Patent ID: 6527205
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: A01C

Abstract:
An agricultural particulate material delivery system for delivering metered agricultural particulate material to a growing medium, the system comprising:first and second compartments adapted to contain different agricultural particulate materials; a material meter having an interior, wherein the meter is configured to thinly distribute the particulate material over the growing medium; and a flow switching mechanism between the first and second compartments and the meter; wherein the flow switching mechanism includes first and second conduits communicating between the first and second compartments, respectively, and the interior of the meter; and a gate mechanism between the first and second compartments and the interior of the material meter, wherein the gate mechanism is actuatable between a first position in which the flow switching mechanism supplies material from the first compartment to the interior of the meter, a second position in which the flow switching mechanism supplies material from the second compartment to the interior of the meter, and a third position in which the flow switching mechanism stops the supply of material from both the first and second compartments to the interior of the meter; wherein the gate mechanism includes: a first gate between the first compartment and the interior of the meter, wherein the first gate is selectively movable between a first position in which the first gate closes the first conduit and a second position in which the first conduit is opened; and a second gate between the second compartment and the meter, wherein the second gate is selectively moveable between a third position in which the second gate closes the second conduit and a fourth position in which the second conduit is open, wherein the second gate is configured for being rotated about a second axis and includes a circular disk having an outer circumference, wherein the disk includes an eccentric aperture and an eccentric closing portion, wherein rotation of the disk alternately positions the eccentric aperture and the eccentric closing portion across the second conduit.