RU2781990C1 - Method and apparatus for introducing multigrain doses of a granulated material using an agricultural machine, and distributing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agricultural engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of introducing multigrain dosages of a granulated material using a system for introducing multigrain dosages of a granulated material for an agricultural machine. Method for introducing includes providing a granulated material (2) in a tank (1); supplying the granulated material (2) from the tank (1) to the dosing apparatus (3); creating multigrain doses of the granulated material (2) using the dosing apparatus (3); dispensing multigrain doses of the granulated material by means of the dosing apparatus (3) to the dose introduction apparatus (9). The multigrain doses therein are each time partially or fully discretely dispensed in the form of time-spaced doses and are introduced using the dose introduction apparatus (9), leading to the creation of separate multigrain dosing sites in the field whereon the agricultural machine moves. The dispensed granulated material (2) for creating multigrain doses is collected in the accumulation section (4) of the dosing apparatus (3), and the outlet apparatus of the accumulation section (4) is loaded with a flow of fluid so as to ensure discrete dispensing of dosages at time intervals, and by means thereof opens to release the doses for introduction. The supply of the granulated material from the tank (1) to the dosing apparatus (3) therein continues during the creation and dispensing of multigrain dosages. Additionally provided is a distribution machine containing the above system for introducing multigrain dosages of a granulated material.

EFFECT: increase in the effectiveness of introducing doses of the material to the field.

12 cl, 3 dwg

Description

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying multi-grain doses of granular material using an agricultural machine, as well as a distributing machine.

State of the art

Agricultural machines can be configured to apply various granular materials such as seed or fertilizer. With such machines, the material to be applied is usually provided in a tank or supply hopper, from where the material is fed into a metering device, with which the granular material to be applied is dosed in order to then be applied to the field. Thus, in conjunction with sowing machines, it is known to separate the seed grain by means of a metering device in order to spread the individual seed grains in the field over which the agricultural machine travels. It can also be provided for the introduction of several seed grains in one dose. In the case of fertilizer grains, the application is usually carried out as a continuous flow of fertilizer granules from a tank to the field.

EP 1 825 737 A1 discloses a system and method for electronic pulse distribution of a chemical with seed. This system and this method use a seed dispensing tube for discharging seeds, a granulate tube for discharging chemical, an electric valve for opening so that chemical granulate can be dispensed from the chemical granulate tube, and a proximity sensor which in is connected to an electric valve according to the mode of operation, this sensor being configured to detect the seed which is dispensed from the seed dispensing tube. Such a system may also include a metering mechanism for metering the amount of chemical dispensed with the seed. The metering mechanism is controlled by a radar unit on a tractor connected to the system, and the metering mechanism is programmed to dispense a predetermined amount of chemical with the seed.

The document DE 10 2010 017 127 A1 concerns a combined spreading machine consisting of a precision seed drill with devices for separating the seed grains and coulters, as well as a fertilizer spreading machine with devices for dosing fertilizer and the corresponding devices for dropping fertilizer, the grains being separated by devices for separating the seed grains at at least approximately the same intervals with the help of the coulters can be dropped into the soil, and the fertilizers dosed using the fertilizer dosing devices can be placed into the soil by means of the fertilizer dropping devices at least close to the grains lowered into the soil. These fertilizer metering devices feed the metered fertilizers to the fertilizer droppers in such a way that the fertilizer doses for each grain can be placed in a prescribed manner in a portioned manner at a distance from each other to each grain in the soil.

Document DE 10 2015 110 079 A1 discloses a method for fertilizing the cultivation of potatoes, in which in the area of the corresponding, potato ridges, potato beds or the like. soil forms on agricultural areas in which seed tubers are planted, fertilizers are applied in liquid, gaseous or solid state. In the longitudinal direction of the potato rows, this creates a structure having one or more fertilizer lines. This concept provides that, at least variable in its composition, its quantity, its consistency and/or its position relative to the seed tuber, a fertilizer adjusted specifically for the surface area is applied to the proximal region of the seed tubers. The unloading device provided for this has a dosing unit connected to at least two supply hoppers, so that the fertilizer mixed in it from at least two fertilizers can be transferred to the area of the potato ridge through a batch-grabbing feeding system. In this case, by means of a control unit using a computer, the direct application of fertilizers, the corresponding mixture of fertilizers and/or the corresponding quantitative dosage of fertilizers in the fertilizer line is controlled depending on the surface area.

