A particulate material sensing and agitation control system of an agricultural system having a drive system configured to operate an agitating system, and a controller having a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive at least one sensor signal indicative of a profile of a particulate material within the agricultural system, and output a control signal to instruct the drive system to operate the agitating system in a selected operating mode of a plurality of operating modes based on the profile of the particulate material. The agitating system is configured to interact with the particulate material in each operating mode of the plurality of operating modes, and the plurality of operating modes includes an agitation mode and a leveling mode.

A particulate material sensing and agitation control system of an agricultural system includes a drive system configured to operate an agitating system, a plurality of sensors, in which each sensor of the plurality of sensors may detect presence of particulate material at the sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a functional status of each sensor of the plurality of sensors, and, in response to determining the functional status of a respective sensor of the plurality of sensor is functioning, determine a detection status of the respective sensor. The controller is further configured to output a control signal to instruct the drive system to operate the agitating system in a selected operating mode of a plurality of operating modes based on a position within the agricultural system, the functional status, and the detection status of each sensor of the plurality of sensors.

An agitation control system of an agricultural system. The agitation control system includes an agitator that induces movement of particulate material through the agricultural system. An agitator motor couples to the agricultural system to move the agitator. A first motor couples to the agitation control system. The first motor includes a first sensor that detects a first temperature of the first motor and emits a first signal indicative of the first temperature. A controller couples to the agitator motor and to the first motor. The controller receives the first signal indicative of the first temperature from the first sensor and determines an ambient temperature from the first temperature. The controller controls the agitator motor in response to the ambient temperature.

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.

A particulate material agitation and leveling control system includes a controller having a memory and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a sensor signal indicative of a measured load on a drive system coupled to an agitation and leveling system, select an operating mode of the agitation and leveling system from an agitation mode and a leveling mode based on the measured load, and instruct the drive system to operate the agitation and leveling system based on the operating mode.

An agitating system includes an agitator disposed within a sub-hopper of the agitating system. The agitator is configured to promote movement of the particulate material through the sub-hopper. The agitating system also includes a deflector assembly configured to movably couple to a bracket at a position laterally offset from a center axis of the agitator. The deflector assembly includes a deflector that establishes a space between the deflector and the agitator, and the deflector is configured to block a portion of the particulate material from exerting a force onto the agitator as the particulate material flows through the sub-hopper.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include an agitating system of an agricultural system having a drive system configured to operate an agitator and a controller comprising a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to alternatingly instruct the drive system to operate the agitator in an active operation for an active time and instruct the drive system to suspend operation of the agitator for a dwell time after the active time.

A talc applicator is provided for use with agricultural equipment such as grain carts and seed tenders. The talc applicator includes a supply hopper with a trough, a discharge, a feed auger extending through the trough and discharge, and an agitator assembly positioned in the supply hopper immediately above the feed auger and trough. The agitator assembly includes a drive gear driven by the drive element of the feed auger and an elongated agitator element including at least two elongate bars and a plurality of angled crossbars connecting the two elongate bars. The agitator element rotates to assist with flow of talc into the trough so that the feed auger can move the talc to the other agricultural equipment. The talc applicator may also be provided with a hydraulic motor and a flexible flighting in the feed auger.

The instant invention is a machine/implement used for soil preparation, fertilizing and seeding intended for farming and gardening that mounts on a standard three point hitch and is powered by a tractor's power-take-off (PTO). The implement integrates the processes of ground breaking, tilling, fertilizing and planting in one adjustable unit. The adjustments include the spacing and depth of the ground cutting and tilling blades and the openings of the fertilizing ports to prepare the ground for planting in defined strips leaving the majority of ground only lightly disturbed. To achieve these goals, the apparatus is comprised of two frames, a lower one that contains the blades that break the ground crust ahead of the tiller tines that grind the soil into finer particles for planting. The lower frame also has a rear flap that levels and marks the tilled soil and also supports seed boxes with a mechanism that allows the seeder/seeders to set seed at a constant depth on uneven ground. The spacing of the seed boxes are determined by mounting holes in the apron. The upper detachable frame contains a bin that filters, holds and dispenses fertilizer by mixing it down through adjustable ports directly above and forward of the tiller blades to be mixed with the earth during tilling thus making it possible to break the ground, till, fertilize and seed in a single pass.

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.