Meter module for metering product
A meter module for metering a product in communication with the meter module. The meter module includes a meter housing portion and a lower chamber portion, the meter housing portion having a top opening through which the product enters the meter housing portion. A metering mechanism is disposed in the meter housing portion and is rotatably driven by an electric motor about a longitudinal axis. 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 a bottom opening in the lower chamber portion. The lower chamber portion may include a flow sensor and/or internal structure to capture and weigh the metered product before exiting through the bottom.
1 . A meter module for metering a product in communication with the meter module, the meter module comprising:
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 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, wherein the top opening is at a first end of the meter housing portion and the outlet is at a second end of the meter housing portion;
a meter disposed within the meter housing portion, the meter rotatable about a longitudinal axis;
an electric motor operably coupled to the meter to drive rotation of the meter about the longitudinal axis, wherein the electric motor is supported in the main housing portion proximate the second end and wherein the meter is configured to decouple from the electric motor such that the meter is removable from the first end of the meter housing portion while the electric motor remains supported in the main housing portion;
whereby as the meter rotates about the longitudinal axis, the meter meters the product into the lower chamber portion, the metered product exits the lower chamber portion through the bottom opening.
2 . The meter module 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.
3 . The meter module of claim 2 , further comprising:
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 metered product passes over the flip gate and through the outlet into the lower chamber portion, and whereby in the up position, the product within the meter housing portion is obstructed by the flip gate from passing through the outlet into the lower chamber.
4 . The meter module of claim 3 , 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.
5 . The meter module of claim 4 , wherein the reverse rotation is a one quarter rotation of the metering mechanism.
6 . The meter module of claim 1 , further comprising:
a flow sensor disposed within the lower chamber portion, 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.
7 . The meter module of claim 6 , wherein the flow sensor is selected from the group consisting of: optical sensors, piezoelectric sensors, microphone sensors, electromagnetic energy sensors, or particle sensors.
8 . A meter module for metering a product in communication with the meter module, the meter module comprising:
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 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;
a meter disposed within the meter housing portion, the meter rotatable about a longitudinal axis;
an electric motor operably coupled to the meter to drive rotation of the meter about the longitudinal axis;
whereby as the meter rotates about the longitudinal axis, the meter meters the product into the lower chamber portion, the metered product exits the lower chamber portion through the bottom opening;
wherein the lower chamber portion includes a funnel having an open bottom end, and wherein the lower chamber portion further includes internal structure 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.
9 . The meter module of claim 8 , wherein the metering mechanism is removable from one end of the meter housing portion.
10 . The meter module of claim 8 , further comprising an actuator, the actuator configured to move the internal structure between the dump position and the capture position.
11 . The meter module of claim 10 , further comprising a load cell configured to generate a signal indicative of a mass of the metered product captured by the internal structure in the capture position.
12 . The meter module of claim 11 , wherein the load cell is disposed on a bottom plate of the internal structure.
13 . The meter module of claim 11 , wherein the load cell supports the funnel structure.
14 . The meter module of claim 10 , further comprising:
a flow sensor, the flow sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of the metered product passing through the capture structure before exiting through the bottom opening.
15 . The meter module of claim 14 , wherein the flow sensor is selected from the group consisting of: optical sensors, piezoelectric sensors, microphone sensors, electromagnetic energy sensors, or particle sensors.
16 . The meter module of claim 14 , wherein the flow sensor includes an instrumented bottom plate of the internal structure, whereby the instrumented plate detects whether product is flowing over an upper surface of the instrumented plate in the dump position.
17 . The meter module of claim 8 , wherein the metering mechanism is an auger.