System and method of particulate flow detection

Abstract

A system (100, 130) for detecting characteristics of particulate material flow comprises a reservoir for holding particulate material, a distribution line for conveying the particulate material away from the reservoir, an acoustic sensor (120) for detecting sound in the distribution line and a computing system (100, 130). The computing system is configured to receive data from the acoustic sensor (120), determine a first level of acoustic energy using the data from the acoustic sensor (120), determine a second level of acoustic energy as the difference between the first level of acoustic energy and an amount of acoustic energy associated with non-particulate sound, and determine the characteristics of particulate flow from the second level of acoustic energy.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PARTICULATE FLOW DETECTIONFIELD

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to monitoring particulate flow in agricultural machines.BACKGROUND

[0002] Agricultural particulate delivery systems, such as air seeders and planters, are commonly towed by tractors to apply seed or fertilizer, or both simultaneously, to a field. Air seeders and planters include one or more product tanks for holding product, generally seed, fertilizer or both. Air seeders and planters include a pneumatic distribution system for distributing the seed, fertilizer or other product for delivery to the soil. The pneumatic distribution system uses a fan to provide at least one airstream which flows through the pneumatic distribution system to separate manifolds at which row units deposit the product in the soil. The row units are arranged in a line, to form rows of planted seeds. The product tanks may be pressurized with air from the pneumatic distribution system.

[0003] In one typical design, product is first introduced to the air stream in the vicinity of the product tank by the dosing system, using a venturi in a plenum of the dosing system. Product is carried by the air stream through distribution lines to the seed boots, which function as distribution units. The seeds are singulated and metered typically using a seed metering disc with pockets or holes. The seed boots are mounted behind ground openers of the tilling implement so that the product may be evenly delivered to the ground.

[0004] In positive pressure seeding systems, some air is diverted from the pneumatic distribution system to the product tanks to pressurize the tanks. The product tanks are for example maintained at the same pressure as the airstream which carries product from the product tank.

[0005] Seeding systems enable a user to control the different components, such as the pressure source to vary the delivery airflow. Depending on the planter speed and the type of seed, the operator will adjust the air flow to maintain a desired seed distribution. The seed metering is for example controlled automatically.

[0006] The above section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.SUMMARY

[0007] A system for detecting characteristics of particulate material flow according to an embodiment of the invention includes a reservoir for holding particulate material, a distribution line for conveying the particulate material away from the reservoir, an acoustic sensor for detecting sound in the distribution line, and a computing system. The computing system is configured to receive data from the acoustic sensor, determine a first level of acoustic energy using the data from the acoustic sensor, determine a second level of acoustic energy as the difference between the first level of acoustic energy and an amount of acoustic energy associated with non-particulate sound, and determine the characteristics of particulate flow from the second level of acoustic energy.

[0008] The computing system may be configured to generate a signal for presenting information on a user interface or for controlling operation of a seeder or planter that houses the system, the signal based on the characteristics of particulate flow. The non-particulate sound including sound may be caused by a fan moving air through the distribution line. The first level of acoustic energy may include acoustic energy associated with particulate movement through the distribution line and acoustic energy associated with the non- particulate sound.

[0009] The computing system may be configured to determine the amount of acoustic energy associated with non-particulate sound by measuring the acoustic energy in the distribution line while the distribution line is in operation but without particulate matter flowing through it, and may be configured to determine the determine the amount of acoustic energy associated with non-particulate sound within multiple different acoustic frequency bands.

[0010] The computing system may be configured to determine the first level of acoustic energy in multiple different acoustic frequency bands, determine the second level of acoustic energy as the difference between the first level of acoustic energy in each acoustic frequency band and an amount of acoustic energy associated with non-particulate sound in each of the multiple different acoustic frequency bands.

[0011] A system for detecting characteristics of seed flow in a distribution line of a seeder according to another embodiment of the invention includes a seed reservoir for holding seeds, a distribution line coupled with the seed reservoir and configured to convey seeds from the seed reservoir to a row unit of the seeder, an acoustic sensor for detecting sound in the distribution line, and a computing system.

[0012] The computing system is configured to receive data from the acoustic sensor, measure a first level of acoustic energy using the data from the acoustic sensor, the first level of acoustic energy including seed acoustic energy associated with the sound of seeds moving in the distribution line and fan acoustic energy associated with the sound of a fan moving air through the distribution line, determine a second level of acoustic energy by subtracting the fan acoustic energy from the first level of acoustic energy, determine the characteristics of seed flow from the second level of acoustic energy, and generate a signal for presenting information on a user interface or for controlling operation of the seeder, the signal based on the characteristics of seed flow.

