multi-crop variable rate application system and method for using a multi-crop variable rate applicat

专利摘要:
Summary "system for multi-crop variable ratio mixing and method for using a multi-crop variable ratio mixing system" a system for dosing multiple agricultural products at an independently prescribed rate for each in a mixture of Variable ratio of agricultural products from a single furrower in a plurality of such systems and furrowers along an applicator such as a drill. Bulk product storage compartments associated with the applicator provide multiple agricultural products to batch assemblies or assemblies throughout the applicator. the agricultural products are fed from the metering sets, and then into a corresponding single furrower having conduits for transporting the agricultural product into the soil. controllers independently regulate dosing by dosing assemblies. The flow redirector and distributor provide a mix of agricultural product combinations for each furrower according to a field prescription.
公开号:BR112015028559B1
申请号:R112015028559
申请日:2013-05-13
公开日:2019-12-03
发明作者:Joseph Schembri Charles；Mark Rosengren Colin；Blair Wilson Gordon；Sydney Ruff Robert
申请人:Clean Seed Agricultural Tech Ltd；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

“SYSTEM FOR THE APPLICATION OF VARIABLE RATE OF MULTIPLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND METHOD FOR USING A SYSTEM OF APPLICATION OF VARIABLE RATE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS” Technical field [001] This invention relates to similar seeds for agricultural machinery related having variable dosing systems useful in prescription agriculture, and in particular with a system for the application of variable rate of multiple agricultural products for supply via a furrow mechanism. A seeder such as an agricultural seeder combines the centralized supply of agricultural product including seeds and fertilizer with a high-resolution, individually controlled variable rate and variable ratio mixer, located from multiple agricultural products in each furrow in a side arrangement of sets dosers and corresponding furrowers, each furrow being fed from a multiplicity of dosing devices and corresponding hoppers for each dosing device. Prior art [002] Prescription agriculture is described in United States patent No. 6,122,581, which was issued on September 19, 2000, to McQuinn entitled “Multi-Variable Rate Dispensing System for Agricultural Machine” for agricultural machine]. As recorded by McQuinn, there is a need for a variable rate applicator system to control the supply of agricultural products, also referred to by McQuinn as plantation feeds, being dispensed from dispensing points along a spreading boom, planter, sower and various other applicator devices substantially transversely to their direction of travel so as to accurately and correctly dispense agricultural products individually from multiple dispensing points connected to the applicator machine as the machine traverses a desired product delivery area. McQuinn notes that significant changes in soil conditions, topographical features, and / or characteristics such as nutrient levels, soil compaction, drainage or other crop-qualifying production characteristics, have been found to occur even when within a few centimeters (feet). McQuinn simultaneously describes the prescription and quantity control of multiple agricultural products dispensed from multiple dispensing points connected to a variable rate product applicator in order to provide a multivariate rate dispensing system where a digital map is used to coordinate the system. The map is customized to apply agricultural products to a desired target area being crossed by the machine for independent application of crop feed prescription and differences in quantity requirements at individual dispensing point locations across the machine. A computerized control system is described which maintains a digital map of the location of various types of soil, topographic aspects, and / or characteristics such as nutrient levels, soil compaction, drainage or other characteristic of qualifying crop production in the field. treated, and is responsive to machine location devices such as GPS receivers to determine the location of the machine in the field, looking for characteristics of soil type, topographical aspects, and / or qualifying production of soil culture over which the machine is currently over based on its location, and simultaneously adjusting the prescription and amount of culture feed for each individual dispensing point in response to them.
[003] McQuinn describes the coordinated map system as allowing variable feed control in the horizontal plane from side to side, either by section control where multiple dispense points are grouped together, or through individual dispense point control. McQuinn notes that when used for planting or sowing applications, it may also be necessary to instruct different points on the machine to dispense different varieties of seeds and / or vary the rate of seeds to be dispensed from the machine in a transverse direction the direction of travel of the machine. McQuinn continues, noting that controlling these differences in varying supply rates is necessary when crop feeds are dispensed simultaneously from different dispensing points on the application machine, each providing a unique and distinct prescription and quantity of crop feeds in response to the computerized control system that maintains the digital soil map of the location of various types of soils, topographic aspects, and / or any characteristics of crop production in the field to be treated.
[004] McQuinn records that the application of any product to be dispensed is combined with the prescription and crop feed quantity requirements for the single field reference point for each respective dispensing point or group of dispensing points. McQuinn further states that the rate and prescription of culture feeds dispensed from each respective dispensing point is adjusted such that each culture feed is dispensed for a specific target area of predetermined conditions, all based on previously measured conditions and values to that certain target area. McQuinn describes that crop feeds are determined by the application machine operator and may include products such as herbicides, insecticides, fertilizer, and various chemicals, and may also include or be limited to seeds solely to accommodate farmer control. McQuinn describes the use of data processors to extract prescription and quantity data that has been programmed into a software database. McQuinn describes that database information also includes that which is specific to the applicator machine and includes the type and location of each dispensing point or group of dispensing points, providing examples of spray nozzles, spreading wheels, injection, and associated actuators. McQuinn notes that his multivariate rate dispensing system is adaptable for use with dry lance systems, or combinations of dry lance systems and wet lance systems, as well as planters, seeders, rotators, dump tubes, injectors, etc.
[005] The depositor is also aware of United States Patent No. 5,931,882, to Fick, which was issued on August 3, 1999, for a “Combination Grid Recipe and Depth Control System" grid depth.] Fick describes a multi-product application system, seed planting and control system for dispensing liquid or granular products in pre-selected quantities and planting seeds at predetermined depths and frequencies, where three or more separate products can be dispensed simultaneously and where the depth of planting of the seed can be varied. A grid recipe system defines the quantities of each type of product to be applied to specific areas of the field and / or which defines depths and frequencies of planting seeds for specific areas of the field GPS and recipe data are processed by a computer The recipe grid and / or depth / fre frequency is created by the farmer based on knowledge and personal experience. Fick describes that the products being dispensed can be fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fumigants, carriers, seeds or other similar materials that are applied in either liquid or granular form. He notes that the term recipe is intended to cover chemical recipes, dispensing fees, as well as depths and frequencies of seed planting, and that the control system uses GPS to provide the location of the product applicator.
[006] Fick describes that five separate product containers can contain five different types of products that can be applied simultaneously via a single distributor feed by feeding an in-line mixing device used to intensively mix the flow, from which the flow is directed outward by controlled valves to the booms and dispensing nozzles. Fick notes that the depth control unit can be driven mechanically, electrically or hydraulically.
Summary of the invention [007] In one aspect of the present invention quantity and ratios of seeds and fertilizer dispensed are controlled by a dosing system consisting of a side arrangement of groups each containing in the range of four to six or more individually controlled dosing devices, preferably dosing wheels and cup dispensers that are individually driven by electric motors. The motors are controlled by a group microcontroller processor that receives commands from a main controller processor for dispense fees. Each group controller has a specific identification, which allows the group controllers to be chained together through a communication network. The interconnected groups are managed by the main system controller that interprets user input commands, including field prescription files, for dosage rates and for any errors that may occur during normal operation. [008] In the preferred configuration the granular agricultural product to be dosed is supplied by a pneumatic system from a storage of bulk product in the agricultural seeder to the dosing wheels mounted in their corresponding cups within each group in the series of groups. Each metering wheel has its own drive motor and its own local hopper. Each local hopper can be fed with different granular products from the bulk product storage. The groups are mounted in an arrangement laterally along the agricultural seeder and granular product is fed from the dosing wheels through a series of tubes and distributors. Preferably each group has a single distributor and a single furrower. Each distributor feeds its corresponding furrower. The furrower contains conduits for transporting the agricultural product into the soil.
[009] Once the product reaches the local hoppers in each dosing group from the central product storage in the seeder, the main controller assesses the required product feed ratios and adjusts each of the four to six or more wheel motors per group for the appropriate speed to dispense up to the corresponding number of different products in the dispersion density according to a field prescription file, and the main controller also adjusts for turns made in the field by the agricultural seeder and for overlaps in the dispersion pattern of the sower in the field. This provides control of individual feed rate of each product at each outlet of each furrow, which allows complete control over seed / fertilizer ratios that are dispensed as combinations dictated by the distributor configuration and furrow flue configuration to maximize efficiency and reduce waste. The result increases crop yields at lower costs for the farmer while minimizing over-seeding.
[010] Agricultural products are dosed in the furrower for minimum delay during product movement times, which means less overlap and more precise application. That is, the current technology on the market has a delay in the supply time of 1 second to 4 seconds depending on the location in the agricultural seeder, and the length of the hose that the product has to pass to reach the furrow. Therefore, even with sectional control for shutdown, the overlap is necessary only to guarantee coverage. In the present invention the delay is consistent across the agricultural seeder and can then be precisely built into the dosage for exact control of on / off points and rates. Efficiency is increased by the use of road-to-field convertible auxiliary trailers to replenish the central bulk product storage tanks in operation at the agricultural seeder.
[011] Each metering wheel motor can be a pulse-controlled stepper motor sent to the corresponding pulse motor drivers using commands from the main controller and interpreted by the group controller. Each controller is responsible for managing the stepper motor speeds in its group to provide seed and fertilizer based on user input, location, prescription and speed.
[012] In one aspect the system according to the present invention includes a bulk product tank associated with an agricultural seeder where the bulk product tank has at least four bulk product compartments, an agricultural seeder having at least one arm, and conventionally two arms disposed opposing laterally, an arrangement of dosing groups mounted in an arrangement spaced laterally apart along the arms of the agricultural seeder, where the arrangement has a furrower density along the arm, that is, spacing between the groups to replicate, subject to machine restrictions, a lateral resolution of data points spaced laterally apart in a field prescription. Each metering group in the metering group arrangement includes at least four metering sets in order to provide a one-to-one correspondence between the at least four bulk product compartments of the bulk product tank and the at least four metering sets. Each group can include a selectively adjustable ground height actuator. A supply means such as a pneumatic feeder or other bulk product conveyor provides different agricultural products from each of the bulk product compartments in a one-to-one correspondence between a bulk product compartment and a corresponding dosing set of at least four dosing sets in each group.
