Airflow equalizing system for distributing particulate material
AssigneeCNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
InventorsRex Ruppert, Martin J. Roberge, Joel Denis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides a system for equalizing airflow in lines delivering product-conveying air to boom sections of an agricultural machine by controlling valves, such as electronically, in each air distribution line to induce additional pressure drops in lines which would cause imbalance in the system. Such valves can include, but are not limited to: ball valves, butterfly valves, gate valves, globe valves, diaphragm valves, pinch valves and/or plug valves. With the proposed system, the lines of least pressure drop can be induced with additional pressure drop by particular valves in order to bring the lines back to a balanced state.
Claims14
A system for distributing particulate material from an applicator, the system comprising:
- a plurality of supply lines, each supply line of the plurality of supply lines being configured to receive an airflow and entrain particulate material in the airflow;
- a plurality of boom sections, each boom section being connected to a supply line of the plurality of supply lines for receiving an airflow and entrained particulate material, each boom section comprising a plurality of nozzles for distributing particulate material;
- a plurality of controlled valves, each valve being arranged in a supply line of the plurality of supply lines, wherein a valve in a first supply line of the plurality of supply lines is configured to actuate to induce pressure in the first supply line so that an air pressure differential between the first supply line and a second supply line of the plurality of supply lines is reduced;
- a machine sensor configured to generate data indicative of an orientation of the applicator relative to a field surface;
- and
- a control system configured to:
- determine the orientation of the applicator relative to the field surface based on the data generated by the machine sensor;
- compare the determined orientation to a predetermined orientation threshold;
- and
- selectively control an operation of at least one of the valve of the first supply line or the valve of the second supply line such that the air pressure differential between the first supply line and the second supply line is reduced when the determined orientation exceeds the predetermined orientation threshold.
An agricultural application implement comprising:
- a plurality of wheels supporting a frame supporting:
- a plurality of supply lines, each supply line being configured to receive an airflow and entrain particulate material in the airflow;
- a plurality of boom sections, each boom section being connected to a supply line of the plurality of supply lines for receiving an airflow and entrained particulate material, each boom section comprising a plurality of nozzles for distributing particulate material;
- a plurality of controlled valves, each valve being arranged in a supply line of the plurality of supply lines, wherein a valve in a first supply line of the plurality of supply lines is configured to actuate to induce pressure in the first supply line so that an air pressure differential between the first supply line and a second supply line of the plurality of supply lines is reduced;
- a machine sensor configured to generate data indicative of an orientation of the applicator relative to a field surface;
- a plurality of pressure sensors, each pressure sensor being arranged in a supply line of the plurality of supply lines and configured to generate data indicative of an air pressure in each supply line of the plurality of supply lines;
- and
- a control system configured to:
- determine the orientation of the applicator relative to the field surface based on the data generated by the machine sensor;
- compare the determined orientation to a predetermined orientation threshold;
- and
- selectively control an operation of at least one of the valve of the first supply line or the valve of the second supply line such that the air pressure differential between the first supply line and the second supply line is reduced when the determined orientation exceeds the predetermined orientation threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.