CA1187596A - Seed distributor monitor head - Google Patents
Seed distributor monitor headInfo
- Publication number
- CA1187596A CA1187596A CA000391645A CA391645A CA1187596A CA 1187596 A CA1187596 A CA 1187596A CA 000391645 A CA000391645 A CA 000391645A CA 391645 A CA391645 A CA 391645A CA 1187596 A CA1187596 A CA 1187596A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- target face
- main conduit
- distribution
- head
- airflow
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
- A01C7/00—Sowing
- A01C7/08—Broadcast seeders; Seeders depositing seeds in rows
- A01C7/081—Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means
- A01C7/084—Pneumatic distribution heads for seeders
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
- A01C15/00—Fertiliser distributors
- A01C15/04—Fertiliser distributors using blowers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G53/00—Conveying materials in bulk through troughs, pipes or tubes by floating the materials or by flow of gas, liquid or foam
- B65G53/34—Details
- B65G53/52—Adaptations of pipes or tubes
- B65G53/528—Flux combining or dividing arrangements
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Soil Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
Abstract
11.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An arrangement for providing sensitive and reliable detection of blockage in airflow distribution outlets in which the distribution head includes a main conduit with the secondary conduit radiating from this, the arrangement being such that normally grain and superphos-phate will be directly diverted without impacting a target face into the secondary conduits but with any blockage occurring in any of the secondary conduits this uniform flow is upset with resultant increased impact against the target face. There are detector means such as a microphone located behind the target face to provide a detection signal upon increased impact occurring.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An arrangement for providing sensitive and reliable detection of blockage in airflow distribution outlets in which the distribution head includes a main conduit with the secondary conduit radiating from this, the arrangement being such that normally grain and superphos-phate will be directly diverted without impacting a target face into the secondary conduits but with any blockage occurring in any of the secondary conduits this uniform flow is upset with resultant increased impact against the target face. There are detector means such as a microphone located behind the target face to provide a detection signal upon increased impact occurring.
Description
This invention relates to means by which blockages in air flow distribution lines can be more effectively cletected.
This invention relates to the difficulties now very often experienced of detecting a blockage in a conduit which is carrying an airflow carrying with it seed and most often superphosphate.
Such conduits are conventionally supplied from a distribution location and it has been found to be a particularly difficult task to provide means which are not only sensitive to even partial blockage in one of the conduits but which is generally economic to instAl, reliable to use over a long per:iocl in the very difficult environment that might be expected on such agricultural eq~lipment~ and of course sensitive in operation.
An object of this invention is to provide an arrange-ment by which at least some answer to at least one of these problems is possil~:Le.
The invention in one form can be said to resicle in an air flow distribution head comprising a main conduit, and a plurality of secondary conduits arranged so that it is adapted to have the main conduit aligned so as to direct any lncoming airborne particles in a vertical direction along the main conduit, there is an uppermost target face but by reason of the arrange-ment of the main conduit with the plurality of secondary conduits, with all outlet conduits unblocked the particles will be generally diverted from striking the target face being substantially uniformly distributed to each of the outwardly and downwardly and radially aligned '~
5~
..
symmetrically arrangecl secondary conduits, there being the further arrangement that with one or more of the said seconclary conduits being blocked w;ll result in an alteration of the path of particles proceeding up the main conduit so that there is a greater likelihood of these impactlng in greater numbers against the target face, and detection means supported in a position whereby to detect such change by reason of responsiveness to selected frequency signals.
In other words, by providing that the distribution head causes more particles to hit the target face when there is at least a partial blockage in one of the secondary conduits, or of course a full blockage in one or more of the secondary conduits, there is a signi-Eicant event thcreby causecl which can be subsequently detec~ed as an indication that something might be wrong.
It is prefeL~al)le if the target face is concave and of course the <.hclpe of the various members is such that the air streaming from the main conduit into the secondary conduits is as uniform as possible unless a partial or full blockage OCCU7-S.
