A distributor includes two distributor disks, which are driven rotatably by a drive train, to be attached to a power take-off shaft of a traction unit or of a tractor. The drive train includes a central input shaft driving a cross shaft to drive distributor disks via a central gear. The distributor disks can be rotated at different speeds with a reducing gear with variable output speed, arranged downstream of the central gear. The reducing gear is configured as a mechanical coaxial transmission with an input shaft connected to the cross shaft and an output shaft arranged coaxially to the cross shaft. A speed reduction ratio is changed by an adjusting element between a normal position, with an input speed of the input shaft corresponding to the output speed of the output shaft, and a speed reduction position with the input speed not equal to the output speed.

A distributor includes two distributor disks, which are driven rotatably by a drive train, to be attached to a power take-off shaft of a traction unit or of a tractor. The drive train includes a central input shaft driving a cross shaft to drive distributor disks via a central gear. The distributor disks can be rotated at different speeds with a reducing gear with variable output speed, arranged downstream of the central gear. The reducing gear is configured as a mechanical coaxial transmission with an input shaft connected to the cross shaft and an output shaft arranged coaxially to the cross shaft. A speed reduction ratio is changed by an adjusting element between a normal position, with an input speed of the input shaft corresponding to the output speed of the output shaft, and a speed reduction position with the input speed not equal to the output speed.

An electro-mechanical controller is provided for adjusting the pump-stroke in a variety of variable-rate positive displacement piston pumps. The electro-mechanical controller can be attached to work with existing pumps or, in some embodiments, can be integrated into the pump. Using a linear actuator coupled to a pair of nested gears, the actuation of the linear actuator can be transferred into a rotating motion capable of rotating the pump setting adjustment, allowing for on-the-go adjustment of the pump-stroke in the variable-rate positive displacement piston pump. The electro-mechanical controllers can be particularly useful in agricultural settings to adjust the amount of fertilizer applied to the soil in response to a variety of inputs such as the GPS or map data, or a signal from a sensor indicating the amount of nitrogen in the soil or plant.

An improved particulate metering system is provided. The system includes an air flow origin and a plurality of particulate accelerators. A single particulate source is in communication with the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of operated conveyances can be in operable communication with the single particulate source and one of the particulate accelerators. The system includes a confluence of the air flow and the particulate within the mixing area of each of the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of discharges can be associated with the particulate accelerators. The operated conveyances can operate at different rates. The system can include one or more gearboxes adapted to be inverted and controlled by a second drive system. The improved system and controls provide variable application rates of particulate across rows in a field.

An improved particulate metering system is provided. The system includes an air flow origin and a plurality of particulate accelerators. A single particulate source is in communication with the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of operated conveyances can be in operable communication with the single particulate source and one of the particulate accelerators. The system includes a confluence of the air flow and the particulate within the mixing area of each of the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of discharges can be associated with the particulate accelerators. The operated conveyances can operate at different rates. The system can include one or more gearboxes adapted to be inverted and controlled by a second drive system. The improved system and controls provide variable application rates of particulate across rows in a field.

An improved particulate metering system is provided. The system includes an air flow origin and a plurality of particulate accelerators. A single particulate source is in communication with the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of operated conveyances can be in operable communication with the single particulate source and one of the particulate accelerators. The system includes a confluence of the air flow and the particulate within the mixing area of each of the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of discharges can be associated with the particulate accelerators. The operated conveyances can operate at different rates. The system can include one or more gearboxes adapted to be inverted and controlled by a second drive system. The improved system and controls provide variable application rates of particulate across rows in a field.

An improved particulate metering system is provided. The system includes an air flow origin and a plurality of particulate accelerators. A single particulate source is in communication with the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of operated conveyances can be in operable communication with the single particulate source and one of the particulate accelerators. The system includes a confluence of the air flow and the particulate within the mixing area of each of the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of discharges can be associated with the particulate accelerators. The operated conveyances can operate at different rates. The system can include one or more gearboxes adapted to be inverted and controlled by a second drive system. The improved system and controls provide variable application rates of particulate across rows in a field.

An improved particulate metering system is provided. The system includes an air flow origin and a plurality of particulate accelerators. A single particulate source is in communication with the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of operated conveyances can be in operable communication with the single particulate source and one of the particulate accelerators. The system includes a confluence of the air flow and the particulate within the mixing area of each of the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of discharges can be associated with the particulate accelerators. The operated conveyances can operate at different rates. The system can include one or more gearboxes adapted to be inverted and controlled by a second drive system. The improved system and controls provide variable application rates of particulate across rows in a field.

An apparatus for dispensing a granular fertilizer onto a surface. The apparatus comprises a housing, one or more wheels, a handle, and an auger. The housing has a first end, a second end, an enclosed tubular bore, a first opening facing generally upward, a second opening facing generally downward, and a weephole facing generally downward. The one or more wheels are connected to the housing for supporting the housing with respect to the surface. The handle is configured to be grasped by a user to cause movement of the housing relative to the surface. The auger is housed within the enclosed tubular bore. Rotation of the auger transports the granular fertilizer along the enclosed tubular bore of the housing from the first opening to the second opening to control an amount of the granular fertilizer that is dispensed from the second opening onto the surface.

An apparatus for dispensing a granular fertilizer onto a surface. The apparatus comprises a housing, one or more wheels, a handle, and an auger. The housing has a first end, a second end, an enclosed tubular bore, a first opening facing generally upward, a second opening facing generally downward, and a weephole facing generally downward. The one or more wheels are connected to the housing for supporting the housing with respect to the surface. The handle is configured to be grasped by a user to cause movement of the housing relative to the surface. The auger is housed within the enclosed tubular bore. Rotation of the auger transports the granular fertilizer along the enclosed tubular bore of the housing from the first opening to the second opening to control an amount of the granular fertilizer that is dispensed from the second opening onto the surface.