Metering Device for an Agricultural Machine

Abstract

A metering device for an agricultural machine for outputting granular solids from at least one storage container to at least one dispensing unit by means of a conveyor system has a metering housing, and at least one inflow opening and at least one discharge opening for the granular solid. The metering housing forms a metering chamber on the inside. Between the metering chamber and the conveyor system a conveyor device rotating about a rotary axis is arranged. The conveyor device comprises at least one first rotary slide valve with at least one first opening for controlling the inflow and/or discharge of the granular solid into the or out of the conveyor device.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A metering device (10) for an agricultural machine (12) for outputting granular solids from a storage container (14) to a dispensing unit (16) by a conveyor system (18), comprising: a metering housing (20); a metering chamber (28) formed inside the metering housing (20); an inflow opening (24) for the granular solids; a discharge opening (26) for the granular solids; and a conveyor device (32) rotating about a rotary axis (30) arranged between the metering chamber (28) and the conveyor system (18), wherein the conveyor device (32) comprises a first rotary slide valve (34) having a first opening (36) for controlling an inflow or discharge of the granular solids into or out of the conveyor device (32).

16. The metering device according to claim 15, wherein the first rotary slide valve (34) is designed and arranged such that the first rotary slide valve (34) can be moved rotationally about or translationally along the rotary axis (30) of the conveyor device (32).

17. The metering device according to claim 15, wherein the first rotary slide valve (34) comprises a second opening (84) which is substantially located opposite the first opening (36).

18. The metering device according to claim 15, wherein the first opening (36) of the first rotary slide valve (34) comprises a rotary axis-parallel edge (86) or a profiled edge (88).

19. The metering device according to claim 15, wherein the opening (36) of the first rotary slide valve (34) comprises an edge (90) that is arranged at an angle to the rotary axis (30) or step-shaped in an axial direction or circumferential direction.

20. The metering device according to claim 15, further comprising a second rotary slide valve (98) having a second opening (100, 102), wherein the first rotary slide valve (34) and the second rotary slide valve (98) are arranged coaxially and in multiple tiers relative to one another.

21. The metering device according to claim 15, wherein the metering housing (20) comprises a further discharge opening (108) or a bypass opening (110) on a conveyor system-side of the conveyor device (18).

22. The metering device according to claim 15, wherein a separating element (82) or, on a conveyor system-side of the conveyor device (18), a separating device (106) is provided in the metering chamber (28).

23. The metering device according to claim 15, wherein an actuator (80) is assigned to the first rotary slide valve (34, 98) for manual or motorised adjustment.

24. The metering device according to claim 15, wherein the conveyor device (32) comprises a drive motor (68) having a rotation axis (70) that is arranged parallel to the rotary axis (30) of the conveyor device (32).

25. The metering device according to claim 24, wherein the drive motor (68) is an actuator for the first rotary slide valve (34).

26. The metering device according to claim 15, wherein the first rotary slide valve (34) comprises a front wall (94) and a receiving opening (92) for receiving a conveyor element (78) located opposite.

27. An agricultural machine for outputting granular solids, comprising: a pneumatic conveyor system (18) for conveying the granular solids out of a storage container (14) to a plurality of dispensing units (16); and the metering device (10) according to claim 15.

28. The agricultural machine according to claim 27, wherein, on a dispensing unit-side of the metering device (10), at least one sensor (112) connected to an electronic evaluation system (114) is provided, through which a metered quantity of the granular solids can be detected, and wherein the conveyor device (32) can be controlled based on the metered quantity of the granular solids in order to regulate an output quantity of the metering device (10).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 shows an agricultural machine having a metering device in a schematic lateral view;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a perspective, schematic view of a metering device;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of a metering device having a separating element;

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a perspective, schematic representation of a first rotary slide valve;

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a perspective, schematic representation of the conveyor device;

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a perspective lateral view of a metering device having a separating device;

[0029] FIG. 7 shows a perspective representation of the first rotary slide valve which is arranged coaxially within a second rotary slide valve; and

[0030] FIG. 8 shows a perspective, schematic view of the second rotary slide valve with an alternatively configured edge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In FIG. 1, an agricultural machine 12 in the form of a seeding machine is shown in a schematic lateral view. At least one granular or powdery solid, for example in the form of seeds and/or fertilizer, is situated in a storage container 14. The granular solid is conveyed to at least one dispensing unit 16 by means of a mechanical or pneumatic conveyor system 18, where the granular solid can be introduced into the ground for example by coulters. The conveyor system 18 shown in FIG. 1 is a pneumatic conveyor system 18, in which the granular solid is conveyed in the conveying direction 42 through a connecting line 40 to at least one dispensing unit 16 by means of an air stream generated by a blower 38. For this purpose, the granular solid is conducted through a connecting line 40 to at least one distribution device 44, in which in a distribution chamber 46 a substantially uniform distribution of the granular solid over a number of valve openings 48 and lines 50 connected thereon takes place. The granular solid is conducted further through the lines 50 as far as the dispensing units 16. The dispensing units 16 can be for example seed coulters. The granular solid can be moved by the air stream with flow velocities of up to 30 m/s.

