GB2534392A

GB2534392A - Apparatus for distributing agricultural product

Info

Publication number: GB2534392A
Application number: GB1501038.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mcavoy Paul
Original assignee: HOLME FARM SUPPLIES Ltd
Current assignee: HOLME FARM SUPPLIES Ltd
Priority date: 2015-01-21
Filing date: 2015-01-21
Publication date: 2016-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2035-01-21
Also published as: GB201501038D0; GB2534392B

Abstract

Apparatus for distributing solid agricultural product, e.g. powder or pellets, comprises a hopper 1 for holding the agricultural product and a blower 5 for providing air flow to carry the product held in the hopper to one or more distribution points; wherein the blower is located against or within the hopper. As well as warming the product, the vibrations from the blower agitate the product inhibiting clogging and bridging. Further, as the blower is encased, the system as a whole is quietened and can be made more compact.

Description

Apparatus for Distributing Agricultural Product The present invention relates to apparatus for distributing agricultural product such as, for example, biocides and fertilizers onto arable land.

Solid agricultural product spread over arable land commonly takes the form of power, granules or pellets. The product is held in a hopper carried by a tractor or similar such vehicle and a metering system meters out product from the hopper. The metered product is blown by a fan through one or more conduits that terminate at different points along the length of a boom to provide even coverage over the ground.

Although the system works relatively well, there remains room for improvement.

For example, it is found that the rate of distribution of product can vary over time. It is believed that this is attributable to changes over time in the temperature and humidity of the blown air and product. Variation is particularly noticeable when spreading starts early in the morning when the air and powder or granulates are relatively cold and moist, and continues into the afternoon when the air has warmed and the product has dried, when it will flow more freely. As the rate of distribution is often calibrated at the start of the day, this can lead to over application of product if the distribution rate increases later. Conversely, if calibration is made while the product is dry and warm but distribution occurs or continues during a cooler time of day, e.g. in the evening or the next morning, under application is likely.

A further problem is that the product, particularly when in powder form, may clog or form bridges over the outlet of the hopper disrupting the flow rate of product to the meter system and so leading to uneven spreading of product over the ground. -2 -

According to the invention there is provided apparatus including a hopper for holding a, preferably solid, agricultural product to be distributed onto a field; the apparatus further comprising: a blower for providing a flow of air to carry the agricultural product held in the hopper to one or more distribution points; and wherein the blower is located against or within the hopper.

Most preferably the blower is located within the hopper as this arrangement provides the benefits mentioned below to the greatest extent. In particular, by positioning the blower within the hopper, the casing of the hopper and the agricultural product itself, will act to attenuate the noise of the fan as heard from outside of the hopper.

A second advantage is that the vibrations from the blower during operation act to agitate the product within the hopper which inhibits clogging and bridging of the product within the hopper. The vibration may also assist to improve the flow of the product when the product is cold and relatively damp.

A third advantage provided by the invention is that it reduces the hosing required to carry air from the blower to the metering system that distributes the product, thus reducing the overall size of the apparatus. This together with ability to construct the hopper and fan as, or to appear as a single unit, makes the apparatus more aesthetic pleasing.

A fourth advantage is that the heat generated through operation of the blower warms the agricultural product acting to pre-dry the product before it leaves the hopper. This helps to maintain free flow of the product, particularly if the outside temperature drops, such as may happen if spreading continues into the evening In a preferred embodiment the apparatus comprises a conduit that extends inwardly into the hopper to carry air from outside the hopper to an inlet of the blower. This -3 -isolates the air flow into the blower from the product within the hopper inhibiting/preventing product from inadvertently entering the blower. For the same reason, it is also preferred that a conduit carries air from the blower out of the hopper.

It is preferred that the apparatus comprises means to warm the air used to carry the product in order to improve the flow of the air or maintain free flow of the product.

It is preferred that the blower is driven by a hydraulic motor as this provides convenient means to drive the blower given that agricultural vehicles often include a hydraulic system including a hydraulic pump. It is further preferred that a return line from the hydraulic motor is used to raise the temperature of air blown by the blower.

This further improves flow rate of product.

This arrangement has the added effect of cooling the hydraulic fluid within the return line reducing the degree of dedicated cooling required by the hydraulic system, thereby making the hydraulic system more efficient.

Most preferably, the return line is used to raise the temperature of air before it enters the blower. In this way the warmed air can warm the product as it flows towards the blower.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following figures in which: Figure 1 is downward facing perspective view of hopper, fan and meter forming part of a system adapted to be mounted to a vehicle for spreading solid agricultural product over arable land; Figure 2 is a downward facing perspective view of the hopper fan and meter of Fig I taken from the other side of the hopper; and -4 -Figure 3 is a side view of the hopper, fan and meter showing the inlet to the fan.

