# US 2014/0150701 A1 · Variable geometry meter roller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150701 A1 - Document ID: US20140150701A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/177,012 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-10 - Assignees: CNH Canada, Ltd. - Applicants: CNH Canada, Ltd. - Inventors: Trevor Lawrence Kowalchuk; Jack Donald Turner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150701A1 ## CPC - A01C 7/121: {for sowing seeds of different sizes} - A01C 5/062: {Devices for making drills or furrows} - A01C 7/081: {Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means} - A01C 7/082: {Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders} - A01C 7/084: {Pneumatic distribution heads for seeders} - A01C 7/102: {Regulating or controlling the seed rate} - A01C 7/126: {Stubbed rollers or wheels} - A01C 7/127: {Cell rollers, wheels, discs or belts} - A01C 7/163: {Gravity distributors} - A01C 7/20: Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed - A01C 19/02: by a motor - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) ## Abstract An agricultural metering device with a variable geometry meter roller is provided. The agricultural metering device includes a meter roller having a plurality of flutes. An aggregate cross sectional area of the flutes increases along a longitudinal axis of the meter roller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An agricultural metering device, comprising: a meter roller having a plurality of ridges extending between a first longitudinal end of the meter roller and a second longitudinal end of the meter roller, and a plurality of flutes, wherein each flute of the plurality of flutes is formed between a pair of adjacent ridges of the plurality of ridges, and a cross sectional area of each flute of the plurality of flutes in a plane generally parallel to the first and second longitudinal ends increases along a longitudinal axis of the meter roller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The agricultural metering device of claim 1, wherein the cross sectional area of each flute of the plurality of flutes is substantially arcuate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The agricultural metering device of claim 1, wherein the cross sectional area of each flute of the plurality of flutes increases continuously between the first and second longitudinal ends of the meter roller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The agricultural metering device of claim 1, comprising a meter roller cover configured to selectively cover a portion of the meter roller to adjust product flow rate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The agricultural metering device of claim 4, wherein the meter roller is configured to provide a product flow rate that varies non-linearly as a function of the covered portion by the meter roller cover. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The agricultural metering device of claim 1, wherein each longitudinal end is generally circular. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The agricultural metering device of claim 1, wherein a depth and a width of each flute of the plurality of flutes increase along the longitudinal axis of the meter roller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The agricultural metering device of claim 1, wherein an angle between each flute of the plurality of flutes and the first longitudinal end is 90 degrees. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The agricultural metering device of claim 1, wherein a width of each ridge of the plurality of ridges decreases along the longitudinal axis of the meter roller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The agricultural metering device of claim 1, wherein a first ridge width of each ridge of the plurality of ridges at the first longitudinal end of the meter roller is greater than a first flute width of each flute of the plurality of flutes at the first longitudinal end of the meter roller, and a second ridge width of each ridge of the plurality of ridges at the second longitudinal end of the meter roller is less than a second flute width of each flute of the plurality of flutes at the second longitudinal end of the meter roller. ### Claim 11 An agricultural metering device, comprising: a meter roller, comprising: a first longitudinal end; a second longitudinal end; a longitudinal passage extending through the meter roller from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, wherein the longitudinal passage is configured to receive a drive shaft; and a plurality of flutes extending between the first and second longitudinal ends; wherein a cross sectional area of each flute in a plane generally parallel to the first and second longitudinal ends increases along a longitudinal axis of the meter roller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The agricultural metering device of claim 11, wherein each flute twists about the longitudinal axis as the flute extends between the first and second longitudinal ends. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The agricultural metering device of claim 11, wherein a width of each flute increases along the longitudinal axis of the meter roller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The agricultural metering device of claim 11, wherein the cross sectional area of each flute is substantially arcuate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The agricultural metering device of claim 11, wherein the cross sectional area of each flute increases continuously between the first and second longitudinal ends of the meter roller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The agricultural metering device of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal passage comprises a uniform cross sectional area from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end. ### Claim 17 An agricultural metering device, comprising: a meter roller configured to meter product from the agricultural metering device, the meter roller comprising: a first longitudinal end; a second longitudinal end; a plurality of ridges extending from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, wherein each pair of adjacent ridges of the plurality of ridges forms a respective flute, and each respective flute extends from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, and an aggregate cross sectional area of the respective flutes increases along a longitudinal axis of the meter roller from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The agricultural metering device of claim 17, wherein the aggregate cross sectional area increases continuously along the longitudinal axis of the meter roller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The agricultural metering device of claim 17, wherein a width of each ridge of the plurality of ridges decreases along the longitudinal axis of the meter roller. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The agricultural metering device of claim 17, comprising a meter roller cover configured to selectively cover a portion of the meter roller to adjust product flow rate.