RU2780497C2 - Material distribution device for agricultural machines - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agricultural equipment.

SUBSTANCE: material distribution device for an agricultural machine contains a chamber with an inlet and an outlet for distributed material, pneumatic means for generation of change in pressure inside the chamber, a rotary distributing element placed in the chamber and made with the possibility of reception of material based on a value of pressure inside the chamber and its transportation from the inlet to the outlet of the chamber, wherein the rotary distributing element divides the chamber into two compartment – the first and the second ones. The distribution device also contains a pressure sensor placed in direct communication with the second compartment of the specified chamber in direct communication with pneumatic means via fluid. At the same time, the specified pressure sensor is made with the possibility of measurement of a value of pressure inside the chamber, and it is connected to a control unit made with the possibility of reception from the specified sensor of a signal representing the value of pressure inside the chamber. The control unit is connected to an optical and/or acoustic warning device made with the possibility of being activated, if the value of pressure inside the chamber, measured by the pressure sensor, differs from the set threshold value (P_th).

EFFECT: invention will allow for an increase in the efficiency of informing a user about improper functioning leading to improper seed distribution on the soil.

6 cl, 3 dwg

Description

The field of technology to which the invention belongs

The present invention relates to a spreading device for agricultural machines that spreads material, in particular spreads seeds in the soil.

State of the art

As is known, in automated agriculture, the use of agricultural machines, both tractor-mounted and self-propelled, is widespread, designed to distribute material such as, for example, fertilizers or seeds.

A typical example of such agricultural machines are precision seeders, machines designed to drop one seed at a time and designed so that the distance between two seeds planted in the soil is kept constant.

It is really important to ensure that the plants grow at the same distance from each other, so that each plant has enough soil for its growth.

Precision seeders include a plurality of planters supported by a frame supported on the ground by at least one wheel and connected to a tractor to pull the seeder itself.

Each planter comprises at least one distribution device having a chamber having an inlet and outlet for seeds to be distributed and fluidly connected to pneumatic means generating negative pressure within the chamber itself.

In general, the rotary distribution element divides the chamber into two compartments, the first compartment being in communication with the inlet and outlet of the chamber, while the second compartment is in fluid communication with the pneumatic means.

Additionally, a perforated rotary distributing element in the form of a disk is placed inside the chamber, which can receive and temporarily hold the seeds due to negative pressure and transport them from the inlet to the outlet of the chamber until a predetermined amount of bulk material is released in the conveyor tube, which can carry the bulk material near soil on which it is to be thrown.

It is essential for the correct operation of the distribution device that said negative pressure within the distribution chamber be properly maintained.

If the proper pressure is not maintained in the spreader chamber, the seeds will not stay attached to the spreading disc or, if the air leakage is not too great, they will attach to its holes with little force.

If, instead, the pressure is excessive, it is difficult for the seed to separate from the seed disc, resulting in a delayed fall to the ground.

In any case, seeds will be sown with poor quality, as they will be unevenly distributed over the soil.

There can be many reasons for pressure loss, including, for example, a broken tube in the pneumatic suction system, unwanted foreign objects inside the distributor, a seed distributor cover left open, a selector not properly aligned with the seed disc, and last but not least, gasket wear. separating two half-shells of the distributor. However, the negative effects associated with the loss of pressure inside the distributor appear at a later time, i.e., when the plants begin to grow and notice that their distance from each other is not as accurate as expected.

In addition, if the agricultural machine is not equipped with an electronic seeding control system, this problem will become apparent only after the plants have grown on the surface, in other words, when it is too late.

Electronic seeding control systems are known in the industry, but so far they have not been widely used, and they work in accordance with the ISO 7256/1 standard and provide a statistical calculation of seeding quality.

However, through such electronic seeding control systems, the real reason for the decline in seeding quality cannot be identified.

It should be noted that there are distributors that operate on the basis of the pressure difference between the two compartments into which the spreading disc divides the distributor chamber, however, instead of maintaining a negative pressure in the compartment in which pneumatic means are located, such distributors use pneumatic means designed to generate an increase in pressure in the first compartment communicating with the inlet and outlet of the chamber, such as, for example, a pump.

In these distributors, the spreading element receives and temporarily holds the seeds by pressurizing the first compartment and transports them from the inlet to the outlet of the chamber until a predetermined amount is released onto the soil.

