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. In addition, damage done to the particulate material flowing through the distributor is not high, and the operation of the distributor creates a lower pressure drop across the distributor than prior art vertical distributors.

A distribution device, in particular a sowing machine, for distributing a good, with at least one storage container and at least one discharge apparatus. The storage container is connected to the discharge apparatus by at least one outlet channel such that the good arranged in the storage container can be transferred to the discharge apparatus such that the good can be distributed by the discharge apparatus. The distribution device has a first and a second part. The first and the second parts can be moved in relation to each other such that the outlet channel can be at least partially exposed.

A conversion is provided to adapt a salt truck spreading apparatus to a mulch blowing delivery system by replacing a centrifugal spreader with an air lock and blower while providing means to address clogs in the feeding of mulch.

A conversion is provided to adapt a salt truck spreading apparatus to a mulch blowing delivery system by replacing a centrifugal spreader with an air lock and blower while providing means to address clogs in the feeding of mulch.

An agricultural machine for dispensing material to be distributed, which agricultural machine comprises at least one metering element having a metering roller for metering the material to be distributed mounted in a metering housing and is rotatably driven. The metering roller has a plurality of metering wheel segments, each metering wheel segment of the metering roller is assigned a separate drive to drive the metering wheel segments independently of each other to ensure exact metering of the material to be distributed within finely subdivided partial widths of the agricultural machine. The drives of the metering wheel segments of the metering roller are arranged in the interior thereof, for example within a tubular hollow body, on which the metering wheel segments are mounted, such that the drives are ideally accommodated with protection from external influences and in a space-saving manner.

A sectional control device (12) controls the flow of particulate material from a meter (28) assembly to a primary manifold (24) of an air seeding system. The sectional control device (12) includes a plate assembly (56) having particulate openings (36A, 36C, 36) extending between the meter (28) assembly and the primary manifold (24) and a shut-off mechanism configured to control the flow of the particulate material through the particulate openings (36A, 36C, 36). The shut-off mechanism includes a gate (44A, 44) configured to slide between an open position, where particulate material can flow through the particulate opening (36, 38), and a closed position, where particulate material is prevented from flowing through the particulate opening (36, 38). The shut-off mechanism also includes an actuator (40A, 40) configured to drive the gate (44A, 44) between the open position and the closed position. A sectional control device (12) controls the flow of particulate material from a meter (28) assembly to a primary manifold (24) of an air seeding system. The sectional control device (12) includes a plate assembly (56) having particulate openings (36A, 36C, 36) extending between the meter (28) assembly and the primary manifold (24) and a shut-off mechanism configured to control the flow of the particulate material through the particulate openings (36A, 36C, 36). The shut-off mechanism includes a gate (44A, 44) configured to slide between an open position, where particulate material can flow through the particulate opening (36, 38), and a closed position, where particulate material is prevented from flowing through the particulate opening (36, 38). The shut-off mechanism also includes an actuator (40A, 40) configured to drive the gate (44A, 44) between the open position and the closed position.

A granular product delivery arrangement and method for an agricultural product applicator utilize a granular product deflector disposed below an inflow slot in a substantially horizontally extending supply line for enhancing entrainment of the granular product in an air stream passing through the supply line. The deflector has a body configured for enhancing entrainment of the granular product dropped through the slot into the flow of pressurized air passing through the supply line by directing the granular product toward an inner wall of the supply line adjacent the inflow slot, and directing the air stream away from the inflow slot in a manner that maintains a substantially unobstructed path for the airstream through a central area of the supply line and provides multiple zones within the supply line for the granular product to be entrained into the air stream.

A granular product delivery arrangement and method for an agricultural product applicator utilize a granular product deflector disposed below an inflow slot in a substantially horizontally extending supply line for enhancing entrainment of the granular product in an air stream passing through the supply line. The deflector has a body configured for enhancing entrainment of the granular product dropped through the slot into the flow of pressurized air passing through the supply line by directing the granular product toward an inner wall of the supply line adjacent the inflow slot, and directing the air stream away from the inflow slot in a manner that maintains a substantially unobstructed path for the airstream through a central area of the supply line and provides multiple zones within the supply line for the granular product to be entrained into the air stream.

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.

An agricultural implement comprises a container mounted on a frame arranged for movement across an agricultural field, which container is suited for storing a granular product to be deposited across the field. The agricultural implement additionally including a metering system arranged for metering the granular product in movement from a product exit of the container to a product discharge, typically in operative communication with a pneumatic conveying system, for eventual delivery to the agricultural field. The agricultural implement features a crushing system arranged for reducing a size of the granular product that is disposed in series with the metering system so as to be located between the product exit and the product discharge, such that metered quantities of the crushed granular product can be deposited into the ground as the agricultural implement is displaced in the forward working direction across the field.