[013] Each dosing set includes a local hopper communicating with the corresponding agricultural product to a selectively and individually actuating dosing dispenser, here also referred to as a dosing device. The dispenser dispenses the agricultural product at a selectively variable rate via selectively adjusting the flow redirection such as upper ducts to a distributor and via the distributor in a corresponding furrow. As used here the term distributor is intended to mean a flow control device in a chamber that controls and directs flows of agricultural products entering dividing chambers or compartments, where each compartment has at least one corresponding outlet flow outlet. The furrower has a plurality of ducts, referred to here as lower ducts, through it and corresponding furrow exits at a lower end of the furrow, through which the agricultural product is transported from the distributor, down through the plurality of lower ducts , and out through the plow exits. The agricultural product is thus supplied by the furrower into the soil in the field in a desired combination of products, at desired rates of supply and at a desired depth in the soil.
[014] Using data inputs from the user and inputs from the field prescription, and location inputs from a location device such as a GPS locator, and speed input from a speed sensor or device speed determiner, at least one processor in the agricultural seeder correlates the location of the agricultural seeder in the field with the field prescription and communicates individual dosing instructions to each of the dosing dispensers in each of the groups in order to dispense for each corresponding furrower uniquely regulated combination of agricultural products and in order to provide a supply rate to achieve a desired supply rate, and therefore product dispersion density of each combination according to the field prescription for the particular location in the field.
[015] In the preferred configuration, which is not intended to be limiting, the product is a granular product. Consequently, each dosing dispenser in the preferred configuration advantageously includes a dosing cylinder rotatably mounted within a metering cup to form a dispensing wedge for dispensing particularized product to the dispenser. This precise dosage form of granulated agricultural product is, however, not intended to be limiting, since someone skilled in the art would appreciate that other forms of accurate metering devices, now known or as will be developed in the future, would also work in place of using a arrangement of dosing cylinder and cup. The distributor has a plurality of distributor compartments corresponding in number to the number of lower ducts in the corresponding furrow.
[016] Advantageously, each of the flow redirectors operating between the metering devices and the dispenser compartments is selectively targetable into any of the dispenser compartments in order to make it possible to combine the products only from the metering sets into any one of the lower ducts in the furrow. For example, flow redirectors can be flexible hoses. The lower ends of the hoses are adjacent to the dispenser compartments and are selectively positioned over a desired dispenser compartment. Other forms of a desired flow redirector, whether flexible or not, or hoses or not, would also work. For example, flow redirectors can be rigid rails, one for each metering device, each trough having an actuating door, or gate, or slide, or shutter for each dispenser compartment.
[017] The number of doors, gates, sliders, shutters, etc. actuators would correspond to the number of ducts / exits in the furrower being fed. The number of gutters, which can also be ducts, channels, tubes, ducts, etc., is equal to the number of metering devices. In the present invention, the number of metering devices exceeds the number of ducts / exits available in the corresponding furrow, thus providing the opportunity to adjust, and optimize according to the field prescription, what is being provided from the furrow in any particular location from Camp.
[018] The reference here to adjustable flow redirectors is intended to include flow redirecting mechanisms of any kind, whether conduits, etc., or not, in order to include for example the case where the metering device itself, for example the position of the particularizing wedge or the orientation of the wheel cup, either angularly or otherwise adjusted or repositioned such that the outflow from the wedge specifically in the wheel cup is generally selectively varied to direct the outflow to a particular compartment of distributor feeding a corresponding duct in the furrower.
[019] The reference here to the use of local hoppers for each device or metering set is not intended to be limited to hoppers per se, but can be any kind of container or reservoir suitable for the product being metered in order to provide accurate dosing. of the product by the dosing device with the dosing assembly. In addition, the local hopper does not necessarily need to be physically mounted on a metering device since it can be close to or adjacent to the metering device and feed the metering device via its own conduit in the event that the size or shape of the group requires it. In addition, the local hopper arrangements and dosing devices can be arranged to provide a narrow, narrow group in order to occupy only a small distance along the agricultural seeder arm on which the groups are mounted in order to increase the number of furrowers on the arm and therefore increase the resolution of the product supply.
[020] Additionally, the reference here to the use of groups mounted along each arm in the furrower is not intended to be limiting. In particular, it is not intended that reference to a group is necessarily to indicate an independent, separate accommodation, such that there must be a series of such accommodations mounted along the agricultural seeder arm. It may be that as the required furrow density increases, that is, the number of furrowers per length of agricultural seeder arm increases, that the housings for each grouping of metering devices per furrow combine in a single or segmented housing, each one having a number of batches of metering sets within. Consequently, it may be that a group is simply a reference to the grouping of metering sets feeding a furrow, whether or not there is a separate housing on each such grouping.
[021] In the preferred configuration each of the furrowers has at least three lower ducts, and each of the groups has at least four metering sets. A set of flow recirectors and a distributor cooperate between each group and each cooperates between each group and each furrow. The associated bulk product storage tank has at least four bulk product storage compartments. In such an apparatus the field prescription has at least four layers of data.
[022] The system according to an additional aspect of the present invention may additionally include at least one auxiliary road-to-field convertible trailer. The auxiliary trailer is reliably mounted to, for towing behind the agricultural seeder for use in the field and for towing behind a towing vehicle for use on the road. The auxiliary trailer includes a plurality of bulk product transport compartments equal in number to, or exceeding in number, the number of bulk product compartments in the bulk product storage tank. The auxiliary trailer additionally includes a product transfer medium, such as a second pneumatic seeder, for transferring product from the transport compartments in the auxiliary trailer to the bulk product storage compartments, to fill the bulk product storage compartments a from the corresponding transport compartments, for example in operation while the agricultural seeder is in forward translation.
[023] In one configuration the auxiliary trailer has wheels for use on the road at the first end of the trailer and wheels for use in the field at a second opposite end of the trailer, and for use in the field, the first end of the trailer it is connected to the agricultural seeder for towing the trailer, while the road use wheels are mounted on the trailer so that they lift out of contact with the field during field use of the trailer, and for use on the road , the second end of the trailer is connected to the towing vehicle to tow the trailer, and the wheels for use in the field are mounted on the trailer so that they are lifted out of contact with the road during road use of the trailer.
[024] The number of bulk product storage compartments in the agricultural seeder's bulk product storage tank depends on the number of metering sets per group. If, for example, as illustrated here there are six metering sets per group then there are at least six bulk product storage compartments or containers.
[025] A method for optimizing the use of a field for crop development may include: a) providing an apparatus as described above for the optimized supply of the agricultural product based on location, speed, soil factor variables, and characteristics of the agricultural product, b) provide: (i) an agricultural seed seeder that is translatable in at least one forward direction in order to follow an optimized path over the field, (ii) a location determining device such as a locator GPS to receive and send location information to the agricultural seeder, (iii) bulk product storage compartments associated with the agricultural seed seeder, and a selectively controlled bulk product feeder system cooperating with the product storage compartments a bulk, the feeder system providing agricultural product from the storage compartments of agricultural products ranel for each dosing set in a two-way correspondence, c) store the unique agricultural products separately in the bulk product storage compartments such that a single type of agricultural product is stored in a single corresponding bulk product storage compartment, where agricultural products are chosen from the group, including: (i) seed varieties (ii) fertilizing compounds (iii) herbicidal compounds (iv) inoculants (v) insecticides (d) feeding agricultural products from the storage compartments of bulk products for the corresponding dosing sets, e) to provide upper ducts cooperating between the dosing devices and the distributor, and to adjust the supply of the upper ducts in order to particularize a combination of products to supply to the ducts in the furrow, f) to provide in each dosing set: a local hopper and a corresponding metering device r selectively independently controlled, provide a flow redirector for each metering device to redirect the flow into a distributor, and a corresponding groove to receive the flow from the distributor, and arrange a series of groups, each containing a plurality of dosing assemblies, in an arrangement spaced laterally along each arm of the agricultural seed seeder so as to provide lateral resolution substantially in the range of 30.48-60.96 cm (1-2 feet) between adjacent furrowers, g) within the processor: (i) receive location information, (ii) receive soil factor information for the field from the prescription file, and the soil factor information for the field includes information that is mapped to the field and chosen from the group comprising: (i) soil elevation (ii) soil moisture content (iii) soil porosity (iv) soil pH level (v) nitr level ogen (vi) potassium level (vii) sulfur level (viii) phosphorus level (ix) soil hardness / texture (x) desired seeding depth (xi) electrical conductivity (xii) organic soil (xiii) apparent density (iii) correlate the location information with corresponding soil factor information for the field, (iv) determine optimized dosing instructions from the soil factor information corresponding to the location information, (h) communicate the location instructions dosing for the plurality of selectively controllable metering sets, (i) receiving feedback on the processor from the plurality of selectively controllable metering sets, (j) displaying status information to a user in the vehicle, (k) independently activating the metering sets so to selectively dose the agricultural product from the local hoppers according to the dosing instructions from the processor so to provide optimized agricultural product combinations for each furrower according to the field prescription, (l) actively monitor and update local information on the processor and actively update the corresponding soil factor information according to the prescription and update accordingly. optimized dosing instructions, and communicating updated dosing instructions in order to modify the selective dosing of the agricultural product according to the field prescription corresponding to the new location in the field, (m) providing feedback from the plurality of selectively controllable dosing sets , (n) update the status information for the user.
[026] In one configuration the auxiliary trailer has wheels for use on the road at a first end of the trailer and wheels for use in the field at a second opposite end of the trailer, and for use in the field, the first end of the trailer it is connected to the agricultural seeder for towing the trailer, and the wheels for road use are mounted on the trailer in order to lift out of contact with the field during field use of the trailer, and, for use in road, the second end of the trailer is connected to the towing vehicle for towing the trailer, and the wheels for use in the field are mounted on the trailer so that they are raised out of contact with the road during road use of the trailer.
Brief description of the drawings [027] In the present specification where equal reference numerals denote corresponding parts in each view: [028] Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a prior art furrower;
