Side-mounted secondary container for air seeder weighing accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air seeder carts face challenges in accurately determining the application rate of agricultural products with low application rates, especially when towing additional equipment, due to the large weight of containers affecting weighing system accuracy and accessibility issues with low-slung containers.
Innovation Solution
The air seeder cart apparatus features a side-mounted secondary product container with a lower fill hatch and a weighing system, allowing for improved accessibility and accuracy in loading bagged products, along with a secondary metering mechanism and a grate for unopened bags, and a weighing system to determine the weight and application rate with enhanced precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large container is used to carry bulk fertilizers, then the container capacity is sufficient for high application rate products, but the weighing system accuracy deteriorates due to the large weight affecting measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the container system into two separate containers: a large primary container for bulk fertilizers with high application rates, and a small secondary container for low application rate products. This segmentation allows each container to be optimized for its specific purpose - the large container provides sufficient capacity for bulk materials while the small container maintains weighing accuracy for precision applications.
2Ease of operation
If a low-slung container is positioned at the rear of the cart, then accessibility for loading bags is improved, but accessibility is hampered when the cart is towed between the tractor and implement frame or when towing additional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the secondary container on the side of the cart rather than at the rear, and elevates it to an upper position. This dimensional change from rear-low to side-up configuration allows loading personnel to access the container from the side at an elevated level, maintaining loading accessibility while eliminating interference with rear towing operations and improving adaptability to different field configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
An air seeder cart apparatus has a primary container assembly with a plurality of primary product containers, with primary fill hatches at tops thereof. An air distribution network comprises product conduits and primary metering devices that dispense agricultural products from each primary product container into one of the product conduits. A secondary product container is mounted on a side of the primary container assembly and has a secondary fill hatch much lower than the primary fill hatches, and a secondary metering mechanism dispenses product from the secondary product container into one of the product conduits. The secondary product container is convenient for receiving bagged agricultural products from a low truck bed. Unopened product bags may be stored on a grate inside the secondary product container so they will be available if required. Weighing of product in the container can be provided.