Apparatus for precision volumetric metering and distribution of solid inputs used in agriculture
View Patent ↗An apparatus to be coupled to sowing devices provides for precision in volumetric metering and distribution of solid agricultural inputs, said apparatus comprising a supporting, hollow housing with a through-hole through which an actuating through axle radially locked to a metering distribution centrifugal turbine extends, and drives the metering distribution centrifugal turbine; and an opening in the floor of the housing leading the agricultural input to an output nozzle. The metering distribution centrifugal turbine comprises cutouts of various shapes forming metering chambers for distributing the agricultural solid input uniformly. A labyrinth is formed by the supporting, hollow housing, the inner grater travel stop and the metering distribution centrifugal turbine. The metering distribution centrifugal turbine allows metering of the solid agricultural input only upon rotation of the metering distribution centrifugal turbine; when the metering distribution centrifugal turbine does not rotate the agricultural solid input is retained in and on the turbine.
1. An apparatus for the accurate metering and volumetric distribution for solid agricultural inputs as applied to planting machinery, said apparatus being characterized by comprising:
a) a supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ), having an upper section and a lower section, for housing said solid agricultural inputs ( 31 ) the upper section of said supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ) being flat for connection via a flange ( 22 ) with the planting machinery while the lower, cylindrical section is in coincidence with a metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ), said supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ) being provided with a through-hole ( 12 ) designed for traversing an actuating through-axle ( 3 ), the floor of said supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ) being provided with an outlet opening ( 21 ) for conveying said solid agricultural input ( 31 ) up to an output nozzle ( 13 ) towards soil;
b) said metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) being accommodated within said supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ), the body of said metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) being shaped into a non-hollow section ( 32 ) and a hollow chambers section or metering chambers ( 5 ) of identical volumetric and geometric sizes, the non-hollow section ( 32 ) delimiting said metering chambers ( 5 );
c) in the lower, inner section of said metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) a grater travel stop ( 6 ), attached to a cover ( 2 ) and positioned in the inner side of the metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) for withdrawal of the agricultural solid input ( 31 ) which is out of the metering chambers ( 5 ) of said metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) and designed to create, together with supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ), a passage labyrinth ( 25 ), acting as shutter and closing system for the outlet opening ( 21 ) of said supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ) when the metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) is in the inertial or static state;
d) said actuating through-axle ( 3 ) being radially locked relative to said metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) and mounted on bearings 7 at both ends, with one external bearing ( 7 ) mounted on the supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ) and another bearing ( 7 a ) attached to said cover ( 2 ), said actuating through-axle ( 3 ) being provided with roller bearings ( 8 ) attached to said supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ) and said cover ( 2 ); said actuating through-axle ( 3 ) being mounted transversally and through the supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ) and said cover ( 2 ) and being cooperative with said metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) so that said metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) is cooperative with the actuating through-axle ( 3 ); and
e) a discharge system, comprising an output nozzle ( 13 ) the inner section of said nozzle ( 13 ) having the shape of the solid agricultural input ( 31 ) to be metered, while being coincident with the apparatus's outlet opening ( 21 ).
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the cover ( 2 ) comprises an upper section comprising a horizontal plate provided with hole ( 14 ) for connection with the planting machinery and a lower, semi-circle section provided with a through-hole ( 11 ) for the passage of actuating through-axle ( 3 ), said cover ( 2 ) engaging a bearing ( 7 a ) and roller bearings ( 8 ) provided with a locking ring ( 9 ), said cover ( 2 ) being attached to supporting, hollow housing W through fixation means ( 15 ) and ( 17 ).
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that actuating through-axle ( 3 ) traverses roller bearing ( 8 ), hole ( 11 ) of cover ( 2 ), hole ( 12 ) of supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ) and the radial center of metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) to be radially locked to same with the aid of key ( 19 ).
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the geometrical shapes of metering chambers ( 5 ) of said metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) are selected among helicoids ( 5 ), rectangles ( 5 a ), circles ( 5 b ) and squares ( 5 c ).
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that actuating through-axle ( 3 ) comprises constructive concepts such as massive ( 10 a ), hexagonal through-hole ( 10 b ), square through-hole ( 10 c ) or internal or external attachment threads ( 10 d ).
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that in operation, the metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) receives the solid agricultural input ( 31 ) to be metered, and conveys same throughout the metering chambers ( 5 ) up to the lower section ( 24 ) of supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ), the excess of solid agricultural input ( 31 ) being withdrawn by the internal travel stop grater ( 6 ), enabling said metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ) with its metering chambers ( 5 ) to convey said solid agricultural inputs ( 31 ) throughout labyrinth ( 25 ) the solid agricultural input ( 31 ) being expelled through opening ( 21 ) of supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ) up to the output nozzle ( 13 ).
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that for said apparatus ( 100 ) to be actuated according to the perpendicular lateral mode, support ( 28 ) for conical gear ( 26 , 27 ) is added, said support ( 28 ) being mounted on bearing ( 7 a ) of cover ( 2 ) and attached by screws ( 20 ) and nuts ( 18 ).
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , characterized in that the perpendicular side of support ( 28 ) accommodates the conical gear ( 26 ) mounted on rollers bearings ( 29 ) attached to support ( 28 ) through fixation ring ( 30 ), the conical gear ( 26 ) being engaged on actuating through-axle ( 3 ) thus forming the set of perpendicular lateral actuation of said apparatus ( 100 ).
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that bearings ( 7 , 7 a ) are manufactured integrated respectively either to said supporting hollow housing ( 1 ) or to said cover ( 2 ).
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that, in operation, when one metering chamber ( 5 ) is coincident with the agricultural solid input ( 31 ) outlet opening ( 21 ) of said supporting, hollow housing ( 1 ) the agricultural solid input ( 31 ) is expelled towards the soil, while the agricultural solid input ( 31 ) which is out of the metering chamber ( 5 ) which is coincident with said outlet opening ( 21 ) will be retained in the adjacent metering chambers ( 5 ), the metering volume being pre-determined by the structural geometry of said metering chambers ( 5 ), the solid agricultural inputs ( 31 ) being displaced and conveyed through successive metering chambers ( 5 ) under continuous cycling of same towards the lower section of said metering distribution centrifugal turbine ( 4 ).