[029] Figure 2 is, in plan view, the furrow of the prior art of figure 1;
[030] Figure 3 is a partially cut-away rear perspective view of a metering group from an arrangement of metering groups mounted on an agricultural seeder, with group housing, housing support structure, side structure, and wheels of contact with the ground and closure and their supporting structures were removed from view;
[031] Figure 4 is, in left rear perspective view, a whole group set with the hoses removed or partially cut out;
[032] Figure 5 is a perspective view from the side of the group of figure 3 with the support arm shown and with the wheel in contact with the ground and a closing wheel also shown;
[033] Figure 6 is a bottom side perspective view of the group in Figure 5 with the seed metering set housing shown partially detached;
[034] Figure 7 is, in a top lateral view, the group of figure 6;
[035] Figure 7a is a partially exploded enlarged view of the dispenser, dosing assemblies, flow redirectors of figure 7;
[036] Figure 7b is a top perspective view, partially exploded and cropped, side, of the dispenser, flow redirector and dosing sets of figure 7a seen from the opposite side;
[037] Figure 7c is the view of figure 7b with the hose support shown, actuated laterally along the corresponding slot mounting bracket;
[038] Figure 7d is an additional partially cropped view of the group in Figure 7 to show the metering, flow redirector, distributor, and furrow assemblies; [039] Figure 7e is the view of figure 7b showing an alternative configuration of flow redirector actuators;
[040] Figure 8 is an additionally enlarged view of the dosing sets of Figure 7b with two of the dosing sets removed;
[041] Figure 9 is, in an enlarged view, additionally cut out, in rear perspective, the dosing sets of figure 7d with three of the dosing set cups removed and the cylinders removed or detached;
[042] Figure 10 is, in side view, half of a measuring cup from one of the measuring sets in Figure 9;
[043] Figure 11 is a sectional view through a dosing device of the prior art;
[044] Figure 12 is, in perspective view, six metering sets mounted on a mounting bracket that also supports the stepper motor controller for the metering set stepper motors;
[045] Figure 13 is the group of figure 5 from a top perspective view looking down into the hoppers located in each dosing set, with a hopper located partially cut out;
[046] Figure 14 is in rear perspective view, an agricultural seeder carrying an arrangement spaced laterally from groups being towed by a tractor over a field;
[047] Figure 15 is a high level logic flow diagram of the control logic of the agricultural seeder control system;
[048] Figure 16 is, in plan view, the agricultural seeder and tractor in Figure 14, crossing a field and showing characteristic lines of the contour field for the field;
[049] Figure 17 is, in plan view, an auxiliary trailer convertible from road to field;
[050] Figure 18 is, in plan view, the trailer of Figure 17 being towed by a truck;
[051] Figure 19 is, in side elevation view, the truck and trailer of figure 18;
[052] Figure 20 is, in plan view, the tractor and agricultural seeder of figure 16 shown starting the seeding and fertilization operations in a field where two of the trailers in figure 17 are prepositioned;
[053] Figure 21 is the view of figure 20 showing the trajectory initially taken by the tractor and agricultural seeder in order to sow and fertilize the field;
[054] Figure 22 is the field in Figure 21 where the tractor and agricultural seeder stopped to engage the first pre-positioned auxiliary trailer;
[055] Figure 23 is the field in figure 22 where an empty auxiliary trailer is being removed from the field and the tractor and agricultural seeder stopped to engage the second pre-positioned auxiliary trailer; and [056] Figure 24 is a Device Dosing Output Mapping Chart for Plow.
Detailed description of preferred configurations [057] One of the objectives of prescription agriculture is of course to increase crop yields. In view of the very large size of many farms, it is also important for those farmers to be productive and efficient while operating their agricultural seed planters according to a particular field prescription. Therefore, in order to obtain increased yield using prescription farming methods such as described above by McQuinn, and as described above as a method of use, in conjunction with the various aspects of the present invention, a farmer does not wish to be less efficient or otherwise. disadvantaged by the increased complexity of operating the agricultural seed seeder. Farmers currently struggle to load many products into the field and also to position the truck, and to position the conveyor, fill and clean the truck and conveyor, and repeat for each product, which typically takes a long time.
[058] Optimizing crop yields using agricultural prescription methods not only depends on an accurate prescription for a particular field but also depends on whether that prescription is actually obtained from the soil by the agricultural seed sower. Therefore, an objective is as closely as possible to reproduce the prescription resolution accurately and without a reduction in efficiency. The efficiency of the operation of the agricultural seed sowing machine is increased by reducing the downtime for replenishing hoppers containing agricultural products including the components: seeds and fertilizer. In the prior art, accuracy is lost by delays in product travel through long hoses, and loss of accuracy by random distribution of the product flow distributor.
[059] Therefore, in the agricultural seed seeder according to one aspect of the present invention, and for use with both granular and liquid agricultural products, high resolution, precision and flexibility to combine agricultural products from a multiplicity of such products loaded in independent local hoppers in each group are obtained using individual dosage control from each local hopper that feeds corresponding individual furrowers via a selectively configurable distributor system in a high resolution side furrow arrangement in the agricultural seed seeder. Small individual local hoppers feed corresponding dosing devices; one local hopper per metering device. Each dosing device is selectively controlled, and dosed individually to provide individual application of the field prescription for each furrower. That is, the agricultural product is dosed locally and individually for each group furrow in the group arrangement in a unique combination of agricultural products according to the field prescription, and where a centralized multiplicity of bulk product deposits or storage components bulk products that move with the agricultural seed seeder are used to maintain the multiplicity of small individual hoppers in each group supplied with agricultural product in a one-to-one correspondence between a bulk product storage compartment and a corresponding local hopper.
[060] In a system configuration auxiliary trailers for use convertible from road to field, that is, auxiliary trailers that are adapted for use both on the road and in the field, are provided to transport the multiplicity of agricultural products in bulk from silos of typically located centrally for the particular field being worked by the agricultural seed seeder. The auxiliary trailer is towed by the agricultural seed drill to replenish the bulk product storage compartments associated with the agricultural seed drill in operation. In this way, the downtime for replenishing deposits of central bulk products or tanks associated with the agricultural seed seeder is minimized for that time required to engage and detach the auxiliary trailer of the agricultural seed seeder before and following the refueling in operation. A design of such an auxiliary trailer is discussed below with no intention of being limiting.
[061] So, in what follows the description of preferred configurations, which again is not intended to be limiting, it starts with a description of an improved design of agricultural seed seeder at the plow level, and from there describing the system following the flow path of agricultural product in reverse of the furrow to its corresponding distributor, and to the corresponding dosing sets within each group, and from there describing the centralized bulk product distribution distribution system, and from there describing the refueling in operation of centralized bulk product storage compartments using auxiliary trailers for use convertible from road to field.
Groove [062] Although several multi-hole grooves can work, in a preferred configuration the groove used is the one described in United States Patent No. 6,302,040, which was issued to Lempriere on October 16, 2001, for “In- line Sub-surface Seeding, Fertilizing and Watering Device "(the Lempriere '040 in-line seed, fertilizer and watering device). Such a furrow is provided by Clean Seed Agricultural Products Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada as the furrow Mark VII In permitting jurisdiction, the Lempriere '040 patent is incorporated herein by reference. The Lempriere' 040 patent describes the furrow as a sowing device, fertilizer and subsurface waterer including a furrow blade having first and second sides extending between a guide edge and a guided edge. The grooving blade has an upper surface and a lower surface extending between edges s uperior and inferior respectively of the first and second sides of the blade. First and second wings are mounted on the first and second sides respectively in relation to each other generally disposed so as to be swayed out from them. The first and second wings extend between the first and second front wings and the first and second post furrow openings. Seed, fertilizer or water is dispensed through the wing openings. Oppositely arranged, rigid canards for agitation of subsurface soil are mounted on the first and second sides, so as to extend outwardly from them. Canards can be mounted between the guide edge of the blade and the first and second edges of the front wings.
[063] Figure 1 is an illustration of a ridger from the Lempriere ‘040 patent.
[064] Groove 10 has a top surface with holes 12 over the top of a generally flat blade structure 14. Blade structure 14 has a trunk 16 generally hanging vertically below the surface 12. A foot structure 18 is formed as part of the lower end of the trunk 16. The outer surface of the trunk 16 smoothly combines with the lower surface 20. Wings 22 and 24 extend laterally out of the trunk 16.
[065] Holes 26, 28 and 30, best seen in figure 2, which is also from the '040 of Lempriere patent, are formed on the upper surface 12 and cooperatively align with corresponding channels that extend downwards, generally parallel to each other , through the trunk 16. The channel corresponding to the orifice 26 extends downwardly from the foot structure 18 and exits behind the furrow 10 via the outlet orifice 26a. The channel corresponding to the intermediate hole 28, leaves the wing 22 via the exit hole 28a. The channel corresponding to the rear orifice 30 leaves wing 24 via outlet orifice 30a. Therefore, the outlet holes 28a and 30a are usually directed slightly opposite to each other, and opened from within their respective wings 22 and 24. The foot 32, which may be of hardened material, extends at a point or muzzle 32a that is facing forward in the forward translation direction A when the blade plow 10 is translated into use in the agricultural seed seeder as best described below. A pair of opposing canards 34 are formed as part of, or are mounted on, the foot structure 18, and in particular foot 32 so as to project laterally out of the side surfaces of the foot 32. The canards 34 serve to agitate the subsurface soil through which the blade plow 10 is passing in direction A. Mounting blocks 36 are mounted on or are formed as part of the surface 12. A post-ear 38 is shown added to the original Mark VII plow as seen in the figures described below, for mounting adjacent to the blade depth control actuator 86.
Distributor [066] Now moving further upstream along the flow path of agricultural product, as seen in figure 3, which is a partially cropped view of group 40 seen in figure 4, tubes 26b, 28b and 30b are assembled in holes 26, 28 and 30 respectively. Hoses 26c, 28c and 30c shown partially cut out in figure 5, are mounted on tubes 26b, 28b, and 30b, respectively. The dispenser 42, as seen in figure 7a, includes three elongated chambers, compartments or funnels 44, 46 and 48 having corresponding lower nozzles 44a, 46a, and 48a. The hose 26c is connected to the nozzle 44a such that the intermediate funnel 44 provides agricultural product that leaves the furrow 10 via the intermediate outlet orifice 26a. The hose 28c is connected to the nozzle 46a such that agricultural product flowing through the funnel 46 leaves the furrow 10 from the left outlet hole 28a, and the hose 30c is connected to the nozzle 48a such that agricultural product drains through the funnel 48 leaves the groove 10 from starboard or straight exit hole 30a. The dispenser 42 can be a single unit funnel divided by partition walls 42a to form funnels 44, 46, and 48. The dispenser 42 can also be a collection of individual chambers, compartments or funnels.
[067] The dispenser 42 is mounted inside the dispenser housing 50, which itself is mounted under the dosing housing 52, although, as shown, the housings 50 and 52 can be formed as a unitary housing. The distributor housing 50 and doser housing 52 are mounted on the frame 54, and in particular on horizontal frame arms U-shaped 54a and 54b respectively.