[0032] The granular solid is conveyed out of the storage container 14 into the conveyor system 18 by means of a metering device 10, wherein an accurate metering of the quantity of the conveyed solid takes place. The metering device 10 is arranged between the storage container 14 and the conveyor system 18, wherein in the agricultural machine 12 shown in FIG. 1 the granular solid is fed out of the storage container 14 to the metering device 10 substantially by gravity. For the supply of the granular solid, the metering device 10 comprises a metering housing 20 having at least one storage container-side inflow opening 24. The metered granular solid is dispensed into the conveyor system 18 through at least one discharge opening 26 arranged in the metering housing 20 on the conveyor system-side. For fastening to the storage container 14 and/or the conveyor system 18 on the storage container-side and/or conveyor system-side, the metering housing 20 comprises mounting flanges 22, 52.

[0033] The first mounting flange 22 on the storage container-side and the second mounting flange 52 on the conveyor system-side are of circular design. A configuration in the form of a polygon, in particular, having three or more than four corners would likewise be conceivable. By way of this, the metering device 10, based on the storage container 14 and/or the conveyor system 18, can be arranged turned in particular in steps or continuously. For regulating an output quantity of the metering device 10, the agricultural machine 12 comprises at least one sensor 112 connected to an electronic evaluation system 114 on the output unit-side of the metering device 10, by way of which a metered quantity of the granular solid can be detected and in particular the conveyor device 32 controlled based on the detected quantity of the granular solid.

[0034] A perspective, schematic view of a metering device 10 is shown in FIG. 2. On its top side, the metering device 10 is shown to be not connected to the storage container, offering a view through the inflow opening 24 into the interior of the metering housing 20 and the metering chamber 28 formed by the said metering housing 20 on the inside. The inflow opening 24 is arranged within the circular first mounting flange 22 of the metering housing 20 and is enclosed by the same. On the bottom side, the metering housing 20 comprises the second mounting flange 52, which is likewise circular in design. The second mounting flange 52 encloses the first discharge opening 26 arranged within, through which the granular solid enters the conveyor system 18 and the connecting line 40. The second mounting flange 52 is detachably connected to the conveyor system 18 by way of a fastening means 54 in the form of a quick-release closure wrapping around the mounting flange 52.

[0035] On the metering chamber-side, the metering housing 20 comprises a first drain opening 62 and a second drain opening 64 located opposite the first drain opening 62, through which the granular solid can be drained out of the metering housing 20, for example in order to empty the metering chamber 28. The drain openings 62, 64 are closed by means of a drain plug 66 in the form of a cap that can be unscrewed. The drain openings 62, 64 are arranged in a separating plane 56 of the metering housing 20 designed in multiple parts. The metering housing 20 is embodied as a two-part housing and comprises a first sub-body 58 and a second sub-body 60. The sub-bodies 58 and 60 have the same, in particular identical, shape as a result of which the production costs can be lowered. Through the arrangement of the drain opening 62, 64 in the separating plane 56, these can be cost-effectively formed without expensive moulds with an external thread for receiving a drain plug 66. At the same time, the sub-bodies 58, 60 can be locked against relative movement on their separating plane 56 by the drain plugs 66.

[0036] Within the metering housing 20, a conveyor device 32 that can be rotated about a rotary axis 30 is arranged between the at least one inflow opening 24 and the at least one discharge opening 26 on the bottom side of the metering chamber 28. The conveyor device 32 comprises a number of conveyor elements 78 in the form of cellular wheels, which are arranged in the axial direction along the rotary axis 30 adjacent to one another. Upon a rotation of a conveyor device 32, granular solid is conveyed out of the metering chamber 28 through the at least one discharge opening 26 into the conveyor system 18. Metering of the granular solid takes place as a function of the mounted conveyor elements 78 and the rotational speed of the conveyor device 32. Here, the conveyor elements 78 can be configured identically or differently or be offset from one another in the pitch angle. Furthermore, the metering will be influenced by the quantity of granular solid supplied to the conveyor device 32. For this purpose, the conveyor device 32 comprises at least one first rotary slide valve 34 with at least one first opening 36 for controlling the inflow of the granular solid into the conveyor device 32. Also conceivable is a control of the discharge of the granular solid from the conveyor device 32. The first rotary slide valve 34 can be adjusted by means of an actuator 80, motorically or, as shown, by means of a manually actuatable lever.

