Cnh Industrial America LLC

Jeffrey Scot Martin

Rex LeRoy Ruppert

Nicholas Ryan Pederson

John Paul Honermann

Charles D O'Connell

John P Kennedy

James T Beaucaire

David Hafvenstein

Jeremy A Amundson

Jason Matthew Schwiderski

Randy Allan Lindemeier

The present invention provides an electronically controlled valve in each air distribution line for delivering product-conveying air to a boom section of an agricultural machine. The valves can be used to balance airflow between lines by controlling back pressure at the boom sections. In one aspect, an electronically controlled butterfly valve can be installed in each air line between a fan's plenum outlet and a dry product delivery meter. Each valve can be configured to allow some flow when in a closed position. This could be achieved, for example, by configuring a valve plate with a circular perimeter shape that has a smaller diameter than an inner diameter of the line or tube in which the valve plate is mounted.

Electronically controlled valve system for distributing particulate material

Modular meter units for distributing particulate material from an applicator can be configured to combine with each other without the use of tools to provide specific meter assembly lengths based on desired flow rates. In one aspect, modular meter unit housings with interlocking features can provide build options for assembling different sized meter assemblies. The modular meter unit housings can allow stacking and connecting multiple adjacent meter units to make a meter assembly of a particular length/volume/flow rate. Each meter unit housing can have a longitudinal bore that opens through opposing end walls and define a cylindrical cavity or chamber that can receive a cylindrical/tubular sleeve or liner. Matching openings on opposite top/bottom walls of the modular meter unit housing can align with openings of the liner to define an inlet and outlet for the meter unit.

Housing for a modular meter assembly of a dry product applicator

An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field and including a pneumatic conveying system. The pneumatic conveying system includes an airflow source to provide an airflow, first and second delivery lines operably connected to the airflow source and to a supply compartment. Each delivery line includes a respective supply line and a respective plurality of distribution lines. The pneumatic conveying system further includes first and second distributors coupling the respective supply line with the respective plurality of distribution lines, a first mounting plate coupled to the first distributor and having a first identifier, a second mounting plate coupled to the second distributor and having a second identifier, a first motor having a relation with the first identifier, and a second motor having a relation to the second identifier.

Agricultural product delivery applicator with a pneumatic conveying system having a distributor assembly

An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field. The applicator includes a supply compartment to hold the product and a pneumatic conveying system. The system includes an airflow source to provide an airflow, and a delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment. The delivery line includes a supply line and a plurality of distribution lines. The system further includes a distributor coupling the supply line with the plurality of distribution lines, a plurality of distributor outlets providing outlet channels for the distributor, and a motor mount disposed away from the aperture along an axis and supported by one or more of the plurality of distributor outlets. A motor is disposed on a delivery lines side of the distributor and fastened to the motor mount.

A meter wheel system for a dry agricultural product applicator can include a bank of meter assemblies made from modular meter units. In one aspect, each meter assembly in the bank can be made from modular meter units. The modular meter units can be connected in a stacked configuration to provide a specific overall length to achieve a corresponding flow rate and then banked together to form the system. A bank of meter assemblies made from modular meter units can be secured between top and bottom plates. The plates can be bolted to each other and have receptacles that receive protrusions from top and bottom surfaces of the meter assemblies. Lengths of meter assemblies can be picked based on particular delivery rates for the section it feeds. An overall length of each meter assembly can be a multiple of a length of the modular meter unit.

Modular meter system for a dry product applicator

A foldable rear boom section of an agricultural product applicator includes at least one first tube connected to a first end of a respective at least one second tube and a hinge assembly coupled to the first and second tubes and configured to pivot the second tube with respect to the first tube about a pivot axis. Further, a nozzle is connected to a second end of the second tube. Pivoting the first and second tubes about the pivot axis causes the foldable rear boom section and the nozzle to transition between an extended position and a retracted position.

Foldable rear boom section

A bearing end cap for a modular meter assembly for distributing particulate material from an applicator can include recesses that accommodate locking tabs or fingers of modular meter unit housings and protrusions that lock a meter tube against rotation. In one aspect, a bearing end cap can be provided with a particular construction that cooperates with modular meter unit housings. The bearing end cap can have vertical and horizontal symmetry and cutouts near its corners. These cutouts can provide clearances to accommodate the locking tabs or fingers of modular meter unit housing end walls. Back walls of the bearing end caps can have protrusions that extend into end cutouts of a tube which defines an interior perimeter of the meter assembly.

End cap for a modular meter assembly of a dry product applicator

An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field. The applicator includes a supply compartment to hold the product and a pneumatic conveying system. The system includes an airflow source to provide an airflow, and a delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment. The delivery line includes a supply line and a plurality of distribution lines. The system further includes a distributor coupling the supply line with the plurality of distribution lines, a motor disposed on the distribution lines side of the distributor, a shaft assembly rotatable by the motor, and a bearing supporting the shaft assembly on the supply line side of the distributor. The applicator further includes a metering system operably connected between the supply compartment and the pneumatic conveying system. The metering system meters product with the airflow to result in a mixed flow of airflow and product.

A localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading arrangement, and method, utilize a pattern of pins in an electrical interface connector that is unique to a particular hydraulically powered product delivery unit mounted on a self-propelled agricultural product applicator to close or leave open electrical circuits in solenoid operated pump control valve arrangements for selectively connecting a flow of hydraulic fluid at an operating pressure from one or more continuously operating pumps of the applicator to the product delivery unit, or for selectively bypassing the flow of fluid from one or more of the pumps back to a hydraulic reservoir of the applicator at a low, bypass pressure. When no product delivery unit is mounted on the applicator, the flows from all of the pumps are bypassed to the reservoir at the low, bypass pressure.

Localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading in a self-propelled agricultural product applicator

A mounting arrangement and method are provided for securing a T-joint in a control cable connectable in electrical communication with an electrical device, such as an electrically controlled nozzle, attached to a mounting surface such as the boom of an agricultural product sprayer. The mounting arrangement includes a base block adapted for fixed attachment to the mounting surface, and a pair of first and second clamping shells adapted and cooperatively configured for attachment to the base block and one another to define an internal cavity of the mounting arrangement between the clamping shells and the base block for receiving and retaining the T-joint within the mounting arrangement. The mounting arrangement is attached to the boom with a single threaded fastener. The clamping shells are identical and lock to one another and the base block without additional fasteners.

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Benson, MN, United States of America

Jeffrey Scot Martin