Disclosure of the essence of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for applying multi-grain doses of granular material using an agricultural machine, as well as a spreading machine, which can improve the application of granular material.

To solve this problem, a method has been developed for applying multi-grain doses of granular material using an agricultural machine according to independent paragraph 1 of the claims. Further, a device for applying multi-grain doses of granular material for an agricultural machine according to independent claim 10 of the formula is proposed. In addition, a spreading machine is provided, which is designed, for example, as a seeding machine. Embodiments are the subject of dependent claims.

According to one embodiment, a method is provided for applying multi-grain doses of granular material using an agricultural machine. With this method, granular material, such as fertilizer, is provided in the tank. The granulated material from the tank is fed into the dosing device. With the help of a dosing device, multi-grain doses of granular material are created, i.e. doses that contain several grains of granular material. The multi-grain doses of the granular material are dispensed into the spreader by means of a dosing device, wherein the multi-grain doses are partially or completely dispensed discretely as time-spaced dosages. Time-spaced meterings are applied by means of an applicator, as a result of which individual multi-grain metering points are created in the field over which the agricultural machine is moving. Continuously fed multi-grain dose granules are collected in the metering hopper and the timed metering hopper outlet is fluid flowed and thereby opened to release timed metered doses for application.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a device for applying multi-grain doses of granular material for an agricultural machine. This device has a tank that is designed to accommodate granular material. Further, said device has a dosing device, as well as a feeding device designed to continuously supply granular material from the tank of the dosing device. An accumulator is provided containing a dosing device and designed to collect a continuously fed granular material to create multi-grain doses. The opening device for discontinuous dispensing of dosages of granular material is configured to load the dispensing device's outlet at time intervals with a flow of fluid and open it due to this, wherein the multi-grain doses are partially or completely dispensed discretely as dispersed dosages in time. Said device comprises an applicator which is designed to receive and dispense time-spaced doses from the dispenser outlet so that individual multi-grain dispense locations can be created in the field over which the agricultural machine is traveling.

The following is a distributing machine with devices.

With the help of a metering device, from the feed stream of granular material, for example, fertilizer or seed grain from a tank to the metering device, divided multi-grain doses are created, each of which can then be dispensed in whole or in part as a corresponding dosage with a separation in time, so that based on the supplied flow of granular material to the dosing device, a discrete sequence of dosages is formed. Thus, it makes it possible to dispense multi-grain doses at defined time intervals in the field, for example, in a field furrow.

The supply of granular material from the tank to the metering device, whether in the form of a continuous or discontinuous (discrete) flow of material, can continue during the creation and dispensing of multi-grain doses. Alternatively, a momentary interruption may be provided, at least during the dispensing of multi-grain doses from the metering device to the application device. In this case, we can talk about a quasi-continuous supply of granular material from the tank. Such a short interruption can be several times shorter than the time interval between two successive dosages that are dispensed.

For multi-grain doses created in the dosing device, it can be provided for the issuance of each completely or only partially within one dosage. Since, after dispensing one dose, the remainder of this multi-grain dose remains in the metering device, an initial amount is formed for the next multi-grain dose created.

The application of timed doses may be through the outlet line of the applicator, which may extend in a vertical direction, whether at an angle of about 90° to the soil surface or obliquely thereto, and has an outlet through which the granular material may be dispensed onto field.

The dosages dispensed sequentially one after the other can be the same and different in terms of the number of grains they contain.

When supplying granular material from the tank to the dosing device, this granular material can be transported solely by gravity. Alternatively, a supplementary air flow may be provided which accelerates the movement of the granular material towards the metering device.

