US-12622346-B2 - Fertilizer blockage cleaning system for an agricultural fertilizer spreader

US12622346B2US 12622346 B2US12622346 B2US 12622346B2US-12622346-B2

Abstract

An agricultural fertilizer system and method for applying a granular fertilizer to a field. A hopper defines a cavity adapted to hold the granular fertilizer and a metering device is coupled to the hopper, and is adapted to deliver a metered amount of fertilizer through a fertilizer hose coupled to a fertilizer spreader. A sensor device is disposed along the fertilizer hose between the fertilizer hose input and the fertilizer house output to identify a blockage resulting from a build-up of fertilizer. A blower delivers an airflow through an airflow hose operatively connected to the fertilizer hose, wherein the airflow hose is connected to the blower hose between the metering device and the sensor device. The airflow provided by the blower reduces or eliminates a buildup of fertilizer within the fertilizer hose to maintain a proper flow of fertilizer from the metering device and the fertilizer spreader.

Inventors

Oscar De Jesus Morales

Assignees

DEERE & COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220608

Claims (17)

1 . An agricultural fertilizer system for applying a granular fertilizer to soil in a field comprising: a metering device including a cavity adapted to hold the granular fertilizer, wherein the metering device provides gravity fed fertilizer from a metering device output connected to the cavity; a fertilizer hose assembly defining a fertilizer hose channel between a fertilizer hose input and a fertilizer hose output, the fertilizer hose input operatively connected to the metering device output to receive the gravity fed fertilizer from the metering device, wherein the gravity fed fertilizer flows through the fertilizer hose channel, the fertilizer hose assembly including an elbow section having a first portion joined to a tapered second portion at a first change of direction line and the tapered second portion joined to a less inclined third portion at a second change of direction line, the third portion being directed more downward than the tapered second portion; a sensor device disposed along the fertilizer hose assembly between the fertilizer hose input and the fertilizer hose output; a blower adapted to deliver an airflow through a blower hose into the fertilizer hose channel between the fertilizer hose input and the sensor device, wherein the blower hose is operatively connected to the fertilizer hose assembly between the fertilizer hose input and the sensor device, wherein the airflow is delivered from the blower hose into the fertilizer hose channel to accelerate the gravity fed fertilizer flowing within the fertilizer hose channel through the sensor device and toward the fertilizer hose output; an air inlet centered at the second change of direction line and coupled to the blower hose to direct airflow downward toward a bend at the second change of direction line and into the gravity fed fertilizer; and an opener adapted to provide a trench in the soil and located at the fertilizer hose output, wherein the trench receives the accelerated gravity fed fertilizer provided by the fertilizer hose output.
2 . The agricultural fertilizer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor device includes a sensor channel coincident with the hose channel, wherein the sensor device includes an interior surface and an optical sensor directed toward the interior surface to determine granular fertilizer build up on the interior surface.
3 . The agricultural fertilizer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the blower is a vacuum blower configured to generate the airflow as a positive airflow and a negative airflow, wherein the positive airflow is directed into the air inlet.
4 . The agricultural fertilizer apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a hose coupler connected to the fertilizer hose output and to a fertilizer applicator, wherein the hose coupler directs the accelerated granular fertilizer to the fertilizer applicator.
5 . The agricultural fertilizer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the metering device includes an auger moving the granular fertilizer from the cavity to the metering device output, the auger adapted to deliver the granular fertilizer at a predetermined fertilizer flow rate, wherein the predetermined fertilizer flow rate determines an amount of gravity fed granular fertilizer moving through the fertilizer hose channel.
6 . The agricultural fertilizer apparatus of claim 5 wherein the blower airflow is directed into the fertilizer hose channel between the metering device and the sensor device and is mixed with the stream of gravity fed granular fertilizer along the fertilizer hose channel.
7 . The agricultural fertilizer apparatus of claim 6 wherein the blower airflow accelerates the stream of gravity fed fertilizer prior to flowing past the sensor to maintain sensor cleanliness.
8 . The agricultural fertilizer apparatus of claim 6 wherein the blower airflow does not restrict the flow rate of the gravity fed fertilizer.
