Air cart with modular metering system
AssigneePrecision Planting LLC
InventorChad E. Plattner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air cart having a modular metering system. The modular metering system includes a plurality of meter modules disposed laterally adjacent to one another in a metering bank. Each of the meter modules is independently removable from the metering bank. Each meter module includes a metering mechanism rotatable about a longitudinal axis disposed generally parallel with a forward direction of travel of the air cart. The metering mechanism is in communication with a supply of product held within a tank. As the metering mechanisms rotates about its longitudinal axis, the product is metered by the metering mechanism into an air tube associated with each of the plurality of meter modules. An air stream provided by at least one fan carries the metered product through the air tubes.
Claims23
An air cart for delivering product to an applicator implement, the air cart having a forward direction of travel, the air cart comprising:
- a wheeled frame supporting a tank containing the product;
- an air system supported by the wheeled frame, the air system including an air tube bank, the air tube bank including a plurality of air tube modules disposed laterally adjacent to one another, each air tube module in communication with at least one of a plurality of air tubes, each of the plurality of air tubes in communication with a blower producing an air stream through each of the plurality of air tubes;
- a modular metering system including a metering bank disposed below the tank and above the air tube bank, the metering bank including a plurality of meter modules disposed laterally adjacent to one another, each of the plurality of meter modules including:
- a main housing having a meter housing portion and a lower chamber portion, the meter housing portion having a top opening through which the product from the tank enters the meter housing portion, the meter housing portion including an outlet in communication with the lower chamber portion, the lower chamber portion having a bottom opening, the bottom opening in communication with a corresponding one of the air tube modules;
- a metering mechanism rotatably disposed within the meter housing portion, the metering mechanism rotatable about a longitudinal axis disposed generally parallel to the forward direction of travel;
- an electric motor configured to drive rotation of the metering mechanism about the longitudinal axis;
- a control system having a controller, the controller configured to control the electric motor and the blower;
- whereby as the metering mechanism rotates about the longitudinal axis, the metering mechanism meters the product into the lower chamber portion, the metered product exits the lower chamber portion through the bottom opening into a corresponding one of the air tube modules, the air stream carries the metered product through the at least one air tube in communication with the corresponding one of the air tube modules;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of meter modules is individually removable from the metering bank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.