A distribution hec~d c~rran~gecl in the manner clescribecd has shown itself to be extremely sensitive when operated in a practical manner and by carefulLy monitoring the vibrations caused against the concave face possibly by using a sensitive microphone and then analysing the audio signals received, a very sensitive economica and reliable means of detecting blockage can be achieved.
75~
The invention can of course reside not only in the head so characterised but in a head with these characterisations in an installation wherein there are connected air supply means adapted to carry particles such as grain and superphosphate ancl arranged so that the main conduit is aligned to carry t'ne particles when in the air stream in a substantially vertical direction with the secondary conduits uppermost and held so as to extend outwardly and downwardly in a radial direction and~arranged symmetrically around the main conduit.
Obviously the reference to verticality in th:is instance i.s an app-roximat-ion in that any agricultural machinery is intended to be used in si.tuations in which the contour o~ the ground is followed and the term verticality has to be interpreted as being generally secured to the .~gricul.turcl:l implement such as an airflow seecler when on a horizontal base as generally vertical.
but otherwise perpendicular to the support plane of the implement.
The detection o:E particl.es h;ttillg the target face can be detectecl by cl microphone suspended in absorbent wadding secured to the baclc of the target material..
~ /arious ways can be used to achieve analyses of the electrical signals so as to achieve best effect.
A detection of the`various amplitudes of signals at selected frequencies has been found to provide signi-ficant sensitivity which can be achieved by trial and error by use of an amplifi.er with a variable gain control so that an operator can measure a base reference, that is a reading given with grain and superphosphate being 7S~6 suppl;ed uncler normal conclitions without any of the outlet concluits being blocked and then maintain observation so that if the noise increases above this for any reason then this is an indication that at ]east a partial blockage has occurred.
For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with reference to a preferred embodiment and with the assistance of drawings in which:-Figure 1 shows in schematic form a distributionhead in side cross-sectiollal elevation, two oppositely located outlet condui.ts being shown as having a:ir and particles with the:ir pathway shown from the main concluit, and, Figure 2 shows L he same view as in Figure 1 except that the rip,ht ll.ltl(l ~eCOllCIa1-y conduit iS blocked and showing a typica] rallclomisation of the pattern of grain and superphosphate mlght be expected.
It is to be notecl:ln the drawi.ngs that the outlet conduit other than the. two showrl ;n cross-section have not been speciEical.l~ shown simply ti~ save complexi.ty of the drawing whicll is emphasised i.s schematic.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 showing in particular the radial and symmetrical alignment oE e.ach of the secondary conduits .
Referring now in particular to the drawings, and to the preferred embodiment as illustrated therein, there is shown a distribution head 1 which includes a main conduit oE circular cross-section 2 having thereby a vertical axis and a plurality oE secondary conduits 3 Inte~rconl~ectecl with the main condul.t 2.
~ ach of the secondary conduits has a shape whlch starts as a rectangular opening and changes to a circular cross-section further along its length.
In both ~igures 1 and 2, the outlets to the remaining secondary conduits are shown at 4 so that in effect there are fourteen outlet conduits although of course, described previously for the sake of simplicity and because of the essentially schematic character of the drawings, the remai.nirig ends of the outlet concluits have not been shown.
At an uppermost end of the main conduit 2 is a circular target 5 having a concave lowermost face ~
which :is comprised o:E a Material such as polyurethane plastic which :is adapted to resi.st bui.ld-up of superphos-phate on its surEa.e~
The circular alld concave shape of the target 5 is adapted so as to be coaxial with the circular cross-sectional shape of the mairi concluit 2.
Located uppermost l-)ehil~d ~-he target face Material i.s a detector means 6 which lnc]udes a lllicrophone 7 connected by means of cable ~ to an amp:Lifie-r and i.ndicator means.
The microphone 7 is supported within absorbenc lagging ~ so as to minimise physical shock input to the microphone and to make it more sensitive to signals received by audi.o-transference.
In practice, a microphone of a type conventionally known as an electret by which however a reasonably ~7S~6 7.
sensitive detection o souncl emanating from the target can be received and o:E course by reason of the padding behincl the microphone little else outsicle of this for conversion into electrical signals for analyses by the electrica:L analysing means.
