Abstract: An air seeder is provided having at least one container with a trough in the bottom floor. Preferably, the floor is formed with a v-shaped configuration converging at a metering mechanism. An auger is rotatably mounted in the trough to move particulate material to the metering mechanism located at a distal end of the container. The auger is powered by a motor mounted on the distal end of the auger opposite the metering mechanism. A remote fan mechanism is provided to deliver a supply of air to the metering mechanism through a pair of conveying tubes. Optionally, a sensor is provided to control the operation of the auger so that the auger only operates when it is needed.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing particles includes a storage tank for containing particles to be dispensed a metering mechanism for transferring particles from the storage tank and an air distribution system for receiving particles from the metering mechanism The air distribution system includes a bank of tubes for transporting particles in a flow of air having a flow rate, and a damper mechanism at the bank of tubes for selective control of the flow rate within the bank of tubes. The apparatus for dispensing particles also includes an air flow source for providing a flow of air to the bank of tubes, a sensor located at each tube for providing a sensor output signal indicative of a value of a flow characteristic, and a controller operably connected to the sensors and to the damper mechanism.

Abstract: A metering system for an air cart is provided in which a portion, preferably one-half, of a meter roller can be selectively disengaged from a common drive input. The metering system typically comprises two roller halves located in a common housing. The driven half of the meter roller is directly rotated by the rotation of the drive input. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the controlled half of the meter roller is engaged or disengaged from rotation by a wrap spring clutch. The drive input does not engage the controlled meter roller half directly. Instead, the drive input extends within a hollow shaft which extends through the controlled half of the meter roller with the drive input lying concentrically within it. When only half the meter roller is required, the operator can disengage the clutch and stop rotation of the controlled half of the meter roller without stopping the operation of the air cart.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing particles includes a storage tank for containing particles to be dispensed a metering mechanism for transferring particles from the storage tank and an air distribution system for receiving particles from the metering mechanism. The air distribution system includes a bank of tubes for transporting particles in a flow of air having a flow rate, and a damper mechanism at the bank of tubes for selective control of the flow rate within the bank of tubes. The apparatus for dispensing particles also includes an air flow source for providing a flow of air to the bank of tubes, a sensor located at each tube for providing a sensor output signal indicative of a value of a flow characteristic, and a controller operably connected to the sensors and to the damper mechanism.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for an aircart having a fan cooperable with an air seeder system to distribute material to the ground utilizes two or more fluid power sources combined in parallel. Total fluid capacity is increased so that one source may have reserve capacity for serving other loads. Flow controls for the system are set so that one source maintains at least a minimum flow to a load when the flow provided by the other source diminishes. Specifically, an aircart fan is operated by fluid power combined from a tractor source and a ground driven pump source with controls being provided to control the fin speed and proportions of flow from each source. The ground driven source (boost pump) boosts available fluid power volume to meet demands of the aircart fan. The boost pump is located near the aircart fan and connected with short lines to minimize power loss in the lines.

Abstract: A new and useful meter roller assembly is provided for an agricultural implement for metering material delivery between a meter box and a series of material runs leading to a series of material distributors, the assembly comprising a shaft for mounting for rotation in the box; a series of roller sections for mounting on the shaft, extending across the runs, the roller sections chosen from the group consisting of blank sections or metering sections; and wherein the series of roller sections includes at least one metering sections corresponding to one the run, for securing to the shaft for rotation therewith and comprising at least one fluted segment and at least one blank segment.

Abstract: An air seeder for planting agricultural crops includes: a storage tank for containing particles to be dispensed; a metering mechanism for transferring particles from the storage tank; an air distribution system for receiving particles from the metering mechanism, the air distribution system comprising a bank of tubes for transporting particles in a flow of air having a flow rate, and a damper mechanism at the bank of tubes for selective control of the flow rate within the bank of tubes; an air flow source for providing a flow of air to the bank of tubes; a particle velocity sensor located at each tube for providing a sensor output signal corresponding to a measured particle velocity; and a control mechanism operably connected to the sensors and to the damper mechanism for selective adjustment of the flow rate in the bank of tubes, the control mechanism being adapted to receive the sensor output signals, normalize the values corresponding to the sensor output signals, and display the normalized values.

Abstract: A seed treating device is mounted on a seeding implement to treat untreated seeds carried by the implement with inoculants or other treating material before the seeds are planted into the ground. The implement conveys seeds in a flow of air carried by conduits to entrain the seeds within the air flow. The seed treating unit is placed on the implement remote from the storage tank for the seeds to receive airborne seeds from an inlet tube, treat the seeds with a coating material, and discharge the seeds through an outlet tube to planting mechanisms. The seed treating unit includes a conical mixing chamber to induce the air/seed flow into a whirling motion where the coating material is introduced for an even coating of the individual seed particles. The inlet line is oriented generally tangential to the circular mixing chamber, while the outlet line is generally perpendicular to the inlet line and is centrally connected to the main axis of the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A multi-compartment tank structure for an agricultural air cart is formed in a modular configuration with two, three or more containers operable to carry different supplies of materials to the field. Each container is formed with an interlocking mating wall structure having a pair of spaced apart geodesic-like lobes separated by a curved key portion recessed with respect to the lobes. One container having a convex mating wall configuration interfits with another container having a complementary concave mating wall structure. In the three or more compartment configuration, the interior container is provided with both convex and concave opposing mating walls to cooperate with the adjacent containers. The lobes are formed from a number of planar surface segments to create the geodesic-like appearance.

Abstract: An air seeder is provided with a control system for controlling the velocity of air flowing though the product delivery tubes between the product storage tanks and the planting mechanism for delivering the product into the ground. A multiple tank air seeder would be provided with a bank of product delivery tubes for each product storage tank with an air damper mechanism incorporated into each respective bank of product delivery tubes. An electric actuator is mounted on the air cart to connect to each respective air damper mechanism and effect the movement thereof between a fully closed and a fully opened position and, thereby restrict the movement of air through the product delivery tubes. The control mechanism includes a control panel from which the electric actuators for the air damper mechanisms and an electric actuator for controlling the rotational speed of the fan creating the flow of air through the product delivery tubes can be controlled.

Abstract: A low-splash auger system is provided wherein an auger is housed within a housing. A portion of the auger extends out of an end of the housing for insertion into a hopper. The end of the housing is slanted for minimizing product from splashing upward when the auger is in use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic lift mechanism for a manifold in a pneumatic delivery system of an agricultural air cart for seed and fertilizer delivery. The unitary manifold is composed of a plurality of pneumatic passages and mixing valves for conducting metered product from to delivery tubes in a delivery tool. The lift mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder for rotating a pivotal support rod and pivotal linkages connected to the manifold to lower and disengage the manifold from the meters and to position it to one side of the cart in a service position exposing the under carriage for access. A guide is provided to cooperate with the cylinder and pivotal linkages to guide substantially vertical movement of the manifold for disengaging and engaging the meters for sealing contact. The lift mechanism further includes a lock for maintaining the manifold in sealing contact in an operational position under tension once the actuating cylinder is depressurized.