A bearing end cap for a modular meter assembly for distributing particulate material from an applicator can include recesses that accommodate locking tabs or fingers of modular meter unit housings and protrusions that lock a meter tube against rotation. In one aspect, a bearing end cap can be provided with a particular construction that cooperates with modular meter unit housings. The bearing end cap can have vertical and horizontal symmetry and cutouts near its corners. These cutouts can provide clearances to accommodate the locking tabs or fingers of modular meter unit housing end walls. Back walls of the bearing end caps can have protrusions that extend into end cutouts of a tube which defines an interior perimeter of the meter assembly.

A tubular sleeve for a modular meter system for distributing particulate material from an applicator can be inserted through a meter assembly that is built from modular meter unit housings to define the boundary wall of a meter cavity and provide internal structural support for the meter assembly. The tube can be provided with inlet and outlet openings that can be inserted through modular meter housings to form an overall meter assembly of a particular length and therefore volume/flow rate. In one aspect, a tube or tubular sleeve can be inserted into a stack of connected meter units while assembling a modular meter assembly. A circumferential sidewall of the tube can have pairs of oppositely positioned openings that provide inlets and outlets for a meter assembly.

A meter wheel system for a dry agricultural product applicator can include a bank of meter assemblies made from modular meter units. In one aspect, each meter assembly in the bank can be made from modular meter units. The modular meter units can be connected in a stacked configuration to provide a specific overall length to achieve a corresponding flow rate and then banked together to form the system. A bank of meter assemblies made from modular meter units can be secured between top and bottom plates. The plates can be bolted to each other and have receptacles that receive protrusions from top and bottom surfaces of the meter assemblies. Lengths of meter assemblies can be picked based on particular delivery rates for the section it feeds. An overall length of each meter assembly can be a multiple of a length of the modular meter unit.

An agricultural sprayer includes a spraying system that sprays a substance on an agricultural surface and a crop characteristic sensor that senses a crop characteristic of a crop on the agricultural surface and generates a crop characteristic signal indicative of the crop characteristic. The agricultural sprayer further includes a sprayer control system that identifies a position of a component of a crop plant based on the crop characteristic sensor signal and an action signal generator that generates an action signal based on the identified position of the component of the crop plant.

An agricultural sprayer includes a spraying system that sprays a substance on an agricultural surface and a crop characteristic sensor that senses a crop characteristic of a crop on the agricultural surface and generates a crop characteristic signal indicative of the crop characteristic. The agricultural sprayer further includes a sprayer control system that identifies a position of a component of a crop plant based on the crop characteristic sensor signal and an action signal generator that generates an action signal based on the identified position of the component of the crop plant.

A method of spreading granular material by an agricultural distribution device includes the steps of: spreading granular material onto an agricultural land by a plurality of distribution elements arranged on a distribution linkage of the agricultural distribution device, and detecting plant rows on the agricultural land during the spreading of the granular material, wherein the granular material is spread in row areas of the agricultural land having plant rows by at least one distribution element with a first distribution pattern and is spread in row-free areas of the agricultural land not having plant rows by at least one distribution element with a second distribution pattern.

An agricultural distribution device includes a plurality of spreading elements arranged on a distribution linkage and adapted to spread granular material on an agricultural land, a detection device adapted to detect plant rows on the agricultural land, an adjustment device configured to change an impact area of the granular material dispensed by one or more of the spreading elements on the agricultural land during a spreading process, and a control device which is adapted to control the adjustment device as a function of the plant rows on the agricultural land detected by the detection device during the spreading process.

The invention provides a pneumatic conveying system having a series of supply lines with at least portions of the lines being wear resistant to extend the useful lifespan of an agricultural product delivery applicator. The wear resistant supply line(s) may be made from a hard material and have a curve(s) defined by angled or mitered segments that are welded or otherwise joined to collectively provide the curve(s) The wear resistant supply lines may be at least partially reinforced by way of, for example, welded or other build up wear resistant material(s) at high wear zones of the supply lines.

The present invention provides an electronically controlled valve in each air distribution line for delivering product-conveying air to a boom section of an agricultural machine. The valves can be used to balance airflow between lines by controlling back pressure at the boom sections. In one aspect, an electronically controlled butterfly valve can be installed in each air line between a fan's plenum outlet and a dry product delivery meter. Each valve can be configured to allow some flow when in a closed position. This could be achieved, for example, by configuring a valve plate with a circular perimeter shape that has a smaller diameter than an inner diameter of the line or tube in which the valve plate is mounted.

An agricultural fertilizer system and method for applying a granular fertilizer to a field. A hopper defines a cavity adapted to hold the granular fertilizer and a metering device is coupled to the hopper, and is adapted to deliver a metered amount of fertilizer through a fertilizer hose coupled to a fertilizer spreader. A sensor device is disposed along the fertilizer hose between the fertilizer hose input and the fertilizer house output to identify a blockage resulting from a build-up of fertilizer. A blower delivers an airflow through an airflow hose operatively connected to the fertilizer hose, wherein the airflow hose is connected to the blower hose between the metering device and the sensor device. The airflow provided by the blower reduces or eliminates a buildup of fertilizer within the fertilizer hose to maintain a proper flow of fertilizer from the metering device and the fertilizer spreader.