[0013] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the detailed description below. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.DRAWINGS

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a particulate delivery system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIGs. 2-8 illustrate an in-line acoustic sensor design according to certain embodiments of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates the in-line sensor in communication with a computing system.

[0018] The drawing figure does not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawing is not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.DESCRIPTION

[0019] The following description of embodiments of the invention references the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0020] In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and / or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinations and / or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

[0021] Turning now to the drawing figures, and initially FIG. 1, a seed delivery system 100 constructed in accordance with embodiments of the invention is illustrated. The seed delivery system 100 is towed behind a tractor 150 and, in this example, comprises a first tank 102 for seeds and a second tank 104 for dry fertilizer. Each tank has its own air pump, for example the air pump for the first tank 102 is shown at 106. The air pumps each deliver material from their respective tank to the delivery head 108 which comprises a series of row units Rl, R2 ,..., Rn. The air pump generates a flow of air, and seeds are introduced into the airflow at a venturi. The air flows, with entrained seeds and dry fertilizer, are conveyed to the row units by pipe connections.

[0022] Each row unit is designed to open a furrow, deliver individual seeds and into the furrow, deliver fertilizer to or near the furrow. In some designs, the delivery head may also close the furrow. Each row unit comprises a trench opener 116 and inside it there is a seed tube (seed boot) for delivering the seed. A fertilizer delivery nozzle 112 (shank) is also provided. Each row unit has a set of sensors for monitoring the functioning of the row unit.

[0023] An in-line acoustic sensor 120 is illustrated in FIGs. 2-8. The sensor 120 is designed to be coupled with a distribution line of the seed delivery system 100 such that during operation of the seed delivery system 100 the stream of air and seeds (or other particulate material) passes through the sensor 120 and impacts an internal surface 122 of the sensor 120. The invention is not limited to the sensor illustrated in FIGs. 2-8 or to an in-line acoustic sensor. Other types of sensors may be used and are within the ambit of the invention, including sensors that are not in-line sensors but attach to or otherwise engage an outer surface of a distribution line.

[0024] With reference also to FIG. 9, the acoustic sensor 120 generates signals reflecting the acoustic energy detected in the distribution line and communicates the signal to a computing system 130 for analysis. Thus, the acoustic sensor 120 is in communication with the computing system 130 via a wired or wireless communication medium and may use existing communication hardware or systems on the machine such as a CAN bus. The computing system 130 comprises one or more computing devices such as microprocessors, microcontrollers, programmable logic devices, and memory and storage devices. In some embodiments, the computing system 130 includes one or more electronic control units embedded in a machine such as the tractor 150 or seed delivery system 100 that communicate with the acoustic sensor 120 via the CAN bus.

[0025] The system for detecting characteristics of seed flow in a distribution line of a seeder comprises a seed reservoir for holding seeds, a distribution line coupled with the seed reservoir and configured to convey seeds from the seed reservoir to a row unit of the seeder, an acoustic sensor for detecting sound in the distribution line and a computing system. The computing system is configured to receive data from the acoustic sensor, measure a first level of acoustic energy using the data from the acoustic sensor, the first level of acoustic energy including seed acoustic energy associated with the sound of seedsmoving in the distribution line and fan acoustic energy associated with the sound of a fan moving air through the distribution line, determine a second level of acoustic energy by subtracting the fan acoustic energy from the first level of acoustic energy, determine the characteristics of seed flow from the second level of acoustic energy, and generate a signal for presenting information on a user interface or for controlling operation of the seeder, the signal based on the characteristics of seed flow.

[0026] The computing system 130 may perform a calibration function to determine the fan acoustic energy (or other non-particulate sound energy) by measuring the nonparticulate acoustic energy when the fan is running but there is no particulate material passing through the distribution line. The computing system 130 may analyze the non- particulate acoustic energy according to an amount of energy in each of multiple different frequency bands by, for example, performing a Fourier transform on the acoustic signal detected by the sensor. In Chart 1 (below), each vertical bar represents a total amount of acoustic energy detected at different frequency bands. Each band may correspond, for example, to 187.5 Hertz or 93.75 Hertz or another frequency band and may run from 0 to 24 kHz. The width of each frequency band and the total frequencies covered are not critical and may change from one implementation to another without departing form the scope of the invention.