Flow redirector [068] Within distributor housing 50, distributor 42 is supported by mounting bracket 56, best seen in figure 7a. The mounting bracket 56 forms a suspended structure over the openings within the distributor 42, and in particular over the openings in the parallel, adjacent, elongated funnel openings of the funnels 44, 46 and 48. The mounting bracket 56 has a pair of walls sides 56a which sandwich the distributor 42 between them and which mount in the housing 50. Cross members 56b extend laterally along the top of the support 56 in order to define between them an arrangement of elongated slits spaced longitudinally to the parallel part 56c. In the illustrated configuration, which is not intended to be limiting, mounting bracket 56 has six parallel slots 56c within which six selectively laterally adjustable hose holders 58 are mounted.
[069] Hose holders 58 can be adjusted laterally in direction B through slots 56c. Adjusting the position of the hose supports 58 laterally allows for the selective alignment of corresponding flexible hoses 60, one of which is shown in a dotted outline in figure 7a, in order to selectively supply from any one or combination of the six dosing sets 64 agricultural product into one of the three funnels 44, 46 and 48. Although only a flexible hose 60 is shown, in a dotted outline, in figure 7a it is understood that each of the six slots 56c would have its corresponding hose support 58 and corresponding hose 60.
[070] Each hose support 58 has an upper plate 58a and a lower plate 58b which sandwich between the edges of a corresponding pair of adjacent cross members 56b. A series of six cable loops 56d inside cable sleeves 56e, only one of which is shown in the two configurations of figures 7c and 7e, to selectively move the six hose supports 58 in direction B, provide the individual positioning of the cable supports. hose 58 in its desired position laterally along its corresponding slits 56c. There is only one cable loop 56d for each hose holder 58. Each cable loop 56d is contained, in order to slide inside, of its own sleeve 56e that extends between the hose position actuators 57 mounted on the sliding frame 59 and mounting bracket wall mounts 61. wall mounts 61 mount at opposite edges 56f of mounting bracket 56 and guide cables 56d through opposite pairs of openings 56g aligned with each slot 56c. The cable loops 56d are each mounted on their corresponding hose support 58, such that the actuator levers 57a are, in the configuration of figure 7c, slid in direction C along their corresponding slots 59a in the sliding frame 59, that is rotated in the C 'direction in the configuration of figure 7e, the hose supports 58 slide correspondingly along the slits 56c. Therefore, by positioning, ie, sliding or rotating the actuator levers 57a, a user such as a farmer can select the combination of which hose or hoses is feeding product into which hopper 44, 46, or 48 in the distributor 42. Thus a farmer can easily convert from a combination of agricultural products (seed, fertilizer, etc.) to another combination of agricultural products which, according to the crop yield-optimizing field prescription, must be routed differently and / or in order to provide different quantities between the outlet holes in the plow 10.
[071] In a configuration (not shown), which is not intended to be limiting, the bottom plates 58b are resiliently forced upward by springs (not shown) in order to be forced against the undersides of the cross members 56b.
[072] In an additional configuration, remotely controllable actuators (not shown) can be provided to remotely control the position of the hose supports 58. The actuators can, for example, actuate the hose supports 58 directly or can for example act the loops cable cable 56d. The actuators can be controlled by programmable logic controllers governed by a main processor implementing field prescription for a particular field.
Dosing [073] Six individual dosing sets 65 are rigidly mounted, closely adjacent to each other, within the dosing housing 52. The use of six dosing sets, fed from six local hoppers, and fed by six corresponding hoses inside the dispenser 42, is provided by way of example, since four or more dosing sets / local hoppers / hoses within the distributor would also work. Again, the goal is to try to match the number of prescription variables. The dispenser housing 52 can be separated from the dispenser housing 50, or it can, as illustrated, be a single unit housing. Each measuring set 64 has its own corresponding input 64a and output 64b. Measuring sets 64 are mounted in a staggered order along a vertically centrally mounted mounting plate 70, best seen in figure 9, with two metering sets 64 having been removed and the view partially exploded in order to expose plate 70 , and the cups or wheel housings 66 are shown removed from three of the metering sets 64. Each metering set 64 includes its own stepper motor 68. The stepper motors 68 are mounted side by side along the mounting plate 70 Because in the illustrated configuration there are six metering sets 64, the mounting plate 70 has a horizontal arrangement of holes 70a corresponding to the six stepper motors 68. Drive shafts of stepper motors 68a extend laterally from stepper motors 68, and alternatively extend to starboard (right) and hole (left) in relation to mounting plate 70. Stepper motors 68 can be, for example, manufactured by OSM Technology Company Ltd. (Part No. 17HS13-040S-PG19-C), located in Ningbo, China. 68 stepper motors are NEMA 17 frame size, each with a 19: 1, 28mm planetary gearhead. The metering sets 64 are mounted in a staggered arrangement on the left and right along the mounting plate 70 within the metering housing 52.
[074] Cylinders 72 (one of which is shown partially highlighted in figure 9) can be, for example, polyurethane foam cylinders. Cylinders 72 are mounted sandwiched between discs 74. Cylinders 72 are held in place by spokes 74a for simultaneous rotation in the D direction on rotation axes E on drive axes 68a. The drive shafts 68a drive the rotation of discs 74 and cylinders 72 in the D direction over the geometric axes E. [075] Each pair of discs 74 and cylinder 72 held between them, is mounted inside the cylinder cup 66a of the housing dosing wheel 66. Half of a dosing wheel housing 66 is shown in figure 10. The other half of the dosing wheel housing 66 is a spectral image of it and is mounted to it in opposite facing relationship in order to close the discs 74 and a cylinder 72 within a cylinder cup 66a.
[076] In jurisdictions allowing incorporation by reference, United States Patent No. 6,598,548, which was issued on July 29, 2003, to Lempriere for a “Seed Metering Device” is incorporated here by reference United States Patent No. 6,598,548 (Lempriere's' 548 patent) describes a seed metering device that includes a cylinder wedge for mounting under a seed reservoir The wedge is formed between a radially external surface of a soft resilient cylinder and a corresponding curved, elongated interior surface of a cylinder cup wall to form a wedge-shaped wedge. The rotation of the cylinder by the cylinder drive, in the present configuration provided by a stepper motor 68 and drive shaft 68a, extract granular agricultural product such as seeds down through and along the wedge by the frictional contact of the large agricultural product the wedge with the surface of the resilient cylinder. The long, thin wedge-shaped wedge between the cylinder and the cup wall provides increased swelling time for the seeds being compressed in the wedge to provide precise singularization of the granular product being dosed. A figure from Lempriere's' 548 patent is reproduced here as figure 11 in order to illustrate the geometry of the seed metering device used in the present metering device configuration. The use of this form of metering device is not intended to be limiting since other precise metering devices would also work as would be known to someone skilled in the art.
[077] As seen in Figure 11, where the same reference numerals used in the present specification have been transposed into prior art design from Lempriere's' 548 patent, cylinder cup 66a has a lower wall or rigid control surface 66b and an upper wall generally disposed opposite 66c. The cylinder 72 may be soft resilient polyurethane foam, for example made from 40 lb. expanded foam No. 3, although this is not intended to be limiting. The outer surface 72a of cylinder 72 may be smooth as illustrated or staggered or otherwise textured. Granular agricultural products such as seeds 76, are kept in a hopper located 78, which in the configuration illustrated as best described below have a different appearance to that shown in figure 11 but which serve the same purpose; nominally to retain a small reservoir of granulated agricultural product such as seed 76 directly above the opening 80a in the elongated thin wedge-shaped die 80. The granulated agricultural product, having been singled out by the wedge 80, falls into the discharge chute 66d so leaving via exit 64b.
[078] As seen in figure 10, a flat top shelf 66e provides a mounting surface for housing 66. As seen in figure 12, shelf 66e mounts on the upper surface 82a of mounting bracket 82 on which the hoppers are mounted. locations 78. The upper surface 82a of the mounting bracket 82 has openings 82b which are aligned over the intake openings 66f of each dosing wheel housing 66. That is, with a corresponding local hopper 78 mounted over opening 82b, granulated agricultural product stored inside the hopper 78 falls through the opening 82b and into the intake opening 66f so as to thereby feed into the die opening 80a. So as the corresponding stepper motor 68 rotates cylinder 72 in direction D according to its specific dosing instruction received from the control system implementing the prescription for a particular field as described below, the granulated agricultural product stored locally in the corresponding hopper site 78 is extracted into and along the die 80 in order to be singularized and precisely dosed via outlet 64b. The dosed granulated agricultural product therefore flows through the corresponding hose 60 and into the desired funnel 44, 46, or 48 of the distributor 42 according to the configuration of the flow redirection that positions the corresponding hose support 58 on the mounting bracket 56 The granulated agricultural product then flows into the furrow 10 in order to exit from the desired furrow outlet hole.
[079] Therefore it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that depending on the configuration of the flow redirectors, that is, in the illustrated configuration, the lateral placement of the hose supports 58 for the six hoses 60 corresponding to the six dosing sets 64, and depending on which granulated agricultural product is stored in a particular local hopper 78 (fed from a corresponding bulk product storage compartment associated with the agricultural seed seeder), a wide variety of combinations of agricultural products and quantities that can be can be supplied by combining certain agricultural products in more than one local hopper for simultaneous feeding into a desired orifice in the furrower 10. Therefore, the operator and / or processor (for example in the configuration providing remote action of the flow redirector) can vary rates of flow, concentrations, combinations, and qu age of agricultural products to any of the three outlet holes 26a, 28a, or 30a in the plow 10 in order to better meet the field prescription.
[080] As seen in the partially cropped view of figure 13, each local hopper 78 includes a lower cup 78a, a screen 78b that covers the upper opening into cup 78a, and an upper cup 78c that holds the screen 78b over the lower cup 78a. A cylindrical spike 78d is supported vertically and centrally in the lower cup 78a by the upper cup 78c. An opening 78e on the lower surface of the lower cup 78a aligns over both the opening 82b in the mounting bracket 72 and the inlet 66f of the corresponding metering wheel housing 66.
[081] Mounting bracket 82 and controller 84, which controls the operation of stepper motors 68, are mounted on cross members 54c on frame arm 54b.
Hypothetical example [082] In a hypothetical example that is provided without pretending to be limiting, the furrower has three ducts, there are six metering devices in a group, and there are six corresponding bulk product storage compartments, two of which are storage compartments bulk products are feeding two different types of seeds to the local hoppers for two of the metering devices, a third bulk product storage compartment has a herbicide for the third metering device, and the remaining three bulk storage compartments they have the components that together make up the desired fertilizer, for example, Nitrogen (N) in one, Phosphorus (P) in the other, and Potassium (K) in the last to feed the fourth, fifth and sixth metering devices respectively.
[083] For a particular area of the field, in this example the prescription calls for 70-30-30 (N, P, K) kg / ha, which means a rate of supplying fertilizer from a particular group equivalent to supplying 0.428 46-0-0 kg from the fourth metering device (N), 0.173 kg from 11-520-0 from the fifth metering device (P), and 0.145 from 00-62 from the sixth metering device (K) to create the mixture requested by the prescription for that location in the field. In this example if the prescription is constant for 100 m of travel for that group, and the agricultural seeder is traveling at 8 km / h, then, given the densities of 0.785 g / cm3 (N) and 0.945 g / cm3 (P and K), the fourth, fifth and sixth metering devices would supply approximately 12 cm3 / s, 4 cm3 / s, and 3.4 cm3 / s respectively.