In this second type of distributor, problems similar to those described above may occur in the event of a pump failure or other malfunctions, in this particular case due to insufficient pressure in the first compartment of the chamber.

Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide a system for detecting, in real time, one of the main causes of seeding defects.

An additional objective is to provide a system that allows action to be taken in the event of problems with the hermetic seal of the distributor chamber under negative pressure.

These tasks are solved by means of the characteristics of the invention set forth in the independent claim. The dependent claims describe preferred and/or particular preferred aspects of the invention.

Disclosure of the essence of the invention

In particular, in an embodiment of the invention, a material distribution device for an agricultural machine is claimed, comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for the material to be distributed, pneumatic means for creating a pressure change inside the chamber, a rotary distributing element placed in the chamber and configured to receive material based on the value of the pressure inside the chamber and its transport from the inlet to the outlet of the chamber.

According to the invention, the distribution device comprises a sensor capable of measuring the pressure value inside the chamber.

The use of a pressure sensor inside the distributor chamber makes it possible to instantly recognize if there are problems with the hermetic seal of the chamber at negative pressure and/or a malfunction of the pneumatic system generating said negative pressure, and to intervene accordingly, in any case by interrupting actions that would otherwise lead to crops of poor quality.

In the case where the distribution device is operated using means which create an increase in pressure within the chamber, such a solution makes it possible to instantly recognize whether there are problems associated with generating and/or maintaining the proper operating pressure.

According to an aspect of the invention, the rotary distributor divides the chamber into two compartments, a first compartment in communication with the inlet and outlet of the chamber, and a second compartment in fluid communication with pneumatic means.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the pressure sensor is located on the wall overlapping the second compartment from the outside. The advantage of this embodiment is that the sensor is located close to the volume in which the original problems associated with improper negative pressure maintenance occur.

In an embodiment of the invention, the pressure sensor is located on the first compartment.

In another embodiment of the invention, a pressure sensor is connected to a control unit that receives a signal from said sensor that displays the pressure value inside the chamber.

This embodiment has the advantage of providing an electronic system for real-time pressure monitoring within the distributor chamber.

In another embodiment of the invention, the connection of the control unit with an optical and/or acoustic warning device is claimed, configured to be activated if the pressure value inside the chamber, measured by a pressure sensor, differs from a predetermined threshold value.

The advantage of this embodiment is to alert the operator of the agricultural machine as soon as there is a failure in the system providing negative pressure or increase in pressure, respectively, inside the distributor chamber, thus preventing the operator from continuing with poor quality seeding.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the control unit is configured to transmit pressure values inside the chamber, measured by a pressure sensor, to a remote server.

This embodiment has the advantage of being able to collect data from each agricultural seeding machine and schedule their maintenance. The invention further relates to a transmitter capable of transmitting pressure values detected by a sensor inside a chamber of the dispenser to a remote server.

The invention further relates to a seeding machine comprising a material spreader to which is associated a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure value within the spreader chamber.

Brief description of the drawings

Additional characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description, given as a non-limiting example, by means of the drawings on the accompanying sheets.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a dispenser according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view along section A-A in FIG. 1 device according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a sowing spreading disc related to the device of FIG. 1 and 2.

Implementation of the invention

With particular reference to these drawings, the dispenser is indicated generally by 100, with some known elements of said dispenser shown only schematically in dotted lines.

The spreader 100 includes a casing 101 internally hollow and configured to form a chamber 110 within which a spreading disc 120 for material to be spread, such as seeds, can be placed, as best described below.

For simplicity, the invention will be described with reference to a type of distribution device using pneumatic means capable of varying the pressure within the chamber 110. According to the present invention, said pneumatic means is configured to generate negative pressure within the chamber 110, it being understood that the inventive concepts shown herein may also apply to distributors using instead pneumatic means configured to generate an increase in pressure in said chamber, such as a pump (not shown for simplicity).

Where necessary, any design differences applicable to valves having pneumatic means for generating pressure increase in chamber 110 are indicated below for completeness.

The casing 101 is formed by a first half-shell 102 and a second half-shell 103, which can be connected together to form a chamber 110.

In particular, each half shell 102, 103 is formed by a substantially concave element and can be placed so that the concave part is directed towards the other half shell 102, 103.

Additionally, the first half-shell 102 comprises a peripheral flange (not shown for simplicity) which can be connected and secured by suitable fasteners, which are known per se, to the peripheral flange 104' of the second half-shell 103, for example, by means of a gasket placed therebetween.

