Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6285938?dq=2040248
Timestamp: 2013-12-13 12:35:16
Document Index: 177553626

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 10']

Patent US6285938 - Primer system for agriculture product distribution machines - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA primer system for agricultural product distribution machines, such as an agricultural air seeder, a precision planter, a sprayer, or the like, includes a tank or a bin for holding the product, a distribution system for conveying and distributing the product from the tank and a driving mechanism for...http://www.google.com/patents/US6285938?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6285938 - Primer system for agriculture product distribution machinesAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6285938 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/432,053Publication dateSep 4, 2001Filing dateNov 1, 1999Priority dateOct 30, 1998Fee statusPaidAlso published asEP0997064A2, EP0997064A3, EP0997064B1, EP0997064B8Publication number09432053, 432053, US 6285938 B1, US 6285938B1, US-B1-6285938, US6285938 B1, US6285938B1InventorsFrancis G. Lang, Robert K. Benneweis, Shane C. Durant, Paul G. Weisberg, Blake R. Neudorf, David R. Hundeby, Dean J. MayerleOriginal AssigneeFlexi-Coil Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (24), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (12), Classifications (12), Legal Events (7) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetPrimer system for agriculture product distribution machinesUS 6285938 B1Abstract A primer system for agricultural product distribution machines, such as an agricultural air seeder, a precision planter, a sprayer, or the like, includes a tank or a bin for holding the product, a distribution system for conveying and distributing the product from the tank and a driving mechanism for driving the product from the tank into the distribution system at a certain rate. The driving mechanism can run automatically or can be selectively operated, based on commands received from a microcontroller. The microcontroller may receive signals from a user interface and from sensing equipment, such as a ground speed detector, a pressure sensor, a flow metre, or the like. In a regular mode of operation, the controller runs the driving mechanism automatically at a rate calculated based on the signals received from the above mentioned systems. Most agricultural machines have the automated mode of operation of the driving mechanism, conditioned by the ground speed of the tractor being higher than a minimum speed. A bypass mode of operation of the driving mechanism can be selected by pressing a primer button on the user interface. The primer button triggers a bypass signal, instructing the microcontroller to run the driving mechanism at a predetermined dispensing rate, regardless of other factors, such as the detected ground speed. The bypass mode of operation could also be activated upon reception, at the microcontroller, of bypass signals from sensors such as an implement height detector, determining the height of an implement of the agricultural product distribution machine relative to the ground.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a primer system for agricultural product distribution machines, such as air seeders, precision planters, and sprayers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a primer system for agricultural product distribution machines.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a known product distribution machine 10 generally includes at least one tank or other storage means 15 for holding product, and a distribution system or other conveying means 25 to transmit the product to a desired location. Product is passed from the storage means 15 to the conveying means 25 by a driving mechanism 20.
The operator settings 55 on the user interface 50 may be buttons or any other input means, such as keys on a keypad, switches, levers, or the like. The user interface 50 is positioned in such way that an operator can control the system �on-the-go�, i.e., while the agricultural product distribution machine 10 is travelling in the field. In a preferred embodiment, the user interface 50 comprises a display unit and a console unit situated in the cab of the vehicle towing the agricultural product distribution machine 10. In an alternative embodiment, the user interface is accessible from other locations remote from the agricultural product distribution machine 10.
The driving mechanism 20 has at least two modes of operation, which are designated herein as the �regular mode of operation� and the �bypass mode of operation�.
During the �regular mode of operation�, the driving mechanism runs automatically at a dispensing rate calculated based on the detected ground speed, on the operator settings, and on other process specific parameters. Therefore, the controlled rate output 70 varies with the rate data input 65 to compensate for ground speed fluctuations and to produce a consistent application of the product onto the field.
In many cases, the driving mechanism 20 functions in its �regular mode of operation� only when the detected ground speed is above a minimum speed. The value of the minimum ground speed is selected based on various considerations, and can even be set at zero miles per hour.
If desired, the operator can bypass the �regular mode of operation� of the driving mechanism 20 by activating the driving mechanism 20 to dispense product at a predetermined controlled rate output 70; this is the �bypass mode of operation�. The �bypass mode of operation� can be directly selected by the operator through the primer input unit 60. Alternatively, the operator can allow other sensors 42 to automatically determine that conditions necessitating the activation of the bypass mode are met and to send bypass signals to the microcontroller 30, indicating that the driving mechanism should be activated in the �bypass mode�. For simplicity, the �bypass mode� will next be described in detail only for the case when its activation takes place directly, through the primer input unit 60. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a similar mode of functioning applies to the case when the �bypass mode� is triggered by means of the other sensors 42.
Since the �regular mode of operation� of the driving mechanism 20 generally depends on the detection of a minimum ground speed, one usually engages the driving mechanism 20 in the �bypass mode of operation� when the ground speed is below the minimum speed. Among the situations when this condition occurs are: at the beginning of the application process when the vehicle is stationary, when the vehicle is stopped midfield, when the vehicle is backed into a comer, and when crossing waterways or the like.
AIR SEEDERS FIGS. 4 and 5 depict an air seeder or air cart 110 (which is an agricultural product distribution machine 10) embodying the present invention. The air cart 110 includes an air distribution system 125 (which is a conveying means 25). The air cart 110 also includes a seeding tool 27, which may be a series of ground openers. The air distribution system 125 includes a manifold 127, and in some embodiments a series of hoses. The air cart 110 can be attached to a vehicle, such as a tractor, or it can be built as an integral part of a vehicle. The air cart 110 includes one or more tanks 115 (which is a storage means 15) to hold products like seed and fertilizer. The air cart 10 also includes a driving mechanism 20. The driving mechanism 20 includes a metering system 120 to deliver the appropriate amount of product to the air distribution system 125, and a fan 128.
With respect to this embodiment, the �bypass mode of operation� is selected through the primer input unit 60, which primes the air distribution system 125 of an air seeder, engaging the variable rate drive mechanism to rotate the metering wheel 121 at a predetermined rate. The primer input unit 60 is commonly operated in a situation when the ground speed of the air seeder is below a minimum predetermined ground speed. For example, suppose a farmer is at the beginning of the seeding process, with the tractor stationary in the field. The primer input unit 60 allows the farmer to deposit seeds during the period of time prior to the tractor reaching a predetermined minimum ground speed. Once the tractor attains the predetermined minimum ground speed, the variable rate drive mechanism rotates the metering wheel automatically at a rate determined by the ground speed. In order to accomplish this, the farmer presses one or several primer input buttons in the cabin of the tractor.
Thus, the farmer bypasses the seed dispensing process, selecting one of several available predetermined rates at which the variable rate drive mechanism rotates the metering wheel. Once the tractor reaches the predetermined minimum ground speed, the seeder may enter the �regular mode of operation� in which the variable rate drive mechanism rotates the metering wheel at a rate consistent with the ground speed, or it may continue to run in the �bypass mode of operation� at the selected predetermined rate, according to operator input through the primer input unit 60. The problem of having field areas left unseeded, due to the inability of the variable rate drive mechanism to automatically rotate the wheel, when the seeder travels at a speed below a predetermined minimum ground speed, is thus solved in a time efficient manner.
For example, the driving mechanism can operate in the �bypass mode� for a predetermined period of time measured from the moment when one or more primer buttons on the primer input unit 60 are activated, or for as long one or more primer buttons are pressed. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the selection of the �bypass mode of operation� through activation means such as switches, levers or buttons on the primer input unit 60, can be achieved in numerous ways.
PLANTERS Like the air seeders, planters have several tanks for holding seed or fertilizer, and an air distribution system comprising a series of hoses. Product travels through the hoses, entering through a series of inlets into several chambers for storing the product. In one embodiment, each chamber has joined to it a fingered singulator disk. Each chamber is located just above a corresponding ground opener. The singulator disk rotates such that as each finger passes the place where product puddles into the chamber, a single seed/fertilizer falls into the finger. The disk continues to rotate such that each subsequent finger can pick up product. The filled fingers pass a brush that eliminates the chance of multiple seeds being in a single finger. The filled fingers pass another opening in the disk when the product is dropped onto an elevator opening that carries the product to the ground opener.