[084] The N, P, K metering devices feed the fertilizer line into the furrow, that is, feed the furrow line one designated for supplying fertilizer from the three available furrow lines. The corresponding three stepper motors would be activated to provide flow rates of 12 cm3 / s, 4 cm3 / s and 3.4 cm3 / s of N, P, and K. The flow redirector would be configured such that the three metering devices dosing the mixture of the fertilizer components and feeding the fertilizer components in the flue one designated in the furrower in order to achieve the supply density of 70-30-30 kg / ha for that location. It will therefore be appreciated how the required supply density accuracy can be achieved, using the desired mixture, and varied across the field in operation to meet the supply resolution required by the field prescription.
[085] As the fertilizer prescription changes across the field or along the length of the agricultural seeder arms to any particular location in the field, flow rates are adjusted by changing the engine speed to provide other required concentrations of N, P and K.
[086] If it is desired that the herbicide is also supplied through the designated fertilizer furrow flue, then the flow redirector is reconfigured to direct the flow from the dosing device regulating the flow of herbicide into the furrow flue designated for the fertilizer.
[087] The seeding can be applied in a density according to the prescription by configuring the flow redirector to direct the regulated flow (s) of seeds through the second furrow channel. In this example, water can then be channeled through the third furrow channel.
[088] In order to fully adjust the redirection of each of the metering devices to each of the grooving ducts, that is, the ability to combine any one or more of the bulk product storage compartments and corresponding metering devices with any one. of the furrower ducts, each of the dosing devices must be adjustable in order to supply its agricultural product to any of the three furrow ducts. The available mapping permutations are configured in the Duct Mapping Chart for Dosing Device to Grooving (or Grooving Output) of figure 24. Two configurations to perform the necessary flow redirection are illustrated in the figures.
[089] Although not intended to be limiting in the illustrated configuration, each furrow channel has a corresponding distributor funnel having an elongated top opening within the funnel The top opening of each funnel can be described as elongated in a first direction. The three elongated openings of the three funnels corresponding to the three furrower ducts are positioned side by side such that their three elongated openings are parallel and closely adjacent to each other.
[090] Each dosing set doses agricultural product from its corresponding bulk product storage compartment into a flexible hose downstream of the corresponding dosing device. The free end, ie the downstream end of the hose, is positioned in one of three positions over one of the three funnel openings. The positioning of the free end of the hose can be described as positioning in a second direction. Therefore, in the illustrated examples, the first directions are substantially perpendicular to each other and are generally on horizontal planes.
[091] The six hoses of the six metering devices are mounted over the length of the hopper openings side by side such that the free end of each hose can be positioned, independently of the other hoses, over any of the three funnel openings. This is done by having the hoses mounted over the funnel openings with the free ends of the hoses moving parallel to each other in order to move laterally, that is, in the second direction, over the three funnel openings. The free ends can be positioned manually by the user, for example when defining the configuration required to meet a particular prescription, or the free ends of the hoses can be positioned using actuators, which can be controlled remotely, and in a configuration (not shown) they can be controlled by a programmable logic controller or another processor, for example according to instructions from the system's main controller. Two types of actuators for positioning the free ends are illustrated, which are not intended to be limiting.
[092] Someone skilled in the art will recognize that the outflow from each metering device can be directed into any of the furrower ducts by a variety of methods, for example within a distributor, and / or for example by by means of controlled doors and / or gutters, or the use of pivoting, rigid ramps or other flow redirectors to independently switch all outgoing flows from the metering device between any of the furrow ducts at the top end of the furrow.
Cart structure [093] Depth control actuator 86 is pivotally mounted at its lower end at ear 38, and is pivotally mounted at its top end on the wheel support structure 88 for the wheel following terrain 90. Although actuator 86 as illustrated to be shown to be manually operable, someone skilled in the art will appreciate that a remotely controlled actuator eg hydraulic, electric, pneumatic, or other actuator can be employed. Therefore, if the depth control actuator 86 is, for example, a hydraulic actuator, the control system that regulates the compliance of the granulated agricultural product dosage according to the field prescription, can also automatically regulate the depth of the plow 10 and thus the depth of sowing or placement of fertilizer in a particular area of the field to which the prescription applies.
[094] As best seen in figures 3 and 4, the tool bar clamp 92, which is mounted on the tool bar of the agricultural seed seeder 108 (see figure 14), provides rigid support for upper and lower pairs of parallelogram arms 94a and 94b respectively which are pivotally mounted to the tool bar clamp 92. The arms 94a and 94b support the raising and lowering of the pair of frame members spaced laterally to part 96, such that frame members 96 remain in a constant orientation in relation to the horizontal as they are raised or lowered.
[095] A pair of disc cleaning blades spaced laterally to part 98 are mounted to hang down from frame members 96, and to be comfortably adjacent to opposite sides of disc 100. Disc 100 is rotatably mounted between frame members 96 and blades 98. Blades 98 extend vertically downwards such that their lower ends are adjacent to the perimeter of disc 100 and just in front of foot 32 in furrow 10.
[096] Swing arms extending back 102 are pivotally mounted to frame members 96 and at the upper end of the depth control actuator 86 such that the performance of the depth control actuator 86 raises and lowers the rear end of the arms slewing 102. A pair of inwardly inclined closing wheels 104 are mounted on opposite sides of the slewing arms 102 so as to hang downwardly from them. The closing wheels 104 close the groove in the soil formed behind the furrow 10. The wheel support structure 88 is mounted at the rearmost end of the turning arms 102 and supports the wheel contacting soil 90.
Controlled prescription distribution [097] As seen in figure 14, a main mover such as a tractor 106 propels the agricultural seed sower 108 forward in direction A over field 110. Field 110 is the subject of analysis of soil characteristics and corresponding mapping as conducted by commercially available field prescription service providers. Such a service provider is Phantom Ag Ltd., with businesses like CropPro Consulting, located in Naicaim, Saskatchewan, Canada. CropPro Consulting offers a variety of service packages to produce a variety of maps including prescription maps, zone maps, biomass maps, drainage maps and the like, all of which are collectively referred to here as field prescriptions and which can be loaded onto a computer as a prescription file. The combined service provider prescription software data and application software is run on a computer that, for example, can be computer 118 located inside tractor 106 or, for example, can be located on a vehicle towed by the main mover , such as inside the trailer 108a, which may or may not be part of the agricultural seeder 108. The prescription software provides input to a programmable control system that regulates the variable rate dispensing of agricultural products from the dosing sets 64, ie it is, as individually dosed for each of the multiplicity of dosing sets 64 within each group 40 mounted in a high resolution arrangement, spaced laterally, along the tool bar 112 of agricultural seeder 108. In the illustrated configuration, 24 groups 40 are also spaced apart along the transversely aligned tool bar 112 being towed into the agricultural seeder structure Agricultural seeder 114. The adhesive 108 is arranged for translation over towable field 110, for example on wheels or tracks 116.
[098] In the illustrated configuration, which is not intended to be limiting, the density of the side spacing of groups 40 is governed by the widest side component of each group 40, which is currently the pair of closing wheels 104 that limit the spacing between adjacent furrowers 10 to the order of 30.48-60.96 cm (1-2 feet). As someone skilled in the art will appreciate, if the resolution of the soil mapping provided by the field prescription service provider is in the order of 30.48 cm or 60.96 cm (1 or 2 feet) per data point, then the resolution of currently provided furrow of 30.48-60.96 cm (1-2 feet) between furrowers 10 is sufficient to allow the control system to replicate the field prescription file in the prescription actually applied.
[099] Therefore, as mentioned above, although in the illustrated configuration six metering sets 64 are provided per group 40, the invention is not so limited. For example, four or more will also work. The use of six dosing sets per group 40 is particularly useful where there are six prescription variables (illustrated as V1-V6 in figure 14) in the field prescription. Prescription variables can include the type of seed being planted (a second variable being a second type of seed being planted if the prescription calls for interculture), and up to five other crop inputs to use McQuinn's language (from his United States patent) United 6122,581), and therefore may include liquid and / or granulated agricultural products such as fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, where for example in the case of fertilizer, crop inputs may include different fertilizer formulations of nitrogen levels, Sulfur, and Phosphate.
[100] Six layered surfaces are shown diagrammatically in figure 14 for two different field location points P1 and P2 to indicate the quantity / density of a particular prescription variable (V1-V6) as requested by the field prescription for that particular field location. Therefore, in operation, computer 118 receives GPS location data in order to constantly monitor the position of each furrower 10 in each group 40. These positions are compared with the corresponding data points or arriving at each particular row (in the configuration shown rows R1-R24) in order to adjust in real time the flow rate or applied density of agricultural product according to the requested quantity, for each variable V1-V6 for each group 40 at each data point along each corresponding row R1-R24.
[101] Therefore if the data point resolution provided for field 110 by the prescription file being used by computer 118, and in particular by the main controller providing instructions for each controller 84 associated with each group 40 for the dosage rate regulation required for each associated metering set 64 is, for example, a data point resolution of every 30.4860.96 cm (1-2 feet) then for a given speed ahead in direction A (for example, in the range of 3 at 8 mph) and for a given delay time due to the processing time between computing the next set of variables for each group 40 in anticipation for a set arriving from known locations for each furrower 10, and the delay associated with the implementation of the actual application to the soil of agricultural products through each dosing set 64, the speed of the tractor 106 may have to be regulated so as not to affect the accuracy of the control system implementing the prescription via the dosing sets 64 and in order to provide a resolution matching that requested by the prescription file. For a given delay due to the processing of GPS information and processing by the prescription algorithm of the next order by prescription variables throughout each of the sets 40 and depending on the resolution requested in the prescription file, the resolution can be increased subject to restrictions of machine on the side width of each group 40. As the physical side width of each group 40 is reduced, the spacing between rows will be reduced. Reducing the speed in front of tractor 106 will allow precise dosing by the dosing assembly 64 to replicate the prescription in a higher resolution in direction A along the rows. Consequently, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated configuration or any particular prescription resolution, since the resolution can be increased as the various machine restrictions and data processing times, signaling and implementation are reduced. This will allow for increased forward speed.
[102] The present invention is also not intended to be limited to the illustrated level of automation. As discussed above, the depth control actuator can be automated such that the control system can actuate the actuator 86 to set the depth of the plow and adjust the operating depth if the prescription file requests it. Also, it may be that automated actuators can be applied to the flow redirector for each group, for example in the configuration illustrated to position the hose supports 58 in their lateral position along the slots 56c in the mounting bracket 56 in order to allow the system controller align the hoses 60 with the desired dispenser hoppers 44, 46, 48 feeding corresponding holes 26a, 28a, 30a in the groove 10. The illustrated configuration is not intended to be limiting since the dispenser 42 can have more than three hoppers in order to correspond to more than three ducts in the furrower, and the hose supports 58 will be positioned over all such openings and funnels. Thus particular agricultural products in any of the six local hoppers 78 for a particular group 40 can be completely switched off for a period of time, or can have the flow rate reduced or increased for a particular period of time depending on what is requested by the file prescription. Also, one or more of the furrow holes can be fed by one or more of the six metering sets 64 depending on the position of the corresponding hose holders 58.