In use, the shroud 101 is positioned in a vertical position with the plane of the peripheral flanges substantially parallel to the vertical, where the terms top and bottom are used below with respect to said position.

The first half-shell 102 includes a feed hopper 105 provided at the top of said half-shell and connected to a seed-containing tank (not shown for simplicity) for introducing seeds into the chamber 110, said tank being above the device 100.

The hopper 105 is formed by a chute 115 facing the bottom of the first half shell 102.

Additionally, the first half-shell 102 includes a lower protrusion which, in combination with an equivalent portion in the second half-shell 103, can form an outlet 106 through which the seeds exit the chamber 110 towards the soil.

Seed outlet 106 is connected to a tube, not shown, having an end remote from chamber 110 for discharging seeds into a pre-formed furrow.

In addition, the first half-shell 102 comprises a through hole 107, for example made in the upper part of the first half-shell 102 itself, for the entry of atmospheric air drawn in through suitable pneumatic means, which are known per se.

This through hole 107 is preferably connected, via a suitable tube, to a filter external to the housing 101.

Additionally, the first half-shell 102 may include an additional opening covered by a perforated grid (not shown for simplicity), said opening allowing air to pass between the inside and outside of the chamber 110 (in particular, the suction of air in the chamber 110) during the operation of the distribution device 100.

The second half-shell 103 contains an opening 108, for example, made in the peripheral part of the second half-shell 103 itself, with which said pneumatic means are connected to generate a negative pressure inside the chamber 110.

Pneumatic means include an inlet 130 associated with the chamber 110 in the hole 108.

The inlet 130 is formed, for example, by a flexible rubber tube having a first end fixed to the second opening 108 of the chamber 110 and a second end fixed to suitable pneumatic means, which are known per se.

The opening 108 is preferably configured to be spaced away from the outlet 106 when the two half shells 102, 103 are joined together so that the opening 108 itself and the outlet 106 are distinct and different from each other.

As best seen in FIG. 1, in the second half-shell 103 there is provided a vent 109 for the air sucked in by pneumatic means, said vent duct being in communication with the opening 108.

The outlet 109 lies in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the flange of the first half-shell 102 and has an end at the opening 108 and an opposite end directed towards the bottom (in use) of the second half-shell 103, i. e. to the part of the second half-shell 103 closest to the outlet 106 when the two half-shells 102, 103 are joined together. The outlet 109, for example, with a rectangular cross section, communicates with the opening 108 of the second half-shell 103 at one end, while it is open in a plane essentially perpendicular to the plane of the flange of the first half-shell 102 at the other end, while it is closed in a plane parallel to the plane of the specified flange, for example, through the plate 109A.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the outlet channel 109 essentially has the form of an arc of a circle and runs along the peripheral edge of the concavity of the second half-shell 103.

With reference in particular to FIG. 2, the spreading disc 120 placed inside the chamber 110 can be recognized by the dotted line, said spreading disc being able to collect material and transfer it from the feed hopper 105 to the outlet channel 106.

This spreading disc 120 is placed in the chamber 110 so that it lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the flanges of the distributor device 100, and it essentially occupies the entire volume of the chamber 110 on this plane, in other words, the edges of the spreading disc 120 are located essentially flush with the inner walls cameras 110.

Additionally, the spreading disk 120 is placed in the chamber 110, essentially on the flanges of the spreading device 100, i.e. away from the lower parts of the concavities of the half-shells 102, 103.

In particular, the spreading disk 120 divides the chamber 110 into two compartments 111, 112, the first compartment 111 communicating with the feed hopper 105 and the outlet 106, and the second compartment 112 communicating with the opening 108.

As shown in FIG. 3, the spreading disk 120 is preferably formed by a disk, for example, made of metal or plastic, and containing a first set of through holes 122 located circumferentially relative to the spreading disk 120 itself.

In particular, the spreading disc 120 includes a set of first holes 122 located near the edge of the spreading disc 120 proper, and a set of second holes 123 located at a distance from the edge of the disc relative to the first holes 122.

The first holes 122 are equidistant from each other and have a diameter smaller than the smallest material to be distributed, such as seeds. Similarly, the second holes 123 are also equidistant from each other.

