BR-102025011355-A2 - Alternative transmission metering system for pneumatically driven agricultural machinery with sectional cutting, for example, seeders and fertilizer spreaders.

BR102025011355A2BR 102025011355 A2BR102025011355 A2BR 102025011355A2BR-102025011355-A2

Abstract

An alternative transmission metering system for agricultural machinery, for example, pneumatically driven seeders and fertilizer spreaders with sectional cutting, comprising: a hopper with internal divisions; an air-driven distribution system; and regulators for metering a product that operate through two different systems, enabling various methods of distributing agricultural inputs; the metering system alternatively comprises: a main transmission shaft linked to a plurality of metering devices comprising roller sections with secondary shafts aligned with each other and with the main shaft for metering the product from the hopper, where the main shaft and the secondary shafts are linked through a wrap clutch system, and where one end of the main transmission shaft is linked to a gearbox or electro-hydraulic motor, or electric motor or other type of main transmission; or an electric motor replacing the clutch system in each roller section, where said motor is capable of enabling or stopping the flow of inputs by activating or deactivating it.

Inventors

Ignacio Tanzi

Assignees

MARIO TANZI S.A

Dates

Publication Date: 20260310
Application Date: 20250604
Priority Date: 20250519

Claims (8)

1. An alternative transmission metering system for agricultural machinery, for example, pneumatically driven seeders and fertilizer spreaders with sectional cutting, characterized by comprising: a) a hopper having internal divisions; b) an air-driven distribution system; and c) regulators for metering an input, which operates by means of two different systems, allowing the use of various distribution methods; - the metering system comprising alternatively: i) a main transmission shaft linked to a plurality of metering devices comprising roller sections with secondary shafts aligned parallel to each other and perpendicular to the main shaft to meter the input from the hopper towards the soil, where the main shaft and the secondary shafts are linked by means of an enveloping clutch system consisting of a clutch in each roller section, capable of allowing or stopping the flow of inputs by means of their activation or deactivation by means of a solenoid, and where one end of the main transmission shaft is linked to an electric power generator; or ii) an electric motor replacing the clutch system in each roller section, where said motor is capable of enabling or stopping the flow of inputs by activating or deactivating it.
2. The alternative transmission dosing system of claim 1, characterized in that the power generator linked to the main transmission is a gearbox or electro-hydraulic motor, or electric motor.
3. The alternative transmission dosing system of claim 1, characterized by each roller section having a grooved piece that allows control of the amount of product entering the air system.
4. The alternative transmission dosing system of claim 1, characterized in that each roller section has a secondary shaft driven by a main shaft that is driven by various types of motors, such as a gearbox or electro-hydraulic motor, or electric motor or other type of main transmission, and each secondary shaft contains a clutch system, of the enveloping clutch type, consisting of friction springs capable of individually engaging and disengaging with each roller section of the tank.
5. The alternative transmission dosing system of claim 1, characterized by each roller section having an independent electric motor capable of allowing or stopping the flow of input until its outlet.
6. The alternative transmission dosing system of claim 1, characterized by allowing the producer to choose between the format chosen to be used in the distribution of inputs, doing so in the manner established in claim 4 or in claim 5.
7. An agricultural machine, for example, a pneumatically driven seeder or fertilizer spreader with sectional cutting, characterized by comprising an alternative transmission metering system of claim 1.
8. A method for metering the distribution of agricultural inputs characterized by using an agricultural machine, for example, a pneumatically driven seeder or fertilizer spreader with sectional cutting, of claim 7.

Description

Field of Invention [0001] The present invention relates, in general, to a system for dosing agricultural inputs usable in agricultural machinery by means of a pneumatic drive system, commonly called an air drive system (“air drill”), for example, seeders and fertilizer spreaders and, in particular, to a dual system, that is, a system with dual actuation possibilities for the dosers that allow sectional cutting for the dosing of agricultural inputs (products used in agriculture to aid the growth and development of plants and crops, including products such as fertilizers, seeds, insecticides, etc.), or expulsion or retention of any product from an agricultural machine, such as, for example, an air seeder or fertilizer spreader. Through a dual-function system, the independent metering devices can be operated, via a first option, which uses an extendable main shaft with a clutch system coupled to the individual shafts of each metering device, and this main shaft to an electro-hydraulic motor or an electric motor, or a gearbox or other drive system. The clutch system actuation allows the metering devices to rotate or stop, thus enabling the operation of an agricultural machine, for example, a seeder or a fertilizer spreader, with sectional drives to avoid overlapping in the distribution task (planting, fertilization, or other). [0002] Through a second option, the independent metering devices can be driven by electric motors, with one motor per metering device. Thus, the system controls the activation of the motors, allowing them to rotate or stop to operate the agricultural machine, such as a seeder or a fertilizer spreader or other, with sectional drives. [0003] The system, therefore, is an alternative drive system and it is possible to choose which of the two transmission alternatives to use. Fundamentals of the invention [0004] Metering devices are used in agricultural machinery, such as planting machines, by means of airflow to measure and dose inputs, which may be for planting, fertilization or any other useful agricultural input. [0005] Often, this type of metering device has a toothed roller section located inside a housing where the input is received from a hopper, usually located at the top, which may contain one or more internal dividers with top covers for its supply. The input is transported by an air current and controlled according to the rotation speed of the roller section, which receives the input, for example, planting seed, fertilizer, or other, through grooves to be directed, propelled by an air current flowing towards multiple distribution hoses located throughout the agricultural machine, for example, a seeder or a fertilizer spreader, producing the controlled fall of agricultural inputs onto the soil delimited by each of the furrows. [0006] However, although it is great for equitable distribution across the aforementioned machine, for example, a seeder, in this system the distribution is not uniform in reality, since the land does not have exact and perpendicular dimensions, but rather the vast majority extends its perimeter in various shapes, such as curves and/or irregular polygons. This means that the same machine, for example, a seeder, due to the extensive width it covers, needs to perform several maneuvers to cover the entire surface, resulting in double planting (or even more) on the same soil, incurring seed costs and soil damage due to nutrient depletion. This frequently happens in various situations, for example, when the intention is to sow on the edges of a field where the area to be sown is narrower than the seeder, when there are obstacles to be avoided in the terrain, or when there are smaller spaces that should not be sown. [0007] In some cases, a dosing system has been developed with sections mounted on a main shaft that operate via gates that open and close the product inlet to the roller section, as shown in US patent application US 2009 0079624 A1, which can be achieved by a clutch mechanism that is activated to engage/disengage the product metering impeller. US 2009 0079624 A1 describes a sectional meter closing device for agricultural implements that provides for double seeding or fertilization, controlling the flow of material to specific members that come into contact with the soil. The system includes individually controlled gates that can be operated manually or automatically via GPS. Although both systems allow automatic control via GPS, the present invention also offers the option of manual control via enveloping clutches. [0008] US application 624 is focused on avoiding double seeding or fertilization, whereas the proposed invention is centered on the precise dosing of agricultural inputs. [0009] The use of clutch mechanisms can be found in US Patent 5,078,066 A, which focuses on the creation of cross-linking lines by selectively disconnecting seed meters. This is done by means of a spring-wound clutch. This can be a specific advantage in creating cross-linking