Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
  • A01C7/00—Sowing
  • A01C7/04—Single-grain seeders with or without suction devices
  • A01C7/042—Single-grain seeders with or without suction devices using pneumatic means
  • A01C7/044—Pneumatic seed wheels
  • A01C7/046—Pneumatic seed wheels with perforated seeding discs

Definitions

• This descriptive report deals with an invention which generally proposes a new pneumatic-type seed feeder, which is used as an integral part of crop sowing equipment, also known as planting machines, and method for controlling the pressure difference in the doser.
• the state of the art comprises vacuum seed feeder equipment incorporating agricultural implements specifically intended for sowing.
• agricultural equipment (1) popularly known as planters, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, there is a central turbine (3), which is driven by a motor, generates a negative pressure in relation to atmospheric pressure, and this pressure
• the negative pressure is distributed by pipelines (4) to the seed feeders (5), which are designed to use the negative pressure to dose the seeds in the planting lines (2), seeking the best possible singularization.
• the vacuum chamber is within the movable side (7) of the doser (5), and is coupled to the pipe that distributes the turbine vacuum through the fitting (6). Singularizing the seeds means dosing the seeds one by one into the doser, without flaws or double seeds, so as to optimize seed distribution in the soil.
• the planter may have more than one turbine, which always cater to a set of dosers, which require air transport piping to distribute negative pressure to the dosers.
• the central turbine generates vacuum for more than one seed dispenser, typically around 15 or more, and a pipe distributes the vacuum generated by the central turbine to each seed dispenser, with these pipes varying from length according to the position of the seed feeders on the planter.
• the state-of-the-art central turbine system exhibits considerable energy loss, as there is always pressure drop when distributing the vacuum over long pipelines. Moreover, as the length of the pipes varies, as this measurement depends on the position of the dosers in the planter rows, the vacuum pressure in the dosers is also variable between them, compromising the performance of the dosers, as they are dependent on the vacuum pressure. to better single seed dosage.
• the performance of the dosers is also variable with regard to seed singleness.
• each feeder generates its own engine-driven vacuum with a built-in turbine.
• the pipes between the feeder were eliminated. and the turbine, minimizing pressure losses.
• seed singleness is improved.
• piping costs, maintenance costs are eliminated and any breakdowns that could cause feeder performance failure are eliminated.
• the subject matter of the present invention deals together with three aspects of such dispensing devices, first of the pneumatic system itself, namely the manner and arrangement of the mechanisms and a turbine to generate the pressure difference in the metering doser. seeds, the second is the system to control this pressure difference, and finally a method to control the pressure difference in such a way as to optimize the organization and singularization of the seeds in the doser.
• the present invention provides a pneumatic seed generator with self-generating pressure difference and methods for controlling the pressure difference in feeders that are employed in crop sowing equipment, also known as planting machines, where the feeder consists of a rotating disc with holes, a seeds, a seed supply silo, and a vacuum chamber, among other components.
• the feeder has the ability to generate its own vacuum by rotating a rotor which is driven by a motor.
• the feeder further comprises seed sensors to monitor seed singularization.
• An electronic control unit is also provided that has an algorithmically programmed microcontroller electronic circuit, which interprets the singularization data from said sensors, and acts on the turbine motor controller, changing the turbine motor speed, where this set forms the doser control system.
• An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a feeder having a vacuum generating turbine that is contained within a feeder compartment, generating a vacuum that promotes the flow, singularization / organization and transport of the silo seed to the seed conductor with a known and manageable vacuum pressure, eliminating pressure drop and optimizing seed singleness.
• Another advantage of the present invention is that it allows the control of vacuum pressure in each doser individually, eliminating a possible undesired pressure variable in the dosers.
• Another advantage of the present invention is that it eliminates the pipes connecting the central turbine to each doser, avoiding constant damage to these pipes. and, consequently, reducing equipment maintenance and downtime costs.
• Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it eliminates the need for manual adjustment of the working pressure of the pneumatic system, since the dispenser is able to identify by itself the pressure that provides the best seed singleness.
• Figure 1 illustrates a planter with a state of the art vacuum seed dosing system, where a turbine drives several vacuum type seed feeders;
• Figure 2 illustrates an example of a planting line containing a common prior art vacuum seed feeder
• Figure 3 illustrates an example of a common prior art vacuum seed dispenser
• FIG. 4 illustrates the pneumatic seed dispenser with its own pressure difference generation and control system, object of the present invention
• Figure 5 illustrates the partially disassembled doser of Figure 4 illustrating the vacuum generating turbine and the motor
• Figure 6 illustrates an exploded view of the pneumatic seed dispenser of Figure 4, object of the present invention
• Figure 7 illustrates an exploded view of the doser turbine rotor of the present invention
• Figure 8 illustrates a flow chart of the method for controlling the dispenser pressure, object of the present invention.
• the present invention provides a PNEUMATIC SEED DOSER WITH OWN PRESSURE DIFFERENCE, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLING PRESSURE DIFFERENCE IN AGRICULTURAL SOWING EQUIPMENT, that through a motor and a turbine built into the doser allows to generate the vacuum itself, in order to singularize the distribution of seeds.
• FIGS 4, 5 and 6 illustrating the self-generating pressure difference pneumatic seed dispenser (10) of the present invention through a vacuum generator turbine consisting of a rotor ( 15) disposed between a vacuum chamber (12) and a circular compartment (11) which is provided with an air outlet (16), said rotor (15) being driven by an externally fixed motor (14) at one end of said feeder (10), at which end there is provided a silo (18) in fluid communication with the interior of the feeder.
• the vacuum chamber (12) is provided with a sealing rubber (13).
• the feeder (10) is further provided with sensors (20), and an electronic control unit (21) with motor speed controller, connected to each other via a connection (22), and the electronic control unit (21) is connected to the motor (14) via a connection (23) constituting the feeder control system.