[103] Although in relation to the illustrated configuration there was only reference to the use of liquid or granular agricultural products, it may be that in certain applications, in particular in variable arid conditions, one of the plow holes can be usefully used to supply water simultaneously with the other orifices supplying the agricultural product requested by the prescription. In fact, the prescription may require regulated amounts of water. There may also be the case that in certain situations the furrowers having more or less holes can be used, in which case appropriate furrowers can be substituted for what is illustrated as the Mark VII furrower.
[104] Due to the relatively small size of the located hoppers 78, the hoppers 78 can be maintained continuously or sufficiently full by the use of a pneumatic seed drill arrangement, meaning that the granulated agricultural product is blown from a centralized location such as at from corresponding bulk product depots or bulk product storage compartments within trailer 108a. A centralized pneumatic feeder system is just one example of how the local hoppers 78 can be provided with a sufficient and readily available supply of the agricultural product selected for application by the corresponding dosing set 64, since other centralized distribution systems may also work to distribute the agricultural product from the bulk product deposits at the central storage location such as on trailer 108a. So if a pneumatic feeder is employed, a large number of supply lines (not shown) would provide the various agricultural products blown into each hopper located 78 in each group 40. This is to prevent any hopper 78 from being emptied. An unintentionally emptied hopper 78 potentially introduces an inaccuracy in the replication of the prescription file until such time as that hopper 78 is replenished.
[105] Figure 15 is a diagrammatic representation of the controller logic. In step 200 the controller, be it computer 118 or inside another processor, that is, whether or not centralized or distributed architecture processing is started, in order to read the prescription file and read the dispensing profile. The prescription file is determined in order to implement the prescription file within the machine's limitations. In step 202 the inputs are read in order to feed, for example, the hopper levels, the position of the wheel encoders (or the input from any other speed measurement devices), the seeding depth level, the sensors of the pneumatic system (assuming that the centralized distribution of agricultural product to each hopper 78 is via a pneumatic feeder) and GPS location data.
[106] In step 204 if the sensors (not shown) in any of the hoppers located 78 or inside the tanks on trailer 108a indicate a low level then an alert is sent to the operator (step 206). Otherwise, if the hopper and tank levels are within predefined tolerable limits, and if the system sensors (not shown) indicate that the systems are working, then the control system proceeds to step 208. In step 208 the dispensing rates for each of the metering sets 64 in each of the groups 40 are determined in order to dispense agricultural product according to the GPS location data, the speed inputs such as from the wheel encoder, and the file prescription. The corresponding instructions are sent to each controller 84 such that each controller 84 can send the corresponding pulse signals to the stepper motors, taking into account speed data, for example from the wheel encoders and the data from the prescription file for apply seeds and fertilizer accurately and with a resolution in the field trying to meet the prescription file as closely as possible. Feedback is provided to the user via the graphical user interface (GUI) and recorded in log files at step 210. The process interacts at loop 212 at a renewal rate determined at least in part by data processing and signaling speeds, and machine restrictions.
[107] Group controller 84 can be a microprocessor-based device for managing stepper motors 68 and be identified by the main controller on computer 118 according to its position in the agricultural seeder. The position of each group 40 in the agricultural seeder is used to determine stepper motor speeds for curve compensation or in the event of a detected overlap. A wiring harness can be used to energize and signal the interconnection of groups 40 with the main controller and power bus (not shown). The master controller uses user input to send speed commands to groups 40 and send error information back to the GUI, alerting the operator of potential engine malfunction, low hopper levels, etc. A GUI display panel (not shown) is used to feed user data and display system operation information to the user. The group controller software performs the calculations to ensure that correct feed rates are met according to the prescription file. The main controller software manages the communication of operational data for individual groups 40 according to the position of groups 40 in agricultural seeder 108. The GUI software can graphically represent the tasks being performed by the main controller and group controllers. The GUI provides feedback to the operator as well as a means to accept input from the user, for example feed rate parameters. The GUI can display numeric feedback for parameters such as instant feed rates and machine wheel speeds.
[108] Therefore, as seen in the seeding and fertilization operation of figure 16, the prescription file being implemented by the main system controller on computer 118 contained either inside the main mover, such as tractor 106, or inside agricultural seeder 108 , in combination with speed data and location data, and including compensation for the curves along the F-field path and for any overlap as the F-path attempts to provide complete coverage of field 110, results in product dispensing granular agriculture with six variables V1-V6 (corresponding to the six dosing sets 64 per group 40). The number of variables (V) would increase if more 64 dosing sets per group 40 were used. The use of its variables makes it possible to replicate the field prescription with precision and with a resolution only limited by data processing restrictions and machine restrictions such as spacing of groups 40 in the agricultural sowing tool bar 112. The characteristics of the soil represented in corresponding prescription maps are illustrated for example purposes using contour lines 102 that can represent the levels of one or more of such soil characteristics as nutrient level, moisture content, soil depth, soil temperature, soil pH, soil porosity, soil salinity, soil elevation, and other soil characteristics as would be known to someone skilled in the art.
[109] Therefore, depending on which agricultural product is being fed from bulk product depots or bulk product storage compartments, for example contained within trailer 108a, for individual located hoppers 78, the dispensing rates per dosing set 64 are adjusted to achieve the desired product density at a particular soil data point.
Replenishment of bulk product deposits in operation [110] As mentioned above, an aspect of the present invention is not only improving the yield by improving the flexibility, precision and resolution of applying a complex field prescription to a field using the agricultural seeder system described above, but also to improve the efficiency with which agricultural products are applied to implement field prescription. Therefore it will be appreciated that, although the agricultural product that is finely dosed by the individual dosing sets 64 and precisely dispensed at the desired data points in the field and at the desired depth of soil through each furrow 10 associated with each group 40, over a large area significant volumes of agricultural produce can be used. Conventionally, filling hoppers and bulk product deposits in agricultural seed planters causes downtime as the agricultural seed seeder is brought to a stop as hoppers or bulk product deposits are filled from a supply vehicle. Consequently, to minimize downtime, in a further aspect of the present invention, auxiliary road-to-field convertible trailers 122 are employed.
[111] In a configuration not intended to be limiting, as seen in figure 17, the convertible trailer 122 contains a series of six tanks 124 in which six different agricultural products can be stored and transported. The number of tanks 124 corresponds to the number of local hoppers 78 per group 40. Floating wheels of field size 126 are mounted on one end of the trailer, which can be in alternative configurations, tracks or similar adapted for use on field terrain. Road wheels 128 are mounted at the opposite end of the trailer. A drawbar 130 extends from the road wheel end of the trailer. A hitch 132 is mounted at the opposite end of the trailer, that is, at the end of the trailer on which the field wheels are mounted. As seen in figure 18, the convertible trailer 122 can be towed on road 134 by a legal truck for road 136 by mounting hitch 132 to, for example, a fifth wheel hitch on truck 136. As will be appreciated by an examination of figure 19 , trailer 122 is towed from one end of the trailer for use on the road, and from the other end of the trailer for use in the field. Thus the road-use hitch 132 is at the opposite end of the trailer 122 from the field-use drawbar 130. The drawbar 130 is at an elevation that contacts the floating field wheels 126 over the field, and the hitch 132 is at an elevation which contacts road wheels 128 over road 134. Since drawbar 130 is engaged in agricultural seeder 108 the wheels 128 are raised out of the field so as to only contact the field wheels 126 with the field. When the hitch 132 is engaged on the truck 136 the field wheels 126 are raised off the road so as to only contact the road wheels 128 with the road. Thus truck 136 can travel at road speeds between a silo facility where agricultural products are stored in bulk, which is a significant distance from field 110, and a particular field 110 where it is desired to apply agricultural products. As seen in figure 20, truck 136 delivers trailer 122 via road 134 in field 110 in order to pre-position trailer 122 in the field ready for use to replenish bulk product deposits within trailer 108a on agricultural seeder 108.
[112] As seen in figure 21, tractor 106 the agricultural seeder 108 follows trajectory F, therefore employing a zigzag pattern starting at one end in field 110 and in order to progress through the field in direction G while sowing and fertilizing the field according to the field prescription. It will therefore be understood that as sowing and fertilization progress along trajectory F, assuming that as seen in figure 22 a convertible trailer 122 has its tanks fully loaded with agricultural product and has been correctly pre-positioned, the tractor 106 and agricultural seeder 108 will pass in front of trailer 122. Once the tractor and agricultural seeder have passed in front of trailer 122, the agricultural trailer and seeder can be stopped briefly while trailer 122 is coupled to agricultural seeder 108 using the bar drive 130. Once trailer 122 has been coupled to agricultural seeder 108 and air supply lines (not shown) are connected between corresponding tanks 124 on trailer 122 and bulk product tanks on trailer 108a, the tractor 106 the forward movement resumes and the controllers begin to sow and fertilize according to the prescription of c ampo. Thereafter, while the tractor and agricultural seeder are operational along trajectory F, deposits within trailer 108a are replenished in operation from deposits 124 in trailer 122 until deposits 124 are exhausted or deposits of bulk products within of trailer 108 are full.
[113] Once refueling from trailer 122 has been completed, and tanks 124 are empty, the tractor and seeder can be momentarily stopped while the air supply hoses are disconnected from trailer 108a and trailer 122 is disengaged from agricultural seeder 108, with which the tractor and agricultural seeder start to progress along trajectory F, leaving the trailer emptied 122 behind for collection by truck 136.
[114] It will be appreciated that truck 136 will return to the silo storage facility with an empty trailer 122 and return to field 110 with a full trailer 122 to pre-position the next trailer 122 where necessary. Therefore, as can be seen in figure 23, the tractor and agricultural seeder stopped to engage the second full trailer 122 to start again along trajectory F to complete the sowing and fertilization of the field, and the empty trailer 122 was removed from the field for refueling at silo storage facility.
[115] When interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible way consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" are to be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components or steps may be present, or be used, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.
[116] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure, many changes and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope of it. Consequently, the scope of the invention must be interpreted according to the substance defined by the following claims.

