector, and delivered to the distribution nozzles for discharge from the applicator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an applicator having an agricultural product pneumatic conveying system which meters and transfers particulate material from one or more source containers to application equipment on demand. The pneumatic conveying system employs supply lines connected between the source containers and delivery nozzles that operate to move and mix the particulate material from one of the source containers or tanks. A rotary distributor is connected between each of the supply lines and the delivery nozzles and includes a rotating shaft to divert the particulate material relatively evenly between the delivery nozzles. The rotary distributor is disposed in alignment with the supply line to require less air flow for the distribution of the particulate material into the delivery nozzles and to significantly reduce the profile of the applicator in the folded or transport configuration.

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 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 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 disc-opener implement for use with an agricultural implement includes a disc configured to form a trench in a surface of a field and a scraper adjacent to the disc. The disc-opener implement also includes a knife that is configured to form a furrow next to or into a sidewall of the trench, wherein the knife comprises a leading edge, and a portion of the leading edge is aligned with a trailing edge of the scraper along a lateral axis of the disc-opener implement.

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: One embodiment describes a seed planting system that includes a seed storage tank to store seeds; a seed meter 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; and a seed deflector coupled to the seed storage tank directly above the flow path, in which 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: 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.