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 seed meter for metering a plurality of seeds includes a seed meter housing defining a seed inlet, a seed outlet, and a chamber therebetween, a hub rotatably mounted to the seed meter housing about a rotational axis and extending from a first end positioned within the chamber of the seed meter housing to a second end positioned outside of the seed meter housing, a metering element mounted to the hub within the chamber, a plurality of drain apertures located in the seed meter housing adjacent to the hub, and a handle mounted to the second end of the hub, the handle extends over the plurality of drain apertures in an axial direction parallel to the rotational axis of the hub.

A seed meter for metering a plurality of seeds includes a seed meter housing defining a seed inlet, a seed outlet, and a chamber therebetween, a hub rotatably mounted to the seed meter housing about a rotational axis and extending from a first end positioned within the chamber of the seed meter housing to a second end positioned outside of the seed meter housing, a metering element mounted to the hub within the chamber, a plurality of drain apertures located in the seed meter housing adjacent to the hub, and a handle mounted to the second end of the hub, the handle extends over the plurality of drain apertures in an axial direction parallel to the rotational axis of the hub.

An agricultural implement and a metering apparatus for the agricultural implement to deliver a material to a material depositing apparatus. The metering apparatus includes metering roller, an integrated motor operatively connected to the metering roller, and a motor drive operatively connected to the integrated motor. A controller is operatively connected to the integrated motor and to the motor drive wherein the controller transmits a drive signal to drive the integrated motor and receives a status signal from the integrated motor. The drive signals drives the motor, which includes the roller coupled to a motor spindle, at a variable rate of speed to reduce pulsing. In one embodiment, the agricultural implement is an air cart.

An improved modulated particulate metering system is provided. The system includes a plurality of particulate storage areas, each having a separate type of particulate. The system can include varied configurations of a plurality of cartridges in communication with one of the particulate storage containers. The system can further include varied configurations of a plurality of gearboxes operably connected to the cartridges. The gearboxes can be adapted to be inverted and operably controlled by one or more drive shafts. The system can still further include varied configurations of a plurality of particulate accelerators in fluid communication with an air flow path having one inlet. The system permits a user to efficiently alternate between desired configurations based on the needs of the application.

An electric-powered bulk material dispersing system and method of use. The electric power is provided by a battery system with one or more electric motors to replace traditional internal combustion engines. The electric motor or motors are used to provide pressure to one or more pumps that may be used in conjunction with various tubes, hoses or related conduit and spray nozzles in order to disperse a bulk material such as seed, mulch, compost, chipped wood, grain, hay, fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide, plastic pellets, salt, sand or the like that has been combined or suspended within a fluent material. In one form, the bulk material dispersing system may be used as a bulk hydroseeder.

An electric-powered bulk material dispersing system and method of use. The electric power is provided by a battery system with one or more electric motors to replace traditional internal combustion engines. The electric motor or motors are used to provide pressure to one or more pumps that may be used in conjunction with various tubes, hoses or related conduit and spray nozzles in order to disperse a bulk material such as seed, mulch, compost, chipped wood, grain, hay, fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide, plastic pellets, salt, sand or the like that has been combined or suspended within a fluent material. In one form, the bulk material dispersing system may be used as a bulk hydroseeder.

A planting system including a seed flow controller coupled to a hopper and a spreader, is described. The seed flow controller, hopper, and spreader are transported by an unmanned aerial vehicle to spread the seeds over a geography. The seed flow controller includes several rollers having apposed outer surfaces. The rollers also include fins that extend about respective roller axes such that the fins cross at discrete contact points as the rollers rotate. The interfacing rollers break up clumps of seed material stored in the hopper and controllably convey the seed material from the hopper to the spreader. The spreader has a spinning spreader plate that flings the seed material laterally outward to spread the seed material over the ground. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

A product distribution system for sectional control in an air boom spreader has a solid product metering assembly having: a first endless conveyor and a second endless conveyor for conveying the product from the container to the air system, the first and second endless conveyors substantially parallel to each other, the first conveyor driven independently of the second conveyor; and, a first shaft, a second shaft and a third shaft, the first shaft parallel to, separated from and driven independently of the second shaft, the second shaft parallel to and separated from the third shaft, the first shaft driving the first conveyor, the second shaft driving the third shaft to drive the second conveyor.

An agricultural implement and a metering apparatus for the agricultural implement to deliver a material to a material depositing apparatus. The metering apparatus includes metering roller, an integrated motor operatively connected to the metering roller, and a motor drive operatively connected to the integrated motor. A controller is operatively connected to the integrated motor and to the motor drive wherein the controller transmits a drive signal to drive the integrated motor and receives a status signal from the integrated motor. The drive signals drives the motor, which includes the roller coupled to a motor spindle, at a variable rate of speed to reduce pulsing. In one embodiment, the agricultural implement is an air cart.