A01C7/088

Rotary flow divider assembly for agricultural product distribution system

A rotary flow divider assembly is provided that includes a housing having an inlet passage configured to receive agricultural product, a first outlet passage configured to discharge the agricultural product, and a second outlet passage configured to discharge the agricultural product. The rotary flow divider assembly also includes a rotary valve selectively rotatable between a first position that facilitates flow of the agricultural product from the inlet passage to the first and second outlet passages, a second position that facilitates flow of the agricultural product from the inlet passage to the first outlet passage, and substantially blocks flow of the agricultural product from the inlet passage to the second outlet passage, and a third position that facilitates flow of the agricultural product from the inlet passage to the second outlet passage, and substantially blocks flow of the agricultural product from the inlet passage to the first outlet passage.

Selective fan shaped material distributor

A material distribution system includes: a chassis; a material tank carried by the chassis and configured to hold a material; and a header configured to receive and distribute material from the material tank entrained in an air flow. The header includes: a header body having a pair of sidewalls, an inlet configured to receive entrained material from the material tank and a plurality of outlets, the sidewalls defining a width therebetween that increases from the inlet toward the plurality of outlets; a valve associated with an outlet that is configured to switch between a distributing position and a purging position, the valve blocking its outlet in the purging position; and a plenum having a volume of air that is selectively in fluid communication with the plurality of outlets to provide a purging air flow to the outlet with the associated valve when the valve is in the purging position.

SEEDER WITH METERING SYSTEM HAVING SELECTIVELY POWERED METERING SECTIONS

A metering system for a seeding machine is provided. The metering system includes selectively powered metering sections operable to individually allow or restrict seed dispensation. A damper arrangement is also provided so that pneumatic conveying of the particulate within the machine is consistently maintained when particulate flow is varied between the metering sections.

SEED METER UNLOADING SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS
20170156256 · 2017-06-08 ·

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for controlling an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units. In some embodiments, seeds are planted by rotating a seed disc in a first direction; seeds are then unloaded from a seed disc into a seed pool by rotating the seed disc in a second direction. In some such embodiments an amount of rotation in the second rotation is selected to ensure that seeds are released into the seed pool and not released from the from the seed meter.

Metering apparatuses for sectional control

A metering apparatus for distributing an agricultural product in a field has a meterbox configured for association with a hopper for receiving agricultural product from the hopper. A rotatable metering element is disposed within a chamber in the meterbox, and the rotating metering element is configured to deliver the agricultural product at a regulated rate from the hopper through the chamber to a product distribution line. Delivery of the agricultural product to the product distribution line may be selectively stopped by a reversibly inflatable seal between the metering element and an outlet to the distribution line, a reversible seal formed by contact between the metering element and an inlet from the hopper to the chamber, or a disengagement structure for disengaging the agricultural product from the metering element while the metering element continues to rotate.

DECLUTCHING DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTION ELEMENT AND SEED DRILL INCLUDING SUCH A DEVICE
20170112048 · 2017-04-27 · ·

A declutching device for a seed drill distribution element including a locking element and a support element on which the locking element is mounted, in which the locking element allows two stable positions relative to the support element and can be moved between these, the locking element being configured, when in a stable position, to be able to declutch the distribution element.

Method of using a particulate material delivery system to pneumatically dispense seed product

A particulate material delivery system is provided that allows for variable rate sectional control while delivering particulate material to an agricultural field. The system may include an air cart and a drill that are towable behind a tractor and that includes a metering system receiving product from the air cart and delivering the product to the drill for distribution to the ground, such as an agricultural field. The metering system includes multiple metering units that receive separate portions of the product from the air cart. Multiple prime movers drive the multiple metering units. A controller is connected to and individually controls the multiple prime movers such that distribution rates of the multiple metering units can be varied independently of each other.

Agricultural machine section control

A computer-implemented method of controlling a mobile agricultural machine includes receiving field map data representing a first agricultural operation performed on a field, receiving a location sensor signal indicative of a sensed geographic location of the mobile agricultural machine on the field, the mobile agricultural machine having a plurality of sections that are independently controllable to perform a second agricultural operation on the field that is different than the first agricultural operation, and generating a control signal to control the plurality of sections based on the field map data and the location sensor signal.

Seeder with metering system having selectively powered metering sections

A metering system for a seeding machine is provided. The metering system includes selectively powered metering sections operable to individually allow or restrict seed dispensation. A damper arrangement is also provided so that pneumatic conveying of the particulate within the machine is consistently maintained when particulate flow is varied between the metering sections.

Seed meter unloading systems, methods, and apparatus
09578799 · 2017-02-28 · ·

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for controlling an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units. In some embodiments, seeds are planted by rotating a seed disc in a first direction; seeds are then unloaded from a seed disc into a seed pool by rotating the seed disc in a second direction. In some such embodiments an amount of rotation in the second rotation is selected to ensure that seeds are released into the seed pool and not released from the from the seed meter.