The importance of the arrangement is that when the distributor head 1 is held as is shown in Figure 1 and 2, that is so that the main conduit 2 will carry the air carrying with it the particulate materials in a substantially vertical direction then provided that each of the secondary conduits 3 are substantially open, there w:ill be effectively symmetrical :Elow througl all oE these secondary conduits from the main conduit Th:is then results in e.Efectively a buffer being kept against the ~`a-rget f~c~ ~ so that there is minimal resultant contact o.L the particular materials beingq carried in the air stream against the targe~ face ~.
This is not to say t:llat tl;ere would not be some q hitting of part;c.ulate l~lal-erial.~; agai.nst the concave Eace but it does say that pro~/icled the ~?hole arrangement is maintaining uniform clistribution with syMmetrical outflow, there is a minimal hitting of the particles against the target face.
As is shown in :Figure 2 in which the right hand secondary conduit is blocked, this causes an unbalancing of the air flow with the result firstly that there will be sudclen turbulence caused and, as is attempted to be shown graphically, a significant number of particles start to hit the target surface ~.
~ ~ ~759~i ~.
The effect of such increases hitting of the target surface increases the noise which of course can be detected.
With the arrangement described the effect has been to significantly.improve the sensitivity to partial blocking of any one of the secondary conduits.
.
The electrical detection means can be any convenient amplifier providing for means to detect a base sound level and means to detect any significant increase of this and in the preferred embodiment this includes a sound level indicator meter appropriately connected by which there is a gradated scale by which the operator can observe a background sound level and therefore any si.~nificant increase on this.
.
This invention relates to the difficulties now very often experienced of detecting a blockage in a conduit which is carrying an airflow carrying with it seed and most often superphosphate.
Such conduits are conventionally supplied from a distribution location and it has been found to be a particularly difficult task to provide means which are not only sensitive to even partial blockage in one of the conduits but which is generally economic to instAl, reliable to use over a long per:iocl in the very difficult environment that might be expected on such agricultural eq~lipment~ and of course sensitive in operation.
An object of this invention is to provide an arrange-ment by which at least some answer to at least one of these problems is possil~:Le.
The invention in one form can be said to resicle in an air flow distribution head comprising a main conduit, and a plurality of secondary conduits arranged so that it is adapted to have the main conduit aligned so as to direct any lncoming airborne particles in a vertical direction along the main conduit, there is an uppermost target face but by reason of the arrange-ment of the main conduit with the plurality of secondary conduits, with all outlet conduits unblocked the particles will be generally diverted from striking the target face being substantially uniformly distributed to each of the outwardly and downwardly and radially aligned '~
5~
..
symmetrically arrangecl secondary conduits, there being the further arrangement that with one or more of the said seconclary conduits being blocked w;ll result in an alteration of the path of particles proceeding up the main conduit so that there is a greater likelihood of these impactlng in greater numbers against the target face, and detection means supported in a position whereby to detect such change by reason of responsiveness to selected frequency signals.
In other words, by providing that the distribution head causes more particles to hit the target face when there is at least a partial blockage in one of the secondary conduits, or of course a full blockage in one or more of the secondary conduits, there is a signi-Eicant event thcreby causecl which can be subsequently detec~ed as an indication that something might be wrong.
It is prefeL~al)le if the target face is concave and of course the <.hclpe of the various members is such that the air streaming from the main conduit into the secondary conduits is as uniform as possible unless a partial or full blockage OCCU7-S.
A distribution hec~d c~rran~gecl in the manner clescribecd has shown itself to be extremely sensitive when operated in a practical manner and by carefulLy monitoring the vibrations caused against the concave face possibly by using a sensitive microphone and then analysing the audio signals received, a very sensitive economica and reliable means of detecting blockage can be achieved.