9 . The agricultural fertilizer apparatus of claim 8 wherein the blower adjusts the flow rate of the blower airflow in one of a continuous flow rate or a varying flow rate.
10 . A method of maintaining a flow of granular fertilizer delivered to the soil of a field through a hose assembly using a metering device coupled to a fertilizer hopper, the method comprising: delivering granular fertilizer from the fertilizer hopper to the metering device; delivering a stream of gravity fed granular fertilizer from the metering device to a channel of the fertilizer hose assembly, the fertilizer hose assembly including an elbow section having a first portion joined to a tapered second portion at a first change of direction line and the tapered second portion joined to a less inclined third portion at a second change of direction line, the third portion being directed more downward than the tapered second portion; monitoring the flow of the gravity fed granular fertilizer through the channel of the fertilizer hose assembly with a sensor disposed along the fertilizer hose assembly between a fertilizer hose input and a fertilizer hose output; directing a flow of air with a blower through a blower hose into the channel between the fertilizer hose input and the sensor and into the flow of the gravity fed granular fertilizer prior to the monitoring, wherein an air inlet centered at the second change of direction line is coupled to the blower hose to direct airflow downward toward a bend at the second change of direction line and into the gravity fed granular fertilizer, thereby accelerating the flow of gravity fed granular fertilizer within the channel; and identifying a buildup of the gravity fed granular fertilizer with the sensor to determine if the channel is obstructed by a buildup of the gravity fed granular fertilizer.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the directing a flow of air includes adjusting a blower airflow rate and selecting either a continuous flow rate or a varying flow rate.
12 . The method of claim 10 wherein the accelerated gravity fed granular fertilizer flows past the sensor to maintain sensor cleanliness without restricting the gravity-fed flow rate.
13 . The method of claim 10 further comprising providing an alert if the identifying a buildup determines that the channel is obstructed.
14 . An agricultural system for preparing a field for harvesting a crop comprising: a tractor including a hitch; and a farm implement including a tongue adapted to be coupled to the hitch, the farm implement including: a hopper adapted to hold granular fertilizer; a metering device coupled to the hopper to receive granular fertilizer from the hopper and to meter the granular fertilizer at a predetermined fertilizer flow rate, wherein the predetermined fertilizer flow rate results from the force of gravity to deliver a stream of gravity fed granular fertilizer; a fertilizer hose assembly including an elbow section having a first portion joined to a tapered second portion at a first change of direction line and the tapered second portion joined to a less inclined third portion at a second change of direction line, the third portion being directed more downward than the tapered second portion, the fertilizer hose assembly defining a fertilizer hose channel between a fertilizer hose input and a fertilizer hose output, the fertilizer hose input operatively connected to the metering device to receive the stream of gravity fed granular fertilizer from the metering device; a sensor device to sense a flow of gravity fed granular fertilizer in the fertilizer hose channel, the sensor device disposed along the fertilizer hose channel between the fertilizer hose input and the fertilizer hose output; a blower adapted to deliver a blower airflow through a blower hose, wherein the blower hose is connected to the fertilizer hose assembly to deliver the blower airflow from the blower hose and into the fertilizer hose channel at a bend in the fertilizer hose channel between the fertilizer hose input and the sensor device, wherein an air inlet centered at the second change of direction line is coupled to the blower hose to direct airflow downward toward a bend at the second change of direction line and into the gravity-fed granular fertilizer to accelerate the flow of gravity fed granular fertilizer within the fertilizer hose channel; and an opener adapted to provide a trench in the soil and located at the fertilizer hose output, wherein the trench receives the accelerated gravity fed granular fertilizer provided by the fertilizer hose output.
15 . The agricultural system of claim 14 wherein the blower airflow is directed into the fertilizer hose channel between the metering device and the sensor device at the air inlet and is mixed with the stream of gravity fed granular fertilizer along the fertilizer hose channel.
16 . The agricultural system of claim 15 wherein the blower airflow directed downward toward the bend at the second change of direction line accelerates the stream of gravity fed fertilizer prior to flowing past the sensor to maintain sensor cleanliness.
