Abstract: A commodity splitter for granular agricultural material includes a chamber having a central section located between an input port and multiple output ports. The central chamber section includes upper and lower planar walls joined by parallel, vertical side walls. First individual upright diverting fins are joined to and extend towards the bottom wall from the upper wall and have respective lower longitudinally extending edges spaced above upper longitudinal edges of second individual upright diverting fins joined to and extend toward the upper wall from the lower wall. The first and second upright fins, respectively, together with the top and bottom walls and opposite side walls form upper and lower vertically spaced material directing channels for directing material from the input port to the outlet ports. The space between the upper and lower channels defines a blockage preventing and pressure-equalizing open area.

Abstract: A row unit of a planter or other agricultural machine having ground engaging wheels is equipped with a rotation sensor to determine if and when a wheel stops rotating. An alert is issued by a monitor to the operator so that corrective action can be taken. Further, further the monitor also determines when the machine is in use depositing an input versus turning at the end of the rows so that the rotation sensors to not generate an alert when the machine is not in use delivering an input to the field.

Abstract: A commodity splitter (80) for granular agricultural material includes a chamber (84) with an input port (92) and multiple output ports (94, 96, 98), the chamber (84) having first and second walls (110,112) and upright diverting fins (114, 116) connected to and extending from the first horizontal wall (110) towards the second wall (112). The fins (114, 116) terminate in longitudinal edges (114e, 116e) offset from the second wall (112) to form material directing channels (94c, 96c, 98c) of similar cross-sections for directing an amount of the entrained material to each of the multiple outputs (94, 96, 98). The surfaces of the fins (114, 116) mechanically divert material not fully entrained in the air flow and break clumps. A blockage preventing and pressure-equalizing open area (129) is defined within the chamber (84) to allow passage of material clumps and to equalize pressure in the material directing channels (94c, 96c, 98c) for uniform commodity flow.

Abstract: A row unit of a planter or other agricultural machine having ground engaging wheels is equipped with a rotation sensor to determine if and when a wheel stops rotating. An alert is issued by a monitor to the operator so that corrective action can be taken. Further, means are provided to determine when the machine is in used depositing an input versus turning at the end of the rows so that the rotation sensors to not generate an alert when the machine is not in use delivering an input to the field.

Abstract: An agricultural seeding machine includes at least one tool bar, and a plurality of row crop units, with each row crop unit coupled with a respective tool bar. Each row crop unit includes a seed meter; a ground engaging wheel; a continuously variable transmission (CVT) driven by the wheel; and a rotatable drive element coupled between the CVT and the seed meter.

Abstract: A liquid metering system for an agricultural implement is modular, having individual metering pumps for each crop row. The pumps are individually controlled for precise application of the liquid input and are preferable electrically driven. A common pump is used, making the system modular in that varying sizes of implements can be produced by varying the number of pumps. A common supply line is used to supply a liquid input from a reservoir to the pumps. Each pump is connected to the common supply line. By connecting each pump to the common supply line, the difficulty of routing individual hoses from a central pump to each row unit are overcome.

Abstract: A liquid metering system for an agricultural implement is modular, having individual metering pumps for each crop row. The pumps are individually controlled for precise application of the liquid input and are preferable electrically driven. A common pump is used, making the system modular in that varying sizes of implements can be produced by varying the number of pumps. A common supply line is used to supply a liquid input from a reservoir to the pumps. Each pump is connected to the common supply line. By connecting each pump to the common supply line, the difficulty of routing individual hoses from a central pump to each row unit are overcome.

Abstract: An agricultural seeding machine includes at least one tool bar, and a plurality of row crop units, with each row crop unit coupled with a respective tool bar. Each row crop unit includes a seed meter; a ground engaging wheel; a continuously variable transmission (CVT) driven by the wheel; and a rotatable drive element coupled between the CVT and the seed meter.

Abstract: A seed metering system having a housing and a disk rotatably positioned within the housing and having a plurality of holes extending from a first face to a second face thereof, the holes being substantially uniformly placed from one another around the circumference of the disk and each sized to receive a single seed. A pressure differential is maintained between the first and second face of the disk within the housing, the pressure on the first face being higher than the pressure on the second face to urge seeds against the first face of the disk. A plurality of seeds are distributed against the first face of the disk, whereby the pressure differential substantially urges a single seed into a single hole on the disk. A device is provided for releasing the single seeds from the holes on the disk at substantially the same location for sequential distribution of seeds.

Abstract: A seed metering system having a housing and a disk rotatably positioned within the housing and having a plurality of holes extending from a first face to a second face thereof, the holes being substantially uniformly placed from one another around the circumference of the disk and each sized to receive a single seed. A pressure differential is maintained between the first and second face of the disk within the housing, the pressure on the first face being higher than the pressure on the second face to urge seeds against the first face of the disk. A plurality of seeds are distributed against the first face of the disk, whereby the pressure differential substantially urges a single seed into a single hole on the disk. A device is provided for releasing the single seeds from the holes on the disk at substantially the same location for sequential distribution of seeds.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a foldable agricultural implement frame having a first pair of controlling/controlled lifting hydraulic cylinders for lifting and lowering the right wing section and the center section together in a level condition, and a second pair of controlling/controlled lifting hydraulic cylinders for lifting and lowering the left wing section and the center section together in a level condition. In the first pair of controlling/controlled hydraulic cylinders one of the hydraulic cylinders lifts the right wing section and the other lifts the center section. In the second pair of controlling/controlled hydraulic cylinders one of the hydraulic cylinders lifts the left wing section and the other lifts the center section. A rephasing valve assembly is used to rephase the controlling/controlled hydraulic cylinder pairs when the implement frame is folded and only the center section needs to be lifted and lowered.

Abstract: A self cleaning sprocket for a roller chain comprising a circular disc having a plurality of outwardly extending teeth and between which are formed roller receiving pockets. At the base of each pocket extending radially inwardly therefrom are foreign material receiving niches which receive foreign material driven from the pocket by the engaging roller of the roller chain. The niches are U-shaped and extend from curved portions of the pocket which form the working faces of the sprocket. The sprocket and chain drive associated therewith is particularly well suited for use with an agricultural machine, such as a planter, which is used in a dirty and trashy environment.

Abstract: A leveling system for a wheeled implement wherein the implement includes a frame with ground-engaging tools, a forwardly extending hitch structure, support wheels mounted to the frame, and wheel lift cylinders attached between the frame and the support wheels for raising or lowering the frame relative to the ground. The leveling system includes a fore-and-aft leveling mechanism and a controller. The fore-and-aft leveling mechanism is attached between the frame and the hitch structure for maintaining the frame substantially parallel to the ground during both transport and working operations. The controller uses a control lever which activates both the wheel lift cylinders and the fore-and-aft leveling mechanism. Movement of the control lever permits the frame and the hitch structure to move relative to the ground so that the frame can remain parallel to the ground at all times, even when the frame is being raised or lowered on the support wheels.

Abstract: In an agricultural implement having a center section and a hinged wing section foldable over the center section to narrow it for transport, there is provided an improved support structure pivotally connected to the wing section which lies flat on the wing during field operations and automatically swings into its proper support orientation as the wing is folded. The support structure includes a brace member pivotally coupled with the wing section and spring loaded to swing away from the wing as the wing is folded. A stop is provided to properly orient the brace member relative to the wing and a guide surface is provided on the brace member to assure that it securely engages the frame of the center section.