Referring to the Figures there is shown a hopper I for holding an agricultural product such as a fertilizer or biocide in the form of power, granules and/or pellets.

The hopper 1 tapers downwards towards two outlets 2, comprising multiple apertures, that feed the agricultural product to two measuring systems 3 of which only one is shown in the Figures. The measuring systems 3 control the rate of product out of the hopper 1 to conduits 3A that carry the product along booms extending from either side of the vehicle to distribution points spaced along a boom in an arrangement similar to that used by the Kuhn AGT 6036 boom fertilizer spreader. The metering system 3 may take the form of any one of many common metering systems known for this purpose and so, as its particular workings are not germane to the present invention, it will not be described here further.

Mounted within a cavity 4 of the hopper I the product are two centrifugal fans 5 (only one shown) which may, in certain embodiments, be housed in an inner housing (not shown) to isolate the fans 5 from the agricultural product. The fans 5 are mounted substantially towards or at the outlets 2 so that the vibrations of the fans 5 agitate and warm the product sitting at and near the outlets 2 to the greater extent. Ducts 6 (only one shown in Figs 1 & 2), which extend from openings 7 in a wall 8 of the hopper 1, allow air to flow from outside of the hopper 1 to inlets of the respective fans 5. Second ducts 9 (only one shown) carry air from the fans 5 through second openings 10 to the measuring system 3.

The fan 5 is driven by a hydraulic motor located within fan 5 casing. A hydraulic feed line (not shown) and a hydraulic drain line 12 (of which only small sections are shown) carry hydraulic fluid between a hydraulic pump usually carried by the tractor and the hydraulic motor. -5 -

Referring to Fig 3, the hydraulic drain line 12 is routed to have a portion 12A that extends within at least one of the ducts 6. During operation of the fan 5, hot hydraulic fluid passing from the hydraulic motor through the drain line 12 warms air flowing through the duct 6 towards the fan's 5 inlet. Likewise, this also results in cooling of hydraulic fluid returning towards the hydraulic pump. The portion 12A is shaped to provide a tortuous route to increase heat transfer between the portion 12A and air within ducts 6. In this example, the portion 12A is helical.

It will be appreciated that variations to the above described arrangement are possible. For example, the fans 5 need not be of a centrifugal type; in fact other forms of blower other than fans may be used. Further, the fans 5 (or blowers) may be mounted substantially against the case of the hopper 1. Such an arrangement is thought would still provide some of the advantages of heating and agitation of the product, and possibility some noise attenuation though to a lesser extent.

It is possible that the apparatus may be adapted for distribution of liquid agricultural products so long as there is adequate isolation of the product from the fan.

The invention is equally applicable to hoppers 1 having only outlet 2 to feed a single measuring system 3. In such instance it would only be necessary to have one fan 5, duct 6 and second duct 9. Although preferred, it is not necessary for the hopper 1 to comprise a downward taper.

It is possible to arrange the return line to run outside of the conduit 6 rather than in it so as to warm the conduit 6 and through that the air passing through the conduit 6. Further the return line 12 may instead or in addition be arranged to warm the air after it has passed out of the fan 5.

Claims

Claims 1. Apparatus including a hopper for holding an agricultural product to be distributed onto arable land; the apparatus further comprising: a blower for providing a flow of air to carry the agricultural product held in the hopper to one or more distribution points; and wherein the blower is located against or within the hopper.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the blower s located within the hopper.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a conduit that extends inwardly into the hopper to carry air from outside of the hopper to an inlet of the blower.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the blower is driven by a hydraulic motor and that a return line from the hydraulic motor is arranged so as to raise the temperature of air blown by the blower.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the return line is arranged to warm air entering the blower.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the return line is arranged to pass through the conduit to warm air entering the blower.
7. Apparatus according to any claim wherein the agricultural product is solid.
8. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the blower s a fan.
9. Apparatus according to any previous claim adapted to be carried and/or drawn by a self propelled vehicle for distributing the agricultural product onto a field. -6 - -7 -
10. Apparatus according to any claim 1 -8 adapted to be carried and/or drawn by a self propelled vehicle for distributing the agricultural product via ducts carried by a boom to one or more distribution points spaced along the boom.
11. Apparatus according to any previous claim arranged to feed the agricultural product from the hopper to a metering system, and that the air from the blower is arranged to carry agricultural product from the metering system to the one or more distribution points.