Conveyors: fluid current – Processes
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-04
2001-10-02
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: fluid current
Processes
C406S026000, C406S131000, C406S120000, C406S183000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296425
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a system for dispensing particles. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling the velocity of particles in a pneumatic product application system.
Agricultural implements such as air seeders and row crop planters employ pneumatic means to convey product such as seed and fertilizer from a centralized hopper to distribution on the ground. Controlling particle flow at an acceptable operating speed can be a difficult task Too much air velocity and thus increased particle velocity can result in product damage and product bouncing or blowing out of the ground furrow. High particle velocity can also result in increased wear on the plastic air lines of an air seeder and excess consumption of fan power. Too little air velocity can result in plugging of air delivery lines.
The air velocity is difficult to optimize for a number of reasons. The minimum carry velocity varies for different product mass flow rates and for different product types, both of which may change during a field operation.
Another issue adding to the difficulty in optimizing the air flow velocity occurs when the configuration of the cart is altered. The delivery hoses in the air system may be reconfigured in a number of ways upsetting the balance of the air flow system. Even during field operation, if the air seeding system operates on a side slope, the resistance to particle flow will become greater in the line which have raised and vice versa for the lower lines.
Prior art methods of monitoring the particle flow of a system generally count the seeds at some point in the delivery system to ensure the proper number of seeds is being placed into the ground. Other systems simply monitor the air flow velocity, which provides a general indication of operating levels, but is not accurate since different products have different carry velocities.
Many air carts are equipped with methods of adjusting the air flow through the delivery lines by means of damping mechanisms and fan speed adjustment. One such system is disclosed in United States provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/086,422. This prior art system requires interaction of the operator to increase or decrease the air velocity.
The drawbacks of prior art include the need for manual adjustments to damping mechanisms and fan speed, complexity of the manual adjustments, and lost time and money on operation and maintenance of the air carts.
There are also further difficulties when the air cart is configured for double or triple shoot applications since each product may have a different carrying velocity.
Thus, there is a need for a system of monitoring and controlling particle velocity automatically in an air delivery system
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for dispensing particles.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for dispensing particles including: an air distribution system including at least one tube for transporting air borne particles in a flow of air having a flow rate; an air flow source for providing a flow of air to the air distribution system; and a controller for automatically effecting an adjustment of the flow rate.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for dispensing particles including: a storage tank for containing particles to be dispensed; a metering mechanism for transferring particles from the storage tank; an air distribution system for receiving particles from the metering mechanism, the air distribution system comprising: a bank of tubes for transporting particles in a flow of air having a flow rate, and a damper mechanism at the bank of tubes for selective control of the flow rate within the bank of tubes; an air flow source for providing a flow of air to the bank of tubes; a sensor located at each tube for providing a sensor output signal indicative of a value of a flow characteristic; and a controller operably connected to the sensors and to the damper mechanism such that the controller automatically effects an adjustment of the flow rate in the bank of tubes by receiving the sensor output signals, normalizing the values corresponding to the sensor output signals, and automatically effecting an adjustment of the damper mechanism as a function of the normalized values and a target value.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling the velocity of particles in an apparatus for dispensing particles, the apparatus comprising: a storage tank for containing particles to be dispensed; a metering mechanism for transferring particles from the storage tank; an air distribution system for receiving particles from the metering mechanism, the air distribution system comprising a bank of tubes for transporting particles in a flow of air having a flow rate, and a damper mechanism at the bank of tubes for selective control of the flow rate within the bank of tubes; an air flow source for providing a flow of air to the bank of tubes; a particle velocity sensor located at each tube for providing a sensor output signal corresponding to a measured particle velocity; and a controller operably connected to the particle velocity sensors and to the damper mechanism for automatically controlling the velocity of particles in the bank of tubes. The method includes, at each particle velocity sensor, the steps of: detecting particles at an upstream location; detecting particles at a downstream location, the downstream location being a known distance from the upstream location; determining the time interval between detection of the particles at the upstream location and detection of the particles at the downstream location; dividing the known distance by the time interval to generate a particle velocity value; providing a sensor output signal corresponding to the particle velocity value. The method further includes, at the controller, the steps of: receiving the sensor output signals; normalizing the particle velocity values corresponding to the sensor output signals; and automatically effecting an adjustment of the damper mechanism as a function of the normalized values and a target value.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
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Harmon Models 3100/1830/1400 Air Seeder sales Brochure (1998).
Concord Air Seeding 1502 Sales Brochure (1998).
John Deere Air Seeding Systems Sales Brochure (1996).
Bourgault 4000 Series Air Seeder Operator's Manual pp. 2.20 through 2.38 (Undated).
Case/IH Model 2300 Air Seeder Operator's Manual pp. 17A-22A (Dec., 1995).
Morris Model 7000 Air Seeder Operator's Manual pp. 5-2 to 5-34 (Undated).
John Deere Model 1900 Air Seeder Operator's Manual pp. 45-14 through 50-19 (Undated).
Benneweis Robert K.
Klassen Neil D.
Memory Russell J.
Wilson James N.
Wilson Robert J.
Dillon, Jr. Joe
Ellis Christopher P.
Flexi-Coil Ltd.
Miller Larry W.
Stader J. William
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