[0037] The conveyor device 32 is motorically driven by means of, for example, an electric drive motor 68, which rotates about a rotation axis 70. The rotation axis 70 of the drive motor 68 is arranged coaxially to the rotary axis 30 of the conveyor device 32, as a result of which an efficient drive of the conveyor device 32 free of lateral forces is made possible. On the side of the metering housing 20 located opposite the drive motor 68, a drive for the agitator shaft 74 is arranged, which is rotatably mounted about an agitation axis 76 in the metering housing 20. By way of a connecting element 72, the agitation axis 76 is operatively connected to the rotary axis 30, as a result of which upon a rotary movement of the rotary axis 30 a rotary movement of the agitation axis 76 takes place. The term axis is likewise used to describe the respective shaft as mechanical component. The connecting element 72 can be configured in the form of one or multiple gearwheels or, as shown in FIG. 2, in the form of a belt drive. By way of the connecting element 72, a transmission ratio between the rotary speeds of the rotary axis 30 and the agitation axis 76 can be additionally established.

[0038] The conveyor elements 78 of the conveyor device 32 can be axially slid onto the rotary axis 30, in particular into the first rotary slide valve 34. Interlocking the conveyor device 32 with the metering device 20 or a rotary slide valve 34 can take place by means of a bayonet closure 104, which is attached or moulded onto the metering housing 20 on the outside. In the case of a bayonet closure, at least one, preferentially multiple, radially projecting positive locking elements are positioned axially relative to one another on the respective components to be connected each other and secured against disconnection by twisting against each other.

[0039] A schematic plan view of a metering device 10 having a separating element 82 arranged within the metering chamber is shown in FIG. 3. Between the first sub-body 58 and the second sub-body 60, the two-part metering housing 20 comprises the separating plane 56. In the separating plane 56, the separating element 82 is arranged within the metering chamber 28, which separating plane 82 separates the metering chambering 28 substantially into two-part chambers of identical size. This makes possible metering a different granular solid in each part chamber, for example through a respective separate inflow opening 24. Here, the separating element 82 can separate the inflow opening 24 into two inflow openings. Because of the arrangement and configuration of the first and second drain opening 62, 64 in the separating plane 56, the drain openings 62, 64 are likewise separated by the separating element 82, so that a separate drain of the granular solid out of the part chambers is possible. The agitating shaft 74 penetrates the separating element 82 so that the solid can be loosened up on both sides of the separating element 82. By way of a suitable configuration of the first opening 36 of the first rotary slide valve 36, a separate or joint metering of the granular solid out of the part chambers is possible.

[0040] The first rotary slide valve is shown in detail in FIG. 4. The rotary slide valve 34 is substantially designed in the form of a pipe portion having a first opening 36 cut out of the lateral surface. Upon a rotation of the rotary slide valve 34, a cross-section of an opening of the metering chamber on the conveyor device-side can be enlarged or reduced by the lateral surface of the rotary slide valve, in particular with the at least one first opening 36, as a result of which a supply of granular solid into the conveyor device can be controlled. The first opening 36 comprises in the axial direction two rotary axis-parallel edges 86, as a result of which a substantially unhindered inflow of granular solid into the conveyor device can be brought about. In the lateral surface of the first rotary slide valve 34, a second opening 84 located opposite the first opening 36 is arranged. The second opening 84 in a mounted state of the rotary slide valve 34 is assigned to at least one discharge opening. Along the rotary axis, the second opening 84 comprises at least one profiled edge 88, wherein profiling is designed in jagged form. By way of this profiled edge 88, a pulsating dispensation of metered granular solid can be avoided on the discharge side.

[0041] For receiving conveyor elements, the first rotary slide valve 34 comprises a receiving opening 92. Located opposite the receiving opening 92, the first rotary slide valve 34 is at least partially closed by a front wall 94 which also serves as stop for the received conveyor elements. The front wall 94 extends in the radial direction beyond the circumference of the rotary slide valve 34 (FIG. 5) and comprises on the outside a manually actuatable actuator 80 for adjusting the first rotary slide valve 34. Radially on the outside, slots and further openings running in the circumferential direction are additionally arranged, which serve for the fastening of the drive motor 68 to the first rotary slide valve 34 and/or the fastening and rotary fixing of the rotary slide valve 34 to the metering housing 20 (FIG. 2). Here, the drive motor 68 is arranged with its rotation axis 70 coaxially to the rotary axis 30 of the conveyor device 32. The conveyor elements 78 are arranged within the first rotary slide valve 34 as in a cassette and are held on the side of the receiving opening 92 by a partly U-shaped cover which as bayonet closure can be connected to the metering housing 20 and be locked by a rotary movement about the rotary axis 30.

