Air cart with modular metering system
An air cart having a modular metering system. The modular metering system includes a plurality of meter modules disposed laterally adjacent to one another in a metering bank. Each of the meter modules is independently removable from the metering bank. Each meter module includes a metering mechanism rotatable about a longitudinal axis disposed generally parallel with a forward direction of travel of the air cart. The metering mechanism is in communication with a supply of product held within a tank. As the metering mechanisms rotates about its longitudinal axis, the product is metered by the metering mechanism into an air tube associated with each of the plurality of meter modules. An air stream provided by at least one fan carries the metered product through the air tubes.
1 . An air cart for delivering product to an applicator implement, the air cart having a forward direction of travel, the air cart comprising:
a wheeled frame supporting a tank containing the product;
an air system supported by the wheeled frame, the air system including an air tube bank, the air tube bank including a plurality of air tube modules disposed laterally adjacent to one another, each air tube module in communication with at least one of a plurality of air tubes, each of the plurality of air tubes in communication with a blower producing an air stream through each of the plurality of air tubes;
a modular metering system including a metering bank disposed below the tank and above the air tube bank, the metering bank including a plurality of meter modules disposed laterally adjacent to one another, each of the plurality of meter modules including:
a main housing having a meter housing portion and a lower chamber portion, the meter housing portion having a top opening through which the product from the tank enters the meter housing portion, the meter housing portion including an outlet in communication with the lower chamber portion, the lower chamber portion having a bottom opening, the bottom opening in communication with a corresponding one of the air tube modules;
a metering mechanism rotatably disposed within the meter housing portion, the metering mechanism rotatable about a longitudinal axis disposed generally parallel to the forward direction of travel;
an electric motor configured to drive rotation of the metering mechanism about the longitudinal axis;
a control system having a controller, the controller configured to control the electric motor and the blower;
whereby as the metering mechanism rotates about the longitudinal axis, the metering mechanism meters the product into the lower chamber portion, the metered product exits the lower chamber portion through the bottom opening into a corresponding one of the air tube modules, the air stream carries the metered product through the at least one air tube in communication with the corresponding one of the air tube modules; and
wherein each of the plurality of meter modules is individually removable from the metering bank.
2 . The air cart of claim 1 , wherein the metering mechanism is removable from one end of the meter housing portion.
3 . The air cart of claim 1 , wherein the metering bank includes a plurality of slide gates, each of the plurality of slide gates is disposed above the top opening of a corresponding one of the plurality of meter modules, each of the plurality of slide gates is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the slide gate prevents the product from flowing from the tank into the top opening of the corresponding one of the plurality of meter modules and wherein in the open position, the product flows from the tank into the top opening of the corresponding one of the plurality of meter modules.
4 . The air cart of claim 1 , wherein the metering mechanism is an auger, the auger having an auger shaft, the auger shaft coaxial with the longitudinal axis, the auger having auger flights winding around the auger shaft, the auger flights oriented on the auger shaft to push the product entering the top opening toward the outlet as the auger rotates about the longitudinal axis.
5 . The air cart of claim 1 , wherein the metering mechanism is a fluted metering roll.
6 . The air cart of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of meter modules further includes:
a flip gate pivotally disposed in the meter housing portion, the flip gate pivotally movable between a down position and an up position, whereby in the down position the product within the meter housing portion is capable of passing through the outlet into the lower chamber portion, and whereby in the up position, the product within the meter housing portion is prevented from passing through the outlet into the lower chamber.
7 . The air cart of claim 6 , wherein the flip gate is coupled to the metering mechanism by a linkage, such that reverse rotation of the metering mechanism causes the flip gate to move from the down position to the up position.
8 . The air cart of claim 1 , wherein the lower chamber portion of each of the plurality of meter modules includes internal structure to direct the metered product through the lower chamber portion toward the bottom opening.
9 . The air cart of claim 8 , wherein the internal structure includes a funnel having an open bottom end.
10 . The air cart of claim 9 , wherein the internal structure is movable between a dump position and a capture position, wherein in the dump position the internal structure directs the metered product toward the bottom opening, and wherein in the capture position, the internal structure closes off the open bottom end of the funnel so as to capture the metered product.
11 . The air cart of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of meter modules further includes an actuator configured to move the internal structure between the dump position and the capture position.
12 . The air cart of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of meter modules further includes a load cell configured to weigh the metered product captured by the internal structure when in the capture position.
13 . The air cart of claim 12 , wherein the load cell is disposed on a bottom plate of the internal structure.
14 . The air cart of claim 12 , wherein the load cell supports the funnel.
15 . The air cart of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of meter modules further includes:
a flow sensor disposed within the lower chamber portion, the flow sensor in signal communication with the controller, the flow sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of the metered product passing through the lower chamber portion before exiting through the bottom opening.
16 . The air cart of claim 15 , wherein the flow sensor is selected from the group consisting of: optical sensors, piezoelectric sensors, microphone sensors, electromagnetic energy sensors, and particle sensors.
17 . The air cart of claim 15 , wherein the flow sensor includes an instrumented bottom plate of the internal structure, whereby the instrumented bottom plate detects whether product is flowing over an upper surface of the instrumented bottom plate in the dump position.
18 . The air cart of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of meter modules further includes:
a flow sensor disposed within the lower chamber portion, the flow sensor in signal communication with the controller, the flow sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of the metered product passing through the lower chamber portion before exiting through the bottom opening.
19 . The air cart of claim 18 , wherein the flow sensor is selected from the group consisting of: optical sensors, piezoelectric sensors, microphone sensors, electromagnetic energy sensors, and particle sensors.
20 . The air cart of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of air tube modules includes an upper air tube coupler and a lower air tube coupler, the upper air tube coupler in communication with a first one of the plurality of air tubes, the lower air tube coupler in communication with a second one of the plurality of air tubes disposed below the first one of the plurality of air tubes.
21 . The air cart of claim 20 , wherein the metering bank further includes:
a diverter gate module disposed between the bottom opening of each one of the plurality of meter modules and the corresponding one of the plurality of air tube modules, the diverter gate module operable to divert the metered product exiting the bottom opening into one of the upper air tube coupler and the lower air tube coupler of the corresponding one of the plurality of air tube modules.
22 . The air cart of claim 21 , wherein the upper air tube coupler includes a center passage and outer passages, the center passage in communication with the first one of the plurality of air tubes, the outer passages in communication with the lower air tube coupler, and wherein the diverter gate module includes diverter gates movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the diverter gates close the center passage of the upper air tube coupler and the outer passages of the upper air tube coupler are open to allow the metered product to flow into the lower air tube coupler, and wherein in the second position, the diverter gates close the outer passages of the upper air tube coupler and the center passage of the upper air tube coupler is open to allow the metered product to flow into the upper air tube coupler.
23 . The air cart of claim 22 , further including a diverter gate actuator configured to move the diverter gates between the first position and the second position.