An exemplary diverter valve generally includes a shell, a pipe, and a handle. The shell includes a body extending in a longitudinal direction, a shell inlet port, a shell outlet port, and a positioning slot formed in the body. The pipe is seated in the body for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction, and includes a first passage and a second passage. The handle is connected to the pipe through the positioning slot, and is operable to move the pipe relative to the shell between a first position in which the shell inlet port is connected with the shell outlet port via the first passage, and a second position in which the second passage is connected with the shell inlet port and the shell outlet port is disconnected from the second passage.

A particulate material sensing and agitation control system of an agricultural system includes an agitator configured to induce movement of particulate material through the agricultural system, a drive system coupled to the agitator, and a sensing system configured to determine a current flowing through the drive system. The drive system is configured to move the agitator, and the drive system is powered via an electrical circuit. The sensing system includes a first input coupled to a first point on the electrical circuit, the sensing system includes a second input coupled to a second point on the electrical circuit, the sensing system is configured to determine a voltage differential between the first point and the second point, and the sensing system is configured to determine current flowing through the electrical circuit based on the voltage differential.

Provided are a material broadcasting device, an unmanned aerial vehicle, and a material broadcasting method. The material broadcasting device includes a material picker, a material receiver, a material feeder, and a controller. The material picker includes a housing having an upper opening and a lower opening; and a material picking wheel located at the lower opening and driven by a driving member to rotate. The upper opening is in communication with a material box. Material picking cavities for accommodating materials are provided on the material picking wheel. The controller is electrically connected to the driving member. The material receiver is located below the material picking wheel and is in communication with the material feeder.

A placing unit for a seed drill includes at least two furrow-opening disks and at least two devices for delivery of particulate products from at least one reservoir, the respective ejection outlets of which are situated between the two opener disks in a manner mutually offset along the direction of advance. The placing unit also includes a body carrying the disks and devices. The placing unit includes an elongated assembly for firming of the product or products deposited at the bottom of the furrow, and an interface for linking with the body for the seed-firming assembly, which includes an end for fixation with the interface and an opposite bracing end. The linking interface includes at least two fixation sites for the corresponding end of the assembly, offset longitudinally relative to one another along the direction of advance.

A placing unit for a seed drill includes at least two furrow-opening disks and at least two devices for delivery of particulate products from at least one reservoir, the respective ejection outlets of which are situated between the two opener disks in a manner mutually offset along the direction of advance. The placing unit also includes a body carrying the disks and devices. The placing unit includes an elongated assembly for firming of the product or products deposited at the bottom of the furrow, and an interface for linking with the body for the seed-firming assembly, which includes an end for fixation with the interface and an opposite bracing end. The linking interface includes at least two fixation sites for the corresponding end of the assembly, offset longitudinally relative to one another along the direction of advance.

An example agricultural machine comprises a material distribution system that includes a material distribution line configured to convey particulate material to a component. The agricultural machine comprises a sensing system that includes a first sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal indicative of a measure of a flow of the particulate material in the material distribution line, a second sensor configured to generate a second sensor signal indicative of a measure of the flow of the particulate material in the material distribution line, and a correlation generation component configured to receive indications of the first and second sensor signals and to generate a correlation metric that represents a correlation between the first and second sensor signals. In one example, the correlation metric is applied to a sensor signal from a second material distribution line to determine a flow rate in the second material distribution line.

Systems and methods for distributing granular products onto or into the soil, comprising a chassis, a first assembly for distributing a first granular product comprising a main hopper, fixed to a frame, which can move in relation to said chassis and is able to adopt a position known as the “lowered” position, which is the working position of said sowing unit, and a position known as the “raised” position, which is the maintenance position of said sowing unit, and that is able to move from said “lowered” position to said “raised” position and vice versa, said sowing unit also comprising a mechanism for tilting said frame and comprising a collapsible quadrangle or double quadrangle that connects said frame to said chassis, said tilting mechanism being arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane X-X′ formed by said chassis, and maintained substantially perpendicular to said plane X-X′ in said “lowered” and “raised” positions and when moving from one position to the other, and vice versa. The systems may include a seed drill comprising one or more sowing units.

Systems and methods for distributing granular products into the soil, comprising a mechanism for opening a furrow in the soil, a mechanism for filling the furrow, a first assembly for distributing a first granular product, comprising a main hopper, a first distribution mechanism for distributing a first granular product, in communication with said main hopper, a first conveyor mechanism for carrying said first granular product to the soil, to a first relative distribution position located between said mechanisms for opening and filling the furrow, at least one additional dispensing assembly for at least one additional granular product comprising mechanisms capable of depositing the said at least one additional granular product in the said relative dispensing position, and in another relative dispensing position situated before the said furrow opening mechanism, or in another relative dispensing position, located after the said furrow closing mechanism, said additional dispensing assembly, cooperating with or comprising a selection mechanism for depositing said at least one additional granular product at either of said relative dispensing positions, and both at said relative dispensing positions. The systems may include a seed drill comprising one or more sowing units.

A floating pond fertilizer device is provided. The device includes a tray for holding fertilizer at the surface of a body of water to be fertilized. The tray has small holes in the bottom of the tray through which fertilizer is released and is secured to a float to support the tray on the surface of the water. The device has opposing mixing arms positioned inside the tray for mixing the fertilizer. The mixing arms are attached to a support arm that can freely rotate within an opening in the center of the bottom of the tray. Rotation of the support arm is facilitated by natural wind and wave action, and thus the device does not require the use of motorized or automated components for mixing or dispensing the fertilizer. The device has a lid that can be retained in an open position during use to facilitate wind-assisted mixing.

A system and method for regulating dispensation of seeds, fertilizer or other items. The system comprises a hopper, at least first and second movable metering plates, and an agitator assembly. Movement of the first and second movable metering plates in first and second directions, respectively, that are opposite one another increases a size of a plurality of output holes defined by interleaved portions of the metering plates, whereas movement of the first and second movable metering plates in the second and first directions, respectively, decreases the size of the output holes. An adjustable control handle can be moved to simultaneously move the first and second movable metering plates to adjust the size of the output holes. Each agitator remains in alignment with a center of a respective output hole regardless of a decrease or increase in the size of the output holes, resulting in more efficient dispensation.