Agricultural Multi-Grain Dose Metering for Timed Field Application
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural machinery lacks the capability to efficiently apply multi-granular doses of materials like seeds and fertilizers at specific intervals and in coordinated sequences, particularly in seed drills and fertilizer distribution machines.
Innovation Solution
A method and arrangement that generates individual, multi-granular doses from a continuous flow of granular material using a metering device, applying these doses at specific intervals through a collection unit with closure elements controlled by fluid pulses, allowing for discontinuous application and coordination with seed application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a continuous stream of granular material is applied from the tank to the field, then the application process is simple and continuous, but the precision of dosing and the ability to apply multi-granular doses at specific intervals is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous stream of granular material is segmented into individual multi-granular doses by the metering device. The dosing unit divides the material flow into discrete portions, each containing a specific number of granules, which are then applied at predetermined intervals. This segmentation enables precise dosing while maintaining system feasibility through modular design of the metering and dosing components.
2Measurement precision
If individual multi-granular doses are generated and applied at intervals, then the precision of application and coordination with seed drills is improved, but the complexity of the metering and dosing system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action through the controlled opening and closing of the dosing unit at predetermined intervals. The metering device operates cyclically to fill the dosing unit with multi-granular doses, which are then discharged at specific intervals synchronized with the seed drill operation. This periodic operation achieves precise application timing while using simple mechanical timing mechanisms rather than complex control systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the granular material flow is interrupted to create discontinuous doses, then the coordination with seed application is improved, but the continuity of material supply from the tank is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses preliminary action by pre-filling the dosing unit with multi-granular doses before the actual application interval. The metering device accumulates the required number of granules in the dosing unit during the closed phase, so that when the dosing unit opens, the pre-prepared dose is immediately available for application. This preliminary preparation allows discontinuous application at the right moments without requiring interruption of the overall material supply from the tank.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and efficient application of granular materials at timed intervals, creating separate application points for seeds and fertilizers, enhancing the accuracy and coordination of agricultural operations.
Implementation Method 1
each is ejected by means of a fluid stream
Implementation Method 2
controlled by fluid pulses
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for applying multi-granular doses of a granular material using an agricultural machine, comprising: providing a granular material (2) in a tank (1); feeding the granular material (2) from the tank (1) to a metering device (3); generating multi-granular doses of the granular material (2) by means of the metering device (3); dispensing the multi-granular doses of the granular material by the metering device (3) to an application device (9), wherein the multi-granular doses are dispensed partially or completely as discontinuous doses at intervals; and applying the time-interval doses by means of the application device (9), whereby separate multi-granular metering points are created on a field over which the agricultural machine moves.The supplied granular material (2) is collected in a collecting unit (4) of the dosing unit (3) to generate the multi-granular doses, and an outlet of the collecting unit (4) is supplied with a fluid flow at intervals for the discontinuous dispensing of the doses, thereby opening the outlet to release the doses for application. Furthermore, an arrangement for applying multi-granular doses of a granular material to an agricultural machine and a distribution machine are provided.