75~
The invention can of course reside not only in the head so characterised but in a head with these characterisations in an installation wherein there are connected air supply means adapted to carry particles such as grain and superphosphate ancl arranged so that the main conduit is aligned to carry t'ne particles when in the air stream in a substantially vertical direction with the secondary conduits uppermost and held so as to extend outwardly and downwardly in a radial direction and~arranged symmetrically around the main conduit.
Obviously the reference to verticality in th:is instance i.s an app-roximat-ion in that any agricultural machinery is intended to be used in si.tuations in which the contour o~ the ground is followed and the term verticality has to be interpreted as being generally secured to the .~gricul.turcl:l implement such as an airflow seecler when on a horizontal base as generally vertical.
but otherwise perpendicular to the support plane of the implement.
The detection o:E particl.es h;ttillg the target face can be detectecl by cl microphone suspended in absorbent wadding secured to the baclc of the target material..
~ /arious ways can be used to achieve analyses of the electrical signals so as to achieve best effect.
A detection of the`various amplitudes of signals at selected frequencies has been found to provide signi-ficant sensitivity which can be achieved by trial and error by use of an amplifi.er with a variable gain control so that an operator can measure a base reference, that is a reading given with grain and superphosphate being 7S~6 suppl;ed uncler normal conclitions without any of the outlet concluits being blocked and then maintain observation so that if the noise increases above this for any reason then this is an indication that at ]east a partial blockage has occurred.
For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with reference to a preferred embodiment and with the assistance of drawings in which:-Figure 1 shows in schematic form a distributionhead in side cross-sectiollal elevation, two oppositely located outlet condui.ts being shown as having a:ir and particles with the:ir pathway shown from the main concluit, and, Figure 2 shows L he same view as in Figure 1 except that the rip,ht ll.ltl(l ~eCOllCIa1-y conduit iS blocked and showing a typica] rallclomisation of the pattern of grain and superphosphate mlght be expected.
It is to be notecl:ln the drawi.ngs that the outlet conduit other than the. two showrl ;n cross-section have not been speciEical.l~ shown simply ti~ save complexi.ty of the drawing whicll is emphasised i.s schematic.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 showing in particular the radial and symmetrical alignment oE e.ach of the secondary conduits .
Referring now in particular to the drawings, and to the preferred embodiment as illustrated therein, there is shown a distribution head 1 which includes a main conduit oE circular cross-section 2 having thereby a vertical axis and a plurality oE secondary conduits 3 Inte~rconl~ectecl with the main condul.t 2.
~ ach of the secondary conduits has a shape whlch starts as a rectangular opening and changes to a circular cross-section further along its length.
In both ~igures 1 and 2, the outlets to the remaining secondary conduits are shown at 4 so that in effect there are fourteen outlet conduits although of course, described previously for the sake of simplicity and because of the essentially schematic character of the drawings, the remai.nirig ends of the outlet concluits have not been shown.
At an uppermost end of the main conduit 2 is a circular target 5 having a concave lowermost face ~
which :is comprised o:E a Material such as polyurethane plastic which :is adapted to resi.st bui.ld-up of superphos-phate on its surEa.e~
The circular alld concave shape of the target 5 is adapted so as to be coaxial with the circular cross-sectional shape of the mairi concluit 2.
Located uppermost l-)ehil~d ~-he target face Material i.s a detector means 6 which lnc]udes a lllicrophone 7 connected by means of cable ~ to an amp:Lifie-r and i.ndicator means.
The microphone 7 is supported within absorbenc lagging ~ so as to minimise physical shock input to the microphone and to make it more sensitive to signals received by audi.o-transference.
In practice, a microphone of a type conventionally known as an electret by which however a reasonably ~7S~6 7.
sensitive detection o souncl emanating from the target can be received and o:E course by reason of the padding behincl the microphone little else outsicle of this for conversion into electrical signals for analyses by the electrica:L analysing means.