At least one part of the first holes 122 (for example, at least one) covers the outlet channel 109 for air drawn in by pneumatic means, while the specified outlet channel is in communication with the hole 108 and is located in the second half-shell 103 when the distribution disk 120 is placed in the chamber 110. In particular, each first opening 122 can close off the outlet channel 109 when the spreading disc 120 itself rotates about its own axis 121. Within the chamber 110, negative pressure is transmitted from the second compartment 112 to the first compartment 111 through the first openings 122.

The spreading disc 120 is made in one piece and is coaxially fixed on the drive disc 124 connected to the rotation shaft 230, in particular, the distribution disc 120 and the drive disc 124 are fixed together in series along the axis 121 of the rotation shaft 230, for example, at one of the ends the shaft itself, with the distribution disk 120 directed towards the first half-shell 102, and the drive disk 124 directed towards the second half-shell 103.

The drive disc 124 includes, for example, a spoke-like configuration integral with the rotation shaft 121 and having a plurality of circumferentially located and protruding pins 125 along a direction parallel to the axis of the rotation shaft 121.

The pins 125 can be mounted inside the second holes 123 of the spreading disk 120 in such a way as to hold, for example by interaction, the spreading disk 120 itself.

In particular, the pins 125 may protrude from the spreading disc 120 towards the first half shell 102.

The diameter of the drive disc 124 is smaller than the diameter of the spreading disc 120, in particular the first holes 122 of the spreading disc 120 protrude beyond the peripheral edge of the drive disc 124.

The rotary shaft 230 is connected to drive means which can cause it to rotate about its own axis 121 in ways known per se to determine the distance between seeds distributed along the forward direction based on the forward speed of the agricultural machine 10.

In addition, the device 100 may include a selector device 140 comprising a substantially flat housing located between the first and second half-shells 102, 103 and partially overlapping the outer part of the spreading disk 120, in particular, overlapping the surface of the spreading disk 120 directed towards the first half-shell 102.

In addition, the selector device 140 is pivotally mounted on the casing with the ability to make small rotations about an axis essentially parallel to the plane of the flanges of the spreader device 100, and contains means for adjusting the position of the selector device 140 relative to the spreading disk 120, such as, for example, an eccentric pin (not shown ) placed in the corresponding slot. The selector device 140 includes a serrated edge 142 directed toward the inside of the chamber and located proximate the first openings 122 of the spreading disc 120. The serrated edge 142 can strike the seeds entrained in the spreading disc 120 such that a limited amount of seeds are entrained, as best described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pressure sensor 310 is further coupled to the distribution device 100, said pressure sensor being able to measure the pressure value within the chamber 110.

For the purposes of the present invention, any pressure sensor 310 that can measure the atmospheric pressure within the chamber can be used.

In particular, the pressure sensor 310 is placed in direct communication with the second compartment 112 of the chamber 110, i. with compartment 112 in direct fluid communication with pneumatic means.

For example, the sensor 310 may be placed on the wall 203 of the second half-shell 103, with the second half-shell 103 contributing to the formation of the second compartment 112, with the wall 203 overlapping the second compartment 112 from the outside.

Thus, the sensor 310 is located close to the volume where the original negative pressure problems occur. Additionally, the pressure sensor 310 is connected to the control unit 450, which receives a signal from the specified sensor 310, displaying the pressure value inside the chamber 110.

The processor program, for example, stored in the memory unit 460 connected to the control unit 450, can use the pressure values received from the sensor 310, according to the methods described below.

The control unit 450 is also connected to an optical and/or acoustic warning device 470 configured to be activated if the pressure value inside the chamber 110, measured by the pressure sensor 310, during operation of the distribution device 100 is greater than a predetermined threshold value P _th .

The proximity of the sensor 310 to the pneumatics, combined with the use of the warning device 470, allows the operator of the agricultural machine to be alerted as soon as there is a failure in the system providing negative pressure within the distributor chamber, thus preventing the operator from continuing with poor quality seeding.

In addition, the control unit 450 is configured to transmit the pressure values measured inside the chamber 110 by the pressure sensor 310 to the remote server 500. In particular, the pressure values are transmitted through a transmitter, not shown and known per se, connected to the control unit 450, while the transmitter receives the pressure values measured inside the chamber 110 by the pressure sensor 310 from the control unit 450 and sends them to the remote server 500.

This system allows a remote server 500 to monitor in real time the status of a plurality of distribution devices 100, intervening in the event of failures and/or managing scheduled maintenance of the various devices.