SPRAYERS Referring now to FIG. 8, a basic sprayer is depicted. Generally, a sprayer has at least one storage tank 15 for chemicals. In an embodiment of the invention, the tanks 15 contain a pre-mixed chemical ready for distribution. In an alternative embodiment, the tanks 15 store only water and, as the water travels through the distribution lines 25, the water is injected with the correct amount of chemical.
The pump can be a centrifugal pump, in which fluid is fed into the center of a rotating pump impeller and is flung out to the impeller rim with considerable �centrifugal force� or pressure. The pressure is determined by the speed the pump impeller is turning, which is directly connected to a hydraulic motor shaft.
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Brochure Dickey-John "PCS Precision Control System" Internet page.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6820459Sep 18, 2002Nov 23, 2004Deere & CompanyAutomatic mass-flow sensor calibration for a yield monitorUS6885968 *Jan 8, 2004Apr 26, 2005Automotive Technologies International, Inc.Vehicular exterior identification and monitoring system-agricultural product distributionUS7073314Jul 30, 2004Jul 11, 2006Deere & CompanyAutomatic mass-flow sensor calibration for a yield monitorUS7093547 *Feb 5, 2004Aug 22, 2006Cnh Canada, Ltd.Opposed inductor improvementsUS7395769 *Jun 6, 2005Jul 8, 2008Jensen Layton WIndividual row rate control of farm implements to adjust the volume of crop inputs across wide implements in irregularly shaped or contour areas of chemical application, planting or seedingUS7440901Nov 2, 2000Oct 21, 2008SureharvestMethod and system to communicate agricultural product information to a consumerUS7650734Mar 30, 2006Jan 26, 2010Deere & CompanyAutomatic mass-flow sensor calibration for a yield monitorUS8489437Nov 2, 2000Jul 16, 2013SureharvestMethod and system automatically to certify an agricultural productUS8504310Aug 5, 2009Aug 6, 2013Deere & CompanyParticulate flow sensing for an agricultural implementUS8543238Jan 18, 2010Sep 24, 2013James E. StraeterMethod and apparatus for changing seed varieties at the row unit of a planterUS20090192654 *Jan 24, 2008Jul 30, 2009Wendte Keith WMethod and apparatus for optimization of agricultural field operations using weather, product and environmental informationWO2002037375A1 *Oct 8, 2001May 10, 2002Rebecca ConnollyA method and system to capture data pertaining to an agricultural product, to record a chain of custody for an agricultural product, automatically to certify an agricultural product, and to communicate agricultural product information to a consumer* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification701/50, 239/161, 111/177, 111/174, 239/10International ClassificationA01C7/10, A01M7/00, A01C17/00Cooperative ClassificationA01C7/102, A01M7/0089European ClassificationA01M7/00G, A01C7/10BLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 27, 2012FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12Oct 1, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Dec 8, 2004ASAssignmentOwner name: CNH CANADA, LTD., CANADAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CNH AMERICA LLC;REEL/FRAME:015478/0133Effective date: 20041208Owner name: CNH CANADA, LTD. 1000 71ST STREET EASTSASKATOON, SFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CNH AMERICA LLC /AR;REEL/FRAME:015478/0133Sep 7, 2004ASAssignmentOwner name: CNH CANADA, LTD., CANADAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FLEXI-COIL LTD.;REEL/FRAME:015442/0569Effective date: 20040907Owner name: CNH CANADA, LTD. 1000 71ST STREET EASTSASKATOON, SFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FLEXI-COIL LTD. /AR;REEL/FRAME:015442/0569Sep 7, 2004FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Aug 5, 2004ASAssignmentOwner name: CNH AMERICA LLC, PENNSYLVANIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FLEXI-COIL LTD.;REEL/FRAME:015044/0503Effective date: 20040805Owner name: CNH AMERICA LLC 500 DILLER AVENUENEW HOLLAND, PENNFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FLEXI-COIL LTD. /AR;REEL/FRAME:015044/0503Feb 1, 2000ASAssignmentOwner name: FLEXI-COIL LTD., CANADAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LANG, FRANCIS G.;NEUDORF, BLAKE R.;BENNEWEIS, ROBERT K.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:010519/0551;SIGNING DATES FROM 20000110 TO 20000121Owner name: FLEXI-COIL LTD. 1000 - 71ST STREET EAST, P.O. 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