The importance of the arrangement is that when the distributor head 1 is held as is shown in Figure 1 and 2, that is so that the main conduit 2 will carry the air carrying with it the particulate materials in a substantially vertical direction then provided that each of the secondary conduits 3 are substantially open, there w:ill be effectively symmetrical :Elow througl all oE these secondary conduits from the main conduit Th:is then results in e.Efectively a buffer being kept against the ~`a-rget f~c~ ~ so that there is minimal resultant contact o.L the particular materials beingq carried in the air stream against the targe~ face ~.
This is not to say t:llat tl;ere would not be some q hitting of part;c.ulate l~lal-erial.~; agai.nst the concave Eace but it does say that pro~/icled the ~?hole arrangement is maintaining uniform clistribution with syMmetrical outflow, there is a minimal hitting of the particles against the target face.
As is shown in :Figure 2 in which the right hand secondary conduit is blocked, this causes an unbalancing of the air flow with the result firstly that there will be sudclen turbulence caused and, as is attempted to be shown graphically, a significant number of particles start to hit the target surface ~.
~ ~ ~759~i ~.
The effect of such increases hitting of the target surface increases the noise which of course can be detected.
With the arrangement described the effect has been to significantly.improve the sensitivity to partial blocking of any one of the secondary conduits.
.
The electrical detection means can be any convenient amplifier providing for means to detect a base sound level and means to detect any significant increase of this and in the preferred embodiment this includes a sound level indicator meter appropriately connected by which there is a gradated scale by which the operator can observe a background sound level and therefore any si.~nificant increase on this.
.
Claims (5)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An airflow distribution head comprising a main conduit and a plurality of secondary conduits arranged so that with the distribution head supported so that incoming airborne particles passing through the main conduit will be directed in the direction of an uppermost target face but such that at least most of the airborne particles will be diverted with substantially uniform distribution to each of the outwardly and downwardly and radially aligned, symmetrically arranged secondary conduits without impacting against the target face, and being further arranged so that with one of the secondary conduits at least significantly closed, there will be an increased impact rate of particles against the target face, and detection means adapted to detect impacting of particles against the target face and effect an electrical signal responsive to the extent of such impacts.
2. An airflow distribution head as claimed in Claim 1 in which the said detection means includes a microphone located behind the target face.
3. An airflow distribution head as claimed in either Claim 1 or 2 in which the target face is of concave shape.
4. An airflow seeder distribution arrangement including at least one distribution head as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the head is held in a distribution arrangement with the main conduit substantially vertically aligned and the target face uppermost with respect to the said main conduit.
5. An airflow seeder distribution arrangement including at least one distribution head as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the head is held in a distribution arrangement with the main conduit substantially vertically aligned and the concave shaped target face uppermost with respect to the main conduit.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPE679980 | 1980-12-05 | ||
| AUPE6799 | 1980-12-05 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1187596A true CA1187596A (en) | 1985-05-21 |
Family
ID=3768870
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000391645A Expired CA1187596A (en) | 1980-12-05 | 1981-12-07 | Seed distributor monitor head |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU552142B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1187596A (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA818463B (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2832204A1 (en) * | 2013-08-02 | 2015-02-04 | Josef Kotte Landtechnik GmbH & Co. KG | Device for distributing liquid manure |
| CN108024500A (en) * | 2015-09-28 | 2018-05-11 | 赫什机械有限公司 | Agriculture planting machine sows tower and for disconnecting this method for sowing tower outlet |
-
1980
- 1980-12-05 AU AU78251/81A patent/AU552142B2/en not_active Ceased
-
1981
- 1981-12-07 ZA ZA818463A patent/ZA818463B/en unknown
- 1981-12-07 CA CA000391645A patent/CA1187596A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2832204A1 (en) * | 2013-08-02 | 2015-02-04 | Josef Kotte Landtechnik GmbH & Co. KG | Device for distributing liquid manure |
| CN108024500A (en) * | 2015-09-28 | 2018-05-11 | 赫什机械有限公司 | Agriculture planting machine sows tower and for disconnecting this method for sowing tower outlet |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU7825181A (en) | 1982-06-10 |
| AU552142B2 (en) | 1986-05-22 |
| ZA818463B (en) | 1982-10-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |