Frame-Mounted Seed Distributors for Uniform Air Seeder Metering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural seeding systems face challenges in accurately distributing agricultural products, such as seeds and fertilizers, due to non-uniform product distribution in air streams, leading to inconsistent application rates and difficulties in maintaining product levels in tanks, especially when folding the seeder for transport.
Innovation Solution
A product distribution system with radially extending seed delivery conduits from compact seed containers mounted close to furrow openers, equipped with on-demand seed dispensers and metering apparatuses that maintain seed levels and allow for simultaneous control of multiple product streams, enabling precise and efficient distribution of mixed products according to field maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If product distributors are mounted on a cart pulled with the frame, then product storage capacity is improved, but product distribution accuracy deteriorates due to non-uniform distribution in air streams
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the product distribution into multiple independent product distributors, each serving a specific furrow opener. This segmentation allows each distributor to maintain accurate metering independently, resolving the accuracy issue while maintaining storage capacity through the distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Individual metering devices are introduced as intermediaries between the air stream and each furrow opener. These meters precisely control product delivery to each opener, compensating for the non-uniform air stream distribution and ensuring accurate product placement despite the cart-mounted storage configuration.
2Productivity
If tanks have sloping floors to outlets with rollers or augers, then product flow is improved, but space requirements increase and transport flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having product flow downward through sloping tanks to central outlets, the system inverts the approach by positioning multiple small product distributors directly at the furrow openers. This eliminates the need for large sloping tanks and central metering mechanisms, reducing space requirements while maintaining product flow efficiency through direct delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional central metering mechanism and sloping tank structure are extracted and replaced with distributed product distributors mounted directly on the frame. This extraction eliminates the space-consuming infrastructure while preserving product flow functionality through the distributed architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If distribution networks include bends and turns, then product delivery to multiple furrows is enabled, but uniform product distribution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution system is segmented into independent product distributors at each furrow opener, eliminating the need for long conduits with bends and turns. Each segment operates independently, ensuring uniform product distribution to each furrow while maintaining the capability to serve multiple furrows across the implement width.
4Quantity of substance
If metering devices are located far from furrow openers, then product storage capacity is improved, but distribution accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the distribution network into multiple localized product distributors positioned near each furrow opener. This segmentation enables accurate metering at each location while product storage capacity is maintained through the distributed configuration of multiple smaller distributors rather than one large centralized system.
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
This system ensures uniform and accurate distribution of seeds and fertilizers, reduces space requirements, simplifies transport, and allows for flexible metering and mixing of products, improving application efficiency and reducing residual seed cleanup.
Implementation Method 1
an inductor apparatus at the bottom of the tank receives the product and directs the product into an air stream that delivers it on-demand
Implementation Method 2
a metering device. The product is metered from the secondary container into a secondary air stream flowing through a plurality of product conduits
Data Source
AI summary
A product distribution system for an air seeder includes a plurality of furrow openers and a plurality of product distributors mounted on an implement frame. Each product distributor comprises a seed container and a plurality of seed delivery conduits extending radially outward from the seed container. A seed meter apparatus is connected to receive the seed product from the seed container and operative to meter seeds of the seed product into each of the seed delivery conduits. A seed product dispenser is operative to convey a seed product from a seed product tank into each seed container, and is operative to maintain a level of the seed product in each seed container above a selected level. The product distributors are spaced across the width of the implement frame.