Agricultural material metering system

An agricultural material metering system comprising:

• a hydraulic reservoir;
• a first hydraulic pump;
• a hydraulic circuit having a first portion extending from the reservoir to the pump and a second portion extending from the pump to the reservoir;
• a hydraulically driven component coupled to the second portion of the circuit;
• a second pump coupled to the second portion of the circuit;
• a first hydraulically driven rotary actuator fluidly coupled to the second pump to receive fluid displaced by the second pump;
• and
• a first rotatable metering member coupled to the rotary actuator and configured to meter agricultural material upon being rotated by the first hydraulically driven rotary actuator.

An agricultural material metering system for use with an implement having a hydraulically driven component and a hydraulic circuit having a first supply portion connected to the component and adapted to be fluidly coupled to a first pump of a work vehicle and a second return portion connected to the component and adapted to be connected to a fluid reservoir of the work vehicle, the metering system comprising:

• a second pump adapted to be coupled to the second portion of the circuit;
• a first hydraulically driven rotary actuator fluidly coupled to the second pump to receive fluid displaced by the second pump;
• and
• a first rotatable metering member coupled to the first rotary actuator and configured to meter agricultural material upon being rotated by the first rotary actuator.

A material metering implement for use with a work vehicle having a fluid reservoir and a fluid pump, the material metering implement comprising:

• a frame;
• a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame above ground;
• a rotatable metering member coupled to the frame and configured to meter agricultural material upon being rotated;
• a hydraulically driven rotary actuator coupled to the metering member to rotate the metering member;
• a variable displacement pump adapted to be fluidly coupled between a source of hydraulic fluid and the rotary actuator, wherein the pump is actuatable between a first position in which the pump displaces fluid at a first rate and a second position in which the pump displaces fluid at a second rate;
• a rotatable ground driven member supported by the frame and coupled to the pump to drive the pump when rotating;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the variable displacement pump and configured to actuate the variable displacement pump between the first and second positions to vary the rotational velocity of the rotary actuator, to vary rotational velocity of the metering member and to vary rates at which material is metered by the metering member.

An agricultural material metering system comprising:

• metering means for metering agricultural material upon being driven;
• hydraulically driven actuator means for driving the metering means;
• a fluid displacement pump having an inlet fluidly coupled to a source of hydraulic fluid and an outlet fluidly coupled to the hydraulically driven actuator means, wherein the pump displaces fluid upon being driven to drive the hydraulically driven actuator means;
• a rotatable ground-driven member coupled to the pump to drive the pump when rotating;
• variable drive control means coupled between the inlet of the pump and the metering means for actuation between a first position in which the hydraulically driven actuator means drives the metering means at a first rate and a second position in which the hydraulically driven actuator drives the metering means at a second rate;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the variable drive control means, wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the variable drive control means between the first and second positions to vary rates at which the material is metered by the metering means.