The granulated material is collected in a store or accumulated for a predetermined period of time in order to then dispense the multi-grain dose thus created after a predetermined period of time. Depending on the supply of granular material from the tank and depending on the time interval between successive events for opening the accumulator for a multi-grain dose, the granular material is collected (dosed) in a predetermined volume before dispensing.

The fluid flow by the opening device may be provided in the form of a gas stream, for example, in the form of an air stream, in particular in the form of time-spaced fluid flow pulses, each of which causes the accumulator outlet to open in a predetermined opening time interval, after whereby the accumulator (outlet) is closed again and the granular material is collected again for the next multi-grain dose. The fluid flow may suitably be provided as a series of periodic opening pulses. Said accumulator in this or other embodiments may be located, for example, at the inlet or within an outlet line through which doses are applied to the field. Provided at time intervals, fluid streams or fluid bursts result in discontinuous or pulsed delivery of multi-grain dosages/doses, which in turn have been prepared by supplying granular material from the tank.

It can be provided that the fluid flows opening the outlet are generated at a repetition rate dependent on the speed of the agricultural machine.

Fertilizer can be provided as granular material and individual multi-grain fertilizer dosing stations can be set up in the field. At the same time, dosed multi-grain portions of fertilizer are provided and are applied to the field at intervals.

Multi-grain places for dosing fertilizer on the field can be created in relation to each separately formed sowing place with one or more sowing grains. In such an embodiment, the agricultural machine is configured to apply both the seed material and the fertilizer attached thereto. For this, separate tanks or supply hoppers can be provided, from which the corresponding material is then applied separately. The application of one dose of seed grains (single grain or several seeds) can be coordinated in time with the application of doses of fertilizer, so that in one embodiment, one dose of fertilizer is applied per dose of seed grain, for example, in such a way that both doses are placed in the same dosing point or optionally at a certain distance from each other on the field. The timing of the operation of the metering device and the device for spreading seed on the one hand, and fertilizer on the other hand, can be realized using a control device, for example, due to the fact that this control device provides time-coordinated trigger pulses, to coordinate the execution of dosing and the application of the appropriate dose.

The fluid flow may be fed through a fluid supply line to an accumulator outlet which is located at least in portions in a supply line through which the granular material is fed from the dispenser tank. The granular material from the tank may surround the fluid supply line on one or more sides. The supplied granular material, for example a continuous inflow, then moves outward with respect to the outer surface of the fluid supply line.

To open the outlet device of the drive can be rearranged movable locking element. To open the movable closures, for example, a fluid supply line outlet can be located opposite them, which is optionally equipped with an outlet nozzle, so that the fluid flow issued at time intervals can “push” said one or more movable closures to open the outlet device . These locking elements can be pretensioned against such movement, so that after the end of the fluid flow they can automatically return to their original position in which this accumulator outlet is locked. A plurality of locking elements may be provided which together lock the accumulator outlet. These closure elements may have, for example, brush or membrane elements that are resiliently flexible, for example in response to fluid flow to open the outlet of the accumulator. These locking elements may be configured to, in response to fluid flow, open the outlet of the accumulator at least in the middle region. One or more locking elements can be installed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the outlet line connecting to the store, for example, to form a funnel-shaped form into which multi-grain doses are placed before dispensing from the store.

The accumulator may have dosing compartments for each one of the multi-grain doses. These multiple dosing compartments can, in one example, be simultaneously filled with a stream of granular material. Said dosing compartments can be located in the dosing chamber of the dosing device, into which the granular material is placed to be distributed among the dosing compartments.

Said dosing compartments can be located separately on the rotary structural element in such a way that each of these dosing compartments can be moved to and from the outlet device by means of the rotary structural element. The pivoting structure can be made with a poppet feeder or a paddle feeder on which dosing compartments are formed, for example on the flat side of the poppet feeder, which can be oriented in a substantially horizontal direction, with the dosing compartments located on the cover side. Said metering compartments can be opened to a distribution ramp onto which the flow of granular material from the tank falls in order to introduce the granular material through the distribution ramp into the metering compartments.