[0027] With continuing reference to Chart 1, the lower, white portion of each vertical bar corresponds to the non-particulate (fan) acoustic energy within that frequency band. The upper, shaded portion of each vertical bar corresponds to the amount of acoustic energy associated with particulate material passing through the distribution line. To determine characteristics of the particulate material passing through the distribution line, such as amount of particulate mass or the presence of a line blockage, the computing system subtracts the non-particulate acoustic energy from the total acoustic energy, leaving only the shaded portions, or the portions associated with the particulate material. In Chart 1, the fourth, fifth and sixth bars from the left reflect a low level of acoustic energy, indicating that there may be a blockage in the distribution line. In operation there may be many more frequency bands and the low acoustic energy levels may be reflected across many of the frequency bands. Chart 1 is presented for illustrative purposes only.

[0028] If the computing system 130 determines that there may be a blockage in a distribution line it may generate a signal for presenting information on a user interface 132 or for controlling operation of the delivery system 100, tractor or seeder. Information presented on the user interface 132 may be a warning of a potential blockage. The computing system 130 may generate a signal for controlling operation of the delivery system 100 or seeder to take one or more actions to eliminate the blockage or for controlling the tractor to pause operation.

[0029] While embodiments of the invention have been described in relation to a seeder, the invention is not so limited and may be used with any particulate distribution or application system including, for example, fertilizer. A system for detecting characteristics of particulate material flow according to another embodiment comprises a reservoir for holding particulate material, a distribution line for conveying the particulate material away from the reservoir, an acoustic sensor for detecting sound in the distribution line and a computing system. The computing system is configured to receive data from the acoustic sensor, determine a first level of acoustic energy using the data from the acoustic sensor, determine a second level of acoustic energy as the difference between the first level of acoustic energy and an amount of acoustic energy associated with non-particulate soundand determine the characteristics of particulate flow from the second level of acoustic energy.

[0030] Although the invention has been described with reference to one or more embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Furthermore, the following claims describe one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not intended to describe all embodiments of the invention or all novel aspects of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system for detecting characteristics of particulate material flow, the system comprising: a reservoir for holding particulate material; a distribution line for conveying the particulate material away from the reservoir; an acoustic sensor for detecting sound in the distribution line; and a computing system configured to - receive data from the acoustic sensor, determine a first level of acoustic energy using the data from the acoustic sensor, determine a second level of acoustic energy as the difference between the first level of acoustic energy and an amount of acoustic energy associated with nonparticulate sound, and determine the characteristics of particulate flow from the second level of acoustic energy.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 , the computing system further configured to generate a signal for presenting information on a user interface or for controlling operation of the system, the signal based on the characteristics of particulate flow.

3. The system as set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2, the non-particulate sound including sound caused by a fan moving air through the distribution line.

3. The system as set forth in any preceding claim, the first level of acoustic energy including acoustic energy associated with particulate movement through the distribution line and acoustic energy associated with the non-particulate sound.

4. The system as set forth in any preceding claim, the computing system further configured to determine the amount of acoustic energy associated with non-particulate sound by measuring the acoustic energy in the distribution line while the distribution line is in operation but without particulate matter flowing through it.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4, the computing system further configured to determine the determine the amount of acoustic energy associated with non-particulate sound within multiple different acoustic frequency bands.

6. The system as set forth in any preceding claim, the computing system further configured to - determine the first level of acoustic energy in multiple different acoustic frequency bands, determine the second level of acoustic energy as the difference between the first level of acoustic energy in each acoustic frequency band and an amount of acoustic energy associated with non-particulate sound in each of the multiple different acoustic frequency bands.

7. A system for detecting characteristics of seed flow in a distribution line of a seeder, the system comprising: a seed reservoir for holding seeds; a distribution line coupled with the seed reservoir and configured to convey seeds from the seed reservoir to a row unit of the seeder; an acoustic sensor for detecting sound in the distribution line; and a computing system configured to - receive data from the acoustic sensor, measure a first level of acoustic energy using the data from the acoustic sensor, the first level of acoustic energy including seed acoustic energy associated with the sound of seeds moving in the distribution line and fan acoustic energy associated with the sound of a fan moving air through the distribution line, determine a second level of acoustic energy by subtracting the fan acoustic energy from the first level of acoustic energy, determine the characteristics of seed flow from the second level of acoustic energy, and generate a signal for presenting information on a user interface or for controlling operation of the seeder, the signal based on the characteristics of seed flow.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7, the characteristics of seed flow including a blockage preventing seed flow in the flow line.

9. The system as set forth in claim 7, the characteristics of seed flow including an amount of particulate mass flow.

10. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the computing system subtracts the fan acoustic energy from the first level of acoustic energy by subtracting acoustic energy associated with sound frequencies below a threshold frequency.

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