17 . The agricultural system of claim 16 wherein the blower is a vacuum blower configured to generate a positive airflow and a negative airflow, wherein the positive airflow is directed through the blower hose and the negative airflow is directed toward a seeder of the farm implement.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to an agricultural fertilizer spreader, and in particular, to a fertilizer spreader row unit for an agricultural fertilizer spreader. BACKGROUND An agricultural fertilizer spreader, such as a fertilizer row spreader, deposits fertilizer in rows to prepare the ground for placing seeds in the soil. In different embodiments, the fertilizer row spreader deposits either dry/granular fertilizer or liquid fertilizer. In many embodiments, agricultural planters are capable of depositing fertilizer at the same time as seeding. In these types of agricultural equipment, the fertilizer spreader precedes the row crop planter such that the ground in which the seeds are deposited has been also been fertilized. The agricultural fertilizer spreader is typically pulled by a tractor, or other work vehicle, and includes a plurality of fertilizer row units, that are aligned side by side to form, on a common frame, a multi-row crop fertilizer spreader. In an agricultural apparatus configured to only fertilize or to fertilize and deposit seeds at the same time, the fertilizer row units and seeding row units of the apparatus are aligned substantially parallel to the travel direction of the tractor when being pulled through a field. In a fertilizer spreader that spreads granular fertilizer, it is known that the application of the granular fertilizer can build up within hoses that direct the fertilizer to the soil. In some instances, each hose includes a sensor having a channel that is coincident with a channel of the hose. The sensor includes an optical sensor that identifies if a blockage exists. If the optical sensor is blocked, the blockage is sensed which indicates the fertilizer is not being deposited or is being deposited unevenly. When applying dry/granular fertilizers, it is important that the operator know if every row is applying the fertilizer in a manner that covers the entire area to be planted. Under some conditions, the sensor can be blocked for extended periods of time, before the operator determines that a problem exists. What is needed therefore is a fertilizer row unit having a mechanism to determine if a blockage in any one of the hoses has occurred. SUMMARY In one embodiment, there is provided an agricultural fertilizer system for applying a granular fertilizer to soil in a field including a metering device having a cavity adapted to hold the granular fertilizer, wherein the metering device provides gravity fed fertilizer from a metering device output connected to the cavity. A fertilizer hose assembly defines a fertilizer hose channel between a fertilizer hose input and a fertilizer hose output. The fertilizer hose input is operatively connected to the metering device output to receive the gravity fed fertilizer from the metering device, wherein the gravity fed fertilizer flows through the fertilizer hose channel. A sensor device is disposed along the fertilizer hose assembly between the fertilizer hose input and the fertilizer hose output. A blower is adapted to deliver an airflow through a blower hose, wherein the blower hose is operatively connected to the fertilizer hose assembly between the fertilizer hose input and the sensor device. The airflow is directed into the flowing gravity fed fertilizer to accelerate the gravity fed fertilizer through the sensor device and toward the fertilizer hose output. An opener is adapted to provide a trench in the soil and is located at the hose output, wherein the trench receives the accelerated gravity fed fertilizer provided by the hose output. In some embodiments, the agricultural fertilizer apparatus includes wherein the sensor device has a sensor channel coincident with the hose channel, wherein the sensor device includes an interior surface and an optical sensor directed toward the interior surface to determine granular fertilizer build up on the interior surface. In some embodiments, the agricultural fertilizer apparatus includes wherein the fertilizer hose assembly has an elbow section including a bend, wherein the bend redirects the flow of gravity fed fertilizer through the elbow section. In some embodiments, the agricultural fertilizer apparatus includes wherein the sensor device is located between the elbow section and the fertilizer hose assembly output. In some embodiments, the agricultural fertilizer apparatus includes wherein the elbow section has an air hose inlet operatively connected to the blower hose, wherein the air hose inlet is located at the bend to direct the airflow into the gravity fed fertilizer. In some embodiments, the agricultural fertilizer apparatus includes wherein the blower is a vacuum blower configured to generate a positive airflow and a negative airflow, and the positive airflow is directed into the air hose inlet. In some embodiments, the agricultural fertilizer apparatus further includes a hose coupler connected to the hose output and to the fertilizer applicator, wherein the