Internal tank augers for air seeder hoppers

An air seeder comprising:

• a frame,
• a pair of ground engaging wheels,
• a first container having an outer end wall, an opposite inner end wall, and side walls connecting the outer end wall and the opposite inner end wall,
• a second container having an outer end wall, an opposite inner end wall, and side walls connecting the outer end wall and the opposite inner end wall,
• a first and second metering mechanism for distributing particulate material to the ground, said first metering mechanism being located in close proximity to said second metering mechanism,
• a trough incorporated into a bottom floor of each of said first and second containers,
• an auger rotatably mounted in each said trough for transporting said particulate material along the corresponding said floor to the corresponding said metering mechanisms, and
• a motor for rotating each respective said auger to convey said particulate material to the corresponding said metering mechanism, each said motor being initiated only when required to convey said particulate material to the respective said first and second metering mechanisms.

A method of conveying particulate material from an air seeder having a container for holding a supply of said particulate material and a metering mechanism for dispensing said particulate material, comprising the steps of:

• allowing said particulate material within said container to drain by gravity into said metering mechanism;
• sensing a shortage of supply of said particulate material to be dispensed from said metering mechanism as a result of said allowing step;
• and
• rotating an auger housed within a trough in a floor member of said container to deliver any remaining particulate material within said container to said metering mechanism.