# US 10,246,274 B2 · Systems and methods for air cart pressurization monitoring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,274 B2 - Document ID: US10246274B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/932,501 - Filed: 2015-11-04 - Published: 2017-05-04 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-04 - Assignees: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd. - Applicants: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd. - Inventors: Ethan Curtis Stephen Bent; Benjamin Douglas McKnight; Dennis George Thompson; Gregory Jacob Erker; Anthony Charles Rapley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246274B2 ## CPC - B65G 53/04: Conveying materials in bulk pneumatically through pipes or tubes; Air slides - A01C 7/081: {Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means} - A01C 7/20: Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed - B65G 53/06: Gas pressure systems operating without fluidisation of the materials - B65G 53/4633: {the element having pockets, rotated from charging position to discharging position, i.e. discrete flow} - B65G 53/66: Use of indicator or control devices, e.g. for controlling gas pressure, for controlling proportions of material and gas, for indicating or preventing jamming of material {(controlling the flow of coal firing systems C21B5/003)} - A01C 5/062: {Devices for making drills or furrows} - A01C 5/066: {Devices for covering drills or furrows} - A01C 7/08: Broadcast seeders; Seeders depositing seeds in rows - B65G 2201/042: Granular material - B65G 2203/02: Control or detection - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a pneumatic distribution system configured to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement includes a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, and a controller. The first pressure sensor is configured to be fluidly coupled to a storage tank configured to store the granular product and positioned upstream of the meter roller. The first pressure sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of a first static pressure in the storage tank. The second pressure sensor is configured to be fluidly coupled to a component of the pneumatic distribution system, downstream of the meter roller. The second pressure sensor is configured to output a second signal indicative of a second static pressure downstream of the meter roller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and to the second pressure sensor. The controller is configured to determine a pressure differential, wherein the pressure differential is the difference between the first static pressure and the second static pressure. The controller may also be configured to generate a first warning when the first static pressure is below a threshold value and output the first warning to an operator interface, generate a second warning when the pressure differential is below a desired range and output the second warning to the operator interface, and generate a third warning when the pressure differential is above the desired range and output the third warning to the operator interface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pneumatic distribution system configured to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement, wherein the pneumatic distribution system comprises: a first pressure sensor configured to be fluidly coupled to a storage tank configured to store the granular product and positioned upstream of the meter roller, wherein the first pressure sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of a first static pressure in the storage tank; a second pressure sensor configured to be fluidly coupled to a component of the pneumatic distribution system, downstream of the meter roller, wherein the second pressure sensor is configured to output a second signal indicative of a second static pressure downstream of the meter roller; and a controller communicatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and to the second pressure sensor, wherein the controller is configured to: determine a pressure differential, wherein the pressure differential is the difference between the first static pressure and the second static pressure; generate a first warning when the first static pressure is below a threshold value, wherein the first warning includes a first recommended action, and output the first warning to an operator interface; generate a second warning when the pressure differential is below a desired range, wherein the second warning includes a second recommended action, and output the second warning to the operator interface; and generate a third warning when the pressure differential is above the desired range, wherein the third warning includes a third recommended action, and output the third warning to the operator interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the component is a meter housing, and the second static pressure is a static pressure in the meter housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the operator interface comprises a display, and the operator interface is configured to display the first, second, and third warnings on the display. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the meter roller is fluidly coupled between the storage tank and a primary line, and the meter roller is configured to adjust output of the granular product from the storage tank into the primary line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the first pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to the storage tank via an adapter fitting. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the threshold value for the first static pressure is between about 0.1 and 1 kPa, and the desired range for the pressure differential is between about 0 and 3.5 kPa. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the threshold value for the first static pressure is about 0.5 kPa, and the desired range for the pressure differential is between about 0 and 2.5 kPa. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pneumatic distribution system of claim 1, wherein the component is a primary line, and the second static pressure is a static pressure in the primary line. ### Claim 9 A pneumatic distribution system configured to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement, wherein the pneumatic distribution system comprises: one or more pressure sensors configured to be fluidly coupled to a storage tank configured to store the granular product and to a component of the pneumatic distribution system downstream of a meter roller, wherein the one or more pressure sensors are configured to output one or more signals indicative of a pressure differential across the meter roller; and a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more pressure sensors, wherein the controller is configured to: generate a first warning when the pressure differential is below a desired range, wherein the first warning includes a first recommended action, and output the first warning to an operator interface; and generate a second warning when the pressure differential is above the desired range, wherein the second warning includes a second recommended action, and output the second warning to the operator interface, wherein the operator interface comprises a display, and the operator interface is configured to display the first and second warnings on the display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pneumatic distribution system of claim 9, wherein the desired range for the pressure differential is between about 0 and 3.5 kPa. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The pneumatic distribution system of claim 9, wherein the desired range for the pressure differential is between about 0 and 2.5 kPa.