For the application of multi-grain doses from the corresponding dosing compartment, it can be provided that the bottom opening of the dosing compartment is brought into at least partial overlap with the opening of the accumulator outlet, so that the granular material of the multi-grain dose enters the outlet line through both openings. To this end, the locking device attached to the opening of the outlet device can be opened by means of a fluid flow provided at time intervals. To do this, the flow (pulse) of the fluid medium can be fed through the opening of the dosing compartment to the locking device.

These dosages in at least one section of the transport path in the application device, for example in the outlet line (eg downpipe) contained therein, can be conveyed with acceleration by means of a controlled air flow. This controlled airflow maintains the gravity-driven movement of the granular material in its transport path in the application device, for example in an outlet line or in an outlet or downpipe. The controlled air flow can be formed separately or partially by a fluid flow that is supplied at time intervals to the outlet of the store to discretely open it for dispensing multi-grain doses.

Said dosages may be dispensed by the dosing device at a frequency of at least 5 dosages per second, preferably at a frequency of at least 20 dosages per second (frequency in Hz). For example, application rates of up to about 30 Hz or up to about 40 Hz can be provided. In such a case, dosages can be placed on the field with this frequency. It can be provided that the travel speed is determined for the agricultural machine in working mode and the spreading frequency is set accordingly, i.e., for example, a higher spreading frequency is applied at high speeds. The frequency of application can also be adjusted in order to obtain different distances between dosing points in the field.

The embodiments discussed above in conjunction with the method can be provided, respectively, in connection with a device for applying multi-grain doses of granular material for an agricultural machine. The same applies to a distributing machine with such a device.

Description of execution examples

Further examples will be discussed in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings show the following.

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a device for applying multi-grain doses of granular material for an agricultural machine;

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of another device for applying multi-grain dosages of granular material for an agricultural machine;

Fig. 3 shows the device of FIG. 2, top view, and

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a single furrow in a field with separated or spaced metering points.

On FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a device for applying multi-grain doses of granular material, such as fertilizer for an agricultural machine, in particular a spreading machine, such as a seeding machine. The granular material 2 to be applied is provided in a tank or supply hopper 1. The granular material 2 from the tank 1 is fed into the metering device 3, for example, in the form of a continuous stream. In the example shown, the guided granular material 2 enters the store 4, which is provided with closing elements 5, 6, so that the granular material 2 is collected on these closing elements 5, 6, whereby a multi-grain dose is provided. If a predetermined multi-grain dose has been created, an air pulse or an air shock is emitted through the fluid supply line 7 in the direction of the locking elements 5, 6, whereby they are pressed down to open the dispensing 8 of the accumulator 4 (not shown), so that the granular material 2 can be discharged downwards in one section of the outlet line 9, from where the dose thus dispensed from the accumulator 4 can be applied to the field. After the end of the fluid flow, these closing elements 5, 6 again return to their original position according to FIG. 1 so that the accumulator 4 is closed to collect again a multi-grain dose of granular material 2. A fluid flow is dispensed at periodic intervals so that at time intervals (discretely) doses of granular material 2 are dispensed and then applied to the field.

Said locking elements 5, 6 are made, for example, with brushes or with flexible membrane elements, which, after the end of the air impact, again move back into the position shown in FIG. 1 closed position. In the embodiment shown, these locking elements 5, 6 are installed obliquely downwards and form a funnel 10 in which the granular material 2 is collected.

With the device in Fig. 1 the supply of granular material 2 from tank 1 is converted into a sequence of time-spaced and thus discretely dispensed dosages of granular material 2. field of individual doses of granular material 2, as shown, for example, in the schematic representation of FIG. four.

On FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 shows schematic representations of another device for applying multi-grain dosages of granular material 2 for an agricultural machine. For the same features, the same reference numerals are used as in FIG. 1. In the example of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the accumulator 4 is made with a plate feeder 20, on the cover side of which several dosing compartments 21 are formed, each of which opens to a distribution ramp 22, so that the granular material 2 placed on the distribution ramp 22 (cf. Fig. 2) enters the dosing compartments 21 The poppet feeder 20 is rotated to bring the opening of the dosing compartments 21 located on the bottom side into overlap with the opening of the outlet line 9, so that the multi-grain dose received in the dosing chamber 21 can be brought down through the outlet line 9. For this purpose, an air flow pulse 23 is applied to holes to open the locking device, as already described above. In this case, it is also possible to provide an air flow which flows into the outlet line 9 and there accelerates the movement of the granular material 2 towards the field.

The plate feeder is rotatably mounted in chamber 24.

Also with the device in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, it is possible, for example, to dose the soil 42 in the field with the fertilizer 40 according to the embodiment in FIG. 4 with one or more seeds 41.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, in the claims, as well as in the drawings, may be essential to the invention, either individually or in any combination to implement various embodiments.

Claims (26)

1. A method for applying multi-grain dosages of granular material using an agricultural machine, including: - provision of granular material (2) in a tank (1); - supply of granular material (2) from the tank (1) to the dosing device (3); - creating multi-grain doses of granular material (2) using a dosing device (3); - issuance of multi-grain doses of granular material by means of a dosing device (3) to the device (9) for applying, and multi-grain doses are discretely dispensed each time partially or completely in the form of dosages spaced apart in time; and - application of dosages spaced apart in time using the application device (9), as a result of which separate multi-grain dosing places are created on the field along which the agricultural machine moves; moreover, the guided granular material (2) for creating multi-grain doses is collected in the accumulator (4) of the dosing device (3), and the outlet device of the accumulator (4) for discrete issuance of dosages at time intervals is loaded with a fluid flow and with its help is opened to release dosages for their application, and moreover, the supply of granular material (2) from the tank (1) to the dosing device (3) continues during the creation and issuance of multi-grain dosages. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that fertilizer is provided as a granular material (2), and separate multi-grain places (43) for dispensing fertilizer are created on the field. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that each multi-grain place (43) for dosing fertilizer on the field is created in connection with a separately formed sowing place (41) with one or more seed grains. 4. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid flow through the fluid supply line (7) is fed to an outlet device, which is located at least in separate sections in the supply line through which the granular material (2 ) is fed from the tank (1) to the dosing device (3). 5. The method according to at least one of the previous paragraphs, characterized in that in order to open the outlet device of the drive (4), the movable locking element (5; 6) is rearranged. 6. Method according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that the accumulator (4) has dosing compartments (21) for receiving one of the multi-grain doses in each. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the dosing compartments (21) are installed separately on the rotary structural element (20) in such a way that each of these dosing compartments (21) with the help of the said rotary structural element (20) can move to to and from the outlet. 8. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dosages in at least one section of the transport path in the application device (9) are transported with acceleration by means of a controlled air flow. 9. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dosages are dispensed from the dosing device (3) at a frequency of at least 5 dosages per second, preferably at a frequency of at least 20 dosages per second. 10. A system for applying multi-grain dosages of granular material for an agricultural machine, comprising: - a tank (1) designed to accommodate granular material (2); - dosing device (3); - a feeding device, which is configured to supply granular material (2) from the tank (1) to the dosing device (3); - storage (4) contained in the dosing device (3) and configured to collect the supplied granular material (2) to create multi-grain doses; - an opening device made with the possibility of loading it with a fluid flow and opening due to this the outlet device of the dosing device (3) at intervals in time for the discrete issuance of dosages of granular material, with multi-grain doses, respectively, partially or completely discretely issued as spaced apart in time dosages; and - a device (9) for applying, made with the ability to receive and apply spaced apart in time dosages from the outlet device of the dosing device (3), as a result of which separate multi-grain dosing places can be created on the field along which the agricultural machine moves, moreover, the specified system is configured to continue the supply of granular material (2) from the tank (1) to the metering device (3) during the creation and issuance of multi-grain dosages. 11. Distribution machine with the system according to claim 10. 12. Distribution machine according to claim 11, which is designed as a sowing machine.

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