The operation of the dispenser 100 described above is as follows. During operation of the agricultural machine to which said distribution device 100 is associated, suction means create suction from chamber 110 through inlet 130.

Within chamber 110, negative pressure is transmitted from second compartment 112 to first compartment 111 through first openings 122.

The seeds contained in the tank enter the chamber 110 through the hopper 105, in particular, they are collected in the lower part of the first compartment 111 by gravity.

The negative pressure generated in the chamber 110 by pneumatic means causes the seeds to adhere to the spreading disc 120, in particular near the first holes 122, while they are carried away by it from the hopper 105 towards the outlet channel 106 (with a counterclockwise rotation relative to Fig. 2 ).

During the rotation of the spreading disk 120, the serrated edge 142 of the selector element 140 and the pins 125 of the drive disk 124 collide with the seeds carried along by the spreading disk 120 to cause the seeds adhering to the spreading disk 120 with weaker cohesion, i. seeds adhering near the first holes 122, but not on them. Thus, the number of seeds adhering to each first hole 122 is limited to one.

When the seed approaches the outlet channel 106, and in particular when the corresponding first opening 122 is located on the outlet channel 109, the negative pressure that allows this seed to stick to the surface of the spreading disc 120 ceases to act on the seed, while the seed falls under the influence of gravity. inside the outlet channel 106.

During all of the process steps described, the pressure sensor 310 transmits pressure data via a suitable transmitter to the control unit 450.

This data can be collected in the form of tables and/or graphs suitable for statistical analysis related to the scheduled maintenance of seeding devices.

In the case where the pressure value inside the chamber 110, measured by the pressure sensor 310, exceeds the predetermined threshold value P _th , a distributor malfunction occurs due to the fact that the negative pressure to be maintained during the operation of the seed distributor is not reached.

Thus, the seeding operation is interrupted.

It should be noted that in the case of distributors using pneumatic means to generate an increase in pressure in the chamber 110, according to an embodiment of the invention not shown for simplicity, the pressure sensor 310 can be placed on the first compartment 111 into which the chamber 110 is divided.

In this case, the optical and/or acoustic warning device 470 is activated if the pressure inside the chamber 110, measured by the pressure sensor 310, is below a predetermined threshold value P _th , and the seeding operation is interrupted, which is an indication of a malfunction in the system generating an increase in pressure in the chamber 110 .

Many other possible modifications and changes can be made to the present invention, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

Additionally, all parts can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the possible shapes and sizes, can be any according to the requirements without deviating from the scope of protection in the following claims.

Claims (11)

1. A device (100) for distributing material for an agricultural machine, and the device (100) for distributing includes: a chamber (110) having an inlet (105) and an outlet (106) for the material to be distributed; pneumatic means for generating pressure changes within the chamber (110); a rotary distributing element (120) placed in the chamber (110) and configured to receive material based on the pressure value inside the chamber (110) and transport it from the inlet (105) to the outlet (106) of the chamber (110), moreover, the rotary the distributing element (120) divides the chamber (110) into two compartments (111, 112) - the first (111) and the second (112); characterized in that said distribution device (100) comprises a pressure sensor (310) placed in direct communication with the second compartment (112) of said chamber (110) in direct fluid communication with pneumatic means, wherein said pressure sensor (310) is configured to measure the pressure value inside the chamber (110) and is connected to the control unit (450) configured to receive a signal from the specified sensor (310) that displays the pressure value inside the chamber (110), wherein the control unit (450) is connected to an optical and/or acoustic warning device (470) configured to be activated if the pressure value inside the chamber (110) measured by the pressure sensor (310) differs from a predetermined threshold value (P _th ) . 2. Device (100) according to claim 1, in which the first compartment (111) is in communication with the inlet (105) and outlet (106) of the chamber (110), while the second compartment (112) is in fluid communication pneumatic environment. 3. Device (100) according to claim 2, in which the pressure sensor (310) is located on the wall (203) overlapping the second compartment (112) from the outside. 4. Apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (450) is configured to transmit pressure values inside the chamber (110) measured by a pressure sensor (310) to a remote server (500). 5. The device (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that it contains a transmitter connected to the control unit (450) and configured to transmit pressure values inside the chamber (110) detected by the sensor (310) to a remote server (500 ). 6. Seeding machine containing the device (100) distribution of material according to any one of paragraphs. 1-5.

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