Flow measuring and metering apparatus for flowable granular solids

A volumetric flow measuring and metering apparatus for flowable solids, the apparatus comprising:

• a tube defining a flow passage that is generally arranged in an upright orientation and has opposite open top and bottom ends through which a flow of bulk material may be passed;
• an outer structure receiving the tube therein;
• one or more electrical load cells connecting the tube to the outer structure such that the tube is suspended in the outer structure, the load cells being operable to measure the weight of the tube;
• an obturating device operatively located relative to the bottom end of the flow passage;
• an actuator operably connected to the obturating device and operable to selectively position the obturating device relative to the bottom end of the flow passage so as to controllably vary discharge from the bottom end of the flow passage;
• and
• a speed sensor disposed to measure a speed of the bulk material flowing through the passage and output a data signal having information about a speed of the bulk material flow;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the speed sensor, the one or more electrical load cells and the actuator;
• wherein the controller is configured to (i) receive speed data from the speed sensor about the speed of the bulk material flowing through the passage, (ii) receive weight data from the one or more electrical load cells about the weight of the tube, and (iii) operate the actuator at least in part based on information contained in either one or both of the weight data and the speed data in a manner causing the bulk material to flow in the flow passage in a consolidated column-like flow.

An agricultural implement for delivering a flowable solid onto the ground, the implement comprising:

• a delivery system for delivering the solids to the ground as the implement is towed across the ground;
• a metering apparatus for metering the solids into the delivery system at a prescribed flow rate, the metering apparatus comprising:
• a flow passage that is generally arranged in an upright orientation and has opposite open top and bottom ends through which a flow of bulk material may be passed;
• a speed sensor disposed to measure a speed of the bulk material flowing through the passage and output a data signal having information about a speed of the bulk material flow;
• an obturating device operatively located relative to the bottom end of the flow passage;
• an actuator operably connected to the obturating device and operable to selectively position the obturating device relative to the bottom end of the flow passage so as to controllably vary discharge from the bottom end of the flow passage;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the actuator, the controller being configured to (i) receive speed data from the speed sensor about the speed of the bulk material flowing through the passage and (ii) operate the actuator at least in part based on information contained in the speed data in a manner causing the bulk material to flow in the flow passage at the prescribed flow rate;
• wherein the flow passage is sized to cause the bulk material to flow in the flow passage at a location of the speed sensor in a consolidated column-like flow at the prescribed flow rate.