[0042] The metering device 10 shown in FIG. 6 comprises a separating device 106 on the conveyor system-side, which separates the first discharge opening 26 from a second discharge opening 108 of the metering housing 20. This makes possible on the conveyor system-side a targeted metering of a granular solid into the first and/or second discharge opening 26, 108. The separating device 106 extends from the conveyor device 32 as far as into the conveyor system 18 and into the connecting line 40, as a result of which the connecting line 40 is divided by the separating device 106 on the inside and a part is assigned to each discharge opening 26, 108. Furthermore, the metering device 10 comprises a bypass opening 110 in the metering housing 20, which bypass opening 110 is arranged on a side of the conveyor device 32 located opposite the metering chamber 28. The bypass opening is arranged in the metering housing 20 next to the discharge openings 26, 108 and makes possible conveying granular solid out of the metering device 28 by the conveyor device 32, for example into the surroundings in order to perform a calibration test, or empty the metering chamber 28.

[0043] Switching the first discharge opening 26, the second discharge opening 108 and/or the bypass opening 110, can take place by means of a further, for example a second rotary slide valve 98, which is shown in FIG. 7. The second rotary slide valve 98 is arranged coaxially and radially adjacently relative to the first rotary slide valve 34, in particular in a contacting manner. Here, the first rotary slide valve 34 is arranged within the second rotary slide valve 98. The first rotary slide valve 34 comprises the first opening 36 with at least one rotary axis-parallel edge 86 for controlling the supplied quantity of granular solid into the conveyor device 32. The shock-free dispensation of the metered solid into the at least one discharge opening (not shown) takes place by way of the second opening 84 with a profiled edge 88. Controlling whether the metered granular solid is dispenses into the first discharge opening, the second discharge opening and/or the bypass opening is effected, for example via the second rotary slide valve 98. For this purpose, the second rotary slide valve 98 has a third opening 100 on the inflow side, which makes possible an unhindered inflow of the solid substantially regardless of the rotary position. Located opposite the third opening 100, a fourth opening 102 is formed in the lateral surface of the second rotary slide valve 98. The fourth opening 102 can likewise comprise rotary axis-parallel edges (not shown) and serves for controlling the dispensation of the metered solid into the respectively selected opening. The third opening 100 has a larger cross-section than the fourth opening 102, since through the third opening 100, in each position of the fourth opening 102, the unhindered inflow of granular solid into the conveyor device is to be ensured.

[0044] An alternatively configured form of the second rotary slide valve 98 is shown in FIG. 8. The third opening 100 of the second rotary slide valve 98 on the inflow side has a step-shaped edge 90 along the rotary axis. By way of this, the lateral surface of the second rotary slide valve 98 viewed in the axial direction is cut out to different extents. This makes possible, for example in the case of a metering chamber divided by a separating element 82 (FIG. 3) a simultaneous or optional supply of granular solid from the respective part chambers into the conveyor device. The quantity of granular solid supplied into the conveyor device can, furthermore, be controlled by the first rotary slide valve 34 and its first opening 36.

[0045] A further rotary slide valve can be provided spaced apart coaxially and in the radial direction from the first and/or second rotary slide valve 34, 98 within the metering housing 20. This further rotary slide valve can be a tubular configuration, wherein for example only a part of its lateral surface can be formed and/or arranged within the metering housing 20, in particular the metering chamber 28. A further rotary slide valve can be arranged with a portion of its lateral surface between the conveyor device 32 and the at least one agitator shaft 74. By way of this, the further rotary slide valve can reduce a pressure of the granular solid on the conveyor device 32, as a result of which clogging in the metering chamber 28 can be avoided and supplying the granular solid to the conveyor device 32 improved.

[0046] As used in this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, “A or B” refers to any of “A alone,” “B alone,” and “both A and B” unless specified otherwise or clear from context. The articles “a” and “an” as used in this application should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0047]

TABLE-US-00001 10 Metering device 12 Agricultural machine 14 Storage container 16 Dispensing unit 18 Conveyor system 20 Metering housing 22 First mounting flange 24 Inflow opening 26 Discharge opening 28 Metering chamber 30 Rotary axis 32 Conveyor device 34 First rotary slide valve 36 First opening 38 Blower 40 Connecting line 42 Conveyor device 44 Distributor device 46 Distribution chamber 48 Distribution opening 50 Line 52 Second mounting flange 54 Fastening means 56 Separating plane 58 First sub-body 60 Second sub-body 62 First drain opening 64 Second drain opening 66 Drain plug 68 Drive motor 70 Rotation axis 72 Connecting element 74 Agitator shaft 76 Agitation axis 78 Conveyor element 80 Actuator 82 Separating element 84 Second opening 86 Rotary axis-parallel edge 88 Profiled edge 90 Step-shaped edge 92 Receiving opening 94 Front wall 96 Slot 98 Second rotary slide valve 100 Third opening 102 Fourth opening 104 Bayonet closure 106 Separating device 108 Second discharge opening 110 Bypass opening 112 Sensor 114 Electronic evaluation system