权利要求:
Claims (17)
[1]
1. System for the application of variable rate of multiple agricultural products, for supply from a furrow mechanism (10) for soil via an agricultural seeder (108), the mechanism having furrow ducts (10) extending from corresponding holes (26, 28, 30) at the top end of the grooving mechanism (10) to match the outlets at the bottom end of the grooving mechanism (10), characterized by the fact that it comprises: - a support structure (88) adapted for mounting on the applicator, and the said support structure (88) is adapted for mounting the plow (10) of multiple holes (26, 28, 30) to it for contacting the plow (10) of the lower end in the ground, - a plurality of sets dosers (64) mounted on the said support structure (88), each dosing set of the said plurality of dosing sets (64) includes a local hopper (78), a motor (68) that can be actuated independently and a device of the the said local hopper (78) feeds agricultural product to said dosing device (64), said device (64) being driven by said engine (68) in order to controllably dose the agricultural product from said local hopper (78), - a flow redirector actuated selectively cooperating with the said plurality of metering sets (64), - a distributor (42) having a plurality of chambers (44, 46, 48), with each chamber of the said plurality of chambers (44, 46, 48) extends between a corresponding chamber inlet and a corresponding chamber outlet (44a, 46a, 48a); the said plurality of dosing sets (64) exceeding in number the said plurality of chambers (44, 46, 48) in said dispenser (42) and the flow of agricultural product from each said dosing device (64) is selectively directed by said flow redirector into said chamber entrances (44, 46, 48) of said plurality of chambers (44, 46, 48) in said distributor (42) for mixed supply of agricultural product from said chamber outlets (44a, 46a, 48a) into furrower ducts (10) when the furrow (10) is mounted adjacent to said distributor (42) in cooperation with it for the flow of agricultural product from the said outlets chambers (44a, 46a, 48a) into the upper end parts of the furrow (10).
[2]
2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises an agricultural seeder (108) having at least one arm (94a, 94b), bulk product storage compartments associated with said agricultural seeder (108) for the storage of bulk products of separate and different agricultural products, the aforementioned agricultural seeder (108) being adapted to selectively transport agricultural products from the said bulk product storage compartments to said at least one arm ( 94a, 94b) of said agricultural seeder (108), - an arrangement laterally spaced apart from said support structures (88) and corresponding mentioned pluralities of dosing sets (64), said flow redirectors and said distributors (42) assembled along said aforementioned at least one arm (94a, 94b) and additionally comprising said creases (10) of multiple holes (26, 28, 30) m connected in said support structures (88), hanging down from them in said cooperation with said distributors (42), the number of dosing sets (64) in each of the said plurality of dosing sets (64) being equal or less than the number of said bulk product storage compartments (108a), the said plurality of chambers (44, 46, 48) in each said distributor (42) being equal in number to the number of said conduits in said furrower (10).
[3]
3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the aforementioned bulk product storage compartments (108a) include at least four bulk product storage compartments; wherein said at least one arm (94a, 94b) of said agricultural seeder (108) includes at least two arms (94a, 94b) opposing laterally; being that an arrangement of groups of feeders (64) are mounted in an arrangement laterally spaced apart along the mentioned arms (94a, 94b) of the mentioned agricultural seeder (108), being that the mentioned arrangement has a spacing between the mentioned groups for replicate, subject to machine restrictions, a lateral resolution of data points laterally spaced apart in a field prescription (110); each dosing group in said dosing group arrangement (64) including at least four of said dosing sets (64) in order to provide a one-to-one correspondence between said at least four bulk product storage compartments (108a) and those mentioned at least four metering sets (64), and additionally comprises an actuator (86) for selectively adjustable ground height adjustment; the different agricultural products being selectively transported from each of the aforementioned bulk product storage compartments (108a) to a corresponding said dosing set of said at least four dosing sets (64); at least one processor correlating a location of said agricultural seeder (108) with the field prescription (110) and communicating individual dosing instructions for each of said dosing devices (64) in each of said groups in order to vary a corresponding dosage rate of the different agricultural products from each of the aforementioned plurality of dosing sets (64), and in order to dispense for each corresponding cited furrower (10) a uniquely dosed and mixed combination of the agricultural products and in order to provide a supply rate of each aforementioned combination according to the field prescription (110) for the particular location of said agricultural seeder (108) in a field (110).
[4]
4. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the product is a granular product and each said dosing device includes a metering cylinder (72) mounted inside a metering cup (66a) in order to form a wedge ( 80) dispensing to dispense said product to said distributor (42).
[5]
5. System, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said plurality of distributor chambers (44, 46, 48) (42) correspond in number to the number of said conduits in said furrower (10).
[6]
6. System, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said flow redirector includes selectively steerable ducts that can be directed into any of the said distributor chambers (44, 46, 48) in said distributor (42).
[7]
7. System, according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that each of the said furrowers (10) has at least three of the said conduits, and each of the said groups has at least four of the said dosing sets (64) and only one said distributor (42) and only one said furrow (10), and said bulk storage compartments (108a) include at least four of the bulk storage compartments mentioned, and each flow redirector includes selectively steerable ducts directing into any of said distributor chambers (44, 46, 48) at said distributor (42).
[8]
8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the field prescription (110) has at least four layers of data.
[9]
9. System according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that said at least four bulk product storage compartments (108a) include at least five bulk product storage compartments, and at least four storage compartments metering sets (64) include at least five metering sets (64).
[10]
10. System according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that it additionally comprises at least one auxiliary trailer (122) convertible from road to field (110) that can be releasably mounted on the above mentioned agricultural seeder (108) for use in towing. in the field (110) and behind a towing vehicle for use on the road, the said auxiliary trailer (122) includes a plurality of bulk transport compartments equal in number to or exceeding in number the number of said storage compartments bulk products (108a), and additionally include a product transfer means for transferring product from said transport compartments to said bulk product storage compartments, to fill said bulk product storage compartments (108a) , from the corresponding transport compartments in operation while the mentioned agricultural seeder (108) is in a transl forward action.
[11]
11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that said auxiliary trailer (122) has wheels (128) for use on the road at one first end and wheels for use in the field (110) at a second opposite end, and, for said field use (110), said first end of said trailer (122) is connected to said agricultural seeder (108) for towing said trailer and the said wheels (128) for road use are mounted on said trailer in order to rise out of contact with the field (110) during said field use (110) of said trailer (122), and, for said use on the road, said second end of said trailer (122) is connected to said towing vehicle for towing said trailer (122) and said wheels for use in the field (110) are mounted on said trailer in order to be elevated, out of contact with the road during said road use of said trailer (122).
[12]
12. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the aforementioned bulk product storage compartments include at least six containers of bulk products, and the said metering sets (64) include at least six metering sets (64).
[13]
13. System, according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the aforementioned directing ducts are flexible hoses (60) that are selectively positioned in order to direct the agricultural products from each said dosing set (64) into a cited distributor chamber (42).
[14]
14. Method for using a variable rate application system for multiple agricultural products, as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that it comprises: a) providing a system as identified in claim 3 for supplying the product agricultural based on location, soil factor variables, and product characteristics, b) provide: (iv) a selectively controlled controllable vehicle (122) translatable in at least one direction ahead in an optimized path over the field (110), (v) a GPS locator for receiving and transmitting GPS location information to the vehicle, (vi) a selectively controllable bulk product feed module cooperating with a corresponding bulk product compartment of the bulk product tank c) store separately in the aforementioned bulk product storage compartments (108a) the unique agricultural products chosen from the group, incl uindo: (i) seed varieties (ii) fertilizer compounds (iii) herbicide compounds (iv) inoculants (v) insecticides d) feed the mentioned products to the mentioned dosing sets (64) independently activated, and from them for the mentioned distributor (42) feeding said furrow (10), e) adjusting the direction of supply of agricultural products in said flow redirector in order to particularize a mixed combination of said products for supply to said conduits in said furrow (10), f ) provide in each said dosing set (64) in each said group: an arrangement of local hoppers (78) and a corresponding plurality of selectively controllable dosing devices (64) and a corresponding said furrow (10), and arrange the said arrangement of groups in an arrangement spaced laterally along the aforementioned arms (94a, 94b) in order to provide the aforementioned lateral resolution substantially in the range of 30.48-60.96 cm (1-2 feet) en between the aforementioned furrowers (10), g) within said processor: (i) receiving the aforementioned GPS location information, (ii) receiving soil factor information for the field (110) from the prescription file, ( iii) correlate the GPS location information with the corresponding soil factor information for the field (110), (iv) determine optimized dosing instructions from the soil factor information corresponding to the GPS location information, (v) communicate the dosing instructions for the plurality of metering sets (64) selectively controllable, (vi) receiving feedback from the plurality of metering sets (64) selectively controllable, (vii) displaying status information to a user in the vehicle (122), the mapped data includes information chosen from the group comprising: (xiv) soil elevation (xv) soil moisture content (xvi) soil porosity (xvii) soil pH level ( xviii) nitrogen level (xix) potassium level (xx) sulfur level (xxi) phosphorus level (xxii) soil hardness / texture (xxiii) desired seeding depth (xxiv) electrical conductivity (xxv) organic soil (xxv) xxvi) apparent soil density h) determining dosing instructions optimized for the plurality of dosing sets (64) individually controllable from soil factor data corresponding to the GPS location information, i) communicating the dosing instructions from the processor for the plurality of metering sets (64) selectively controllable, j) independently actuating the metering sets (64) in the plurality of metering sets (64) selectively controllable in order to selectively dose the product from the local hoppers (78) of according to the dosing instructions from the processor in order to provide optimum product combinations according to the prescription for field (110), k) m actively monitor and update the GPS location information on the processor and actively update the corresponding soil factor information and a corresponding updated determination of the optimized dosing instructions and communicate the updated dosing instructions in order to modify the selective dosage of the product according to the field prescription (110) corresponding to the new location in the field (110), l) provide feedback from the plurality of metering sets (64) selectively controllable for the processor, m) display status information to a user in the vehicle.
[15]
15. Method, according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that it additionally comprises providing at least one auxiliary trailer (122) convertible from road to field (110) mountable in the mentioned agricultural seeder (108), the said auxiliary trailer including a plurality of bulk product transport compartments equal in number or exceeding the number of said bulk product compartments (108a) in said bulk product tank, and additionally include a means of transferring product from said bulk products transport compartments for said bulk product compartments, - fill said bulk product compartments from the corresponding said transport compartments in operation while the said agricultural seeder (108) is moving forward, - tow said trailer (122) auxiliary behind the mentioned agricultural seeder (108) for use in the field (110) and tow the cit auxiliary trailer behind a towing vehicle for use on the road.
[16]
16. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that said auxiliary trailer (122) has wheels (66) for use on the road at one first end and wheels for use in the field (110) at a second opposite end, and, for said field use (110), said first end of said trailer is connected to said agricultural seeder (108) for towing said trailer (122) and the said road use wheels are mounted on cited trailer (122) in order to rise out of contact with the field (110) during said field use (110) of said trailer, and, for said road use, said second end of said trailer is connected to said towing vehicle for towing said trailer and said wheels (66) for use in the field (110) are mounted on said trailer (122) in order to be elevated out of contact with the road during said road use of the aforementioned trailer (122).
[17]
17. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the said bulk product storage compartments (108a) include at least six containers of bulk products, and the said dosing sets (64) include at least six dosing sets (64).