• the feeder (10) further comprises a hole disk (24) (24A) which is provided with a seed organizer (25) positioned over the edge of said disk, the which is disposed between said vacuum chamber (12) and the fixed side (17) of the dispenser, wherein an axis (19) is responsible for moving the disc (24).
• the rotary movement of said rotor (15) generates a vacuum that promotes air flow between the two sides of the disc (24) through the holes (24A).
• Airflow is responsible for sucking the seed from the silo (18), capturing and holding the seed trapped in the holes (24A) of the disk (24), allowing for seed singularization in the seed organizer (25) positioned over the edge. of said disk (24).
• the seeds then exit the seed organizer (25) through a duct disposed on the fixed side (17) behind the sensors (20) and the control unit (21). In this way, the air flow promotes the transport of the seeds from the silo (18) to an agricultural machine seed conductor with a known and manipulable vacuum pressure.
• each feeder has all elements of the basic control system, consisting of fault detection and / or seed double sensor, electronic control unit, turbine motor speed controller and the turbine motor itself. said. But each of the control system components can be shared between two or more feeders constituting different architectures, where control can be more centralized or decentralized.
• motor 14 is an electric motor, however motor 14 may be pneumatic, hydraulic or the like and may be coupled directly to rotor 15, or indirectly through belt, flex, gears, or the like.
• FIG. 7 illustrating an exploded view of the rotor (15) which is provided with curved blades (15A) and a lid (15B) which has the function of increasing the efficiency of the rotor.
• the rotor (15) may have other construction forms that meet the availability of materials and suitability of projects.
• the turbine action occurs directly in the doser (10), without further energy or vacuum losses through long pipes, with precise control of the vacuum pressure in the doser, since both are connected. directly and with the possibility of individual and intelligent control of this vacuum pressure in each doser.
• Figure 8 illustrates a flow chart of the method for controlling the pressure difference between the two sides of the metering disc (24), where the method comprises the steps of applying (8100) a preset vacuum pressure, and then the seed sensors (20) identify (8200) the state of their uniqueness in the feeder, transmit (8300) this data to the electronic control unit (21) with a programmed microcontroller with algorithms, which analyzes (8400) the singularization data from the sensors (20), and sends a command to the turbine engine controller (14), changing the engine speed (14) of said turbine, forming the feeder control.
• the method comprises the steps of applying (8100) a preset vacuum pressure, and then the seed sensors (20) identify (8200) the state of their uniqueness in the feeder, transmit (8300) this data to the electronic control unit (21) with a programmed microcontroller with algorithms, which analyzes (8400) the singularization data from the sensors (20), and sends a command to the turbine engine controller (14), changing the engine speed (14) of said turbine, forming the feeder control.
• This control is used to reduce, maintain or increase the individual turbine vacuum pressure of each feeder specifically, ie, depending on the seed singularization state in the feeder, which may have faults or double seeds, the control system automatically activates the turbine engine for compensate in terms of vacuum pressure and optimize singularization.
• control unit (21) will send (8600) a command to the motor 14 changes its speed so as to increase the vacuum pressure to better retain the seeds and minimize failures.
• failure index (IF) is not higher than the double seed index (ID) then check whether the failure index (IF) is lower than the double seed index (ID).
• control unit (21) will send (8800) a command for the motor (14) to change. rotate so as to decrease vacuum pressure to retain only one seed per hole and minimize doubles.
• the controller has found the ideal working vacuum pressure (8900) and does not change the engine speed (14). In this way, the continuity process returning to step (8200), always seeking to remain at the ideal working pressure, making the process continuous and cyclical.
• the working pressure would be such that the occurrence of seed failure and the occurrence of double seeds were zero, but this result is not always possible to obtain. This process is continuous and self-feeding. Failure means the absence of seed where one seed is expected, and double seed means the presence of two seeds where only one is expected.
• the seed sensor is responsible for informing the seed failure index and the double seed index.
• the time between one seed and the next should be 200 milliseconds, and the seed sensor counts the time between one seed and the next to detect anomalies. If the time between one seed and the next is approximately 400 milliseconds, the sensor detects that a seed is missing and reports a seed failure, ie the seed that should have been dosed after 200 milliseconds has not been dosed.
• the sensor detects that one seed has been over dosed and reports occurrence of a double seed, ie within 200 milliseconds where only one seed should have been dosed actually two seeds were dosed.
• the anomaly index false index or double index
• This method of pressure control is most efficient in the arrangement where there is a self-generated vacuum feeder, but can also be applied in the traditional multi-feeder turbine system.
• the criterion for increasing or decreasing the pressure considers the same weight for failure rate and double seeds, but different weights may be used for each case. Since failures are usually more undesirable than double seeds, it is common practice to consider the weight of the failure rate higher than double seeds.
• the method of the present invention can be employed in a decentralized architecture servicing each feeder individually, in a fully centralized architecture with a shared turbine, as well as in several architectural variants that can be assembled with these components to form an intermediate architecture.
• the present invention while focusing on pneumatic feeders using a vacuum source to perform seed dosing, may receive an alternative constructive form where the pressure difference between the two sides of the disc is obtained. raising the pressure on the side of the disk where the seeds are transported.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Soil Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Sowing (AREA)
• Pretreatment Of Seeds And Plants (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=59224171

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (4)

• 2015
  • 2015-12-30 BR BR102015033036-7A patent/BR102015033036A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2016
  • 2016-12-20 AR ARP160103932A patent/AR107155A1/es unknown
  • 2016-12-23 WO PCT/BR2016/050348 patent/WO2017112989A1/pt active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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