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同族专利:

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公开号 | 公开日

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EA201592124A1|2016-04-29|

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CA2912449C|2018-12-04|

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CA3019816A1|2014-11-20|

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US9907224B2|2018-03-06|

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EP3278646A1|2018-02-07|

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WO2014183182A1|2014-11-20|

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EP2996454A4|2016-12-14|

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AU2013389965B2|2017-11-23|

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BR112015028559A2|2017-07-25|

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US20160113191A1|2016-04-28|

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CA3017887A1|2014-11-20|

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CA3017887C|2020-12-29|

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US20200120857A1|2020-04-23|

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AP2015008895A0|2015-12-31|

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MX2015015678A|2016-09-28|

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MX365575B|2019-06-06|

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EA028993B1|2018-01-31|

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EP2996454B1|2017-10-11|

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PL2996454T3|2018-03-30|

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CN105377013A|2016-03-02|

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CA3017855C|2021-01-05|

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EP2996454A1|2016-03-23|

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HUE037804T2|2018-09-28|

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UA115599C2|2017-11-27|

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US10542663B2|2020-01-28|

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CN105377013B|2017-09-08|

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CA3017849A1|2014-11-20|

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CA2912449A1|2014-11-20|

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CA3017855A1|2014-11-20|

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US20170135280A1|2017-05-18|

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CA3017849C|2021-07-13|

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ES2654684T3|2018-02-14|

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AU2013389965A1|2015-12-17|

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法律状态:
2018-03-06| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|

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2018-03-13| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|

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2018-03-20| B06I| Publication of requirement cancelled [chapter 6.9 patent gazette]|Free format text: ANULADA A PUBLICACAO CODIGO 6.6.1 NA RPI NO 2462 DE 13/03/2018 POR TER SIDO INDEVIDA. |

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2019-04-02| B06A| Notification to applicant to reply to the report for non-patentability or inadequacy of the application [chapter 6.1 patent gazette]|

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2019-10-01| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|

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2019-12-03| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 13/05/2013, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. (CO) 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 13/05/2013, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS |

优先权:

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申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

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PCT/CA2013/000466|WO2014183182A1|2013-05-13|2013-05-13|A system for variable-ratio blending of multiple agricultural products for delivery via a ported opener|

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